Spring has sprung, and summer is creeping up! I had a goal in mind a few months ago… it was to launch Bee Creative Dance, a dream that slowly but surely is coming true It’s launched, it’s totally taking off. Life is GOOD!

There was still a feeling of something missing though, as I was charting out plans and doing all this web design work I came upon a huge decision– to start my life coaching NOW, instead of waiting for “all my ducks” to be in a row. Again, it launched and took off! WOW!

I’ve said it a few times now on Facebook and in person, it’s worth repeating… NONE of this is any of my doing! God is so faithful and so good to me, to US. I want to share His hope and the plans that He has for others.. whether you believe or not, I know that He has a amazing plan for everyone in this lifetime.

I truly feel like my life calling is to help others, to help moms especially because I have been through slumps and depression and have had to get out of it- and when I did, life got so much better. I hope to share that light at the end of the tunnel plan with others.

Another page, another chapter.. it FEELS like this is it, people… really really this is IT!

I’ve not ever really been a person who waits, or is patient. I’m not bragging here, I’m just saying it’s not who I am, it’s not me to wait for someone to do something or say something… I’m a doer. Has it gotten me into some predicaments? Umm, yes… far too many times, more times than I’d like to admit to. I have rushed into business ideas, relationships and even ministries. The fact that I can do a lot of different things doesn’t mean that I should do them. It’s something that I am learning as I grow, and it’s a hard lesson.

On the other hand, I see and hear from a lot of people who are the exact opposite. “Gun Shy” or hesitant. I never really understood why someone wouldn’t just do something that needed to be done regardless of if they knew HOW to or not? For example: say that there was a need for someone to make a poster for an event… this person would say “Oh, I can’t do it, I have terrible handwriting and I don’t know how to draw..” I’d say “Well, neither do I, but it needs to get done!” and I’d do it! Does that make me right? NO!

Well, there have been times where instances like above have happened and I’ve done something that no one else would do, and to be honest, I ended up doing it fairly well. Heck, I have had 3 jobs at one time and excelled at each one… not that I am trying to brag, but just so you can get an idea of who I am– I have this blessing and curse of ADD like, for real. And, just because I can do a lot of different things, I do. It gets me into trouble, people strongly dislike me because of it and I tend to make people feel “bad” about themselves for not being “like me”. I’m often an outsider because of this trait, and at the same time it’s why my closest friends love me– blessing and a curse.

I heard a sermon the other day about church and how it is God’s church to build. The Pastor was saying that it’s not the people, it’s God who builds the church. He has been building churches for over 2000 years and he will continue to… You see, it’s not the gifts and abilities of people, it’s the power of GOD working through them! Seeing it that way, I applied that filter to my own life…

God gave me these abilities, these gifts and this mind and energy…He can work through me to build so many things. Yes, I still need to be wise about the choices I make and where I spend my time building, but to be able to rest on the fact that HE is working through me gives me a new clarity on my gifts. It also helps me to understand how to encourage others who are the opposite of me– it’s not about the gifts you do or don’t have– God will work through you to accomplish what he wants to accomplish so what are you waiting for?

Let God use your life for something of ETERNAL value. Don’t think of what you can or can’t do– ASK what He would have for you to try!

Having lived on the west coast for most of my life, and now living on the east coast, I get a lot of questions from family & friends about “How it is to live on the east coast” and if I like it better than the west coast. Truth be told– I had hated the east coast when I was living in upstate NY… but living in New Jersey is heaven! We are close to NYC, we can visit Philly and we can do it all on the same day.

NYC has so many attractions and places to see with the kids. We did the Bronx Zoo visit when we first moved to NY and the 4 hour drive was so worth it. Now, living only an hour away we are thrilled to be able to enjoy it more often. We all know kids can drive us bananas once the weather gets warm. They have summer on the brain and want to be out and about. Well, this Spring and early Summer Bronx Zoo has some amazing entertainment planned! Read below for more details! It starts this weekend!

