the things i love

... aside from what you may have learned about me from appointments or my prayer letters, here’s what makes me tick…

I love (God of course, but besides that and in no particular order...)

1. DANCE

"The dancer believes that [her] art has something to say which cannot be expressed in words or in any other way than by dancing... there are times when the simple dignity of movement can fulfill the function of a volume of words. " --Doris Humphrey

I’ve danced since I was three years old. Ballet. Tap. Jazz. Hip hop. Contemporary/modern. You name it. I LOVE dancing. I had studio training through high school then in college a close friend, Kate Kromann, and I had a dream to open a dance studio for underprivileged youth in our community who could not afford dance lessons. Both of us had done cheerleading or pom squad in high school and had helped with tryouts and it was really unfortunate to us that a lot of young girls are excluded from these activities because their families simply cannot afford it. We wanted to make the joy of dancing available to everyone and for both of us, dancing is a way we’re able to express ourselves and worship God as we were created to do. When I’m not dancing, I feel like I’m not living!

Throughout college, we ended up handing over Center Stage to new leadership and started a dance ministry team at our church, The Rock. We had several great years (photos below) and with all of the members graduating and myself being the only choreographer left, it is a ministry on hold right now but one I dream to rebuild and I’m praying for God to send us dancers! Right now I get my dance fix by committing to dance at least once a week in the confines of my room in a complete workout and a couple old dance ministry girls or dance fans and I have been watching So You Think You Can Dance this summer :)

After a Rock Dance ministry practice on fateful night.

Practicing for "There's beauty in the breakdown."

I led a dance ministry at Colorado Leadership training summers 2005 and 2006. Here's a shot taken during "Two Points for Honesty" by Guster.

LT Dance ministry girls, "Iris" by the GooGoo Dolls.

LT Dance ministry girls, talent show.

LT Dance ministry girls with Chris Ridgeway, Univ. of Ill. staffer in charge of worship arts that summer for us at LT.

Rock dance girls getting ready.

Rock dance girls after "Loving Loss" by Caleb Carruth.

Rock dance girls hip hop "Let's Get It Started"

The original dance ministry team! Top row (left to right) Becky Reiners, Kim Bleyer, Stephanie (Brown) Casey, Me, Kate (Germain) Kromann. Bottom row: Camry Ivory and Bailey.

2. CHILDREN

“home is not where you first lived, but where you feel truly alive.” – Garden State

God has blessed me with families that have welcomed me into their lives and where I truly feel at home. One of those families is the Ingalls’ family, I’ve known them for several years. They are on associate staff with The Rock. They are a true example of a godly family and the way a home can truly be a place where the love of God is known and distributed. Their kids are like my own. I’m kinda the big sister/aunt type to all of them and have been there since the last three were born. They have four children Laura, turning 7 next week, Zachary, 4, Paige, 3, and Baby Brennan is four months old!!! I go to their house about once a week and especially in the stressful and busy life of support raising, making a point to go and play with the kdis and visit with Cannon and Korrin always helps me remember what’s truly important in life and helps me to keep going!

Laura and I.

My pastor's daughter, Jessie Drage and I.

This was my first encounter with Baby Brennan, two days old! As you can see, I'm truly gifted with the little ones :)

Mom and baby

Baby Brennan and I last month, we've come a long way :)

Face painting with the kids!

And the rest of what I love: Girl time.Friends.Reading.Writing.Traveling.Big cities.Coffee shops.Blogging.Photography (enjoying it not taking it!).People.Starbucks :)