5.18 One day til done

 Life has been really good. In most ways.

Sarah and I decided to start a weightloss program called Optavia. We are a week and two days in to it and both of us have lost weight. It consists of eating 5 meals that they have provided and one lean and green meal, which the lean is established in our books and we follow it for maximum lean. LauraMae is our coach and she is an amazing friend. She checks in on us regularly as we manage figuring things out with this new program, as she and Kyle are also on the same program.

Fathers and Sons was this past weekend and Kyle, as soon as it was announced months ago asked me if I wanted to join him in going on the campout. I, of course, agreed, and he had invited another Man from our ward named Jason Rasmussen. I was in the backseat on the way up and on the way down, listening to Kyle and Jason talk. On our way up, we went through Globe and Miami Arizona. After those two towns, the car ride got crazier than we expected, riding on a side of mountain and going up and down hills. Kyle decided not go back that way on our return, as he tries to choose the safest route possible. He helped me set up my tent and I brought food that Sarah helped me to cook (chicken and spaghetti squash with tomatoes and red wine vinegar). The food was so good. I used a stove that Sarah and I bought for trek, which worked like a charm. It was cool to see Brother Young get dressed up in a Ninja turtle costume, to impress the kids. Kyle and I played foosball against each other and while I was leading most of the game, he came back to beat me in the end. It was nice sleeping in our tent again. Sarah and I had slept in it for the Pre-trek campout at the end of April. Which, by the way, we are still not ready for. There was a little zipline that we were able to go off of, and I made a basket with my feet going down it. We also played card games in the evening, and I was the only one without a jacket that wasn't complaining about the cold. On our way back I was feeling a little sick, having only eaten a pancake, some bacon and eggs, and a bunch of optavia bars, so Sarah bought me some soup that I could eat.

We had to be back really soon because Sarah and I had a photography session with Lexie McMullin. We took 15 photos in Veteran's Oasis Park in Gilbert. We had scouted out the area before, having been recommended it by Lexie. She was fun to do pictures with. And then right after LauraMae and Kyle invited us over for Moe's (their dog's) birthday party. It's really nice to have friends like them.

This week is my last week of school. Tomorrow I have my long awaited Music Theory IV Cummalative Final with Dr. Schindler. I feel like I got this, having prepared extensively this week and this semester.

Today was my Jury/Auditions for Ottawa. I had prepared 6 songs, and had to sing 2 of them. I was originally suppose to sing 3, but Dr. Peterson stopped it, having heard enough with my first two. I think he thought I did well. Tommy said that I had a solid Jury in a text. So I'm happy with how everything went with it. I had chosen to sing Stanchen, from Schwanengesang by Franz Schubert as my opening piece, and the jury member chose Lonesome Polecat from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I thought that I was going to have to do some more things for Dr. Peterson in the same Jury, but he told me we were going to be doing something a different day. I think the things are sight-singing and simple piano skills.

I've kinda been put into a dilemma. I am pretty sure I am 3 classes away from transferring completely to Ottawa University. But that's even if I want to. Dr. Peterson let us know that in about 2 years, they may make it so that that MCC can offer a four year degree in Music Education, instead of having to go to Ottawa. In the mean time I could work on getting my piano certificates, completing the 3 classes I have left, among taking more classes that will teach me about Music.

3.21 Life Seven Months Later

Sarah and I have been doing really good. We moved in October to Chandler, Arizona...about a 10-15 minutes drive south of Tuscany Palms, which is interestingly called The Tides and is now white instead of brownish-beige. It's actually kinda ugly, and if there were any reason why I would have moved, it would have been that. Which isn't actually true, because it's a bit shallow, and I'm not that shallow.

We moved for many reasons. We didn't feel like we were progressing in our old apartment. We felt ostracized from the branch. We felt alone. The Santos did not reconcile with us, and neither did most of the branch. We only found solace in the Naumanns. Who let us come over many a time, especially when I was sick.

We moved to the Desert Jewel Apartments, aptly named Luxury Apartments. Our new apartment is 1300 square feet. 2 Bedrooms. 2 Bathrooms. Hardwood floors. A huge living room and dining room. But what we really love is that we moved into the Amberwood Ward. The bishop is Alan Norton. A good go-getter man. Sometimes too enthusiastic for my taste. Always wanting the best for the youth (which isn't bad). He incorporates an Activity in a Box. He's always going above and beyond.

Probably the greatest joy of being in our new ward, is having met the Klinglers. Kyle and LauraMae. We first met them at Christmastime. Sister Tina Miller, music leader of the Amberwood Ward, asked me and Sarah to both sing and to play the piano for the Christmas program, even though it was in the middle of the Coronavirus. She asked me to play for LauraMae, who has a beautiful voice. Way back when we were still trying to feel our way through the ward. But since then, we have had a relationship that has blossomed into a great friendship. When Wandavision came out, we found out that they are really big Marvel fans. And we watched the next 8 episodes at each of our houses, alternating every week. It was a really cool system we had set up. I had to warm up to Kyle, and LauraMae, but I was given the calling of an Activity Days leader, with Kyle. And Sarah was given the calling of Young Woman's Secretary, and LauraMae was a teacher. So we both worked together, which led to more interaction. They are like the best of friends. They listen to both me and Sarah. And we have been very open with them about our lives.

School has been good. The last time I wrote, I had been worried about upcoming Piano Class III. Which was very hard for me to try for. But it went really well, an now I am in the middle of the Spring Semester 2021, taking many a class including Piano IV, which is going well.

I am taking so many credits this semester. Music Theory and AP IVs, Piano IV, Choral Methods, Choir, Conducting, One on one voice lessons, and Composition class. My composition class is with Karl Schindler at Phoenix College and I have really enjoyed working with him. I have been working on a composition called "The Standard of Truth" using the text from Joseph Smith's words. I also have been composing a piece for Sam and Ashley, who are getting married in April.

I wrote a paper on both Madrigals and Felix Mendelssohn as a composer, and I plan on writing a paper on Franz Liszt's contributions to music. The first paper was a real trial and challenge for me, but Sarah really helped me through it.