Wednesday, June 8, 2011
A Sigh of Relief
We went to the doctor and got a strong heart beat! The doctor and I could both hear it and looked at Kent asking, "Can you hear it?" He paused then said, "Oh yea". Then the doc left the room and I asked the real question... "Could you really hear it?" Kent, "I couldn't really hear anything." Men! I was really glad to have him there though. What a great husband he is. Anyway, that's it for now. Even though it is exciting :), I promise I will blog about other non-preg things too.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Exciting News!
I know I haven't been very good at blogging lately, but I have a pretty good excuse. I finally finished Oklahoma and my busy Spring semester when the terrible nausea, headaches, UTI's and fatigue kicked in. I really should not complain as we have been trying to get pregnant for quite some time and this is a huge blessing! We had a miscarriage earlier this year and it was devastating. So this was a wonderful surprise. We are so grateful. I just need to make it through another month (assuming I will start feeling better after my first trimester). The baby is tentatively due January 3rd. I have my first official doc apt. this Wednesday so we will find out for sure. Considering our track record, we are sure hope everything will be okay and are praying for a strong heartbeat. So far I am 10 weeks along and unable to wear some of my pants already. Hmmmm.
I am taking six classes this summer and afterward will jump right into Fall semester with nine more classes. Yikes! I hope I can manage it all. My students' recital is coming up in July. I am really looking forward to seeing my students' first official performances. It should be very fun. Kent and Betty are doing well. We don't have much else new going on, but I will try to post more often to keep you all updated.
Here are a bunch of fun pics from our show.
I am taking six classes this summer and afterward will jump right into Fall semester with nine more classes. Yikes! I hope I can manage it all. My students' recital is coming up in July. I am really looking forward to seeing my students' first official performances. It should be very fun. Kent and Betty are doing well. We don't have much else new going on, but I will try to post more often to keep you all updated.
Here are a bunch of fun pics from our show.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Musical Chairs
Well I have so much to write about! i feel like my life has been a giant game of musical chairs. I have has so much going on that I have not had any time to blog or really sleep for that matter.
I have had the great opportunity to be the music director for The Empress Theatre's Production of Oklahoma! Closing night is this Saturday and It is a bitter sweet moment. It will be sad to leave the cast, but boy do i need the break. Full time school plus 24 hours a week spent on the musical has been very challenging. The critics review was just posted online. We were very excited to get such a good review.
I was invited to play piano for the Salt Lake Community College Jazz Band. It as been such a great experience and I have learned so much. Improvisational solos are a beast to pick up on the fly, but turns out trial by fire is the fastest way to learn. I will try to post the video of our spring concert as soon as the edited version is live.
I am also still preparing for my piano solo recital which will hopefully take place in August. I also have a few new vocal and piano students now which is very fun.
I got to perform in another production of the 10 Virgins musical where we got requests for three more performances.
I have finally declared my major and will be focusing on music education and vocal performance. I am heavily into my major now with five of my eight classes being music classes. No you can see what I mean by musical chairs. I feel like I sleep, eat and drink music. And I decidedly hate six-four chords if anyone knows what those are.
Aside from musical chairs, Kent and I did get a little break and drove with our friends Tom and Jessy to St. George. We went to Snow Canyon and went on a fun little hike.
Here is me in the mouth of one of the large lava tunnels. We were really bummed we didn't bring head lamps. I guess we will be making another trip there to do some more exploring.
Here is Kent further in the cave of the largest lava tunnel we found.
Here is Tom and Jessy's little boy Thomas (T-Rex). He is so cute.
I have had the great opportunity to be the music director for The Empress Theatre's Production of Oklahoma! Closing night is this Saturday and It is a bitter sweet moment. It will be sad to leave the cast, but boy do i need the break. Full time school plus 24 hours a week spent on the musical has been very challenging. The critics review was just posted online. We were very excited to get such a good review.
I was invited to play piano for the Salt Lake Community College Jazz Band. It as been such a great experience and I have learned so much. Improvisational solos are a beast to pick up on the fly, but turns out trial by fire is the fastest way to learn. I will try to post the video of our spring concert as soon as the edited version is live.
I am also still preparing for my piano solo recital which will hopefully take place in August. I also have a few new vocal and piano students now which is very fun.
I got to perform in another production of the 10 Virgins musical where we got requests for three more performances.
I have finally declared my major and will be focusing on music education and vocal performance. I am heavily into my major now with five of my eight classes being music classes. No you can see what I mean by musical chairs. I feel like I sleep, eat and drink music. And I decidedly hate six-four chords if anyone knows what those are.
Aside from musical chairs, Kent and I did get a little break and drove with our friends Tom and Jessy to St. George. We went to Snow Canyon and went on a fun little hike.
