the one about my future

the one about my future

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

My graduation date is looming ever closer. Since coming back from Christmas break I have been scouring the internet for jobs and internships, anything really. For months and months I have been pounding the pavement for my next move. I have always been the girl with the plan and it's been unsettling to not have something in the works. It seems that I have run into rejection after rejection. The latest in the series came yesterday. Up until then I haven't been too worried, but the past few months of pushing aside my worry finally came spilling out.

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the one about josh bell

the one about josh bell

Friday, November 15, 2013

Have you ever had an experience so amazing you think to yourself, "This can't possibly be real life?" I have: Israel, the first time I road a roller coaster, every midnight premiere of Harry Potter. Yesterday I was blessed with another is-this-really-happening experience.

Josh Bell, the world renowned violinist, played at BYU last night. To say that it was phenomenal would be the understatement of the year! He was absolutely captivating. It was almost as if the audience was holding their breath during each movement. He played three beautiful pieces:

1. Tartini's "Devil's Trill" Sonata
2. Beethoven's Sonata No. 10 in G
3. Stravinsky's "Divertimento"

The Beethoven piece was my absolute favorite. It was soft, lyrical, and felt more like a conversation between the violin and the piano. (His pianist, Sam Haywood, is an equally accomplished musician.) My favorite part was the expressive way Bel played. His connection with the music brought the pieces alive, making the concert all the better. 

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the one about reading

the one about reading

Monday, November 4, 2013

Lately I've been reading The Count of Monte Cristo. Hello, fabulous book! You should all read it. On more than one occasion I've found myself still reading it waaaaay beyond my bedtime. Yes, I am that girl. It's genetic...ask Mama Lo.

While I was talking to a friend about it we found ourselves discussing why reading is so amazing. Here are my thoughts:

1. Reading requires basically no effort. I enjoy a good swim as much as the next girl, but sometimes all I want to do is stay curled up in my bed, wearing my Christmas sweater. A beautifully written book fits very nicely into this scenario.
2. Reading does not involve me eating obscene amounts of calories when I'm sad. Yes, I have on occasion eaten an ENTIRE PINT of Ben and Jerry's when my day has been awful...who hasn't? However, since I enjoy the scenario in point numero uno so much, I try to read my sorrows away more often than not.
3. You can read ANYWHERE. Case-in-point (is that how you do that? is that even the right combination of words?) I went to Puerto Rico this summer to visit Kristen and Alex. While I was there I picked up Alex's copy of The English Girl by Daniel Silva. I read that book non-stop for two days. It didn't matter that we drove across that beautiful tropical paradise to get to the rain forest...I sat in the back of that Camry and inhaled that book. (It's a definite keeper...read it after you've read The Count of Monte Cristo--you won't be disappointed.)
4. Unlike many TV shows, there are many, many books that never, and I mean never, in a hundred million years (yes this sentence is getting ridiculously long), get old. Do I still stay up into the wee hours of the morning reading Harry Potter 7 even though I know what happens and could probably recite the last three chapters? Absolutely :) 
5. You can learn pretty much anything by reading. Lest you think I only read books, Wikipedia is one of my most frequented sights. It is a treasure trove, my friends. Let's say I'm reading BBC news and come across an obscure reference to some European war I've never heard of. What do I do? Wikipedia. My professor starts talking about complex economic theory? No problem: Wikipedia. It's amazing. I can also be found reading random articles on wiki late into the night. (I think there's a theme here...)

There it is: Five extremely good reasons to read. There's more for sure, but I have to finish this book I'm reading... :) 

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the one about jerusalem

the one about jerusalem

Friday, September 13, 2013

It's 2 am and I am wide awake. Every now and then I have those nights where my mind just won't slow down. I toss and turn for hours before finally giving in and turning the light back on. Thankfully I don't have class tomorrow so the impact won't be that bad. On this nights I often read until my mind is exhausted and my eyes won't stay open.

Tonight I decided to read the journal I kept while I lived in Israel two summers ago. It's been a few months since I have read it, but I am always amazed at the experiences I had while I was there. I learned and grew so much there! I think we often forget how much we have grown and changed; we easily fall into this mind trap that we're stagnant, making little to no progress. I remember feeling this way while I was in Israel, but as I revisited my journal tonight I again realized how untrue this is. Whether we recognize it or not, the Lord is constantly molding and shaping us into the person He wants us to become. This change often comes in the form of trials, a refiner's fire. We're tried because we're worth it to Him. Heavenly Father longs to see us progress and become more like Him and for this reason He tests us; slowly teaching us how to be like Him.

My experience in Israel was four months of this growth--sixteen weeks of intensive learning of how to be more like my Savior. I hungered and thirsted after this instruction and Heavenly Father opened my eyes and allowed me to see His hand in my life. It was as if He was teaching me how He teaches me. At the beginning of my experience I mistook this teaching for something negative; I didn't understand what was happening. Only after I began writing things down and taking the time to understand my experiences was I able to appreciate the way the Lord was guiding my life.

I treasure my time in Israel for many things, but high on the list is the way it enhanced my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I know that He lives and loves each of us. He is quietly guiding our lives and protecting us from harm. If you're ever in doubt, keep a journal and read it often. His guidance will become clear.

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the one about stewart falls

the one about stewart falls

Monday, September 9, 2013

Everyone needs one last hurrah before school starts! My roommates and I thought about heading back down to Zion, but it ended up not working out. Instead we decided to hike up Stewart Falls and have lunch at the waterfall. It is suuuch a beautiful hike! The leaves up the canyon are already starting to change which makes me bubble with excitement :) Fall is my favorite season! The air up the mountain was clear and crisp which also reminds me of autumn.

While we were hiking we had a slew of conversations which including planning how to escape a velocioraptor attack and how Mark should start his first French class as the instructor.

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