Gemma's Hero

image found here

All morning long, I couldn't decide whether to eat lunch over in the CougarEat or treat myself to the vending machines in the break room upstairs. When it came time for my lunch break, I checked the balance on my school I.D. and headed over the the CougarEat, hoping to avoid the lines and find something cheap but also not garbage. I walked through the doors and passed a beautiful mixed-race family, the youngest hitching a ride on the dad's shoulders up at the front, with six or seven rambunctious siblings tagging along and the mom corralling from the back. I smiled at the happy chaos and continued down the hall, wondering what I should eat.
As I rounded the corner, however, something else caught my attention. A little girl, running and scared, coming to the realization that she was lost. She nearly ran straight into me, and our eyes met just as she called out again for her daddy. I could see the frantic fear overwhelming her and the tears welling up. I quickly knelt down before the tears could escape and said, "Don't worry! We'll find your daddy!"
At first, she was shy. I figured he was somewhere close by and that she'd just lost sight of him. I pointed around the hallway filled with strangers, trying to figure out which direction she came from, but she just shook her head. I asked what her name is, told her my name is Karli, and promised her that we would find her daddy.
After walking through the dining area with no luck, I took her over to the central vendor, hoping they'd have some sort of intercom system or something. I could feel Gemma's little hand tighten apprehensively as we talked to the student employees working the register. I had to keep reminding her that we were going to find her daddy and that she didn't need to be scared. Luckily, one of the student managers walked by as I was explaining to another worker, and she pointed me to Taco Bell for the intercom system. As we walked over there, I told Gemma we were going to call her daddy so that he would know where to come find her. She got really excited and started reciting his phone number over and over. Smart little girl. :) Unfortunately, the phone was dead or something because it kept going straight to voicemail. The student manager made the announcement for "Gemma's father" over the intercom, and we waited patiently.
While we waited for her daddy, Gemma told me that she is 3 years old. She told me her favorite color is purple so we found all the purple flowers in the Campus Floral display case. She told me she has a big brother and a big sister and one little brother, and I told her about Annie and that she was home with her daddy today. Every time I could see the tears threatening, I'd squeeze her hand and remind her that her daddy was coming.
Unfortunately, the intercom announcements weren't working. The student manager took us to her supervisor's office that looks out over the dining area so they could call the campus police and ask some questions and get a description of Gemma's clothes. By this time, Gemma only wanted me to hold her. We asked if she had visited anyone or gone in the bookstore or if she came to eat lunch. Honestly, the official guys didn't have any clue how to talk to a 3 year old, but I get that they were just doing their jobs. For instance, when they asked if she came to eat lunch, she said "yes." But figuring they weren't getting the whole story, I asked her "where did you eat lunch," and she answered, "at home." They also asked, "Is your daddy tall?" Well, what daddy isn't tall to his 3-yr-old? We did figure out that he has brown hair and brown eyes because she told me that she has brown hair and brown eyes just like her daddy. I showed her that I have brown hair and brown eyes too, which she thought was pretty awesome. However, she didn't know her last name and couldn't describe anything in detail. All she knew is that she saw her daddy with the stroller right by her, and then he was gone. And with all the questions, she was getting more scared. So I showed her the funny pictures on the walls of the office while she told me all about her daddy.
Meanwhile, the student manager kept making announcements over the intercom for "Gemma's father [to] please meet her in the CougarEat Dining Office.
After about 20-30 minutes of hanging out with Gemma, we looked out the office window to see a man speed-walking toward the office. Seeing him, Gemma confirmed, "That's my daddy!!!" His foot was barely inside the door before Gemma leapt into his open arms, and he just held her, both of them finally releasing all the fear and frantic emotions they'd been holding in.  I could hear his gruff, choked "Where did you go?" between her sobs. It took quite a bit of self-control on my part to not get swept up in the moment and join the cry-fest.
But in that moment, I marveled at Gemma and her daddy. 
My heart burst for them, and I told Gemma's daddy how brave she was and that she was so smart to know his phone number (his phone screen shattered the day before). But I wanted to tell him so much more. I wanted to tell Gemma's daddy that everything was ok and that he shouldn't feel guilty. You could tell he'd been sick with worry and had been frantically searching for her. But instead, I just told Gemma that I was so happy she found her daddy and to have a good day. Her daddy whispered "tell her 'thank you'" and she quietly repeated, "Thank you," before I walked back to work, lunch-less.
When I recounted the story to Tucker, he responded, "You were that little girl's hero today. You were a mommy-figure and a friend, someone who could keep her safe until her daddy came." But really, I was just in the right place at the right time. With all that Gemma had told me about her daddy, I'd formed my own mental picture. But the man running up to the dining office didn't fit that image. This man was short and a rather round, hair cut short and balding a little bit. Totally, completely, and utterly average. And yet, to Gemma, he is her big, strong hero. Her favorite person in the whole world. The one who will always come looking for her when she is lost.


