What is a real "gift" anyway....

Recently, I've been religiously following this blog called Mr. Money Mustache, and he is slowly turning into my financial/living-a-wise-life idol. One of his blog posts talks about the Mother's Day tradition that his family does. Instead of going out and buying his wife flowers, chocolates, and stuffed teddy bears (that end up in the Goodwill bag a few months later), she has a specific part of the yard that they plant beautiful flowers in every Mother's Day, and it serves as a reminder of the holiday and the blessing it is for her to be a mom for the rest of the summer/growing season. It got me thinking....how can we give more MEANINGFUL and less WASTEFUL gifts in our lives?
I'll admit, I'm one of those super-fretful gift buyers...I'll stare at my computer screen agonizing for hours over what to get my husband for his birthday or what to buy for my best friend on her wedding day (Which I still haven't done yet. Sorry, Camille. I'll get around to it...and it'll probably be something better after this blog post/inspiration). After reading Mr. Money Mustache's post though, I have a resolution this year (and for the rest of my life) to not ever buy meaningless material things for people that don't further an on-going connection or memory with a friend or family member. Now, this post is not supposed to be one of those "10 Homemade Gifts That Will Astound Your Man!" sort of pinterest things, but rather an invitation to you to do something meaningful instead of going to Target and buying some cheesy plastic doodad that doesn't really help your relationship or the environment.
This past December for my husband's birthday, we were both super busy with finals and finalizing traveling plans to make it back to Utah for our school break, and so my usual fretful-gift-buying self didn't have time to be fretful. So, I just decided that we were going to have an evening of doing something together that he enjoyed, and we were going to do it frugally since we would have some major travel expenses coming up. I ended up ordering two sushi mats and some sea-weed sheets off of Amazon (for a total of about $8), and we spent the night laughing, making low-quality homemade videos, and eating some sub-par, first-attempt homemade Sushi, and it was one of my most favorite things that we have done together to date. The memories that we created that night far outweigh anything that I could have possibly purchased to "wow" him. So as we approach Mother's Day, Birthdays, Anniversaries, and Christmases, let's forget about consumerism and instead strive for memory-isms and relationship building-isms. For my birthday, I think I'm going to ask for an evening together spent getting my pots ready and planting some little herb seeds that will grow and make my cooking more pleasant all summer long. What have you done for holidays that is sweeter than giving physical gifts? Post below!!! :) 

Make that plan....Today!

As a friend of mine so perfectly put it the other day, "My life is so crazy right now, I need a planner for my planner!" (Thank you Lauren Bender for understanding my life haha). My schedule has been pretty darn crazy over the past few weeks, not that that is unusual, but it has been a little crazier even than usual. I bring up the planner quote, because I am a fairly avid planner user, and if I don't write something down and hold myself accountable for it, I forget to do it. Now, this is all very simple talk...I'm getting to something, I promise. One more story first, though. :) Due to all of the craziness over the past few weeks, I haven't cooked as much, and having been eating so healthy this school year, Dallin and I were definitely feeling it. Both of us were just more tired, lethargic, and lacking in motivation. So, this week, I was absolutely determined to cook at least five nights, and the other two would be left-over nights. I got out my cookbooks, chose some recipes, made a menu-list for the week, and finally made a grocery list and we went shopping together (a rarity that is precious to me). I am very happy to say that I succeeded in my goal, and we have felt SO much better this week. The reason I succeeded though, is because I MADE A PLAN.
Lately I feel that my spirit has been experiencing what my body was a few weeks ago...tiredness, lethargy, and a lack of motivation. My scripture study and daily prayer has not been on track because I get tired and lazy after a long school day and teaching lots of students. I have not been tapping into the power and happiness that I could have been, and so I am determined to change that. I am making a plan this week, and hopefully for a long time after that. Just like making a list for going to the grocery store to buy the things I need, I am making a list of things that my spirit needs: scripture study, prayer, conference talks, church, family time, service, and wise-use of my time. Just as cooking takes time to nourish my body the right way, studying takes time to nourish my spirit the right way. My goal is going to be 20-30 minutes EVERY DAY of reading my scriptures and conference talks. I have discovered that not a lot of things get done in life very well without a plan. Those who are prepared will always succeed, or be closer to doing to than those who don't have a plan. We witness this in the bible with the story of the ten virgins and the coming of the bridegroom. Those who had oil were able to join in the celebratory ceremony, and those who did not prepare were not! I want to be celebrating, every day. I want everyday to be filled with joy, motivation, love, and a desire to do better and to better myself. I encourage you to make a plan today, even if it's not religious-based, to do things to better yourself. Eat healthier, exercise (even if it's just a 10 minute routine before you go to bed!), try harder to look for the good in others and likewise to look for the good in yourself, serve someone, stay on top of your homework and don't procrastinate for a whole week. These things are so difficult, but they mold us into wonderful individuals who are prepared to make our world a better place. So, MAKE A PLAN! :)

Respect is the underlying issue.

