College Bound
It’s that time of year. So many of you will be sending your kiddos off to college for the first time. I remember sending my first born, Will, like it was yesterday.
I was a mess.
We were still wearing masks, there were so many unknowns, and I was expected to send him to another state 5 hours away and be ok with it. I was not, but I got there, and you will too.
This is such an exciting time for your kiddo and for you really. What you will find is your relationship will change.
Somedays the relationship will feel more mature, some days you will be hitting your head up against a wall wondering where you went wrong, and other days you will be thinking to yourself, “I guess he just has to learn the hard way, because, I KNOW I TAUGHT HIM BETTER.”
AND
Sadly there will be those days where you are on the floor in fear and worry, but you will get through it mama and the sun will come up! I promise!
Your emotions and feelings will be all over the place. The one thing I can tell you is: If you made it to this place, the place where your kiddo is earnestly ready to leave the nest, you did good!
That was your job.
Keep them alive and get them ready to fly.
So give yourself a pat on the back and maybe do what I did. Sit down and write your child a letter. A letter from the heart. You will find it is very healing and they will go away knowing how proud you are and how loved they are. There is nothing better than those two feelings!!!!! Here is my letter to Will back in 2020. I still get choked up reading it and I still stand by all the advice given that day. So Will, if you are reading this, click here and remember what I said. LOVE YOU MOST SAID IT LAST! LYMSIL, Mom (And JP, YOU TOO! This all applies to you as well my love! And remember: Shine Bright! The Stage and The Camera need your light!!!! So does this world! IWALY)
To all my moms reading this: YOU DID GOOD AND YOU ARE WORTHY!
XO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
You Light Up My Life!
Baby Bear! It is YOUR birthday and I cannot believe that in 365 days from now you will be 18! Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday you were holding that bottle in between your teeth and dragging that blankie around! Oh that blankie!!!!! Such memories! I can still smell it! NO LIE! But what I would do to erase time and go back to that stinky blankie!
Why erase time and go back? Because there were times I was not at my best and I know there were times I could have done better. Yes ,you have had a wonderful life, but as your mom I know there were times I could have done better. For instance, when I kept making you play football! I am so sorry for that. I know you forgive me and all I can give you is the acknowledgement that I know that I could have done better there. I am sorry. I know there are many more. The point is I want you to know I love you!
Here is the deal, I know you know I love you. I also know we will still have rough patches. What I want you to know son is I will always love you. ALWAYS!!!!! NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!!! You bring me so much joy and light! It’s not just one way that you shine either JP, but a million different ways that you light up my life. You are such a gift! And not just to me and our family, but to the world!
So on this 17th birthday my darling JP remember this: “Keep Shining Beautiful One! The world needs your light!”
Happy Birthday MY JP!
IWALY!
Mom
You Are A Gift To This World
My sweet, sweet, JP,
Where do I begin? Today you turn 16! I don’t know why 16 is any different than any other birthday, except maybe 10 because you moved to double digits, or 13 because you moved to your official teenage years, and/or 21 because you will finally be legal. For me it is not different. Do you want to know why? Because everyday you live and breathe is so very special to me. You matter to me and you matter to this world! You my son are a beautiful human being that the world has been gifted with.
I truly believe this JP. You have such a future ahead of you and your future will be a gift to anyone lucky to be blessed by it. I see BIG things for you. Your talent is something people work years to have. God has blessed you unbelievably son. My prayer is you know this and you use this talent wisely. Talent like yours will bring happiness to a world that is desperate for it. How do I know this?
I know this because every time you are on that stage and you sing, you give your audience wings to their imaginations and their worlds open up… when you are on that stage and you dance, the worlds rhythms becomes a little more in sync…..when you are on the stage and acting the world becomes a little more calm……when you play the violin, the audience listens with awe and beautiful thing happens, their ears hear angelic music which brings peace….It is a beautiful thing that happens to those present when you are on the stage. It is a gift you have been given and one you get to give to the world.
Julie Andrews was quoted saying, “Music and the arts make a bridge across this world in ways that nothing else can.” You my son can be that bridge. You are that bridge! I hope you believe in yourself as much as I believe in you!
So on this 16 birthday son, know how very proud of you Dad and I are. Know how blessed we feel to have been given the gift of you! And know Son that we believe in you and the world needs you! Shine my boy! Shine!
Happy 16th JP!
