The Legend Continues...

This is for those of you who attended West Jordan High School (I think there are a few of you out there who read my blog). My little sister, Emma, is a member of concert choir this year. The annual Christmas Concert was held Thursday December 16th, and just as in the past it was wonderful and super LONG! Mr. Dehaan does an amazing job with his choirs.

This is the view we had of Emma. Yep, no face. The middle pair of hands are what we could see from where we were sitting. I don't even know that she was actually singing.

West Jordan Concert Choir. They've had a busy Christmas season. Besides their regular gigs they also performed 6 times with the Utah Symphony.

The red-headed boy in the middle on the front row (just above the piano) is Emma's boyfriend, Davis. I figured since I couldn't get a picture of Emma I'd get one of Davis. Next best thing, right?

The Part Where My Brain Explodes

Don't feel sorry for me. Don't try to give me a pep talk. This is just a rant. I'm not having a pity party, I would admit if I was. So, pretty much my self-esteem is as good as it's ever been and I'm not feeling like I'm going to burst into tears at any moment. Just sit back and enjoy the ramblings of the brain of Sarah White, because seriously if you look at it that way this may become quite entertaining.
I'm a school counselor. I spend my days talking about the future and goals (well, in the perfect world that would be what I do) with teenagers. "What are you going to do when you grow up?" Hmmm... What am I going to do when I grow up? Here's my advice of the week. Don't! Don't what? Don't grow up. Why? Too much to think about. Just stay in school forever, live in your parents' house where you will have good food and a nice secure roof over your head. Stay at that parttime job forever because it's simple and involves very little brain power.
Seriously, we spend so much time making kids think about what they are going to do when they grow up, but does anyone ever discuss what happens when you actually grow up? No! And, how do I know when I'm actually grown up? I am 27 and 1/2. Yep, I'm officially in my late 20s. What does that mean? I don't know! No one ever gave me a timeline. In less than 3 years I will be 30. 30! What have I accomplished in my life? What should I have accomplished? Am I falling behind my peers? I must keep up! Here's the brain exploding part (divided by category into paragraphs for reading ease. You're welcome.)...
Do I really like this career that I spent 6 1/2 years and who knows how much money studying for? Can I see myself doing this forever? No? Well then, what next? Do I have commitment issues? Why don't I love my job? Why am I not a better leader? How in the world did I become head counselor? (Purely by default, that's how.) Why can I not be a better delegator? Am I really a control freak? How did I get that way? Have I always been that way? Is that another charming trait I inherited from my parents? (Hi Mom! Love you!)
Do I really want to buy this house? Do I have commitment issues? Will I have enough money? Can I handle living on my own? Am I really grown up enough for this? I don't feel very grown up, and yet I am 27 and 1/2 so that means I should be a grown up. Right? Oh my gosh! What if this is the wrong house?
Now, what about that really cute guy? Pretty sure he's not LDS. Do I continue flirting even though I know that about him? Will I go out with him if he asks? Yes. Why? Because I don't date. Never! I understand a lot of that was my own choice, and I don't regret it for a second. But, I've been ready for 6 months now. He's just so cute. And he seems interested in me. If I wasn't a grown up I wouldn't have to worry about the whole commitment issue. Do I have commitment issues? (Are you sensing a theme? Because I am.)
I'm 27 and 1/2, shouldn't I want a family? Shouldn't I be baby hungry right about now? What's wrong with me that I am perfectly okay with not having children? It's the job. Great birth control! If you don't believe me come spend a day at school with me. Shouldn't I be desperately wanting to get married? Honestly, I'd be perfectly happy with several really fun dates. Do I have commitment issues? How will I meet any guys? The guys in my ward don't seem interested. The guys I'm surrounded by at work are either married, too old, or 12, 13, 14, or 15. Do I post my phone number on Facebook?
So, my conclusion.... I don't have one. Nope, nothing. The wide awake worrying from 1:00 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. this morning didn't solve anything, just increased the crankiness (aren't you glad you don't have to work with me?). The incredible weight loss (and hair loss to accompany it) has produced nothing. So, here I sit at 5:30 on a Tuesday night thinking. Not trying to solve anything, just thinking and stewing and pondering. Thus the brain explosion. To all you people on the verge of growing up... DON'T DO IT! Just stay where you are, because once you take that step there's no going back. And then you end up 27 and 1/2 years old with an exploding brain, thin hair, and baggy pants.
The end

First Presidency Devotional

D'Nell was one of the lucky winners of tickets to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional this year, and she was kind enough to invite Amber, Micah, and me. It was a wonderful meeting. It's always a surreal experience to attend meetings in the Conference Center and be that close to our wonderful leaders.

The evening was extremely foggy (which explains what appears to be snowflakes all around us. It's actually whatever is in the air), which made the evening feel quite peaceful.

Amber and Micah. Amber and I decided to share Micah and then we could count the evening as a date. So, for 2010 I can say I've had 2 dates. That's much easier to hear myself say than just 1 date. Oh, what a sad life. Micah, Amber, and I had fun taking pictures as we walked back to the car.

I just love the Salt Lake Temple. It looked so beautiful in the fog.

I know this picture is blurry, but it was just too good not to post. Amber has no idea what Micah was doing. :)

It was a lovely evening full of great messages from the First Presidency. I sure love them.

President Uchtdorf suggested 3 things to include in our Christmas celebration: 1. Rejoice in the birth of our Savior, just as the angels did at His birth. 2. Ponder the influence of the Savior in our lives today. 3. Look steadfastly for His coming. President Eyring stated that the celebration at Christmas helps us keep our promise to always remember the Savior. President Monson said that there is not better time than Christmas to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus Christ. I needed to hear these messages. I've spent so much time worrying about what I'm going to buy for people that I've completely forgotten what Christmas is all about. I pray that I will be able to put aside the commercial Christmas and bring the true spirit of Christmas into my life. I am so blessed and I need to take more time to recognize that and thank my Heavenly Father for all He has given me. What better time of year to do that than now?

