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.

Gigs Is The Goat

This evening, I went out to collect the chicken eggs and took Gigs

 with me because he fends off the goats for me so 

they don't molest me like they always do when I'm alone.

I can't believe I'm typing this, but the goats are super cute.

They stink but are so cute.

So is Gigs. 

He's super cute, not stinky. 

Not always, anyway.

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2025

Holidays are different when kids are kids anymore.

No one woke up wondering if a naughty leprechaun changed the 

 milk green, and no one tried to pinch me.

But you know me, I still made it special.

Lottie set the table this evening, which was a fun change since I am 

usually the table-setting matriarch.

For dinner, I made baked cabbage wedges with Irish Soda Bread, 
and Gigs cooked up his famous small potatoes. 

The cabbage wedges were, well, a lot of cabbage.

I mean, who likes cabbage that much?

In the evening, we all donned our green and attended a barre3 class 

taught by new instructor, Caulin!

He's the best!  The class was fantastic, and it was so fun

to end our St. Patrick's Day all together working out to 

Irish music.

Just kidding, we didn't work out to Irish music, 

but we did listen to The Cranberries and U2 during dinner.

Two of our favorite Irish artists.

A View From The Pew

 

This was my view from the pew at church today. 

My two adorable boys are now serving as leaders in our 

tiny young men's group at church.

I love them both SOOOO MUCH!

Right now, I'm excited for Ollie's future lady friend.

Whoever she is, she's one lucky girl!

And all of the wonderful people in Slovakia who

will get to work with Gigs for two years in August.

These boys have a bright future ahead!

Also, remember THIS?

Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

I am looking for instructors to join my barre3 team, and it's been hard.

One of the things I am learning about starting a business

is the vulnerability that comes with it.

Being comfortable, being uncomfortable.

I am always belittling myself, mostly because I worry

people won't take me seriously. 

Maybe because of the way I look.

Maybe because for the last 25 years, I haven't had a "real job."

(Although I firmly believe being a homemaker is a JOB!).

Maybe because I didn't graduate from college.

There are a lot of vulnerabilities and insecurities that I feel.

All my weaknesses tend to overpower my strengths.

President Eyring said in a 2017 talk:

“Those who do not see their weaknesses do not progress.
Your awareness of your weakness is a blessing as it helps you
remain humble and keeps you turning to the Savior. 

The Spirit not only comforts you, but He is also the agent by 

which the Atonement works a change in your very nature. 

Then weak things become stron

Just For A Day

 

This photo was taken 15 years ago, in 2009.

Claire took this photo with my laptop

with the boys crowded around her.

They were probably playing a game on PBS kids

or watching something on Disney.

My favorite part of this photo is Jane waving from the window outside.

I was probably sick in bed.

I was sick a lot back then.

What I wouldn't give to have the Nies Little again

and be healthy.

Just for a day.