Choir-palooza

This past week was amazing. It filled with so much wonderful choir times. We had our Wintersong concert and it was fabulous. I love performing! I was especially proud of the two younger choirs I work with, Shumayela and Kikimasu. They both did so well. Watch the clips on YouTube, trust me you won't forget it. My favorite part of the concert was when all five choirs in the organization combined to sing Silent Night. My favorite Christmas song. The final verse always gets me, and I marvel at how the Savior could come down so humbly as a little baby. What a wonderful gift for all of us. One of pure love. I am so grateful for that night, and for my Savior. Indeed there was "the dawn of redeeming grace".

Life has been so busy. Good thing I love Christmas and everything that goes with it, or else I could be very miserable. But I'm not. Quite the opposite actually. Hoorah for Christmas!

ps- YouTube Kokopelli choirs channel and find "Christmas chopsticks" and "Winter Winds"

Big week

I don't have much time but not wanting to skip a week I have decided to do a blog in pictures. Lots of things happened, including Dawson completing his mission and Stage getting married. A picture is worth a thousand words, so if you tale that into consideration this will be my longest blog yet!
1. Me with some of my MTC district at their final transfer meeting. It was so cool to see them again post mission!
2. Dawson's welcome 'home' sign.
3. Sierra glad Dawson is back
4. More Dawson
5. Stage and Amelia's wedding!!
6. My hair
7. With the parents
8. Lybbert FAM
9. It was cold but happy
10. Shoe game
11. Sierra caught the bouquet
12. Stage launched the garter
13. Cake topper. Very appropriate for this couple...
14. First dance
15. Stage and I dancing
16. Siblings!

That's all for now! Enjoy! :)

Tut Tut Turtle

Ok so I may be slacking a bit on my 'experiments'. I think I need to do more research and find good goals, because right now they are kind of lacking. I will start writing down ideas too and maybe even make a schedule. With that in place I will be on my way and perhaps this blog will be slightly more exciting then it already is (if thats possible). haha.

My unofficial goal this week was to get all my Christmas cards done. That didn't happen, but I did do pretty good. I am almost done with only 4 left......of ones that I'm sending to the States. I figured I dont need to be as hasty with people here cause I don't plan on giving those out for 2.5 more weeks. Actually thats not too far away either. I guess I better get cracking!

I love Christmas, I am pretty much obsessed. And this was a great week for fun Christmas activities. On Saturday I went to a Relief Society activity where we were making chocolate turtles. Everything went well until I melted the chocolate. You see, the recipe said to melt chocolate chips, butter, and parowax together. But all we had was dipping chocolate. So I just used that and the butter. Turns out I didn't actually need the butter and ended up making a chocolate paste. Oops. Good thing we had extra chocolate! Theystill turned out delicious. The next day I was having some friends over for a tree decorating/lighting party. I thought I would wow them with my new found turtle making skills. It started out alright, but too high of heat led to over cooked caramel. Thats probably an understatement. When they cooled they were rock hard. My friends were optomistic and ate them any ways. We even dipped them in chocolate (that I didn't make into paste...). I liken them to petrified turtle eggs, and the only way to eat one without breaking a tooth was to suck on them for a very long time. I guess theses chocolates worked great if you were watching your weight. Since it took you an hour to eat one. At the end of the night my roommate Bethany's boyfriend, Merrill, took all but two home. Good thing boys will eat anything!

Decorating the tree was also eventful. Bethany and I thought we had a box of ornaments in the basement. So I didn't bother getting any. Only to discover that there was no box, it was MIA. Thankfully my friend, Emily, brought 3 ornaments her girl guides made, I had two ornaments, and Kaitlyn fasioned a star out of tin foil. So despite there being only 5 decorations it was still lovely. Luckily I had picked up some lights. And now our tree stands in the window, looking as magical as ever.

Lessons learned this week?
1. Don't melt dipping chocolate and butter together if all you want to do is dip chocolates.
2. Don't overboil caramel if you're looking to keep all your teeth while eating it.
3. A Christmas tree is still a Christmas tree, even when you only have 5 decorations on it. :)

Thank you Piano Man!

I did not learn a new song on the guitar. But I did learn a new song on the piano and I became the fill in accompanist for the Shumayela choir. Not just in practice either, in a performance. So I feel like that is a worthy substitute. And the one thing I was really concerned about was being able to turn my pages and not get lost or lose my place. Its a tricky situation to be in. Then a choir miracle happened. I kid you not. As soon as I started playing in performance after my first page turn, the church pianist started turning my pages. He saw the need and graciously rose to the occasion. Thank you piano man! 

In other news, I am a Twilight fan once again. I had grown apart from my love for it, but decided to go see the final installment of the films for old times sake. It just reignited the flame. Turns out I'm that girl. And I am okay with it. I realize this doesn't have much to do with self betterment. But it is helping me be me, and that's that.