All my love,
Mom
Dear JP
Dear JP!
Today is your day! You're off to great places you are off and away! That always was and always will be our book! Do you agree? I cannot believe that today you start your Sophomore Year! Where has the time gone?
Seems like only yesterday you had cracked your hard skull and you were in the MRI machine and I was reciting our book by memory to you! Do you remember that!? And look at you now kid! You have been and will continue to go off to great places! I truly believe that with my whole heart!
Big things are happening to you JP and will continue to happen! You have the "IT" factor. I see it and the world will too! Just remember to always stay true to yourself and your beliefs. Remember Jesus always. God gave you this gift of talent son! Treat it with the upmost respect and love and you will go far. I just know it! Use this talent and be a light to the world. The world needs more light and could sure use JP Berry's smile! That smile lights up a building! Not just a room!
Remember to do your best in your studies as I know the stage is your passion, but study hard and the stage will come to you. I promise. Like I told your brother Will, peer pressure is real and it is present and it is big, don't succumb to it. Be you! Don't let anyone push you into something you don't want or out of something you want just because it is not cool or they will not like you. Trust me JP, everyone will not only like you, they will love you! So you be you and shine bright my boy!
Your very first playbill add! Look at the book I recited!
This year will be the best yet and I can't wait to see what God has in store! Remember-be a leader not a follower and Berry's NEVER quit!
Happy First Day of School my JP!
All my love,
Mom
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New York State of Mind Finale!
It’s here! Our final day in the city! It is a day to remember. It was amazing watching JP finish strong and we visited the 911 Memorial. Needless to say, all kinds of emotions. To see more read on.
We have done it! We have made it to the finish line in my recap of New York! Today I will share what we did on Sunday and Monday and I have to warn you parts of it are pretty somber as we visited the 911 Memorial and would you believe we did not make it half way through. I just couldn't. It was so emotional, so dark, and so real, and JP called saying he was done. Secretively I was so glad as my stomach was in knots and my head hurt. I will go back, but I will go back knowing I might not finish it yet again. It is that raw you guys. At least for me it was.
The dark hole
So, we woke up Sunday morning and got JP delivered to the studio safely, grabbed some breakfast and made our way over to the memorial. We started with the original spot of the Twin Towers. You guys, it is amazing what they have done. The hole and the way the water just flows down into the pit is peaceful yet eerie. Peaceful as you listen to the water and know there is life, yet eerie as you look down into this dark hole and you know there was tremendous loss of life. Yet the water keeps circulating and flowing which for me is a sign that those who were lost that fateful day are still with us. They are with us in spirit and the evil that created it is deep down in that pit. That was what I felt. It brought me chills and tears. It is very sobering.
The water flowing to the hole
We made our way inside and at first I was o.k. because it was honestly just pieces of metal and stuff that made it through the fires and collapses that day and for me I could not wrap my head around the pain from that. Everyone is different I know, but for me I could not grasp the gravity.
Metal from the Towers.
The different colors of blue fascinated me.
However, as we moved deeper into the museum that changed. We hit a wall where individuals were asked to paint a watercolor of what they remembered the sky looking like before the attack. This wall got to me. I really cannot answer why, but it moved me in a way that brought me to tears. Maybe it was because the sky was obviously a beautiful blue that morning, a blue that is so peaceful. You get that message loud and clear from the wall and I kept thinking, "Man, what happened that morning turned that beautiful peaceful sky to a dark and lonely color". A color I imagine hell or purgatory being. Not that I believe in purgatory, but I was raised Catholic, so the idea is in my head. That wall was changed from life to death in one hit. Tragic and senseless and that wall got me but good. I loved the quote, " No day shall erase you from the memory of time." I will remember that wall always.
Next we came to the "Survivor's Stairs". It is literally remnants of a staircase that connected the northern edge of the World Trade Center's Austin J. Tobin Plaza to the Vesey Street sidewalk below. These stairs along with an escalator provided an unobstructed exit for hundreds seeking to escape. The guide at the top of the stairs was telling people to literally go down the stairs and just run! "Run as fast as you can". He literally was repeating what a Police officer was saying that dreadful day to all the people trying to escape. It really was paralyzing thinking about what they must of been feeling and how scared they must of been.
