A Randomly Chosen Winner? {Matthew West – December’s Dreamer in the Spotlight}

21 Dec

There are times in life when you just know that God is trying to show you something, and what I’m about to describe is one of those moments…

Last Tuesday, Adam and I were blessed to be able to enjoy an intimate mid-day performance in downtown Nashville by Matthew West that will air on SiriusXM’s The Message. (Thanks to my supervisor for letting me have a late, extended lunch!) While the concert itself was amazing (and I will talk about it more in a little bit), the story of getting the opportunity to go is pretty awesome, as well, so I’ll start at the beginning…

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Over the Thanksgiving weekend we spent time at my parents’ house. I heard my dad showing Adam the latest Matthew West CD, Into the Light, that he recently bought. (I was familiar with Matthew West’s background and some of his music already, but not a dedicated fan – yet!) We started discussing how he is the type of artist that Adam aspires to be and it would be neat if he could meet with him over lunch or whatever to ask him some questions and get some insight into how he balances family and music, etc. About a week later, my dad emails me details about an opportunity to randomly win two tickets to an in-studio performance by Matthew West in Nashville. Without giving it much thought, and noting that the timing was too perfect to be a coincidence, I entered the contest. A few days later I received an email that I was one of the winners! I really wasn’t surprised that I won, because I sensed that God was trying to speak to us, especially Adam, through Matthew. (I later found out that even my dad wasn’t surprised, because after I told him I entered the contest, he decided he didn’t need to enter it anymore!) Let me just note, that if it wasn’t for my dad getting Matthew West’s CD and showing it to Adam just a week prior, he probably would not have alerted me about the contest!

So back to the SiriusXM performance at the Bridgestone Arena… There was only about 40-50 people in this small room above the Visitor’s Center, and I’m sure each person that day was supposed to be there for a reason. (That’s the great thing about Matthew West’s concerts – I don’t see how anyone can leave and not be affected and changed in some way.) Adam said that he could feel the Holy Spirit in the room, and I definitely agree!

For those who aren’t familiar with Matthew West, his past two albums have consisted of songs written about some of the heart-breaking personal experiences he has received in over 20,000 letters. Each of his songs is about a specific individual and what God’s response would be to offer hope and healing. To listen to the songs and read these stories, check out Matthew West’s website. He has found a way to make his music career not about himself, but about encouraging others! How refreshing and inspirational! It’s something that Adam has really struggled with lately when thinking about his future music plans. He does not want to do music for his own sake, for money, or for fame. Adam wants to use his music to make a difference and he doesn’t want to promote himself just to try to gain more fans.

Adam said that this is the first time he has listened to live music without focusing on whether or not the singer hit the right notes or if the right part was played. He went to the performance totally open to listen with his heart. I can’t tell you how many times Adam gave me this look of, “Are you serious? Is he reading my mind? This is crazy!” Matthew also had his daughter, Lulu, there with him. Like us, he has two little girls, so that’s just another reason Adam feels he can relate to him. During the interview portion of the show, Matthew was asked if it was hard to be on the road when his girls were so young. Matthew stated that he struggled with it a lot and wondered if it was really God’s will to pursue his ministry while leaving his family at home. He said that God has provided ways for things to work out, and now they are able to home-school their girls so his family can be on the road with him when he goes on tour. This is one of those times when Adam looked at me with eyes that said, “Wow, this guy is totally like who I want to be! What is God trying to tell me?!” Adam has talked often, recently, about wondering if God would want him to be away from the girls and our family to pursue music.

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After this amazing performance that will be airing at some point on The Message (Keep an ear out, those of you who have SiriusXM!), we all got to do a little meet-and-greet with Matthew and he signed free CD’s!! Adam is still processing everything that happened in that hour-and-a-half on a Tuesday afternoon! God was definitely speaking and we’ll be keeping everyone updated on the next steps!

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Please check out Matthew West’s music! He’s bringing truth and hope to people in a real way! Artists like him should be supported! I know that he has at least two new devoted fans in Tennessee!

Merry Christmas and see you back at A Dreamer’s Wife in 2013!  I’ll leave all you dreamers with the lyrics to Matthew West’s song, Do Something!

