Juries and remembering my mom

Yay!! and I did well too.. I was SOO nervous, but the faculty seemed to be impressed that I memorized the piece and worked so hard. It's a LONG piece of music, and I've really made some improvements, especially since my recital last November. And even the past couple of weeks I made some real progress with my piece. It was Bach Suite 5 Prelude and Fugue - it's 4 pages long! But I love it. And I have had some great musical experiences with it too. And Rachael and I have been listening and helping each other with advices and such the past couple of days. She is a great example to me of working hard and also having the Spirit while playing. I like that I can think of the Savior when I play. Even in my jury I thought of Him there with me. I'm glad to know that He was there for me.
I've been thinking of my mom too the past few days. She used to play this one fugue by Bach and I was thinking about how she would play it. She always took the tempo down from how the "professionals" might play it, in general, so I brought my tempo down too. And it did make a difference! My mom's playing can always be defined as expressive, I was thinking about this, and I realized that education wise, I've come as far as she has, and maybe that means I'm just as good of a musician as she was in college. WOW! And that would be saying something. My mom is pretty amazing. And I'm expressive too, and I want to carry on that legacy, that memory and that spirit that my mom had when she played. A part of me still regrets not working as hard on the piano to be as good as she is, but I am grateful that I went on in music and I know she appreciates that. I guess I can just think, someday in Heaven we'll do chamber music like we used to, and now I have new skills so we'll be even better than before. Aahhh not crying.
Speaking of piano, yesterday I recorded that song that I wrote. I'm so excited! It turned out so nice, and I'm grateful for that! I can't wait for Annalaura and Ricky to hear it - since it's dedicated to both of them. I guess one of the great things about being a BA in music is that hopefully I will focus this next semester on composing ~ I'm signed up for semester II of Composition class, and I'm really looking forward to it. Maybe I'll compose a piece that I can perform in my recital! That would be awesome.
I love that I'm writing songs again. I blame it on Ricky, but I'm so glad he pushed me to write songs and he just loves them. I feel great about this new one because I know that a lot of people can relate to it. Plus the recording turned out so well! And writing songs and playing them always invites the Spirit. Always. It's a great experience and I would recommend it for anyone. And we're always self conscious about it but if you have someone who will appreciate it no matter what, that always helps. And those people are easier to find than we may think. We also have our Heavenly Father, who always wants to hear from us.
Well, I'm glad that I was able to write again. No work today! yay! but there is a training meeting thing that I have to go to in 45 minutes, then dinner with my friends from the internship class, and Debbie's coming too :) and then music practice at the Friday Night Activity. Then study (possibly lol) and then scripture study then talking to Ricky (I hardly talked to him at all last night) and then sleep. oh, how glorious sleep will be tonight, now that my juries are over! :)

Love,
Stephi

6 Days until the Semester's over
9 Days until I go home to see my family!
14 Days until Christmas!
15 Days until I see my sweetheart!

Gratitude List

Wow, I have just been so blessed this week it's just remarkable!
I am grateful to my Heavenly Father that:
I have my family and my fiance that love me no matter what and I love them so much.
We had a great concert this Sunday!
I bore my testimony - and cried. but the good kind of crying.
I paid my tithing and offerings!! What a blessing that is!
Emily's home!
I went to Sun-yi's baptism and I could feel the Spirit and I could think of people to share the gospel with - Rachael, Allison from work, and Sean.
The missionaries helped me make a goal to find someone for the missionaries to teach in 6 weeks. - well, I've only got 5 weeks now. At least I thought of those people.
This missionary mindedness just makes me so happy - I love how it makes me feel about my brothers and sisters - when I think of it that way, I just want to share the gospel with them.
I talked to Ricky's mom yesterday - wow I just love her so much! And she loves me. She's so encouraging, she says that I'll be a great member missionary and that we can work together when I'm visiting in Mexico. She also encourages me as a person.
I'm grateful that I was able to get a jury time that wasn't during work! *phew*
Bilingual club was cancelled today so I could have an extra hour or so to practice.
Lots of snow, but we're safe, and now Debbie's here! :)
This lady offered to give me a gorgeous wedding dress for free!!!! And Ricky likes it too! I'm so blessed.
I had a great chat with Sister McCullough
And I talked to Annalaura yesterday!! We are so alike, I look up to her so much.
I'm writing an awesome wedding song and it's going to be a wedding present for Annalaura.
I was able to do my laundry - random I know but I'm glad to have clean clothes again!
Wednesday deal at Papa Johns!! and if this nice lady didn't tell us we would've just left without buying anything because we're not rich.
Food delivery is amazing. I had Jimmy Johns delivered to me last night.
I've been studying already for exams! yay!!
I had a great discussion/performance with Rachael - my Bach was the best it's ever been!!
I survived on that day with 4 hours of sleep.. yay!
Debbie and Emily were there to comfort me when I was having a mood swing meltdown.
Ricky is at the fair today - I'm happy when he goes out and has fun. I know he misses me.
I caught the bus today when I thought I wasn't going to make it.
Ricky helped edit my Spanish paper! that is just so awesome and he corrected all my little errors.
I'm liking this snow.. well.. not the wind or driving on ice or the slush.. but I'm liking the snow a lot more than I thought I would! there's something about those first couple of weeks that gets me every time. I can't wait until Ricky see's it someday!
I'm graduating in April so I can move to Mexico in May! And at first I was nervous about making that decision but I felt a confirmation that I should and I am so grateful that Heavenly Father answers my concerns and my desires.
I just had my LAST SPANISH CLASS EVER!!! that's exciting.. finishing a major. no more Spanish ever again!! jk!!!!! I'm grateful that I have my own personal tutor every single day.
I'm grateful for the many many countless blessings, in little things like catching the bus and big things like a free dress, or things that I can't replace like my family and my fiance, for friends that encourage me, even for trials, for helping me become better, for Jesus Christ being there with me. There are so many things that I haven't written here. It's like, WOW, Heavenly Father really wants me to be happy and to know that He loves me. I'm so grateful for that and I just had to write it. I hope that I can show my gratitude to Him more every day.
Love,
Stephanie

2 Semanas until break!!!

I can't wait for this semester to be over.. but now is the time - I gotta figure out what I am going to do about my degree.. I'm meeting with Margaret Hamilton today, Fedotov discussed possibilities of graduating this summer... but I don't know if that's even possible. We're going to find out.

I'm still grateful though, really. But prayers are always welcome anyway!
Love,
Stephi