The Survivor's Stairs
We then came to a part of the museum that had pictures of the deceased. It was very somber and just thinking about what each person left behind. A child, a spouse, a parent, friend, sibling, and the list goes on. I could not help but cry especially when I saw the children's faces who were lost. It made feelings of anger come up even.
The next area we hit I could not even finish. It was voice recordings of people saying good bye to loved ones on voice mails, stories of people witnessing individuals jumping to their death, and just more stories of death and evil. I could not take anymore. I had to leave. Thankfully JP called right about that time and we did have to leave. I honestly don't think I could take much more.
I am so glad we made it to the memorial and I do hope to go back someday and finish it. Mainly out of respect of all those who lost their lives that day or those who lost loved ones. I don't think I can EVER forget that day even if I wanted too, but I will say this Memorial is a great lesson for those who were not even alive of how good will always over come evil. How on September 11, 2001 we were all united. We saw incredible courage and amazing acts of heroism. We saw this country unite and stand in solidarity together that day and the days that followed. That is what we will remember.
Needless to say the cab ride to get JP was very quiet, but once we got to JP that all changed. Seeing these kids finishing up was an amazing site to see. They were all so happy and so proud and that was just what I needed. We got JP and started heading back to the hotel and on the way back we hit the Black Tap. Have you ever been to a Black Tap? Oh my! If you have not you must go! It is basically a hamburger joint, but the milkshakes! Oh the Milkshakes! These milkshakes can turn any sadness into pure joy! They look joyful and they taste GREAT! So this was just what the doctor ordered for us!
JP and "Asaka" one of the leads in Once on This Island! Yall....she is AMAZEBALLS!
Afterwards Gramzee was whipped so we took her to the room and for our last night, Ginger, JP, and I headed out to Time Square and decided to try our luck at the lottery for the Musical Once On This Island. Would yall believe we won! We scored 3 tickets for $59 each! For those of you who do not know, a Broadway ticket right now is going for about $250 plus! And that is the back row people! Not only did we score 3 seats at such a great deal, they were KILLER seats! We were so pumped!
While we waited for the show to start we headed to Time Square and had a little fun and made our way back. Here are some of our street shots! Ginger was not thrilled with me making her do this, but she played along and loosened up and enjoyed herself and having everyone stare at the "crazy tourist"!
After the show we were all hungry, so........we decided to go out with a bang and get more.......guess......PIZZA! We went back to the quaint restaurant by our hotel, Serafina, and got some more of that delicious black truffle pizza. Three pizzas to be exact and we ate every last bite! Oh yes we did which made for an incredible nights sleep! Ha!
This pizza is so stupid good! I can't even stop thinking about it! I might have to learn to make it!
Dylan's Candy Heaven!
We got up early Monday because JP still needed to hit one more stop. Dylans Candy Store and at first I was like what is the big deal? Well you guys, unless you go you will not understand. It is a kids haven! It is so fun and there is all kinds of fun candy and treats. Perfect place to stop for treats to bring home, but before we could leave the city we stopped at Rue 57 for lunch and I had the french onion soup in honor of my mom, because who in their right mind would order soup when it is 98 degrees outside in New York City! Me! That is who! And I loved every bite of it just like my mom would have! If you like French onion soup I highly suggest Rue 57! After our last meal in the city we headed to the airport and we were back in Dallas before we knew it!
Whew! We are done! I hope you enjoyed reading about our trip as much as I enjoyed reliving it and telling you all about it! I could not be more proud of what JP has accomplished and where it has brought him and I am so thankful I got to share it with my AMAZING Mother in Law and one of the most special people in my life, my childhood bestfriend! How blessed I am!
Me and my Star!
Until next time!
XO,
Amy
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New York State of Mind-Part 3
To see more about our amazing adventure in the City read on! I hope you are enjoying it as much as we did!!!!!
Happy Monday, Friends!
Today I am recapping our third full day in New York and I think this might have been my favorite day by far! I mean it was all incredible, but today was almost magical! And I needed that after our emotional night seeing Dear Evan Hansen. If you missed that post you can catch that here: New York Part 2
And if you missed Day one that is here: New York Part 1
Back to day three! We woke up bright and early again and got JP delivered safely to the new studio! Yes they threw us a curve ball and we switched studios, but honestly we knew that would happen and it was a great thing for JP to see more awesome studios in the city. Luckily this studio was close enough we could walk and there was no subway involved. I like it that way! I mean the subway is fun, but let's just say I am happier walking.
