Brittany choreographed the opening number to the dance recital this year. This past Friday...the kids were all to come with their costume in hand to try them on. We received a bag of headbands and hats that were to be worn as accessories...the costumes are all black...the accessories both silver and gold. Once we saw them...we just knew that they weren't going to do so we took off to the store and bought everything silver and gold that we could find and spent the next day with the hot glue gun adding sparkle and design. We were so excited about our head pieces. They added flair and drama...despite the fact that some of them were leaves. The main goal was to add enough "bling" to them so that they could be seen from stage.
Well, confrontation is where it ended up...with one parent taking it upon herself to speak for all the parents...my daughter about the accessories...told her they looked like they were purchased in a garage sale. Well, excuse me...as we added $30 of our own money to our little project...I assure you we didn't buy them in a garage sale. Anyway...this was done in front of students and parents and there were younger girls crying and things were quite a mess. My daughter called me a short time later a bit shaken...but she held her ground as this woman decided that final night of dance was the perfect time to unload on my daughter.
Brittany held it together, spoke calmly, told this woman that she would have to do what was best for her own family and we now have our fingers crossed that she will just...well...move on. All this over a $10 headpiece that we tried to improve...if it weren't for us...she would have gotten a simple gold headband worth a whopping .75.
The God crumb came the next afternoon from a parent of one of the girls...her daughter had come home upset too. This beautiful lady told Brittany that she had begun praying for the whole situation...this coming week which we are currently in...for the transition next week. It was like receiving a tall, cool glass of water, she was speaking our language. More God crumbs came on Sunday...as Brittany has also choreographed the Finale for the show...the other parents that were present Friday night...were making it a priority to apologize on the behalf of the other parent...and wanted her to know that she was not speaking for them.
In the long run...my daughter has been through so much this past month...only a month. The news went out May 1st. But don't underestimate the strength of an 18 and a half year old with a dream. She has had integrity, understanding and strength. She is not cowering or living in fear. She continues to look people in the eye when they talk to her. She had a grandma walk along side her on Sunday afternoon and hold her hand...told her they were so excited for her studio...this grandma said that her granddaughter hadn't enjoyed her classes this year and they were going to go elsewhere...but with Miss Brittany...they had decided to stay. I guess these are more of the God crumbs I have been talking about...they are everywhere just when we need them.
Blessings!
Joyce Marie
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
God crumbs...
We are just a breath away from our daughter's big day...June 1st. While in our home and amongst our family and friends the anticipation is exciting. At the dance studio, however...well, lets just say it is in utter chaos.
This whole situation has sure brought out the devil in A LOT of people. While we are excited and planning and trying to stay positive...there have been people who have been working in the background trying deliberately to take our girl down. I have never seen anything like it. The things that my young daughter has had to face these last weeks at some points made us all question whether we should have passed on the offer. But don't get me wrong...the fire is still there...it is just difficult people.
