Calling on my prayer warriors.

Once upon a time a fairy godmother waved her magic wand and created an experience that still takes my breath away to remember.

A little bitty ballerina told her ballet teacher about her "big kids" and volunteered them to help with a production of "Peter Pan" in Phoenix, Arizona.

In case you weren't sure who the little bitty ballerina was....

After a wonderful production, Ms. Caroline asked if we would help bring other special needs dancers her way. Soon a plan was formed for a production of "Cinderella." The triplets helped with all the planning, we all worked to promote, and for months the most breathtaking young people rehearsed, performed, and ultimately created a community unlike any I have been a part of. The experience was life-changing, the community life-giving. (I am talking about Cinderella  in this blog post from back then if you want to read more!)

That little bitty ballerina as a mouse in Cinderella!

Early in rehearsals, my van broke down. Stranded in crazy heat with no way to get Cinderella (Claire) to rehearsal, I scrambled and called for Wade and my brother Len. Len drove Claire to rehearsal while Wade and I took care of the van. 

When I finally arrived at rehearsal with the remainder of my crew, two beautiful ballerinas approached to offer hugs. These sweet twin sisters told me Cinderella's coach had broken down. They were so concerned, and repeated their concern to me multiple times. Perhaps it was my exhaustion. Perhaps the heat. But it took me a minute to connect the dots. Lizzy and Stephi were talking about my van. I had to smile. Cinderella's coach had indeed broken down -- and that sounded far better than just talking about my old van dying.

Mason backstage with Stephi and Lizzy at Cinderella!

My family performed, served, and loved in that production of "Cinderella" in 2011 (and I need to clarify here that I say my family, because it was an all-in-event! Cate convinced my brother to play the Evil Stepmother!!). You know what, change that. My family performed, WAS served, and WAS loved in that production....because that much more accurately describes what was happening during that season!

Her Uncle Lenny (Uncky as she called him) could not say no to performing as the Evil Stepmother!

Cinderella running away with "midnight"....

A stuffed tummy helped Gus Gus in his role!

We would continue performing in theatrical productions in Arizona for four more years and our new friends, Lizzy and Stephi never missed a production. They cheered Benjamin, Mason, Claire, and Cate through every single show! What a gift! And every time they wanted to talk about Claire-a-rella, their favorite friend. (And when I say favorite: these precious girls refused to watch Disney's "Cinderella" because Claire did not have blonde hair. Suzy had to find a version where Cindy was a brunette!)

Stephi and Lizzy with the Fiddler in "Fiddler on the Roof!"

Stephi and Lizzy with Cate after "All of a Kind Family."

Today, I am remembering and sharing and honestly, crying because our dear dear Stephi has been diagnosed with breast cancer. My friend Suzy and her family are working to determine the best way to help sweet Stephi understand, the best way to help Stephi fight. And so I have asked permission from Suzy to reach out here, to implore you to pray with me for Stephi's health and for the sustaining grace that they will all need in the days to come! 

In 2011, Stephi and Lizzy were in their early twenties. Suzy had been trying to find a way for them to experience the beauty of dance for more than two decades. Her relentless pursuit paid off -- and watching them take to the stage with their ballet slippers is a vision I will never forget.

Will you join me in praying with that same relentless spirit for Stephi's healing? Will you pray for her precious twin sister Lizzy to be covered in grace as she too will struggle with understanding? Will you please pray for Suzy and Arthur as they navigate it all?

"Then young women will dance and be glad...I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow." Jeremiah 31:13 (NIV)

Changed.

So often, when you are raising special needs kiddos the focus is on what they can not do -- they can not walk, or they can not talk, or they can not, on and on and on.  In situations where this is happening -- doctor's visits, IEP meetings, etc -- I get very chatty and begin to tell all sorts of stories about my kids. I couldn't stop myself if my life depended on it. I NEED people to see what they CAN DO. My boys -- nor my girls -- are defined by their IN-abilities and I will not tolerate anyway thinking differently.

So now you understand my passion when I write about the Ballet Academy of Arizona's production of Cinderella -- check it out here -- because I feel strongly that we must, we have to, we should be focused on what our kids CAN do and that is exactly what Caroline Atkinson did this weekend at the Herberger Theater!

Our narrator -- Mason wrote the script for Cinderella!


And can I just say that it surpassed our wildest dreams.

Backstage Fairy Godmother -- Victoria Lundeen made all the girls feel beautiful! And she started with Cinderella!