While I'm so glad this incident had a happy ending, it made me a little scared. I'm so glad I was able to comfort her and hold her hand and keep her at least semi-distracted while we waited for her daddy. But I'm not a child-abductor. It scared me realizing how easy it would have been, once she trusted me, to just walk off with her. And how easy it was to say certain things (telling her my name and telling her about Annie and asking about her favorite color) to get her more comfortable around me until she was completely clinging to me.
So I guess if we're to take a moral from this story, the first would be this:
Daddies, you are awesome. And even if you're not much to the world, you are the world to your children, especially your darling, 3-yr-old girls. They think you are the biggest, strongest, handsomest hero in the whole world. Please, please continue to let your arms be their safest place as they grow up.
And number two:
Parents, we gotta watch out for each other. I'm not talking about helicopter-parenting other people's kids and calling the cops on the mom down the street because she let her kid walk to a friend's house without supervision. I'm just talking about looking out for each other and our kids. Don't blame the parent whose kid wandered off. Don't judge the mom with the screaming baby who doesn't realize her toddler is eating all the Cocoa Puffs off the floor in the next aisle over. Don't roll your eyes at the mom in church who spends the whole hour walking in and out of the foyer with a different child in tow.
Just love. Love other parents. Love other children.
There is enough hate, envy, judgement, spite, jealousy, entitlement, negligence, abuse, and evil in this world.
Don't add to it by being the person who just walks by the frantic 3-yr-old, assuming her parents are negligent and that someone else will help.
Be the person who stops to comfort and console. Be the stranger who can spare two minutes or even thirty minutes to address another's needs. Be the daddy whose children never doubt his devotion to them.
Be the person who loves.
Be the hero.

And just like that...

My junior year of college is finished.

What?

In some ways, I still feel like I'm fresh out of high school, like I've only been up here a semester. Still adjusting to life, still getting homesick, still wishing I was with my Mesa friends, still trying to figure myself out.

And in other ways, I realize it really has been three years. Three years of Singers, of friends getting engaged and married and pregnant, of trying over and over again to get into my program, of learning to get along with roommates, of 111 class credits, of working and paying bills and filing taxes, of non-stop voice lessons....

Also, three years of stuff I've accumulated in my room, which I am now attempting to pack into boxes. Hi, my name's Karli, and I get emotionally attached to empty soda bottles and Chinese paper lanterns and candy wrappers.

I guess I'm just trying to wrap my head around it. I'm in my program now - officially vocal performance, set to graduate April 2015. I have a direction to my life. I have a dream-job. I've spent 3 of my last 4 summers in Europe. I've studied languages. I've learned to live in the snow, and I think that T-shirts are acceptable when temps are in the 50s. I can plan trips without any parental consent.

I think I'm growing up a little. And so are my friends. And it makes me a little bit sad. I've always felt pretty strongly that I'll end up back in Mesa eventually. And I always just thought my friends would be the same. We'd all end up back in Mesa together, raising our kids, going to our Alma Mater's football games, getting together for summer barbecues with the same old crew. And I'm realizing more and more that those dreams were pretty unrealistic. And it makes me sad. We all have different goals in life that will take us different places. Some friends fall in love with people from another state, and their lives will forever be spent between the two. Some friends will move completely away from any family for school and jobs, and they'll grow their roots somewhere else. Why can't we just all marry each other and spend the rest of our lives eating bacon mac & cheese and cinnamon rolls and Sonic limeades?! I know I've made new friends. and lots of them are awesome. But Provo is not my home. And I'm coming to realize that I've left my roots in Mesa. I've always thought of Provo as a temporary phase of life, and Mesa as permanent. But for lots of my friends, Mesa was also just a temporary phase.

