A Way of Life

I think this is my first blog post about dance. Well here we go folks!
The above video and dance were made and choreographed by dancer Emilio who goes as IaMEmiliodosal on Youtube. His friend had been diagnosed with Lupus. 

       I had previously watched a similar choreographed piece on the show So You Think You Can Dance several years back and that was the one that stuck with me. However, this piece is so much more put together, as well as performed in such a beautiful outdoor environment it has replaced the other piece as my favorite. And done to this song Fix You by Coldplay that has always envoked such a feeling of longing--it is amazing what music and movement does when put together!
        I believe God works in mysterious ways as well as in obvious ones. When I attended my first dance class at age 12 in a friend's living room I would never have known how much I would love movement. Today, dance is a way of my life. After dancing with a Christian dance ministry, teaching and trying out several styles from Ballet and Lyrical to Hip Hop and Lindy-hop I am moving constantly to music. Whenever there is sound of melody and rhythm it is unusual if I am still.
        For someone like me who does not enjoy being candid with their emotions, dance is my outlet. It is how I can freely express my emotions and still feel safe. Dance is a way of life. I have introduced many friends and am grateful to the many others who have also evangelized their love of movement towards me.
        So to those who are afraid of movement, give it a try. To those who move, move MORE! Dance and dance and dance and dance until your feet are sore and your heart is full and your mind has shed all of its negative emotions. Dance to release. Dance not to impress but express!

Family pictures

Sending you love from the sunny island of Guam, 8 am and the chilly, landlocked state of Nebraska 3 pm.

Missing Roswena and Seth from this family pic. Maybe next time we can skype them in too!

#missmyfamily

This internet gathering did me good this Sabbath afternoon. I've been feeling really homesick these past few days. I know why. It is because I have been seeing and doing a lot of activities that remind me of my past. 

Last night, I had the opportunity to worship dance as Moses's mother in a drama based on the movie Prince of Egypt. It was a throwback to In His Steps performance Run Wild, Live Free, Love Strong of the Exodus story where I also danced as Moses's mommy. 

Missions Emphasis week came and went and all the while I have been thinking of going as a student missionary and getting the opportunity to maybe go to Guam and work with my family at the academy there.

Another skype call with childhood friends who are also away at college brings me back to good times.

Even friends here at school remind me of the ones I've left behind.

It is not that these times now aren't good. They are just different. And while I understand change is good and we must always move on, I finally understand why all the adults in my life always said, "Cherish these moments." 

Lately I have tried to experience every opportunity as rich and full as I can. Who knows what will change? God always brings us on new adventures. And while I can't wait for that new horizon, it's always bittersweet to shake the dust off your sandals and move on to those new opportunities. 

Now is good too.

Wednesday Wonderings

      We are so utterly ordinary, so commonplace, while we profess to know a Power the twentieth century does not reckon with. But we are “harmless,” and therefore unharmed. We are spiritual pacifists, non-militants, conscientious objectors in this battle-to-the-death with principalities and powers in high places. Meekness must be had for contact with men, but brass, outspoken boldness is required to take part in the comradeship of the Cross. We are “sideliners” — coaching and criticizing the real wrestlers while content to sit by and leave the enemies of God unchallenged. The world cannot hate us, we are too much like its own. Oh that God would make us dangerous.

 -Jim Elliot

The Case of the Missing Transcript...and Other Miracles

I want to move on. On to other worries and stresses.

I will not forget

Today God worked a miracle.

I will not forget

After finishing a movie on the power and fight of prayer I opened my mailbox and pulled out my missing transcript. Smiling I walk up the stairs to my dorm room.

I will not forget

Yesterday an email: "You will be dropped from your classes and asked to leave for this semester if you do not complete registration by tomorrow at 5 pm."

An uplifting call from a friend, no, a sister.

I will not forget

Going to bed with worries. But worries that were given away. 
Waking up to a new day. Fresh, with no mistakes.
I strive to enjoy not endure my first class.

I will not forget

I long to be bold as the first Christians were. Confident in my Lord who WILL come to the rescue. Unafraid of what will come. Knowing He will pull me through, I exit the classroom. My phone rings.

I check my email

"I've checked 'Transcript' off your registry clearance checklist..."
Praise God. 1 done, 1 to go.

I will not forget

"Funds have been received..."

I will not forget

Celebration. God is good. Of course He was! Of course He is! This is no little thing! 

I will not forget

Last week He prepared me. The story of Jacob wrestling with God. That was me.
A heart to heart with a total stranger about the giver of lies and the ungodliness of being self-sufficient. 2 times this past week hearing the same thing: test everything to God for truth. 

I will not forget

Ask Him, "What is my testimony?"

I will not forget

My prayer is and was: This life is yours. Your education. This is Your education. You called me here. You will provide for me. That is the promise. 

I will remember

This life is a gift. Each day is a gift. Let's not take ANYTHING for granted!!!!!

