You can dance if you want to

This was Emma's dance recital on 11/11/11!  I really want to explain the background of this situation to you out there.  Those of you who have been with my blog from the beginning will remember the blog titled, The witch who runs the show, I'm so pissed I'm shaking, I'll be there for you, and last This is not my daughter...  (Yes that was the whole title and yes it still makes me incredibly angry to read back over it) This could almost be an addendum to that post!                              

Well back in October Emma came to me and said she wanted to learn how to dance.  I really had no desire after our last dance experience to have a repeat and so I was hesitant to seek after anything.  Awhile later I found out a friend of mine (Mary) was going through a difficult experience and needed help.  I was at church the following Sunday when the Spirit slapped me upside the head and showed me what both my daughter and my friend needed, DANCE!  Mary has moves you've never seen!  She's taught dance before and loves it and I knew that was the answer.  I talked her into teaching a dance class to my kid.  I knew I needed others there as well so I begged my friends to enlist their kids in this class.  Mary was awesome.  She was just what Emma needed.  She was patient and gentle but didn't let the girls walk on her.  She was firm about being a participating member of  the class and not just a bystander.  She worked those girls and they stunk after!!! That to me is the sign of money well spent!  Well Emma loved it.  It was challenging but fun with fast music and friends!                                                                                                                                             

After everything was over they goofed around dancing more and having fun.  Mary has since gotten a job at a chiropractor and is not having as many difficult times.  There's a few things I've gotten from this experience that I'd like to share as well.  One is a friendship with Mary.  The Lord certainly knows what we need.  Second is a better understanding of mental illness.  Third, a better compassion for mental illness.  Fourth is a warmth that comes from seeing one situation that was bad with the "witch" from before turn into a positive learning experience for my daughter.  The last has to do with positive role models,  I watched at church just this past month one of these sweet girls who took dance with my daughter ask her mom if she could sit with Mary.  Mary didn't play around with the girl or sit and visit.  She read her scriptures, listened to the speaker, was reverent when needed and was all around an incredible example to that young girl.  I feel so blessed that this experience has ended this way and that Emma and her friends have this role model to look up to.   

There is a video but I can't seem to make it upload.  I'll try again later.