The Best Gift

Merry Christmas to everyone!! I can't believe that it is already Christmas Eve. This year has gone so fast. I just had a sweet experience with my nephew John, and I was in the mood to blog, so here we are. I was just holding him while sitting at the computer. I had just been reading something related to college, and then I suddenly felt really sad. This sweet boy was going to grow up while I'm away at college, and he won't remember me when I come home for the holidays. I suppose that's how it is with some of my other nieces and nephews, but it just hit me now. But my goodness, John is the sweetest, cuddliest kid I know, and he snuggled right up to me while I was feeling upset, and I was just so overwhelmed by how much I love that little guy.

I had another really neat experience in the past few weeks. A club at my school was going caroling at a local nursing home. So as secretary of the club, I was emailing and lots of people told me they were coming. However, of the 35 some students in the club, 8 actually came. I was a little bummed by the turnout, seeing as the residents had obviously been expecting us and were patiently waiting for us. But as we started singing, and I saw the elderly people singing along with us, I forgot that we weren't a group of 20 and just started enjoying myself. Afterward, we mingled a bit with the people, and that was really enjoyable. I could tell that they appreciated us coming and even more so that we were talked to them for a while. One woman I spoke to had been in a glee club throughout high school and college and so was very excited to have us there. Another woman, Judy, I will remember for a long time, I'm sure. She was sitting in a wheel chair, and had thin but well kept short, gray hair. As I was greeting her, she held onto my hand tightly, and spoke very loudly saying "What's your name?" She told me I had beautiful teeth. And name. A friend of mine was standing nearby and received an onslaught of kisses from this dear old woman. She kept saying, "Christmas is for kisses! Don't you think so?" I replied that that is what Christmas is all about. She was like an adult child, so sweet. As the caretaker was pushing her out of the room, she was crying and saying, "I'm just so overwhelmed, thank you so much. Just don't tell my boss I was crying!" I know that I made a difference in Judy's life, even if it was just for three minutes. And it felt so good. Like, a giddy and peaceful feeling- like caramel apple cider. The combination of spices and sweet is perfection.

Celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ is done no better than doing what he spent His life here on earth doing: serving others. I am so grateful for His example and His love, for I don't know who or where I would be without it. I pray that I can lead others to know Him and of His love.

Have a very merry Christmas.

P.S.

Honor's Choir 2010

Shout of Praise

What a week. It was magical. In the least of terms. I was super blessed to be able to go the VMEA's Honor's Choir, and boy am I glad I went. Not only was it so fun to be around some great people and meet some really awesome people, but the MUSIC. Oh my goodness. Even as I'm typing this, I can hear the dynamics and swells in each word. I've even been speaking in just vowels. Por ejemplo, last night I was trying to tell my mom I was going to hang out with Amy, and it came out "I an ouu itt AAy." Not so effective, I tell you. Our director, Dr. Keith Hampton = a genius. He was hilarious and such a good teacher, holy cow. Some things I learned from him:
1. the vOwel comes ON THE BEAT.
2. It's so much easier to create a fabulous sound when everyone is singing softly.
3. Amaaaan is so fun to say. (He's a gospel choir director, and you better believe he will make you "so colored yo mama won't recognize you")
4. Breathing is like hammering. basically.

It was such a fantastic experience. The music was fabulous. Can say that again? IT WAS FABULOUS. Now I don't know exactly how it sounded from the audience, but in my opinion, we rocked every song... with the exception of one ridiculously, insanely, stupidly hard song. it makes me stupid. (Lobet den Herrn by Bach...look it up. Warning: it may cause an immediate headache/ heart attack just by looking at it.) But I must say for a high school choir, we did our very best :) BUT otherwise, it was amazing to be creating such a spectacular sound. My favorite song was "Black Is The Color of My True Love's Hair". ok, and "He is Marvelous" ... and "Shout of Praise". annnnnd all of them. So basically, it was freaking awesome.

I was talking to Marie (my sister-in-law) about it today and she asked me if it was like EFY. At first I was confused. But then I felt really silly and near-sighted for not seeing the connection. Because we were all united in one belief, if you will, and were all excited and motivated in being there, yes it was similar to EFY. We all love music, were all motivated to sing this music and sing it better than we could possibly imagine. I feel like music and the gospel are two of the strongest bonds in the world. After you share something so personal, like your testimony of Jesus Christ, you feel a special connection with the people around you, which is why you always feel a special connection with the friends you make at EFY or youth conference, or the people in your ward. I think the same goes for music. After you've shared something that means so much to you, like your voice or your instrument, there's a special bond. It's like kindergarten all over again: it's the first day and you're terrified to make friends, but then some nice little girl shares her crayons with you and you are instantly best friends. It's not always that easy, but the bond is there.

