Piano

I realized it has been  long time since I have been on here. I think about posting quite a bit but then I usually say I will do it tomorrow. Anyways somethings that have happened since the last time I posted anything. 

I went to Missouri and visited my brother, sister-in-law and there four kids, Iloved every second of it and although we didn't do much as far as going out it was exactly the time that I needed. Also I have been released from my calling as the Relief Society President in my ward and since then I have gained three. Right now I am a ward missionary, the ward fellowshipping specialist, and the choir pianist. 

If you have not heard of a ward fellowshipping specialist that is because the bishopric came up with the calling. I don't know how to explain it perfectly but if I figure out how to say it I will post it in another post.

Part of my post today is just to hold me responsible for a few goals that I want to share, I know it is a little early to make new years resolutions but they are a couple goals I want to accomplish before 2015. I have this piano book called The Library of Piano Classics. I have had it for a number of years and my goal is to be able to play each piece in the book there are 90 songs and since I am starting now that means I need to average about 2 songs a week. At this point I do have two songs down and they are "Four Pieces From The Little Notebook" by Bach, and "Fur Elise" by Beethoven. I have played other songs but only in passing I haven't been worked on any other songs then these two. Also I will need to play each piece for someone. This will be a challenge I only consider myself an average piano player but I want to become better and I know that this will help me do that. Of course being the ward choir pianist will help me as well. I am looking forward to completing this goal.

Another goal that I have is to change all my home cleaning supplies to homemade non-toxic cleaners. Realizing how much these cleaning supplies can effect your system and others really made me want to switch over. I realize that this won't necessarily mean that everything I do will be toxic free but at least I will have made a vast improvement.

And lastly is a two part goal. I started this year as a size 16 right now I am a size 14 and by the end of this year I should be a size 12. My ideal size is a size 8 but just to prove that I can by the end of next year I want to have reached a size 6 and maintain that size for a month before going back to a size 8. To accomplish this my main form of cardio exercise is Zumba so I also want to be a Zumba instructor and have at least 4 classes to teach each week. 

These are all things that are going to really stretch me to improve myself but they all mean something specially to me, which is why I made them into goals. Wish me luck!

Institute

I am so grateful for institute. I have been able to graduate from it already but I love it somuch that I still go. This past year I have been attending three different class (at one point 4). I've been doing this not to boast but because I have had the time to. Many people think that once they graduate or once they get married that they shouldn't go but I have gained much by still going and I invite anyone who has time or can make time should strive to go. I know that the promise that has been given us by President Monson is true "If you are a single college student, I ask you to make participation in institute a priority. Married students and other young adults are also welcome and encouraged to attend. Think of it. Friends will be made, the Spirit will be felt, and faith will be strengthened. I promise you that as you participate in institute and study scriptures diligently, your power to avoid temptation and to receive direction of the Holy Ghost in all you do will be increased. Divine favor will attend those who humbly seek it. That is a promise which I leave with you." (May 21, 2009)
  I am so grateful that we have this program I know that even if you can only attend every now and then it will truly bless you, your testimony and here ever you are in your conversion process.

This year so far

So this year I decided to go back to school though itas only been a year since I finished massage school there is more that I feel I need to learn in order to go down the path that I feel the Lord needs me to be. I started with the Pathway program through BYU-I. I have learned things that I think will really help my study skills which I have had problems building. Also I like the people that I have met there. I've learned things there that I've been able to use to magnify my calling as well.

My job with Elements has been going well and I have built some client base though I have a ways to go to have it the way that I want and I am thinking that I will start somewhere else soon so that I can gain more experience to achieve my goal for the future.

I am planning to move soon from my apartment and buying a house from Dad and I am excited to have my own place, being in a house instead of an apartment, and planting my garden. Also I am excited that my money will be going towards something that I will be keeping instead of a temporary thing.

I thought I would do an overview of what my 2012 has been like.

Work:
I officially finished massage school in January and I passed my certification exam on the first try then I became a Licensed Massage Practitioner by June. At the start of the year I was working as a nursing assistant doing in-home care I had been working as a nursing assistant since July of 2007 I loved my job I learned a lot from that job and don't regret having done it. But it was time to move on to better things and I started working at Elements Therapeutic Massage and in July I worked my fist shift there, it has been wonderful I love my coworkers and I love the clients that I've seen. Some days are slower then others and the amount on the checks fluctuate which is not something that I'm used to so it has helped me be a little better in budgeting (I still have room for improvement with that). But over all I love it.

Brothers:
My Oldest Brother has been traveling back and forth from South Dakota and Spokane all year since his family is here but he works there. He seems to be making enough to support his family but I wish that he and is family were together all the time since it seems like they're missing out on so many memories that they could have and the kids are just growing so fast that I think that in the long run they will all regret that they couldn't have been together more. I do love having the kids here in Spokane though and though I don't get to see them as often as I wish I am glad their here.
My Older Brother and his wife were living in Tacoma, Washington but things didn't go the way that they hoped it would and ended up moving to Kansas City, Missouri during the spring. It was nice when they were living so close by and I wish they had been able to stay I could have visited so many times during the summer but they seem to be thriving in Missouri and hopefully I will be able to visit them once or twice this year especially since they are expecting their fourth child here in March. I am so happy for them that things are looking up though life is never without its challenges.
My Little Brother started dating a girl from our singles ward on January 21st and was talking about marriage a month later. They got married in June. I am so happy for both of them. I know that they will do well together and I believe that it was perfect timing for them to start dating. I had told Matt a number of times that he should date her (we were all in the same ward for quite some time) but I believe that they were both finally ready this year. I believe that they will be very happy together.

Church:
I started this year with 3 callings - Relief Society Pianist, Sacrament Pianist, and Munch and Mingle Coordinator, I loved all three of them, I could play almost any hymn at need and I was able to get Munch and Mingle more organized and more people were bringing food. I was loving all my callings and yet they were still some what challenging then because my little brother married the lady that was the Relief Society President and they left the ward I came to receive one of the most difficult callings a woman can receive in the church. It has stretched me in ways that no other calling has done before, I am sure that I can do more. I have loved my presidency even with the changes that I have had to make along the way.