BEST.DAY.OF.MY.LIFE.

It was a spectacular day.
It started out nothing special. In my apartment in Logan.
Then I drove to Orem.
Why, might you ask, was I driving to Orem?
Well, I'll tell you.
I had an audition. An audition to get into the Music Program at Utah Valley University.

Let me explain something though. For . . . ever I have NOT even considered going to UVU because I figured that it was the place where people went when they couldn't get into anywhere else. Open enrollment you know . . . they take anybody and everybody. And up until quite recently, possibly today, I would NEVER have even thought I might be remotely interested in this school. It brings me back to the morning of the AP English test, when good old Anycia pointed to the UVU banner in the Concurrent Enrollment room and stated that we all had to pass or that would be our future. And we all laughed. Cause we figured we needed to get into a college that was a challenge for us to get into.

Well, it was a very ironic day for me. And it started out with me considering going to UVU.

Well, like I was saying, I got to Orem. I found the Music Department. And I proceeded to play my Bach and my Bruch for the String Coordinator. So I messed up a few times. I figured, okay, this'll be like USU -- she'll say she'll let me know what she decides soon. I foresaw my second rejection letter because of the memory glitches I kept having.

BUT . . .

"Consider yourself admitted," she said. She told me they were in DIRE need of Strings for the Music Education program -- they didn't have many. She would be absolutely thrilled to have me. It was possible that I could get a half tuition String scholarship. And would I mind her teaching me in the Fall? She really wanted to work with me.

Let's just say, I pretty much had a heart attack. I could not believe what I was hearing.

And as ironic as considering UVU sounds . . .

Planning to transfer there next Fall is even more so.

Heavenly Father opens doors for you. I testify that he has a plan for you. On Monday this week I was pretty sure my life was over. Friday of the same week, I'm pretty sure that I'm going to a program where I will be able to be AMAZING.

UVU, eh? Sounds good to me!

Dear Sarah Anne,

"Thank you for auditioning for the String Program at Utah State University. This year we had a very high number of excellent players, which made the selection process very difficult. At this time you have

NOT

been accepted as a string music major."

Well, world. I'm at a loss.

CELINE NEVER FAILS US!

Okay, let me confess -- Celine Dion makes me whole.

Doesn't matter what song, she is SO fantastic. Well, we are currently in love with "I Want You To Need Me", but "My Heart Will Go On", "The Prayer", "Because You Loved Me", and "To Love You More" are also favorites. We love her!

One day, my roomate Jenifer and I spent an hour watching YouTube videos of her.

And it was great.

I love my roomates!

Yesterday, we went on an adventure: to Preston, Idaho. Well, REALLY the adventure was to the state line. Have you seen "A Walk to Remember"?? Well, if you have, then you will understand why we had to go to the "Welcome to Idaho" sign, and put a foot on each side of it. HENCE: two places at once -- Utah and Idaho. Sort of.

The whole way we sang Celine songs.

She NEVER fails us! And neither do my roomates! Jen and LeAnne, let's watch sunsets more often!

TOMORROW. 10:40.

{Playing with my orchestra in Disneyland on our Performing Arts tour}

{Playing a Christmas song in the University Mall -- age 13}

{Playing at the Wasatch County Fair with Seth on guitar -- age 12}

{Trying out violins before deciding on Dmitri Svietlinski -- my boyfriend}

{Playing the violin at 5 yrs. old}

Do you know what I love?

I have played the violin since I was four years old.

And now, when I play, it's magic. I just know what to do. I have control over what comes out of my instrument. I can play whatever I want. And I love to perform.

It's been 15 years. I've played the violin for FIFTEEN years.

That's a long time.

TOMORROW IS THE DAY.

Audition round 2.

It's really competitive. My Cuban violin teacher Laura told me that there are MAYBE ten spots open. Maybe.

That's ten spots to get into the music program.

That's ten spots. I need only one of them.

I'm going to be a music teacher, an orchestra teacher. And I'm pretty sure you can't stop me.

There's a lot of pressure. It's ten minutes of my life and it decides the next few years of my life.

This is a big deal.

TOMORROW. 10:40.

Do you know what I love?