This is a bit late, but..........

I had an interesting realization the other night.

My mom and I have been a part of a singing group since we moved to Riverton in 2000. They perform a collection of songs called "Women at the Well", which are songs about the women who knew Christ. This time I was asked to play the piano accompaniment this time, which is something I had never done with this particular selection. The best part about this experience was that it didn't matter.

I finally figured out (I'm not sure why it took me this long) that playing the piano is more than a stress reliever, a pass time, or what have you. It is literally a spiritual experience for me. No matter what I'm playing, I feel this crazy spiritual connection that I don't necessarily feel while I'm playing other instruments. I'm not really sure why, it is what it is.

Anyway.......................................

It's been great to be home for the past little while. I have been able to teach school, work, and spend time with the people I love most. We had our Sorensen Christmas party on Sunday and I loved every minute. My aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents are so incredible - so loving and so much fun to be with. I love seeing cousins' faces as they open gifts, or as I open my gift from them - their excitement and anticipation that everyone will be pleased - I don't really know how to explain it other than that I loved it.

I miss all my friends in Logan and elsewhere, but I know that this is where I needed to be this holiday season.

Merry Christmas!

Money, so they say, is the root of all evil.

I am sick and tired of money, banking, all of it. The banks I am going through are incredibly frustrating - taking money when my account is not yet deficient, losing things, and poor customer service as a whole. What happened to, "The customer is always right?" I think that in a college town that banks should be more lenient, and understand that most students can't work and can't afford it when extra things are tacked on to their other expenses. It doesn't make sense to me to add more fees when someone is deficient...that makes it so they can't pay the bank as quickly as the bank would like...am i right?

....interesting events....

Can I just tell you how much I hate "dead week"? That is the week that USU students are not supposed to have tests or anything so that they can focus on studying for finals. Let me tell you something - for music majors, this is so not the case. I take more tests during "no test week" than at any other time throughout the entire semester. On top of that, I have juries (which is basically my final for private lessons) and a million concerts. During Christmas time, the amount of those concerts seem to double. On top of that, I got in a fight with a friend I've known since 8th grade over something stupid, and my car died. It was just fabulous. But the next day so many things went better! I received blessing after blessing, even my teachers making an exception for me that they normally would not have, and so many others.

Here are some fun pictures from Thanksgiving break :) My mom is working on a fun project for Ben, where we made a sign that says "Feliz Navidad", and she's taking pictures of the sign with people that mean a lot to him and is going to put it in a book for him. Here are some that I got from mom. :)


Steven being ordained a Priest!


Our annual "Ca-Ca Bowl" on Thanksgiving

I got a letter from Ben!

Ben has never been much for words....Well, let me rephrase that....He has a way with words that is quick and concise. I can send him an eight page letter, and his reply will cover everything in a page and a half. Nevertheless, it's refreshing to read from him! He is very encouraging, and makes me laugh every time I read his letters. I am grateful for his example to me.

Sounds of the Stadium Concert

Tonight was the annual Sounds of the Stadium concert for USU's Aggie Marching Band, which marks the end of the marching band season. I had some bittersweet feelings this entire week - glad to have some free time again, but sad to lose the time with the people I've grown to love over the past few months. And, as nerdy as it sounds, I love marching band. I get a thrill out of playing and marching, constantly being challenged (even if I'm not very good at it). I'm glad I had the experience again :)

There's so much to be thankful for...

The semester (and year, for that matter) are quickly coming to a close. I have learned so much and am grateful for the experiences that I have had. 2009 has been a year of learning about myself and others around me.

I'm coming home to see my family for the holidays, and my mom has asked me to help with a musical number for her seminary class on the Wednesday of Thanksgiving week. It's called "Thankful", as performed by Josh Groban. I love this song - it's beautiful from a musical standpoint, as well as the words.

Some days we forget to look around us
Some days we can't see the joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see

It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for

Look beyond ourselves, there's so much sorrow
It's way too late to say, I'll cry tomorrow
Each of us must find our truth
We're so long overdue

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And every day we hope for
What we still can't see

It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for

Even with our differences
There is a place we're all connected
Each of us can find each others love

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see

It's up to us to be the change
And even though this world needs so much more
There's so much to be thankful for

I think it's fitting at this time of year (although we should always express gratitude) for the blessings in our lives. I think I'd like to start now.

1. I am grateful for my family. They have been incredibly supportive, through all of my mistakes, struggles, and goals and dreams.
2. I am grateful for my roommates. They have been my family away from home, and I couldn't ask for better friends and older sisters :)
3. I am grateful for the opportunity to go to school. I love what I am studying, and love learning more about the things that I am passionate about, and have been thrilled to meet all of the people I have met over the past 4 years.
4. I am grateful that Ben is serving a mission. He is such an example to me, and I do miss him greatly. (Never thought you'd hear that, eh?)
5. I am grateful for the gospel. I would be utterly lost without the Lord's help. I know that I am supposed to be here, and I have felt His assurance on many occasions.
6. I am grateful for my friends in my ensembles who are so incredibly patient with me.
7. I am grateful for understanding professors who are willing to work with me.
8. I am grateful for music. It has been a healing force in my life, and a way for me to be expressive. I love learning about it, playing it, experiencing it, everything.
9. I am grateful for the job that I do have. My supervisor and boss are so wonderful to work with and always put the need of others first. They are such great examples to me.
10. I am grateful for Logan. It has been a blessing to leave home and be on my own for a while, to learn to be a grown up. I love my family, but I feel as though Logan is my real home.
11. I am grateful for technology. I am able to feed my Bones addiction, keep in touch with many loved ones that are far away, and find many resources quickly.
12. I am grateful for the little knowledge that I have of the atonement. As some know, almost every fall semester I have lost someone that I was close with or that meant a great deal to me. Each time, dealing with these losses has become slightly easier. I know that I am going through these trials and losses so that I can become a better person and help others, and I'm grateful for this.

Of course this list is not exhaustive, nor all inclusive, but those are things that are immediately on my mind. I am grateful for life in general - what a blessing it is to be alive, and to experience everything. I love this season, for the most part. I hate the cold, and one other aspect of this time of year, but I have always loved the fall colors, the time spent with family, and the opportunity to go back to school after a summer break.

Have a wonderful day, and remember that there is so much to be thankful for!

Why am I still up?

So I guess I just obsess over some things, and I can't sleep until I figure them out. I think starting this blog was just one of those things. :P

This semester has been one of great reflection and thought for me. I'm finally approaching graduation, and there are several other things floating around in my head, driving me slightly crazy, but I know that everything will work out. I know that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. It's funny - this isn't what I had planned on doing, but the Lord has a way of making sure that we are taken care of and are going in the direction He needs us to go.

Well, I think I really should go to bed. It's kind of ridiculous that I'm still awake, any how. Good night!

New to this!

So...this looked like a fun idea, but I'm definitely new to this. Patience :)