Verse 1:
I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now
Thought, how’d we ever get so far down
How’s it ever gonna turn around

So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in poverty

Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”

He said, “I did, I created you”

Chorus:
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

Verse 2:
I’m so tired of talking
About how we are God’s hands and feet
But it’s easier to say than to be
Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves
It’s alright, “somebody else will do something”

Well, I don’t know about you
But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire
I don’t want a flame, I want a fire
I wanna be the one who stands up and says,
“I’m gonna do something”

Chorus:
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something (yes, it is)
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

Bridge:
We are the salt of the earth
We are a city on a hill (shine shine, shine shine)
But we’re never gonna change the world
By standing still
No we won’t stand still (x3)

Chorus:
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

It’s time for us to do something (x2)

Read more: http://artists.letssingit.com/matthew-west-lyrics-do-something-mdw36nq#ixzz2FhDtRCYs
LetsSingIt – Your favorite Music Community

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The Music Does Not Make the Man

7 Dec

Today, my husband, Adam, is the author of this post!

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As this year is coming to a close, I thought I’d take a moment to share what has been going on with my music, but more importantly with my heart.

I unofficially declared this year as a year of reflection and growth last January, and it has changed me in so many ways. I decided that in order for me to listen to God, I needed to eliminate some distractions in my life, starting with Facebook. Now I realize that to some, that may be the end of the world as they know, it but I can’t tell you how liberating it has been to not be a slave to the never-ending updates. I do think that Facebook is a very effective way to connect with family, friends, and fans and share so many great things with the people we care about, so I’ll probably be more active as 2013 approaches.

For so many years, my life and worth as a man has centered around, and been measured by, the amount of “success” I have in my music career. Nashville does a really great job of fostering that feeling of “if I only had a record deal, I’d be happy” or “if Rascal Flatts would just cut one of my songs, I’d have money”. But something happens when you have an amazing, loving, supportive wife and two wonderful daughters that can make you smile so much your cheeks hurt. You begin to realize that life is so much more than what you do. So, I’ve stripped myself of all the pretenses, self-fulfilling prophecies, and expectations, and I must say I’m happier, healthier and more blessed than I’ve ever been. I may not have a producer, manager, publishing deal or a platinum album, but God has revealed to me that I’m loved no matter what. My worth is not found on a tour bus or within the pages of a recording contract. And guess what, you are loved no matter what, too.

Now, in no way have I “given up”. Stef and I have decided that I’m going to continue to write, record, and share my songs to any and all who will listen. If I can make a living in the process, that would be awesome, but we refuse to let money, and the prospects of money, drive our decisions when it comes to sharing music that I pray can put a smile on someone’s face or make them look to God. I truly feel like I am finally doing music for the right reason. I still have dreams. I still have hopes. But most importantly, I still have love. I look forward to sharing my music and journey with you all. If you have an inspirational story, please share. God bless and Merry Christmas!

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Go Irish! 7 Quick Takes (#5)

30 Nov

7 quick takes sm1 7 Quick Takes Friday (vol. 197)

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I’m just going to go ahead and begin with it – How ’bout them Irish?! Notre Dame is finishing the season at #1 and going to the National Championship! What a crazy, fun season it has been! It’s been great to see this 2012 team be so bonded together and supportive of one another!

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Living in Tennessee, all we hear about is SEC, SEC, and some more SEC, so it will be an interesting game whether Alabama or Georgia wins this Saturday… It’s just going to be hard to wait until January 7th for the game. Let’s go ND! (Cue motivational Rudy theme song!)

Also need to give a shout-out to the ND Men’s Basketball team who beat Kentucky last night! I loved seeing the support from Manti and the entire football team, too!

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I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a Tokens Show at the historic Ryman Auditorium the other weekend. It was a nice variety of great music, comedy, and theology. Not too happy about some Catholic jabs (as it is a protestant-based show), but it was good especially since one of my all-time favorite artists, Vince Gill, performed a couple songs! The theme of that night’s show was about coming home, so it was fitting for him to end the show with “Go Rest High On That Mountain”!! The Ryman is where the music video was shot for this song years ago, so it was pretty amazing to hear him live at such a special venue! The only thing missing was the amazing harmony on the chorus, though! If you’re not familiar with the song, you need to check it out now! Close your eyes and listen! You will get goosebumps – guaranteed!

