My "Leap of Faith"

Tonight .. I took a huge step out of my comfort zone. Tonight .. I went looking for something new in my life. Tonight .. I opened a door that I was extremely nervous to walk through. Tonight .. I stepped into a dance studio for the first time. Tonight .. I took my first ballroom dance class.

The last few years in my life have been filled with uncertainty, loss, depression, and loneliness. I decided recently that it was time to reclaim my life. Those feelings had made me a different person … and it was time for a change. It is time to reclaim my life and be happy and live again!

I found my ‘encouragement’ in a place I never expected to and this person will never know how he has changed my life, but I will thank him endlessly. His passion for dance and to teach dance is infectious. And so dear man, tonight I danced and thank you just doesn’t seem like enough.

Yeah .. HIM!! ;)




I was nervous all day .. not the ‘sick’ nerves .. but the excited nerves. I told some close friends at work what I was going to do and they were so excited. They said, “this will be perfect for you, this is just what you need.”

When I got to the Fred Astaire Dance Studio, couples were gathering for the group lesson. I felt a little insecure as I was there alone, but I held my head high and walked to the front desk. I told the girl who I was, she gave me the paperwork to fill out and when I returned it she said.. “Oh great we have been expecting you and Carlos is looking forward to meeting you.” I confided in her that I was very nervous but was excited at the same time. She offered a gentle smile and took my hand and said ‘you will be fine, my brother will take good care of you.” Her brother was Carlos, “my Columbian”. ;)

Carlos approached me and took my hands and looked me straight in the eye and lead me to a table along the wall of the dance floor. He asked me about myself and why I was there. I told him I was here to reclaim my joy and to have some fun and learn to dance. He smiled gently and then proceeded to explain what was about to happen. We had a lovely conversation and then he took my hand and said... Let’s dance.

Let me preface by saying I was a little concerned before I went in that I would have a short dance instructor … LOL. I am a 5’11” gal and my only real concern going into the experience was that I would tower over my instructor. My concern was not to be... Carlos was just my height. Thank God!! lol

Once we settled onto the dance floor in front of the mirror, he told me we would start with 3 dances tonight .. foxtrot, rumba, and swing. He said not to worry .. no lifts or leaps tonight. Well that gave me a giggle and made me relax a bit. We started with the foxtrot without the music and then with .. he held my hands gently and looked me in eyes as he encouraged me with every step. The foxtrot went well and then we moved to the rumba .. my favorite I think! ;) He asked at one point if I was sure I had not done this before and I assured him I had not. But he was so wonderful and encouraging and at one point I noticed that I had no nerves and I could feel the smile across my face and my heart was so full. The last dance of the lesson was the swing .. this one was a little difficult for me to get at first .. a little faster and took a little more time, but I got it .. I think .. LOL. He then said, “Ok ... now just don’t pay attention to me and keep going, I am going to add in some turns, but you keep doing the same thing.” Fear crept in again but I was able to work it out. He was again extremely encouraging and gentle. I love “my Columbian”.

And so the first lesson came to an end. We scheduled my next lesson and he told me he had a lot of fun with me and looked forward to seeing me again. As I approached the desk to check out, his sister said, “Well you look very happy. You are glowing. Didn’t I tell you?” I smiled and said yes but she had no idea what had really happened to me within that hour.

I let go tonight. I opened up to a new experience and found that I loved it. I walked out of the dance studio feeling more alive than I had in 2 years. I could feel it spread through me … a joy that I had not known in a long time … if ever.

And so again I thank the person that introduced me to the joy of dance. Mr. Chmerkovskiy, you said once that you weren’t really the ‘encouraging type’, but I will respectfully disagree. Tonight your passion for dance led me to the floor. I am just beginning but I am already looking forward to what is next.

I dance again next week, but the journey to change has already begun.

Tonight .. I am alive again. Tonight .. I found joy again. Tonight … I found a smile that was buried all too deep within me. Tonight … I found me again.

Words Have Power!

"Words are potent weapons for all causes, good or bad".

Been a while, but felt the need to write again.

So .. I was excited to hear the Vanity Fair Magazine was going to be doing a piece on Erin Andrews. Entertainment Tonight covered the photo shoot which I watched last night .. STUNNING girl and beautiful photos were shown. I was once again so excited for the girl who had gone through hell last summer looking happy and once again being an inspiration to so many! She may never really know .. but I pray she does. She is changing lives by being a living example of grace and amazing courage.

Yes .. an inspiration .. a HUGE inspiration to so many. Her courage to step out of her comfort zone and walk into the glaring spotlight of the dance floor was incredibly inspiring after the HORROR she had experienced because of no fault of her own! She found a new 'family' amongst the cast, and a 'savior and blessing' in her very special partner, a special man with a heart as big as the sky. And they carried each other to the finals of DTWS and so far beyond. Their purpose was much bigger than the mirror-ball trophy as so eloquently expressed by Maks on the final night. And in the end, the girl found her smile again and was ready to jump back into her life and continue her journey. Her faith had conquered her fear .. and she won!