Best week ever. At least one of them.

This past week I decided to extend my daily service attempts. I admit I did alright but there is room for improvement. And so this is something I need to try and perfect. In the mean time I am going to move on and focus on something else. I am going to learn a new song on the guitar. I'm not sure what song yet, but I will figure it out and report back next week.

Of course I know your all dying to know why the week was so awesome. Well you see it involved a snow day. It was actually a partial snow day since I still had to work. But choir and institute were canceled for the evening. So I did what any sane person would do and went home and played in the snow. I forgot how wonderful snow days really were. I wish they came more often. And as I was laying in the snow just looking up at the sky I realized how awesome life is. How well Heavenly Father knows His children, since that night was exactly what I needed. Also, how cool I must have looked, an adult frolicking in the snow by herself. And I couldn't have been happier.

Another thing that made my weekend was Saturday. I got to see so many of my dearest friends through out the day. And I had a performance with my choir, Oran. I love performing. Seriously love it. That's why I've done so many artsy things, cause I can't get over the thrill and rush it gives me. Let's hope I always get the chance. To top the night off I had a late dinner with some of my favorite people. I have great friends. How did I get so lucky? However it happened I'm glad it did. Cause my life certainly is better because of it.

Well, its late and I'm tired. I would have left this but I promised myself I would do it. So a mini celebration is in order, because I wrote another blog post. Woot!

Why my family is the best in the whole world!

As you can see by the title, I intend to set out why my family is indeed the best in the whole world. Its a fact.

First reason would be my amazing grandparents. Seriously they are all the best. I just came from spending a day at my Allen grandparents house. They are my Mom's parents and they live on a farm just outside of Whitecourt. They have lived there for as long as I can remember. As a child it was my playground. Constant exploration. My grandma has taught me all her baking/cooking secrets. Well its still in the process, I don't know if I'll ever truly get there. She makes me laugh so hard every time I go over. Being there and with her makes me happy. My grandpa Allen is one of the best people I know. He is the kindest person around and definitely the hardest working. He recently got an award for work, he is number 1 in Canada. I figure its only a matter of time before the UN and Nobel prize people come knocking on his door.

I've also been blessed to come from a long line of Lybberts. Best name ever. Both of my dad's parents have an incredible legacy in the church. And they have continued it beautifully. So much to learn of service and true missionary work from both of them. Coupled with excellent cowboy logic, what more could a girl ask for?

The Ewers, my moms father and family are people that I cannot imagine my life without. To think of a word to sum them up would be kindness. Never have I felt anything less than completely welcome and at home with them. My grandma Eileen has passed on, but I have no doubt she is just as busy serving there like she was here.

So you see, I have the best grandparents. My next reason would be my incredibly fantastic siblings. When I think of the possibility of being an only child it makes me sad. Cause my siblings are my best friends. There was always a lot of laughter in my house growing up, and that hasn't changed. When I think of all my memories it makes me smile And sometimes even laugh out loud. How did I get so lucky to be sister to 4 of the coolest people in the world? I don't know bit I'm sure glad. They are amazing examples to me. One day I want to be like them. Today Stage was at my grandparents house. He knows how to serve and make you feel special. All the while rolling in laughter.

Then my final reason is of course my parents. Funny, persevering, kind, smart, incredible, crazy, and loving. There was never a moment in my life that I didn't know my parents loved me. Not only did they tell me but they showed me through their actions. Somehow they managed to raise my 4 siblings and I, despite our craziness, especially Stages. And there is still joy in the journey. My favorite memories of all time are those when my whole family was together. Nothing beats that. And I for one am incredibly grateful that I get to be with them forever. I don't know how its fair for that I got sent to the best family in the whole world, but I'm certainly glad I did! Thanks for making my life happy.

There is a quote from my favorite author Victor Hugo in his book Les Miserables that goes like this "the greatest thing in life is being loved. Having someone love you for oneself and having someone love you in spite of yourself." Sums it up. My family makes me better. Thanks for that and everything else! Love you all!

Three is the magic number.

Post number three. So far, so good. This past week seemed to fly by. The weekend ended and I felt like I needed a weekend from my weekend. But alas, Monday arrived like it usually does. Good thing I really like my job, it helps a lot.

I once again forgot to make a new experiment for this past week. Or at least an official one. My unofficial goal was to not freeze off any extremities. I wonder how I have lived in Canada my whole life. Has it really always gotten this cold? And then I think of the brutal reality that it just gets colder from here. California may have made me a cold weather sissy. While I dislike cold and winter driving. I do love the beauty of a freshly fallen snow. Very pure.

