Something to be thankful for...

Thanksgiving is just under 3 weeks away, and I am getting more and more excited each day that passes by. One of my music major buddies mentioned the closeness of Thanksgiving earlier this week. All of a sudden, the tasks before me seemed less daunting because Thanksgiving is so close. On one side of the perspective coin, the fact that this holiday is looming ever closer means that I need to start thinking about the final projects in several of my classes, juries are looming ever closer, the orchestra concert is coming up quickly for which I still haven't solidified my parts, etc. On the other side of the coin, the holiday is a closer goal for which I can strive to endure before I take a break, I will get to see my family very soon after almost 3 months away from home, there are only a few weeks of the semester left after Thanksgiving, I will get to relax for a few days, I get to see the 7th Harry Potter Movie Part 1 the Saturday after the holiday, and I get to remember all of the things for which I am thankful.

I am most excited about the opportunity to be home and spend time with my family again. My home is truly a sanctuary from the world. Love abides there as does the Spirit of the Lord. I am always welcome there. The people I care about most on this earth will be there. We strive to build a piece of Zion there. And, it's just so packed with memories.

You may think I'm strange for doing this, but I start listening to Christmas music at the end of October or beginning of November every year. I'm not sure why I love it soooo much, but I do know that every time I listen to it, I'm reminded of home and all of the wonderful memories from this time of year. I remember the magic and light of the season and my heart is renewed at a time in the semester when I'm starting to wear down. I'm so grateful for this time of year and all the wonders it brings with enchanting decorations, glittering snow(if we get it), reminiscing of the past, dreams of the future, and the emphasis on my Savior.

This greeting may be a little early, but I am going to say it anyway: Happy Holidays!!!

A moment in the rain...

I stood quietly on the balcony of my apartment building overlooking the pool. Overhead the deep clouds reflected the night lights of the city. Rain fell softly on the leaves, pool, and concrete, and I heard the passing song of cars driving on the wet roads a building away. Something was chirping nearby. Chatter and small noises escaped from many rooms overlooking the pool, but all was still in my soul. Light flashed behind the mountain, outlining it's foggy majestic form. Quiet thunder echoed several seconds later, and I felt God's presence renew and calm my spirit. I breathed in the sweet smell of rain and felt the light drops on my head. The drops cleansed my spirit.

I wish I could stand here for minutes without end, drinking in the amazing nature of God. I rarely get the opportunity to slow down, stand still, and observe the world around me. If allowed, I could sit without moving amidst nature for hours, allowing my spirit to remember my Lord and basking in the beauty of His wondrous creations. I am so grateful for the opportunity to live, love, and learn on this beautiful earth.

When I was young, I was very frightened of thunderstorms. I remember one stormy summer afternoon when I my parents weren't home. I picked a happy movie from the shelves, went downstairs to the basement, put in the movie, turned up the volume, and laid down with one ear in a pillow. During some late night storms, I would try with little avail to cover both ears tightly with my pillow, only succeeding to endure a half-sleep until the storm abated. My mom encouraged me that the thunder was simply the sounds from angles bowling in the clouds. Sometimes my siblings and I would then listen to the thunder and call out the score of the angles according to the intensity of the rumble. Over time, I grew to love storms. While visiting my maternal grandparents in Lakeside, AZ one fire-filled summer, we had a couple thunderstorms a day. We would go out under the roof covered patio just in front of the large cabin and watch the healing rain fall through smokey air, listen to the thunder roll, and smell the clean, wet earth. Years later, I was spending the night in a cabin near Island Park, Idaho. After the sun set, a storm blew in. Lightning streaked the sky, thunder rolled, and rain poured down for several minutes in a powerful show. It was wonderful! The lightning and thunder that once brought fear to my small frame now fill my soul with the testimony of God's power. I rejoice in it and say, "What glorious weather!"

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds thy hands have made,

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy pow'r throughout the universe displayed;

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,

How great thou art!How great thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,

How great thou art! How great thou art!

(LDS Hymns, 86, How Great Thou Art!)

