Coming home!!!

I finally made home, on friday!!! My flight got in on thursday but I couldn't make it home... But let me back up and tell it in some kind of order. Wensday night I left SVU at 9:30pm to go to Washington DC to the airport. I got to the airport around 12am, but they were not checking people in so I grabbed a seat and watched back to the future and entrapment. I check in at 5am and then I got a call from my mom. She said the freeways were closed due to snow and ice and she couldn't get out of town to get me from the airport unless it reopened. So I called her when I got to Oakland only to find out that the freeways hadn't been opened yet.. I started to get a bit panicy so I called mt friend Brittany to she what she was doing. She had just finished her finals on wenday and had nothing planned for the day, so I told her my delemia. I was flying into long beach and she was going to school in LA. She offered to come and get me so I didn't have to spend all day at the airport. Talk about being a lifesaver!!! I was greatful. So she picked me up and then we went to lunch and then to the Santa Monica pier because she was in disbeleif that I had never been. They let me stay the night and I went home with them and I got in to town at 6pm!!! It was interesting... But man, was I glad that I have friends!!!

Nothing exciting...

Nothing really exciting has happen lately...
I'm done with my concerts for the smester, I had four in a week and a half time period. I won't lie, it was interesting...
Four finals to go and then I am home free! Yay!!
I all do right now is study, study, and study some more...
Oh last year I heard an amazing poem! Check it out:


'Twas The Night Before Jesus Came'
written by Unknown Author

'Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the houseNot a creature was praying, not one in the house.Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without careIn hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed.Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lapWas watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter.I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.Away to the window I flew like a flash,Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appearBut angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.With a light like the sun sending forth a bright rayI knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!

The light of His face made me cover my headIt was Jesus! returning just like He had said.And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in His handWas written the name of every saved man.He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;When He said "it's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with loveHe gathered to take to His Father above.With those who were ready He rose without a sound.While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late;I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Stone Tables

Two posts in a row... Weird!

I had the opportunity to be part of a pit orchestra for the musical Stone Tables. Stone Tables is a play about Moses and Aaron, it was written by Orson Scott Card and composed by Robert Stoddard. Orson Scott Card wrote it while he was sering a mission in Brazil and sent it to his play writing professor at BYU. His professor wrote he back saying that it was good, his friend Robert Stoddard was going to write music for it, and they were going to use it for their next play. It was a big hit, sold out every night. Orson Scott Car was their for opening night and we made a recording for him as well.

It was amazing working in the play, seeing how the music and the play went together, and being part of it. The play takes on the out look that we have, uses gospel doctrine, and quotes many scriptures. It focuses more on Aaron then an other movie I have seen. It was funny and spiritually up lifting. If you ever get the chance to see it, I highly recommend it. If I am successful in getting a copy of the performance we did you'll have to borrow it!

P.s.
Playing for six plus hours a day really hurts your face!

Funny story, My phone hates me!

So before I go to class I always make sure my phone is off. Today, before I went to chior I turned off my phone, but my phone had other Ideas... 15 minets before class gets out my phone starts to go off (the ring that went off was a voice the says messege and then gradually gets louder to the piont of screaming), so I went with it pretending its not mine, but it kept going. so finialy when everyone is looking aruond to see whose phone is going off I said sorry and went to turn it off while everyone was laughing. My phone wasn't on and no one called. I put it away an went to my seat. not even 2 minets later it goes of again. This time my phone is on, but once again no one called. Its officail my phone hates me, buty at least it was worth a few laughs!

Labor Day

I was doing my homework and all the sudden I wondered what Labor Day was. I was always glad in high school, Jr. high, and elementary school for any reason not to go to school but never gave it much thought to why Labor Day is a holiday. What kind of holiday is named after work?


So I googled it and it said that it is always the first Monday in September and it sought to create a day off for the working citizens. Labor Day is a federal holiday so schools and people who work for the government have it off, but most businesses are open on Labor Day. It basically serves no real purpose but to give some people a free day to have to themselves.


