busy week....

This has been a very eventful week... A very dear friend of mine had a baby boy (everyone is doing wonderfully) and I took care of her 4 year old while the baby was being born. It was kind of fun helping out but it was also hard for me seeing as he and I went to the store and someone asked about my "son." Just a stab to the heart.... I am VERY happy for my friend, her husband and their growing family, but it was still difficult for me. It adds to the difficulty that this friend and her family are moving cross country starting this upcoming week. That's what happens in a military community though. I just have to remember that while our friendship won't be exactly the same (because we won't get to see one another all of the time), that doesn't mean the friendship is over - that's what cell phones and the Internet are for. =)

Because I was helping my friend out, I took my dogs with me to her house and she has two dogs of her own. Let me just say, after having 4 dogs to look after plus a 4 year old, it made me grateful to come back to my apartment with just my two dogs after a few days. But then, after we got home, it made me even question that. I don't know if it was just stress or what, the night we came home, both of my dogs were sick everywhere (both were vomiting and had diarrhea) and at that moment, in a split second of desperation, I questioned if it wouldn't have just been easier to let my wasband take the dogs with him when he wanted them. That made me feel absolutely horrible and I wanted to take it back as soon as I thought it. I know I didn't really mean it and I am very thankful to have them but it still made me feel like a horrible doggy "mama" for even thinking about essentially giving them away. I guess that's just one of those things that stress will do to a person who already feels stressed to the max...

At least there was a ray of sunshine this week. In preparation for some upcoming belly dance performances, we are learning some new choreography. While it is physically and mentally exhausting choreography, it is also rewarding that I can do it. Sure, there are parts that I struggle with but we haven't been working on it that long so I think that's okay. =) The sunshine part came from something my dance instructor told me yesterday before class. She asked me if I realized that I'm a "star" and not just a star a "shooting star." She told me that she has worked with a lot of other dancers over the years but they don't all have the "it" factor, but I do. She said the "it" factor being a combination of a genuine passion and knack for belly dance. That meant a lot coming from someone who has been dancing for 39 years. Yes, I take belly dance lessons from someone who is going to be 60 this year and she acts like she's in her 20's - - she's FABULOUS!

I also was excited to find a white, crocheted shawl that I had bought several years ago, that, with the right embellishments, will make a wonderful hip scarf for belly dancing. Woo hoo for this find! =)

Another "Woo hoo" shout out goes to my Mom, who once again is going to be my tailor of a belly dance costume. While I have my already utterly fabulous costume pieces (that people still ask me where I purchased them from), I need to add to my collection for our upcoming performances. I am extremely thankful that she is willing to do this for me and I know that I ask a lot of her.... One day, it is my sincere hope that I can make it up to her (actually to both of my parents) for all she (they) have done for me over the years (and especially the last year and a half).

Since Mom is going to the trouble of creating a costume for me, I should probably work on learning the choreography to this dance.... That and the not so fun task of preparing a lesson plan for this upcoming week....

I thank everyone once again for joining me on my journey and wish you the very best of luck on whatever quest you find yourself on in your own life. =)