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So… my husband is turning the big 3-0 this coming Monday! I know that 30 is not old, but something about this age just makes you stop and say, “Wow, I’m really an adult now.” I’m only one year behind, so my time is coming soon! I’m so proud of how hard my husband works for our family and what a great father he is to our daughters! I’m very blessed to be married to him. Happy Birthday, Adam! I love you!

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Speaking of Adam working hard for our family, he really has been working his butt off, especially the past few weeks! For example, the guy worked a full shift Friday evening and then worked a double-shift Saturday, slept on the couch at the office overnight (otherwise he only would have gotten 4 hours of sleep at home), and opened the building early at 6:30 am. He then worked another double-shift to cover for a co-worker. Needless to say he was very sleepy Monday morning. Thanks to my mom for offering to watch the girls all day so Adam could get some extra Zzzz’s! Working behind the scenes in the music industry is definitely a service-based job. Plus most days of the week, my husband watches both girls before going to work, so he doesn’t get too much time to rest.

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And just in case you Nashville fans are interested and missed a previous post, Adam works at Soundcheck where several scenes are filmed. He worked there one day when all four of the large rehearsal rooms were being used for the show and he couldn’t believe how many people are involved in production, etc. I have to say that I’m kind of surprised that Adam is hooked on Nashville now. I didn’t think he’d watch it.  A recent episode actually featured a song written by someone that he played guitar/sang background for and my cousin toured with as a drummer for awhile – Sean McConnell. Adam recognized his song “Kiss” as soon as Avery started singing it. Oh, and you should check out Sean’s music! He’s had several cuts by major artists, including Rascal Flatts and Tim McGraw. He’s absolutely one of the truest artists and best songwriters Adam and I have ever heard. You will become addicted to his honest, passionate voice!

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Changing it up… Now that our oldest daughter is 3, we’re trying to figure out just how to handle the whole Santa Claus thing. I’m not one to lie, but as a child there is a certain special magic and mystery when it comes to Santa. Adam found a good book called A Special Place for Santa that starts with Santa feeling bad that so many people are focusing on him instead of Jesus. It then discusses a little bit about the history of St. Nicholas and how he evolved into the Santa legend. It’s a nice book. We also had a family friend give us a book last year that is similar but goes into more detail about how different parts of the world have different names for Saint Nicholas and different traditions. Anybody have any stories or tips about how they portray Santa to their children?

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And just since this is so cute and makes me laugh, I have to share a photo of my 3-year-old’s Christmas tree decorating!

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Her younger sister has pulled them all off a few times now! Good thing for soft, non-breakable ornaments on the bottom of the tree!!!

Be sure to check out Jen’s and today’s other 7 Quick Takes posts at Conversion Diary!

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They Have Room {November’s Dreamers in the Spotlight}

23 Nov

I have read a lot of amazing international adoption stories in the past few months. So many couples have decided to open their hearts and homes in order to provide a forever family to an orphaned child. Earlier this month, a story on the front page of one Sunday’s Tennessean featured a couple in their early thirties with eleven children – four biological and seven adopted! Talk about having faith – and living it!

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Kirk and Heidi Weimer began their adoption journey in 2007 after already having three biological children. Heidi writes about their life at We Have Room. A documentary, by the same name, about the Weimer family’s story was recently released. When I checked out Heidi’s blog, I was really impressed by some of the posts that she wrote, especially this one. In it, she discusses following God’s plan despite difficulties. Do yourself a favor and READ IT – you won’t regret it! I also love her mantra, and it reminds me of Katie Davis‘ Twitter profile: “It’s not about me.”

My life is not my own.

Amen! Those six words sum up what dreaming big is all about. This is obviously easier said than done, but if we focus on what God wants us to do for others, we will experience uncommon joy even amidst challenges.

Thanks, Weimer family, for inspiring us all to do God’s will even when the world throws obstacles in our way!

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7 Quick Takes (#4)

16 Nov

7 quick takes sm1 7 Quick Takes Friday (vol. 196)

I’ve missed doing my Quick Takes for the past several weeks! I have still been keeping up with many other participants’ posts most Fridays though! Here’s some randomness from my corner of the world…

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Did you check out October’s Dreamer in the Spotlight yet? Cecilia Rodriguez Schwartz of Dance Immaculata was featured!

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As I mentioned in my previous Quick Takes post, I have been taking some web design courses via the MBD Training Center. If you’re interested in learning more about web design for yourself, check out the site and tell Ro Little that I referred you!