It's kind of pathetic that it took me this long to want to know what the reason behind Labor Day is. It is interesting little fact to know. If you didn't know, now you do. If you did know, you were one step ahead of me, Go you! Any way,
Happy Labor Day!

Life

Well, I'm back in Virginia and school starts tomorrow! I'm excited! I'm taking: Music History, Orchestra, Chambor Choir, Private Trombone lessons, Classics of Western Literature, Spanish, Metaphysics, and Book of Mormon. I got a job at subway and I start next tuesday! It's really hummid and rained all day today. I REALLY don't like Hummidity!

Family

Hi guys! Sorry it's been so long, I've been really overwhelmed lately and didn't know what to post. Tonight I'm kind of thinking out loud/ranting, just to get things off my mind. I hope you don't mind to terribly.

I've always thought of myself as a great people person: I get them, understand them, and can easily relate to them. No matter how hard I try I don't get my siblings and they don't get me. Growing up my eldest brother took care of everything: When our parents were away his word was law and if we didn't like it we still had to do what he said and bring it up with our parents we they got home.My brother right above me was always pushing our parents as hard as he could to see how much he could get away with. I always did what I thought people expected of me and respected what our parents told us. My sister always got what she wanted no matter how hard it might have been on everyone else. My younger brother is so much like the bother right above me it scares me, and him being the baby of the family he is a tad spoiled.

When my eldest brother went on his mission I felt it was my responsibility to take charge. I did everything I could to help out and gave up everything I had to give up without a fight. My parents were having a ruff time because my grandma had just moved in recently, my brother right above me had his own issues, and my younger brother and sister were too young to be much help. Back at that time I felt a little bitter about it because I saw that most of my friends were carefree and didn't worry about making sure their houses were cleaned or what they were going to make for dinner. I felt that I was forced to grow up too fast.

Now that we are all older I can see how our choices have made us into who we are. My eldest brother lives a couple hours away, but doesn't come and visit much because of his other responsibilities. My brother right above me made a lot of bad choices but has learned from them and is turning his life around. I am very much a family person and try to help out as much as I can. My younger sister says that she wants to support her self but demands financial support from our parents. My younger brother pushes my parents to see how much he can get away with.

My sister stormed out tonight screaming and yelling (going quietly was never her style). This has happened more times then I can count since I've been back. I ask my mom if this happened a lot when I was gone and she said no. It's kind of funny how when you get mad you say things that have Truth to them but you would have never said it otherwise. It has made me realise the sibling I thought would understand me the most understands me the least and the sibling I thought would have understood me the least is in fact the one who understands me the most. Isn't it funny how that works out? It amazes me that we were all raise the same way but we are all so vastly different. I use to think that siblings were suppose to be a lot a like and have it be so plan that they were related you could tell as if it were written on their foreheads.

MUSIC

I always find it interesting how much music can effect things and people. In movies music is used to set the mood, music in church helps bring the spirit, and music seems to make choirs go faster and helps to past the time. Think of your favorite movie or a movie you watched recently. the first thing you think of is probably not music but next time you watch a movie pay attention to how the music effects the movie and then try to imagine how the movie would be different without it.

I remember one Sunday wen I was still in young women's their was a fire side at Bishop Lange's house and he was telling us how big an influence music has in our lives. He put a movie on and had some old rock playing and then asked us what we thought this movie was suppose to be about. Most people replied that it was probably about war or something along that train of thought. He restarted the movie and let it play with it's normal sound and the movie was one where Christ was healing the sick. After he turned it off he said that music influences more then we know and we have to be careful of what we listen to.

Music makes life more interesting and people use it to express themselves. Music can be healing, damaging, fun, emotional, inspiring, and much more. I once tried to imagine life without music and I couldn't and thought if there was no music life would be very depressing. Like living in a black and white world, without color it's hard to appreciate the beauty .