So .. after watching the ET coverage I was looking forward to picking up the Vanity Fair magazine and reading the article. And then it started appearing online. An online friend of mine posted it and expressed her shock at the contents. I went to read it and by the end I was shaking. Was this real? Who could have asked such questions and expressed these thoughts? And a magazine such as Vanity Fair was choosing to print such a thing .. PARTICULARLY about Erin Andrews.

The interviewer (whose name I CHOOSE not to express) was condescending, rude, foul, and disgusting. Erin handled him with class and grace, not surprisingly, but the question is WHY DID SHE HAVE TO?? She later expressed that she thought that she was being punked, but unfortunately that was not the case. Vanity Fair was actually choosing to print this interviewer's attack. An attack on a woman who had already gone through enough and was beginning to come out back into the light. And while changed forever, she was LIVING again with a strength and grace and power granted to her by the surviving the experience.

During the end of the Q/A, the interviewer had made some ugly comments about Erin's partner on DWTS, Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Erin immediately responded and had her man's back. It was becoming more and more unbelievable.

Then .. it came to be known that this same interviewer had called Maksim an 'ignorant immigrant' in the recent past. The shaking began again! If the word has the potency to revive and make us free, it has also the power to blind, imprison, and destroy.

Let's just 'educate' this interviewer shall we .. Aleksandr and Larisa Chmerkovskiy brought their family to the United States to provide a better life and opportunities for their two young sons, Maksim and Valentin. The challenges they faced included financial and language barriers, but the new AMERICAN family prospered and are making a difference. Both young men are very grateful to their parents for everything they have accomplished and to this country for the opportunities afforded to them and they are AMERICAN citizens! Maksim has been such an inspiration to me that I start dance lessons next month .. now that is making a difference in a big way to a chick with two left feet!! lol

Words have power! They can influence people to think the way you think .. whether bad or good. Vanity Fair Magazine continues to give this interviewer the opportunity to 'influence' and perpetuate such disgusting thoughts .. it is just wrong. If he is allowed to continue use his words as weapons for bad, where does that lead us? Are events such as this supposed to be encouraging to others to continue to perpetuate and celebrate such ugliness?

And then as the clock reached 2:00am, the most powerful words quietly appeared .. the expression of gratitude and love expressed between two very strong, grace-filled, loving people who will always have 'each other's backs'. There are no more powerful words than "thank you" and "I love you". And while the ugliness of the words appearing on the pages of Vanity Fair will be lining newstands and online this week, the more important and powerful words will live within the hearts and minds of Erin and Maksim and those of us who support and love them the most .. and in the end those are the words that really have meaning and truth.

"How forcible are right words!" Job 6:25

Smile .. FOUND!!

So it may not have ended tonight as we would have wished .. but we learned a lot!

We learned a lot from a very special young woman about strength, courage, and extreme grace. With a wonderful sense of humor and full of hope for a better day, she braved the dance floor.

She was blessed with a very special partner. Maksim .. dear Maksim .. proved what a real true man should be. He took great care with his special girl. But she also brought something special out in him. When they would look at each other and smile you just knew .. you knew that a special connection had been made. A deep and powerful bond was created .. and in the end .. they gave each other their lives back. The 'bad' of the past melted away and with one smile the light began to shine in their eyes again.

And so .. it ended tonight .. but we are changed by our experience with Erin and Maks. We were given a blessing by getting to 'know' each of them. They blessed us with not only the gift of dance .. but more importantly .. the story of two people brought together in essence to give them life again.

You could see it in their eyes as time progressed, the light slowly returning. And when they would smile .. OH those special smiles .. all was right with the world once again. A 'rebirth' of two souls who share something we may never know .. but do understand that it is good.

So it may not have ended as we would have wished tonight .. but in an even more important way, I believe that we were granted an even bigger wish. The beautiful, graceful, special girl got her smile back .. and now what lies ahead will be brighter and better than she could have even imagined. And the prince .. well the 'awesome' prince will dance again .. but this special season .. he 'won' something more important than a mirror ball trophy.

And so dear Erin and Maks .. we are extraordinarily proud of your accomplishments on the dance floor this season and are blessed to have supported you all along the way. We love you and only hope that you feel that love. We respect who you are as people and will pray that whatever is next in your lives, you know only joy, peace and the love you truly deserve.

Oh .. what a night!

A waltz when she walks in the room
She pulls back the hair from her face
She turns to the window to sway in the moonlight
Even her shadow has grace




Last night the beautiful girl danced out of the shadow of the once tall, gangly teenage girl and found her way into the spotlight with a stunning Viennese Waltz.



