June 1st til now...

As I have written in an earlier post June 1st was our daughter's opening day. We were lucky to be able to go in the studio two days ahead and begin the work of clearing out and cleaning up. It was so cool to walk in there the first day and realize it was really hers. We had two whole days before her opening. We cleaned and scrubbed on day one. Day two, while Dennis did some carpentry work that was much needed, my mom, Brittany and I bought our paint and got started early. In one day we painted a fairly large foyer, a hallway and our lobby. We kicked it in and were able to finish the second coat late into the night. Back first thing the next morning for any touch ups and then began to paint the trim a charcoal color. Back home to bake a couple of batches of cookies and make some lemonade for her first Performance Team meeting. It was neat to see the faces of the people as they walked in the studio. Our goal was to cover all of this yucky, pumpkin and yellow paint that was in these areas. We accomplished it. She had her meeting, even made a power point presentation using her dad's projector. We felt it went well...and it did because every child there plus two more are all in her summer classes and are on the first official Dance Out Loud! performance team.

We are so excited! I can't even tell you. At this point we still had a week and a half before her summer classes began so we pretty much lived at that studio with a paint brush in one hand and a paint roller in the other for the major part of that two weeks. We returned home well into the early morning hours and slept for a couple of hours and were right back at it. We were able to paint the two dance studios, which was a really huge job...as both rooms needed three, yes 3 coats of paint. Her studio colors are black,white, pink and turquoise. So...our walls are gray (a medium between black and white). The large studio has and accent of pink around the mirrored wall...the small studio has the turquoise accent. All in all...we were able to complete it, clean the carpets. Put her reception desk together, buy new chairs, add a few welcoming details and were up and running by her first day of class.

She has just finished her second week of summer dance classes. So far so good...she has happy dancers who are working hard. They now have a dress code and they look so cute coming into dance. The parents seem pleased as we given the place that was in serious decline a welcoming feel. So far, we have happy, smiling faces as people enter.

God is so amazing. This was such a huge leap of faith...we have seen Him in so many places throughout this whole experience. We just keep reminding ourselves that He will supply just what she needs.

So that's about it. I am adjusting to actually working...I am working at her reception desk...we are creating policies, planning for the fall, picking music and costumes for next years showcase already. In the meantime as I adjust I am trying to keep my house looking like a home...which isn't going so well, keep my laundry up and cook at home as much as possible. It's a challenge on any day anyway...especially now. But you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way. I am sitting there behind that desk every night listening to my daughter teach children how to dance. I am watching her dream unfold right before my very eyes and we get to be a part of it. I have to say...It's pretty amazing!

So, I'll leave you with one more look at her website and her renovations you can visit her newly updated website...Dance Out Loud!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
Joyce Marie