No Man Is an Island...

I've been reminiscing a bit on the past year of school...since I clearly have not posted since then.  I'm terrible, I know.  But now I'm back, and thinking about the wonderful year I spent on Moving Company with some of the greatest dancers and people I know.  There were a lot of ups and downs this semester, but overall it was a well spent year.  I have learned so much.  This year we wanted to do something different.  A collaboration project, if you will.  We combined several disciplines including: chamber choir, English literature (more specifically works from John Donne), and dance.  To name a few.  It was such an amazing experience to take concepts from John Donne's work and make it accessible to elementary/junior high aged students.  It was most definitely challenging, but such a wonderful success.  It is true that "No man is an island, entire of itself."  We are all interconnected whether we choose to identify those connections or to avoid them.  How you interpret these inevitable connections is completely up to you, but once you realize that they exist and the role that they play in life, a lot of change for good or bad can be made.  I have decided to make a goal to be more aware of my own connections to the world around me.  I am going to make a serious effort to be sure that the effects/affects of my actions and doings are positive and that they make the world and people around me better than they were before. 

Here are a few pics from our Moving Co. photo shoot:

God be With You...

...till we meet again.

On October 4, 2011, my sweet Grandpa passed away. It all happened so fast and I don't know that I was quite ready for it. Then again, I don't know if you can really prepare yourself for things like this. Nonetheless, I was grateful that he didn't suffer and that he passed peacefully. I love my Grandpa and I miss him. But I was talking to a friend of mine who told me that now I can become closer to him than I was before he died. Why you ask? Well because now he doesn't have a frail body and a lost mind that doesn't remember who I am. I can still talk to him and show him new stuff I learn or what's going on in my life, and I know he's there. Listening and caring to everything I have to say.

The viewing and funeral services were really beautiful. I'm so glad that I have the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life so that I KNOW that I will see my Grandpa again. I KNOW that we will be reunited as a family, and I KNOW that if I stay strong and keep the commandments, I don't have to be sad. All will be well.

Here are a few pictures of the viewing/funeral:

I love to see...

the TEMPLE.

I'll go inside someday. I'll covenant with my Father. I'll promise to obey.

For the temple is a holy place, where we are sealed together. As a child of God, I've learned this truth...



A family is FOREVER.

Giant Spiritual Genius.

I had the most wonderful opportunity to go to Education Week this year at BYU-Idaho. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's basically EFY but for older people. Needless to say, it is absolutely amazing. If you are looking for a spiritual boost or perhaps just an escape from day-to-day tasks, then this is the place to go. My "little sister" came with me and I couldn't have been more excited for that! We had a fantastic time. We laughed and cried and grew in so many ways. We were drenched in spiritual knowledge and did our best to soak it all up. I had a great time and I thought I would share a few of the highlights/memories that we captured on film with you all. Enjoy!

Fun.

My goodness. It feels as though it has been ages since I blogged....oh wait. That's probably because it has been! Sheesh. I am a slacker. I don't know who, or if anyone reads this, but if you do, I apologize for being so lame and not sharing things with you. So a lot has happened since I last blogged. I would like to share quite a bit of what has gone on, but not all in one post. It would make me...as well as you crazy. I don't know many people who love to read ginormicous blog posts. I don't like them. Therefore, I will just post a bunch of posts that are smaller and more entertaining :)

Ok. So. I got some fabulous pictures from my aunt that were taken at my cousins bridal shower. They are quite epic. I'm not sure if I really should post these, but alas, I will. I hope that you get a good laugh out of them if nothing else. Here is a small glimpse into my personality and those you will see with me :)