JP and his friends!
Once we arrived at the studio everyone was congregating outside as it was still locked and I got to see JP interacting with all the kids. Nothing warms a mother's heart more than to see their child in his or her element and let me tell you he was! As we were about to leave a mom I had yet to meet arrived a little late with her son and I introduced myself to her and her daughter. I am so glad I did too! Her name was Tanya and her daughter was Kyra. I invited them to breakfast with Gramzee, Ginger, Chris and Trish (our other new friends) and I. I am happy to report they came and I had the BEST day with sweet Kyra. She was like my little shadow and being a boy mom let's just say I was in HEAVEN!
We started out getting breakfast at another cute New York diner which I have decided I am totally all about. You can get your eggs anyway you like them and the bacon oh man the bacon!
Our amazing Pedicab tour guide Z!
From there we all decided we wanted to see Central Park. The only problem was it was 98 degrees outside so we decided to do a pedicab. Best decision ever as our tour guide Z was amazing and as hot as it was, the wind in our face was very welcomed! If you ever find yourself in Central Park on a hot day I HIGHLY suggest this route. The horses are put up anyways when it is that hot so why not have someone else do the pedaling for you! IF you are lucky enough to get Z you are in for a real treat! Trust me! You can see him in the Saturday Night Live Video at the end of this post! He is the adorable Pedicab driver in the video! Look for him and if you are in Central Park find him and have him give you his tour. He knows the park inside and out and he is too cute and so funny!
Kyra running through the water at the park. Oh to be a kid and to be free!
Central Park is magical and experiencing it with new and old friends made it even more special. I will remember this day always. I had so much fun and I cannot wait to go back! Here are a few photos of what we saw and did.
JP and Maise! He was so happy to have her there!
We had to be back to the studios early that day as the kids were performing for us. I had some surprises up my sleeve as JP's bestfriend Maise happened to be in the city with her brother who was performing with iTheatrics on another project and JP's Uncle Frankie too! Both of them text saying they could make it to the performance and we got to surprise JP with his own little fan club!
VERY special to all of us to have Uncle Frankie there! Especially since he lives in California! The stars and the moon were aligned and we were all so happy!
I have to say we were all wowed by the show! What this group of kids accomplished in three short days was nothing short of amazing! I so wish I could show you video or pictures from it, but I can't because I was not allowed to video tape. What I can show you is a group photo we were allowed to take at the end of JP and the cast and I promise you EVERYONE of these kids was amazing! The talent was off the hook and I was over the moon proud of my kid! I am still beaming! Yet another experience I will cherish always!
The cast and directors! Everyone in this photo has AMAZING talent! EVERYONE!
I still laugh at how the water comes out of the ceiling!
Needless to say, JP was whipped after rehearsing all day and then preforming so we decided to just grab a quick bite! Guess what we got! Pizza! Just this time it was from a quaint restaurant, Serafina, which was near our hotel and their black truffle pizza was OUT OF THIS WORLD! You have to try it if you are in the city! I am still dreaming about it! LITERALLY! After pizza I stopped in a pharmacy and got huge bags of epsom salts and we all took long epsom salt baths in our quirky tub and hit the sack early.
So there you have it! Day 3! And what a magical day it was!
Later this week I will wrap up our adventure with the 911 memorial, more pizza, a musical, and onion soup in honor of my mom! Oh how I wish she could have experienced this with us. I know she was there in spirit though and I know she is so proud of JP Berry! We all are!
Until next time!
XO,
Amy
New York State of Mind Part 2-
Part 2 of our amazing adventure in the city that never sleeps!
Part 2 of my New York State of Mind begins today! If you missed part 1 you can catch that here: https://worthyheart.com/blog/2018/7new-york-state-of-mind-part-1
Where did I leave you? Thursday night I believe! So Friday morning again we were up and at 'em early as we had to have JP to the studio by 9, fed, hydrated, and with lunch. I am proud to say we nailed the subway and we were there in plenty of time! Thank God JP is a fast learner because he was the reason it was so easy for us.