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Since Thanksgiving is next week, I have to share this amazingly delicious pumpkin recipe that I stumbled upon via Pinterest – Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cakes! It’s like pumpkin pie with a cookie crust! I’m definitely making it again this coming week!

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I recently finished reading Spirit Rising: Tapping into the Power of the Holy Spirit by Jim Cymbala. The personal stories and insights shared in the book truly show the Holy Spirit at work. God can do amazing things in us if we just ask and believe! It was definitely the perfect time in my faith journey to read this. I highly recommend it.

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I’m sure I am way behind on this, but I just found out about Goodreads. I think this will be my new way to keep track of the books I’ve read and the ones that I want to read! Anybody else use this site/app?

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I’m a little in denial that Christmas is less than 6 weeks away! I need to get my shopping list together! I have ordered my Christmas photo cards, though! I got them for 80% off via Vistaprint. I just checked and I think the offer is still good at this special link I saw in a coupon insert a couple weeks ago.

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So my kitchen floor is in need of some serious scrubbing. I love my Swiffer for regular mopping, but I’m sure I need to give it a good old-fashioned hands and knees cleaning. A friend suggested a steam mop. Anybody have any product suggestions or cleaning tips?

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Be sure to check out Jen’s and the other 7 Quick Takes posts at Conversion Diary!

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5 Ways to Encourage Your Husband to Dream (And Why)

9 Nov

Having dreams is what makes life tolerable. – ‘Pete’ on Rudy

Spouses often balance each other out.  One is a spender and the other is a saver.  One is a planner and the other is more of a free-spirit.  One is a dreamer and the other is a realist.  These differences can be good for providing an alternative perspective and they can also be challenging when making decisions.  One is not always right and the other is not always wrong.  Being able to acknowledge and submit to each others’ strengths can be powerful, and dreaming together can make your marriage unshakeable.

Here are my 5 ways to encourage your husband’s dreams and the benefits it will have on your marriage:

1. Listen.  This is simple and vital. It can be very discouraging when someone discounts what you have to say or acts like they don’t even want to hear it.  Imagine if you excitedly started telling your best friend a great idea, only to have her act with indifference or doubt – it would probably put you in a pretty bad mood and maybe deter you from sharing things in the future.  Our opinion means a lot to our husbands whether they say so or not.  Don’t give your husband a reason to shut down.  Giving him time to share his ideas and goals can inspire hope, and show that you truly care about what is important to him.

2. Pray.  This is obviously a very important step when discussing future plans.  A key part of determining whether or not dreams are worth pursuing is to evaluate if it is part of God’s will.  Lysa TerKeurst, founder of Proverbs 31 Ministries, offers a great 5-question reference to use to figure out if God is prompting us to action.  Often times God will ask us to do things that may not make logical sense or are uncomfortable for us, but when both spouses seek to do what He asks, it builds a solid marriage and foundation for whatever lies ahead.

3. Support.  A wife’s encouragement (or lack of) can be powerful.  I once read in a book something like this, “Be your husband’s number one cheerleader or someone else will.”  When our husbands feel supported by us, they feel valued and have more confidence.  Also, when men can spend time and energy doing what they love, they are happier.  And *bonus* this translates into a more gratitude-filled home environment.  Your husband will probably return the favor to help make things a little easier on you!

4. Participate.  Personally, I never had much trouble with being supportive, but once I showed an interest in actually helping my husband achieve his dreams our relationship grew even stronger.  I guess this is an example that “actions speak louder than words.”  This teamwork mentality has carried over to helping each other out more around the house and with our daughters.  We don’t spend time comparing who did more or who is working harder, but strive to find ways to make life better for the other person (most of the time)!

5. Pursue your own dreams.  What would you like to accomplish or, rather, what is God putting on your heart?  When we discuss and pursue our own goals, we also motivate our husbands to do the same and we will be more open to encouraging their pursuits.  If a couple is looking to God to direct their steps then these dreams will be compatible.  (I discuss this idea more here.)  What’s more inspiring than two people hoping, praying, and working together?!  Your husband will thank you, your relationship with God will be deeper, and your marriage will grow stronger than ever!

I know that I’m in my late-twenties and I’ve only been married seven years, but the above points are just a little bit of what I have discovered, especially in the past year.  Our marriage is far from perfect and we are constantly learning and growing, but as long as we are evolving together and focused on God, then I know we will be alright!

