The Close of August End...

...whoo, and what a month it was!! Here's a little sample of what happened for me...

Weather.  Well, I already posted about it.  But the weather's been amazing.  It's weather, right??  However, I'm not so excited about how the length of days are getting shorter...I'm missing the sunsets nearly every night!!! And when I do notice the time early enough, it's a clear evening, and those don't typically have a lot of color.  I have absolutely LOVED all of the rain/thunder/lightning storms lately, it's a nice chance to cool off, play in the rain, smell the rain, and just...love it. :)

There's been a lot of family reunion/dinner things.  They went well, the food was good, the company enjoyable. :)

And boys are going on their missions!!  I'm missing Nursery half the time at church because I'm gone supporting my friends as their leaving.  (No, I was not placed in Nursery as a child.  I'm a Nursery Leader, there's a difference.  But hey, I get snacks, haha.)  So, I think it's been three guys this month entering the mission field, or at least giving farewells, and more next month.  Good luck Elders!!!

Oh my this month was filled with plenty of "Last Time to Play" with friends.  It was fun, though.  One good friend spent the day with me once, we had an adventure of a time trying to deposit checks, trying on dresses at the mall (and getting stuck a couple of times), and just enjoying laughing together.  Thanks, Ky. :)  Another fun time was spent at my favorite movie, How to Train Your Dragon, where I spilled MINIMAL popcorn, thank you.  YOU spilled the rest, I'm certain!!  Then you blame it on me, thanks... :-p  It was a fun day, though.  Meeting new people, seeing old friends again, good times.  I also went up to Squaw Peak for my first time, wow.  And didn't get electrocuted during the lightning storm, another plus!! Hahahaha...  Ahhh, fun times, fun times.  That's not all that happened...but some of it. :)

I had my first "in charge of" recital for my 10 piano/voice students.  That was a crazy, bigger than I expected but enthralling event.  My dear sweet students either sang or played their best for their parents and friends about two and a half weeks ago.  I couldn't be more proud of them if they were on American Idol, some of which I don't doubt aspiring for.  And though there were a few bugs on my part- (I left one girl's music at home!! So I played from memory as best I could, and improvised the rest- AHH!!!) we made it through, and I survived. :-p  Plus, Josie Jo came for the last part and filled my draining reserves with Sunshine.  So it was good anyway. :)

Temple Day.  Ahh, blessed, welcome Wednesday afternoon Temple Day.  I'm hoping to be able to continue the tradition, as it keeps my sanity in check, but BYU has a way of stepping in and being frustratingly "Steadfast and Immovable", so you'd better do your homework.  Which I should be doing now, but...I needed a break.  Meh.  I'll make this quick, I just looked at how much needs to be done by tomorrow... :-/

I'm learning how to whistle.  My mom still teases that it's cute that I'm practicing and learning, but....yeah...don't know where I as going with that thought...Anyhow...

Relationships have changed, both in my life and those around me.  Because I know Someone Else is in charge, I know they're for the better.  Key word being "better", not always "easier". :)

Freshman Academy for BYU was Wednesday through Saturday last week.  We spent a lot of time outside in the sun, so some people burned.  I'm surprised- I usually burn...and I think I may have gotten the slightest of tans...emphasis on slightest... But it was great to meet new people from around the US and elsewhere, and to see some familiar faces as well.  One guy from Montana says, looking around the field filled with about 4,000+ freshman, "I'll bet there are more people on this field than life in my hometown".  One person, asking as if to question, "They say there could be rain tomorrow..." (clear sky).  I look up, nod a bit, and say, "Yeah, I guess so".  They're not sure if I'm joking or not... ...I wasn't... ;)  Welcome to Utah, I say...

And, of course, the inevitable, BYU.  Wow, haha... eh... The first day of classes (yesterday) completely wore me out, and I only had two.  Walking ALL over campus with a backpack in the hot sun, I'd say about 5ish miles all together, then I came home and went on a bike ride with my mom and brothers.  Insane??? Yes.  Today I had four classes, and did much better, somehow.  It's getting better as time goes on, I think, except when I think of all the papers and reading assignments due and the fact that I'm still on the computer...I'll finish up quick.  Ps...I don't recommend starting out college, especially at a University with 16 credits.  Just so you know.  Unless you're exceptionally insane, as apparently I am...

