Ballerina Girl

Gracie is our "twirling girl" at home. She's always loved dance (but not necessarily performing!) Gracie was able to take another ballet class this semester at Chandler's Community Center through the City of Chandler Parks and Rec. Dept. (Their community center is actually closer to our home since we live on the border b/t Chandler and Gilbert.) We were very pleased with the instruction she got for a city class (especially for the price: 8 classes for $23!)

Gracie has taken some other classes that were mostly "fun and fluff," but the instructor for this class taught her the correct positions and the correct terminology. She had such a great time and learned so much.

I am in awe of how Gracie can go right into a strange new class, not mind the "looks" from the other girls (about her arm,) and try her best, making several new friends along the way. God gave her such a gracious and perseverant spirit - I have learned so much from her! I sense God smiling on Gracie as she twirls & dances, as if to say, "Daughter, you are perfect just as you are and I take great pleasure in you!"

We are hoping (finances and schedules permitting) that next semester Gracie will be able to take a class at Experience Art School (EAS) in Mesa. (I have had this in the back of my mind since she was 4 yrs old and my sister-in-law offered to pay for her ballet classes ~ "She was built to dance!" she told me.)

Experience Arts School Ministries, Inc. is a non-profit Christian Education Ministry created to:

Train and equip Christian artists to be technically skilled, biblically grounded, and spiritually minded,

Instill a desire within our artists to pursue quality and integrity in their art form,

Ignite a passion within artists to use their gifts and talents to serve both the Church and the community,

Commission artists to influence our culture and further the kingdom of God both locally and internationally.

We have waited until this next year since EAS begins formal training at age 7 (plus it will be a drive from our house.) Hopefully, this dream will come to pass and it will help instill even greater confidence in our beautiful Miss Gracie.


Paul and I got to attend the last day of class this year and see what she'd been learning. Below are a few quick video snapshots we took of her memorable day.