World Beat Music

I've heard some interesting music, and seen some fairly interesting sheet music, but when I was informed about this one, I was quite amazed. It was done by James Plakovic who draws music art. His wedsite is http://plakovic.com/index.shtml .

This score proves that music is really the universal language ;)

Answer to Prayer

I had a wonderful experience last week that has strengthened my testimony.

I decided a couple weeks ago that I should find an occupational therapist down in Provo where I am at school to continue therapy and hopefully finally take care of my tendinitis. I mentioned it to the therapist I had at home (he has given me therapy several times before and after I went to Alaska), and he said I should find one who is ASTYM(Augmented Soft Tissue Mobilization) certified. Dad and I searched on our health insurance website for approved therapists, then I searched on the ASTYM website. One name showed up on both lists. I got an excited feeling about that name. I wasn't sure if it was just nervousness or not, so I asked Mom how she felt about it (she being entitled to motherly inspiration). She told me she hadn't received any negative feelings, so it must be good. After deciding on this doctor I continued to feel an excited/nervous sensation and nothing negative. The next morning I felt happy and excited. I set up the appointment for Friday, and for the next couple of days that looming appointment had the center of my attention as I waited in joyful anticipation. The appointment went great and my doctor started the ASTYM treatment right away (a tapered plastic edge is dragged along the affected tendons to tramatize the area; I then have to do 6 streches 4-6 times a day to help the tissue mend itself properly.). I find it interesting that such a simple procedure does so much. I am grateful to the person who discovered it!

I have never felt so right about something in my life as I have about this. I feel like my prolonged prayers are in the process of being answered. Life is wonderful; God is in control, and in His timetable, all things will be accomplished according to His will. I know my Heavenly Father is aware of me, and that he loves me very much. The struggles I have endured have helped me grow, and I know now I am being blessed. After five more sessions, the tissue of my arm will be healed, God willing, and I will be able to enjoy life with pain-free arms. All is well

Look back and see how far you've come...

Have you ever felt like you will never be able to reach a dream or pursue a passion? Sometimes...sometimes it feels like that for me. It feels like I just don't have the strength to continue on the same course. The obstacle in front of me is too great. I stop in my tracks, look up and think, "I'll never conquer this...there's just no way". I feel like this almost every time, every time my wrist begins to ache doing a small task, every time my hand cramps up when I'm playing my oboe. I just can't conquer this tendinitis. I can't see the end, but I can't just quit either...

My mom recently had an ATV accident. It was her first time on one. She jumped off for fear of tipping (which can be deadly). She broke her shoulder, a few ribs, and her pelvis. My mom has a hard enough time moving around anyway because of a past injury to her leg, but now she is in almost constant pain and needs help to do most of her daily tasks such as taking medicine (she can't open the bottles), using the restroom, adjusting positions, getting water, getting food, etc. The first week and a half being out of the hospital were the hardest on her. Everything had to be done for her, she hurt all the time, and the shock of her injuries was sinking in. According to my dad, she was becoming depressed. We got home from Alaska, and Dad went back to work. Mom still gets frustrated because she can't do a whole lot for herself, but she has improved in multiple ways. She keeps trying to do more for in one week, one of my brothers is getting married in California (14 hour drive). She would give the world to be there. Even through the pain, I have watched her endure.

A week ago, I embarked on a slightly crazy adventure: to climb the tallest mountain in Idaho, Mt. Borah (12,662 ft). My singles' branch president does this every year and always invites everyone to join him. Before I go on, I should let you know that this trail to the top of the mountain is 3 1/2 Miles long and 1 Mile in elevation. The average trail is 20% grade (VERY steep). The last mile of the trail scrambles over rocks, shuffles across Chicken-out Ridge, slides on top a snow field, and climbs up a final rock face to the top...all can be done without climbing equipment. I had my doubts about how I would be able to handle such a trail, but my hopes were high, and I wasn't going to let my brother and sister have all the fun without me. We camped overnight at the trail head among other vehicles and tents. Then we were up at 4:30 AM the next morning to prepare for the hike. Our group of about 10 prayed in the dark just up the trail from the fence at 5:15 AM, and we began. I quickly knew that I would not be able to keep up with the rest of the group (a fact usually true whenever I go uphill due to my slight case of asthma and overall out-of-shape-ness). My sister was in the same boat. After about 15 minutes of trying to keep up, I and Rebekah stepped aside the trail and let the group pass. President Inskeep told us the night before that he would only go as fast as the slowest hiker. 10 minutes later after the group was ahead we saw a flashlight standing still. Inskeep kept his word and fell in slow steady step with us. During that first hour I thought many times that I might just have to stop and turn around. Though I paused often, I never turned around.