Also, thanks to Sean for giving me this really cool gift featured in this fancy picture! Thanks Sean!

When you think all you're getting is crap. STOP and look back

I returned to my dorm room unimpressed and readily depressed upon the thought of beginning a new semester of studies. Cleaning, unpacking, and untangling what I had brought and left behind, I began and ended a chat with a good friend. She is mostly an opposite. Always a story, always living in amazement of life, and always ready to share. Thanking God for our friendship I pressed the red button and returned to my room. I was cleaning out. The box was already full with "give-aways" and yet I knew I was merely making a mark. I had asked her to guess what I was doing. "Unpacking and listening to Jana Kramer," was the guess. One of them was correct. "I am also cleaning out and making a pile of things to give away in case I can't pay for this semester and have to leave in a hurry." 

Cleaning out a sandy bag, from one of my last visits to the Atlantic, I stood over the trash bin shaking out bits of paper, old hair scrunchies, and bent bobby pins.

I pulled the bill out.

Falling to my knees I prayed, rejoiced, thanked, asked for forgiveness for my unbelief.

After all He's done: 

1) Saved me the $100 fee for late registration by completing requirements at the beginning of the fall semester.

2) Scholarships came through, financial aid

3) Generous friends and church family

4) Letters and boxes of support

5) I prayed and He gave me my request of a worship dance group

6) I prayed and He gave me friends and family

7) Opportunities, upon opportunities

8) Reunions, unexpected and long awaited

9) Freedom to choose to doubt Him


"No, we do not need gas money."

"Would you like a place to stay tonight?"

"Here is a little something to help with school."

"I have a question for you..."

And the blessings continue to rain down. 

Lord, keep making me by breaking me. May I be Your servant. I am excited to continue on this journey with you as we start this new semester, this new year. Use me, Lord!

~BlueSalad~

Creativity, Why We Do It!

One of the lessons that I learned this past semester was that I am creative.

For years I've been told I was talented. Musical, artistic, a natural born leader, yeah yeah... Well, I did not realize how much I would miss using my creativity until I became a full-time student at college!

Last night, I did a song cover session with my friend Kay! Here's one of our videos. I feel it is appropriate for the start of a new year. Because we're all on this crazy merry go round ride together!

p.s. if you want to see other ways I enjoy to create other than this blog, visit my youtube pages!

For song covers with my bff --->     BlueKaysings

When I made fan videos --->   bluesalad

Vlogs --->   BSmeansBlueSalad

I edit videos --->  BlueSaladProductions

Enjoy and don't take your creative power for granted y'all.

~BlueSalad~

Hello? - Thoughts from my first Thanksgiving in Nebraska

I sit here typing. The sounds of the beginning scene of Adele's music video for her song "Hello" play behind this current blog window. Today was Thanksgiving. My first Thanksgiving away from my family. This was definitely a defining day.

8 am

Woke up

Grabbed supplies (blanket, socks, computer, phone)

Went to the basement to watch the 89th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

10 am

Went upstairs to eat some of the breakfast I had packed last night for the dorms

Bagel, Vegetables cream cheese (now my favorite type of cream cheese), orange juice, two pastries, golden grahams cereal, almond milk (yes it was ALOT!)

Still watching the parade

11 am

Talked to Keanna (other half of Blue & Kay-find us on facebook!)

Called RoSeth (my sister and her fiancee's couple name isn't it cute?)

Bounced on a Pilates ball

12 pm

Borrowed two knives (two of the sharpest the dorm could offer-thanks to Jessica!)

Cracked open a coconut

1 pm

Still working on cracking open that coconut

Made keleguin with that young coconut

Thanks Mommy for the recipe!

Got ready to walk in the freezing rain

2 pm

Arrived at a friend's house for Thanksgiving Meal 

Ate

This is the keleguin! All it was missing was some red rice and turkey. 

3 pm

Still eating

4 pm

Watching Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving

Played a bit of Taboo

5 pm  Lazed about on the couch with these lovelies!

6 pm

More lazing and instagramming and pinteresting and facebooking

7 pm

Games and socialization with more students here during break

8 pm

Awkward arguments

Finally played an almost-complete game of Monopoly (Right that never happens!)

It was getting too real so we ended it

9 pm

Walk back to the dorm 

Trying not to slip on the newly fallen dusting of snow

Realizing this was the first time I'd seen snow on Thanksgiving

End of story. Nebraska is very different from Virginia. In good ways and bad. I miss the east coast so much and my friends back there. But its time for me to adult. Not that "adulting" is leaving one's home, but for me that is "adulting." A temporary separation from all I've ever known is what I need. A step back from everything. Its time to chase after a different dream. A dream that I have chosen for myself and one that I know I can achieve. 

Thank you Virginia for the memories. Nebraska thanks for the cold welcome, but welcome nonetheless.