A Freezing Cold Victory!

Thursday night I got the best Thanksgiving present EVER.... a text from D'Nell. Since D'Nell is my texting BFF her texts always make me super happy. This text, however, was different. She had access to a ticket to a certain football game that was to take place on Saturday November 27, 2010. Now this football game is one that any true University of Utah fan dreams of attending. You guessed it... D'Nell was offering me a ticket to the Utah v. BYU game. Oh happy day!
So, this morning I bundled up (not well enough though) and set off for Rice-Eccles Stadium hoping and praying for a victory. The thought of facing my grandfather or going to work on Monday with a loss made me want to curl up in my bed and never come out.

Hello boys!

D'Nell, Erin, Heather, and me... Erin and Heather were down in the FUSS, just below us.

The game began with a brawl. As soon as the players ran out of the locker room they went at it. I may have cheered them on a little....

I spent the next 3 hours of my life freezing to death. I left during the second quarter to go buy another pair of socks. I totally paid $11 for a pair of socks and I don't regret it. This game was crazy, and I think it may have given me a few gray hairs. But, this was the sight at the end of the game, notice all the red flooding the field???

And here, ladies and gentlemen, is the final score. For those in denial, that reads Utah 17 BYU 16. I believe that is a Utah victory! FANTASTIC!!

A Utah man am I!

And here's my BFF D'Nell.

Here are my new socks (over the socks I wore to the game). Aren't they sweet? I have not been that cold since I lived in Nauvoo. I was wishing someone would volunteer to sit on my feet (next time I won't choose style over warmth) and someone else would cuddle with me. I was willing to put all my personal space issues aside for a few hours. :)

Thanks D'Nell! Thanks boys on the Utah football team! It was a great day!

The Week of Awesome Day 3... Brandon Flowers

Monday night I got home and thought, "My life is awesome!" Wednesday night I got home and thought, "My life is awesome!" Why so many awesome thoughts? GREAT CONCERTS! My dear friend Janelle introduces me to new music on a regular basis and I love it. A couple months ago she e-mailed me (yes, we e-mail all day even though her classroom is merely across the hall from the Counseling Center) and asked if I knew Brandon Flowers. No, I did not, why? Well, he's great and he's coming in concert. She got me a copy of his new album, Flamingo, and told me to listen to it. Brandon Flowers is the lead singer of The Killers and has now made this solo album. It's fantastic! As soon as I realized I loved the album we decided to buy concert tickets.

Wednesday had potential to be nuts. I have my ESL class on Wednesday nights and this Wednesday was our final. I rushed through my final (pretty sure I totally rocked it) and met up with Janelle. We met up with Janelle's roommate, Emily, at The Depot and waited for the awesomeness to begin. My one complaint about the evening... the concert was supposed to begin at 8:00 p.m. The opening act didn't take the stage until 8:40 p.m. He played until almost 9:15, and then Brandon Flowers didn't play until about 9:40. Long night.

I went a little crazy with the picture taking (which is nothing new) so I picked a few of my favorites.

Emily and Janelle

Janelle and me

Brandon Flowers... Isn't he gorgeous?! I guess I hadn't seen a picture of him before the concert. The first guy who walked on stage with the keyboard player and he's a heavy guy with long shaggy hair and a long shaggy beard. I thought, "I have to look at him all night?" But, then when the cheering got really loud I looked up and my heart melted.

Brandon has a very different sound, and I was worried that he wouldn't be very good live. I was SO wrong! He was fantastic! He is a great entertainer! He didn't chat with the audience very much and yet I felt like he was totally interacting with us and drawing us in.

Look how close we were!

I would highly recommend this album (Brandon Flowers, Flamingo). What a fabulous night! What an awesome week!

Lifehouse--- AGAIN!

Welcome to the BEST NIGHT EVER!!! I found out that one of my favorite bands, Lifehouse, was coming in concert and I knew I just had to go. I convinced Janelle that she loves them too so we got tickets! (Thank you Janelle for going with me!) This concert was last night (Nov. 15, 2010) at In The Venue. Despite all the poor reviews this venue wasn't too bad. And, I'm not even lying when I say that I love, love, loved this night! I just love Lifehouse, there's not really a good way to describe this love.
I found out a couple weeks ago that Kris Allen was opening. I didn't have his album, so Emma put it on my iPod and I fell in love with it! He's a great singer and a fantastic entertainer. He's got an awesome stage presence. And he's quite nice to look at.

Kris Allen

Wonderfully awesome Janelle

And there he is folks! Jason Wade. Isn't he just so pretty?

I may have taken 88 pictures last night, so I had to pick the ones that turned out the best.

I kind of like the smaller venue. I could actually see all their faces. It just made the experience so much more fun.

Honestly! Look how close we were! I was merely feet from Jason Wade. Be still my heart...

So, once again, BEST NIGHT EVER!

For The Beauty Of The Earth

I hope that all of those living in the Salt Lake Valley have taken the time to appreciate the beautiful sunsets we have been blessed with the last couple weeks. Each time there is an amazing sunset I am reminded of my time in Nauvoo. We had sunsets such as these almost every night. Those were some of the happiest times of my life and I am grateful for the reminders.

Tonight, November 7th. I pulled into a parking lot to catch the very end of this sunset.

Tonight

Last night, November 6th.

November 6th