Today, if you walked up to almost anyone and asked them what they thought our country's biggest social issue was, I would guess that they would answer "Gay rights!" (LGBTQ included). I am a Christian and will openly admit that I have my own opinions about the issue, and those opinions include members of the LGBTQ group not being discriminated against. The SOGI act that was repealed yesterday brought some things to my attention. Firstly, I feel that a lot of people who are enraged that it was repealed aren't completely informed as to what the act entirely entails. If you are going to rant and rave about something and especially VOTE ON IT TO PUT LAWS IN PLACE, you need to know exactly what you are voting into action. Over 30,000 people voted, and this video only has 4,000 views.... See following: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1YHKD9WRUE

Personally, I do not wish to have people come into my home (if I chose to homeschool my children) and teach their version of a non-discrimination lecture to my children. I believe that is MY right as a parent to educate them on such issues. Also, I don't think that the city needs to create a huge budget for investigators to go into businesses and have the right to seize whatever documentation/persons they wish. I DO want members of the LGBTQ group to have their rights, but this ordinance added in other things that were not okay with me. I feel that now the point of all of these ordinances/bills/arguments is to force everyone to be completely accepting of the LGBTQ group's way of life. If we are going to be frank, that will never happen. You simply cannot change a person's morals and core beliefs if they don't want them to be changed. Racism still exists doesn't it? Not that I want it to, but it does. I think that Christians and other religions alike need to be respectful towards LGBTQ, and I also think that LGBTQ needs to be respectful of Christians and their beliefs. It is that simple. It disgusts me to see all of the horrid, hateful arguments/comments when somebody posts that they believe in the sanctity of marriage as it has been defined up until now, and it disgusts me just as much to see parents disowning their children/abusing them because they are homosexual or transgender. I don't want to be worried about posting something on my facebook account that states that I am in favor of the repeal or not in favor of it, because I would receive guff both ways. All in all, I think that respect is our biggest problem. The LGBTQ group and Christians are both pushing so hard to receive respect on their end but are not giving it to each other. Yes, the ordinance was repealed, so that's that. There is no need for nasty facebook statuses and comments on either end. Springfield wanted it repealed, and so it was. 

Silver linings

My goodness. These past few weeks have just felt like a roller-coaster, one that is just a huge drop downwards....forever....never-ending...okay. You get the picture. Basically you just feel like life is coming at you so fast that you don't know how to handle it and so you throw your hands up in the air and scream. My downward drop right now consists of 27 (that's right, TWENTY SEVEN) cello students, three church callings, 19 credit hours, a junior recital coming up, and then there's the whole "being married" thing. ;) To top it off, I got some sort of bug or stomach thing the last two days (for whoever knows me well, you know that I am TERRIFIED of vomiting...luckily none of that was involved, just lots of stomach pain and nausea). I was upset with myself the other day because I came home and the house was dirty, and I hadn't gone grocery shopping which was desperately needed, I really hadn't practiced my cello enough that day, and I was behind on some homework that I needed to do. I really felt like throwing my hands up in the air and screaming. How am I supposed to manage it all? Well, I'm not, and I can't on my own. I have definitely experienced some silver linings in the past few weeks. Dallin has taken on a new desire to do the dishes and laundry this semester and that has helped me so much. No to mention his constant support and big hugs when I need them. Now, let's talk about the 27 students. When I signed up at Springfield music, I was thinking my studio MIGHT get as large as 18 students...that's what my manager told me it would probably be. I started out with 12 students, and then the e-mails just kept showing up. New student! Starts this Thursday at four....this saturday at 12...this tuesday at 7....Meanwhile, my planner pages were filling up with "Do theory assignment #7, study for quiz on monday, complete assigned reading for REL 131, do elaboration composition for counterpoint." The list was never ending, but so were the tender mercies. There have been a few nights where I was just completely exhausted and had no idea how I was going to finish teaching those next two students, and then both of them call saying that they had something come up and would need to cancel for that night. There have also been times where I walk out of a lesson feeling renewed and energized because I had a wonderful day teaching wonderful children how to play the cello. A few of my classes that I'm in this semester are light on the homework load, and so I can manage all of the harder ones and still not be completely overwhelmed. When it comes to the sunbeam class, I'm still working on finding multiple silver linings for that one, but this last Sunday, one of the cute little boys, definitely rowdy and a handful, came up to me and just gave me this giant hug and wanted to sit on my lap. When I walked out of that class, I was happy. We have friends and family here who have done so much for us, and I just can't help but to see the silver linings. They don't happen every day, but they are enough to keep me going until the next one. God knows us individually and he knows exactly what we need when we need it. I have no doubt that He has been sending those little tender mercies and silver linings to me along the way. 

Practice makes permanent.