Here is me in the mouth of one of the large lava tunnels. We were really bummed we didn't bring head lamps. I guess we will be making another trip there to do some more exploring.
Here is Kent further in the cave of the largest lava tunnel we found.
Here is Tom and Jessy's little boy Thomas (T-Rex). He is so cute.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Hole in the pants & Home again, home again...
One quick funny story, before my usual update. A while back, I went to school, Michaels, the grocery store, my in-laws, and the post office. At the post office, I reached back to put my phone in my back pocket and realized I was touching my underwear. That's right, my pants had torn and I had been walking around with this huge hole. And I am not just talking about a little hole. This hole was about eight inches tall and four or five inches wide. Yup, my whole butt cheek was hanging out. I can't beleive no one said anything! At least I gave a few people - okay - a lot of people a good laugh. Noe for the update....
Last time I posted, Kent was on his way to Officer Candidate School. Well since then, he has been dropped and sent home. They gave him the flu with the immunizations he received and got a very high fever. He didn't tell anyone, but when they brought them in for a dose of Penicillin they found out and immediately put him in isolation barracks. They would not release him until his fever had been gone for 24 hours. Because they would not release him, he missed pick up day - when they get assigned to their platoon - which you can not miss. So they threw his stuff in a laundry bag and dropped him on the airport curb without alowing him to shower first, even though they hadn't let him shower for three days. So, we are back to square one. I am glad to be with him again, but under these circumstances it was not a happy reunion.
I am back in school and busy as ever. I have eight classes, five of which are music classes for my major. I also got into Jazz band which is very fun and challenging. I am loving it. I just wish I didn't have to take Math, but once I finish this math class I don't ever have to take another one. YES!
Oklahoma auditions were yesterday and we have call backs next Saturday. I am excited at the talent we have, it will be a fun group to direct. But am realizing how busy my schedule is going to be once rehearsals start.
Last time I posted, Kent was on his way to Officer Candidate School. Well since then, he has been dropped and sent home. They gave him the flu with the immunizations he received and got a very high fever. He didn't tell anyone, but when they brought them in for a dose of Penicillin they found out and immediately put him in isolation barracks. They would not release him until his fever had been gone for 24 hours. Because they would not release him, he missed pick up day - when they get assigned to their platoon - which you can not miss. So they threw his stuff in a laundry bag and dropped him on the airport curb without alowing him to shower first, even though they hadn't let him shower for three days. So, we are back to square one. I am glad to be with him again, but under these circumstances it was not a happy reunion.
I am back in school and busy as ever. I have eight classes, five of which are music classes for my major. I also got into Jazz band which is very fun and challenging. I am loving it. I just wish I didn't have to take Math, but once I finish this math class I don't ever have to take another one. YES!
Oklahoma auditions were yesterday and we have call backs next Saturday. I am excited at the talent we have, it will be a fun group to direct. But am realizing how busy my schedule is going to be once rehearsals start.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Bitter-sweet moments.
Kent and I have been praying hard for months that Kent will be able to find steady work. He had tried a couple of times to get into the Marine JAG, but had not yet been accepted. We have been very fortunate that Pepperdine hired me back to do some temp work from home, and Kent has had a few good legal clients. This has helped us to squeeze by. We have felt so blessed to just have our needs taken care of.
Kent prepared to take the PFT (the physical test for the Marines) for the third time. He took it a couple weeks ago and increased his score from 242 to 280 out of 300. This means he ran 3 miles in under 18 minutes, did 100 Marine crunches in under 2 minutes and did 16 dead hang pull ups in a row without dropping. This is phenomenal considering the Marines selected last time had scores around 260. We waited with anticipation... then, last night he received a call from Captain Davis. Kent was selected! He starts Officer Candidate School on January 7th. The amazing thing is that Kent was the only JAG candidate selected from Utah west.
We are sad to be leaving Utah, but are relieved to finally have a plan that includes a stable income and medical benefits. Now we just need to cross our fingers for Kent. He still has to make it through 10 weeks of intense training similar, but harder than basic training before he is officially commissioned as an officer. I will be staying here to do one more semester of school. That means four months apart. We will get a two week visit after the first 10 weeks. Then we can fly back and forth a few times to see each other. The first 10 weeks will be the hardest. No phone calls, only letters are allowed for the first four weeks or so. Then limited phone calls about once or twice a week. I am not looking forward to that. Luckily I will be very busy with school and hopefully Oklahoma.
Another fun thing that is happening, I am in "The 10 Virgins". It is a musical based around the bible parable. We will be performing two shows on November 30th in our stake. It has been so fun and has really helped me to re-evaluate my life. I was thinking, this parable is not written to discourage those of us who are struggling, which I think is all of us to some extent, but it is to remind us that we have all the tools we need to make it to the Celestial Kingdom. We just need to take advantage of them. The foolish virgins were not evil murderers, prostitutes, or careless sinners. They were righteous women who had high standards, but had forgotten to do the obvious, small tasks, like buying oil, that would ensure their admittance to the wedding.