As soon as the announcement was made to the other teachers...by the current owner...Brittany was immediately shunned. She was blocked on Facebook, and the rumors were flying...the announcement was made just before spring break...May 1st...the announcement went public through two letters...one from the current owner, the second from Brittany. The current owner, being distracted from just giving birth to her third baby wasn't very clear in her letter...Brittany's letter was very clear. This really set things on fire. People thought that Brittany's letter was from Miss Jessa so they read it first...which they didn't understand because the owner wrote her letter in a little snippet in her studio newsletter. The plan was that Brittany would go in and hang and and mingle on the days that she didn't teach so that those who don't know her could talk to her and such. Making it through that first week was really tough...a second teacher balled her out after Brittany pleasantly greeted her. This girl was so bold she actually had the nerve to tell my daughter to never talk to her again unless it was an emergency. Our daughter began to feel like she was a villain. The next week...I couldn't let her go in there by herself...so...I went along. Just for moral support if anything. I have never felt such tension in my life...we walked in the door...immediately Brittany was surrounded by some of 7-9 year old kids...they were so excited to see her...they were all fighting to give her a hug and we could barely get in the door...the parents however wouldn't even make eye contact...by the time we entered the waiting area...the parents had calmed their kids...and the kids stayed away from her...would smile at her from a distance for the next hour. Obviously they were told to keep their distance...we lasted nearly a whole hour and I told Brittany...this is pointless...so we said our goodbyes...as no one could look us in the eye and we left. Brittany was beginning to feel deflated...and as a mom...my heart was breaking. So...the next night, we had a meeting with a parent at a Panera...she is going to be in charge of fundraising...so we talked...it was uplifting...and she is a Godly woman...and this is when we began to see the first of many God crumbs...what's a God crumb? We began to feel encouraged through different people...and these people were like crumbs along the way encouraging us...we were so thankful that they were actually kind. We began to recognize them and give the glory to our God...so they are now called God crumbs...those little things that happen along the way to keep you on your path...I know I'm rambling here but bear with me...
I went in with her the following Friday...as a mom just hanging out (secretly I was thinking if she needs protection, I'm her girl). Sitting in the waiting room I was given the chance to hear what was going on in the minds of the people. Of course, no one knew who I was...it was hard to hear...most of it was just utter confusion...this dance studio hasn't been cared for in a year...people are tired of not having their questions answered...the current director hasn't been present and people are angry...and questioning why she chose Brittany and not one teacher in particular...(the one that was working behind the scenes to cause the students in her classes to leave). I moved into another part of the waiting area because I couldn't take it and I was about to introduce myself and make my intentions very clear...so I just removed myself from the area all together...another mom...probably could read my face...came in and sat across from me. This is one of the mom's that couldn't look my daughter in the eye three days before that...we had a nice chat...another one of those God crumbs. I finished talking to her, she left and then I did...when I walked out to the parking lot.
My heart felt so burdened. Why is it that when something really good happens to someone...we can't just be happy for them in this society...why is there this need to put others down...why is it OK for someone to live out their dream, choose their college...do what they want to do? I've been through this before with my in-laws...I just don't understand it?
At that moment in the parking lot as I was waiting for my husband to pick me up...I bowed my head and prayed and I will tell you...I thought about how our God must have felt the day that they beat His Son...the day the spit on Him...the day they cursed Him. I think I felt closer to our Lord right there in the parking lot than I ever have. God knew that His Son had to endure all of it for His good...I realize that this is on such a small scale...but when your child is persecuted for having a dream...it feels much the same...after all...isn't this America? Where we have the freedom to explore our dreams?
Anyway...my sweetheart picked me up and we just drove...he let me talk, I told him about my prayer and what had hit me there...and God is so amazing when we ask for wisdom...isn't he? We both just knew what had to be done. We spent the rest of the weekend working on a document to set the record straight...after all how does the saying go? The truth will set you free?
We found out from a good source what the rumors were...so we addressed them each one by one while we gave Brittany's background.
Here are just a few...
That I was going to run the dance studio...yes me, her mother, who has never taken a dance lesson in all her life.
That she fired all the other teachers...uh, hello, they never worked for her in the first place.
She doesn't have any experience...we proved them wrong.
What about education?...this part was fun! Fellow homeschoolers...God will give you exactly what you need to educate your child...he will help you nurture their skills. Don't doubt it for a second.
She is going to combine ages 2-7 and teach them together...I'm sorry, it doesn't take any of us long to realize that this wouldn't work...really?
She is only going to teach young children...well, if that happens it is because this other teacher has encouraged all of the older kids and their parents to leave.
