Ward Organist

At some point in the piano lesson period of my life, my mom passed on the following words of wisdom from my Grandma Webb: "If you can play the hymns, you can play anything." While I still can't sit down and play anything I look at--is that what practicing is for?--I can say that I've played through each hymn in the hymnbook at least three times and can play all but a handful without needing a quick run-through. It's something that has come in very useful in my life. And now, as I embark on my journey as a new "official" ward organist, I thank my mom for sharing the advice of Grandma, and I thank my Grandma for those few words of wisdom. I may never be a concert pianist--I never really wanted to be one anyway--but I may just be a great ward organist! Well, that is if I can work on those pesky bass lines with my feet....

A Virtual Tour of My Apartment

For those of you who have yet to come see me in my new place...you know who you are (;o)) I've decided to post a little virtual tour of the apartment. Enjoy!

Now if you're thinking "gee, I'd like to see how cute that place is in person", well then come on over! Just call first so we can make sure we're home and can unlock the door. :O)

What I read in 2010:

• THE COMING STORM by Bodie and Brock Thoene (373 pp)
• SHAITON'S FIRE by Jake Thoene (325 pp)
• THE OVERTON WINDOW by Glenn Beck (321 pp)
• SAFE HAVEN by Nicholas Sparks (340 pp)
• THE LOST SYMBOL by Dan Brown (509 pp)
• THE LAST SONG by Nicholas Sparks (390 pp)
• THREE WEEKS WITH MY BROTHER by Nicholas Sparks (356 pp)
• THE LUCKY ONE by Nicholas Sparks (324 pp)
• GODS AND KINGS by Lynn Austin (316 pp)
• THE GUARDIAN by Nicholas Sparks (492 pp)
• THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA by Ernest Hemingway (127 pp)
• WINTER FIRE by Rachel Ann Nunes (310 pp)
• WHERE ARE YOU NOW? by Mary Higgins Clark (338 pp)
• EIGHTH SHEPHERD by Bodie and Brock Thoene (227 pp)
• JUST TAKE MY HEART by Mary Higgins Clark (385 pp)
• EAT, PRAY, LOVE by Elizabeth Gilbert (334pp)
• HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET by Jamie Ford (285 pp)
• THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (274 pp)
• THE HOLY TEMPLE by Boyd K. Packer (268 pp)
• THE INFINITE ATONEMENT by Tad R. Callister (335 pp)

Total Pages: 6,329 

I didn't surpass my count of over 10,000 pages from 2009 but I got some good ones in this year. Boy do I love a good book!

2010: My Year in Review

January

*Finished my second long-term subbing job at North Cache

*Decided to go to Peru with Bergs

February

*Started my ESL job at North Cache

*Made chocolate chip cookies for Elder Kikuchi and Elder Dewsnup

March

*Went to LA with my mom, Patti, and Tommy/went to MOOD!!!

*Had a visit from Elder Cherrington in my singles ward

*Got hired on as a long-term Geography sub to finish out the school year

April

*Went to PERU!!!

May

*Started my 11th season at Utah Festival Opera

*Got the go-ahead from President Hobbs to schedule a date at the temple 

*Jared, Jenn, Ashley, and Landon came from Texas

June

*Went through the temple and had my whole family there to support me-a perfect day!

July

*Opened the 18th season of the Opera

August

*Started another school year-working again as an ESL aide

*Changed wards/Left the Logan South Stake

*Kicked off the Utah Temple Tour with Michelle

September

*Turned 25 years old-SCARY!!!

*Went to the Ogden Temple

*Saw Lion King and got a backstage tour

October

*Started second job with Logan City School District's Adult Education program

*Hiked to Square Top 

November

*Moved out of my parents'

*Bought a new vehicle

December

*Decorated my first apartment for Christmas/celebrated advent for the first time

*Celebrated my 26th Christmas

*Gave my dad the coolest Christmas present ever!

My Dad's Christmas Present

So here's the tale of my dad's Christmas present...
Back at the beginning of this year, my mom and Patti (at the opera) began a search for a traditional Austrian coat for UFO's production of The Sound of Music. My dad was in on the search as he had served his mission in Germany and then was stationed there in the Army. A coat was finally found and ordered from a company in Bavaria, Germany. Upon its arrival, my mom brought it home to show my dad. He just had to put it on and it happened to fit perfectly! My mom took it back to the opera where we put it on Captain Von Trapp. It drowned the man and we scrambled to get our first Tyrolean suit ready for a photo shoot. Once the photo shoot was over, my mom decided to pay for a replacement coat for the opera and keep the larger one so we could give it to my dad for Christmas. We put the coat in a garment bag and stowed it away in the costume cage for safe keeping all the while, my dad had no clue as to what happened to the coat. I think we told him it was too big and that it had been sent back to Elfriede in Bavaria. Now fast forward to Christmas morning when we, as a family, presented him with the jacket, a matching vest, and coordinating pants and tie. (The matching vest was also too big for the artist so it went to the cage with the coat in anticipation of Christmas and my dad's birthday.) My mom and I were so excited to give my dad his gift--we'd been waiting 6 months! My dad was absolutely speechless. I've never seen him so excited about a gift--EVER!!! He was the hit of the High Priest's Quorum at church yesterday and is even looking for an opportunity to wear it to work. He absolutely loves it. It was definitely a Christmas to remember!!!

We have to exchange the pants we bought but these khakis didn't look half bad.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday to the best dad in the world!!!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all had a fabulous day filled with loved ones, wonderful food, and the Spirit of Christmas. We had a great day at the Downs house--my absolute favorite moment came this morning when we FINALLY were able to present my dad with a long anticipated gift. I'll post more about the story later. Let's just say he was SPEECHLESS!!!
Have a great Christmas evening, a Happy Boxing Day (any Canadians out there???), and the rest of a fun holiday season.


P.S. If there's anyone who wants to come visit the new place before the Christmas decorations come down, you've got two weeks. They'll most likely disappear around 3 Kings Day (6 January) so just let me know!