why walk when you can dance?

To those that know me, it should come as no surprise that I think there should be more dancing in our day-to-day lives. I firmly believe that we would all be nicer, less stressed, and overall happier people if we broke out in daily dance parties. (okay, so God's presence in our lives is obviously pretty key, too, but you get my point.)

Who hasn't experienced the bliss and joy of lettin' loose and cutting a rug out on the dance floor? (To those who have not, I say, life's too short to give any regard with one's actual dance ability, or lack thereof.). I find no greater joy in life here on this earth (apart from family and friends) than rockin' out on the dance floor. No event is safe from the wild moves I am prone to bust out. From company parties, to wedding receptions, and even city streets (hello A-TX and the outdoor spazmatics concerts), if there's music playing, my body has to move. As a wise man once said, "I'm here to have a good time, and I'm not gonna apologize for it." I also can't even begin to recount the various casualties I have had as a result of marathon dancing sessions. There have been late night charlie horses, severely strained muscles, bloody feet (from stepping on broken glass out on the dance floor), massive knots in my hair (because I had been whipping it back and forth much too violently)...

Some recent instagrammed photos (a la my dearest fousins) inspired this post as they had the distinct pleasure of dancing side-by-side the one and only, Spazmatics (on stage, no less). These two cats are by far some of my all-time fave dance partners as we grew up dancing together...that's roughly 26-29 years of training and I can honestly say, dancing is in our blood. No family reunion was complete without bustin' out the jambox and bustin' out some serious moves. Most of these were impromptu dance parties, but I was also known to force my cousins into performing some amazing choreographed routines, highlighting my prowess as a budding choreographer that I was determined to be when I grew up.

Anyway, I just felt so compelled to share these thoughts and to share some of my favorite dancing pics. Unfortunately, this is just a small collection as my favorite Kodak moments are not loaded onto my computer. Enjoy...

One of my all-time fave dancing pics. I'm almost positive these moves were set to "Crazy in Love".

How's that for some serious dancer faces? Like father, like daughter.

Sometimes you have a dance floor, sometimes you have a living room. All you really need are some jams and a willingness to boogy down. There is no shame in my game.

Skirts were made to twirl. Am I right or am I right?

Another day, another kitchen dance party...this was Christmas Eve and the tunes were provided by none other than the vocal stylings of *NSYNC

Like her aunt, this girl was born to boogie...make no mistake, Hay-girl has some moves you've never seen.

(**yes, I couldn't help including the pic of myself twirling like a crazy person right smack in the middle of the streets of Florence)

My advice to those hesitant to get funky and bust a move is always to just forget everyone else and dance like no one's watching. So to all you wall flowers out there, what are you waiting for? YOLO. Close your eyes and let the music take you to funkytown. It's a trip you will never regret.

the heavens declare His glory.

Because today's "verse of the day" happened to be the following...

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 
Romans 1:20

...I couldn't help but see this as the perfect excuse to post some random pics of God's eternal power and divine nature revealed through what has been made (i.e. His creation). Just because it's Monday and I feel like it, here are some of my fave sky and nature shots. Keep in mind, these are in no particular order.

amazing sunset on my little neighborhood street just screaming of God's glory

magnolia trees in DC

coast of Capri - picture fails to do it justice

Botanical Gardens in our Capitol city

can you spot Nemo and Dori?

hello flower. it seems you, too, are whispering God's glory.

nothing like a sky filled with cumulous (sp.?) clouds to remind me there is a God in heaven

this one needs NO explanation. holy awesomeness. and to think, this was in a little 'ole strip mall in the suburbs. yes, God can even be found in the cookie cutter world of suburbia.

the beach in Positano. i adore the sunlight sparkling on the water like diamonds. God's glory cannot be denied.

holy cherry blossom awesome-ness

i believe our captain called this lover's arch (or something like that). this little gem can be found on the amalfi coast.

these massive display of bright flowers needs no explanation - love this.

view of Capri from high in the hills.

God surprised me with this gift of a glorious sunrise on the streets of Florence in the wee small hours of the morning.

view of Florence surrounded by the Tuscan Hills. who are we that the Lord would create something so beautiful for us to enjoy?

the Tuscan countryside in Chianti region.

visions of fall in DC. (hello, China!)

panoramic view of the Potomac in our first president's backyard. not too shabby.

my infatuation with the sky continues.

...and continues some more.

picturesque sunset outside a vineyard in Virginia. (pic courtesy of E snagging my iPhone)

i don't understand.

I am a person of understanding. I thrive on that which is rational and I like clear, concise answers. I need to understand the meaning and purpose beyond actions and directives. This is my nature.

Newsflash: there are things in life I will never understand. I am not God. If I could understand His mind, would that really be a good thing? Would that translate into an all-powerful God worthy of my worship? Not exactly.

So now, cue His word. I have been camped out in Isaiah 55 for some time now and I find myself getting both excited and absolutely free each time I re-read the verses.

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters;
and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
² Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.
³ Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.
⁴ See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples.
⁵ Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor.” 

⁶ Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
⁷ Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
¹⁰ As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
¹² You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
¹³ Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”

Did you take note of the highlighted sections? Did you see that God's word will not return empty and that it will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purchases for which He sent it? We do not have to worry and we can cease striving. We may not understand His ways or comprehend His thoughts, but He is faithful. He will come through. His purposes will be accomplished. 

Dear friends and family, I am praying this scripture over you -- that you might be encouraged, strengthened, and free to rest secure that His promises will not return void.