The entire document was 4 pages. We printed it on turquoise paper, we stapled them together, titled it with Dance Out Loud's! FAQ and placed them on the end tables throughout the waiting area. That evening, as I worked the desk to sell recital tickets I could see those beautiful blue pages of truth in the hands of people...it took them a while to get through it...one grandmother even chuckled at some of the things being said. I guess that saying about the truth will set you free does really work because this one particular teacher that was being really nasty? She quit that very night. Since then, things have calmed down. Brittany has made herself available to talk to anyone...she has received calls and emails which she has been able to return in a timely matter. People are still upset for the way the studio is currently run...but we are beginning to see whole cookies and not just crumbs now...we have a few signed up for summer classes. WE have no idea what the future entails...but do any of us. This is such a faith walk...we are just trusting that our Lord who brought her this far will not drop her.
Thanks for listening...I'm posting this as a memory...it's nearly behind us now and better things are ahead.
Wishing you a beautiful day,
Joyce Marie
This whole situation has sure brought out the devil in A LOT of people. While we are excited and planning and trying to stay positive...there have been people who have been working in the background trying deliberately to take our girl down. I have never seen anything like it. The things that my young daughter has had to face these last weeks at some points made us all question whether we should have passed on the offer. But don't get me wrong...the fire is still there...it is just difficult people.
As soon as the announcement was made to the other teachers...by the current owner...Brittany was immediately shunned. She was blocked on Facebook, and the rumors were flying...the announcement was made just before spring break...May 1st...the announcement went public through two letters...one from the current owner, the second from Brittany. The current owner, being distracted from just giving birth to her third baby wasn't very clear in her letter...Brittany's letter was very clear. This really set things on fire. People thought that Brittany's letter was from Miss Jessa so they read it first...which they didn't understand because the owner wrote her letter in a little snippet in her studio newsletter. The plan was that Brittany would go in and hang and and mingle on the days that she didn't teach so that those who don't know her could talk to her and such. Making it through that first week was really tough...a second teacher balled her out after Brittany pleasantly greeted her. This girl was so bold she actually had the nerve to tell my daughter to never talk to her again unless it was an emergency. Our daughter began to feel like she was a villain. The next week...I couldn't let her go in there by herself...so...I went along. Just for moral support if anything. I have never felt such tension in my life...we walked in the door...immediately Brittany was surrounded by some of 7-9 year old kids...they were so excited to see her...they were all fighting to give her a hug and we could barely get in the door...the parents however wouldn't even make eye contact...by the time we entered the waiting area...the parents had calmed their kids...and the kids stayed away from her...would smile at her from a distance for the next hour. Obviously they were told to keep their distance...we lasted nearly a whole hour and I told Brittany...this is pointless...so we said our goodbyes...as no one could look us in the eye and we left. Brittany was beginning to feel deflated...and as a mom...my heart was breaking. So...the next night, we had a meeting with a parent at a Panera...she is going to be in charge of fundraising...so we talked...it was uplifting...and she is a Godly woman...and this is when we began to see the first of many God crumbs...what's a God crumb? We began to feel encouraged through different people...and these people were like crumbs along the way encouraging us...we were so thankful that they were actually kind. We began to recognize them and give the glory to our God...so they are now called God crumbs...those little things that happen along the way to keep you on your path...I know I'm rambling here but bear with me...
I went in with her the following Friday...as a mom just hanging out (secretly I was thinking if she needs protection, I'm her girl). Sitting in the waiting room I was given the chance to hear what was going on in the minds of the people. Of course, no one knew who I was...it was hard to hear...most of it was just utter confusion...this dance studio hasn't been cared for in a year...people are tired of not having their questions answered...the current director hasn't been present and people are angry...and questioning why she chose Brittany and not one teacher in particular...(the one that was working behind the scenes to cause the students in her classes to leave). I moved into another part of the waiting area because I couldn't take it and I was about to introduce myself and make my intentions very clear...so I just removed myself from the area all together...another mom...probably could read my face...came in and sat across from me. This is one of the mom's that couldn't look my daughter in the eye three days before that...we had a nice chat...another one of those God crumbs. I finished talking to her, she left and then I did...when I walked out to the parking lot.