I miss us.

I don't really know where this is going. I'm obviously feeling nostalgic.

Also, as much as I love these people and am happy for them, I'm sick of being the third wheel. Or the seventh wheel.

I'm Singing in General Conference and other things

WATCH GENERAL CONFERENCE TOMORROW!

because I'm singing in the afternoon session!

And also, the prophets of the world are speaking, which is more important.

Watch here.

For a quick update on life, keep reading.

I've gotten perfect scores on my last 2 dictation tests. 

I'm kinda worried about my choral conducting final.

I won a scholarship for next year

(and had a life-changing experience with the man who funds it).

I'm addicted to Boy Meets World.

Too much Taco Bell has resulted in the loss of my returning 6-pack...

...So no more Taco Bell & more exercise.

The weather is beautiful.

Easter was great, and I learned some things that I really needed to.

The Priesthood is really the power of God given to men on earth.

Flights are being verified for Brussels.

I'm really bad at being on time to my first class.

A photography major in my ward asked me to come model for a photoshoot;

I can't take myself seriously after looking at the pictures. :)

White Cheddar Cheez-Its are delicious.

aaaaand...

despite my attempts to just not think about it and stay busy, people keep asking me,

"So how many more days left?"

Psh. You really think I'm one of those girls that actually keeps track of days?

I'm not a crazy! Geez!

but the answer is 40.

The Opportunity of a Lifetime...Again.

Funny how plans that have been set for months suddenly change after one day.

I was really looking forward to a long, hot summer in Arizona.

The pools.

The popsicles.

The water-fights at the park.

The late-night runs to Sonic and Pizza-Mart.

The family.

The boy.

The friends.

Fourth of July with everyone.

The swimsuits.

The barbecues.

The sunshine.

The heat.

The monsoons.

My four months of Arizona summer have now been cut in half.

I'll move out of my apartment up here mid-April, and move home.

The boy comes home mid-May.

(EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

And mid-June, I'm leaving him (yay for Skype) and everything else behind

to move to Brussels.

As in Belgium.

For 10 weeks.

And I'm getting paid to go.

Um...WHAT?!

Right now at work, we're doing this massive project that consists of scanning thousands of antique music scores from operas and ballets and putting them (along with all the current research on them) into a giant online database so that researchers around the world can have access to them. We're spear-heading the project, but we've been able to convince archives around the world, including Harvard, to scan their special collection archives as well to add it to the database. One of these archives happens to be in Brussels. Last summer, five of my coworkers went. This summer, my boss received funding for two (maybe three) students to go, and he's offering one of those spots to me. He also said that if I go this year, he'll probably send me back next year for a few days to present at an international conference. 

Once again, ummm...what?!

Oh, and did I mention that I'm getting paid?

As in, my food, housing, and flight are all completely paid for,

PLUS a paycheck on top of that.

So really, I could go for free if I want.

Except I'm going to do a lot of travelling on the weekends.

And probably buy a lot of stuff. :)

So...Yeah. I'll be gone probably from June 14th to August 24th-ish, ten days before Fall semester starts.

It's going to be awesome.

And hard.

And exhausting.

And life-changing.

I can't believe that this will be my third time in Europe, and I'm not even twenty-one.

I'm turning  into one of those people.

And I'm not sorry. :)

As for weekend travels, I'm already making my list.

London

to do all the stuff I didn't have time for last year.

Salzburg

didn't think I'd make it back to my favorite place in the world so soon.

Paris.

Spain.

Italy.

Germany.
Greece. 

Switzerland.

My friends who will be in Europe this summer, anyone care to meet up at Notre Dame Cathedral and split a baguette and some cheese?

Or how about some gelato on the bench outside Mozart's house?

Let me know! :)

Time to brush up on my Italian and German.

And time to learn some French.

I hate French.

Anyone wanna help me?

Just Checked Another State Off My List

Oh, hello, Idaho! Nice to finally meet you! However, as beautiful as the snow is, I'm excited for my 8 AM flight home to AZ.

For those of you in Rexburg, come to the BYU Singers concert tonight! (And tomorrow afternoon, but I won't be there)

Also, I realize this next remark is cryptic, but I will possibly have a big announcement to make in the next couple weeks. That's all.

