Best Date Ever.

 Sometimes you just have awesome days. And yesterday was one of those. It started out with us driving to Heber so Colten could help my Dad haul hay. Turns out, a bunch of ward members showed up and Colten only touched 4 bales. Woohoo! But, to make driving up the canyon worth our while, we went on a horse ride with my Dad and cousin Josh. It was a magnificently overcast day for a horse ride. It was excellent.

 

For quite a while, Colten has been wanting to go to the Gun Show (like real guns, not just his arms.) So, we did! And two amazing things happened: we traded my .38 special for a .22 magnum across the board. Yay! And also, this Winchester 20 gauge happened. YESSSSSS.

 SLAB PIZZA. Yes. We decided to practice our "smolders" while we waited.

 Here we are, watching the sky in Kiwanis Park. It was lightly raining, and we thought it would be hilarious if it just started pouring while we were lying there. But it didn't, so we just talked and dreamed for a while.

 The Swings!

 And you know what, might as well take a model shot by a lonely sunflower, right?

Then of course, we picked up a couple cheap books at DI.

Yesterday, July 27th, marked the year anniversary of our first date. On that original date, I had just gotten back from India and I was super jet-lagged, so after a walk around Kiwanis and a crepe at "The Awful Waffle" I was done. But yesterday, Colten and I took many of our favorite activities and culminated them into a whole day. It was magical to be able to just enjoy one another and have fun. So, I know there's not really a point to this, but I am so immensely grateful that I accepted that date a year ago. How my life has changed since then! Holy moly. 

Oh yeah, and there are quite a few excellent date ideas in here if you didn't notice. :)

Lessons from 4 Months

Today marks four months since I was married. I figured I could celebrate by reflecting on some of the things I've learned since March 8th.

1. It's not about you. Well, sometimes it is, but mostly it's about him, it's about us, it's about we. I find that I am happiest when I am serving, concerned about, or thinking about my husband. It's absolutely wonderful to have someone in your life that you can do that for. It's so much more than any of the family or friend relationships I've had my whole life. It's different this time, because we are a unit, whole and connected. And so, there can be no selfishness, because that will destroy everything. I find myself consulting Colten on everything, from buying a new pair of shoes to more serious things like cars and what's for dinner and . . .  well, everything! It's almost easier accomplishing your own goals for yourself when you have a built in cheerleader for yourself, encouraging you and prodding you along. And you better do the same for him too! It's not about you. It's about him, us, and we.

2. Who cares if he puts the toilet paper roll on the wrong way? There is absolutely no use in arguing about such stupid things. There are instances when your husband does something different than the way you do it. Shocker! For one, he's a man, and also he grew up in a completely different house. So, just because he does the dishes one way doesn't mean it's wrong. I'll probably keep doing it my way, but heck -- why would I change him? He's doing the dishes! You're not there to change him. So, just because he's married now doesn't mean that Colten is magically perfect now, and I know for sure that I'm not either. Overlooking and accepting are handy tools, and so are communication and assisting. It's something I've learned that I know I really don't have the hang of yet . . . But I strive every day to look for all the good in my husband instead of being annoyed at the little things he does that might annoy me.

3. Assuming is the WORST. Communication is the best thing on the whole planet. Be clear! I've found how important to be specific and detailed when asking something of my husband to avoid miscommunication. What, where, when EXACTLY are really good questions. Also, secrets are retarded. He's your other half! Just confess your sins! It probably won't hurt, actually, it never does. Heck, when Colten came home and confessed that he bought a whole bunch of books, to make it even he let me buy a pair of shoes! (Okay, that only happened once. We don't solve ALL our problems like that.) Talk about all of these things . . .  finances, school, important things to remember. If you do this, you'll never hear "I thought I told you . . ." and also you'll have a nifty and incredibly handsome planner to help you remember things.

4. Fall in love every day. I'm serious. Remember every day the way you felt when you first said yes over the altar. The best things to help with this are holding hands when you pray every day, going to the temple often (sealings are the best thing to do when you really need some help remembering), saying I love you every day, compliments and affirmations of the little and big things that each other do every day, long hugs every day, and willingness to solve issues.