 Starting with the love backstage for each and every child -- special, typical, whatever -- from the myriad of volunteers taking care of the 100 little performers; to the love amongst the cast for each other as friendships were formed, bonds were made and walls were torn down; to the packed-house audiences at both shows who laughed, cried, clapped and were changed.

 It was spectacular.

She has never worn make-up...this was a new thing!

Simply spectacular.

Her favorite part though was the way Victoria fixed her hair!! Oooh-la-la!

 Sisters danced together -- the one without a special need, stating that she had quit ballet when she was younger because she just hated seeing her sister sit and watch. They were gorgeous on-stage TOGETHER Saturday.

I had my special eye-glitter...just to make sure everyone could shine! The Fairy Godmother needed some too!!

 A Fairy Godmother with a special needs child and a world-class ballerina of her own. She has walked the road ahead of us and encouraged, loved and was loved. A gift.

Dear Lousia, a new friend and the Fairy Godmother, me and my sweet Claire -- Cinderella!

 Little girls clasping hands to help older girls who needed just a little help on stage.

Me & one of my little mice.

Young dancers putting down their "look-at-me-attitude" to push a wheelchair gracefully.

Mommies laying down their false paradigms of "we can't." And changing them to "WE CAN and WE DID!"

Another of my mice...Benjamin!

Volunteers who instead of saying "I don't know how," said "Teach me, let me be a part!"

Flowers....so lovely!

Tutus cut in half so that they could be tied to wheelchairs.

The wicked step-mother...my sister brother, Len!

 A lot of glitter.

Sweet new friends.

A lot of love.

More new friends....

A blessing to behold. A blessing to experience. An absolute blessing.

Amazing.

I am crazy-super-busy today writing a talk for an upcoming Cerebral Palsy Day at Phoenix Children's Hospital! (And just never mind that I have had almost a year to do this....I only work under tight deadline pressure!) So though my heart wants to write a long wordy blog post about the amazing fantastic very special ballet that my kiddos were in this weekend, I simply do not have time. But ABC Channel 15 was there...and they did a beautiful piece and well, they happened to interview this really cute boy of mine....so I'm sharing the link.....go right HERE but I'll warned you....you might want to grab a tissue first!

A stage FULL of blessings. Just full.

Stage full of joy....

You may remember that last spring my entire crew participated in the Peter Pan production put on by the Ballet Academy of Arizona. It was a delightful production made all the more special by the impact it had on Mrs. Caroline, the Ballet Academy owner/director.

Mrs. Caroline was so moved by working with kids of all abilities that she immediately shifted her focus and direction in an effort to draw more children into this fall's production of Cinderella! She has organized the teenagers from Peter Pan to serve as mentors. She has begun teaching classes to the children in the programs at United Cerebral Palsy. And she has opened her arms, her classes and the opportunity to perform in a beautiful ballet on an amazing stage to children all over the valley -- no matter the limitations their bodies may inflict on them.

We are honored to be a part of this. Benjamin and Mason are serving as mentors -- they'll be on stage helping to inspire the younger children! Our Claire is living her life-long dream -- she is Cinderella! And as such, she is helping teach the classes, work with the students and getting to love on all these amazing amazing children.

Cate, who started this whole thing by pulling her siblings in, is dancing in Cinderella, of course, as a little mouse AND a pumpkin! She is so excited about all the little girls in wheelchairs that she squeals every time she meets a new friend! She spent last Saturday introducing all her new friends to each other, and filling their minds with her descriptions of the stage, the experience and the fun they are all going to have!

Yesterday was our first rehearsal at the United Cerebral Palsy center. After some major struggles to get there -- oh goodness, a flat tire in 113 degree heat no less -- I arrived flustered and trying to calm down. Claire was already there in the midst -- Uncle Lenny had rescued her to get her that as quickly as possible. She was smiling from ear to ear....I rush in and was immediately washed in the joy bubbling out of that room.

Moms were watching with tears in their eyes as their daughters and sons of all sorts of varying abilities were following the grace-filled directions of our precious instructor, Mrs. Caroline.  One mom told me about her five-year-old, who can not verbally communicate, but her smile and her beautiful arms were telling the story of excitement:

"She has watched her little friends' recitals for the last few years. She has been happy for them and yet, desperately wanting to dress up and dance too! We are so excited she is getting this opportunity."

Another Mom who spent the afternoon helping her precious 23-year-old daughters participate, told me afterwards:

"The girls have wanted to dance since they were six years old. No one every offered them the opportunity."

