Becoming His 31: church

Reaghan's Big Day {Tiny Tot Choir + Dance Recital}

9:36 PM

Remember when I wrote that Reaghan was starting dance class this fall? Her Winter Showcase was last weekend and it was a-dorable.

This entire fall I've had so much fun taking Reaghan to dance class every Thursday evening. She gets so excited when she wakes up from her nap and I tell her its time to get ready for dance. I was worried about how she would do in the class without me there watching since she is not very outgoing but from day 1 she hasn't hesitated. I love watching her walk in to class confidently taking her bag to her little cubby and sitting on her blue dot on the floor and then emerging 45 minutes later so proud of herself and eager to tell me all that she did! It's been fun as a mom watching her enjoy something that's building her confidence and her independence.

Along with dance class we've also being doing a Tiny Tot choir at church on Sunday evenings practicing two Christmas songs to share with the congregation during the Christmas Season. My sister-in-law Ann and I have been leading the class and wouldn't you know that the day to sing fell on the same day as the girls first dance recital!?! Thankfully the girls show time was in the evening so the times didn't conflict but it made for a fun, busy day! I made sure we got some pictures that morning of the girls in their Christmas dresses. (That I snagged at the consignment shop right up the road from me. I don't always shop second hand, but when it comes to holiday outfits, its the best way to go because they're always in great condition!)

This was another area I wasn't too sure that Reaghan would do well in. She does great in class singing her songs and doing the hand motions when I'm in there leading it but I worried that when she got on stage to sing in front of the whole church she wouldn't want to go through with it. She totally surprised me and wasn't phased a bit! I can't believe how much she's matured this past year.

After church we made sure we came home and got a nap before her second "performance" of the day. She doesn't always need a nap any more, but I know being center of attention takes a lot out of my introverted toddler so recharging with a nap was definitely a priority. I didn't want any melt downs at the little recital.

Cousins waiting together backstage!

I almost grabbed our nicer camera but then decided I didn't want to lug it around... ugh, I should've brought it because the iphone just couldn't capture great pictures in the darkened room.

When they first came out I was a little worried because Reaghan (second.. well really 3rd... in line) had her head down and finger in her mouth. Her classic nervous habits that we've been working on overcoming. I thought oh no, this isn't going to go well.

But once they were all lined up and the music started playing she perked right up!

They did a little dance to "Let it Snow" and it was precious with their twirls, plies and passe's.

I thought I might die of cuteness. (I literally almost did die of cuteness when another 3-4 year old class came out dressed as reindeer and did a tap dance routine! I don't know how I made it through that one.)

You can't have a dance recital without the daddy bringing the little ballerina some flowers!

She also got a little ballerina doll and a rose from her Grammie and Pop Pop.

Her aunts and uncles came to see her dance and Mark's parents were there too of course for both of their grand-girls. They brought the girls a little ballerina ornament for the tree.

Mark and I talk a lot about what we want our kids participation in things like dance and sports to look like as they grow older. We love the opportunity for character growth and personal development that comes along with these types of activities but we want there to be a realistic balance between their activity of choice and our family life. Of course, that's looking quite a few years in to the future! We're just now getting our feet wet in this world of extra curricular activities with our 3 year old and right now we are completely enjoying this new season watching our Reaghan become a big girl!

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church

Easter Sunday

8:02 PM

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30 Days of Thanks

30 Days of Thanks - The Church

4:34 PM

Day 24

I must be completely honest as I write about my thankfulness for the church. In recent years I have become increasingly cynical of the local church. I frequently question the way in which we "go about" our Sunday morning services, our ministries, our song services, etc. In so many ways I feel we have become so immersed in our culture that we are no longer a boat in the water (the world) reaching out to those who are drowning; but instead a boat in the water that has tiny holes letting the water in slowly. So much so that we don't even realize that we are no longer effectively reaching out to the lost, but we are also drowning ourselves. I often wonder what the first century church really looked like and what those christians would say to us if they could see us now. I know this is a very broad generalization and I can't speak for every church. I am just sharing my feelings based on the churches and christians I have known over the last several years... and I include myself in this generalization.

However, this purpose of this post is not to go on and on about what might be wrong with the church, but instead to take a minute and reflect on how grateful I am for the church despite the ways in which we might be falling. And maybe more than I am grateful for the local church, I am grateful for the global church that is stretched out around the world and that has persisted throughout history and incredible persecution.

The Bible says that the church is the body of Christ -

" Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many."

1 Corinthians 12:12-14

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."

1 Corinthians 12:27

My gratitude for the church is not based on buildings, or "cool" programs, or upbeat songs, or special conferences, because it isn't these things that have allowed the church to persevere; but I am grateful for the group of ragamuffin misfits that have been rescued by our Savior that make up the church. We are sinners, we mess up, we lose our way, we get distracted, we judge, we trip and fall - but the beauty is that its not about who or what we are but who God is and what He is doing in and through us.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." Galatians 2:20

Because of this, I am grateful to be a part of something bigger than myself. I am part of a group of people who have realized that there is a Creator and that because of sin we were separated from the Creator. We realize that even if we tried our very best to be "good and clean" in order to come before this Creator - the One True God - we wouldn't be good or clean enough and that we would still deserve to die because of our sin. We are a group of people that believe that Christ died in our place and that if we give our hearts to Him we can be restored to our God and be with Him in eternity after our earthly bodies pass away. It is this belief, this hope, that binds the church together throughout history and gives us a common goal and unity that flows from one generation to the next.

I am grateful that God planned for christians to be joined together as one body, that He wants us to be in community with one another to encourage and teach and keep each other accountable. He knew we would need one another.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,

just as in fact you are doing."

1 Thessalonians 5:11

We may be failing in many ways, but there are few things I love more than when the body of Christ gets things right. I am grateful for the Body because we bear each others burdens, take care of widows and orphans, pray for one another, forgive one another, give water to those who are thirsty, and clothe those who are naked. Because when this happens, God is on our side, and nothing can stop us. The bonding agent of Christ's blood is stronger than anything the evil one tries to use to divide us.

I am grateful for the church because despite all the ways we mess up. God has promised that she will stand - she will prevail.

Even thought I struggle with a cynical attitude at times, I know I need to focus on being more grateful for the church, globally and locally. Globally - for those that have gone before me and those working right now under harsh and life threatening conditions to point others towards God. And Locally - those that are even now reaching out to the community and even pouring in to my own life. The church is God's plan for believers to come together. God desires for his people to be in unity with each other and with Him. I am thankful that He adopted me into his family and that I am a part of His people.

Reaghan's Big Day {Tiny Tot Choir + Dance Recital}

Easter Sunday

30 Days of Thanks - The Church

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