2 Arizonans + Icy Roads = Not Good (Warning: LOTS of pictures)

"This is the story of how I died." (Name that movie!!!)

Well, almost died.

Kinda.

Actually, neither one of us sustained any injuries. The car?...well....

Let's just say it could have been A LOT worse, and we've got some seriously awesome guardian angels.

It all started early the morning of Thursday, October 6th. Remember how I said I was going home for the weekend for my friend's wedding? Yeah, well, she got married on Friday, so we drove down Thursday. We left around 9:45 in the morning, hoping to get into Mesa around 7 pm Mesa time, switching off drivers every hour or so as needed.

But of course that didn't happen.

We packed up the car in icy-cold, drizzly rain. But driving through rain is not a problem. We can handle that. So we said a quick prayer for safety and set off. Well, 10 minutes outside of Provo, the rain turned to sleet. I pointed this out to Maddy, who was driving, and advised her to be careful. She's fresh from Mesa this year and has never driven in anything more than rain. I only have minimal experience. But she was careful, and we continued on our way.

Meanwhile, outside became more and more foggy and grey; visibility was really bad. In another 20 minutes, the sleet became snow, and once again, I pointed this out to Maddy, and advised her to be careful of ice on the road.

M: "Can you see ice?"

K: "Not if it's black ice...."

M: pause...."Well...what do I do if we hit ice?"

K: "If we hit ice and start to spin, turn the wheel in the opposite direction you instinctively want to go. Steer into the spin."

M: "...ok...?"

So we drove on through the blizzard, which is what it had pretty much turned into. I updated my mom, and she suggested I use my phone to google "safety tips for driving in the snow" and read them to Maddy. So I did.

1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
                                                                                                                 Maddy followed. Check.
2. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.

3. Turn on your lights to.................................

M: "OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

And that's all I remember. No, I didn't black out. I think my brain has just blocked it out. All I recall is the jerking and centrifugal motion of spinning. Maddy only remembers 3 moments in time that are completely disconnected from each other: 1.) Hitting the ice, 2.) Facing backwards towards oncoming traffic, and 3.) jerking to a stop in the snow perpendicular to the road.

You can see the road about 15 ft. up to the right. We'd spun 180 degrees counter-clockwise, so we were facing oncoming traffic, sliding backwards off the road until we hit deep mud.

Awesome, right?

So we jerk to a stop, and sit in silence for a second as the cars pass in front of us. If they'd have been any closer behind us, well...that would NOT have been good. Maddy almost freaked out. I'm pretty sure she felt like crying, but I think I shocked her into not freaking out by talking before she could.

K: "Ok...ok....ok....Look. We're ok. You're ok. The car's ok. Good job. You handled that really well."

After I took the picture and Maddy saw it, she gasped, "You're SMILING?!?!?! Why are you smiling?!"
She was a bit incredulous. :)

I'm pretty sure she thought I was crazy. Having parents who can keep their heads when you've got blood oozing down your face and matting your hair and blurring your vision can really be awesome training. I'm glad it's rubbed off on me. I don't often freak out. Thank goodness.

Almost immediately, an old couple pulled over and called out to us. I got out of the car and trudged through the 6 inches of snow in my battered Converse to their car. I assured them we were ok, but that we were stuck in the mud. They offered to stop in Nephi, a mile south of where we were stuck, and get us a tow truck. Thank goodness for nice old people! So I gave them my phone number, and they drove off.

Meanwhile, I started digging the mud and snow away from the tires. I was hoping I could pack the mud down and clear it away enough to save us some cash with the tow truck, but that was some SOGGY mud. I even searched for rocks (my fingers were almost BLEEDING. keep in mind, we're doing all this in a blizzard.) to shove under the tires, but they only sank further into the mud. It was deep, soggy, stuff I tell ya what.





So then we just sat in the car with the heater. By this point, we were both wet and muddy with soaking shoes. Oh joy. A police man also stopped to check on us long enough to make sure we were ok and being helped. Also, I decided to take pictures and document the whole experience.

