Music and the Spoken Word

I am a choir nerd. I know, surprise surprise.

I got an email from my subscription with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir saying they would be preforming at the new Eccles Theater. This was some very exciting news. 

I immediately texted Jennie and my Mom saying that we should totally go! 

And they agreed.

This theater is beautiful. And MoTab was amazing.

I know the chances of me attending this theater again are fairly slim. 

(Believe me, I looked at tickets for future shows.... I can't afford that.) 

But I am so grateful I got a free look at this venue. It was a perfect combination of modern and classic. The starry ceiling was a nice touch.

All I can say is, if you ever get a chance to go to Eccles Theater, go.

*Bonus*

MoTab sang this song today (obviously not this video) and I just loved it. It is a great reminder that we should appreciate the beautiful world God has given us.

A Sunday Mini Road Trip

Melissa came home from her mission!

If you need a Melissa refresher course, she was my roommate my freshman year.

She is originally from Smithfield, so this meant a mini road trip for her homecoming. I asked Jennie to go with me so that I didn't have to drive that entire way by myself. It is always more entertaining to go with someone. We listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for the entire drive. There may or may not have been Christmas included in the music selection.

We hit some heavy rain traveling both ways, but with a prayer in our hearts and MoTab on the radio, we kept driving along.

Of course you can't travel up north and not visit the Logan Temple.
(One of these days I'll actually do a session there).

Jennie & Heidi

Heidi & Melissa

Beautiful fall colors across from the Logan Temple

Logan Temple

Jennie & Heidi ft. Logan Temple

Logan Temple on the hill

Happiest News

Guess what everyone! I am graduating!

Ahhh!!!

Let me explain my excitement.

A few months ago I logged onto my graduation track and saw that I was at ninety-two percent. This was exciting because ninety-two percent is so close to one hundred. But I was worried about tying up those loose ends. I had it in my mind that I needed eight classes till graduation. This was never a correct number. I kept telling people that my pending graduation date was in my May but I might have to take some summer classes. 

I went to create my fall schedule and I found the most glorious surprise.

Six classes.

Six classes was all I needed to reach the end of the college tunnel. Six classes is doable in one semester. That meant that I would not only be walking in May but actually done in May.

Now, I just need to get into those six classes at the times I have arranged and we will be home free.

So wish me luck!

P.S I get giddy every time I think of May 2017.

Goodbye September, Hello October

Wow.

Where in the world did September go?

Now that we are almost half way through October,
let me catch you up on September. 

Lagoon Night. 

Cannibal was amazing. Nerve wracking and just enough butterflies to make you want to do it again. I am total adrenaline junkie.

I have some serious heart eyes for Utah. This shot is from Silver Lake. I was scouting out photo locations and fell in love with this mini forest.

Concert at the tabernacle with Jennie. Not pictured Mom and Dad.

Hale Centre Theatre with Mom for her birthday present. We have awaited this night all year and we were not disappointed.

In September I ditched the android train and jumped onto the apple bus. I was worried I wouldn't like the switch but I am three weeks in and still haven't had buyers remorse. I would say that is a good sign. 

And of course, here is a little Beckett dose for you.

This little guy lights up my life. His smile melts my heart every morning before I have to go to work or school. I love waking up knowing he is at my house. 

Labor Day

 Now that Labor Day has come and gone, I figured I should probably blog about it.

Savanna (SJ) bought a new car! So she texted asking if I was interesting in going for a drive on Labor Day. Of course I was down for a drive.
We drove to the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway. Drove passed Cascade Springs, into Midway, naturally taking the long way home through Guardsman Pass, and down Big Cottonwood Canyon.
We stopped at a few different spots for photo opportunities.

SJ and the new Jeep

Savanna & Heidi

 

 To end the day, we had some family friends over and played volleyball, pickleball, and ate Disneyland Copycat Corndogs. I didn't get pictures of the festivities, but I did get one of the sunset.

Snowbird

Another Anderson Family Tradition!

My Grandparents have a timeshare at Snowbird.

We go swimming, hang out, and celebrate birthdays!

It is always a party when the Anderson clan gets together.
Our Snowbird weekend typically falls on the first week of school. So Snowbird is the official closing of summer. Kind of sad, but also a nice transition into fall.
Now if I could only get up into the mountains more often.

Jennie & Heidi

fun pano of the trees

Dad, Brandt, Meme, Keshia, Joe, Heidi, & Jennie

First Week of Senior Year

Hello Ramblers!

I have some exciting news, I am a senior in college! 

[insert screaming and jumping up and down]
It was an eventful first week. I wrote my schedule on a sticky note. Professional, right? Anyways, for my night class, I had it in my mind that my class was in the LA building. Well, it wasn't. My class was four buildings over. I was mortified that I was going to be late. I am rarely late. I was able to speed walk my way across campus in 9 minutes. Lucky for me, my professor started class a minute after I got there.  Night class has a few downsides, but a few perks as well. One perk being, the sunset.

I'm excited for this semester. I can tell it will be a good one. Stressful but good. 

Turning Point

Who am I?

This question has been on my mind the past couple of months.

How do you explain yourself to a stranger?

How does your family and friends view you?

Are you living a life, that once you meet your maker you can say you are proud of who you've become?
* * *

My life has become very repetitious. Which isn't a bad thing. Most the time I prefer it because of my personality. But with the repetition, you lose yourself.
At least I know I did.

* * *

This summer I am taking three classes for school, working, and attending church. Those three classes are consuming my summer, and I am trying to work at DFCU and as a photographer. I got in a groove of finishing my classes for the week just in time for the next week to start. It was/is an endless cycle. 

 For a month or so I didn't feel like I was progressing. In any stage in life.
So what did I do? I went to the temple. I received personal revelation that life as I knew it was changing. I listened to a prompting and within days everything was in motion.
One second I was texting about an appointment with the Bishop and next thing I knew I was in his office to talk about receiving my endowments. I was on cloud 9, and he noticed. I left this meeting with direction. I was so excited for this next step. Of course I was nervous because this is a huge step, but the right one nonetheless.

I started attending the temple prep classes and reading the Preparing for the Holy Temple pamphlet. I have gone through the class before and I've read this pamphlet many times but this time, I saw them both through different eyes. It really is amazing how the Lord works. Even though I had done this prep before, it feels different when you have a date in mind and a temple picked out. It was a testimony builder for me. I was learning more because of my readiness to enter the temple.
* * *
Seven weeks went by. I had chosen my date and which temple I wanted to go through. The next step was telling those who would attend the endowment session with me. I think that telling Brandt and Meme was my favorite moment leading up to the temple session. They didn't know I was preparing for the temple, so it was a total surprise. Watching their faces light up will be a moment I cherish for the rest of my life.
* * * 
The week leading up to the "big day" was the hardest. I wanted to tell every single person I saw that I was going through the temple. But I also wanted to keep this little piece of gold all to myself. I felt ready, but at the same time I was scrambling to read everything about the temple. My feelings could be described as: anxious, excited, nervous, and comfort. All the extremes. Talking with Shaelee was a huge comfort, since she just went through these feelings last week. She gave me great advice that calmed my anxious heart.
* * * 
I have completed this journey, even though my journey has just begun. I am so grateful for all the support I have gotten during this time of my life. I am excited for what the future holds. This experience was something I can't put into words. So grateful that I can go back and remember the important promises made on this day.

Tyler, Christina, Keshia, Joseph, Brandt, Meme, Grandma L, Mom, Dad, Heidi *Not Pictured Grandma and Grandpa A. Strongly missed Grandpa L.

Mom, Dad, Heidi

8.6.16
Mount Timpanogos Temple