My heart felt so burdened. Why is it that when something really good happens to someone...we can't just be happy for them in this society...why is there this need to put others down...why is it OK for someone to live out their dream, choose their college...do what they want to do? I've been through this before with my in-laws...I just don't understand it?
At that moment in the parking lot as I was waiting for my husband to pick me up...I bowed my head and prayed and I will tell you...I thought about how our God must have felt the day that they beat His Son...the day the spit on Him...the day they cursed Him. I think I felt closer to our Lord right there in the parking lot than I ever have. God knew that His Son had to endure all of it for His good...I realize that this is on such a small scale...but when your child is persecuted for having a dream...it feels much the same...after all...isn't this America? Where we have the freedom to explore our dreams?
Anyway...my sweetheart picked me up and we just drove...he let me talk, I told him about my prayer and what had hit me there...and God is so amazing when we ask for wisdom...isn't he? We both just knew what had to be done. We spent the rest of the weekend working on a document to set the record straight...after all how does the saying go? The truth will set you free?
We found out from a good source what the rumors were...so we addressed them each one by one while we gave Brittany's background.
Here are just a few...
That I was going to run the dance studio...yes me, her mother, who has never taken a dance lesson in all her life.
That she fired all the other teachers...uh, hello, they never worked for her in the first place.
She doesn't have any experience...we proved them wrong.
What about education?...this part was fun! Fellow homeschoolers...God will give you exactly what you need to educate your child...he will help you nurture their skills. Don't doubt it for a second.
She is going to combine ages 2-7 and teach them together...I'm sorry, it doesn't take any of us long to realize that this wouldn't work...really?
She is only going to teach young children...well, if that happens it is because this other teacher has encouraged all of the older kids and their parents to leave.
The entire document was 4 pages. We printed it on turquoise paper, we stapled them together, titled it with Dance Out Loud's! FAQ and placed them on the end tables throughout the waiting area. That evening, as I worked the desk to sell recital tickets I could see those beautiful blue pages of truth in the hands of people...it took them a while to get through it...one grandmother even chuckled at some of the things being said. I guess that saying about the truth will set you free does really work because this one particular teacher that was being really nasty? She quit that very night. Since then, things have calmed down. Brittany has made herself available to talk to anyone...she has received calls and emails which she has been able to return in a timely matter. People are still upset for the way the studio is currently run...but we are beginning to see whole cookies and not just crumbs now...we have a few signed up for summer classes. WE have no idea what the future entails...but do any of us. This is such a faith walk...we are just trusting that our Lord who brought her this far will not drop her.
Thanks for listening...I'm posting this as a memory...it's nearly behind us now and better things are ahead.
Wishing you a beautiful day,
Joyce Marie
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Happy Spring!
I am happy to say that just this week spring has finally arrived in my neck of the woods...we have had cold weather, rain, more cold weather...dark dismal days when all we wanted was a bit of sunshine. It seems as though we have turned a corner because I am sitting here with my window open, a cool breeze is filling my room with fresh air. The birds are singing, the squirrels are running along my fence and my bleeding heart is in full bloom.
I guess I should back up a bit...life has been so busy and crazy and good and at least a dozen different adjectives. When I last posted Dennis and I were about to go away for a much deserved anniversary retreat. We had a wonderful time, the cabin was gorgeous but we were both under the weather a bit and drugged up on sinus medicine. We still enjoyed every minute of our time together and were able to take a long drive through the country which we both loved. We needed to unwind a little and we were able to do that.