After a bit, the tow company called to verify our position and to let us know they were on their way. When I asked for an estimate, they said $60. Not too bad. So a super nice old guy came and worked in the blizzard to hook us up and haul us out. Once we were back up on the shoulder, he said, "So that'll be $60." He didn't have any sort of paper work and was waiting expectantly. "Uh...do you only take cash?" I asked hesitating. He nodded. "Well they failed to mention that on the phone..." I muttered. Luckily, between the two of us, Maddy and I were able to scrounge together $56, and he just took that, completely depleting our cash supply. Gee, thanks. As he finished recoiling chains, we cautiously pulled back onto the road.

A mile later, we pulled into a gas station in Nephi so Maddy could top off on gas and so I could replenish our cash supply. When I walked out of store back to the car, Maddy pointed at the rear passenger-side door and said, "Did you notice that?" I looked. The whole door was dented in under the window and the paint was peeled in two patches. That was really weird, since neither of us remember hitting anything. But the door could still open and close just fine, so we figured we were good to go. Before pulling out, I dug more mud and weeds from under the frame of the car and took the drivers seat.

I drove for the next 3 hours or so to Panguitch. We sat in silence most of the way. I don't want to go into too much detail, but suffice it to say that I was praying and praying HARD. Kind of a literal application of Carrie Underwood's Jesus, Take the Wheel. Essentially, I said, "Heavenly Father, every thought I have that has to do with making a decision while I'm driving, I'm attributing to you. Ready, set, go." Also, we'd said another prayer before we got started again, and Maddy asked for no more encounters with ice on the roads instead of just safety. I'd forgotten  you could be that specific in prayers. But guess what. IT WORKED! I drove, and it was like I could see the ice on the road. I knew exactly where to change lanes or hug the shoulder or slow down. It was probably one of the most...spiritually in tune...three hours of my life. Gradually, visibility increased and conditions cleared.

Arizona sunset as we pulled into Flagstaff. HOME!!!

We only drove through rain and snow twice after that, and by the time we pulled into Panguitch and switched drivers again, it was bright and sunny. PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED! The rest of the trip was uneventful, minus the cows standing in the road and the speeding ticket acquired coming out of Panguitch, and we pulled into Mesa a little before 9 P.M. (We won't go into how my family wasn't even home, and I was locked out...).

stupid stupid cows.... We tell people the dent in the door is from them.

So that was our adventure. I'll post about the actual trip later. And our return drive on Sunday went perfectly (I may or may not have hit 102 mph...........shhhhhh.) ;)

Hooray for guardian angels.

Staying Afloat

So that test I was studying for? 96% baby!!! Heckayeah!


Since then, life has been crazy busy. I feel like if I just had one day to do nothing, then I could catch up on everything: homework, laundry, cleaning, switching out my summer wardrobe for my winter one, cook real food, go grocery shopping. It all needs to be done, but I just haven't had any time! 2 weekends ago, I had choir concerts and this past weekend, I was in Salt Lake with my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousin, so I haven't even had that time to get anything done. Seriously, in 2 weeks, I've missed my first 2 classes 3 times in order to write papers and get caught up on homework. You know it's bad when not going to class will actually enable you to get caught up. I don't even have a social life. I just have no time!


And I've been neglecting most of my missionary friends. I feel so bad! One of these days, I'm just going to sit down and write a whole stack of letters. I'm such a bad friend. Hopefully, they'll forgive me.


In other news, I get to go home this weekend!!!!!! One of my dearest friends is getting married (what?!?!?!?!?!), and so my roommate and I are driving down to be there. I'm so excited!!! Maybe I can do my letter-writing during the 10-hour drive.


Update on the goals? I'm doing better, minus the going to bed at a decent hour, but of course there's always room for growth. And I've been doing pretty well remembering to do uplifting things that prevent me from getting stressed. For instance, last night, I drafted and drew a portrait for the first time in who knows how long. And it turned out awesome! I think I'm going to start drawing a lot again. Good idea.


Other than that, the weather is cooling down (it's still warm, but it's supposed to jump into the 40s by the end of the week. Good thing I'll be in AZ!!!), midterms are coming up, November is getting closer, and Christmas is in less than 100 days!!!! 


Life is good. :)

Plans foiled.