Do you have a story to share about how you have seen the benefits of dreaming together in your own marriage?  Any challenges?


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Nashville: TV vs. Reality

2 Nov

Have you watched Nashville on ABC yet?

Since the show is shot in Nashville (obviously), I wanted to check it out to see where they filmed around the city!  I love the  montage of the different views of Nashville in the beginning of the pilot episode.  It never gets old driving into downtown, especially at night!

Some episodes were also shot at Soundcheck, the rehearsal facility where Adam works, and they are preparing to shoot some more scenes there soon.  Keep an eye out for the Soundcheck logo (it was all over the place in the 2nd episode)!

Okay, so I know this show is a drama, and things tend to be exaggerated on television and movies, but there is one thing that totally irritates me about Nashville.  One of the story lines is about a girl, who didn’t even intend to be a singer/songwriter and never sang into a microphone before, getting discovered at The Bluebird Cafe.

Let me just tell you – no one gets discovered at The Bluebird anymore! That’s so late 80’s/early 90’s!  It’s definitely not how things happen nowadays.  Record executives usually only go to legendary bars in Nashville in the afternoon for artist showcases.

Adam playing in a writer’s round at The Bluebird Cafe

Plus, there are so many talented people in town who are trying to get a record deal, that it is almost insulting to them that they’re featuring a character who stumbles into a huge opportunity the first time she sings at a bar in Nashville.

This show is perpetuating the idea to outsiders who aren’t familiar with how things work that “all you have to do is move to Nashville and you’ll randomly get discovered playing out some night.”  The main reason to play around town is to network with other musicians and songwriters.

Alright, I’m done!  I still plan to keep tabs on the show to see how they continue to feature the city and other landmarks.

Also, did you watch the CMA’s last night?  Adam has been down at the Bridgestone Arena as a ‘tech’ this week.  (Thanks for watching the girls all week Mom and Dad!)  He knows all of the secrets of who actually played/sang and who used tracks, but I won’t tell!

I’m so happy for Little Big Town – they’ve been doing music for a long time and have only started getting recognition in recent years!  I also love how Miranda Lambert individually acknowledged how great each of the other nominees were in the Female Vocalist of the Year category!  Very classy!

If you live in Nashville, or have visited, do you have a favorite place in town?  If you caught the CMA’s, do you have a favorite moment from the show?

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What’s Holding You Back from Pursuing Your Dreams?

1 Nov

Many of us have a mental list of places that would be nice to visit, jobs that would be ideal, and things that we’d like to do.  It seems that too often, though, that’s exactly where those dreams stay – in our mind!

As a married, full-time working mother of two, I know the challenges that come with finding the time or the motivation to pursue, let alone even think about, my dreams and goals.  I know that there are seasons in life and I need to be present in whatever phase that I am in, since God has me there for a reason!  I also believe, though, that God gave each of us talents to use to aid the world and I need to be open to whatever He is calling me to do.

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, we can often dismiss promptings from the Holy Spirit or over look seeds that God may be planting in our hearts for the future.  We may be distracted by too much time on social media, held back by fear of failure, or worried about what others’ will think of us. Fortunately, we can choose how to respond and address these obstacles!

Whether it’s spending a few minutes in silence on the commute to work to listen to God, starting a journal, or choosing to read an inspirational book instead of watching television, there are minor changes we can make in our daily routines to be more open to God’s will and discovering His plan for us!

To read about one way that I have carved out more time in my day to devote to my family and my personal goals, check out my first guest post at Life Happens When!  I love Leanne’s blog and am excited to be a part of it!

What sacrifices or changes have you made in order to grow in faith and work towards your goals?

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Faith and Dancing (October’s Dreamer in the Spotlight)

26 Oct

This month’s featured dreamer is someone who I have recently met via the blogging world – professional dancer, Cecilia Rodriguez Schwartz!  After I read more about her faith and journey as a dancer, I knew she would be a perfect person to spotlight on A Dreamer’s Wife.  (Plus, she’s a Notre Dame fan and grew up in the mid-west!)

Cecilia Rodriguez Schwartz (Isn’t this photo absolutely beautiful?!)

On her website, Dance Immaculata, Cecilia shares “thoughts and insights of a Catholic Dancer and a Dancing Catholic.”  She further elaborates on this in her “About” page.

