Country Music

I guess hanging out with a couple cowboys has rubbed off on me. Let's see . . . George Strait, Chris LeDoux, Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Reba, Sara Evans, Martina McBride, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, Trisha Yearwood, Faith Hill, Garth Brooks, and okay, let's be honest, Taylor Swift. And Johnny Cash. Heck, I love him! Interesting. I have definitely been on a country kick lately. And I'm loving it! It's some dang good stuff. Life is good. Been a little more western than usual lately. . . lots of cowboy time for me and Jen. Been shootin', watchin' some John Wayne (and my first Clint Eastwood), ridin' in trucks in the mountains, playin' a little poker, and of course, listenin' to lots of country music.

Man! I Feel Like a Woman! by good old Shania Twain

Well, first of all, I feel like I have a lot of catching up to do. It's been great lately. Shown are several of the adventures I've had lately with the wonderful Jen and LeAnne. I'm going to miss them a ton. But, as Shania says, women have the "perogative to have a little fun." Thus:

Modeling by random buildings on campus

Practicing our cartwheels by the Temple

As Jen would say, "I need to find me a man with a pick-up!"


And here I am, trying to be seductive with a curly fry. Don't judge me.

And puddles? Well, Jen and I've got the rainboots for it. I feel like this picture is so climactic.

Action shot with LeAnne!

Let's revisit the puddles! I think yes.

Okay, this one requires a back story. The other night, a cowboy named Tyler wrote on the back of a cowboy named Garrett's truck: "Wyoming Cowboy, call me, {insert number here}"

Well, Jen and I thought it would be hilarious to write "Don't Call, I'm mean!" on the windows . . . sadly, it then started snowing and that washed the paint off. Shoot. It was a good effort.

I guess all this is is to prove how much fun I'm having here at college. And don't you worry, I'm getting some school work done too. But my roomates and I definitely have that so called "perogative." Thanks, Shania.

Life is Good. Real Good.

Honestly, no particular song comes to mind tody. I just want to relate how I am so blessed.
I got to spend the last week with my wonderful family.
I had my dad to myself all day on Thursday -- which was a big deal. I never get to see that man, he's so dang busy all the time, what with work and the bishopbric and everything. We went shooting and THEN skiing. I've never been skiing in my life. And it was a blast! I picked it up faster than I thought I would. I love my Dad. He just helped me up everytime I fell, and we just laughed together and enjoyed the beautiful world God created for us.
I got to go out to lunch with my Mom. We went to this adorable Italian place. Oh Italy. We both wish we could go back. I love my mom so much. As I've left, I've found that it's so much easier to talk with her about everything in my life. She made me a cherry pie because I was home last Sunday. Mmm.
Seth is Seth. He's a goofy kid. Asked a girl out to prom this week. Way to be. And I'm amazed at how he can just qualify to go to the first track meet, no big deal . . . and why don't we get 3rd place in an event while we're at it. He doesn't even have to try to be fantastic at athletics. Sheesh.
Rebekah is so cute. This week, they had a fashion show for mutual in her Young Women's. I pulled out my old dresses and helped her try them on. Oh goodness, she is going to be QUITE the catch when she's older. She's pretty and bubbly and, if you're in 8th grade at RMMS, you should definitely vote for her, cause she's running for 9th Grade Female Representative this next week.
Luke gives the best hugs ever. I feel sorry for you if you've never experienced a hug from my best 9 year old buddy. He is such a good kid. And quite the pro at the pogo stick. I got to go to the annual Primary Talen Show on Friday night. Holy heck. That is some GOOD stuff.
Cousins of course . . . singing Wicked with Alexis in my car, talking about boys with Dani, getting a big bear hug from Kyle. Good stuff.
My amigos: Liz + salsa + swings. Good times. Going to lunch with good old Joe. Dairy Keen with some holy cheese amigos -- Brittany and Camille. Love them.
And apartment shopping. A little overwhelming. I'm sometimes REALLY sad that I have to leave all the wonderful people I've met up here in Logan. But Ellie Warren and I spent hours on Friday going all over Provo. Just on a waiting list so far (#2 on that list, to be exact) -- and I know somehow it's all going to work out.
But I am definitely going to miss a bunch of people up here. . .
Hanging out with the cowboys -- and sometimes Tucker (though that doesn't necessarily mean that I enjoy having water balloons thrown at me and Jen at 1:00 in the morning . . . ahem).
The 4th floor boys. Oh goodness. They are great.
All the great people in the music department, and in my symphony (Alissa!)
Great people in my ward
And don't even get me started on my roomates. I feel SO lucky that I get along with each and every one of them. They are wonderful, talented, beautiful, intelligent, happy girls and I am going to miss them SOO much.

But it's a beautiful sunny Sunday. And only more good things to come. Life is good.

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?