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. 

Empty by the end. :)

I found this wonderful quote today. "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'." ~Erma Bombeck. Quotes usually persuade me to think on them for a while, but I have been thinking on this one for a long while. How am I using my talents this summer amidst my busy schedule to bless the lives of others and make the world a better, sweeter place?
I have been reading a (fictional) book recently about an aboriginal African tribe of people and their journey across a large desert. In their tradition, they do not celebrate birthdays in years, but rather they celebrate every year the growth, development, and accomplishments of the members of their tribe. They rally together and support and admire the talents of each member of their tribe and openly recognize what they are individually accomplished at. I love that idea! There is a difference between pride and self-worth, or a knowledge and appreciation for your own talents. I think that we should all feel grateful for the different things that God has made us apt towards. I hope that I can work so hard throughout my life to use what I feel I am good at to help my neighbors, friends, husband, and my current and future family. I hope that I can make a difference in my community and for those whom I may work or associate with. One of the things that I feel I have been given in this life is compassion, and I have found a small way to use it this summer. I do yardwork for a lady in pleasant grove for a few hours every week. One of her older daughters (who is living in Payson for the summer) owns a dog and keeps it at her mother's house here in Pleasant Grove. The mother is not much of an animal person, so the poor dog is never let out of her kennel. She is a decent sized dog (probably as big as your average lab), and the kennel is maybe 10 feet long by 4 feet wide. After I am finished with my yardwork, I have started taking the dog on a walk every time that I go over there so that she can stretch her legs and get to run for a little while, and I cannot tell you how this little act has blessed the dog and I. Every time I enter the yard, she wimpers and jumps around in her cage with her big brown eyes even wider than usual it seems BEGGING me to let her out and play with her. I have made a friend in this cute dog, and it fulfills me to be able to help her in a way that she can't help herself. I have absolutely no doubt that every single one of us has something to offer to someone to help and bless them. I also have no doubt that when we are standing at the feet of our God to review our lives that those moments will not be passed over. So, let's help each other. Let's recognize and not be afraid to share our talents with others. Personally, I'm looking forward to having my slobbery friend Nikki as a friend on the other side of the veil. :) 

I want REAL change. WE want real change.

I've been thinking lately about politics a lot....not the nasty side of things, but how certain things could be changed. How could the Gay/Lesbian marriage act be settled, how could our economy prosper, how could we vote a reasonable president into office who wouldn't do more harm than good, how can we help America to have less single-parent households and children being raised in them, how can we help the 12 million people in our country are on welfare and 46 million using food stamps to become self-sufficient and work-oriented. How?

In Alma, we read of the Zoramites who had become a wicked and corrupt people. They were self-righteous and sinful. Their method of worship was to climb onto a high tower and repeat the same prayer, once a week, after which they returned to their homes not to allow God in their thoughts again until the next day of worship the following week. They believed that they were set apart from the rest of their brethren, and that they were chosen and choice children of God and that all of them would be saved. Alma learns of this wickedness, and he seeks to reclaim this selfish generation of people. He says, "And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just--yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them--therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God" (Alma 31:5). 

I think that it would be expedient for US to try the virtue of the word of God. Religion had more effect on these corrupted people than ANYTHING else that had been tried. I see the same traits in our country that the Zoramites possessed--a selfish, prideful sense of worth and a lack of God in our homes and minds. I have no doubt that the gospel of Christ can settle the Marriage act, help our economy, give voters and presidential candidates better wisdom and morals, save many marriages and lessen single parent homes, teach and encourage self-sufficiency and reduce welfare and food stamp numbers...I have absolutely NO doubt in my mind. So, although our votes are worth little, and our voices are often quieter than whispers in the large political whirlwind of this country, our testimonies are NOT. They are strong and can save and help our nation. I encourage you to share it. Share it with your friends, non-members, neighbors, members..whoever may need a lift. This gospel brings JOY and WISDOM. Who are we not to spread the wealth? 

Dream boat.

Some of you can relate to this post, and others/most of you will just roll your eyes at my gushing...but you know, that's how it goes. Now, our story begins at 10 Hillside circle, Dallin's and mine. I flirted for a solid 2 1/2 months before that boy asked me out. I never worked harder for a first date. However, I guess it paid off. We're getting married. I've learned a lot about myself and also about what it means to love someone. I have never wanted so badly in my life for someone else to be happy, comfortable, to feel loved, and to love me in return. I have never trusted someone more or been so excited to share experiences with someone. I know it's cheesy, but like I said, some of you can relate already, and the rest of you will relate someday. :) I can't wait to work with him, come closer to the Lord through and with him, put his name in my FamilySearch tree, and build a family with him. :) I really do love this boy. 

I think I've caught a bug....

Friends and Family, I've caught something. It's like an itch that just won't go away...no matter how much or how deeply you scratch it. This itch is classified under the FamilySearch category, and it just won't leave me alone. Now you all know....I'm just insanely excited about family history work. One of my new years resolutions was to find at least one name that wasn't linked into my family line and link it there...I've found two! Now, what's two names to be excited about? It's true, I've only found two names that did not exist there before, but now TWO more people have the possibility of living with our Heavenly Father if they accept the temple work that I can now do for them. There's more, though. I was taught how to do something called descendancy research, and by doing this, I have found 158 names of people who have not yet had their temple work done in my family line--some very distantly related, and some not-so-distantly related. I like to imagine a wonderful group of spirits cheering me on as I spend the laborious hours on the FamilySearch website searching, merging, and adding. I like to imagine the smiles on their faces when their names are found, and their ordinances are requested and taken to the temple. I like to imagine the tears of joy streaming down their faces when they realize that they will be able to live with their family for the rest of eternity, and spend the rest of eternity in the presence of our Heavenly Father. I KNOW that there are millions upon millions of spirits waiting in the spirit world to receive their ordinances, and they can't do it for themselves. But there's happy news, WE CAN!!! Get involved. Find your family, find a greater faith, and find joy for those who can't find it for themselves. :)