Uh, yeah.  That's some of what's happened during August End.  It's been better in some ways than I expected, and harder in others.  But, what's life without a few bumps along the way?  (If you know, will you let me know?) ;) haha...I'm so funny...

Anyhow.  I'm fairly sure life is about to become a lot more hectic than I'd like, what with 50+ pages to read nightly, essays, and I'm not even getting home til 6 every other night, possibly teaching one or two nights...man.  In some ways, I miss high school.  Enjoy life while you can, right? :)

Much love, Stay sane, Don't Eat Bugs.

Love, Me.

By the way...

...Anyone who reads or has been invited to read is more than welcome to push the "Follow" button...it makes me feel special.  :D You're also encouraged to comment, or push the little buttons at the end of the blog post.  I like feedback, or just at least to know that someone reads what I have to say...                   
...I also wonder who, if anybody reads this...or if I'm just posting here for me...     
...you know? Like... maybe I'm just funny that way...but...                                 
....I'm me, remember?  I joke at times, but mainly I just want to be understood..... 
So, yeah.  I invited you because I wanted you to know what's going on about me, and would love to see what you have to say.  If you don't really have anything to say, that's fine, because sometimes I write rhetorically.  And I feel kind of funny, like I'm asking or something, but just to clear the air, YOU, my friend, are always welcome to express your thoughts on my page.  It's fine by me. :)                                        
                                                                                                                        
I hope this isn't awkward.  Here, I'll tell a joke to make it funny- How are a duck and a bike the same? ...they both have handlebars...except the duck.  [compliments of Jon Schmidt] ;-)                                                                              
I don't remember exactly WHERE...but it's in one of his books, somewhere....         
Okay, have a nice evening, day, afternoon, or three o'clock in the morning.  Don't eat bugs.  Love you all. :)                                                                                     
                                                                                                                        
Love, Me.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                        
Ps...This is called playing with the colors, and not being able to set them back to normal. :-/ :-p Yay me... ;-)

This, is Home.

Tonight I drove up Cascade Drive.
Not for any reason, except maybe the view.
It's beautiful...
I sat on this rock, where I am now,
Silent.  Not thinking.  Just letting my mind wander,
roam where it pleases in the open area.
Warm.  The rock is warm, and friendly, almost.
The air is cool, yet the wind is warm, and flows
around, like my mind.  Home, it says.
Dark purple mountains, outlined in orange light.
Water is silent, peaceful, undisturbed tonight.
I breathe in the smell of Utah.  Of the hills
by where I live.  I came here on a whim, so
what comfort am I seeking?


That of the Wind.


As I write it grows stronger, and recognizes.
Some say nature is silent.  I disagree.
You just have to listen for a language not of your own.
You have to listen with something
other than your ears to hear...
The Voice of the Wind.  The Tales of the Sea. 
The Whisperings of the Grass...the Comfort of
a Rock.
Beauty.   Simply....beauty....


This is earth.


This, is Home. :)
8:35pm-8:45pm

Love, Me.

A Walk With Nature

A walk down the road
I had seen such a treat
Nature helped to unload
Some of life's great feats.

The wind whipped around me
A chorus of glee;
I was already home
Where I needed to be.

The tree reached out softly
And placed on my cheek
A peck of dear kindness,
A hug of sweet peace.

The roses sang out
In their own special song
And filled my nose
With a sweet smelling throng.

The rain when it came
Fell upon me like wishes
And each of those drops
Felt like tender sweet kisses.

The sky, how it danced
And put on a display
Of thunder and lightning
And rain on the way.

I walk up my path,
My shoes in my hand, now
My soul is at rest
From my walk home with Nature.

Lessons in August End

Guess what?

I'm learning how to whistle.  18 years, and I still can't whistle to my heart's content.  Joe Fire was going to teach me how so that as I was walking for graduation I would be whistling.  Yeah, I forgot until I sat down. :-/ haha.  Murphy's law....

