Happy Birthday TEENAGER, Lottie!

Today, Lottie turned 13.  

Welcome to the wonderful world of teenagers!

After a lazy morning and pancake breakfast with Gigs, we went out

for lunch, and while at lunch (Which Wich her favorite), Lottie joined the
Nielson girls and received her heirloom gold name necklace

that Uncle Andrew makes.

Now, all the Nielson girls have one. 

This year, Lottie requested a Jellycat birthday cake.  

A Jellycat is a thing.

They are stuffed creatures and Lottie loves them with all her heart.

Lottie LOVES stuffed anythings and everythings.

So, this evening, I made vanilla cake, whipped up some vanilla cream,

 cut up strawberries, and made her 13-year-old dream birthday cake.

I think it turned out pretty cute.

Then we fell asleep watched a movie upstairs together as a family.

Lottie,

I love you so much!

This school year has been challenging. 

You are navigating so much change 

in your little life with your siblings and 

best friends moving in and out and on, 

your body changing and growing, and friends as they come and go-

It's been a doozy, to say the least. 

But you're doing it, and you're doing it with beauty, style, and grace. 

I am so proud of you and so grateful you are my buddy, 

my lastborn, my miracle! 

I got you.

Always.

Come One, Come All!

 

Today, we put up a big banner in front of the studio 

for extra visibility until our permanent signage is up.

COME ONE, COME ALL!

I think one of the hardest parts of starting this kind of

business is the sales part.

I am not a saleswoman at all. 

I'm not going to try and make anyone do anything that is uncomfortable

for them.  I treat everyone like I like to be treated, 

and that's basically left alone.

I hate being pushy and overbearing.

But if I want to make it, I have to sell.

So, COME ONE, COME ALL!

...please?!

Studio Check-In!

 

Christian and I went to the studio this morning to see the progress. 
 It's so much fun to see everything coming together!  

Plus, it's really fun to see Ollie, who works on the electrical team!

We're told that walls are going up in the next few days!  

Meanwhile, I am turning into a mad woman trying to get everything

ready for our grand opening in May.

I'm training instructors and preparing to hire our team operations.

Christian and I are flying to the home office in Portland for final training

before go time. 

Meanwhile, I'm still teaching community classes with my two 

certified instructors, Sam and Caulin, and I've

got three more trainees in the wings. 

I really love my team and am super happy to be working 

alongside them!

Check out b3chathampark on IG!

Jane's Wisteria

On errands today, I noticed the wisteria, it has been so breathtaking this Spring.

I think it's a noxious weed because it grows up and down and 

around all the trees and pretty much anything that can grow,

but it's so magical.

And it reminds me of Jane.

She loves it.

It makes me sad that she'll miss it, but I'm so excited

that she's coming home for the Summer next month.

Hey, Jane!  Study hard for your finals!

You got this!!!

On The Pulpit

 

I took some of my home-grown bounty for the pulpit at church today.

This is one of the reasons why I grow flowers in my garden.

They Love Him

Today, I joined Christian in the pasture as he watered the cows. 

I watched him kneel in the grass while the water was filling up the tubs

and slowly, the calves wandered up to him with great wonder and interest.

I've watered the cows alone on several occasions, and they 

don't come up and gather around me.

They KNOW him.

He is their shepherd.

They trust him.

He takes care of them.

Like the Savior.

He is our shepherd.

He knows us perfectly.

We can love and trust him.

He wants us to come to Him

He is the living water.

Christian has literally witnessed their entire life process, including
when he AI'd them into their mamas, 
and he was present when they were born.
And he'll be there for the next steps of their lives, too.

It makes me cry if I think about it long enough.

It's so sweet.

Coming Soon!

 Today, we got our permits to start construction on the studio!  
Christian and I celebrated by putting up our COMING SOON posters on the door!
Is this really happening?

Tonight, I'm teaching a class on the community lawn near the studio.  

I'm ready.

I hope it's a good turnout!

Part of me is bracing myself for failure.

Why do I do that?

Sometimes I ask myself,

What's an introvert doing becoming an owner and instructor of

a very extroverted exercise franchise?

I can do hard things.

Plus, you can do anything if you love it enough.