Soon after that (which was the easiest part of the trail) my lungs began to work a little better, utilizing as much oxygen as it could get, and I stopped heaving as heavily. We continued on slowly and the trail grew steeper. I looked back a while after first light and saw the valley spreading out below us. We were higher than I had thought we were. Inskeep constantly encouraged, "Look how far you've come," and "Slow and steady, this is a steep trail, and we still have a long ways to go". When we paused at the first ridge, I thought maybe I should turn back, but I didn't. The next long portion of the trail up to the tree-line was steeper still, heading almost strait up--no switch-backs. We traveled even more slowly with the goal of breaking the tree-line in mind. At one pause, Pres. Inskeep shared an analogy with us that had just occurred to him: Satan tries to convince us all to stay in the valley. God encourages us to climb the mountain. You would think that life in the valley is better for it is easier and you can just relax by the river. But up on the mountain, though the way may be very hard, you can look back and see a bigger picture. Why would you ever want to stay down there when you can see all that.

Rebekah and I only made it to the first ridge above the tree-line before any of the rock scrambling, but I believe the climb was worth it. We had a good view of Borah Peak in one direction and the valley and parallel mountain range sprawled below us in the other. We sat and watched the sun rise over the peak and then headed back down (a task that is almost as difficult as going up). Rebekah and I regretted not being able to make it to the top as we had wished, but when I thought back to where we had reached, I was so glad I had not turned back before that first ridge. I was reminded on that adventure that the best things in life don't come easy. Most of the time life will be downright difficult. But it's through those most difficult times that we must remember the end goal and plow on, never giving up.

I trust that even though portions of my life are really difficult right now, God knows the greater purpose in it all. As I accept my weakness, He will teach me how to grow stronger. I trust that one day I won't look to the future and see more pain. One day I will be able to play without the ache and cramps. That day may not be today, but as I seek the help I need in therapy and in God, I WILL OVERCOME. One day I will look back, see how far I've come, and thank my Heavenly Father for putting me through all the hardship. The view from there will be worth everything else.

The small 30 passenger plane lifted off the tarmac into the air. As the few buildings bellow shrank, a wide view of green and brown tundra dotted by ponds sprawled out below. Grey mountains lay in the distance. The white misty ceiling of clouds loomed closer and then engulfed the plane. Soon the craft was above that ceiling, gliding between it and a second that was streaked with blue and pink...

5 weeks + 400 pictures + 15 cold showers + 1 mosquito bite + 10 extra pounds + Bristol Bay sweat pants + a few new friends + several thousand green ones = oodles of memories of my second year working in Naknek, Alaska.

Some of my favorite memories include a gorgeous view of white cotton candy clouds over the river after a week of rain, Brandon constantly nodding his head, wonderful views from the airplane, Abby's squeaking laugh, the sleepover in room 7, the mealtimes when we would sit and talk long after we were all finished eating, the lazy hours hanging with the Jades, mug up after mug up, Sarah's hugs, Mike's Civil War beard, the rubber band ball, Amy's adorable laugh and posture when she's eating, Carlos's constant attempts to lift us by our nostrils, Abigail chasing Gerald around the gear room, Jojo saying "Na, na", singing parties and movie nights, tomato soup and grilled cheese, Sunday devotionals, hellos and goodbyes.

I hope I will get to go back next year. The wild spirit of Alaska is calling me back...