Anyhow, my little sister, Lissy, you remember her?  (If not, look down a couple posts)  She's 7, and can whistle any tune in the book.  And is currently sitting here with me, telling me to say that she is proudly teaching me how to whistle.  She's quite a good teacher, very positive, comforting, and will quite eagerly and easily one-up me as I try and try to get a note, and she'll get like, 20.  Murphy's law, yet again......

Here she is.

LuLu

Anyhow, that's an update for you.  My mom says she thinks it's funny that her 18 year-old is taking whistling lessons from her seven year old.  I just roll my eyes and try again. ;)  I'm doing better.  Getting more notes than plain air, now. ;-) :-p

All in all, life's pretty good.  Promise.  :)  Make it a good day!

Love, Me.

A change in the winds...

I want this to be brief, as it's been a long day.  But I decided to change around the viewing pleasure of my blog, as you can see.  I liked the other way, too, but I felt like a dark red and gold today, and I suppose I felt like a Narnia kind of approach, and wanted it to appear royal.  (Not to be conceited at all.  I just wanted to feel special.  Princesses/Queens/Kings are special, are they not?  Princes are, too, but I'm not one of those. ;)  Okay, everyone is special.  I know.  But sometimes a girl wants to feel...extra special??  Anyhow.) 
Then I was experimenting and discovered that it reminded me of a book, particularily Beauty and the Beast for some reason...and since I post things of my life, the idea of a book filled with chapters and stories from it became more appreciated.  So, here it is.

The nice thing is you can't exactly get a papercut from it. :D

So, this is a new chapter in my life, as part of August End.  Changing blog types.  Ha. 

Make it a great day! :)

Love, Me.

August End

**Disclaimer** This post was intended for somewhere near the first post of the month, or at the end.  However, given how events in life run, here it is, in its entirety. Hmm. Whattaya know? I spelled "entirety" right on the first try...(I just hit spell check) ;-) :-p


So, as you may notice, I'm calling not just this post, but this month August End. Not because I'm desperately hoping it will end soon, or that it feels like the end of the world, and it's not really close to the end of the month.  But somewhere in the last week of July I realized July would soon be over, and so the next month would be August, and immediately following August was "end", put the two together and you get August End.  Where did that name come from?  There's this amazing song by Jon Schmidt titled "August End" (so conveniently located in his album, August End).  In between How to Train Your Dragon and other random songs, I've had it running through my Internal Music Player quite frequently, just because it happened to be floating around, so that, the end of July plus me...

Thus, welcome to August End.

What happens in the month of August End?  Quite a lot, actually.  The name also signifies more than a song that I like to listen to.  August is literally bringing an end to certain parts of my life.  Not a bad thing, but still an end.  I mean, the summer's over, school starts up again, which means ostalavista [spell check, anyone?] care-free cool June mornings, warm July nights and hot August End days.  Not just any school, but many of us are leaving for college.  Before it was like, "Oh, yeah, I'm gonna be a Senior, wow!!"  Now...I'm starting BYU in twoish short weeks, a University!!  I mean, haha, Me!?  In a University!?  When did this happen??  Just last week I was in third grade and starting long division, and now, here I am, having graduated from High School two and a half months ago.  Where has the time gone??  ...What have I done with it?  Hopefully I've used it well...

...And then I realize, or at least think deeper/more carefully...about what I've been learning this past year.  I mean, 13 years of public school education's gotten me pretty far- I can read and write pretty decently, I know the basic grammar structure of sentences and how to connect them.  I can do long division without a calculator (granted, with one it's easier and faster), I've grown past "practicing" the piano and now play for pleasure, basically whatever I want, too, which is nice... But I really think it's been in the past few months that I've actually begun to learn.

Learning, that is, to love and appreciate life.

+I've lived for some 18 odd years now.  In each of those years there were at least 365 days, and 365 corresponding nights.  Doesn't matter how "Brilliant" or how simple, each of those nights had a sunset.  It was near the end of May that I first began to really notice the sunsets, and how breathtakingly beautiful they are.  Now, three months and about 2,000 pictures later, I'm out there nearly every night, partaking of the beauty that comes with that time of day.  And though they will continue, when the weather turns I won't have as easy access to them.  But, as of now, I see the beauty of sunsets.

