First Nutcracker Performance in Florida

My girls have been performing in the Nutcracker for seven years? Maybe this was their eighth? When they looked for a dance studio here in Florida, it was imperative that the studio have a Nutcracker performance. And when they auditioned for the Dance Arts (like company) at this current studio, they did not know they were officially auditioning for this year's Nutcracker, too. They were used to a separate audition with call backs and then a big official announcement regarding who was cast as what. 

But this studio did not do that, and there was no major announcement. When my 17-year old found out that she was cast as snow queen via an email with all the cast assignments, she was shocked. After all, the studio had only seen her dance en pointe three separate occasions. She also was cast as waltz soloist and French back. 

It seemed to me -- after years of being intentionally overlooked and unfairly forgotten by the previous studio, and still persevering, doing her best in the roles she was cast while they placed certain mediocre girls ahead of her because of favoritism, not merit -- God saw what she had endured and He blessed her. And with His grace, He provided this opportunity for her. It was a blessing to finally see her in roles she was totally capable of. At least this studio considered merit as a requirement. 

In addition, my 14-year old was cast in waltz and Russian back. She was also cast as a butterfly, which was her first performance en pointe. She said she was nervous about it, but she did very well.  

Eva, first time performing en pointe:

Sophia as snow queen:

Sophia leaping, during waltz:

Sophia (far R.):

Sophia (2nd from L.):

My 14-year old (L.) suspended in the air, during waltz:

After the show, with guest dancers, Cavalier and Sugar Plum:

Backstage waiting their turn:

We're so very grateful for this dance studio. I told my girls that this was a lesson in perseverance and patience, while maintaining a good heart attitude through injustice (no matter how insignificant). 

We don't know what God is doing, but we know that He sees everything; He is just; and He brings blessings in His time according to His purpose and will, for His glory and our good.

It was worth the wait.

  And that's a wrap. 

Six months in Florida

We are officially six-month old Floridians. 

My kids miss their friends so much, and I asked them if they were going to move back to California to be with their friends again, and all three answered, "NOOOO," then added that their friends were going to move to Florida. Not really sure if they actually had that conversation, but it sounded affirmative. 

I had not taken many pictures this last month; there is not much to share. 😞

I feel like I can make lists now about some of what I like, dislike, and miss. 

First, what I dislike about Florida:

• the smell of mold 
• giant roaches / too many bugs (I had to live with roaches in CA too 🙄)
• can't go outside in the summer (same in CA) 
• lightning that wants to kill me 
• driving in the rain 
• aggressive drivers (Californians speed, but Floridians cut you off, which I think is the New Yorker in them)
• can't air dry laundry in under two hours 
• can't open my windows in the morning / evenings 
• can't compost without hosting hundreds of bugs 
• mysterious bug bites
• the humidity

What I miss about California:

• my church family 
• my granddaughter
• family
• cool mornings / evenings and opening my windows to let in the breeze
• drying the laundry in an instant in the wind and sun
• composting
• my greenhouse

Now, what I like about this part of Florida:

• it's NOT California
• the rain / thundershowers
• rainbows
• the beach
• the birds
• it's green
• the trees
• the lizards
• the clouds
• no wind
• I can grow food (it may get eaten by bugs, but at least I can start something)
• most people are cordial and friendly
• well-maintained infrastructure, roads, buildings, etc.
• well-organized / thorough elections
• not having a neurotic governor 
• rarely seeing panhandlers, homeless, mentally ill on the street
• freedom

I'm sure my lists will grow and change overtime, but this is what I have come up with now. 

Voting in Florida

I never did work the polls on Election Day. I had already been assigned to work, but since my dad went to the hospital in July, I didn't want to commit to work and then have to cancel on that day in case I had another emergency again. So I cancelled back in July. 

But we did get to vote in our first Florida election. You must show a picture ID with address and signature. They check your photo and your signature to make sure it matches their records. I know...the horror! 

Homeschooling in Florida

Next week my two youngest will begin another year of homeschool. I've always said that California is very liberal about homeschooling. All that was required was to file a PSA once a year. Homeschoolers do not need to test and parents do not need to be certified teachers. They do not hound homeschoolers about vaccinations either. 

In Florida, it is very similar. I registered with an umbrella school, which will file my paperwork. The kids won't need to do state testing, and all I have to do is turn in attendance. I also waived vaccinations. Simple enough.

