Valentine's Day

I thought it appropriate that on Valentine's Day me and my room mate would try to sell our plasma at a local plasma center as an act of love. You see, not only would it possibly keep someone alive in the future, but I wanted to earn enough money to buy a plane ticket so I could be there when my sister is having her baby in July a long way from here or home. So my room mate and I got up at a ridiculously early hour and waited outside the plasma center for a couple of hours until it opened because we were told there tends to be a huge line and it is hard to get into the center. It must have been a holiday because we were one of the few. And it was COLD outside! burrrrr.... Anyway we got inside to set up an appointment and we were told we would need certain articles of identification and what not, including a Social Security Card. Poop. So I didn't have mine with me at school so I couldn't even get the required physical before you can have your blood drawn.
We went home and I ironed the dress I was going to wear for the formal that night at the university, and watched some TV shows on line. Then I read and talked with my room mates. I was happy for the time I had to spend with them because normally, I'm too busy to be in the apartment for more than an hour during the day. During that time there was a knock on the door and a delivery came. My best friend form home had sent me tulips! And during the day they bloomed right there! I had to take pictures of them. They were so beautiful!
Then the big date began. I got a phone call from my date who told me he would not be picking me up at my apartment, but that I was to go into my lounge and look on the couch nearest the vending machine. I agreed and on my way out exclaimed to my room mates that I was going on a scavenger hunt! I was right. On the couch I found a rose that matched the color of my dress and directed me to a location of the next clue. Each rose had a new location on campus and the significant meanings of those places between the two of us. It was really sweet. The hunt ended in a building on campus where my date with more roses, a box of chocolates, and a lunch was waiting. Mmmmm....After lunch we drove into a neighboring city and went rock climbing. It was a cool set up. There were rocks on all the walls and we got to belay each other! Then we went out to eat some yummy food and drove back so we could get ready for the dance. I was actually ready and waiting when he picked me up. I think that is a first? And then we were off and danced the night away. We moved really well together and had a blast. While we were waiting in line a girl came up to me and asked me where I had gotten my dress and did it come modest or did we make it modest? I answered her question, but couldn't help marveling at my mother, who had added sleeves to the dress. My mom was so patient and caring - and sucha perfectionist!-when she had been working on that project. And then she was the one to suggest I take the dress up with me to school even after I objected the first couple times. Thank you Mommy!
Though, I truly did have an amazing time, I couldn't help but think of my Daddy and the traditions my family usually has on Valentine's Day. I guess it was the first time I had been away from home during a major holiday. I really missed it. I missed running with my Dad, like I would normally do. I missed making the cards we would give each other. I missed the nice dinner I knew mom or dad would make and eat around our nice "candle lit" dining room table. I missed the little presents we would get from each other and the desert we would have after (usually the Chocolate Lover's Cake from Costco!). Just goes to show my family would always try to express special love on that day. Sometimes, we would fail when we got into an argument, or possibly we might get moody (after all we are a family of mostly girls.he he he) and dampen the mood a little. But we did express it the best way we could. We knew it was a special day to remember those close to us and treated it as such. I am thankful for those memories and what I may be able to look foreword to. But most of all, I am grateful that I know I can have them forever. That is promised to me. I only have to do my part to ensure that sealing is forever. I think I realized that is the most precious thing I have, and I will protect it from unseen forces. Family, I love you so much with all my heart. God be with you till we meet again! I receive strength in knowing we will see each other again, but until then, I know I am not alone.

Small and Simple Things

Up here in most of my music classes we use the gospel as a way to teach us new concepts. In theory to describe chord progressions by using "the straight and narrow path" and for rules we use the "ten commandments of the Barock period". And a lot of the times my theory teacher will apply gospel principles to motivate us.
Well, I was in sacrament meeting today and came up with a little comparison. In my voice lessons that I have been taking we have been told to keep everything feeling free and supported. That way we don't feel tension. If there is tension, then something is wrong (with the slight exception of the pissagio). Also, I've been noticing that singing is anything but natural. It involves using your body in a way you normally wouldn't have thought to use it. You have to move certain things a certain way and try to make sure other things are static. You need correct posture and alignment and you need to breathe correctly.
So how does this compare to the gospel? Well, just as singing should feel free and easy, the gospel allows us freedom. If we are moving this and this right, or if we are living the way we have been taught, we are granted more freedom. More opportunity. The way has been laid out perfectly for us by our Savior, Jesus Christ. If we just live the gospel principles we can be granted the privilege of living with our Heavenly Father and family again after we die.
But the thing that struck me the most is that to produce a beautiful sound with our voices we must do what is unnatural. This is true in relation to the gospel as well. By overcoming the natural man, we allow ourselves to be instruments in God's hands, for he does not dwell in unholy temples. But if we allow him to work through us, beautiful "music" can inspire and change lives. So we see, through "small and simple things are great things brought to pass" (Alma 37:6).