Quote Book

3/28/2012
Jack and Eli riding in the car:

Eli-"When I grow up I'm gonna be a worker and a cowboy."

Jack- "When did you decide that?"

Eli-"Just when I was on my mission."

Jack-"When you go on your mission, you'll get your garments. Or when you go to the temple."

Eli-"When I go to the temple, I'm getting married."

Jack-"Lets just go to the park today instead."

3/29/2012
After coming home from a hair appointment-

Jack- "Mom, your hair is a different color. How will people reneculize you?"

Me-"Well, does my face look the same?"

Jack-"Oh, yeah, and your voice is too."

Spring Is Here

{Arabesque}
Arabesque indicates a position of the body where the dancer stands on one leg, while the other leg is extended behind the body, with both knees straight. The arabesque position can be performed with the supporting leg and foot either en pointe, demi pointe or on a flat foot. The back leg may either touch the floor in tendu back (called arabesque par terre), or be raised at an angle. Common angles are 45° (also called à demi hauteur), and 90° (à la hauteur). When the angle is much greater than 90° and the body leans forward to counterbalance the back leg, the pose is called arabesque penchée. There are also various arm and leg combinations, such as forward on the same side as the back leg or the other arm forward. These combinations vary according to the syllabus or method used. In ballet, the arabesque is always performed with turnout, this allows the knee and foot to create a line which is visible to the audience.

After reading that, doesn't it seem funnier that while swimming last week my 4 year-old boy said,
"Look Mom! I can do an arabesque under water!"

He's making his dance teacher proud. (and his Mom, too)

Life is Good

Two years ago, I sat on the floor of my bedroom closet. I stared at the empty shelves and cried tears of sadness, relief, anger, fury, frustration, bitterness and abandonment. I didn't even know where to begin to pick myself up off the floor and try to put the pieces of my life back together.

While riding this crazy roller-coaster of life, I have found the most success by realizing that I will never have my "normal" life back, but accepting that this life is our new normal, and it can be good. Great, even.

For the first time in two years, I no longer feel defined by events that devastated me emotionally, and I have a brighter outlook on the future.

I have so much to be thankful for. So many wonderful blessings in my life. Life is Good.