Final Bow

We started out our new series this weekend, and just look at that set.  It's colorful, and inspired by the looks and feel of "Guardians of the Galaxy 2" and "Thor:  Ragnarok."  It's all about heroes for the next few months, but on Sundays, we're looking and learning from characters from the movie, "The Incredibles."  Today we started out with Dash, who you can see Pastor Lance talking about to begin with.  The scripture of the day:  "I won't waste any time.  I will be quick to obey your commands."  Psalm 119:60.

It was a really fun start to the series.  We played the "Yanny/Laurel" thing, played a few clips from the movie, did some speed games, and of course we had a great message about being quick to believe, using the story of Peter, and talking about how important it is to - according to Psalm 119:60 - not "waste any time."

We didn't have too much time to waste today, really.  We were home quickly after church, and getting ready for Madison's final ballet recital!

This is our favorite picture from the rehearsals yesterday.  We took so many pictures yesterday, so we divided them up to show the jazz ones first, and now here are the photographs from her other performance at the recital.

Madison danced two different numbers tonight, the first one being the jazz performance, and the last one being the ballet.  She did so well with both of these, and it's hard to pick a favorite.  But when asked, Madison said she liked her ballet performance better.

Mommy and Daddy honestly can't decide which one we like better.  They were both really good.  We got there early, and had seats at the center and front row of the balcony.  We saved seats for the grandparents, and for Pastor Lance as well, who obviously had a pretty big day.  In fact, he was driving off at one point during another part of the ballet - he came to see Madison and a few of the other kids from KidPak.

And so we all sat up there together, and we all enjoyed the entire production quite a bit.  Mommy and Daddy enjoyed every dance, of course.  Not just the ones with Madison in them.  One of the biggest reasons for this was our knowledge of all the dancers involved.  They worked so hard all year long on all of these routines, and the end result was splendid.

And this was a great occasion because all the grandparents could make it here to see it together.  We all sat together, beaming great big smiles as Madison went out on stage and took her place.  

There were a few places where she would cross the stage, leaping as you see above.  She did really well!

But it was these moments that were memorable, the spots where she'd stop and smile, tilt her head just so, and show such grace and poise.  The grandparents were really happy to see it.  And in fact, Nana and Ba-Ba had driven all the way up from Florida just to see this.

Afterwards, she came to the balcony to hear the praise and adulation from all of us.  It took her a while to get up there, because backstage, she was making her rounds with her fellow dancers.  Here's a great photo taken backstage of all the performers, just after their dance:

Madison was saying goodbye to many of these friends.  She'll see a few of them again shortly at her birthday party upcoming.  But it was a bittersweet moment, because she's decided to take her final bow here with Gainesville Ballet.  She could be back some day, so the door isn't completely shut.  But at the very minimum, she's stepping away for a year or so.  She says she's ready to do that.  But still, it is a mixture of joy and sadness. 

Here she is, putting on her best face with one of the other dancers backstage.  It was wonderful, these past several years of ballet.  She has genuinely learned so much about the art of dance, about the culture of ballet, and so much more.

The Gainesville School of Ballet has been a place to learn the real art of dance, a highly technical thing that surprises all of us who think it might just be pretty outfits and twirling about.  Just watching her practice on the bar was impressive, and her knowledge of all the positions has been amazing.  Then, mixing it all together with an actual performance has been amazing to see.  Each time she goes out on stage, Daddy is transfixed.  She may be in the back or in the front, but she has my complete attention.

During last year's recital, I remember thinking about how God our Father looks upon each of us, just as I was looking at Madison during her performance.  Even if we're in the back, not at the forefront, we're still doing our best, and doing our thing.  And God is watching us closely, smiling just as I was, and so very, very proud.  

In this production, all the girls shined brightly.  Madison crossed the stage to the front, leaping higher and more like a real ballerina than I have ever seen her do before. 

Each time I watch her dance, a surge of emotions well up inside, and tears begin to form in my eyes.  It's a good thing it is a darkened theater, so I can quietly dab those tears away.  But who can blame me?  I am so immensely proud of my daughter, and so full of joy that it spills out.  It is one of the most beautiful things a person can see, watching a daughter dance in a ballet on stage.  

Madison was concentrating quite a bit at times, but during most of both of the recital pieces today, she was one with the music, having a wonderful time with her friends.  They've been a good group, always excited to see each other, always calling out to Madison or others when arriving for practice.  They all give each other excited hugs just before parting, and excited hugs when they get back together again.  

There were plenty of hugs tonight, of course.  And plenty of tears of course.  We celebrated afterwards with ice cream, a post-recital tradition that dates back to the first time she went out on stage, and everyone was full of joy over the day.  It was a lot of work, and now it was over, but it all went so very well, and turned out so wonderfully.  We read tonight, and said our prayers, and turned the lights out once more on another amazing chapter of our lives.  As we were turning in for bed tonight, I was reminded of that old saying, "Don't be sad it's over, but be glad it happened in the first place."

It's hard not to be sad that it's over.  Yet as Madison took her final bow tonight, we were all very happy and grateful this happened in the first place.