Not only am I a dancer, I am also Catholic. For years, I had the misconception, as many do, that dance and traditional Catholicism were at odds with each other. The delicate issue of whether or not dance as an expression is acceptable in this hyper-sexualized culture has often nagged my conscience. I kept the two aspects of my life separate until I realized that while dance is a part of my life, Catholicism is my life. My Catholic faith and dance have been co-existing for years; I just didn’t realize it.

Cecilia also has a personal blog, She Laughs at the Days to Come.  On this site, as evidenced by the title, she highlights Proverbs 31:25 and writes about having strength, giving up control, and trusting God.  Be sure to check out what she has to say!  Below is a teaser!

Learning to laugh at the days to come has stretched me beyond what I thought possible.  It requires a lot from me.  I have to give up control of the future and submit to God’s plan.  I have to surrender my dreams and wishes, trusting and hoping that God’s will for my life is more that I could ever imagine.  I have to live in the present moment clinging to the promises of God (Psalm 37).

I had the opportunity to ask Cecilia some questions and she was gracious enough to take the time to answer despite having a rather eventful past couple of weeks!  One of those significant events included getting engaged!  (You can read more about her relationship on her personal blog.)  Here is what she had to say about her journey:

So here’s the deal about me and my dream: I’m living it.  My dream was (and is) to become the best dancer I can be, to dance professionally, and to share the depth and beauty of Mexico through it’s artistic traditional dances.  There isn’t a huge demand for professional Mexican dancers, and I didn’t realize it was even an option for me until three years ago.  

I was living in Michigan at the time and was doing research to learn how apply professionalism and structure to the small dance group I was a part of.  I found a dance company in New York City and began corresponding with the director.  A dear friend of mine invited me to accompany her and her husband on a trip to New York so I could do more research and possibly meet with the director.  When there, I was invited to attend a rehearsal.  I was incredibly nervous, but I loved every minute!  It was intense and challenging beyond anything I had ever done before.  On my way home I emailed the director to find out what was required to join the company.  He told me that I was welcome to come to rehearsals and train with them.  This of course meant I would have to move to New York. 

I prayed about the decision for months.  Moving meant I would leave everything: my great job, my family, my friends, my home, my nice little life, everything!  Granted I had close friends in New York and New Jersey, but it was still a difficult decision.  I begged God to tell me what He wanted me to do.  Instead He asked me what I wanted to do.  “I want to dance” was my obvious answer. “Then dance!” He replied. “Go, pursue your dream!  This is what I want for you too.”  

I have to admit I was surprised.  I had forgotten that sacrifice didn’t necessarily mean I had to deny myself what I loved (dance) to do God’s will.  Following my dream has involved a lot of sacrifice, but I know without a doubt that this is God’s will for me.  It isn’t easy and it isn’t always glamorous, but it is blessed!  

Right now, I am preparing for the dance company’s annual show.  I am continuing to pursue my dream by taking other dance classes (ballet, modern) outside of the company rehearsals.  I don’t know that I have an “end goal” per say, but every day I get to go to the dance studio is a dream come true. 

Thank you, Cecilia, for taking the time to share more about yourself and your passion!  I’m sure many readers will be inspired by your trust and willingness to follow God’s will and go after your dreams!

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10 Inspirational Quotes about Following God’s Will

19 Oct

So many powerful words have been spoken and written down over the course of history. A few months ago, I started collecting these words of wisdom in my own little book of quotes to inspire and motivate me! I thought that I’d share some of my favorites so far. I’m sure that I will have a ‘Part 2’ of this post in the future!

1. Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your purpose. -Aristotle

2. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. -Psalm 37:4

3. Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase. -Martin Luther King, Jr.

4. Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you. -Mother Teresa

5. Every outcome of every challenge should reveal how God supplies the grace to make it through the seemingly impossible. -Father Leo Patalinghug

6. When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, I used everything you gave me. -Erma Bombeck

7. The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet. -Frederick Buechner

8. Do not lose heart, even if you should discover that you lack qualities necessary for the work to which you are called. He who called you will not desert you, but the moment you are in need he will stretch out his saving hand. -Saint Angela Merici

9. Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid. -Basil King

10. Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path. -Proverbs 3:5-6

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Update: To read 10 more of my favorite inspirational quotes, click here! And for inspirational shareable quote graphics, check out my new website Bold Red Creative!

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