something much more substantial than the last few posts (yet potentially containing less physical mass)

This passage of Scripture has been incredibly refreshing and encouraging to me this week :)

"Your testimonies are wonderful;

therefore my soul keeps them.

The unfolding of your words gives light;

it imparts understanding to the simple.

I open my mouth and pant,

because I long for your commandments.

Turn to me and be gracious to me,

as is your way with those who love your name.

Keep steady my steps according to your promise,

and let no iniquity get dominion over me.

Redeem me from man's oppression,

that I may keep your precepts.

Make your face shine upon your servant,

and teach me your statutes.

My eyes shed streams of tears,

because people do not keep your law."

~ Psalm 119:129-136

(unecessary) foot update

My feet were much worse than the last picture and long, repetitive rehearsals kept reopening the wounds,  but now they're finally all scabbed over and all the redness and swelling is gone :) However, pointing one's feet in ballet while scabs are hardening is quite painful. 

Thankfully I've been off today and will be off tomorrow :) 

Hopefully rehearsal on Monday will not reopen all the scabs. 

"ewwww, your feet!"

Soooo, my body is not used to modern dance . . . particularly post modern release technique . . . at all . . .

major lactic acid build-up (which I've really never experienced before), pounding headaches and massive bruises define the past 84 hours of my life  . . . along with 24 hours of dancing . . .

the pile of band-aids wrappers after I finished trying to rescue my feet last night

swollen, red, aching, raw feet (which you really didn't need to see)

. . . and you definitely don't need to see the bruises covering my knees and hips.

On a much more positive note, I love working with the guest choreographer (an alum) and I will be so much stronger once I finally build the stamina and mental strength to get through the piece without falling over (aside from the 28 times that I am intentionally supposed to fall over and get back up again as fast as possible). It was an honor to be chosen for the piece because of working with the guest choreographer and because only five girls were picked to be in the piece. Also, the piece is to a sound score (not "music") which is a new experience for me as well :) 

things I learned at college today

1) Fondus are like lightsabers 

2) Hoola-hoops tricks are much harder than they look

3) Dancing like a baby pterodactyl is fun 

4) A 12 hour day with 7 hours of dancing and one 20 minute break makes one quite exhausted

peanuts

purpose matters

"These all died in faith not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better a country, that is, a heavenly one."

 ~Hebrews 11:13-16a

I'm 19? [that sounds old and it's an odd number]

sleeping in

eating pancakes for breakfast   --which Zach made himself 

reading a good book (Why We Love the Church)   --with blankets by the fire
watching a documentary on NYCB  --with my grandmother and Charlotte
taking ballet   --at my home studio :) but after two weeks off :/

. . . today was a wonderful birthday :)  . . . and I'm going to be very sore tomorrow :P