an artsy day.

How many times in your life do you have the opportunity to be surrounded by people like the ones I'm currently surrounded by?
Let me give you a little big of an explanation.

Robbie Shackelford and his wife Mona are directors of the HUF program. Robbie lived in Scandicci from age 8-15 and then went to Searcy to graduate high school and attend college - Mona is from LR, ARK. Robbie's dad started the HUF program through Harding in 1985 (I think).
Anyhow, Robbie is a brilliant painter. The school just recently had 2 galas (one in LR and one in Dallas) to raise money for international programs and some of Robbie's painting were selling for several thousands of dollars.

Also here at the villa til Friday (and then returning other times in the semester) is Dr. Jeff Hopper...an awesome pianist. He's played all over the world...Europe, Asia, USA...you name it.

Well, Robbie knows a man named Ricky who is a FOR REAL hip-hop dancer and he used to live in Florence but now he lives in Helsinki where he teaches dance at a big school of dance; His girlfriend Essie is from Helsinki and she's a European champion Irish dancer.

Then, Robbie also knows a painter from San Gimigniano (can't spell that!) and invited all these people to lunch today.
We had a dance demonstration!!!

After lunch, Dr. Hopper sat down to play the piano...and we were surrounded by all these fantastic artists and nationalities!!

And, tonight Marc Brown who is an Opera Tenor is coming to sing at the villa. He sings leads in big operas all over Europe. It's going to be so impressive...

What a blessing.