+So I thought I was doing pretty well, you know, appreciating my days more with the sunsets.  Then I was reminded of Stars.  Nights were added to my list of appreciations. 

+Then one day I looked at the clouds and their shapes and personalities.  In the middle of the day.  It's amazing!  Then I looked at some by the sun and was completely blown away and drawn in all at the same time.  There are "sunsets" in the middle of the day.  You have to get the clouds just right, not too thick, but the thinner, smaller ones by the sun are all different colors- blue, green, red, purple...AHHH!!!  You can sometimes see it just by looking, but that can hurt your eyes.  I suggest sunglasses- they clear things up and you can see more.

+You've probably heard the song, "Rain, rain, go away".  I used to have a certain amount of contempt toward wet weather (well....I haven't really learned to fully appreciate snow at the moment) but rain was depressing.  Then, one day in May I was driving home from a Hope Squad party thing, and it happened to be raining.  I rolled down my window...and let in the love of the sky.  It was even better, because the sun was shining, it was in the early evening, so the raindrops were outlined on their pathway down, and looking to the left there was a rainbow.  I loved that day.  :)  And I now roll down my window despite the weather. [Yes, I do physically roll down my window. :-p]  Yes, you do have the very good chance of getting wet.  What's it gonna hurt you, and what's life without enjoyment?  Rain, shine, hot, cold, day, night...the window is down.  Yes, sometimes I have the AC on slightly while the window is down, but remember, this is me. ;-)  I like to feel the real Wind as much as possible.  Before I'd hate getting my hair messed up, and things blown around...now I love the wind, feeling it whip and blow around/through me...just...Wind is a part of Nature, which was created by Someone who was perfect, so...doesn't that make nature perfect?  And so I want to be a part of it. :)  Moral of the story/ramble, I love weather and rolling down my window while driving. :)

+At my old house, we had roses.  Red, pink, peach, perhaps even white.  To be honest...I didn't really think they were all that pretty all the time.  Occasionally, but not a lot.  I started to open my eyes a little more before we left, but now, along with everything else, roses here seem even more beautiful.  We have some in our front yard that are white and tipped in pink/red.  They are a favorite.  In the back are red, white, yellow/orange and fuchsia roses.  Favorites are in that order. :)  They are just completely gorgeous.  Yes, I even love the thorns.  I will pinch them off, but they're still part of the rose, and so I like them.

+And you know, suddenly I even enjoy weeding.  Weird, even for me.  Or maybe it's just a fascination/irritation that there's persistent Morning Glory climbing the bushes along our walkway.  But if I'm feeling frustrated, or just need a break from things, sometimes I'll just go out and pull the weeds from our flower garden.  It's productive, some, at least.  Hey, I even watched a slug scrinch around on my fingers because it was fascinating.  [I'm not sure how productive that was....but hey, it's still summer. ;-)]

+Sunshine.  :) I can't make a list of gratitude's without Sunshine.  Light (visual and physical), love, freedom, enjoyment, clarity, Christ, friendship, and more.  Even at three in the morning, I can find Sunshine. :)

+Josie was sharing a story with me and mentioned "Perfection in Nature".  Saying how, untouched or disturbed, nature is perfect, and can create beauty far greater than at the hands of man sometimes.  How life and the order of events is specifically and carefully determined.  Nothing, nothing, happens when it does, to whom it does, how it does without reason.  Think about how you met someone.  You can go back literally years and see how events played into the single moment of bumping into them at school, or walking down the street, or being introduced, and upon further examination, you can see even more how life is influenced by a Higher and Greater Being.  Even as I'm at the store, and wait and allow someone to pass by with their cart, and a smile is exchanged along with a kind word, I'm seeing the Perfection in Nature.  It's great. :)

There's more...billions more...but for now, this is some of what I've learned about life.  That, and the fact that it goes on, no matter what.  You can't stop it, you can't reverse it; the only way you can go is forward.  So...let's make it good, yeah?  You can either be pulled along by a foot, bouncing in the road and becoming more miserable by the minute, or you can be there in the front, laughing and bringing others along and making the whole trip easier.  Try to see the Perfection in nature around us, and the good in others rather than shaking your head that you just got cut off again on the road.  You never know who's life they may be racing off to save.  What if it were your own?

