Sing, Sing.

I am a passionate person, by nature. I believe passion to be necessary, a way for us to feel alive and stay in touch. One of my passions is music. I know, cliche. Don't judge me!  I enjoy it immensely. I love opera, and listening to those who have been classically trained. While I think that popular music has its place (especially when you're in the mood to dance) it's just too much sometimes. I don't really dig hip hop, it's too nasty. I don't give a hoot what someone is doing with someone else's boyfriend or who's wearing apple bottom jeans or what she's doing in those jeans. Lady Gaga? Not so much. She's a creeper.

I was introduced to the Phantom of the Opera early, and it was love at first listen. One of my first cd's was the Phantom soundtrack, and I feel asleep to it every night as a tween.  Every. Night. I would wake up with Sarah Brightman in my head and tangled in my headphones, usually being poked by the metal headband. I always imagined that I would be the diva, with a beautiful, flowing dress. Somewhere along the way, I lost sight of that diva. I think she crept into the shadows and hung out there with my other fleeting dreams: the artist, the cello master,  and the photojournalist.

My point is that I have always wanted to sing opera. Even if it wasn't on stage, even if I never made it into an actual opera. Even if the only person I sing to is myself. I rediscovered that dream today, thanks to my awesome mom.

I mentioned (about a year ago) that I thought of auditioning for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. This came after I had the opportunity to sing with our beautiful stake choir in the Interfaith Choir event that is held annually, and includes choirs from local Episcopal, Catholic, Methodist and LDS churches in the downtown Salt Lake City area. The woman responsible for directing the choir last year is in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and mentioned to me that I should. I was flattered, of course, but never made anything of it. Luckily, my mom did. My mom has an incredible knack for picking up on things that my brother and I desire, and that she also feels are worthwhile. Once she's picked up on it, there is no stopping her! Needless to say, she devised a plan on her own to get me there. So, for Christmas 2010, I received the fabulous gift of seven voice lessons to get me started back on the path to the choir. I had my first lesson tonight. Yes, I am fully aware that it is March. I just never got around to scheduling my first lesson. I was too TERRIFIED busy to fit the lessons in, what with church callings, school and work. Last week I made the mistake  decision to pay my parents a surprise midweek visit, and I was forced to call the voice teacher right then and there. Oh, the pain! I was shakin' in my boots.

After tonight, I am no longer scared of Julie, and have a renewed faith that I can whip this old voice back into shape. I think she's heading up the optimism train, because after my FIRST lesson, she said my voice is good enough to whip this bad boy out.  Either that, or Puccini's "O mio babbino caro." We'll see how this goes.....

Maymyo, Burma

I will be here January 2012. . Just wanted to share my excitement!!!

Festival of Colors

Singles Ward and Gratitude.

Just a short one this fine evening. I felt the need to blog, but am wicked tired.

I have joined a Singles Ward. Oh, keep your shorts on, the world is not ending. I've been feeling like I should try out ours for some time, but was resisting it something fierce. However, with the new boundary change, crying in church (and not out of happiness) the past few weeks, and with all the calls from the singles ward relief society out of nowhere, I felt it was time. Did you like all those commas? My grammar is stellar tonight.

I'm happy to report that the singles ward was not quite the meat market barbie-fest I imagined. Ok, I also imagined that it was chock full of meathead idiots who were going to give me the elevator eyes and promptly move on. It was delightfully comfortable and full of genuine smiles. Cool ward=1 Judgmental Christi=0.  I felt at home there, which was quite the surprise. I wanted to hate it, so I could say "Told You So" to all those who have told me to go. Let's just say I don't like being wrong...like at all. In fact, I'm terrible at admitting it. Luckily, I'm usually right. Hardy har har. Anyhoo, it was great, the people were great, and it wasn't awkward at all.

Some things I'm grateful for this weekend:

*Small  comforts from our Savior, Jesus Christ. Sometimes it takes awhile to get an answer, but when you do, it all becomes clear. I learned a good lesson in trusting the Lord this week.
*My parents. What great people! I'm lucky to know them.
*Running water. I feel guilty taking a long hot shower when so many people cannot.
*The blessing of having plenty with extra to be able to serve others.
*My bestie, Kerri.
*My friend Sione, who always listens even if he doesn't want to.