Once we dropped JP we decided we wanted to take it easy. My mother in law and I had a nice leisurely walk and along the way we met some really nice firemen and did a little shopping. We found a quaint diner, had brunch, and decided we wanted to go back to the room until Ginger arrived to rest. Gramzee took a bath in our quirky tub and a nice long nap and I wrote a little. It was actually perfect as our room overlooked Central Park and I was able to sit and really reflect on what was happening and how awesome of an opportunity this was and is for JP. In the quiet I was able to thank God for all He had blessed me and my family with. It was a moment I will never forget and one I will always treasure. How often do we moms ever get 3 hours of alone time with no disruption to where we can really be present and grateful. Not often enough.
Ginger arrived around 4 and together with Gramzee we made our way back to the Studio to get our boy. We got to the studio early so we met up with one of the other mother's and found a cute little bar and had a delicious cocktail! I have named it the Trishtini as my new friend Trish is who invented it! Let me tell you it is delish and has a punch! Look for the recipe tomorrow! You will not be disappointed, but warning! ONE IS ENOUGH!
Once we had JP we rushed back to the room to get ready for our show. We took the subway and I can tell you after one trishtini I handled that subway like a champ! I guess my inhibitions were down and I did not care if I looked like a tourist because that was the only time I handled it with ease! Ha! We were starving so Gramzee and I made our way to a little grocery on the corner and grabbed all kinds of goodies so JP would not be late to the show.
We made it to the musical in plenty of time and what a show it was! Dear Evan Hansen. All I can say is WOW! If you have kids, if you are on social media (which I assume you are as you are reading this), if you plan on having kids, and if you ever get the chance to see this show I HIGHLY recommend it. I think every human being should see this show! Truly it is that amazing. The entire premise is about inclusivity and the importance of human connection and it was just beautiful. Sad, but beautiful! Of course I cried through the entire show and the thought of kids not feeling loved just kills me, but it is real. They all need to know they are not alone and they will be found. They need to know to just hold on tight and the sun will come up tomorrow. For whatever reason they don't understand tomorrow will come and it kills me knowing my own kids might be feeling this at times and that really tugs at my heart.
When I later asked JP what he thought about the show he said he loved it! I asked what made him cry and he said he has friends who have thought of suicide and his heart hurt for them knowing it. He told me that social media while it is fun and great it can really hurt a person. I could not agree more and I was so glad he saw such a powerful and moving show to really see and feel how social media can create harm and pain. We talked about the idea of EVERYBODY deserves a smile and a hello! That a smile and a hello might save someone's life. So the point here is GO SEE THE SHOW if you ever have the opportunity! You will not regret it! If you don't believe me ask JP! I promise you he will agree!
Of course after the show we had to hit Ray's Pizza for the THIRD time, but hey who is counting? And besides I was averaging 25,000 plus steps a day so I deserved it! Ha!
So there you have Part 2 of New York State of Mind! Be looking for Part 3 as it was yet another amazing adventure in the city that never sleeps!
Until then!
XO,
Amy
Hello, World!
I wish you could see my dress in these pictures, but you cannot. I am still working on my photography skills! The dress is AMAZING and I got so many complimnets and I got it here!
New York State of Mind Part 1
Part 1 of our amazing adventure in the big apple!
So it has been over a week since JP, my amazing mother in law, and my dear childhood friend and I hit the big apple. I think I am still recovering, processing, and wrapping my head around it all. The trip was truly magical and truly amazing on a number of levels that I just don't know where to begin or end. I have decided I will just start at the beginning and the beginning might surprise you.
May 3 at exactly 1:20 pm I happen to be on my email and I received a message titled: DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL-iTheatrics 2018 Choreo DVD. I opened it immediately and here is a little of what it said:
Congratulations to all who participated in the 2018 Junior Theater Festival Choreography DVD auditions in Atlanta and Sacramento and others who have done amazing things with iTheatrics throughout the year! You should be so incredibly proud of yourselves...your professionalism, flexibility, and talent amaze me. This email is your invitation into the 2018 High School Musical JR. Choreography DVD Shoot cast. Yes, you are cast!
JP's amazing dance teacher who discovered our shining star and is helping me navigate all the excitement! Thank God for Mrs. Megan and everyone at Preston Center Dance
I remember sitting there and thinking, "HOLY HELL! He made it! He really made it! Now what? HOLY HELL! I have to go to New York! YUCK!" I admit it! I said it! But I am proud to say I obviously sent the email on to him and sent him a text saying, "READ YOUR EMAIL NOW!" Then I picked up the phone and called his dance teacher Ms. Megan. I did not have a clue as to what iTheatrics was or is, remember this is all very new for me having a kid in the dance and acting world, and I asked her is this something that I REALLY need to make happen. Well she gave me a resounding YES and I trust her and I know how much she believes in my John Paul that I started working on the details as I needed to have John Paul in New York no later than June 26. Which that alone gave me the hives. I had ZERO desire at that time to go to New York. I had been before as a kid and I remember thinking it stunk and was stupid crowded! Well I can assure you my mind has since been changed and I am happy to report I LOVE NEW YORK CITY! Like REALLY love it! Like that will have to be a post in itself I love it that much!