Dancing in Florida

My girls have started dancing at a new dance studio. Two weeks ago they auditioned for Nutcracker, and my 17-yo was cast as Snow Queen and a soloist in Waltz, and my 14-yo was also cast in Snow. 

I'll be honest with you: it was by God's grace because my 17-yo had been unfairly treated at her last studio; it got political toward the end, which wasn't fair to her. But she kept her chin up and excelled in the roles she was cast. She reached out to the owner with questions why (what she did wrong and could improve next time) she was not cast in senior roles (as she was a senior and ones less senior were given those roles), but the owner never responded. It is just as well that we left when we did because I couldn't stand it anymore. 

I told my daughter that her heart attitude was more important than her roles; and God saw all that she had to endure. This to me was God's grace. This new dance studio had only seen her dance en pointe on two separate occasions, and yet they cast her for a main and soloist. I told her to be grateful for God's timing and grace. This is why we should maintain a good heart attitude and be patient when we sense we have been unjustly treated; God sees everything and knows what we are going through. We never know how or when He is going to work things out for us.

Gardening in Florida

Finally, as for my gardening situation: 

I re-planted onions. My one carrot is still growing. And my pepper plant grew fruit.

Then a family of hornworms ate all the leaves, and I don't know if the fruit will survive.

Some months ago I threw down several morning glory seeds under my bedroom window to see what would happen. Out of the seeds I threw down, only one seedling came up. And then someone ate it. I thought it was gone for good; however, a few weeks ago, a couple of heart-shaped leaves came back up again. 

And so maybe, maybe I'll have some morning glories under my window. 

I won't hold my breath.

* * *

P.S. Our Florida vehicle registrations are due for all three of our vehicles, and I didn't get that same stomach ache I used to get when our California vehicle registrations arrived in the mail. Instead, I want to laugh because even all three registrations fall short of the exorbitant cost of one registration in California. Add this to the "What I like about Florida" list. 

Five Months in Florida

What we've been up to:

It's been five months in our new home of Florida. I was able to get three cucumbers off of our cucumber plant, but the temperatures have been too high, and the plant is now out of commission. Rumor is: autumn is a good time to start planting again. 

I've been making my own butter. I love it! My husband bought me a legitimate butter container; therefore, I no longer need to use a glass bowl anymore. In addition, after I remove the butter from the buttermilk, I use the buttermilk to make pancakes or waffles the next day. 

Here's Dodger wishing he could get to the waffles.

We found a great produce stand nearby where we get all of our produce: Parksdale Farm. This one night we visited just to get some ice cream, which was pretty good, too. My girls and I were just fooling around.

I've been enjoying the different skies. Often overcast, sometimes flashing with lightning and rumbling with thunder, beautiful sunsets, and one morning it was sunny with a rainbow. 

Most mornings I like to take Dodger for a walk and the sky is always beautiful.

Our lives are full of lizards. Dodgers goes crazy over them, hunting constantly. There are a few lizards running around in the yard without tails.

My girls participated in a summer intensive at a nearby dance studio. At the end of the week they had a little performance. 

My 17-year old graduated in June. She took a few pictures downtown for graduation announcements. Just for fun. She doesn't live in pointe shoes, but it was a big part of what she did and focused on during in high school. And one day she would like to operate a dance studio for kids and choreograph her own Nutcracker.

One morning someone's goat visited our property. 

We spent July 3rd with some friends from church who put on a huge firework show, which was a lot of fun. It's our first Fourth of July in the FREE PART OF AMERICA! 

Most of our time is spent taking care of my dad, and this month he ended up with pneumonia and spent two nights in the hospital. He is at home now and regaining his strength. 

We have also been looking at homes in Hillsborough and Polk counties. 

And we found a great place to purchase pointe shoes in Lakeland. Yay!

Finally, here's a little meme about Gavin Newsom because he stepped in it when he opened his big mouth, claiming to be for individual liberty and freedom. He was the first governor to lockdown free citizens; he  locked students out of schools longer than any governor; and he continues to grant himself emergency powers using the health department to institute countless regulations and restrictions on individuals,  businesses, churches, and livelihoods. I can tell you from experience, Gavin Newsom has a dangerously warped idea of freedom. 

Just a friendly reminder: You do not want America to resemble California; 

hence do not vote for this self-aggrandizing, egotistical, arrogant, power-thirsty authoritarian:

Florida Gov. DeSavage vs. California Gov. Newsom

Goodbyes

February has been an emotional rollercoaster. 