I know, I'm not an expert. But with four months of marriage under my belt, I realize that there are a lot of things I never knew I never knew. The only way to really know is to know. Vague, right? It's like being married is this secret club that you don't really know about until you're in it. But if I had any suggestions for people who aren't married yet, it would be things that we've all heard before anyways: serve, look for the best in others, and make sure that you are the kind of person you want to marry. If you're doing those things, have an open mind about the way other people do things, and are willing to talk things through, you'll probably be just fine. These are things single and married people need to work on every day anyways.

Well, Happy Four Months, Colten.

My plan. My journey.

A week from tomorrow will be a year since I met Colten Charles Sponseller.

That's my husband!

Can I just say how amazing it is to say that?!?! It is incredible, and sometimes I have to pinch myself to help myself remember that this is real life.

It's late and I just wanted to post something since it's been ages, and so I'd just like to tell you how I absolutely and completely know without a doubt that God has a plan for us.
Consider this journey:
1. I asked for a violin when I was four
2. I started teaching violin when I was twelve
3. When I was in high school I realized I wanted to be a music teacher
4. Utah State gave me a scholarship, so I decided to go there
5. I got rejected from the Utah State music program twice
6. I realized that I wanted music more than I wanted that particular school
7. UVU let me audition after they had closed auditions
8. UVU gave me a sweet scholarship, and lots of personal attention, so I made the move down to Provo. What's more, I got a spot in an apartment with wonderful roommates and enjoyed my ward, including my wonderful home teachers Craig and Alex.
9. I dated a bit, then I didn't for a long time, and to get out of a slight slump of loneliness I decided to work on myself by going to the temple every week, beginning to read my scriptures better, and setting goals for myself that would make me feel accomplished. By doing this I worried less about dating and more about where I was heading in my life
10. I was introduced to Colten by my home teachers. (Yes, this is AFTER I stopped thinking about how bad I wanted to get married). He left for Infantry School three days later (he's a Marine!)
11. My teacher asked me to help pioneer the Violin Performance degree, I accepted and began to double major in Violin Performance and Music Education
12. I wrote letters to Colten
13. I left for India where I was stretched and I grew into a better human being
14. A day after I got back from India I went on my first date with Colten
15. I took an institute class that fit into my 18 credit semester, and I heard a girl comment about 1 John 4:18 -- "There is no fear in love, for perfect love casteth out fear . . ."
16. This scripture prompted me to date Colten, to not be afraid!
17. Colten and I got engaged on December 7th
18. I declared Violin Performance as my sole major, realizing that I needed to finish school sooner to be a mom, and also that I didn't want to be a CONDUCTOR, I wanted to be a private violin teacher
19. Colten and I got married on March 8th

Okay, that's a long list! But can you see how the Lord has guided my life? Isn't it amazing how he guided me, I would say even from choosing to play the violin at age 4, to pursue music, which ultimately led me to the exact right place I would need to be to meet my future husband? Coincidence? Heck no!! Not only have I been sealed to the most amazing and loving man, but I also get to study something that makes me truly happy. (And I was led to the very school where I could be the first one to study my particular degree! I think I wanted Music Education -- or that I was prompted to study it -- at first so that it would get me to this point!) This is probably the most blessed I've been my whole life. I cannot believe the blessings that God has bestowed upon me. And so, I testify that God will help guide you to the right place, to the right person, if we only stay in tune with the Spirit and let Him lead you.

To Play the Violin

“Do you know what the violin means to me? A musician has to play. If I were punished, not lauded for playing, if I were not paid, not appreciated, even then I should have to play my violin. I would brave punishment to play, just as some men brave punishment for their religion.”

