Chinese New Year- Year of the Horse

Today is the Chinese New Year! The year of the snake is over, it is now the year of the horse.

Am I the only one who finds all the animals fascinating? Rats, oxen, tigers, rabbits, dragons, snakes, horses, goats, monkeys, roosters, dogs, and pigs. 

In case you were wondering the Chinese New Year celebrations start CNY eve, and continue until the lantern festival (which the the fifteenth day after CNY).

Of course, what is Chinese New Year without putting on our Chinese clothes?

Both Joshua and Lily were very excited when I asked them if I could take their pictures in their Chinese clothes. 

It was super cold, and there was snow on the ground, but they were champs!

Zhōngguó xīnnián kuàilè- Happy Chinese New Year!

What does it mean to be a Dancer?

It was bound to happen.

What do you expect after my life for the past three weeks has revolved around the same thing.

Dance.

Specifically Nutcracker. 

So, what makes a dancer? What's it like to be in my shoes... literally.

What does it mean to be a Dancer?

--It means working for months on a three-minute song.

--It means practicing until you know a dance even in your sleep.

--It means hours of rehearsals.

--It means working your muscles so hard that breathing hurts.

--It means falling asleep while standing up from pure exhaustion.

--It means finding random bruises on your body.

--It means your toes feel like they have been run over by an 18-wheeler.

--It means putting on ten-pounds of stage makeup on you and your friends.

--It means changing your whole wardrobe in under a minute.

--It means whispering, behind the curtain, to your friends telling them how nervous you are. 

--It means smiling despite any mess-ups or shooting pains you may have.

--It means you are overcome with pride and satisfaction after finishing a dance.

--It means your sisters (and brother) look at you like a hero after finishing a show.

--It means your parents telling you, "You're the best!", and give you a bouquet of red roses.

--and... It means needing new pointe shoes... again! (Sorry Dad!)

Arabian from the Nutcracker

Let them praise His name in the dance... {Psalm 149:3}

It's another year...

It happened again. A new year, another January.
Although I notice a new year, I often don't fuss over it.
The though of a "New Year's Resolution" drives me mad. In my mind, it's a set-up for failure
And who likes the feeling of failing? Not me.

So instead I come up with some Goals. 

Same thing? I don't like to think so.

Here are my, "goals" for 2014:

~Read my devotion every day. Morning, afternoon, or evening. Read it Emma!!

~Finish my Sophomore year of school strong. {I tend to fall off toward the end}

~Go on a mission trip, or start the process of a mission trip.

~Pray more (enough said)

~Start a memory jar for 2014

In July I attended a three-day girls retreat with some of the girls from my church. While there, I received the Jesus Calling devotion by Sarah Young. If you don't own this devo, I strongly recommend you buy it. It so simple, yet so powerful. Buy Jesus Calling

Although Jesus calling is great, I feel I need a little bit more on a day-to-day basis. As Jesus calling only gives me 2-4 scripture verses. So along with Jesus Calling I have started Devotions for the God Girl by Hayley DiMarco. Although this only gives you one verse from a chapter. I read the entire chapter (not just the verse) each day. Another plus: it goes through the entire Bible. So you get devotionals from each book of the Bible! Buy God Girl

Another thing that has been in the back of my brain is, Missions. Most of you know I traveled to Haiti back in June. See Haiti Post

It was an amazing trip and I loved the kids/people. But it's just not where I'm supposed to be. Don't get me wrong, the little girl I love and think about everyday is there... but I'm not feeling God pulling me to Haiti. I am still longing for China. The question is: Is the longing of me? Or God's tugging on my heart?

Finally, I am starting a memory jar! What is a memory jar? Basically, you write down exciting (or simple) happening in 2014. Then, on December 31st, 2014 (New Year's Eve), you go through an read all of them.
I thought it was a cute idea, so.. why not? Right!? Memory Jar

Well, with nothing else left to write; Happy 2014!!!

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’

– Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)