I forgot to add this to my last post. I hope this all works... it is my first attempt posting a video.

The week started off great with a day off from school and a chance to get new glasses. I was tired of my old boring frames so I went a little over the top this time! I love them and they have my personality written all over them. What you can't tell from this picture is that the insides are all lime green. I LOVE them! I also had a super fun chance to train a baby chick. Jacqui is taking a class where they train chicks, rats, horses, and observe the growing of children. The chicks were so cute and fun to play with. Sometimes I wonder if I was meant to live on a farm in some small town. 

Sometimes I wonder just how many times one person can get hurt in one week. I can't tell you how many close calls I had this week. My first incident happened at 4 am on Monday morning. I was coming out of the bathroom and thought the wall was a little father away than it really was. I ran smack into the wall, leaving quite a large goose egg on my forehead. Then Tuesday rolled around, the bump went away but the bruise was still there. I got to sing in Devotional and was so excited to see some of my friends before it started. I went up to talk to them and realized it was time to be back stage. I said good bye and started down the stairs (keep in mind this was in the huge auditorium and about 5 minutes before devotional, meaning it was pretty full). I was running down the stairs as fast as I could to get back to the group. Not the best idea in heals! My shoe fell off, I slipped, my dress nearly went over my head, and I bounced right back up, found my shoe, and started to walk a way. I didn't want to turn around to see who saw it, but I did hear one guy say "Oh, nice recovery." I was so embarrassed. I got up to sing, forgot the words, and was just as red as could be. There is no way that with the bright green sweater I was wearing could be missed. The girl who fell was the girl who forgot her words... hum.... not the greatest impression. I guess it was more a week of embarrassing moments rather than accidents, I also ripped my pants, fell at swing dancing, hit a kid in the face while dancing, and tripped up the steps a good four times. Man I am just one graceful girl!

I have done quite a bit of performing this week. It started with Devotional on Tuesday. Besides all the embarrassing moments, it was really good. Vocal Union this semester is spectacular. All of the people in the group are such hard workers. We sang an arrangement that Sis. Brower wrote of I Stand All Amazed. It is so beautiful. I wish I had the amount of talent that lady has in her little finger. 

Another performance we had this week was the BYU-Idaho Barbershop Festival. It started out with a clinician workshop with Jim Dibussman (a nationally acclaimed Barbershop specialist). We hadn't really prepared ourselves as well as we would have liked, but we went in with smiling faces. We sang our song, and then he dug right in. We all needed to blend our sound to match the lead voice, work on our transitions, and remember what part of the song comes next. I don't think he was quite as happy with us as we would have liked, but we did our best for the time we had. We worked on it throughout the week, and then thought we were really ready for our audition. We sang in front of Jim, The guest group, Storm-front, Brother Brower, Sister Brower and the other adjudicators. We all walked up on stage, and froze. I can't recall ever being that nervous when singing. We stood like sticks and didn't put any feeling in the music at all. I noticed that I wasn't the only one who was acting odd. Everyone was shaking, notes were wrong, transitions were worse than they were a week earlier, and we looked scared out of our minds. This is super weird seeing as all four of us have been performing together for the past year and have never had this happen to us. When we finished our audition Sis. Brower came out to talk to us. She said we looked like little freshman auditioning for the first time. We were all so confused by what just happened. 

We had to wait to see what would happen with the show. An hour later they posted the list of

 who would be in which show. We made it into the second show. We decided to meet about 30 minutes before and try running through it again. It was still a little shaky, but we all looked really nice... At least we had that much going for us.  The group that was supposed to go before us wasn't ready so they bumped us up. We walked out on stage and all the nerves went away. We performed our little hearts out and had the time of our lives. We joked around, and all though the musicality might not be the best, we had fun and I know the audience enjoyed it. 

After the performance the bass from Storm-front came up to me and told me that they were impressed with our sound at the audition, but our performance just blew them all away. He said the lead voice was extremely polished and the group had the perfect blend of voices and was far beyond the "student level." I guess all those nerves and all the hard work pays off. We have now been asked to go perform at a regional workshop to help younger girls get quartets started at a high school level. I am so excited! This is so much fun. I have never done Barbershop before, but it is really fun. I'm glad I got into all of this before I finished my college career.