-- Fritz Kreisler

I love the violin. I may not love it more than my religion. I may not love it more than my family. But I am absolutely in love with my violin. It brings me indescribable joy. And right now, at this point in my education, I am growing SO much. Every lesson I have, I find new things that make me sound better and make me fall even more in love with with my Swietlinski from Nowy Targ, Poland. Every day, I've made it a priority to practice, and I'm falling in love with that too. It's amazing the change that has come upon me in my practicing efforts. Perhaps those two months in India away from my instrument made me realize that I was taking my talent, my major, all my opportunities for granted. That's probably what happened, because ever since I've been back, it hasn't felt like a chore to play scales for an hour. I am so grateful for all the teachers I've had throughout my life. For my chance to play in the Utah Valley Youth Symphony in high school. To be the concertmistress of the Wasatch High School orchestra. I only wish I hadn't taken these things for granted like I know I did. Sometimes I think about how much better I could be if I had only taken advantage of the past 17 years I've played the violin. Sure, I've done alright, but why wasn't I absolutely and totally in love with it?? It is amazing! But I am so glad that I'm realizing it now.
Well, I guess I'll try paying it back by teaching. I adore teaching with all my heart. So, this will be my goal: to try to encourage my students to do what I didn't -- to let music, and more specifically, the violin take over their lives. Music is a language. I tell my students this as I teach them how to read music. It's a language, just like Spanish or Chinese. But it's universal. Everyone feels music in some way. It doesn't matter where you're from, boy or girl, young or old, blonde or brunette. If you can hear, if you can feel, music can touch you. And how much more amazing is it to CREATE it? I can't even explain it. But it is spectacular, and one of the best and most rewarding parts of my life.
So, finally, that gift for Christmas at age 4 is totally and absolutely appreciated. I didn't know what I was getting into when I asked for a violin. I didn't know how it would change me, how perhaps it would make me a better person. And I think it has.
I love my violin. Now, I've finally decided -- if there was no one to hear me play, if there was no one to teach, no orchestra to play with, no one appreciating the art . . .

I
would
still
play.

India Post #4

This morning I woke up at 6:00 A.M. in my bed in Utah. I realized I was home (which was probably why I was so comfortable . . . a real live mattress!) Since I'm jet-lagged and can't go back to sleep, let me write one final post about my incredible adventure in India.
It's hard to really describe the experience I had the last 6 weeks in India. Life-changing? Yes, but how do you really write that out? Without taking you from our home in West Marredpally down to the bus stop, then to Baliginagar and the surrounding slums, I don't think you would truly understand what I've seen. How could you possibly understand how miserable our bus rides on the 211M could be? Or how that was also one of my favorite places, because when I got a seat, I felt like that was when I truly saw India?
Without taking you to my piano lessons, I don't think you can feel the happiness in Usha's smile, comprehend the tears welling up in Saritha's eyes when she plays out of the regular hymnbook for the first time, or feel my joy at being able to teach music, in India of all places!
Without taking you on a rickshaw, I don't think you can relate to the almost nauseating lack of traffic law, or how the beggars can walk right up to you at a stop light, grab your arm and if you refuse to look at them, pinch you. Hard.
I don't think you can visualize all the shops, advertisements, and the garbage everywhere. Everywhere.
And the smell. How do you describe the smells of India, one minute walking by a mountain of garbage, the next moment a stand of jasmine flowers? How do you describe the constant honking, the sounds of vendors, the sounds of chanting? How can you taste the food I tasted, the wonderful chicken biryani made by Jaya, or the exceedinly spicy noodles in Jaipur?
And most of all, how can I explain the beautiful people of India to you? How can I tell you about how adorable the school children were in their school uniforms, and how they would wave to us and say hello?  And the gorgeous women, with a baby on their hip, or a water pot on their heads. And still dressed in their best saree and bangles with their hair neatly braided, despite their poverty.
Or Jaya, Poojitha, and Ruchita? My best friends in India.