As she moved across the dance floor in the arms of her handsome 'prince', she offered hope to other awkward teenage girls/women who feel the same as she did .. arms that reach further than the boys their same age, legs that seem to start under their arms, and those who slouch as not to standout in the crowd .. it all fades as she dances into the hearts of all who watch.



Then the beautiful girl becomes a powerful woman .. moving into the Paso Doble .. the couple leave it all out on the dance floor .. the power, raw emotion, and attitude got rave reviews from two of the judges (Len must have been sitting on a tack all night!).




And then it was our turn .. we went to work in mass .. voting, calling, convincing our friends and family to vote .. all for one more week with the beautiful girl and her awesome pro. Did we do enough? We hope and pray for one more day.

Erin and Maks .. thank you for the joy that you have brought to us this year .. and we look forward to next week .. when we BELIEVE that you will be dancing once again into our hearts and moving closer and closer to the mirror ball trophy!



Maks said, "Our campaign is to have people fall in love with us." MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!! Don't give up .. YOU ARE LOVED!

Beautiful girl is asked to join Dancing with the Stars for the 10th Season ..



Beautiful girl meets her 'dance partner' .. he's all right .. ;)



The dance begins ..



They rehearse and practice hard each week ..



Each week they continue to bring a spark to the dance floor unmatched by anyone ever before ...



Each week the special pro brings out something amazing in his lovely partner ..




And last week was no different .. the crowd and the judges are blown away by a leap of faith by the beautiful girl into the arms of her 'awesome' partner ..





Now .. on the eve before the show that decides who will be in the finale .. we await anxiously to see what tomorrow night will bring. The Viennese Waltz which we know that this lyrical young dancer will look amazing doing .. heck even the artist whose song they are dancing to is excited and supportive. And the Paso Doble which we know what her partner can do with that! ;)

And so we say .. WHY NOT US??!! Erin and Maksim deserve to be in the finale. Isn't she the perfect representation of what this show was meant to be .. a celebrity coming in with minimal dance experience, and week and after week improving and becoming the dancer that WOWS the crowd? We say YES!!



Not every day has been easy .. but the beautiful girl has found a 'family' in the DWTS cast .. she has made special and supportive friends, shown a strength and elegance under circumstances that no one should ever have to deal with, and she has found something special with her 'dance partner' .. what that is .. we don't know .. but it is clearly special to both. (if we get them into the Finale .. they said they would tell .. LOL)



Let's make this dream come true .. the work has paid off. Now it is our turn to get them into the Finale and that Mirror Ball Trophy! Please vote on Monday night .. 800-868-3403 and online at www.abc.com. Vote for ONE MORE HOUR than you normally do, spread the word to your friends and family .. let's make it happen!

When the end of this story is written .. let's believe that the beautiful girl and the handsome pro will dance off into the future with the mirror ball trophy and the memories of a lifetime. As Dickie V says ..THINK POSITIVE - DREAM BIG - U didn't get this far thinking about silver - GOLD N THE TITLE IS YOUR DESIRE!



We love you Erin and Maksim and believe in you!

You've Gotta Believe!!

Morning is waking up
And sometimes it's more than just enough
When all that you need to love
Is in front of your eyes
It's in front of your eyes



WHY NOT US!!!

Only You: Erin & Maks

Tony D .. the definition of a best friend!

Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart!

Vote for my 'daddy' and Erin .. PLEASE!!

Let's get #WhyNotUs trending on Twitter!

So if you have a dream then just believe that you can achieve it no matter what. Even when you can't feel deep in your heart any words of encouragement, just believe in your dream and your heart will finally show you the way.

We believe in you, Erin and Maks .. believe in the dream!!

Erin & Maks - Love Your Russian (Sugar Sugar)

WHY NOT US!!!

Our new mantra! Erin and Maksim deserve to have the same chance as any of the other couples! Let's make it happen!! Spread the word .. we are on a mission!!

Sorry TV Guide .. you are missing the WINNERS on your cover! And here they are ..

Contenders

I believe that Erin and Maks are the true meaning of what Dancing with the Stars was supposed to be. No offense to Nicole, but she came into this season with a definite advantage with the 'dance' experience. Erin has worked hard and has improved each week with a grace and courage that is to be admired and respected. Isn't the purpose of bringing a celebrity in with little dance experience and watching them develop and grow throughout the season?

We have watched Erin progressively improve throughout the season. Give the lady credit for even putting herself out there after the past year of her life. This girl has guts ... AND is a beautiful dancer. Maks has guided Erin through this season with much care, love, and a few heated but fun 'discussions' .. lol. If this past week's performance was any indication, Erin and Maks have a true chance at that trophy!

Join me in supporting this special couple!