Man, it's been a while! I have missed you, blog. ;) My inspiration today comes from my job: cello teacher. I am currently the cello teacher at a local music store here in Springfield, and I have nearly 20 students. Yes, that was quite the adjustment. haha. I will fully admit to looking at my roll before each of them came into lessons for the first few weeks so that I could remember their names. Anyhow, I have this one particular student who is just this bubbling ball of energy and stories. She has a hard time staying on track, and ALWAYS plays when I am talking to her (MAJOR TEACHER PET PEEVE). However, there were a few things that I realized when I was sitting in that tiny practice room teaching her the other day. If she would just practice 15-20 minutes a day, focusing on the things I've been telling her to do, she could improve a significant amount of her technique problems in a week or two. Not overnight over even with a few days of practice, but a few weeks would do her some good. Also, if she would listen carefully and truly try to integrate what I tell her to do or change into her practicing, she would be much more effective as well. She does neither of these things, unfortunately. ;) However, my yearning for her to succeed and continue to progress does not change. I am constantly wanting and pushing her to become a better, more refined player. Is this not what our Heavenly Father wants for us? He desires so much that we would take 15-20 minutes out of each of our days to study His scriptures and the words of His prophets and church leaders. He wants us to not PLAY while He is talking...put the phones away, turn off the computer. When you practice an instrument, you don't go to the loudest, most distracting room in the house to do it. You find a quiet spot that allows you the peace of mind to concentrate and focus on changing your playing and technique. How often are we playing while He is talking? How often is the noise of our busy lives interfering with the things He knows that we need to hear? How often do we not realize that He is truly trying to help us, because what he wants the most is for us to become successful in this life. Successful at playing this piece called life. :) Now, this post is in no way meant to compare myself to God, but only to compare the job of being a teacher to Him. I know without a doubt that if we take our time to "practice" our beliefs every day and to not play while He is talking, our technique will change. Our beings and spirits will change, and our lives will be more fulfilling. The title of this blog is a saying that one of my previous music teachers used to tell me. Practice does not make perfect, it makes permanent. If you practice bad habits, those become permanent. If you practice good ones, the same applies. Make your testimony PERMANENT! Happy Thanksgiving, everybody. You should all know that it's my favorite holiday. ;)

The Mormon Cult.

A lot of people who have a dislike for the LDS church refer to it as a cult. Is it? Well yes, yes it is. :) The literal definition of a cult (according to dictionary.com) is:
4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing,person, ideal, etc.

Veneration is to have awe or a feeling of reverence for something. So, the next time somebody refers to the LDS church as a cult, you can proudly say that it is, and then kindly refine their understanding of the definition of what a cult is. 
We are bound together by our FAITH in Jesus Christ. We are bound together by our IDEALS to become better, deeper, and happier human beings. We strive to follow the example of Christ in the Bible and Book of Mormon. We are BOUND to our Savior through sacred ordinances and our baptismal covenants. We have feelings of AWE and PROFOUND RESPECT and REVERENCE for our God, and for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We recognize that His atoning sacrifice allows us to return to Him through grace, but that we must show our appreciation and love for His grace by keeping His commandments and striving to be better people. This cult is real, and it is wonderful. To anyone who may be reading this as a nonmember, I urge you to look for the genuine truths of the LDS church, and understand that there are a lot of lies out there about the Mormons. I am always more than willing to answer questions. :) Even if you do not feel it's for you, I plead with you to not spread the lies. We do not seek to undermine other religious groups, nor do we bash on them. I respect any person from any religion who is trying to find God and find happiness. For myself, I have come to find that the LDS church is the closest thing to what I think the afterlife will be like and what I think God is and what He expects from us. I love my cult. 

The happiness advantage.

In my public speaking class a few weeks ago we watched this WONDERFUL Ted talks video....here's the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLJsdqxnZb0 

I would really encourage you all to watch it. It's inspiring. I promise, the 12 minutes of your time won't be wasted. Anyway, in my attempt to live his advice a little, I'm blogging about something that I am really deeply grateful for today. I'm blogging about the people who have shaped me into the musician that I am. I was in the practice room earlier, kind of in a tired mood after not having slept as much as I would have enjoyed and just having been busy all morning, and I played through my sonata. I didn't just play through it though, I performed it, and it sounded beautiful. I sat back and thought, "Man, I could have NEVER figured out how to do that on my own." This post is dedicated to my mom, first and foremost, for never letting me quit. If you asked me in junior high and early high school about practicing and doing music, I would have just told you that my mom makes me do it and I like it, but I don't know if I'll ever do anything with it. Boy did that change. I'm so glad that my very patient and loving mom made me stick with it. I owe her a BIG one....a debt I don't think I'll ever really be able to pay off. I also appreciate all of the inspirational music teachers and experiences I was blessed with throughout my earlier years and even now. I'm so appreciative of Elizabeth Marsh, Kayson Brown, Richard Hoyt, Anne Francis, and my current teacher Dr. Murray. These people have molded me. Not only into a better musician, but a better person, friend, and colleague. They have helped me understand what it is to work and to push yourself to achieve higher levels than you thought were possible. I am grateful for the opportunities I've been given to help bring the Spirit into sacrament meetings at church by playing for those who come to seek peace and resolve in Christ. I'm grateful. I'm so grateful. I hope that I can work hard enough and utilize the things that I have been taught over the years to be worthy of all the wonderful teaching and inspiration I have received from these people. I'm happy. I love the happiness advantage, and I love these people. Look for things in your life that can help you live the happiness advantage. I challenge YOU to blog about it or to write about it in your journal. It can and will change your outlook on life.