JP and I getting ready to board our plane. Smiles all around!
Ok, back to JP! Being that I did not want to go I asked my mother in law if she would come with me and she was more than excited to come and my bestfriend Ginger too! So I had two peeps to keep me entertained while JP danced and sang all day which was great! We arrived in New York late on the 26 and my sweet JP had a list of places he wanted to hit. First on the list was Rays Pizza. Let me just say, "WINNER!" That pizza is amazing! Have you ever had it? If not, I highly suggest it should you find yourself in New York and I highly suggest keeping it simple and going with the pepperoni pizza! I knew New York had amazing pizza as my family is from the east coast, but holy cow I forgot how amazing! And boy did it hit the spot after traveling.
BEST PIZZA EVER! RAYS for the win! One happy kid here!
The next day we were all up and at 'em early as we had to get JP to the Ripley Grier Studios by 9 am, with a packed lunch: all the while figuring out the subway system. Now that was a sight to behold! Trust me on that! I am happy to say we figured it out by day 2.5 and I am now the proud carrier of a couple of metro cards with a few rides left on each! Maybe we can use them next year if he gets invited back!
The AMAZING Steven Kennedy kindly booting the parents out! I will let you look him up and see how amazing he is and how BIG this iTheatrics invitation is for JP! I am still in awe after looking into all of the wonderful people working with JP.
Once we made it to the Studio we were allowed to go up for the parent meeting. I was all ready with my pen and notebook and JP was so embarrassed. I seriously thought it was a meeting! Basically it was, "Hi we will have your kids every day until 6. Here is who you check them in and out with. Pack their lunch daily please and send them with water. Check emails because if there are any changes or updates you will get them there. Do not camp out here! There is a Starbucks somewhere for that! Nice to see you, congrats on having such talented kids, now beat it and let us work our magic!" I was like wow! But, hey I realize if this is what he wants to do in life this is good. So I put my notebook up and my mother in law and I headed out to hit the streets.
AMAZING New York breakfast!
On the way down the elevator one of the sweet moms could tell we were new, it was so obvious it was ridiculous, and she asked if there was any questions we had as she had done this with her child already. I was like, "Thank you Jesus! Yes we have a ton of questions!" Then my mother in law piped in, "Can we treat you to breakfast?"
Chris and Trish were amazing! They knew the program and they knew the city which was an even bigger bonus! So we had breakfast, got our questions answered, and headed out. When we started this journey I asked my mother in law, "What do you want to do while we are in New York?" All she wanted to do besides see JP in his element was Bloomingdales and the 911 Memorial. So Thursday was our day to hit Bloomies as Ginger really wanted to see the 911 Memorial and she had yet to arrive.
When I travel I am not one that has a list of places to go like my son JP is. I am more the type of let's walk and experience it all. So I said to Gramzee, aka my mother in law, "According to my map Bloomies is this way! So let's stroll!" That is just what we did and we had THE BEST time! We happened across Bryant Park. It is this park that has ping pong games going, water fountains, pop up shops, a reading nook, and it was just so quaint and we just really loved it! I highly suggest you going there should you be in the city. It is so sweet! I imagine during the holidays they really do it up!
Right next to Bryant Park was the public library and again it was so beautiful! We did not actually go in but we admired the architecture and statues outside. We kept walking and low and behold found St. Patricks. For those of you who do not know, my mom was VERY Catholic and my dad still is. We walked over and we were going in to light a candle and would you believe they were starting a mass. Actually I have since learned there is a Mass all the time, but I took it as a sign from my mom that she was actually with me. My mother in law asked me if I would like to stay and attend and of course I did. I cried a little, but honestly they were happy tears as I could feel my mom's presence. It really was a magical moment for me. After mass we kept walking and found a quaint french restaurant and had a MAGNIFICENT lunch. I wish I could remember the name, but for the love of God I can't! All I can say is it was delish and is about three blocks down from Bloomingdales! Which we hit hard! So hard I made a friend at the Clarin's counter. Grace! She is amazing and if you are ever in New York and find yourself in Bloomies, you really should stop by her counter and ask her for a quick facial. It was AMAZING and so is she! She had me refreshed, refaced, and ready to get JP and hit the city at night!