But here, I will try:

 Home sweet home for some in the slums

 Standard filth

 Being asked to take pictures with Indians, I'm a celebrity cause I'm white

 Garbage pile near our home

 Rick-shaws

 Mahesh

 Becoming best friends with the locals

 Walking with the SAPID ladies, Urmi and Mary

 The children attacking me, asking me to take a picture of them

 Friday market near our home

 Braids

 Wisdom

 Taj Mahal

 Rice and curry, eaten with my hands

Finished school mural

Riding an elephant

Piano recital. Usha (left), Saritha (right)

 Jaya, Poojitha, Ruchita

Welcome

India Post #3

It was only a weekend trip with most everyone on my team. Yet it turned out to be one of the craziest and most awesome adventures of my LIFE.
This last Friday, after our workday, ten of us headed to the Hyderabad train station expecting to get on a train around 9 and have our very own beds in a sleeper car. Turns out, we were all still on the waiting list. However, by the time the train got there, we had three "beds" to our name. So, we piled on them, waiting for other beds to open up. Miraculously, three other beds did. So, I spent Friday night sharing a tiny bed with my team member Eryn, hardly getting any sleep. Oh, and the squatter potties where there's just a hole and you just go ON the track was also a pretty hardcore adventure. BUT on Saturday morning around 7:30, our train pulled into Hampi, an AMAZING temple town.
We spent the day touring ruins of Hindu temples and palaces. It was indescribably awesome. All these HUGE temples with super intricate and ornate carvings. They were incredible.  
However, that night was probably the biggest adventure . . . We were at dinner, and I had just finished my delicious panner butter masala when we heard a *thud*. Something had fallen out of the tree onto the girl across the table from me. She reached behind her because she could feel something touching her. All it took was her to scream and say the consonant "sn . . ." for my adrenaline to kick in. Apparently, my team members had never seen me move that fast, ever. I ran up the stairs near our table and stayed there. Turns out, a 6 foot SNAKE had fallen out of the tree. I was absolutely terrified. You see, snakes are probably my number one fear on this planet. I just feel super grateful that I didn't see it or feel it, cause I definitely would have passed out for sure. I spent the rest of dinner at the top of the step.
I made it shopping and back to our quaint but charming hotel just fine and woke up the next day to have an experience that totally made up for the events of the night before. We went to a Hindu temple near our hotel, walked through it to a river, and witnessed the bathing of an ELEPHANT. That's right, an elephant. We sat there and watched, and a few members of my group actually got in the water and helped scrub her. Then, the elephant walked back to the temple where it was painted. Last, the coolest part: We got in a line with a single rupee. When it was our turn, we actually gave the rupee to the elephant, who took it in her trunk, and passed it to a man beside her collecting the money. Then, she lifted her trunk and set it on our heads. It was quick, but it was such a surreal experience. The rest of the day was spent visiting various ruins and Hindu temples.
When it was time to go back to the train station, we found out again that we had been wait listed. This time, we didn't get any seats, so we ended up cancelling and getting on a bus. It was a miserable 10 hour bus ride between Kendra and a large Indian man. But I survived it, showered, and gave an awesome piano lesson this morning. All I need now is a full night's sleep on the maybe inch width mattress that I've come to know and love.
I'm loving all the adventures I'm having here. Some of them are amazing, some miserable, but either way, India is stretching me. It's making me do things I would not normally do. India is making me grow!

India Post #2

This place is incredible. I probably say that a lot. But there is just SO much to see, SO many people, SO many smells, sounds, tastes, sights. It's incredible.

This was a different week. Most of it was spent working on my project. I am here with HELP International. When we think of an idea for a project, we have to go through a process called a "project proposal". This requires that I spent time at our house here, thinking about all the details of my project and compiling it into a document stating why I'm doing it, how I'm going to do it, what my goals are with it, and how much  money I'm going to spend. It was slightly stressful to figure everything out, and I had to propose it twice to my country directors. But the first time, they gave so many suggestions that were very appreciated. The second time, it was accepted. That day I gave my first piano lesson. I had planned on 5 students, but only 2 showed up. Indians run on a very different time schedule. If you say 11:00, they're going to come at 11:30. It's just always like that. But, I taught those two students AND one of my country directors, Modesta, came and I gave her a lesson too! It's going to be a challenging project if I can't get everyone there when I want them there. But it's going to be awesome. Somehow, it's going to work!

Also, I got to plant THREE gardens yesterday in the slums. Two of them were for older couples, and one was for a man who was convinced that us white Americans would be good luck for his seeds. I got a sweet farmers tan and went to bed at 9:30 on a Friday night. I'm definitely convinced there's a different, hotter sun here in India.