My brave and lovely Emma Joy ...

Emma has always loved to dance. When she was a tiny girl, she would dance all over our house if there was pretty music playing. When she and her family moved away to Texas back in 2007 and Jesse was deployed to Iraq, Emma took about 4-6 months of ballet. I never got to see her perform because I was 1600 miles away.

When their family moved back to Grand Rapids late in 2013, I was playing my piano one day and played Beethoven's Fur Elise. Emma immediately began dancing to it. She loved the song so much--she couldn't possibly NOT dance when she heard it.

Ever since then, I have tried (somewhat in vain) to learn to play Fur Elise as it SHOULD be played. And every time I play it, Emma dances. I love to watch the music get inside of her and seep back out with her graceful movements.

Emma has been talking for a long while about the yearly talent show at school. She has been wanting to try out and perform in the talent show ... probably two years now. At first, she wanted to sing a pretty song--but a few months ago, she decided to she would try out and do an interpretive dance to Fur Elise.

So that is exactly what she did! She tried out a few weeks ago and she was chosen to perform in the school talent show. Yay, Emma! 

 I was very thankful that the talent show began at 1:15 this afternoon, because that meant that I could take a late lunch, punch out, drive over to the school and watch my Ems! I showed up exactly at 1:15 and greeted a very nervous young lady! I asked her how she was doing and she covered her face with her hands! I told her she would be fine and to just pretend she was in my front room dancing for me!

 She had the #4 written on her hand--which meant she was the fourth performer. Yes! I knew I would have to leave right after she danced, and I told her this so that she would not think I was rude to get up and just walk out!

 Emma, honey! You were SO brave to do this! I could never have had the nerve. You are something!

 I put this little collage together and posted it on Facebook ...

 I hope you will see it before you leave for your spring break vacation with your family.

I love you, dear Emma Joy. So proud of you, sweetheart!