Hope everyone has a good week! Holi, the Festival of Colors is next Saturday. Holla!

Tsunami and the Biggest Loser

Quite the week for world events, isn't it? 

My heart and prayers go out to the people of Japan. Friday's earthquake and subsequent tsunami have wreaked havoc on a normally stable area.  I watched videos of the wreckage last night and couldn't keep myself from bawling over the heartbreak. What a blessing it is that we live in an area normally devoid of any serious natural disasters. While Utah does have several small quakes now and then, they are nowhere near the magnitude of the earthquakes that have been happening overseas. Like many others, seeing disasters of such destruction awakens in me a strong drive to help in any way I can. While I don't have the resources to fly to Japan to help those in need or donate large amounts of money, I have come up with an idea that should help. It isn't totally developed yet, so I'll have to keep everyone posted!

On a separate note, I finally tried out for The Biggest Loser this past Saturday with my good friend Shawn. We decided to do it on a whim, and found ourselves sitting in the rain in front of an empty arena at 430 Saturday morning.

                                               Shawn and I in the rain at our Audition

In case you're wondering, that green thing on Shawn is not a blanket, it's a sweater. Two of them, in fact. And that blanket on me? It wasn't mine, it belonged to a very nice girl named Sandy. Apparently, Shawn and I are not great planners! You would think I would be an old pro at this, after having camped out at Best Buy with my bestie the thanksgiving before last. But no, I failed miserably. After a mini meltdown at 3:30 am, bestie and I were on our way to pick up Shawn so we could get the show on the road. I had originally planned to take snacks, a coat and an umbrella. I managed to not take any of those things. Luckily, we were surrounded by great people to help a girl out! Thanks to bestie for snacks and patience, Sandy for the blankie, and Ryan(whom I didn't know) for the umbrella over my head when the rain started to pour, and for putting up with me when I started singing Rihanna "Umbrella" off key. I think hanging out outside was the best part of the experience. For the sake of time, I'll give you the reader's digest version:

** Shawn had a minor camping chair issue that included nearly falling off it
**Suzie and I scoped out the line for "hot fluffy men" whom we could unashamedly claim as our new husbands (Neither of us found one. It was slim pickins...)
**A renegade water bottle
**Lots of rain and a makeshift sweater blanket
**Our new friend Shelly and her neon curlers
**The "meathead". He was a solid block of man with a pouty face and a mean look in his eye. I almost lost an eyebrow!
**New friends
**Old friends. I knew three of the five people immediately surrounding us in line.
**I was recruited for a rugby team. I don't know that I'll play again. I'm kind of attached to my face without bruises.

Eventually, we made it inside the Maverick Center. Finally! They made us fill out (another) application. On the website it said to fill out the 15(!) page application, so we did. Well, apparently that is only if you're sending a video. After our numbers were called, we had a two minute group interview with a girl who had purple eyeshadow. It was a great experience. I don't know that I would do it again, but I sure can knock "Try Out for a Reality Show" off my bucket list!!

Blessed

I've struggled in the past few weeks with some very personal things. I won't share them here, but I will say that I was feeling very, very discouraged. As always, the Lord stepped in and righted my path without my realizing it until it was done.

Stake conference was this weekend. Honestly, it wasn't really high on my To Do list. It was right up there with doing the dishes, or finishing my physiology homework. Maybe clipping my toenails. Growing up, I don't remember stake conference being a high priority. My mom was always a really great example of a saint, but I viewed conferences as a breather weekend, where I didn't have to go to church if I didn't want to. I really just wanted to get out and enjoy some time with friends I hadn't seen in awhile. But the Spirit kept nagging at me to go, and I couldn't shake the feeling. And yes, I say "nagging" with love! Sometimes the Spirit has a way of prompting us to do things we really don't want/aren't ready to do. Sometimes I find myself saying "Come on, not right now. Just one more minute!" Usually I find that doing what I'm prompted always ends in something good, even if I go into it kicking and screaming. But I digress.

