The Occupied Optimist
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Hi! The name is Lillian Ortiz. I was born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania I began my pre-professional dance training with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet for a total of four years and went on to further my training after high school with the Miami City Ballet School.
The Occupied Optimist
1y ago
- Blogmas Day 8 . Cassava Chili . Yum! -
Hi everyone! How goes it? This year's series of "Blogmas" posts might end up being the most boring, unfestive string of Blogmas posts in all of Blogmas history that anyone has ever seen. I just don't have too many holiday festivities going on this year. Oh well. I am simply happy that the challenge of writing every day for Blogmas is getting me back into blogging more. ? But Hey! Speaking of Christmas, last Christmas I was gifted a Puerto Rican cookbook from my dad and I absolutely love it! I have ..read more
The Occupied Optimist
1y ago
TESTIMONY TUESDAY!
“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” ~ Luke 8:39 I introduce to you Testimony Tuesdays!!! A testimony by definition is: a formal written or spoken statement, a public recounting of a religious conversion or experience. The Bible commands us in numerous places to bring praise, glory, and honor to our God by proclaiming, declaring, and telling about His marvelous works to others. That is the purpose and heart behind this installment for my Tuesday posts. Each Tuesday (more or less), a testimony will be shared here involving the recounting o ..read more
The Occupied Optimist
1y ago
You know it has been a long day when my blog entries consist of more photos than text. After a long day (and weekend!), sometimes just doing a photo dump and going to bed early is what is best! I began my day with church, then attended and helped host a graduation party for a close friend. following that, I attended a neat show done by Piercing Word called "The Advent of Christmas". Piercing Word is a really neat Theatrical Ministry in Lancaster PA that puts on musicals with scripts consisting of only all memorized biblical scripture. It is pretty interesting and impressi ..read more
The Occupied Optimist
1y ago
- Blogmas Day Three . Nutcracker and Makers Market Haul ! -
Me and the Nut :)
Busy times! It looks like I'm about to knock out nearly half of my December Bucketlist
in just one weekend! Yes, busy times for sure, but also fun - lots of parties, church events, Christmas shows, gift exchanges etc. This month is definitely not without the challenging balancing act of how to best spend our time, money, and also energy too (which I often forget to take into consideration) without burning out! I ..read more
The Occupied Optimist
1y ago
- Blogmas Day Two . Let The Festivities Begin ! - This evening was the annual Christmas party held for Cavod's Citylight dancers and hosted by my co-worker Jill and I. I always enjoy connecting with my students outside of the dance studio. We had such a great time! I honestly have not felt very Christmasy this year. Not yet. I don't think I have ever before experienced a year like this feeling so empty, unenthusiastic, and unprepared regarding the holiday season. I have no tree up, no gifts bought, n ..read more
The Occupied Optimist
1y ago
- Blogmas Day One . Feels Good to be Blogging Again ! - Well, here we are. December 2022. I've decided to give Blogmas a go again this year. For those of you who don't know Blogmas is when bloggers everywhere commit to posting daily material pertaining to Christmas, lasting for 25 days starting the 1st of December and leading up until Christmas day! It is a fun way to get into the Christmas and blogging "spirit", and since I've lost my rhythm with getting content out, what better way to ..read more
The Occupied Optimist
1y ago
TESTIMONY TUESDAY!
“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” ~ Luke 8:39 I introduce to you Testimony Tuesdays!!! A testimony by definition is: a formal written or spoken statement, a public recounting of a religious conversion or experience. The Bible commands us in numerous places to bring praise, glory, and honor to our God by proclaiming, declaring, and telling about His marvelous works to others. That is the purpose and heart behind this installment for my Tuesday posts. Each Tuesday (more or less), a testimony will be shared here involving the recounting o ..read more
The Occupied Optimist
1y ago
Technically it is not officially Fall until September 22nd, this coming Thursday, so I will take advantage of these last couple of days of summer and do a photo dump post to give you a glimpse of what all I have been up to the past couple of months. These snapshot posts are never able to actually cover in full everything, nor do these pictures even encompass half the amount of the people that I have been blessed and graced by in life these past couple of months, but here are just a few of them; faces you may not know, BUT are so special to me!
June -
My friends came out to suppo ..read more
The Occupied Optimist
1y ago
Hi everyone! School has started, the weather is getting cooler- sorta, and Starbucks is now officially serving their pumpkin spice lattes! I think I am allowed to get a little excited for fall now. It is sad to see summer go, but the new season brings some much-needed refreshment. I am striving to focus especially on embracing the peace, grace, and hope that God has for me this season. I've started a new 90-day devotional I am quickly falling in love with, and also started a new Instagram account to help distinguish the start of this new season and to serve sort of as milestones for it. C ..read more
The Occupied Optimist
1y ago
The first week back to the studio at Cavod Performing Arts was a success! It was so lovely to see all of the students smiling faces again and was special to watch them warmly embrace one another after a long summer apart. It felt so good for me to be back in my element and I am enjoying the rhythm of the good ole' routine. I am so thankful God led me to my ballet instructing position with Cavod Performing Arts and am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for all of us here at Cavod this coming year.
A few of my lovely students from last season.
Cavod is a special place. One ..read more