D&C 25:12 For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.

These Are The Days

I just have so much to be thankful for right now, even though I may not show it all the time. My grandpa is here and will be here for a few months, and I'm loving having him here. He is the sweetest old man you'll ever meet. The other night he prayed for the football players at Heritage during the Homecoming game. Needless to say, we lost (big surprise, right?), however, I do believe that that was the first time those football players have been prayed for. I thought it was quite funny.
I'm really enjoying my classes at school, which is a refreshing idea. I'm taking Psychology, and come to find out I really liked learning about the brain. Who knows why, but I just thought it was SO incredible the way each spec of a brain has some function or another and through the interacting neurons, that's how we move, communicate, sleep, cry, whatever. Anyway, I just really like that class right now. :)
I made Virginia State Honor's Choir, which was a HUGE surprise to me. But I'm really excited about that. I thought I had butchered my sightreading towards the end (which was 8 measures with a La-Re skip...I think.), but it turns out that I got 35/40! WOOT! I thought after the audition that I did the best that I possibly could have on my song, which I was thrilled about. And I got 77/80 and a 75/80 from the judges, so woohoo! The performance is in later November, the 18-20 I think? So all you family who are coming for thanksgiving I will see you right after!
Which brings me to my next grateful tid-bit. We are singing Christmas music in choir. Do you know what this means?!
1.Halloween (aka, the day before we can listen to CHRISTMAS TUNES!!!!)
2.CHOCOLATE DAY!!!!! (aka, the holiday which is neck and neck with Christmas.)
3.Thanksgiving!!(THE WHOLE FAMILY WILL BE HERE!!!!& I get a WHOLE WEEK off of school!)
4....byu/usu/suu college applications. ......
5.CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!
Ward Conference was today. Can I just say how much I love going to church and hearing from the Stake President and the Bishop?! I know that they are truly the Lord's servants to guide and direct us here in Leesburg, VA.
I'm pretty happy with how things are in my life right now! We were talking about Job today in Sunday School, and it reminded me that we don't only need the Lord when we are IN need, but when we are feeling the blessings of the Lord as well!
And I'm also really, really grateful for my awesome family and friends who are so amazing.

Let Us All Press On

...
I need to keep thinking that. You know that story of the two little girls clinging to a tall palm tree while the tsunami wave pummels over them? Yeah, that's how I'm starting to feel right now.
1. College Applications
- BYU won't let me start for another 2 weeks.
- There is so much to do, teacher recs, trascript forms...

2. SAT/ACT
-I'm taking them both. AGAIN. my third sat and 2nd act. I want to cry. They are the most painful things in the world. I would rather participate in IRON MAN than take them again.

3. Honor's Choir Audition
- It's this coming saturday. I'm not thrilled.
- I need to keep practicing, buttttt...

4. I have a cold.
- And it's just starting, so it'll be just awesome tomorrow, when I audition for all-county.

5. I have a ton of homework and not enough time
-pretty self explanatory.

6. I started my first job last Wednesday.
- And I'm freaking out.
- There is so much to know.
- And they expect me to know it all.
- Right now.

But I know that as long as I put the Lord first through all this, He will help me! I'm so grateful for this gospel and the comfort the knowledge that I am a daughter of God gives.

Pink Notes #3

Well, I'm feeling rather nostalgic today. But seriously, Pink notes #3 is about someone who I've know since, oh 1998 or thereabouts. Kasee Baldwin has been one of my best friends for a very long time. I remember spending lots of time with her and our sisters, at each others houses. We've made some great memories and movies :). But during church today, I was just reflecting on what a great person Kasee is. She is so beautiful and so mature. She has a great sense of humor and I love to be around her. Most of all, I love her insight to the gospel. Every time she shares her thoughts and ideas, I feel uplifted and more willing to share my ideas. She is always thinking of others, and you know she really cares. Kasee is so trustworthy and so dependable. I mean, who can think of a time when she has been late to Seminary?! She is such an example to me and I love her to pieces! I LOVE CHUCKLES!

Be My Thrill

It has begun.

Senior year.

It's already busy.

But also really awesome.

And I'm super excited for this year's TWELVE.
They are all super duper people.





I start my job this Wednesday, whaaaat? at Integrated Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine

That is all.

Walking in Sunlight

Eeps. I stink at this journaling thing. Well, this has been a CRAZY summer.