I feel this is often my shortcoming as well. It is the small, simple things that I often let slip. Reading my scriptures, saying my prayers, attending all my church meetings, and being kind and loving to those around me. Those are relatively easy things to do, but am I diligent in doing them. That is all He asks of us. To be diligently obedient. He does not ask us to move mountains, just to be diligent. I came home and read my scriptures (for the first time in a while) and came across this scripture, "And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he had strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefor, all things must be done in order" (Mosiah 4:27). This hit me like a brick to the head. whenever I heard "man should not run faster than he is able" before, I always thought, well that means I just do what I can do; but in this scripture it is a little more specific. You still do what you can do, what you have strength for, BUT we must make sure our tasks are in the correct order first! So we can still be diligent. This way, even if we don't complete all the tasks set before us, the most important ones will not be forgotten.
If the five foolish virgins had bought extra oil first thing, before anything else, they might not had looked as nice, or their dishes might have been left unwashed, BUT they would have been admitted to the wedding to spend their time in the presence of the Lord. I am sure none of those virgins said, well I didn't make it into the wedding, but at least my dishes are done. What an eye opener! Where do our priorities lie? Are we putting good before better and best? I began at this realization to try to put my life in its proper order. Prayer, scriptures and family come first. That is where my priorities need to lie. It has been amazing. My studies had been much easier since I have been doing this and have been able to get better grades with less studying than before. The Lord is truly blessing me for my efforts, even though they are far from perfect, and my testimony is being strengthened. I am so grateful that the Lord inspires us, and chastens us - with a loving hand. How else would we grow? Well, sorry to babble so long, I will post again soon.
Kent prepared to take the PFT (the physical test for the Marines) for the third time. He took it a couple weeks ago and increased his score from 242 to 280 out of 300. This means he ran 3 miles in under 18 minutes, did 100 Marine crunches in under 2 minutes and did 16 dead hang pull ups in a row without dropping. This is phenomenal considering the Marines selected last time had scores around 260. We waited with anticipation... then, last night he received a call from Captain Davis. Kent was selected! He starts Officer Candidate School on January 7th. The amazing thing is that Kent was the only JAG candidate selected from Utah west.
We are sad to be leaving Utah, but are relieved to finally have a plan that includes a stable income and medical benefits. Now we just need to cross our fingers for Kent. He still has to make it through 10 weeks of intense training similar, but harder than basic training before he is officially commissioned as an officer. I will be staying here to do one more semester of school. That means four months apart. We will get a two week visit after the first 10 weeks. Then we can fly back and forth a few times to see each other. The first 10 weeks will be the hardest. No phone calls, only letters are allowed for the first four weeks or so. Then limited phone calls about once or twice a week. I am not looking forward to that. Luckily I will be very busy with school and hopefully Oklahoma.
Another fun thing that is happening, I am in "The 10 Virgins". It is a musical based around the bible parable. We will be performing two shows on November 30th in our stake. It has been so fun and has really helped me to re-evaluate my life. I was thinking, this parable is not written to discourage those of us who are struggling, which I think is all of us to some extent, but it is to remind us that we have all the tools we need to make it to the Celestial Kingdom. We just need to take advantage of them. The foolish virgins were not evil murderers, prostitutes, or careless sinners. They were righteous women who had high standards, but had forgotten to do the obvious, small tasks, like buying oil, that would ensure their admittance to the wedding.
I feel this is often my shortcoming as well. It is the small, simple things that I often let slip. Reading my scriptures, saying my prayers, attending all my church meetings, and being kind and loving to those around me. Those are relatively easy things to do, but am I diligent in doing them. That is all He asks of us. To be diligently obedient. He does not ask us to move mountains, just to be diligent. I came home and read my scriptures (for the first time in a while) and came across this scripture, "And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he had strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefor, all things must be done in order" (Mosiah 4:27). This hit me like a brick to the head. whenever I heard "man should not run faster than he is able" before, I always thought, well that means I just do what I can do; but in this scripture it is a little more specific. You still do what you can do, what you have strength for, BUT we must make sure our tasks are in the correct order first! So we can still be diligent. This way, even if we don't complete all the tasks set before us, the most important ones will not be forgotten.
