Vocal Valentines

         As a preface, I tend to get really excited about holidays way too early. I believe Christmas music has an exciting ring in October, I have a strong craving for Cadbury Easter eggs in February, and I start thinking of Red, White, and Blue in June. So, you will have to indulge my excitement and love for Valentine's Day.

        I know that Valentine's Day is just a Hallmark Holiday. I know the true origins of my sickly sweet holiday. But I love it anyways. I attribute my dedication to this holiday to Vocal Valentines, a grand tradition at my high school. Every February 14th, you could buy your special someone, friend, or secret crush a valentine to be sung to them in the class of your choice. Members of the choir would be excused from their classes to go around the school and perform the purchased songs. The serenade would include a personalized note, a chocolate, and sometimes even a rose. I was in way too many choirs for my own good, and so the day was magical. Armed with good friends and a pitch pipe, I would get to visit classrooms all over the school, sing to an unexpected student, and bask in the joy of Valentine's Day. I would get all dressed up, pass out those third grade valentines to all of my friends, and walk with a spring in my step. It was the absolute best of the day of the school year. The video above is Eartha Kitt singing one of my favorite songs we would sing.

            My true personal enjoyment from the day came from making other people smile with a song or a card, but I must admit: I loved that moment when someone came in, and everyone waited with baited breath, hoping it was them. Being the recipient was something special: You were Glen Coco for the day. No one wanted to be Gretchen Wieners. I was Glen Coco a couple of times, and it was magical. Have you noticed that I really, really loved Vocal Valentines?

            So, this year, I miss Vocal Valentines. I am nostalgic for that happy, hope-filled day. So, I am going to start a couple of traditions of my own. I will host a Galentine's Day party, and I will spend Valentine's Day with nothing but happiness and hope. And that is the musing of a marvelous me. :)

           What will you be doing for Valentine's Day? What are some of your favorite Valentine's Day memories? Please comment and share below.

Ocean Waves

As with many of my blog topics, this may not be the most original idea you have ever heard. But I am going to try to give it my spin, and I hope it resonates with you like it does for me.

I love the sound of ocean waves. I love the crash and fall, I love their comforting consistency, and I love the ripples that they make. I sat out on the beach the other day with my sister, and I recalled memories of waves and the way to predict them. Short answer is: I can't. I always try to predict how far up they will come. I place my toes solid in the sand and wait for the water to wash over me. The water then comes just a little too short. So then I move in a lot closer, and it gets all of my feet and ankles wet. Rarely do I time it just right, so the water brushes across my toes and makes me smile. 

Then there are my escapades boogie boarding. I often found myself knocked over at the knees by an unexpected crash. Or I would stand in shallow water, disappointed that I was not more soaked. I simply cannot seem to find the perfect timing for the waves. Maybe this means I need to spend more time in the ocean, for research and such. I would gladly make that sacrifice. Or maybe, as I hope you understand, the waves are simply unpredictable. Like the weather or the fashion choices of Lady Gaga, they are hard to precisely determine. The wandering beach-goer, like myself, simply has to take her chances with the water.

Now, I hope you know where I am going with this. Every day is like a wave. You think you have it figured out, and then suddenly, it crashes in an unexpected way. My man JGL best explained it in 500 Days of Summer :

You think you have your day figured out. You wake up with a plan, and then it suddenly goes an entirely different path. Expectations v. Reality. We have to learn to be alright even though life does not fit our expectations. Reality can sometimes bite. But that is o.k. No person can exactly predict the future. We are all just wandering beach-goers, trying to figure out the best place to stick ourselves in the water. 

So, here is  my challenge to you. Go ahead, and stick your toes in the sand. Be adventurous. Take risks. I'm warning you, you may get knocked over at the knees. You may be tossed around, and it may hurt. But it will be worth it in the end. There is always something better around the corner, just like Autumn for JGL or the perfect moments when the water brushes your toes just right. It will  And that is the musing of a marvelous me. 

This I Believe

In honor of my English 423 final I am taking today, I would like to share with everyone my anthology writing piece.

This I Believe

            “Is it hard to raise a kid?”

            “I wouldn’t know. My wife takes care of her.”

            “And your wife always has dinner for you when you get home?”

            “Ya.”

            “Wow. Being married sure must have its perks.”