And, if all else fails, at least my family will be there ready to work out.

They've been there every step of the way.

The Best Supporters

I found Barre3 in 2018, about a year after we moved to North Carolina.
It was one of the greatest finds of my life.

I was going to Whole Foods, which was next to a Barre3 studio

and Claire said, 

"Mom, look at that Barre studio.

We should try it; I've always wanted to try barre.

I was like, Nah. I don't do studio exercise.

After several nudges by Claire, I finally caved, and together, we

went inside and signed up for a class with Dana, the studio owner.

It was one of the best things I ever did.

I LOVED that it was beat-driven with great music and

super cool instructors.  I loved moving muscles in my body that 

didn't usually move.  I loved that everything I did in class was practical

for my everyday life.  It was perfect for my continued recovery.

 I was hooked.

I mean, HOOKED.

Today, Hope and Dana, both former instructors, came to my 

community class, and even though I was

out of my mind nervous, I also felt so strong and grounded seeing

them in the mirror behind me.

Now, here I am, six years later, opening my own studio.

Yes They Do

I hung up our family silhouettes in the dining area.

Did I measure them? YES, I DID.

Do they still look crooked?  YES THEY DO.

 

Life's Alive In Everything

 Remember last October when Lottie and I planted over 100 bulbs in the garden.
These little ladies are finally popping up through the cold earth.

One of my favorite things about Spring is the rebirth

and renewal of life and color!

It's so symbolic of the Savior and His Atonement and Resurrection.

His life and example are all around us all the time, and I know 

it is deliberate.  God wants us to remember His greatest gift to us,

His son, Jesus Christ.

As poet Christina Rossetti said in her poem 'Spring,'

"There is no time like Spring,
When life’s alive in everything..."

HEAT

This afternoon, Christian and the boys helped work 

with cattle on our friend's farm.

They have several heifers who have gone into heat, and Christian went to

AI (artificially inseminate) them in the squeeze chute with a crowd looking on.

That's my man!

North Carolina is bursting with beauty!  

The flowers are out, and the leaves on the trees are 

slowly poking through the sleepy branches.

It feels so refreshing!

If all goes as planned, they'll be seeing babies

delivered at the end of the year.

Just as Grandma Marion used to always remind us,

"Christmas will be here before you know it!"

10/10

 

Remember when I used to post #afterchurchnies?

I am incredibly grateful for the beautiful journey captured in photos 

of my family going to church over the years.

I don't necessarily miss doing it.

I've embraced a more distant approach with my IG, 

and it has brought so much more health and authenticity into my life.

I 100% recommend!

Or as Jane would say, 10/10

Hey Dad,

 Hey Dad,
Today, Gigs wrote you a letter, and I hope he sends it to you.  

He loves you.  

I always thought you two looked exactly alike when he was born.

He wants you to move out to North Carolina and be our neighbor. 

 He has grand plans for the two of you BBQing in our 

backyard in the summer evenings, with Homestead Beef, of course!

He wants to take you on some exciting trails on the 4-wheeler, 

set up a comfortable porch chair for you to read in all day, 

help you plant pumpkins in your garden, and show you some 

fascinating old, run-down houses that he knows you would love to see.

Oh, and he also wants to inherit your ruby ring.  

But we have to act now!

He leaves in August!

It's Friday, Friday...

When the Nies were young, I used to wake them up for 

school on Friday mornings and blast the song, 

'It's Friday' by Rebecca Black.

(Who's Rebecca Black, though?).

 They would just hate it.  But still, every Friday morning,

that song plays in my brain.

Now that Gigs is doing remote learning through the community college 

and Lottie is homeschooled, playing that song early 

Friday morning doesn't have the same effect.

This Friday morning, Sam taught a community class.

Sometimes, I get little glimpses into our b3 future

and the studio, and it's going to be magic!

(Come on, Permits!!!!!)

I am so happy to announce that Claire has started her 

training to become an instructor in Gilbert, Arizona.

She'll be on their schedule soon.

Having gone through the training, I know how overwhelming

it can be. Especially to a couple of non-dancer introverts.

Go, Claire, Go!

My Favorite!

Here is my favorite family photo we took earlier this year.