I’m most excited to visit during the weekend when LeVar Burton will be doing the reading time! Reading Rainbow was my absolute FAVORITE show ever as a kid.

Animal Tales Extravaganza returns to the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo for the third year, on weekends from Saturday, April 21st through Sunday, June 30th!

Each weekend of Animal Tales Extravaganza includes an array of activities for families and children. The zoo’s Dancing Crane Pavilion will be transformed into an intimate story time corner, presented by Plum Organics. Zoo-goers can take a break and read from a wide variety of animal-themed books from Simon & Schuster, Candlewick Press, and Hyperion. Children can then stage their own animal tale with a puppet they create at the Bright Horizons Early Education & Preschools crafts area.

In addition, this year features a special production – Avenue ZOO – featuring a guest appearance by Kate Monster, the beloved puppet star of the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q.

Running each weekend on the zoo’s Asia Plaza Stage, Avenue ZOO highlights the importance of wildlife conservation in a fun, entertaining way. It is a musical tale in which Kate Monster meets exotic animals and discovers that though they may seem strange and different, they are not as scary as she thought. Avenue ZOO performances will be at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. each weekend from Saturday, April 21 through Sunday, Sept. 9.

Also, the main stage has something for everyone throughout the spring season. Highlights of this season’s main stage entertainment include:

· April 21 and April 22 – Storybook Fun with Curious George

· June 30 – Spider-Man takes over the zoo

Children will enjoy meeting some of their favorite personalities at the Dancing Crane Pavilion. Meet-and-greets are scheduled with top children’s entertainment characters including Yo Gabba Gabba; Marvel’s Avengers; Nickelodeon’s Dora and Diego, Sportacus from Sprout’s Lazytown; Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie; Buddy the T-Rex from Dinosaur Train; Maisy Mouse; Olivia™ and more.

Eight-time Academy Award-winning composer Alan Menken will present favorite songs from his collection along with Music Unites Youth Choir of Women’s Academy of Excellence on Saturday, June 2.

Actor LeVar Burton, host of the Peabody award-winning series Reading Rainbow will make an appearance on Saturday and Sunday, June 16 and 17 for a special storybook reading. LeVar will share his favorite tips and techniques to encourage young readers and host a special preview of the new Reading Rainbow iPad book discovery and reading application.

A full listing of Animal Tales Extravaganza dates and times is available at http://apps.bronxzoo.com/animal-tales/

For hour, direction and more info, go to: www.bronxzoo.com.

Plus, buy tickets online and save 10%!

This opening weekend kicks off with a Meet & Greet with Yo Gabba Gabba! and Storybook Fun with Curious George!

April 21st and April 22nd

Mainstage: Storybook Fun with Curious George
Enjoy a high-energy, interactive live performance featuring songs, games, storybook readings, fun dances and lots of audience participation with one of today’s most popular storybook characters!
11:30am, 1:30pm, and 3:30pm Adjacent to Grizzly Bears

Meet & Greet with Yo Gabba Gabba!
Meet Brobee, Toodee and Foofa from the rockin’. pre-school series Yo Gabba Gabba!
12:30pm and 2:30pm at Dancing Crane Plaza

The Wildlife Conservation Society, founded in 1895, has the clear mission to save wildlife and wild places across the globe. During our 115 years, we have forged the power of our global conservation work and the management of our five parks in New York City to create the world’s most comprehensive conservation organization. We currently manage about 500 conservation projects in more than 60 countries; and educate millions of visitors at our five living institutions in New York City on important issues affecting our planet. Our parks include: the Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo and Queens Zoo.

The WCS parks in New York City welcome 4 million visitors each year, and help the city to educate millions of schoolchildren in science and conservation issues.

Disclosure: I am a part of the Bronx Zoo/NY Aquarium Blogger Ambassador Program. I have receive complimentary membership for myself and my family in order to provide you with a first hand experience of the attractions and events. All opinions are my own.