            As that last sentence floated across the partition between my office and their study room, I swear a passerby would have seen steam coming out of my ears. I was incensed, and at the same, saddened, by the conversation I had just overheard between these two men. Part of me could not believe that neither of them understood the real meaning of marriage, especially given their obvious lack of respect for both the mother and the daughter. Another part of me, my feminist side, wanted to jump in and defend both women. I wanted to march over there and ask these two men how they could be so insensitive. I believe in the equity of women and men, and I believe that both sexes should be respected and valued equally. Overhearing conversations like this just continues to demonstrate how far we as a world still have to go.

            I have always been interested in women and women’s studies. Whenever an English professor would assign a critical analysis paper, I would almost always choose to do a feminist critique. Gender relations, definitions, concepts: all of these fascinate me. But it was not until my junior year of college that I began to fully articulate these beliefs. After a culmination of experiences in which I was belittled or discriminated against because I was female, I began to search my soul. Does God love his children equally? Are men and women equally in importance and purpose? I came back from this experience with a resounding answer. Yes. God cares for all his children equally, regardless of gender, race, color, or culture. I realized I needed to pursue Women’s Studies because I wanted to expand my knowledge and work for a world of parity and peace.

            I believe that feminism is essential to the world. I believe that feminism means the pursuit of equality for all people. I know that people misinterpret the word ‘feminism’ daily, thinking it means I want to burn my bra and push men away. When I tell some men that I am a women’s studies minor, they usually smirk and say, “So am I.” That used to drive me crazy. But I now I just ignore it and realize that means they just do not understand the true meaning of feminism. It means loving all people because they are people. It means looking past gender stereotypes and not expecting your wife to have dinner ready when you get home. It means liberating all individuals. I believe in feminism because I believe in the power that comes from respecting all people equally.

National Cookie Day and Hot Chocolate Chats

        So, my amazing professor, Dr. Dean, celebrated her birthday today. I swear she is an English Teaching goddess. Even though it was her special day, she remembered it was also National Cookie Day, and so she brought all of us cookies. Wow, she amazes me. I made monster cookies the other day, and so I came home after a long day of work and school and ate another cookie, just to celebrate one more time. :)

     
        Now, today has felt like one of those never-ending days, and I have just been waiting to come home, put on a comfy sweater, pull my hair up, and drink peppermint hot chocolate. I talked my roommate into sharing in this essential relaxation, and it was wonderful. We had a marvelous chat about our day while pretending to be the hosts of a chat show. I can't really decide if we are funny enough to host our own show, or if we just think we are funny enough....That sounds like a perfect topic for discussion for our next show! Shout outs go to my beautiful roommate, the Coco-motion, and the Jet-puffed Mallow Bits in the dispensable container.

     Sometimes life can seem overwhelming and chaotic and crazy. But National Cookie Day and hot chocolate chats with your roommate can just really make everything seem a little brighter. And that is the musing of a marvelous me. :)

Paths to Follow

       Alright, blogging world, tonight is going to be a little more personal. But I can't seem to shake this thought process, and I am hoping to reach out to other people like me. So here it goes...

        I have wanted to serve a full time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since I was a little girl. My mother and father's stories of missionary experience gave me a desire to share my testimony and beliefs with others. I even dressed up as a sister missionary one year in high school for Halloween. I have always felt a kinship for sister missionaries, and I am currently writing a biography of the first full-time proselytizing sister missionary for the LDS Church, Inez Knight Allen.

       When I came to BYU, I had no clue that I would lose all of my male friends right after my freshman year. I felt hurt and alone. I longed to serve just like there were, and I found myself angry and upset with those who left just because it was the way to fit in or because of pressure. Didn't they see that a mission was so much more? Why couldn't more people wait and pray until they knew the Lord wanted them to go?

       I was also sick and tired of hearing that women only went because they weren't married or didn't know what to do with their lives. Sisters were just as important as elders. I knew that from my incredible mom. I was determined to serve and prove them wrong.

        Well, the Lord threw some much needed perspective my way over the next few years. I started to realize that I was determined to do the same thing that frustrated me so much: serve to make a point. I realized that true missionary service is more about always being a disciple of Christ rather than wearing a name tag. And most importantly, I realized that I should only serve if I knew that is what the Lord wanted for me. This period of time also helped me realize what I truly believed in, and that my testimony and conversion are a process that I work at everyday.

        Now there has been a recent change in missionary age (Mormon Newsroom Article) , and things seem to be taking a dramatic upswing for sister service. I think that is a beautiful and marvelous change. But... I have also been asked a lot of other questions about my personal life. This seems to be especially true of prospective sister missionaries. They seem to have it all figured out for me. I should try to defer my scholarship. I should just go now, or else I will be married before I can.

