Wow, Encore DANCE's first season over!!!

I cannot believe it's over, we did it...Encore DANCE's First Annual Student Concert!!! Overall, it was a huge success, 2 shows - right at 2 hrs. each, no one got lost or fell off the stage!!! We didn't have any BIG criers on stage, not even myself - I thought I'd be a crying mess, but I didn't, I think mainly because I was stunned that it was over! Here's some highlights from the weekend, it was so much work...but SO MUCH FUN and worth it all to see those HAPPY DANCERS on stage!

Look at these handsome young gentlemen: Samuel, Joseph & Matthew...back stage and ready to go & TAP!!!

The littlest Bumblebee & understudy, Maile, wishing she knew the DANCE since there was an extra costume!

Encore's Company DANCERS doing the Jordan lift in "I Can Only Imagine," Wow...it was a special production piece. We debuted this DANCE at the State Capitol in Austin this past March!!! God is so good...

Ms. Kim-Lan & her "Ballerina Girls" - they are so precious, I am so proud of ALL the DANCERS!!! What an amazing ending to an AMAZING first year!

There were so many things I could have said/ did differently when it was actually show time, but all in all, I think everyone had a great time, relatively seamless in accounting for the dancers & getting them to/ from stage...show went by so quickly. Wow, I am deeply humbled how even through some personal "storms" and struggles this past year, God has BLESSED Encore Centre for DANCE and helped me bring home my daughter from Vietnam. I know He was glorified at the concert and I pray He will continue to bless and allow me to serve Him through the passion & ministries in DANCE!!!

Huge Kudos & THANKS to the mighty God we serve, my family, friends, staff and my dancers, parents & volunteers that made Encore DANCE a dream come true!!!!!

Signing off again as exhaustion continues to consume my body, praying for GOOD sleep SOON!!! Ms. Saigon & family

ONE Year ago---TODAY: June 12, 2007

One Year ago TODAY, I had decided to pursue the calling God placed on my heart to open MY first DANCE studio!!! We were already 9 mos. into our "adoption pregnancy" with paperwork, payments, homestudies, etc...and yet, the burden on my heart was so great to listen to God's direction for what is now called: Encore Centre for DANCE!!!! Amazing to see God at work in bringing the DANCERS to our studio especially as we celebrate our FIRST Student Concert this weekend!!! Wow...

It was also One Year ago TODAY, that our daughter's Birthmother decided to take her to the orphanage to "let her go." I'm sure the decision to offer her a better life was not overnight nor light-hearted. Oh how my heart aches for Ms. Nguyen today, especially knowing that my daughter was taken one day before she turned 18 mos. old. What were the events that led her to the final decision THAT day? How long had she been struggling to keep her baby alive and could barely do it? What did her family think - did they play a role in her decision? Will Maile's birthmother ever know in her heart that "Thuy Trang" is OK now and safely HOME forever!?? My heart is so sad for Maile's birthmother, yet overjoyed for us to have her with us...It's a bittersweet day, full of emotions and questions that will never get answers...

Maile has come such a long way since meeting her just 3 mos. ago tomorrow (June 13.) She has really settled into our household and grateful each day she is more and more comfortable with our "crazy crew." She now says in English (& sign language at times) - "EAT", "more please," "Thank you" & "I lub you" (with her littl' pinky up to say "I love you.") She is so sweet and amazing....and so sassy too!!! She continues to grunt, yell, slap & stare to communicate her true feelings. She is much better with "Ba" & loves Joseph, still getting aquainted with Samuel and "Grandma Lizzy" (my mom.) Thankfully, she still prefers ME :) and loves for me to nap with her, put her to bed and RUNS to me when I come home from DANCE and exclaims, "Mommy!!!" I am STILL in awe and almost in denial at times to realize SHE IS REALLY OURS!!!??? How can it be true, after 2 years of waiting, praying and paperwork, that we have the littl' girl in the pictures we stared at for EVERYDAY for 5 mos. before getting her!???

I pray her birthmother knows, truly in her heart, that Maile Noel (Thuy Trang) is OK and so well loved and cared for. Thankfully, His mercies are new every morning and we will celebrate tomorrow, JUNE 13, Maile's "half birthday" - now turning 2.5 years old!!!! She doesn't know it yet, but we'll have some of her Princess Cake at the DANCE studio to celebrate her littl' life! I cannot wait until this weekend's concert to honor Maile's arrival and all those who have been touched by the gift of ADOPTION. It truly is a gift and story of re-birth!!!

Thank you Grandma for adopting my mom, Thank you mom for adopting me...now here's to Maile, the 3rd generation of God's gift of love & faithfulness through ADOPTION.

Forever humbled, forever changed...Ms. Saigon

You're right Michelle - from His words: "For I know the plans I have for you...to give you a HOPE and a FUTURE..." Jer. 29:11