The Ballet Recital

The boys felt utterly tortured… on an exceptionally warm day in May. As I arrived early at the outdoor amphitheater having agreed to help my friend, an instructor for the dance studio, with her young children I was excited to experience my first recital as a “Dance Mom.” The boys were less enthusiastic. Jess quickly and excitedly gathered together with her class. As the youngest ballet students, they would perform first and then be able to go sit with their families for the remainder of the recital. 
Jess loved to go to her ballet class. Potentially it was the thrill of getting to wear the over-priced butterfly tutu, or perhaps it was getting to spend more time with her sweet friend Tallie. Nevertheless, she loved ballet. I felt like a good mom for enrolling my daughter in something other than soccer and basketball like her brothers had done. 
Following an enthusiastic welcome and introduction by the studio director, the music blared from the sound system and Jessie entered the stage with her class in a straight (ish) line. Jessie was tall, like Tallie, and they both knew the entire routine- well. They were positioned in the very center. Their dance began, and we rolled the video camera to save the memory of her first recital for all who would ever care to watch it. I smiled at Jess and gave her a little ‘mom wave’, even though her concentration and eyes on instructor prohibited her from seeing me.  
She watched her teacher for a moment and then her stressful gaze turned to her classmates. She seemed concerned that there were several who were doing the wrong choreography. She broke form and would assist a fellow classmate in helping her with the right movement and then quickly and seemingly effortlessly return to her position on stage and step in rhythm.
At first, it stressed me out. I heard giggles from the audience and worried that other parents would be offended, or that her teacher would think she was distracting from the performance. But as the dance moved on and she continued to assist her classmates, I realized I was seeing a five-year-old who was more concerned about helping someone else, than being in the spotlight herself. 
Six years earlier, when we found out I was pregnant with a girl, I was a little excited but mostly worried. I felt like I barely understood how to be a mom to boys. The weight of raising a girl to be strong and fearless in serving Christ felt like a monumental task that I was completely unqualified for. I felt like I wasn’t the best role model and feared her eyes would look to me too often for guidance and direction.
Throughout the years, I’ve tried to step-up or figure out what that even meant, but it was hard for me. It wasn’t long before I realized how much spiritual strength Jessie was blessed with. I realized I need not worry about setting a perfect example on how to live a Christ-centered life, but rather just humbly keep trying and work to not impede progress as she showed me…
My assessment of five-year-old Jessie continues to be true today. She prefers to work in the trenches. She prefers to lift where she stands. She isn’t interested in glory or awards; only in being true to the responsibilities God has entrusted her with. Seems as though I’m the one blessed with a role model.

-JC

Reese’s Peanut Butter Brookie Cookies

Make a batch of Peanut Butter Cookies:
¼ cup soft butter
¼ cup butter flavored Crisco
½ cup peanut butter
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup packed brown sugar
1 XL egg
½ teaspoon vanilla
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Cream butter, Crisco, peanut butter and sugars with an electric mixer on medium high for 1 minute or until fluffy.. Hand stir in egg and vanilla; don’t overmix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Add an additional 2 Tablespoons flour for high elevation. Scoop out approximately 18 1 ¼” balls of dough. Roll into a ball. Flatten slightly.

Make a batch of Brownie Cookies:
1 -18 oz. brownie mix
¼ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
Mix together brownie mix, flour, oil and eggs until thoroughly combined. Scoop out 18 1 ¼” balls of dough. Roll into a ball. Flatten slightly.


Place a disc of Peanut Butter Cookie directly onto a disc of Brownie Cookie.  Bake at 375 degrees for 12+minutes. Remove from oven and immediately gently press  an unwrapped Reese’s Peanut Butter Thin cup on the center of each cookie. Garnish as desired with melted chocolate and peanut butter.
Let set. Share!

-JC