I got picked by the Public Relations Department, along with Eva, to be the official poster girl for our Vocal Union tour. I had to get all gussied up and go to the photo studio on the third floor of the library. I must say this was much different from the photo shoots I have been used to doing in our garage at home. I got dressed in the shirt they had picked out and stood on the X. Then I waited for them to tell me what to do. They asked me to sing the most energetic song I could and get into it as much as I could... this was a little weird to do knowing I was in the middle of the library, and without any accompaniment. I got a little embarrassed, but knew I had to get over it and started to sing Orange Colored Sky. I pretended no one was around and just started to wail. The song was over sooner than I knew, they picked a few good pictures, and I left. All that effort getting ready for a ten minute photo shoot... these pictures better turn out good!

Overall it was a good week. I enjoyed everything I did, and even pulled of an 80% on my Biology quiz. I have done some nice bonding with my new roommates, got a lot of practicing in, and enjoyed my time on the phone with Clint (seeing as it is fixed now!). Well, until next week. 

This week at the temple was amazing. Each day I go to the temple I find myself having the best day ever! Wednesday I was there for my usual volunteering, when this sweet girl came in. She was about Jenni's height and probably 270 pounds. we had a hard time finding a suit to fit her. I am not telling you this because of her size, but it adds to the rest of the sweet story. She did one round of baptisms (which consists of 25 names) and then asked if she could go around again seeing as there were only a few other girls waiting. We re-suited her and sent her through. I was getting ready to change positions when she came through and told met hat her mom was upstairs doing a session and that she had an hour before her mom finished. She shyly asked again if she could go through again. Eventually by the end of the morning she had done 100 names! I began to wonder why she wasn't in school. Her mom came down a little confused why her daughter wasn't in the chapel. I told her she was just finishing up. We asked her how old her daughter was. Turns out she was 12 and was coming to the temple for one of her first trips. She was home schooled because of the way the kids treated her at school. Her size got in the way of her learning. I was amazed at what the kids had said to her. I was so impressed with her tender spirit and her attitude to serve. I decided right then that I was never going to judge anyone by their looks ever again. We are all special spirit children of our heavenly father no matter our size or looks. She was probably one of the most sweet people I have ever met, and she knew without a doubt that what she was doing at the temple was what she needed to do. I was so moved by her example of true, intentional service. I hope she comes back again next week. I would love to be around her everyday if I could, just to bring my spirits up to where hers are. 

I had a little extra time to play this week. I spent most of my time with all my married friends, the only problem I am always the 3rd, 5th, or 7th wheel... Not something I regret, but during some conversations I most definitely don't really fit in. We however had a lot of fun drinking Hot Cocoa, watching movies, and just doing a lot of talking. On Saturday night Jacqui and Andy invited me to go to the International Film meeting where we watched a movie called

 "Children of Heaven" it was an Iranian film with a very sweet story line about two siblings always doing things for each other. I also found a little extra time to go swing dancing this week...the only issue was that I didn't really know anyone. I did however get to dance a few times with some new little freshman. I guess if anything it is a great source of exercise!

I got to spend some time alone this week as well. I organized the Vocal Union studio and put together all the costumes for the semester. We have our first performance this week in our weekly devotional. we are singing an arrangement of "I Stand All Amazed" by Sis. Brower. She is so amazing! I wish I had her musical genius! I also got to work practicing with my Women's Barbershop Quartet for the big festival next week. Our little group is called "Treble Makers" and we are singing "Dream a little Dream of Me." I will try to get a recording of it and post it when I can. 

I started my lessons for the semester. I surprisingly have two different teachers. I am trying to prepare for my Senior Recital in March and I want to try to make it a collection of everything I have done while here at school. There will be a little broadway, jazz, sacred, and classical. A good mixture to please everyone...I hope. I am working with Sis. Bossard on all of the Broadway and Jazz music, and then with a student teacher Jen Butler on the classical and sacred things. I have found myself actually wanting to practice. It is really exciting getting to do all the music I love. I hope I can get it all ready and perfected to show everyone what I have tried to accomplish while I have been here at school. Don't worry it won't be just me performing. I will be using a whole bunch of people to create my program. A little variety never hurt anyone!