When we came home...Brittany was all smiles as we walked through the door. She took us upstairs and had us close our eyes. While we were away our daughter painted our bedroom for us...rearranged our furniture and bought us some new bedding. We walked into our "new" room in wonder that she was able to pull it off in such a short time. The color is a very pale blue (like sea glass)...so peaceful, very neutral and I love being in there now. It is a very welcome retreat. What a lovely gift she gave us...:)
She also had a bit of news for us. While we were away...her boss, the studio owner where she teaches approached our girl and told her that she would be selling her dance studio due to the fact that she was expecting her third baby...she wanted to give our Brittany an opportunity to buy the business she felt that she would carry on her business with the same philosophy that she had. She told Brittany not to worry that she was young...that she knew that Brittany could do it. While we were beginning to wonder if changes were going to be made this year we had no idea that this was about to happen.
It was hard for us to hold our excitement in...many different emotions ranging from fear to wanting to yell it from the roof tops went through us those next few days. Who knew that something good could send you into a tailspin. We have prayed about it...had a formal meeting with her boss...talked about it as a family and all together decided that this was an opportunity that our daughter could not pass up. She is now under contract and as of June 1st will be a small business owner. It has been a thrilling ride...but also a bumpy one. I have seen my daughter act more of an adult these days than women who are older than her.
I have much to say...because I want to document it here but more than can be said in just one entry. I took myself offline because while the offer was out there...we had to keep things quiet and if I have learned anything about life...I have learned that this is a small world. So...I am back to blogging...while I am not going to have much personal time in the coming days...as I am going to be helping her in her new venture.
As a mommy...I am thrilled...as a homeschool family, I have been able to sit back and watch my daughter as she makes plans, policies and all that goes into starting a new business. I am in awe that the direction that God took us in our schooling is now being utilized 100%. God has been so good to her and she is going to be able to serve him through teaching children to dance. How AMAZING is our God!
Many blessings,
Joyce Marie
I guess I should back up a bit...life has been so busy and crazy and good and at least a dozen different adjectives. When I last posted Dennis and I were about to go away for a much deserved anniversary retreat. We had a wonderful time, the cabin was gorgeous but we were both under the weather a bit and drugged up on sinus medicine. We still enjoyed every minute of our time together and were able to take a long drive through the country which we both loved. We needed to unwind a little and we were able to do that.
When we came home...Brittany was all smiles as we walked through the door. She took us upstairs and had us close our eyes. While we were away our daughter painted our bedroom for us...rearranged our furniture and bought us some new bedding. We walked into our "new" room in wonder that she was able to pull it off in such a short time. The color is a very pale blue (like sea glass)...so peaceful, very neutral and I love being in there now. It is a very welcome retreat. What a lovely gift she gave us...:)
She also had a bit of news for us. While we were away...her boss, the studio owner where she teaches approached our girl and told her that she would be selling her dance studio due to the fact that she was expecting her third baby...she wanted to give our Brittany an opportunity to buy the business she felt that she would carry on her business with the same philosophy that she had. She told Brittany not to worry that she was young...that she knew that Brittany could do it. While we were beginning to wonder if changes were going to be made this year we had no idea that this was about to happen.
It was hard for us to hold our excitement in...many different emotions ranging from fear to wanting to yell it from the roof tops went through us those next few days. Who knew that something good could send you into a tailspin. We have prayed about it...had a formal meeting with her boss...talked about it as a family and all together decided that this was an opportunity that our daughter could not pass up. She is now under contract and as of June 1st will be a small business owner. It has been a thrilling ride...but also a bumpy one. I have seen my daughter act more of an adult these days than women who are older than her.
I have much to say...because I want to document it here but more than can be said in just one entry. I took myself offline because while the offer was out there...we had to keep things quiet and if I have learned anything about life...I have learned that this is a small world. So...I am back to blogging...while I am not going to have much personal time in the coming days...as I am going to be helping her in her new venture.
As a mommy...I am thrilled...as a homeschool family, I have been able to sit back and watch my daughter as she makes plans, policies and all that goes into starting a new business. I am in awe that the direction that God took us in our schooling is now being utilized 100%. God has been so good to her and she is going to be able to serve him through teaching children to dance. How AMAZING is our God!
Many blessings,
Joyce Marie
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