TAIWAN!!

It's official - My little brother got his mission call last night. He has been called to serve in the Taiwan Taichung mission!! He leaves June 25th. It was so incredibly awesome to see his reaction last night. We had to wait until after 8 to open the call which was killer for the suspense factor, but my dad had a meeting and didn't get home until then. We had all written down our predictions and turned them in to mom just before he opened the call. He was so sure he was going stateside based on the postage of the package (weird superstition). Anyway - He opened the letter and started to hyperventilate as soon as he got to the location. He is so incredibly excited and I couldn't be prouder of my lil' bro. A little while ago, he had a dream that he was going to open the China mission - and I don't think he could have gotten much closer to China without actually being in there!

It's times like these that make me realize how grown up, mature and a spiritual giant my little brother is. he is such an example to all those that meet him and it's so great to see him be so excited for a mission. He has grown up so much in the past year with being on his own and going to school. My mom and I were talking the other day about how good an influence his roommates have been on him. We were all kind of worried with him being in an apartment with a bunch of return missionaries based on some of the stories we'd heard from people. His roommates could not have been better. He was totally prepared by these guys and my family is grateful for their influence on him. My mom and I decided that we were really glad that he decided to go to UVSC, stay close to home and not go to the U. Although I wouldn't have traded my experiences in my freshman year for the world, I think a lot of what has shaped me today has been a product of that environment. Things would have been much different had I stayed closer to home, been with my high school friends and not had the opportunities to grow and experience all that I've experienced. My brother and I are different as night and day, and I'm grateful for that. I look up to him so much and it will be hard to know that he's on the opposite side of the world from me for 2 long years, but I can't wait to see how he grows, learns and matures in that time. I already view him as a spiritual giant, and I'm sure the people of Taiwan will be blessed to be in his presence. He is so loving and so kind that they will not be able to stay away from him. He will be a force for good in that country.

The book game

Rules:
1. Grab the book closest to you.
2. Open to page 123, go down to the fifth sentence.
3. Post the text of the next three sentences on your blog.
4. Name of the book and the author.
5. Tag three people.


"I'm responsible for their deaths. He's all but said it out loud. He won't help me"

A great and Terrible Beauty - Libba Bray

This book is intense... that's a rather captivating part too! :)

Grand Concert

Friday night I was able to attend Timberline Middle School's Grand Concert. This year, Timberline performed a song that was written by Mack Wilberg, the director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, for Timberline Middle School. Dr. Wilberg was even there on Friday night to see it performed. The song featured the choir, the band and the orchestra! It was so incredible to hear this song and be a small part of the history that accompanies it. When this song is published it will read in the dedication, "written for Timberline Middle School." Now how cool is that?? Being at Grand Concert sent me on a trip down memory lane. I remember being in 9th grade and performing at Grand Concert both nights and thinking, why don't they just let the choir sing every other number instead of making people sit through the band and orchestra perform songs in a row?? This year, I was entranced by the band director. I have decided that it's all about the director and the pieces chosen for the entertainment value of the crowd. I can honestly say that I enjoyed watching the band as much as listening to the choir this year.

On my trip down memory lane, I remember how big Grand Concert was to me. It was one of those moments during 9th grade when you truly have to put EVERYTHING into the songs just to make them great. I remember singing "Prayer of the Children" and the goosebumps I got from that song. This year, the choir sang a song called Cross Cry. I've heard this song sung before, but this choir had every single one of the hearts of the singers in it. The accompanist played from memory and after the song I was left with the same feeling that I had after "Prayer of the Children." I was so amazed at the heart and the talent of these young 14 and 15 year olds. In the last few months, I've really gotten to know some of these kids. I accompanied 3 groups in Solo and Ensemble, and have even hung out with these kids on weekends. They amaze me. I think how I was at that age, and while I feel like I was so much older than they are, they have something that I never had. They are so strong in their standards and their beliefs. While I'd like to think I was that strong, I see these kids chastise each other for accidentally swearing, or keeping less than the highest standards. It is so awesome to see that these kids are being raised with the standards they set for each other and they keep each other accountable for their own actions. These young people will enter the world and will be strong warriors of the spirit. They will touch countless people through their influence and their example. People will want to know the gospel and Jesus Christ because of these kids. They're only 15 now, and I can't imagine how powerful these kids will be when they're 18 and graduating high school. It has been the best experience for me to feel a part of them and to have them treat me as one of their own. I am only bettered by being a part of them and in all reality I look up to most of them (literally and figuratively!).

The power of Friends

It's no big surprise that trials happen to everyone in their life. Right now, I just so happen to be going through a BIG one. I have decided that it's times like this when I realize the power of having good friends. I had the opportunity to go out with some girl friends last weekend (you know who you are), and I have spent the entire rest of the weekend realizing that there is a reason we went to lunch right now. I think each of us are going through or have recently gone through some really rough times and in talking and sharing our stories I was overwhelmed by the power of the spirit that my friends have in them. They are so strong in the gospel and so faithful that sometimes it just amazes me that they are my friends. One thing that really stood out to me is that one of my friends said that sometimes, no matter how hard you pray, you have to realize that the Lord does hear and answer each one of our prayers, but we have to recognize that the answers may not come on our time. This just hit me like a brick wall. The trials that I have been dealing with lately are really starting to wear me down, and as hard as I feel I am praying or trying to listen for an answer, I have to step back and realize that I need to continue listening, but that the answer might not come right now. Then there's the part about the answer I want versus the answer that is the right thing to do. There's times that I am scared I have the answer already, but I'm unwilling to admit its the answer I've gotten. One of my friends recently asked me what kind of sign I'm looking for and I replied with "A lightening bolt." I replied out of humor, but now that I think about it, there was more truth to that response than I realize. But for now, I am going to try my hardest to do what I know is the right thing, and hopefully that lightening bolt or brick wall will hit me without causing too much damage!