Music to My Ears

This semester I had the opportunity to participate in numerous musical performances as I battled my hectic schedule Fall semester 2010. I participated in two devotionals, a large performance with Women's Glee, Handel's Messiah, and the BYU-Idaho Center Dedication and Graduation ceremonies. These various performances were what kept me afloat this semester. I was challenged by switching from 2nd Soprano to 1st Alto. I definitely gained a lot of respect for my fellow Altos.

Singing is an incredible ability to express emotions and to deliver joy and happiness to those around you. Singing brings me ultimate joy, it is one of my greatest passions, and one of my most fulfilling talents. I had the opportunity to be in the Messiah concert, where over 600 BYU-Idaho students participated in singing and playing Handel's Messiah, one of his greatest masterpieces. I was one of the 500 choir members and had the pleasure of sitting next to my beautiful roommate McKenna Lawler--while my other roommate, Brindisi Stotts, played Violin in the orchestra. It was an amazing experience to sing beautiful words to the audience packed in the Hart auditorium, but most importantly to sing to my Savior, Jesus Christ.

The last two performances I participated in were in the newly dedicated BYU-Idaho Center. I was priveldged to  sing on the same stage as President Eyring, Elder Bednar, and Elder Nelson at the dedicatory services of the new center. It was an incredible experience. I have never been so moved by the Spirit, I definitely was in need of a pack of tissues at that service. We sang the song "Come Thou Fount" and before we were to sing it, while we were practicing in the gym (10 basketball courts!) our conductor moved us with some inspired words. He said to remember WHO we are singing this song of praise to. WHO we are dedicating ourselves to that day. We weren't singing to the audience, or the Apostles, or the conductor, but we were singing to Him, our Father and also to our Savior. It was our time to sing of our love and devotion straight to Him. "Safely to arrive at home" along with many other beautiful phrases pierced my spirit, that has honestly been in need of shaping up lately. I was extremely moved and grateful for the incredible experience of singing at such a historic event.


Here he is. What a happy guy. I love him dearly. The picture below is the first choir that sang in the BYU-Idaho Center for the Dedication. You probably won't be able to pick me out but I am there!

The End of a Great Semester

Sitting in the Salt Lake City Airport waiting patiently as I can for my flight to Burbank, California, I have had some time to reflect on this past semester. It truly was an amazing semester with lots of ups and downs and crazy experiences along with incredible realizations about myself and others. What I have learned from Fall 2010 Semester at BYU-Idaho:

1. Living with 5 other girls is a challenge
2. Homesickness dies with time
3. Rexburg, Idaho can become home
4. Laughter is the best medicine
5. Break downs, whether emotional or mental are actually healthy
6. Breaking your coccyx makes you really appreciate your health
7. Friends are essential
8. I need to work on a LOT when it comes to my attitude
9. I have the ability to make time, it's merely the question of whether I will or not
10. I am extremely stubborn and headstrong
11. I need to let things go
12. I have amazing roommates
13. Sharing is caring
14. I need to dedicate myself to school
15. I need to rededicate myself to the Lord, He is my best friend and my constant guide and I have neglected that this semester
16. Money is precious and a luxury and so is having a car
17. Boys are more complicated than I thought
18. Sass isn't always worth it
19. I am very blessed
20. Singing is my passion, talent, and love

The Final Days

To do list:

Pack
Pass Finals
Wait...take finals
Pack some more
Sing at the BYU-Idaho Center dedication
Stephanie's Birthday
Christmas presents
Take care of car
Storage
Pack again
Laundry?
Temple
Random assignments to be turned in
Say goodbyes :/
Sing at Graduation
Get on the shuttle and get outa town!

Sledding

What a weekend! I am currently sitting on my donut pillow typing this blog post about my crazy weekend. I was sledding with three of my FHE brothers and two of my roommates. Carly and I decided to go down a steep hill with a big dip at the bottom and as we hit the dip we flew up and landed exteremely hard on my tail bone. The wind was knocked out of me and I couldn't breathe but I let it go and shook it off. I had no idea what I was in for. Sunday morning I went to take a shower and ended up fainting from the pain. My roommates heard me fall and banged on the door to wake me up because the door was kept shut from the shower curtain rod I had brought down with me. I finally came to and was completely disoriented by my surroundings. I finally gathered the strength to get up and move the rod. I was in shock and crying uncontrollably from the pain and shock. It was crazy. I saw my Bishop at church and got a blessing then was cautioned to go straight to the hospital to see what had caused this.

Erika drove me and took very good care of me. The doctor sent me in for an X-ray and after the results were in he said that I had a broken coccyx (tail bone) and the pain and shock of the hot water had caused me to faint. So for the next six weeks I have a donut pillow to sit on and take with me wherever I go. Sledding is a blast--but apparently very dangerous. Like I said--it was a crazy weekend.

Realizations

Since I've been home in beautiful Newbury Park, California I have realized many things.
1. Family is the most important thing in the world to me
2. I need an attitude adjustment. :)
3. Heavenly Father DOES indeed love me very much and is ALWAYS watching over me.
4. I am never alone.
5. I have INCREDIBLE friends.
6. I have the ability to handle hard situations.
7. Lost love is still love.
8. It's not easy losing a best friend.
9. Trust myself; never doubt what I believe.
10. I am truly loved.

We Like to do Weird Things

Just walking in Rexburg. 

My girls since 1st semester. We had the opportunity to start off our third semester

going to our roommate, Trenna's, wedding

We like to do weird things. 

My wonderful roommates. I love them dearly.

Embrace Life!

At the Beginning

What a day! Being sick out of no where really makes me appreciate my health when I have it. I slept on the 3rd floor of the library today, it was surprisingly peaceful aside from the fire alarm and the people entering and exiting constantly. I realized recently how grateful I am for music and its influence in my life. As I listened in choir today to my peers singing parts of Handel's "Messiah" and "Come Thou Fount" I was filled with warmth and peace. I say that I "listened" because I basically laid there in choir incapacitated by this random illness that struck me. Instead I took the time to listen and observe. Today I am grateful for music. I am grateful for health. I am grateful for family. I love my family and I get to see them in two days! I have so much to be grateful for at this time in my life. I am a healthy and thriving college student at BYU-Idaho. Idaho has been quite the experience for me. The cold and the wind have not been my friends even after three semesters of it. However the people I have met and the education I have received have been more than amazing. However it is time for a break from school, homework, roommates, and Idaho. It is time to go home and breath some fresh California air. It is time to glimpse the beauty of the ocean and feel its breeze on my face. It is time to be back in the arms of my family. It is time to go home to celebrate Thanksgiving.