Ultimately, I found myself in the chapel at seven pm Saturday night, shoved between my friend, we'll call her D, and a portly if well meaning Family History Missionary. My cheeks were a hurtin' from those "padded" chairs, and my legs were like Jello from being squeezed in an unnatural position for two hours.I know, I know. People who are late to everything cannot complain when they don't get the best seats.What can I say? It's a flaw. I'm sure you can take a good guess at what came next. Yes, it was an incredible meeting. And I'm grateful I went. See? Remember that part about finding that doing what I'm prompted to do always ends in good?

The best part of stake conference was our Sunday session today. I was feeling refreshed after last night, but today was the cheesecake dessert! Ok, so I was mostly just excited to be able to sing in the Tabernacle on Temple Square again. Since my stake is in the Avenues, we hold our stake conference on Temple Square twice a year. So neat! And to be able to sing our praise through song in such a perfect and historic venue is a dream come true. But we were also blessed to hear from our area Seventy, Rodolfo Franco. What a great man! I love his speaking style. He speaks to us as people on his same level, and it never feels like a lecture. 

The greatest blessing of all was being able to hear from a man who has, and always will have, a special place in my heart. I'll call him President J. I met President J a year ago, just before ward conference. He came to my home to visit with our then ward mission president R.C.  (R.C. and his family also have a very special place in my heart, and always will). I now know that the stake presidency visits certain people for ward conference, to get to know everyone. But I didn't know this at the time. I wasn't sure of their purpose, but I was just thrilled that they were coming. Frankly, I was expecting the Bishop.

President J. asked about my family, my work, and how long I'd been in the area. As we got to know each other, I couldn't help but notice the pure love that emanated from this man. He didn't judge me as so many others had. I am not a typical LDS person, and I'm definitely not cookie cutter. For this I am grateful, but sometimes I get the side eye from people. I knew he knew my situation and all of my past, because of something that had happened previously. But he never batted an eye. He, along with R.C, exemplified the pure love of Christ as they met with me in my small apartment on a warm night. After that visit, President J and I became good friends. We met as often as our crazy schedules would allow. He would come to Singles Activities and get right in there with us. He shared stories with me as we cleaned eyeglasses to be sent to third world countries. And on one special visit, he gave to me the best gift anyone has ever given me. He gave me a book he had written about the Atonement, and how to apply it to our daily lives. I love this book, almost as much as my scriptures. It is so special to me, even more so now.

Before this afternoon, I hadn't seen President J for quite awhile. I saw him most often at stake activities, but he hasn't been around for awhile. I found out some time ago that President J is fighting a very hard fight with cancer, and it turns out that we almost lost him last week. However, through prayer and the power of the Priesthood, he was able to be with us today in the Tabernacle. Sporting his usual smile, and speaking from a chair, he shared with us his testimony of Christ. He spoke of the blessings of his life, and of his great wife, and of the power of the Lord. There wasn't a dry eye in the house! He has always been a powerful speaker, but the love in that room was tangible as we listened, every ear turned, every mouth silent. I bawled. My heart was so full, but also sorrowful at the thought of losing one of my five favorite men (the others including my Patriarch, my former Bishop, my dad, and my brother).  I am so blessed to have someone so great in my life, and I thank the Lord that I know President J. Please keep him in your prayers, the Lord will know whom you are referring to.

This post is getting very long, so I'll leave you with the words to a hymn we sang as a choir today. I feel this song says exactly my testimony. I hope you enjoy it.

                                                      This Is The Christ
                                                 Words by James E. Faust

They heard his voice, a voice so mild.
It pierced them thru and made their
souls to quake.
They saw him come, a man in white,
The Savior who had suffered
for their sake.
They felt the wounds in hand and side,
And each could testify:
This is the Christ.

This is the Christ,
the holy Son of God.
Our Savior, Lord,
Redeemer of mankind.
This is the Christ,
the Healer of our souls
Who ransomed us
with love divine.

I read his words,
the words he prayed
While bearing sorrow
in Gethsemane.
I feel his love,the price he paid
How many drops of blood
were spilled for me?
With Saints of old,in joyful cry
I too can testify:
This is the Christ.