So after a long road trip Clint finally made it to Texas on Wednesday night. I was so excited to finally really get to talk on the phone seeing as every time we tried on his trip to connection would fail. Too bad his phone broke the next day. We went a few days without talking, and it was kind of weird. Late last night my phone started to ring. It was my unknown number ringtone so I almost didn't answer. I decided to pick up, and it turned out to be Clint calling from his brother's phone. He wanted to call and tell me that he posted his pictures. Oh and to let me know he missed me. I looked at the pictures on line and came to find out that he had written our names in the sand... I didn't know he was such a romantic! I do miss him, but I wish him the best in his job search!

Well that is it for this week. Nest week I will let you know about devotional and my Barbershop Performance.

So I want to keep a journal and keep up on my blog the best I can so I just decided to do it all in one. It might be boring for all of you to read, but it is more for me than you. But if you do read it... Enjoy!

Wow, what a week. So much beginning and so much getting ready to end. I got dropped off here in the frozen tundra early Saturday (the 3rd) morning by Dad. He drove up, dropped me off and drove back just so I could have a way to get my snow tires here. What a nice and loving father. I had a few days to unpack, get settled and lots of time to meditate about the upcoming semester. I didn't know of anyone that was around. Becca and Rachel luckily got here late Sunday night so I didn't have to have dinner alone. I spent the night at their apartment so I didn't have to sleep in an empty apartment. I spent the evening teaching them the hula from my world dance class and then moved on to facials. Girl's nights rock my world!

Clint arrived early the next morning. I was so happy to see him and to be with him for a few more days before he left for Texas. We made a lot of home cooked meals (thanks to my new cook books) and just spent a lot of time talking. The day he left I had quite a little breakdown, but who wouldn't? Jacqui took good care of me. She even took me to get my nails done. She said every girl in emotional pain needs to be pampered. It was fun, but didn't fix all of the problem. I am just glad I have people like Andy and Jacqui who take such good care of me. It is rough to let go of someone you care about so much. I spent so much time trying to catch Clint, and now that I did he had to leave. But I know his career is important to him and that he needs to get started on that. I wish he could stay here until I at least finish, but I can't be that selfish. I just pray that things will work out for the best and we will get a chance to continue this as soon as I graduate. I will miss him a lot and hope everything works out for the best for him as well. He is a great guy and deserves the best. 

So this semester is a little slower then usual. I am not used to taking just a few classes. Biology will be the hardest (and nearly only) class I will have this semester. As long as I can stayed focused enough to pass that class I will graduate! Voice lessons haven't started yet, but I am excited to set up my senior recital. Sis. Bossard is such a wonderful teacher and is willing to give me 1 hour lessons instead of the 1/2 hour that I pay for. I love wonderful teachers! Vocal Union is amazing this semester. All the voices are out of the ordinary and the personalities of these wonderful students are going to be so much fun on tour... Not to mention the chance I have to go to Disneyland with all of them. 

My roommate situation is a little interesting. I am excited to see how it turns out. Ji Hye, Abby and I stayed from last semester and we got Meagan, Bekki and Becky from another room. They have done their bonding, and we have done ours, now we need to find a way to connect the two little groups. we have decided to do a sunday dinner all together every week to ensure that we are doing at least something together to keep apartment unity. We are trying our best to really become a family. I would really hate to feel a lone my last semester here. it will take a lot of service and love, seeing how different we are, but it will be a good learning and growing experience. 

The van is currently working thanks to my friend Nick. It has broken down twice just this week. I hope I can keep it working for at least the semester. After that who cares? I just need it to get me to and from the temple on Wednesday mornings. Speaking of which, my new calling is amazing. I love all the wonderful temple workers I get to interact with. They are so sweet and caring. I love seeing all the students taking time out of their days to come to the temple. The spirit there is too great for words. I can't wait till I get to go back this week! 

In short, school is great, I love the temple, I love my ward, and I am excited to spend this last little bit of time in Rexburg with the people I adore doing the things I love.