The amazing Grace of Bloomies! So lucky to have crossed paths with her!
After our facials we got to JP, thanks to Grace's help in hailing a cab! Another site to behold, my mother in law and I trying to hail a cab! Grace saw the trouble we were having and graciously helped and we made it to JP just in the nick of time! We got JP and we headed to another spot on his list. Ellen's Stardust Cafe, which for those of you newbies like myself, is a very touristy but really neat experience. Especially if you are into the Broadway Musical Scene. Basically in a nutshell your waitstaff are Broadway performers who are in between shows or trying to get a show and they entertain you your entire meal. A lot of fun and I highly suggest you going if you love Musicals and singing! We had a ball and little side note. Go between 5 and 6:30 and your wait will be a lot less than after 6;30. Anything after 6:30 can take up to 2 hours. So take it from me. Try to get there before 6:30, but even if you don't, New York is the best place to people watch, so why not do that in line at Ellen's Stardust Cafe!
Gramzee was in good hands!
After dinner sweet Gramzee was spent so JP and I put her in a bike buggy and sent her home and we headed to Time Square! Want to talk about amazing people watching! It is the melting pot of people watching and JP and I loved every minute of it! From the Pot Mobile, to the painted naked people, yes you read that right, to all the interesting sights and sounds! It was a site to behold and one I am so glad to have experienced with my sweet JP and one that I will remember always. Ever have moments like this?
After that, we headed back as JP had to be up and ready to hit the dance floor by 9 am for another full day in practice. But we first made another stop at Ray's Pizza! JP LOVED their pizza! So we did and yes I am happy to report I ate it again too! I think I ate my way through the city and what a city to eat your way through! They know how to make their food! So we had our late night pizza and hit the sack!
So there you have it folks! Part one of New York! I can't wait to share Part 2 with you later this week with a New York State of Mind!
XO,
Amy
Hello, World!
Have I told you about the AMAZING shoe that I walked all over New York with! It was such a blessing to be able to wear sandals in the heat of the summer and these sandals are amazing for your feet!
Start Spreading the News!
My triple threat and I are heading to the big apple! Follow along with us and to hear about what we are doing check out today’s post! This mama is very proud!
Oh my, Oh my! Today is the day! JP is off to great places! He is off and away!
JP, my mother in law, Ginger my childhood friend, and I will be heading to New York! JP has been invited into the 2018 High School Musical JR Choreography DVD shoot cast. YES my friends! He has been ask to be in the cast and Trey and I could not be more proud! The more I learn about this opportunity the more in awe I become. He will be working with choreographers from: iTheatrics, Broadway Junior, Disney Theatrical Group, Music Theatre International, Tams-Witmark Music Library, Samuel French, and The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization! Pretty big deal for a 15 year old boy! A 15 year old boy who we literally through the help of his dance and choir teacher, just discovered his talent a year ago! If you do not know my back story on my beautiful and talented boy you can read about it here: https://worthyheart.com/blog/2017/11/12/my-triple-threat?rq=my%20triple%20threat
I cannot wait to share with you all about this amazing experience, but in the meantime I would love to ask you all for your prayers for a safe, successful, amazing trip, that will open up many doors for my beautiful boy, if it is God's will! I just know God has a plan for JP and the gifts he has given him and I cannot wait to see what that plan is! Until then I wrote a little diddy, using inspiration from a very popular song! Hope you enjoy it and the video I included of him! He is pretty easy to spot as he is the only boy on the stage and please excuse the quality-yours truly was the one recording it from my silly phone. :) Until next time! XO, Amy
Start spreading the news! We leave TODAY! JP is going to be a part of it, New York, New York!
With his converse shoes-he is longing to stray all around the heart of Broadway!
He is going to wake up in the city that doesn't sleep! He will be kind of his hill, top of my stack, and he will never want to come back!
His summertime blues, will finally melt away and he will be on his way to making a start of this and I promise you, I know he will try to stay, right there in old New York!
Hello, World!