Counting My Blessings

Since next week is finally Thanksgiving, I'll be taking the week off from the studio and also from posting here on the blog for some much needed time with my family.  But before that, we need to have one more post about thankfulness.  

Last year at the studio, I had every dancer share something they were thankful for, and we filled this poster up with all of our gratitude.  It’s one of the most special activities I’ve ever done with my kiddos.

So to kick-off my list of "thankfuls" this week, I have to start with...

     1.     My dance families.  This week when we thought we had to pivot back to online classes, my dance families were ON.IT.  They didn’t hesitate to support me and the studio.  Their messages brought me to tears.  And THEN, when we were told we could return to in-person, they celebrated with me.  They fill me with so much joy.

    2.     Heather.  I have always been independent to a fault and have a hard time asking for help.  I usually wrongly assume asking for help makes me look weak.  About five years ago, Heather started helping me with things at the studio, and she has been the BEST.  She often takes care of things before I even realize they need to be done.  And as a bonus, she LOVES Ella.  She’s like a part of our family.  If you run a small business and have a lot of things on your plate, I highly recommend finding your own Heather.

After Ella's performance of Nutcracker in 2017

Christmas Cabaret 2019

    3.   My parents.  This weekend, my parents will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary.  I am so thankful they’ve been such a beautiful example of love, caring, hard-work, and loyalty my entire life.  I hope Andy and I can be such wonderful role models to Ella as she grows up.

---

I remember once when I was in middle school, a ladies trio at my church sang the song "Count Your Many Blessings."  Have you heard that song?  It's a sweet, old hymn, and the words go like this:

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you feel discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one -
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

I can still vividly hear their voices in that beautiful harmony, and they're still the voices I hear whenever I hear that song to this day.  It's a good reminder for all of us in this season...there is always something to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!