Smile by Uncle Kracker

"I'm lucky just to linger in your life"

Tchaikovsky and Taylor

This is my symphony, the Utah Valley Youth Symphony performing the theme from the Sleeping Beauty Ballet by Tchaikovsky. My participation with this group was one of the best things that I have EVER done in my life. I think we're kind of AWESOME.

You know what else is awesome? Family. And laughing at ridiculous songs. Here is a selection on the mandolin by my cousin Taylor:

And there you have it. Refined and . . . alright, not so refined.

PS: Today I got my audition piece for the Utah State University Symphony Orchestra. And guess what? I played through it today and it was relatively EASY. Yesss.

Human of the Year by Regina Spektor

Once upon a time there was a girl named Sarah and she made two friends in her puny high school orchestra named Robyn and Brittany. These three girls (not to mention EXTREMELY attractive and fabulous violinists) formed a trio, which later came to be known as the Holy Cheese Trio . . . which is kind of a lengthy story . . . so just go with me por favor. Anyways, one day Sarah heard this particular song and fell in LOVE. And because the obnoxious amount of times Brittany asked Sarah for a ride home, it was only a matter of time before Brittany would hear the song, and then soon Robyn. Thus, the ridiculously nonsensical lyrics of this song spoke to these crazy ladies and here is an excerpt for your viewing pleasure:

Hello, hello, calling a Carl Projectorinsky to the front, of the cathedral

You have won, dear sir.

May I congratulate you first? OH what an honor.

Human, HUMAN OF THE YEAR.

And YOU won!

Why are you so scared? You stand there shaking in your pew.

The icons are whispering to you. They're just old men, like on the benches in the park -- except their balding spots are glistening with gold.

And there you have it.

But seriously, this is a tribute to the "HOLY CHEESE TRIO"

These girls are FANTASTIC and will do great things. And they are some of the best friends I've ever had. Thanks so much!

This Is the Christ written by James E. Faust

Happy Sunday!
I chose this wonderfully gorgeous song that I have had in my head ever since we listened to it in Relief Society a couple weeks ago.

"They heard His voice, a voice so mild
It pierced them through and made their souls to quake.
They saw Him come, a man in white.
The Savior, who had suffered for their sake.
They felt the wounds in hands and side.
And each could testify:
THIS IS THE CHRIST

This is the Christ, the holy Son of God.
Our Savior, Lord, Redeemer of mankind.
This is teh Christ, the Healer of our souls.
Who ransomed us with love divine.

I read His words, the words He prayed
While beaing sorrow in Gethsemane.
I feel His love, the price He paid.
How many drops of blood were spilled for me?
With Saints of old in joyful cry
I too can testify:
THIS IS THE CHRIST."

Just so you can feel the same Spirit that I do, here is a link (or copy and paste it) to listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7Mt-XHfWx4

The words are beautiful!

I know my Savior lives.

I know he died for ME.

"How many drops of blood were spilled for me?" The whole concept of the Atonement is beyond my comprehension.

He made it possible for me to live with my family FOREVER.

That's like . . . FOREVER.

And spending a week in Hawaii with JUST them and no other outside influences that I knew, I realized something:

Each member of my family is my BEST FRIEND.

And so I absolutely love the assurance that I have that I KNOW I will be with them forever and ever.

And so, with much love,
Have a beautiful Sabbath day!

Leaving on a Jet Plane by John Denver

Well, since I'm ACTUALLY leaving on a jet plane tomorrow, I thought this song would be appropriate, especially since I shall not be posting for a week.

Cause I'm off to HAWAII.

This is correct. Hawaii. This is the vacation that has been spoken of in our family for years and years. The deal was: When Sarah graduates, the family goes to Hawaii. Good plan? I know. And it's been the plan for as long as I can remember. So you can imagine my excitment at the prospects of finally getting to fulfill this goal! And if you can't, let me just say: I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!

And as a side noet: another song that I will think of is "Happy Birthday" because two good friends are turning older this next week:
Happy 20th birthday to my "older sister" Dani -- you've still got 6 days to pull off a teenage marriage! Haha. Nah, just one year closer to a mission? I don't know. All I know is that you're soon to be in a whole different decade then me. You're SO OLD! But I love you so much!
And happy 16th birthday to Camille. You beautiful girl. I love you to death, and please get out there and have no fear around boys! Cause you're awesome! And they will love you! And did I mention DRIVING? Oh yes, Miss Camille.

And so, I bid you 'ALOHA' as I venture to the tropical island of Oahu. Yessss.

"All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go"

The Man Who Can't Be Moved by The Script

"How can I move on when I'm still in love with you?"
Alright, one thing I ought to confess: I am a hopeless romantic. And I chose this song for today because I love the story it tells.
And perhaps I understand waiting for someone that you miss. And they don't come back. It's really hit me as I've graduated and as I leave all my younger friends behind. . . not to mention all my graduated friends that are seperating and ending up in a million different places.
And it's not like I'm going to hang around Heber, where I've grown up my whole life, and just wait for them to come back. But still, I will miss them all because

they all made me who I am.

And it's so strange for me to wrap my mind around the idea that I may not see them again. There are too many 'what if's' and 'why did this happen this way' and it's so awful being caught in the somewhat cloud of uncertainty about my future.

I know what I want in life: to be a music teacher, to fall in love with a devastatingly handsome returned missionary and marry in the temple and have my very own family. But you never know what life will throw at you. I know that for sure. All my fairy tale fantasies about a guy that will sweep me off my feet (around 6 ft, blonde, light eyes, intelligent, spiritual, possibly plays the piano or guitar, etc.) is hard to imagine.
I got so caught up in high school and the idea that THAT is what life is like, and I got so used to it. But that's definitely not all there is. I'm just stuck in this in-between phase between dependent and independent, between child and adult, between young womens and relief society, between careleess and responsible. And I need to make up my mind about where I belong soon or I might die!
Which brings me back to the lyrics "how can I move on when I'm still in love with you?"

I have been in love with this time in my life.

I loved the familiarity of school each year and of seeing the same people and having a family to come home to every night. And it's all about to change. And I don't want to move! I just want to stop the inevitable and keep all the things I've grown to love around me. BUT that defeats life's purpose. It wouldn't make me the person that I need to become.
And so, I am
"The Woman that MUST be moved"
Dang it.

Dream by Priscilla Ahn

My name is Sarah Anne. And I absolutely adore music with every fiber of my being. Here is some of my musical background:
I play several instruments:
Violin: 14 years, involvment in the Utah Valley Youth Symphony, State Solo/Ensemble Superior Ratings, teaching beginner's lessons, pit orchestras for theater productions, countless performances
Piano: 8 years, Heber Valley Piano Festival, playing for Church/Seminary
Trumpet: 1 year, Wasatch High School Band
Organ: 3 months

I have noticed that in my life, there is usually a particular song that tends to be my

"song of the day"

And so, every day, I will post the song that has been stuck in my head all day.

Today is "Dream" by Priscilla Ahn
Favorite lines:
1. "I could fly from the highest swing": I love swings. So very much. And I understand thsi feeling of flying. I love to get away from my world and just swing on one of the swings on our swingset in our backyard sometimes. It is so very therapeautic.
2. "I asked God who I'm supposed to be": I am a very religious person. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and I love this line because I think it's important to ask God about all aspects in my life. And I truly believe that He will direct us to the path that we are to take in life. I feel like I am destined to share my music all my life. It is my way to better the human race in my small way.

And there you have it. My very first song of the day!