This week I decided to take on the challenge given in this months general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I can't remember who it was (my notes are downstairs and I'm a bit too lazy to fetch them right now), but he said to pray every day for a opportunity to serve. And then spend the day aware and looking. Obviously this is something I want to carry on, more than just a week. I'm happy to report that after day one (being today) I was really looking for things. And I only had a couple really small seemingly insignificant occasions. I hope they count. I am really excited to see what this week brings.

In other news, its Halloween this Wednesday. I am so excited. I just love holidays!!! So to all that read this before then, Happy haunting!! I myself plan on eating copious amounts of candy. I've already began!

PS the picture is of Lisa and I. She is a fantastic zebra and I am the explorer who found her. Along with a meerkat.

Blog Post the Second

I have officially made it to my second entry. Pretty sure the one time I tried to start a blog last time it really only lasted for two entries. So the real test will be surpassing this one and moving onto number 3. I think the real celebration will come when I hit my 52nd entry cause that means it will have been a year. Or maybe it won't even be a year, I will just be so into this blog that I can't stop writing. Either way a party of some sorts will happen after 51 more posts. Feel free to give me ideas of how one is supposed to party over blog.

My first week is done, along with my starting point of going a week without TV/movies. Honestly, it was a needed break, though at first it was hard. Just imagine, I lived for 19 months without it. Now I'm back to that point, I don't think about it as much, which was the purpose. Also, my sleep schedule improved significantly. So I'd say TV/movie free week was a success. Now to go from there. This week, while not completely void of TV/ movies, I have limited them significantly.

My week was very full, lots of fun things happened. And while this is not the only purpose of my blog, I figure its okay to give a brief run down of the things I learned and observed.

First: Good friends are people that make you a better person. My old roommate Tristin came over on Sunday and told me this, so I didn't come up with it on my own. I had never thought about it that way. And it made so much sense to me why I enjoy certain people so much and want to spend time with them. They help me to be a better person. Win.

Second: I attended a concert on Sunday for Joshua Radin and A Fine Frenzy. Both amazing artists. And probably one of my favorite concerts. Why? Because the venue was McDougall United Church downtown. So rather than being crazy and having various crowd surfers kicking you in the head, I could sit back and enjoy the music. Win.

Third: Pumpkins are more fun to carve whilst in the presence of friends and family. Actually everything is. But I carved pumpkins with friends yesterday so I thought I would throw that in there. Well done folks.

Alright, I'm going to end this here. But I do need ideas for future 'experiments' I should try. Lisa sent me a suggestion to see if I could go a month without eating processed foods. That would be tricky, and so crazy that I just may try it. I certainly will not be starting that anytime this year though. Halloween and Christmas are fast approaching and lets face it, one of my favorite things is food. So send me ideas, and I most likely will try them in at least some way. Then you can be infamous on my blog, cause I'm pretty sure its going to be a movie one day. Fame awaits you!

A Beginning

Well, here it is. I find that I face mini "life crisis" moments after I have done or completed some big milestone in my life. Crisis might be too strong of a word, but for lack of a better one at the moment I will stick with it. An example of one of my personal mini life crisis' happened when I finished University. I found myself staring into the future going "What next?". As a result of that particular occasion I ended up joining the Kokopelli Youth Choir. These 'mini life crisis' moments have been few, but have always resulted in wonderful new chapters in my life. So now 4 months after I finished a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I saw the cycle repeating again. My mission was wonderful, and hands down the best thing I have ever done in my life. I will share more about it later, but at this point I mean to explain the reason for this blog. Last week I was wondering what I should do next, and the idea came to me that I was watching way too much tv/movies. And so I planned on cutting them out, at least for a week so I could refocus on my goals in life, and the person I wanted to be. That was my jumping off point. Then through many conversations with various friends I decided to make blogging part of it. And just a sidenote, I am really not a great writer. In University I had weekly essays for my English class, and a majority of them returned with "F+" written on the top. I really don't know what an F+ is supposed to mean...."you failed, but good try". Either way, consider this my warning. So if you continue to read, then I don't feel personally responsible for your offense to any grammatical errors I may make. But I will do my best.
Back to my current mini life crisis, I was telling my good friend Lisa about this plan and she thought I should make a purpose for my blog. More than just publishing my journal. Lisa's scientist side came out and she suggested I do various experiments and write about them. I liked it. So thats what this will be.

First up experiment wise, as previously mentioned, is my cutting out tv and movies. This week it is completely, but in weeks to come I am just going to monitor it more closely so that I don't get carried away. After this week I will take on different 'experiments' ultimately in my journey to find a 'sense of place' through out life. I feel that it involves constant evaluation on ones self. I know what I want my end goal to be, but finding that happy content feeling in everything I am is the tricky part. Self betterment in all aspects of life. So this is a beginning. And if nothing else, I already feel better because of it.