It began with anxiety about finding a rental home in time. Every "available" rental home we found online already had an applicant. It was nerve-wracking. And then, in His timing, God provided the perfect opportunity to fit our current situation. It's more perfect than we could have imagined.

Then we ran into a complication with the buyer/buyer's agent. Ugh! I won't explain because it is not necessary. At the time of this post, we are still waiting to see what happens. It is our desire to sell our home before we leave, but it may not. We are disappointed, but it is not in our control. If we have to start over, our agent will take care of everything. 

And then came the goodbyes. Lots of goodbyes. When you plan to leave, friends and family will want to spend one last time with you. It can be heart-wrenching, especially when you know you may never see these loved ones again. At least in this life.

One of the goodbyes I had was with my homeschool/hike/book club moms. We decided to spend a day hiking Owl Canyon in Barstow. Another day some of us made time to go bowling and had Vietnamese for lunch. 

My youngest had her final pointe lesson with her teacher, who has been providing pre-pointe lessons in her home since last November (because my daughter could not attend her class lesson at the studio due to a conflicting schedule). We had a bitter sweet goodbye, knowing that her teacher is in the same situation as we are, planning to leave Cali later in the year.

My seventeen year old said goodbye to two of her long-time friends.

My youngest had emotional goodbyes with her dance classmates. Some of them have been dancing together for at least six years. They had a special night of bowling.

And one night she had a sleepover with two of her very best dance friends. The next morning everyone had red eyes - and not from sleeplessness. Even me. 

Finally had to clear out my very special bookshelves built by my husband. Can't take these because they are secured to the wall. 

Last weekend, our church family had a going away party for us and retirement party for another member. This is FAMILY! We wish we could take our entire church with us. 💔

Saying goodbye to our little granddaughter. 😢 I can't even speak. 

Saying goodbye to our upright piano that has been part of our family for fifteen years and has provided beautiful classical music. But gratefully it has been adopted by another family to play beautiful music all over again. 

The saddest goodbye was on our final Sunday at church. We've been attending this church for eighteen years. Pastor asked us to come up, he told a little history about our family, and he and the elders prayed over us. Way too emotional. It should not have felt like a funeral, but I know when we are settled, God willing, it will all turn to joy and gratefulness. 

On the same day, after church, I enjoyed one more time with a couple of high school friends. We agreed that we should have scheduled a day together long before this; when you put off these things, you will miss opportunities. Don't put off important occasions.

During February, once our home entered Escrow, we packed and packed and packed. What a mess! We downsized, discarded, and donated. Everyone helped...even Dodger.

Sometimes Dodger was no help.

On Monday of this final week in Cali, the UPack container arrived, and we have been loading it with all of our stuff. And more Stuff. I hate stuff; it is a source of anxiety for me. All of it seems so insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Moving really puts perspective on what is essential and what is not. How temporary stuff is in this world. 

Sorry. It's me. I'm going through a lot of spiritual growth and learning. 

I have not had very good sleep these days. I think I may even be suffering from a mild case of shingles. Figures. I've had it before, during a very stressful time in my life; and hello, if this has not been stressful, I don't know what stress is. 

Last night, I broke into a flood of tears, and I shared with my husband what I figured out: I am in mourning. 

First of all, I am mourning my country and life as I know them. Our futures and our children's futures are being stolen from us by greedy, self-serving global tyrants. The theft is real. I am aware of it, and nothing can stop it. Believe me, I do not comply with tyranny. That's all I will say. I know the story and why it is happening. For two years I have been living with this emotional upheaval. It will take much prayer and God's strength to rise above it, which I am working on.

Second, I am saying goodbye to a huge chunk of my life, where I grew up, married my husband, and together raised five children. The family events, the school events, church events, the memories. I am mourning the house we made a home for twenty-five years; peaceful mornings alone with God while riding my bike around the block; gardening in the warm spring sun; still summer days while floating in our pool and reading a book for too long; the mocking bird that kept us up all night singing in my neighbor's tree, and on and on. 

I feel like Laura Ingalls Wilder when she said her throat ached. 

However, I am also hopeful. God has answered our prayers, and He has made all of this possible. And while sad goodbyes are part of the package, we know that joy comes after. I don't know where all of this will lead, but we are expectant of God using us to do His will. I rejoice in that, and to Him be all the glory.

💗

Leaving Friday.