         I would like to emphasize something very clearly at this point: everyone makes their own decisions in life. Everyone has their own path to follow. Just as I should not be concerned or frustrated over other people's opinions (which, as demonstrated above, I am still imperfect), other people should not feel the need or desire to tell me when to serve or how to serve. I am going to be a sister missionary now in the best ways that I can, and I will continue to counsel with the Lord as to the decisions I should make for my life. I will follow the path that I feel is best for me. I am happy and excited for the prospects of sister missionary service for all of my friends, but I hope they will be happy and excited for my prospects in life. And that is the musing of a marvelous me.

The Little Things

        O.K., get ready for a clichéd and trite post. But today, I want to take a moment to appreciate the little moments in life. 

         Last night did not go as planned, but my roommate and I did make a miraculous discovery. We are experts at the game of catching small food items in your mouth. We should work as a circus duo with our an uncanny ability in the game of catching Goldfish cracker. I am the catcher, and she is the thrower. It does NOT work the other way. I cannot throw, and she cannot catch. But when placed in its proper order, we are unstoppable. We have got a rhythm that is quite extraordinary, if you ask me. After practicing for awhile in our room, we took our side show to the crowds, showing our other roommates and friends. The pressure of the spotlight did not halter our abilities. In fact, it seemed to only enhance them. We have developed quite a knack for this game, and we are thinking of filming our success and putting it online. I mean, we even managed to make it work with a cherry tomato. We are planning on moving on to Sour Patch Kids next...Watch out, world. We might just be the next lame America's Got Talent contestants. 

         For tips on how to be as successful as we are, check out this Wiki-How: How to Catch Small Food Objects in Your Mouth

         Then, today, brought another little thing. I finally finished up all of my to-do list for the week, and the entire day felt like a Friday. Thank you, odd BYU schedule. For the first time in a very long time, I felt this peace and relaxation sweep over me. I do not have to go to work. I do not have to edit papers. I do not have worry about my observation hours anymore. I can set aside my homework for a day. I can listen to music and feel completely at ease. I can do all of my favorite, odd, little tasks, like organizing my sock drawer and washing my sheets. (That sounds OCD. I promise it's not. :P ) I can take time for Amy. Those words rarely appear in the same sentence together, but today, they finally do. 

        So today, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I am simply grateful for the little things like catching food in your mouth with an amazing roommate and feeling peace settle back into your skin.  I am grateful for the little moments in life that make you laugh and smile. And that is the musing of a marvelous me. 

The Lost Art of Letter Writing

         I love getting letters. There is something really magical about going out to the mailbox and finding a letter from a friend or loved one with your name on it. It seems to say, "Why, hello there! I'm here to tell you that someone out there cares so much about you that they wrote you this letter." (Hopefully the letter doesn't actually talk to you...if that is the case, then you have entered Hogwarts. Then you need to contact me IMMEDIATELY.) A letter that is two pages or more means that this is the real deal. That person really cares about you. Honestly, getting letters is one of the greatest joys in life.

        Unfortunately, it seems to be a dying art. People are not taking the time to sit down and write letters to one another. An e-mail can be thoughtful, but it is not nearly as exciting or meaningful as a letter penned with thought and care. To quote Manny Delgado, "It's a lost art. No one puts pen to paper anymore." Hopeful this art does not fade away, like cursive handwriting seems to be headed. That is another tragedy that I will try to preserve in my future classroom, along with letter writing. I want people to experience the pure joy of receiving a hand-written letter, and then help them cherish that gift they have received.

      This entire love of letter writing has led me to my happy musing for today. I am amazed and ecstatic over a "worldwide collaborative art project" that I discovered called Snail Mail My Email. This incredible project takes an email that you send them (100 words or less) and turns it into a beautiful, handwritten letter. You provide them with the address to send it, and they will do the whole thing for free. They will also even include a little extra touch, like a lipstick kiss or a flower petal. All of the instructions are on the website that can be found by clicking the link above. It is seriously an amazing opportunity, and it runs until this Friday. Please, be a part of this amazing phenomena. You could even get a little crazy and write one on your own. :)

      I have sent one to someone special today, and I encourage you to do the same. It only takes a few minutes, and it is well-worth the effort. Just do it! Send a letter to someone to show how much you care. I promise you won't regret it. And that is the musing of a marvelous me.

      Please comment below if you chose to send a letter... I want to hear your stories!