Sometimes, I do a good job of planning things. Like tests and such. And then a teacher will decide to mess up those plans a little bit, causing me to stay up til 2:30 AM making flashcards on everything from human development research theories to prenatal development teratogens and child developmental milestones. My favorite. Really fascinating stuff, unless it's 2:30 in the morning and you suddenly have to take a test on it in less than 8 hours. Poop. I just wanna be in my bed with all 5 pillows.


Hooray for 2 choir concerts, a Human Development test, and now a German test all in the next 2 days. Hey, weekend, get here sooner.




If you happen to be up late like me and need something beautiful in your life, watch this. It makes me happy and gives me chills every single time.

Just for Me

I made a list. Why? Because life is boring. Not bad boring, just kind of stagnant. Full of good things but not really going anywhere. No excitement. Not even a lot of stress. Which also means not a lot of growth. Problem. So I made a list. Because I have someone to be and lessons to learn and things to improve.


A couple days ago, I read this:


 10 And now, because of their ^asteadfastness when they do believe in that thing which they do believe, for because of their firmness when they are once enlightened, behold, the Lord shall bless them and prolong their days, notwithstanding their iniquity—


...and the words "steadfastness" and "firmness" particularly stood out. I've been "enlightened" per say, but how am I firm and steadfast? This, along with a letter from my best friend reminding me to enjoy living in the present and not in the future forced me to stop and think about things. Thus the list was born to help me be a better human being in general and find fulfillment in life.


1. meaningful prayer


2. scripture study


3. service


4. take time to think, not daydream


5. study and stay on track with my homework


6. go to bed before midnight


It's been going well, but after a few days, I realized that one of the major things missing in my life are hobbies. Things I do for no other reason than that they satisfy me and feed my soul. I used to spend a lot of time doing stuff like this, almost to the point where I wasn't giving time to the other important things in my life like studying. But for the last little while, I've over-corrected and haven't spent any time doing things I truly love, and my soul has been feeling rather empty because of it.


It hit me the other night as I sat down to play the piano. I don't know why I did it. I used to sit down and play for literally hours at a time, not having to think about anything pressing, just being fed by the music in front of me. So I sat down two nights ago and played. It was like an automatic musical high. I felt lifted, I felt happy, I felt peace, I felt accomplished. And then I did it again last night. And it'll probably happen again tonight. Or maybe I'll pull out my guitar or ukulele that's been under my bed for about 3 weeks since I moved. Or maybe I'll pull down my sketch book from the top of my closet and the charcoal pencils from my drawer. Any thing to keep me grounded in remembering who I am and enjoying living life in the moment.

Singers 2011-2012

Fall Semester is nearly here, and with it comes the return of Singers. I. CANNOT. WAIT. Over the last couple weeks, I've run in to more of these amazing people as they return to campus, and it's only made me realize how much I miss spending time with and learning from them every day. Of course there will be changes this year. Some people have moved on and will be missed, a couple have left on missions and will return when they finish, and new Singers will join our closely-knit family.


This year will be full of new adventures including new people, new music, new countries, and probably even a new voice part (hint hint!). I'm so excited! Even though it takes so much time, and I only get one credit hour out of it, it is so worth it, and I'm eager for rehearsals to start.


This evening, our director emailed out a tentative performance schedule (note the word TENTATIVE!), so for all you friends and family who might be interested, mark your calendars!

BYU Singers             

2011-2012 Performance Calendar

as of 8/8/11

Choir Showcase                                           Thursday and Friday

                                                                        September 22 and 23

Fall Concert                                                   Friday and Saturday

                                                                        November 11 and 12

            

Celebration of Christmas                             Friday and Saturday

                                                                         December 2 and 3   (3:00 matinee on Saturday)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Winter ChoirFest                                            Wednesday

                                                                           February 1

All Choirs Concert with                                  Friday

      Guest Conductor, Dr. Brad Holmes        February 17     6:00 p.m. call 

Winter Concert                                               Friday and Saturday

                                                                          March 16 and 17  (3:00 p.m. on Sat.)

Bon Voyage Concert                                      April????   Monday the 23^rd, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.?????

Tour to England                                              somewhere around April 24 through May 15

                                                                           (dates still unclear)

If the schedule remains as it has for the past several years, we will be asked to sing at the Saturday afternoon session of General Conerence in April.  It will be some time before we know about that, but please hold the day.