I'm not dead... Yet...

I
don't
really
have
anything
to
say
but
figured
I
should
say
something
so
here
it
is:
"I love the mountains,
I love the rolling hills,
I love the fireflies when all the lights are low... "

Stuff...Confidence...Institute

I was told by a friend that i need to post a new blog. I haven't done so for a while because I have no time, so I figured I'd take a break for studying to let you know I'm still breathing. Life has been really busy in between studying for finals, finals, and packing. There is just not enough time before Friday. Every week for the last 3 weeks I have had a concert, don't get me wrong I love concerts, I'm just glad they are over. I can't wait until Friday! Its the end off the semester and I'll be back in T-town! Not that I'm excited or anything...

I have a jury tomorrow and my private lessons instructor told me that I'll do fine, all I have to do is look confidant. Looking confident is a lot harder then it sounds. You have to stand a certain way and give people the impression that you know that you are amazing or something like that. I'm terrible at being confident. As soon as I get up in front of a group to talk, debate, or preform I get so nervous I can't think. If I have to talk I stutter and combined words in new and interesting ways, debate I forget my issues what everything I wanted to say, preforming I get really nervous, I can't get deep enough breaths and before I even start I think of how badly I'm going to mess up. Confidence is the one thing that I wish I had, but it is the one thing that seems to be too far out of reach.

So, this semester I graduated Institute! I'm so excited! I got a diploma and a plaque. The institute director asked me if I was planning on continuing with institute and said that many people stop going once they graduate. I think there is too much I don't know and if I stopped going just because I graduated I would stop growing and learning in that atmosphere. Institute is amazing and I really enjoy it, I hope you do too!

Well, I don't know what else to say... Be confident in all that you do. If you are going to make a mistake make sure everyone knows it was you! Institute is amazing, make sure you take advantage of it. If you want to stay sane DO NOT take 24 credits in one semester!

Ackward Moments...

Don't you just love those moments you have where you feel like you are going to die of shame or can't get out of there fast enough? I can think of two of mine that really stick out right now, but that's because one just happened. The other one happened when I was 12 but it was just as bad.

It was my first year at girls' camp and I was so excited! Every morning we would have a flag ceremony and then bless the food. During the first flag ceremony a girl was giving a prayer and she was really quiet and I had a hard time hearing her. I thought she had said amen so I said "Amen" with a lot of enthusiasm and volume. The problem was the prayer wasn't over yet. I was sitting next to Amanda and she tried not too laugh and by the end of the prayer my eyes were filled with tears from trying to suppress my laughter. After the prayer a Lady from another ward came up to me, put her arm around and said "It's okay, we all make mistakes. I thought she said amen too."

My RA is amazing! she always leaves her room unlocked and told me to feel free to borrow a movie anytime. My RA left this weekend and was due back tomorrow mourning at 9am, so me and a friend decided to borrow the original Freaky Friday. Well it was about 1:25am when we finished watching movies so I went to put it back into her room.I opened her door and saw her computer on and thought that was weird but I turned on the light and walked in. I hear "Hi Beth." and jump and said "I'm so sorry didn't think you were going to be back until tomorrow. I didn't wake you up did I?" I go on apologizing for the next few minuets and told her that I felt really stupid. she told me she just got back and turned off her light and said not to worry about it.

I feel incredibly stupid right now but I figured it was a good thing to write about. Well, at least it would be entertaining and provide you with a nice little chuckle. Don't you just love it when things like this happens? It gives you the perfect chance to laugh at yourself.

The Miracle of Forgiveness

I'm taking the Presidents of the Church institute class and this week we were talked Spencer W. Kimball. While talking about his accomplishments we started to talk about "The Miracle of Forgiveness" and the four steps of forgiveness.

1. Stop/Recognition - Stop what we are doing wrong but in order to do that we have to realize that we are doing something wrong.

