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.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 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.
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.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
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.
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.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
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.
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.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
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.
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.
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