1st was girls camp, but that was already mentioned, so I'll move on!

2nd, Trek. meeeeeehhhhh. Longest 2 1/3 days of my life. Also some of the most rewarding. We were at the Marriott Ranch in Hume, VA. There were 16 families and 4 companies. I was apart of the Legone ? family and the ... I don't recall the company. Anywho, the first day was absolutely horrible. It was SO hot and humid (100 degrees + 100% humidity.) It felt like it was all uphill and really rocky when going down hill. I remember thinking, no joke, 4 minutes after we had started, "I want to go home. WHY DID I SAY YES TO THIS?! I HATE THIS!!!" It was pretty much like that. Except quite a bit more pessimistic, but I won't delve into that. My family was very nice and they were all really great people. I'm glad that I got to spend that time with them. We were rained out of the testimony meeting on Saturday morning, so we all got to go home a few hours early, but only after we trudged through delightful mud for a mile. (at least we only had one mile!!) And then Adam, my brother, picked me up. I was so thrilled to see him, I almost started crying... but then he would have held that over my head for the rest of my life, so I held it back :)
Some lessons I learned:
1. The harder you work, the greater the reward.
2. The Lord wants to help. He will help if you ask for it.
3. The pioneers were something else. Not human, if you ask me! :)

3rd, EFY!
MY LAST ONE. What?! NO! Sad:( It was such an amazing year. Seriously, the most spiritually uplifting one yet. I roomed with Carps and we had the best counselor and Session Director. I had some really remarkable experiences I will never forget. My testimony of the Atonement was drastically increased. Our session director had a way of explaining things in a new light. I came away from this experience knowing that I could be courageous in standing strong. I also came away from EFY with a love for the scriptures that I hadn't felt so strongly in a long while.
"Read the scriptures every day of your life."


4th CALI!
(Oh and I got my wisdom teeth removed the week before...woo) Great fun at Jess' wedding and I loved hanging out with my cool awesome cousins. I'll never let Justin choose the movie again... HA! :) and thennnnn - DISNEYLAND! The most magical place. It was so awesome. Alec came with, and it was a blast having so much of the family there. The kids LOVED it. It was so fun! We stayed at the Disneyland hotel, which in itself was amazing. The headboard lit up in the form of the castle and played "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes". yeah, that was pretty sweet.

5th UTAH!
Mom and I spent a lot of time in the car. Lots of good talk! I love my mommy. Well, we went to Cedar City again, and this year we went to every. single. show. So awesome. They were Great Expectations (The Musical!), 39 Steps, Pride and Prejudice, Merchant of Venice, Macbeth, and Much Ado About Nothing. I think my favorites were 39 Steps and Much Ado. But overall, I really liked all the shows! Macbeth- well, terrifying. While at SUU, what would we do but a) go shopping b) eat and c) Take a TOUR! EHHH, what??? College tours? Already? Well, to make it short, I loved SUU. It's a small school, like 8,000 students. Everyone was really friendly and very helpful. I even went to talk to a few professors. I talked to the psychology department chair and the music department chair, and I felt really optimistic afterward. Well, of course we didn't only visit SUU, but also BYU and USU. I loooved USU also. It's also a smaller school, not quite as small as SUU, but not as big as BYU. They also have the only music therapy program in Utah, which is the reason we went up there in the first place. BYU just seems the place, though. :)

BRIDGET ELLARIE WRIDE was born 08/09/10 at 1:16 pm and my goodness she was a beautiful little girl. She is just so sweet and so calm. She's just a perfect little baby:)


7th, CANCUN, MEXICO.
Say WHAAAAA? It rocked. Fo reals. I spent lots of time at the beach, in the water, relaxing, touring the ruins at Tulum,
snorkeling... LOVED IT, and oh, did I mention that I got to swim with dolphins?

HECK YES I DID.

I felt like my 8 year old self again obsessing over this beautiful animal. It was like nothing I've experienced before. I wish it hadn't been quite so touristic feeling, but I guess that's what you get. I got to do the foot push thing where you extend your legs behind you and then two dolphins come from behind and they push your feet and you just lift up out of the water, SO COOL. I was slightly terrified at first, but it was so fun. The whole experience made me remember why I had wanted to be a dolphin trainer my whole childhood, I mean, you get to hang out with these amazing animals all day! It was so amazing, and I love my parents for finally allowing me to do that!!



Anyways, it was an amazing summer and it was a great way to begin my senior year! Whaaaaa?

