taking risks

Happy {WAY belated} New Year from my family & friends to yours!

The week leading up to New Year's Eve/New Year's Day is always an exciting one. We have a new year. A fresh start. "New Year, New Me." Right? So why do we feel like the same person three weeks later? 

In years past I have made lists with immense amounts of qualities/habits I would like to change. If I have 10 different qualities/habits I want to change, how in the world am I suppose to remember them all, let alone work on them all at the same time? For me, that's impossible. So this year, I decided to make three resolutions that all correlated.

      1. Trust God fully

      2. Worry less &

      3. Take more risks

How do those correlate? They form a nice little sentence to remind me of all three at one time: Take more risks by trusting Him fully & worrying less about the outcome. I've said this at least 100+ times since January 1st. 

Risk \'risk\: the possibility that something bad or unpleasant will happen.

I love my comfort zone, but I've learned that it gets boring. Even agonizing at times. When the chance to take a risk passes me by I'm haunted by the 'what if's?'. Yet, Every. Single. Time. I've taken a risk in the past three weeks, I immediately start to worry about the outcome. That phrase though, reminded me to just give it to Him. If He wants it to be it will be. Every. Single. Time. I have given it to Him, my heart was filled with peace & He has fixed it. 

Jump into the pool of possibilities & take a risk!

"Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plan your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Thanks for reading. 

Much love,

Mally J. 

the most wonderful time of year

THE NUTCRACKER

The Christmas Party
"The Nutcracker begins on Christmas Eve. Mr. & Mrs. Stahlbaum & their children, Clara & Fritz, are busy preparing for the evening of festivities. The guests arrive, including Clara's Godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, who has fashioned a special gift for Clara, a Nutcracker designed in the form of a small soldier..." 

Guests have arrived, let the party begin!

..."Clara falls in love with her Nutcracker at once..."

Drosselmeyer brings gifts for everyone!

He also performs magic & hypnotization.

But wait! there's more. 

Columbine, the kissing doll. 

Begging for the Prince to dance with her.

Oh no! Fritz has been shot by the Toy Soldier. *

After being punished by Mr. Stahlbaum, Fritz begins his mischievous antics again. With teasing encouragement from Clara, Fritz gets a hold of her beloved Nutcracker. 

No worries, Drosselmeyer has fixed him. 

The party comes to a close, but not without a goodnight kiss.

Battle Scene

..."Unable to sleep without one more look at her beloved Nutcracker, Clara tiptoes back into the living room and cradles her soldier once more before falling asleep. She is not sure if she is dreaming, but before her eyes are huge mice playing in front of the Christmas tree that has grown to a tremendous size. The Nutcracker fights with the Mouse Queen*, and, in the heat of the battle, Clara takes off her slipper and throws it at the Mouse Queen. While she is distracted, the Nutcracker dispatches her with his saber..." He defeats her, but not without his own wounds. Drosselmeyer, once again, saves him. 

Land of Snow

..."After the battle, the Nutcracker is magically transformed into a handsome prince. Grateful to Clara for saving his life, he invites her to accompany him on a journey to the fabled Kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy. En route, they pass through the exquisite land of the Snow Queen and her King."

The Kingdom of Sweets

..."In the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara is entertained by an array of divertissements, including Spanish, Arabian and Chinese dancers, as well as Mother Ginger, with her many children who appear from her gigantic skirt..."

Mother Ginger kids being naughty...

(Flowers. Definitely my favorite dance/music makes me want to cry every time.)

(Marzipan)

"The evening concludes with the grand pas de deux performed by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. Following the pas de deux, Clara is whisked away with her prince in a sled, while waving goodbye to the Sugar Plum Fairy and her magical kingdom."

I am way late on posting, but I really enjoyed taking pictures of these dancers. They're all so talented! Learning how to photograph the lighting was a bit tricky, but it seems to have worked out. I would love any kind of feedback (critique, suggestions, tips &tc.) so please comment!

P.S. this was a dress rehearsal, so not everyone was in costume...and not everyone got photographed. 

*dancers who were not there while pictures were taken. :-)

Thank for reading,

Mally J.