If the five foolish virgins had bought extra oil first thing, before anything else, they might not had looked as nice, or their dishes might have been left unwashed, BUT they would have been admitted to the wedding to spend their time in the presence of the Lord. I am sure none of those virgins said, well I didn't make it into the wedding, but at least my dishes are done. What an eye opener! Where do our priorities lie? Are we putting good before better and best? I began at this realization to try to put my life in its proper order. Prayer, scriptures and family come first. That is where my priorities need to lie. It has been amazing. My studies had been much easier since I have been doing this and have been able to get better grades with less studying than before. The Lord is truly blessing me for my efforts, even though they are far from perfect, and my testimony is being strengthened. I am so grateful that the Lord inspires us, and chastens us - with a loving hand. How else would we grow? Well, sorry to babble so long, I will post again soon.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Flush, Swish, Splash, OOPS!
Well, this semester is half over and I can hardly believe it. It has gone by very fast. I can't believe how much work it has been, but I think I have got the hang of it. I am working on a project for my health class where I have to volunteer at a non-profit for a few hours. I spent my volunteer time at the SL Habitat for Humanity ReStore. I was scrubbing stoves and ovens for resale. Another volunteer and I put the oven knobs in a bucket of water to soak. As the water got dirty, the other volunteer offered to go dump the water. I assumed she remembered the knobs in the bucket, but I guess not. She dumped the knobs for two stoves - that's eight knobs into the toilet which automatically flushed once it got too full. She frantically tried to reach into the toilet and catch them, but only caught one and down the rest went. The best part is that flushing seven knobs down the toilet is not the worst of it. When she told our supervisors they looked at us and said, "AGAIN?" I couldn't believe it! This has happened before? They then said, "at least you didn't flush the sponge too". HA! That did it for me. I was laughing for the next three hours. Incredible. At least it was an entertaining experience.
I have also been helping a friend out with some work at a local community theatre. We went to their Gala last Saturday and Kent actually performed in the program! He sang Surrey with the Fringe on Top from Oklahoma. He did the whole scene. He was really good and got a few directors requesting that he audition for the show next spring. It might end up being a conflict of interest though since it is looking like I will be directing the music. I guess we will see. Here are some fun pictures.
The stage was too dark to get a picture of Kent "in the act". too bad. Well. I've got to get some sleep before my 8 am class tomorrow. Night all.
I have also been helping a friend out with some work at a local community theatre. We went to their Gala last Saturday and Kent actually performed in the program! He sang Surrey with the Fringe on Top from Oklahoma. He did the whole scene. He was really good and got a few directors requesting that he audition for the show next spring. It might end up being a conflict of interest though since it is looking like I will be directing the music. I guess we will see. Here are some fun pictures.
The stage was too dark to get a picture of Kent "in the act". too bad. Well. I've got to get some sleep before my 8 am class tomorrow. Night all.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Doughnut Falls
Last Saturday we went to Doughnut Falls with my brother Nathan, sister Sammy, and good friend Shawna. It was lots of fun, but I was a little dissapointed that the large doughnut has colapsed and is now filled with rocks. Of course I hadn't been there for about 9 years. I guess it has been like that for a while. Now it is quite dangerous. A teenage boy broke his leg or hyperextended his knee or something while were were there and the medics had to come in and carry him out. I also slipped and fell - but I can't claim any cool battle wounds. I just have a big bruise on my tricept and one on my knee. Here are a few pictures...
Sammy, Nathan and I at the top of the waterfall.
Shawna and I in the cave under the waterfall.
Kent on the "balance beam". He really didn't want to get his feet wet.
I am back in school now and I am thinking that I have over extended myself. I am taking 18 credit hours (because it is the same price as 12) and it is killing me. I think I would be just fine if I didn't have to take math. I hate math! My brain just doesn't function that way. Give me music or a paint brush and I am good - anything creative will do, but graphing, functions, substitution and elimination - forget it. I havn't even got into the hard stuff yet. Blah! I love my other classes though. It is fun, just very time consuming. Kent is still looking for work and finding all kinds of local classes and seminars to go to. He has also been spending a lot of time helping our friends Tom and Jesse landscape their yard - AKA - play HALO. Actually they have gotten a lot done on the yard so I supose the deserve the gaming time. Well, better go to bed - I have an 8am class.
Sammy, Nathan and I at the top of the waterfall.
Shawna and I in the cave under the waterfall.
Kent on the "balance beam". He really didn't want to get his feet wet.
I am back in school now and I am thinking that I have over extended myself. I am taking 18 credit hours (because it is the same price as 12) and it is killing me. I think I would be just fine if I didn't have to take math. I hate math! My brain just doesn't function that way. Give me music or a paint brush and I am good - anything creative will do, but graphing, functions, substitution and elimination - forget it. I havn't even got into the hard stuff yet. Blah! I love my other classes though. It is fun, just very time consuming. Kent is still looking for work and finding all kinds of local classes and seminars to go to. He has also been spending a lot of time helping our friends Tom and Jesse landscape their yard - AKA - play HALO. Actually they have gotten a lot done on the yard so I supose the deserve the gaming time. Well, better go to bed - I have an 8am class.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)