Pura Vida

Can I just say how much I love music? It can put me in such a good mood. Like now. So I was feeling motivated to catch up on some big things that have happened within the last couple of months.
#1) JOHN BARNARD WRIDE was born May 5th, 2010 in Reston Hospital at 6pm, 10 lbs. 2 oz.


He is the sweetest, calmest baby I've ever seen. He is incredibly handsome and I love so much already.

#2)SCHOOL IS OUT! HALLELUJAH! I AM NOW A SENIOR! Ehhhh. Hmmm, not sure about this. Anywho, summer is very much underway now and I'm loving it!

#3) I got back from Girls Camp this past Friday, and let me tell you, it was AMAZING. Absolutely one of the best weeks ever! Along with EFY, of course :) I had Heather Cummings as my partner- SO WONDERFUL! I love her!!! I had 2 wonderful girls from Goose Creek and 2 girls from Heather's ward. I sincerely came to love those girls and I can't wait to hear more from them. We had many a spiritual moment and sweet experiences. One of the girls was actually a nonmember, and I know she felt the Spirit during the week, and she bore a very sweet testimony on Thursday night.
We also had a lot of changes this year in how girls camp was planned. We hiked the very first day, we biked on the C&O canal (WHICH is gorgeous btdubs) and we kayaked!! So much fun!


Well thats all for now! Peace an Blessins.

Pink Notes #2

I'm on a roll here- don't stop me now!

Pink Notes #2: Amy Carpenter

Besides being one of the silliest people I know, she is also one of the friendliest people I know. She doesn't believe me, but she is. I love that I can be myself around her and she won't "be soo judgemeeental." :) She can always make me laugh and feel stupid, which just makes me laugh even more. But at the same time, she's given me some great pieces of advice. She has gone through more, and is tested more than most people and yet she continues to be a pillar. I admire her so much for that. Her testimony is sure and strong, and I feel like she is constantly strengthening mine. Some of my best memories are from having those deep chats about the gospel. She is extremely knowledgeable about the gospel and helps me become a better person. Amy Lynn is a beautiful, wonderful person and I couldn't be happier to have her as a best friend. :) Did I mention that she is hilarious and beautiful?!


Lispy and I

Pink Notes #1

You thought they didn't exist. They do!! ...As of right now.

So here goes. Pink Notes #1
Heather Cummings

My family was talking about her at dinner time, because for some reason we were talking about dating. ANYWHO, It came up that boys tend to flock to Heather, and I mentioned that that happens because she is so DANG GORGEOUS. However, my mom said something that really struck me. She said "Boys flock to her because she is so kind to everyone. They aren't afraid to approach her." Wait, really? Is it that simple? Well besides the whole boy aspect- its so true- Heather is a truly KIND person. She is so respectful and is willing to help at a moment's notice. She has a great testimony and loves to share it with others. She cares about others and wants them to be just as radiantly happy as she is. So, in sum, Heather is the best friend we all want (and that I have [along with many other lucky gals]) and I love her and her kind heart to pieces :)

The Grass is Greener

Well, the Goose Creek has endured yet another ward split, thus creating the Potomac Crossing Ward. Meaning we loose more than half our original ward (it seems)to the PC ward. POO! But plus side, we get the Baldwin family in our ward! So excited about that. But I'm going to miss the young women so much. We've shared some very special moments together- girls camp, and testimony meetings. Things that can't be recreated, but rather cherished. I'm excited to meet new people and have new memories to create, but its still rather bitter sweet.

Suddenly I See

Happy New Year! I'm going to change this year. I've decided. :) I think that I've spent too much time complaining about what I want to be, or do, or what I wish were different. I apologize to everyone-I've been a cotton-headed ninnymuggins! I need to "JUST DO IT!" I was thinking about this yesterday, and had a change of heart. I doesn't matter if I'm a size 20 or a size 0, what matters is what I think of myself and more importantly, my Heavenly Father. Sometimes its hard to keep that in perspective. Now I'm not saying that I don't think being healthy and fit is important, believe me- that is (from now on) a top priority! My peers should respect me as a person, and should see that I have confidence. Another goal of mine this year is to build up my confidence. You may ask yourself, how will she accomplish this? Well folks, I've got it figured out. I'm going do anything and everything I want to despite the fact that I might be absolutely terrified to do these things. I will stop living in fear! I know, I know, easier said than done, but really, the lightbulb has come on- the gears have clicked- the fung is back in fung shui. ?? I want to write a book. I want to travel overseas again. I want to give back. I want to have the light of Christ. I want to be a friend. I want to read the classics. I want to dance. I want to play cello. I want to play piano. I want to be a musician. I want to sing. I want to put others first. I want to be active.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate ;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.