DANCE

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learn to dance in the rain."

Yes, I stole this quote from Pinterest, but it's great never the less. And while this quote did inspire the name of this blog, the title has a little different significance to me. I would not describe my life as a life of storms. I would describe as one big, huge, undeserved, out of this world blessing. My life has not been perfect by any means. But in the larger scheme of things I really have nothing to count but my blessings. I have healthy, loving, godly and supportive parents. I have wacky, wonderful brothers who, as a huge bonus, have produced some freakin amazing nieces and nephews. I've been able get a great education and make better friends than I could ever ask for in the meantime (friends who I miss very much btw). I have great church families both at school and back at home. I also have had the opportunity to travel and I LOVE it. Granted, it is usually challenging, stressful, expensive and even painful at times. But all of these thing are part of what make me....well, me!

So....what does "dance in the rain" mean to me? Well, if you really know me then you already know how much I love to dance. You probably also know how little I actually DO dance. That makes me sad. (This is where I start sounding a little weird....which also if you know me is pretty typical.) Not because I'm so good at it or because it's "cool", because it is a part of who I am. If you are a dancer you know exactly what I mean. If you are not, it will be pretty clear in Heaven (so please go there, I hear it's to die for...)because there will be dancin' in heaven cause that's what I'll be doin'.

Dance is expressing what you are thinking and feeling with your entire body. Dance is honest. Dance is abandoned. Dance is freedom. Dance is emotional. Dance is exposed. I don't just want to dance,  I want to be dance. I want to be free to be entirely me, entirely who God created me to be. I'm not always great at letting myself be free. It was once said, "Freedom can only be experienced when you choose not to return to the bondage." Freedom looks a little different when you're wrapped in a nice cozy blanket of bondage. Freedom isn't easy, but it's always worth it.

Things you must understand about rain in order to bring this thing full circle.
     1. I LOVE rain. Rain is good.
     2. It rains in Ireland...a lot.
     3. Rain is often associated with difficult or depressing times.

I have no idea what the next six months holds for me. What I do know is that I want to be me. I want to know who that girl is and be her, without any hesitations or constraints. I want to strive everyday to charge ahead with purpose. I want to be steadfast. I want to change. I want to let go. And all I have to do is dance in the rain.