The Big Question

After reading this question, you might think that I am making a big decision. Maybe I'm considering getting a job or making plans for the future. But no, you presumed wrong. The question that I have been asking myself lately is "What do you want to do?" And many times, no one has a practical answer. (After all, going to Disney World is kind of out of the option for this afternoon.)

Summer boredom wants to strike this house, but I am not going to let it. So what do I do? Well, I can say that Netflix has been my best friend, but I also have some best friends that will come over and go see Despicable Me 2 on a random Thursday afternoon. Between the things that must get done, like cleaning and working out, and the things that are incredibly fun but a waste of time, like watching whole TV shows on Netflix, the last few weeks have been very relaxing, but almost dull.

Summer is almost over. But I am going to squeeze all of the relaxation, fun, and summerness out of the days that I have left.I have made a list of things to do over the rest of the summer. Lists make everything so much more official. Here are a few things on the list:

*Have a photo shoot

*Have sleepovers

*Bake desserts

*Get a make over

*Be crafty

*Go shopping 

It's a good list. There are many possibilities for laughter and memories. Late nights and messy kitchens may come into play. But I am going to enjoy the rest of my summer.

So, to answer the big question of "What am I going to do?", I say, I am going to laugh, eat, make something new, and remember something old. I am also about to go eat lunch, because I am hungry. Enjoy your summer, and don't let boredom take over.

Hannah

Coming Home

After three weeks of dancing, laughing, sweating, and even some crying, I'm back. I made it. And I loved it.

Looking back to my experience at Ballet Austin, I would say that it was one of the coolest yet hardest time of my life. I really learned a lot about ballet, myself, and God. I learned that I can do more than I thought that I could. I learned that ballet is something that I still love even when I am dancing for seven hours a day. I also learned that God is always with me. I developed a habit of reading a short devotional in the morning to prepare me for the day and then remembering that devotional throughout the day. I plan to keep that habit going.

My parents picked me up Saturday morning (after a sorrowful goodbye to my friends that I made at Ballet Austin). I stayed Saturday night at my Nana's house because she lives close to Austin. Man, I slept so good that night. I got twelve hours of sleep, and I was still tired the next day when we drove back home.

The first day home was wonderful. I didn't do much. I watched four episodes of Psych with my sister, took an hour long nap, went to bible study, and ate homemade brownies. They were very yummy brownies, especially because they were warm and gooey.

I had the time of my life at Austin, but I am also very glad to be back home, relaxing, hanging out with my friends, eating desserts, and watching my favorite TV shows.

Hannah

My Adventure At Ballet Austin

I haven't posted for a while, but this time, I have reason. I am at Ballet Austin's summer intensive, and trust me, when they say intensive, they mean it. It's intense.

A ballet intensive is like ballet boot camp. Dancers from all over the country come to the intensive and train almost every day. I chose Ballet Austin because it was near by, only three weeks, and it looked like a very good program.

I have not been disappointed.

Saying goodbye was hard. I cried three times. (Once when I left home and my cat, once when I said goodbye to my sisters, and once when I said goodbye to my parents.) But once everything started up, I didn't have the time or energy to be homesick.

My schedule is crazy! I wake up around six thirty, and that is a shock for me, because I sleep in until nine every day. Then I get ready and go to class. I have five classes a day, and normally dance for about seven hours every day. There's ballet technique, pointe, partnering, contemporary, musical theater, Pilates and choreography. In the evening there are normally activities, but I am normally too tired to do them.

Even though this is a lot of work, it is still a lot of fun! The people are so nice, and I have made so many friends! We went shopping last weekend, and this weekend there's a dance party! Also, there are no classes tomorrow, for 4th of July. Yay!

Throughout this whole process I have been trying to connect with God and point everything back to Him. That's hard, because ballet takes up so much thought process that sometimes I struggle with thinking about Jesus too. I find that I think about God most whenever I am struggling. I remind myself that this is just ballet, a temporary thing. God, eternal God, is still my Lord and Father whether I nail the double pirouette or not.

I am about half way done with my experience at Ballet Austin. I am making so many new friends and having so many new experiences, not to mention learning a lot about ballet. I don't want to leave, yet I desperately want to go home, see my family and friends, and sleep in every day.

"Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp."
Psalms 149:3 NIV

Hannah