Amen!

This is incredibly accurate. My sister posted these lyrics from a Josh Turner song and so, being the copy cat I am, I am posting them again.

Well, I grew up wild and free,
Walkin' these fields in my bare feet.
There wasn't no place I couldn't go,
With a .22 rifle and a fishin' pole.

Well, I live in the city, but don't fit in,
You know it's a pity the shape I'm in.
Well, I got no home and I got no choice.
Oh, Lord, have mercy on a country boy.

My sister posted this along with a dead-on description of life as a 'country girl' in Idaho. Since I can't even compete, I thought I would just re-post for all of those folks who are interested in a great read. Country Girl by Abi

(except minus the running part, because that's one thing I do LOVE!!! Love you Abs!)

In Recital...

Well, I did it. I had my Senior recital. The culmination of my entire vocal collegiate work, summed up in one evening. The following is a list of my program:

Eliza Christensen’s Recital Program

Saper vorreste from Un Ballo in Maschera-Giuseppe Verdi (b. 1813-1901)

Voi, che sapete from Le Nozze di Figaro-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (b. 1756-1791)

Beau soir-Claude Debussy (b. 1862-1918)

Clair de Lune-Gabriel Fauré (b. 1845-1924)

Morgen-Richard Strauss (b. 1864-1949)

Der Gärtner-Hugo Wolf (b. 1860-1903)

The Metropolitan Tower-Lori Laitman (b. 1955)

Meadowlark from The Baker’s Wife-Stephen Schwartz (b. 1948)

The entire recital was about 55 minutes. I did the recital with another girl name, Gretchen Davidson. My portion of the program was about 24 minutes.

It really was great to get to perform what I had been working on so hard. I received many compliments and tons of feedback afterwards. One of the best comments of the evening was from my friend, Laura Turner (who is also a Music Ed. Major). She said, "Eliza's finally found her voice!" I just thought that was great, that a peer could see the progress and hear the difference.

I am extremely grateful for all of the family and friends who took time out of their busy schedules to come and see me. My Christensen grandparents and my Rodabough grandma came. All of my siblings and both parents (my dad giving up a bike race to be there) were also in attendance. My Aunt Stacy and cousins, Benjamin and Jess, were also there. I am so grateful for their support. Thanks!

"This was the best vacation EVER!"

Memorial weekend just came and went. I seriously have not done so many wonderfully delightful things in such a long time. I started the weekend, Saturday night, by driving down to Zion's National park to watch Utah Premiere Brass Perform.

The concert was here.Nothing like listening to Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man and John William's Hymn to the Fallen with a breath-taking view such as this:and this...So, amazing!
Then I went to an amazing farewell for my cousin Benjamin Larsen. He did such a great job and will make a fabulous missionary. He's the 3rd missionary from the same family to be out at the same time. What a dedicated family.
After delightful story time and lots and lots and LOTS of food, we then headed to Grandma Rodabough's house. Playing the Ukulele and singing the whole way there, of course. ;)
The next morning we all headed to a park in Woods Cross. Every year the city puts on a breakfast for the community. Such a great idea. Unfortunately it was rainy and cold, but we made the best of it. After sitting down with our hearty meal of pancakes, eggs and ham, lo and behold a group of people playing the bagpipes came to serenade us. Imagine that! Breakfast and bagpipes, who would have thought. After being thoroughly frozen, we headed back to Grandma's, snuggled, watched movies and ate delicious food. Such a good weekend!

It's a gift to be...

I don't know where that title came from, but i'm going with it. So, fall semester has ended and spring semester has already begun. I got a total of 4.5 days off from school. Exciting, right? Anyway, I am currently undertaking 7 credit hours on top of preparing for a recital, and continuing to train for a marathon and a triathlon and surprisingly it is much easier than last semester was. I think it is because I only have to split myself 3 ways instead of 9 (3 spring classes, 9 winter classes--just in case you didn't catch on :D ).

So, today has been kind of a down day for me. I don't do well with change, especially when I feel like I am being left behind. Today one of my favorite people in the whole wide world left for the summer. Her name is Jessica Hart, and she is simply amazing! I am just really going to miss her, especially since she decided to go on a mission and won't be returning next year. I also miss hanging out with my sister, who has now returned home to work for my dad. Everything is changing which is good, but I find it hard to allow the change to change me and to just let go.

Now onto the better things. This morning there was a hot air balloon floating over the Clyde building. It reminded me of how much I want to ride in one. Also, yesterday I played Ultimate Frisbee with some friends. I really enjoyed playing because I didn't get worn out. So, running everyday has its benefits. ;) I'm in love with the warm weather, I almost have my homework done for the day, I had an excellent voice lesson yesterday, I have a great new accompanist and she made me dinner last night (thanks Aurelia!). I really do love life and things are just fantastic! I also love, love, LOVE the gospel. I cannot say how important it is in my life. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who listens and councils and guides both tenderly and sometimes forcefully when I am not paying close attention to what I need to be doing. What a wonderful plan, work, and gospel I have the opportunity to take part in. It's a gift to be....a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!

The Spirit of Adventure

I really want to go on an adventure. Anyone want to come along?
Wait, I have finals to take...

So, I have a bucket list, or a "things I want to do before I die" list.
Here are a few of the things that this list consists of:
- Ride in a hot air balloon
- Shake the prophets hand
- Go to every state in the US
- Graduate from college
and many others, but the reason I bring up this list is because I am currently working on accomplishing one of the things on it...
- Run a marathon
That's right. I am running a marathon. I already invested $80 into it and have been training since February. Crazy right? The best part is that I actually am really enjoying it. Figuring out a training program, having the motivation to run, eating healthy...It's great! I love it in fact. Maybe this won't be my one and only marathon, maybe it'll become a life-long hobby! Wouldn't that be exciting. ;)
So, that is my new adventure I guess. Doing something I have never done before. Isn't life awesome?

Highlights

1. I competed in DanceSport this morning at 8:00. We made it through three rounds and then were cut before the Quarter Finals.
2. I had hot chocolate at work, made in our lovely Cocomotion machine. So, good!

3. The sun is shining!

Be Grateful

So, I have started listing all the things I am grateful for as I walk to campus every day. It is a great way to start your morning. I highly recommend it. Here is the list I came up with today.
Things to be grateful for:
-A temple close by
-Wonderful roommates
-Breakfast
-The gospel
-Being a Music major @ BYU
-Having a job
-Having a house
-Heating
-A warm bed
-Optimism
-The Sunshine
-Slightly warm weather that hints at spring
-The sound of a leaf blower, that sounds like a lawn mower, and so therefore makes it seem more like springtime
-Good health
-Being able to walk and not be weary and run and not faint
-Tender mercies
-The Lord's constant reminders of what I need to be doing and pursuing in life
-Great music (namely Chanticleer, you should listen to them)
-LIFE!!! :D