Her daughters won my heart when I introduced myself and they told me, "The coach broke down. Did you know the coach broke down?"

It took me a minute....but then I realized they were talking about my Claire. Cinderella's coach HAD broken down and she had to arrive late! Oh, I have smiled all night -- somehow thinking that Cinderella's coach broke down is much better than thinking my old van had a flat tire!

The smiles were contagious. The energy explosive. The anticipation palpable. These kids and parents were thrilled with every aspect of the afternoon. The children left exhausted -- but so happy!

But there was one little girl. Ah, I have spent time in prayer for her this morning. She is heavy on my heart.

She was dancing with all the others. She was learning the routine. But her grandmother was watching with a scowl. I could see it across the room. When Caroline asked the child to push another little girl in her wheelchair in my sequence, the child accepted. But the grandmother grimaced. At the end of the dance, she went to the child, said "You don't want to do that, do you? No one will see you dance??"

Within minutes, the little girl was withdrawing from the group. Disengaging from involvement as she clearly was considering what had been said to her. Ten minutes later she was putting on her shoes and exiting the studio. The grandmother said to those around her, "Well, you can't blame her. She wants to dance, not push a wheelchair! Hmmph."

I teared up. My Claire had steam coming out her ears. Mrs. Caroline handled it with grace.

The bottom line: that Grandma, in one swift move, just went a long way in insuring her granddaughter will grow up intolerant of differences. Out to serve #1....herself. And annoyed by anything/anyone that gets in her way.   The grandma is not going to be changed. I wanted to talk to her. To convince her she was wrong. But some people can not be taught. And frankly, if she wasn't moved by the joy that filled that studio yesterday, then nothing I say would have helped.

My heart doesn't hurt for the loss of that little girl in our production. But my heart does hurt for the lessons that child needs to learn and could  have learned by participating.

Sigh.

But now, I have a question for you -- completely shameless in the asking because I feel so passionate about what is happening here: I want you to be involved! We need volunteers to help with our littlest dancers --  adults willing to help backstage -- and even on stage with pushing of wheelchairs, etc. So if you would like to help, please comment and let me plug you in!

You can also make a donation to help with the purchase of costumes, the theater rental (the amazing Herberger Phoenix!), as well as scholarships for those children who desire to be a part but financially can not. Go here for more info on that!

We also have a big fundraiser coming up -- A Fairy Godmother Tea -- at the Phoenician on September 25! Tables are $1000, or individual tickets are $100 -- we need you there!! (Or you could buy a table for some of our little ballerinas!) Our own Mason Shrader will serve at the Master of Ceremonies and the menu for tea looks divine!!

So the bottom line: Dreams are coming true for more than 100 children in the Valley of the Sun. Lessons are being learned. And a beautiful performance is being planned. How do you want to be involved? I guarantee a blessing.

Guarantee it!

Do you have your tickets?

THIS Sunday, the entire Shrader crew will be performing in the Ballet Academy of Arizona's production of Peter Pan.

Dear Cate is a student of the Ballet Academy and simply adores her instructor, Mrs. Caroline. Caroline is trained through the Royal Academy of Ballet and her students tested and credentialed through the Royal Academy. She is amazing.

But more than that -- at least for me -- is the heart Caroline has for all children. Because she has seen the difference theater and dance can make in the self-esteem of children, she puts on all of her shows -- from The Nutcracker, to Cinderella and Peter Pan -- with a cast comprised of talent to be sure, but also of eager, willing students who want to learn, experience and try something new. She does not audition but rather lets all who desire participate and then she inspires, excites and gets out of their way so they can shine!

When our boys were very small, we really struggled each time we drove by a baseball field, fearing they would never experience little league. In my heart, I wondered if moms of little girls with Cerebral Palsy grieved over pink tutus the way we grieved over baseball diamonds.

Caroline wants to make sure those moms don't have to grieve. She is eager to work with special needs children, children who are at-risk, children with emotional-distress....she has seen the effect her program can have and is eager to help as many as she can!

Benjamin, Mason, and Claire are volunteering their time to star in Peter Pan -- Benjamin is Peter, Mason is his shadow, and Claire is Mrs. Darling -- to spread the word that this is a place for ALL children. Cate wouldn't miss it for the world -- she is a lost child, a toy in the nursery and a ladybug!

Won't you join us? If you can't make it Sunday (Herberger Theater, 2pm & 4pm!!), the academy could still use your support. Donors make it possible for Caroline to offer scholarships to children who otherwise would not be able to participate. Every little penny makes a difference in the life of a child!