All in all, August End, though it is bringing an end to summer, and many other things, is really a portal or jump/spring or check point for another part of this amazing race called LIFE! [Living Is Fun/Free. Enjoy!]  And though, yes, I am intimidated by college and all the prospects of said endeavor...it'll be fun, I'll love it, and learn.  I sure better learn, anyhow... ;)  And, I suppose the fact that I don't want summer or a year to end says that it's been a good one, and that life, though sometimes hard, is good. 

August End, you're teaching me more than I ever before comprehended...thank you.

Life is good.  I promise.  Just look around you, you'll find something.  If you need help finding something, you know where I'm at. :D

Much love to all,

Love, Me.

Hahahahahahahahahaha....

I am related to awesomeness.
This is my little sister, Melissa. She's 7.

:-p

Yes, that is a real fly in her hands.  Yes, it is alive in this picture.  As a matter of fact, it is the second fly she caught with her bare hands, in less than two minutes.  She just walked up to it, cupped her hands, and caught them.  I just wanted to share a portion of this little girl's awesomeness with the world.  And guess what?? She's my sister. ;-)

I love you, Lissy, you're amazing.

Love, Me.

August End Weather

So, I don't know about you, but I think we've been having some amazing weather phenomenons happening in this wonderful month of August. ;)  This past Sunday being the First, I'm going to include photos from there as well.

So I'm sitting and writing in my journal Sunday afternoon, and look outside and it looks like everything is in sepiatone, or something, the color was AMAZING!!! I went outside and walked into this

and this

Everything had a yellowish tint to it, it was amazing!!  This is looking directly up into the sky:

Those are the real colors!!  And as you looked towards the west...

Same sky!! Towards the northeast...

(Above) The first one's right at first, the seconds a few minutes later.

Again, the northwest.  So, as I walked out of my North-facing home, look up, it's yellow.  Everything around me is in a yellow tone, like I said before.  Northwest is above, and to the northeast, it gets darker.  Completely east is a midnight blue, I can't find any pictures of that, but here's the farthest east I have.

And the Kings took a walk around the block. :)

 Sherbet, anyone? ;)

So that was that night. :D

Yesterday I was woken up at 5:26am by a bright flash of lightning followed by a crack of thunder being opened across the sky morning of the fourth, yesterday.  After several repetitions of that occurance, I decided that as long as I was awake, I'd just go upstairs and watch for a little while.  And I finally captured my first lightning. :D

I haven't cropped it yet, but there she is.

And...after the first bite, I went outside on my porch and took more. :D Hee. ;)

Yes, the houses are a little blurred, but I got it, nonetheless.  And some more... :)

I was basically in heaven. ;) Well, enjoying watching the sky converse, anyhow.  It was a great day...Rain for more than seven seconds, Lightning and Thunder, and as always, the Wind. I love the Wind. :)  But, as time goes on, I'm loving nature and seeing the Perfection in Nature more and more.  It helps. ;)

Anyhow, I mostly wanted to share the lightning, and if you didn't appreciate or see the Sunday night show in the sky.........

....boy, you missed out!! ;)

Much love to all,

Love, Me.

*Accidents Included*

Ever wondered why things happen the way they do?

I do.

Of course, later on I understand, but as for the moment when it's happening, I typically have a hard time seeing the outcome or the solution.  Occasionally I've been able to back away and observe the situation at a reasonable distance, and with a reasonably good hold on my head.  Doesn't necessarily make the situation easier to understand or undergo, but it helps.  Somehow.

I wondered why something happened like it did.  Then, not five (well, maybe it was five...) days after the fact, I understood completely. Rephrase: I better understood why it happened when it did.  And, like any bad cold, I'm still recovering from the effects these many weeks, and perhaps even months later.  No, I wasn't sick.  It was just an analogy.

Want a "For instance"?  Here's one.

