Check out my cool InstaStory of our Family Disney Cruise 2011

Check out my cool InstaStory: Family Cruise & Disneyland, April 2012

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Singing Praises Part 2- 3 confessions

1. I pretty much lost it when I saw the Prophet, Thomas S. Monson walk across the stand. I could only see the top of his head but the Spirit overwhelmed me and it hit me, "I'm singing not only to the world, but to the Prophet and to my Heavenly Father" and I felt SO humble (and nervous!!).

2. I LOVED seeing all the behind-the-scenes at the Conference Center. My sister Andrea is in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and it really exciting to see what sees almost every week. There are like 5 drinking fountains all in a row in a hallway off stage, 5!!! It was also a sight to see to look out and see a packed house in the Conference Center. It's probably something I will never see again but it was majestic. The Conference Center is an engineering marvel!!

3. They gave us a rehearsal CD to listen to, to help us learn the music. I really only listen to CDs in the car and Sister Waddlee asked us to pray for the companionship of the Spirit as we rehearse. She said to let the world know about the meaningful experiences we've had in the car by showing them through our faces. I don't know about you, but my car is my mini sanctuary where I scream, cry, pray, and sing, and I guess I never realized how important that time truly is in helping me internalize the Atonement.

And an added 4th confession-
I am so honored that they asked a YSA choir to sing. Most of the girls in the choir are in our late 20s and are either in graduate school or are working professionals. I have been struggling lately with feeling like there isn't a place for single women the Church. We aren't wives, we aren't mothers, but we are daughters of God. Being a part of this choir has helped alleviate some (not all) of my worries about the future for single women. We have a lot to contribute in building the Kingdom of God on the Earth.


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Singing Praises

We had the amazing opportunity to sing in the choir for the LDS General Relief Society Meeting tonight. It's been a long day (we had a call time of 1:40 pm) but very worthwhile.
We have been rehearsing Sunday nights for a month and I will be the first to admit that it was frustrating most of the time. The first few rehearsals, I felt like they wasted a lot of time on "touchy-feely" stuff and not on the notes in the music. I appreciate how much the choir director wanted us to have meaningful spiritual experiences but I think that emphasis could've come a little later in the process.
Now that it is all said and done, I had a great time and feel humble and grateful for this experience.
We had an early morning rehearsal last Saturday and Sister Reeves, second counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency, gave a spiritual thought about making scripture study a necessity of life much like eating and sleeping. She referenced the Stripling Warriors in the Book of Mormon and the intense level of faith they had. She said we have and need that same level of faith.
Our conductor, Sister Waddlee, said this was our chance to show the world that LDS women are happy and strong, not oppressed or diminished in any way. We were singing our testimony of the reality of the Atonement and our knowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. He Lives!!
The songs we performed were chosen by Sister Burton, General RS President (this was her first General Meeting as President). She has been a Primary chorister several times and she loves how well primary songs teach doctrine. We sang "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus/He Sent His Son" and "I Need Thee Ever Hour", some of my favorite religious songs of all time. The lyrics of I Need Thee Every Hour are so sacred and truly a manifestation of the pleading desires of my heart. "Stay Thou near by, temptations loose their power when Thou art nigh. I need Thee, oh I need Thee; every hour I need Thee." Wow

Strong Bad E-mail: Sisters

Do you remember Strong Bad Emails at Homestar Runner from like 9-10 years ago?
This one is one of my favorites. People would ask me all the time if I had seen this video (Ali and Ali's Sister) when we'd first meet during Sophomore year at BYUI. The boys in my Bio Lab had a LOT of fun with this, especially after I told them I was an identical twin.
Enjoy the Nostalgia!!

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_ruRwwgWEY&feature=youtube_gdata_player


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Presently Obsessed

My super amazing, talented, hilarious, awesome, wonderful sister in-law has the greatest blog. www.presentlyobsessed.wordpress.com
She posted today part 1 of the Alice in Wonderland party she threw for my nieces' 9th birthday this past weekend. Check it out- it was FANTASTIC!!!!!

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This is How I Am Sleeping Tonight-

With Fiona sandwiched between my pillows and head board with her paw touching the top of my head. Doesn't she look cute?!!!
PS: I have Millie on my feet so I'm cuddled from head to toe (literally)!!

Even Better Downton Abbey Series 3 Trailer

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvw7J26V68U&feature=youtube_gdata_player


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Downton Abbey Season 3 Preview (Coming to PBS Jan. 6, 2013) | Masterpiece | PBS

If you blog it, it will come!!! A season three teaser for Downton Abbey!!!

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZevgdSyxlZo&feature=youtube_gdata_player


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Downton Abbey, Series 3

Downton Abbey’s third season will start airing soon in the UK but we still have to wait until January 2013 for it to air here in the States.

I once again, will try to remain spoiler free (like I tried last year) but I just can’t help my curiosity sometimes *coughcough- most of the time*

With our increasingly global society, I can’t understand why they delay broadcasting by 4 months. BBC used to delay the broadcasting of popular shows like Doctor Who but now they air at the same time in the UK and USA.

 

Oh well…

 

From the series image, you can see that the Crawley family is back to its pre-war elegance. It will be interesting to see the fall out of Mathew and Mary’s engagement, how Sybil and her husband Tom fit in the family dynamic, and the banter between Cora’s mother and the Dowager Countess.

I really hope Julian Fellows stops playing with us in the will they/won’t they between Mathew and Mary (they ended the Christmas Special with him proposing and she actually saying “yes” with a super romantic kiss and happy elated giggles). They have had their share of drama and deserve to be happy for a while. One aspect of drama I am really looking forward to is Sybil and Tom, who used to be the family chauffer. I also feel it is middle sister Edith’s turn for some juicy storyline. Edith had some tragic and sometimes icky storylines last season (like when she kissed the local married farmer- gross!!!!) and I would love for her to re-kindle her relationship with Sir Anthony Strallen from Series 1, but he was injured during the war as we saw when he reappeared in the Christmas episode and doesn’t seem interested in being in society any more.

 

Oh I just can’t wait to see where the 1920s takes the Crawley family!!!   

 

Migraine, part 3

Well it's almost 2 AM and I can't sleep. Probably has something to do with the 4 extra large Diet Dr Peppers I had in an attempt to knock out the migraine. On the bright side, I'm in quiet darkness so my pain level is low; most relief I've had since Monday!!

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