Sharing the Good

Some tidbits that I've loved lately...

I share an account with my mom and sister with Deseret bookshelf which has tons of great audiobooks, ebooks, and talks for a good price each month (especially when you split the cost with two other people). Lately Austin and I have been listening to Hank Smith or Sheri Dew talks while we get ready for the day. They are both equally hilarious and inspiring. It's bringing back a lot of good memories of me and my sister Emily driving the Mazda in high school and having two Sheri Dew talks on repeat.

Since my friend Melanie moved to Florida, I've been on the lookout for a new piano teacher. I had the though to email a lady in the stake and she had one spot left. It turned out great and I just went with it. My first lesson was today and first, the area in her house where we have lessons is beautiful. She has this nice baby grand where the side of it is up against these windows that have sheer curtains and the sun just comes in the house real nice. It's like, how can you not play beautiful music here? 

I applied for a piano teaching position at this academy here (sounds more official than I think it is). Haven't heard back but being at my piano lesson today just sparked in me that I can totally do this. I've been really worried that me being out of the music scene for almost 10 years would put me behind in a lot of ways. Learning music is like learning a language (especially when it comes to theory) and so I really need to brush up on it. It's one thing to know it but then to teach it is a whole other game, especially when it's young kids. I've been finding these great resources though and it's given me confidence that I can do this. And motivates me to build up my studio in time. 

Even though we don't have a piano right now, I'm so glad we live close to campus where there is a whole building dedicated to practice rooms. I just back my little backpack, head on the trail to campus, and listen to a good audiobook on the way. Right now I'm listening to "A Greater Journey" by David McCullough. Really interesting. 

For the love of Kale: I think I have this deep inner desire to be hippie, or at least I tell myself that because we still don't own a microwave. #sorryBubs But this summer I've been like 'give me all the kale'! I'm so bizarre but my lunch is just pile high of kale, hummus, salsa, candied jalapeños, rice, and chips. It's so good. 

Institute-Ever since winter 2012, when I met Austin, I have always taken an institute class (minus that one summer in Pocatello) but that's almost 6 years and I still have not technically 'graduated' from Institute. #facepalm But I really just go because I love learning and I love the gospel so I'll take any chance I get. I'm especially excited about this semesters class. 

We have a new institute director (who knows Dani and Nic and apparently is a big Ute fan so I'll be sure to wear my BYU shirt any chance I get) but he is a phenomenal teacher! Our first lesson was just packed with good stuff. We're studying the first half of the Book of Mormon. We looked at the title page and it talks about how the Book of Mormon is to convince us that Jesus is the Christ. We could have spent all class just giving such scriptural examples. Then we read in 1 Nephi 1 about tender mercies and if the beginning and the ending of the Book of Mormon is evidence of God's tender mercies, then we need to find them in the scriptures. I never looked at it that way before but just between the first and fifth chapters there were so many. It's opened my eyes to a new way of studying. 

Looking for a good movie? Austin and I loved "A United Kingdom". The description from imdb: The story of King Seretse Khama of Botswana and how his loving but controversial marriage to a British white woman, Ruth Williams, put his kingdom into political and diplomatic turmoil.

Looking for a good laugh? You need to watch Kellen Erskine's dry bar comedy routine on VidAngel. You don't need a membership (I think you do need to sign up) but it's free on there. It's only 40 minutes long. I think I've seen it 4 times and I laugh hard every time! 

What good things have you found recently?