Why, after 11+ years of playing extensive piano, recently classical/performance type, have I suddenly developed this sensitivity in my arms?  It's not like I've never had a short time period where they haven't hurt. I remember learning/memorizing two 10-page, "Musically Advanced II" piano solos for my Piano Festival that was in February, along with a 25-page Senior Concerto to be performed in March when after literally HOURS of practice (granted, I loved it!) that my arms would be extremely tired, and occasionally I couldn't move my hands in any short amount without incredible pain.  Hindsight...that...was...probably too much...  ...And...that was usually after a full day at school where I spent a good portion of time on the piano for choir.  "But classes were only, what, 87 minutes?? [~1.5 hours]" you hesitantly and questioningly say... ...Yeah, but I was in Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, Student Director/Pretty much teacher of Mixed Chorus, and had a free period after that where I would have time to (what else?) Practice.  That, plus 30 minutes of lunch could round up to from 2-5 hours with a piano at school a day.  (Wanna hear a joke? Okay, so someone says to me last year,
"Oh, so you're in choir?"
"Yep." :)
"What part do you sing?"
"Piano."
"...You sing softly?"
"Oh, no, I've actually had a time where someone thought I stuck out. AMAZING for me, I know.  But I spend most of my time on my baby, Victoria. ...That's...the name we've given the gorgeous Baby Grand Steinway......"
"...Oh...." And they walk off with this weird look. Perhaps confusion, and pity? Please don't pity.  You'd love it, too, if you got to play a piano like Victoria so much...) Okay, in truth, I don't actually recall that situation, it's just a possibility.

So, anywhere from 2-5 hours at school, then you come home and practice what you didn't there, and add in your own selection ranging anywhere from Brahms to Jon Schmidt...the latter more frequently as stress would come... ;)  I'd end up with literally several hours of piano a day.  Hmm....

But why in the month of June do I suddenly have a steady and rapid depletion of strength in my arms??  Sigh.  I really probably just spend too much time on the computer.  But other times when my arms have been perfectly fine, I've propped myself up on my bed with a book, or gripped something for a short amount of time and they've fired up like Ol' Bessie and the subject in matter is quickly dispersed, and ice and an ace bandage take its place.  Sadly, a lot of things turn into a rant on my arms.  I'm trying not to.  I just figure... ...Okay, I've got nothin'.  Just complaining.

Moving on.  Things happen in life, when they do, for a specific and legitimate reason.  We, (Thankfully) don't see exactly why all the time, but, if we remember to keep our cool and not lose our heads, which in turn allows others to keep theirs (and we're all very thankful for that, I'm sure) we'll be better off, and more likely than not be able to see how things worked out for our good.  The nice thing we can remember, is that even if things don't "go right"....
.....It'll all be Okay.  Things will work out for the better, and we'll be able to realize that even if it's not our desired best, it's probably for the best in someone else's life.  Accidents included.  Poor and yet mind-blowingly brilliant Thomas Edison had to realize that, somewhere in between time number one and time 9, 365 of trying for the right light bulb.  Okay, it may not have been that many tries, but hey.  We're going for effect, here.  And it's My blog, anyways...

So I read the third Harry Potter book a few weeks ago, simply because I saw it on the couch.  And I started on page 40ish.  Kaden hated it, cause every time he'd put it down and get up to do something, I'd start reading it.  Haha.  Sorry, bro. ;) :-p Then I promptly skipped books four, five and six and read the seventh one again.  In like, two, three days?  I think I like those two the best.  Maybe one is in third, but third is definitely first. ;) hahaha, I love mind twisters...especially when I'm in control of them.

Take this one.

When an individual of no said title departs the scene of which said entity has taken part, and upon turning their body so as to lay eye to the wreckage, at what point in the continuum of time and energy will the gravity of said departed situation be fully comprehended by the graduated person?

Who can comprehend this one? Second question: Who can understand it?  ....I do.... ;) :D

Yeah, so, basically I'm taking the assumption that when you take any amount of ADD and put it into a deep, questioning/contemplative mode, it becomes brilliant, eh?  Yep, sticking with that.  Anticipation.  Can always be expected, and yet, never fully or completely arrives...
Life works, Accidents included.

I'm off to figure out Piano....
Oh, and by the way...
...happy August End.
:) ;-) :-/
Love, Me.