2. Confess - We have to tell the person we've wrong and all those involved.

3. Restitution - We need to correct what we've did wrong.

4. Forgiveness - We need to forgive the wrong that was done to us and forget it. We must forgive ourselves and not dwell on what we've done, forget.

Elder Cottle asked everyone what they thought was the hardest step and everyone decided on confessing and forgiveness. I think it depends a lot on the situation and where we are in life. I have found each step to be difficult in a different situations and different times of my life. At times it's hard to realize what we are doing as wrong and even then some times we rationalize why it's not that bad. Stopping can seem near impossible because it is a habit and we do it without thinking about it. After we have realized and stopped it, it is time to confess. We know it's bad enough that we have done whatever it is we have done, but now we have to tell person(s) that we've wronged whether or not their were aware of it. This one is difficult because we don't want people to think badly of us and if we tell them it might lower the respect they have of us. Somethings we do may seem impossible to correct and can become overwhelming. Sometimes the hurt is deep and we don't want to let go and give the person another chance and find ourselves not wanting to forgive them. We think we forgave them but still hold it against them, forgiven but not forgotten. Sometimes we forget to forgive ourselves and let every action be dictated by our guilt.

Forgiveness can become complicated if you don't go through the process and even then it can be hard. Without forgiveness everyone would be in trouble so do yourself a favor, use it and don't hold any grudges. Forgiveness is the key.

Playing in the Rain...

When was the last time you walked, played, sang, or even stop to enjoy the rain?

For me, it was today! A couple friends and I went for a walk after dinner and it just happened to be raining. We walked for about half an hour, then we played in it, and then we stood around talking and soaking up the rain.

Rain is such an amazing thing, it seems to clean and refresh everything in it. It can destroy things if you get too much, if you don't get enough it can be devastating, but if you get the right amount it is perfect.

Next time it rains....

Go play in the rain!

Running For Class Senator

So, I get in these random moods where I decide that I've become too comfortable and have to do something way out of my comfort zone.

Last time this happened I decided to go to Virginia for school...

J/K Just pulling your leg.

The last time it happened I decided to audition for SVU's American Idol. This time it's running for class Senator. I've NEVER done anything like this before and have no idea why I make myself come out of my bubble. I think I really like my bubble.

Anyway, I put up a bunch of posters around the school with random pictures on them ( there is a fro pic, a flat hair pic, and a pic where it looks like I'm ready for battle). Thanks to a Friend, who has a clever way with words, I also have lollie pops to give out that say "I'm sucking up to you! Vote" Lola "as Sophomore Senator!" I'm really no good at this campaigning thing and I half hope I lose because the people running against me would do soo much better. The other half of me is hoping I win because it would be fun to help plan activities and being apart of something like this. I'm welcoming any ideas campaigning. I've run out.

When it rains it pours

I never realized how true that statement is until this semester. Everything that could have gone wrong has, or at least I hope so. this semester I decided to be an over achiever and take 24 credits. That alone has kept me busy, but you know life it's always getting in the way.

The first thing that went wrong was paying for school. My parents and I had come with a payment plan but because of unavoidable circumstances we were unable to complete the payment plan and I must find away to come up with about $6,500 before May 1st. I have been looking into co-signers and hopefully that will be taken care of soon.

Then I was sick and missed two days of school. That put me behind in my classes.

Being in Virginia I never thought the different pollens would be that different from California, but I was wrong. Friday night my eyes were completely blood shot and my vision was blurry and my throat was almost swollen shut. I now live off of Benadryl and visine eye drops.

Sunday night I found out my dad was in the hospital with double ammonia and possibly valley fever, and last night I was told that his three bottom lobs of his right lung are filled with fluid and he is on oxygen. My oldest brother texted me and told me to call him after my class. Me being me, I jumped to the conclusion that something else had happened and was trying not to freak out. It turned out the he was calling to see how I was handling everything.

I much as I love the rain, I could really use some sunshine right now.