I hope to see some of you at some of these!!! It will be a great year!

*To stay updated with our schedule, visit our website here.

Poetry in the Midst of Finals

I'm in the midst of writing papers and studying for finals, so I've had little time to upload pictures and post about my adventures. That will come later this week, I promise. But for now, I leave you with this poem I found. Appropriate for a Sunday post.

Peter and John, Shortly After Dawn

But they had seen him lose, like everyone else;

Seen the wisdom and courage drain out of him in the end onto spikes

and wood, just like the ones beside him.

Others he saved. Himself?

It was what they had expected.

So why does she intrude upon their proper grief with indecent stories?

Has she no respect for the dead?

And the town is dangerous for them now.

Still.      Still.

The panting run through the watchful streets,

The stooping and entering (one hesitating for fear of ghosts)

In, into the borrowed tomb,

suddenly cool and echoing and twilit after the flat morning heat;

The catching of breath,

The groping for the winding sheet, bodiless;

The reeling from the pungency of myrrh and aloes scattered

violently, joyfully, a cockcrow ago.

Then the realization: He was here.

The heat of him lingers in the charged and burdened air.

But he is gone, and this is now a useless place, a foolish place,

A place for laughing.

What did they do then, these new believers,

his burial clothes dropping forgotten from their astonished hands?

Did they fall to their knees groaning,

souls suddenly awash with the enormity of their belief?

Did they shuffle their feet and look away,

reluctant to gloat at Death's defeat, abrupt and all unlooked for?

Or did they throw back their heads

And laugh aloud at their friend's victory

And boom hosannas at the impotent walls

until the vacant tomb trembled with embarrassment?

~Tim Slover

"I'm thankful for..."

In the past few weeks, my wonderful roommates and I have started a tradition of praying together each night and then taking turns talking about one thing we were grateful for during the day. We're not perfect and miss a few nights, but I love the fact that we are willing to bear each others' burdens and help each other to improve daily. It's been such a blessing in my life since we started it.


Sometimes our prayers and thankimonies are simple like, "I'm thankful for my family or for children or for education or for letters or for phone-calls, etc." Other times, we've sat and embraced each other in tears until the Holy Ghost can bring peace to the one we're holding. But every night is special and reminds me of all the things there are to be thankful for in my life.


Tonight I was thankful for tender mercies, specifically this one that happened to be floating around on Facebook right when I needed it most.

I am trying. And I am ok. And I am doing a good job.


Heavenly Father is proud of me. I can keep doing what I'm doing. And I'm ok because He makes it ok. I don't know everything, and sometimes things are really confusing, but I don't need to worry about it.


Words can't even express how much I love and miss President Gordon B. Hinckley. Hearing his voice again...I miss him. I can't believe he's already been gone for 3 years. What an incredible giant of a man he was.


So yes, I'm thankful for Prophets and the little occurrences that help me remember that the Lord is aware of me.

Playing Dress-Up

Why do I have such awesome friends? I don't know. But they really are awesome, especially because they'll dress up with me to go to the midnight showing of Harry Potter.

Luna, Bellatrix, and Professor Trelawney

I may or may not have spent two and a half hours crimping my hair for this. Epic? Yes.

And I found THE perfect Bellatrix Lestrange dress at Savers. LOVE that place. It's like D.I. but better. And more organized. I probably spent way too much on it, even though it was at a thrift store. I tried to talk them down on the price, but apparently they have a "specialized team of pricing agents." Yeah right. My mom has always talked them down. But it was much too good to pass up, so I got it anyway. It's an investment right? I can always wear it again for future Halloweens or Harry Potter parties. Am I correct or am I correct?

Oh good. Thought so.


Anyway, I also bought an old glittery/sequined/velvet and netting skirt. Not the most attractive thing ever. But as a Bellatrix cape?!?!?! Bombdiggetyawesomesauce, Baby!

bloody hands and a wand plucked from a bush.....

Too bad I don't have epic explosions behind me...

As for the movie, we all know how incredible it was. And Emma Watson is just such a fun, interesting, educated human being. And Snape is one of my all-time favorite characters, and Alan Rickman was stunning. He should get an Academy Award for that or something. Lots of love. An amazing end to an amazing saga. 
Well done, J. K. Rowling. Well done.