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Just thought I'd write something, and then realized I didn't know what to write.

So, my friends, here are some thoughts for the close of another fantastic year.

"Don't date boys; only date real men." -- yes, I'll admit to saying this on multiple occasions.

Don't worry; I'll be writing again soon. :)

P.S. I love you.

December

I love being done with finals. I love not having to study. I love the chilly weather and seeing cute couples holding hands to stay warm. I love my family, and getting to spend some time with them. I love my friends, and that we keep each other sane (mostly). :)

Most of all I love looking forward to Christmas and celebrating the birth of my Savior. I love giving gifts, symbolic of His Great Gift. I love making paper snowflakes and wishing real ones would float down, covering the world in a soft, pure blanket, like His Love. I love seeing the Christmas lights all around town, and on Temple Square, reminding me that He is the Light of the World. I love reading all the Christmas stories, and my heart is warmed.

I love drinking hot chocolate and snuggling up with a blanket and a good book. I love listening to Christmas music of all varieties. I love playing music on the piano and the flute. I love baking cookies by the dozens, and maybe even hundreds. I love sharing a little bit of the love Heavenly Father has for us with the people around me.

And that's why I love December. It's more than one day of Christmas; it's an entire season. My hope is that we can remember this feeling of Christmas and Christ's love and keep it with us all year round.

Happy Birthday Beethoven

May I just say how much I love this man? Ludwig, your music has touched my heart in so many ways.

So I thought I'd pay a little tribute to him on today, his 241st birthday.

My friends, who among you have not heard Fur Elise? Listened to, or played masterfully his Moonlight Sonata? Raged along to the powerful third movement? Been moved to tears of joy (or laughter) when hearing Ode to Joy?

I recently got to see and hear an amazing performer astound me with Beethoven's Hammerklavier sonata. And of course, who could forget the incredible arrangement of Moonlight by Steven Sharp Nelson?

I hope that you may take a small moment out of your day to celebrate the life and genius and passion of Ludwig van Beethoven. I love him with all my heart. May he ever stand among the giants of music.

To me, he represents all the passion music brings to one's love, the love music brings to one's life, the life music can bring to one's soul.

Thank you, Beethoven, for your life's work. It means the world to me.

Have a happy birthday, and know that your music is celebrated worldwide today, and every day.

Love,

Jenny

Finals Week

Well, I'm burnt out and not even half way through yet. 3 down and 4 to go!!

Here's a list of things I thought were clever today:

"Nothing lasts forever".... even cold [December] rain, and finals!

3 down, 4 to go. and it's only Wednesday. I need a hug.

Not to self - when you finish a physics final, and you thought you did well, don't look at the solutions your professor so lovingly gave you. You will want to cry.

from Robyn - "I wish there was a charger for your head"

from Ben Kay - "When it rains, it pours. When it snows, it melts."

Oh yeah, and I'm getting excited for Christmas!! Just as soon as finals end. In 2.5 days. :)

I Feel My Savior's Love

The start of this Christmas season could not have been better. I got to see my family and friends in Bountiful; there was much food and love shared.

Today I played the piano in Primary. We sang some of the Christmas songs in the Children's Songbook, but also "I Feel My Savior's Love," which is a most beautiful song. During Sacrament Meeting, one of the talks was on expressing gratitude through music. Then tonight while driving back to Provo with Matt, we listened to some John Rutter, including Candlelight Carol.

This brings me to the main point of this post -

I feel my Savior's love more strongly now than at any point in my life leading up to this. I think it's partly because I have kept music as such as strong part of my life. It's just that through music I can express my love for my Savior, and His Spirit testifies to me even more strongly that He lives and loves me. I know that He loves each one of His children.

I am so grateful for His atoning sacrifice, and the chance I have to live with Him and my eternal family forever. I try every day to live up to my potential as a daughter of God. I know the Gospel is true and that through the ordinances and covenants we make in the Holy Temple of God that we can make promises that will last through eternity. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of the Lord, and I trust his direction and counsel. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, that Joseph Smith translated it through inspiration from God, and that he restored this church, the true church of God to the earth. I know that the Lord Jesus Christ will someday return to the earth, and I look forward to the day when I can look into his face and thank him for his divine life, his infinite sacrifice, and the love that he has given to me. I love my Savior, and I feel his love.

some days...

are like crap.

yesterday was one of those days.

here's hoping today is not.

i love music.

"i'm an invisible disaster."

and i don't even have a broken heart!! :)

i love music so incredibly much. It's kind of ridiculous.

Songs

I wish I had more time to blog... These few songs will have to suffice. Pray that my homework load lessens soon, so that I will have time to write more!! :)

San Jose, Physics, and Fun

Last week was spent in California. :)

I spent 15 hours driving to San Jose from Provo, UT on Saturday with a bunch of physics guys and Dr. Peatross. It was such an adventure!!

This comic pretty much sums up my life. And the OSA conference.

Colorado is working to develop coherent amber waves,

which would allow them to finally destroy Kansas and Nebraska

with a devastaing but majestic grain laser.

Anyways, Sunday we went to a singles ward in California. It is very much different from singles wards in Provo, but the gospel is still true, just so you know.

Monday was the Undergrad symposium at this physics conference. I gave a 15 minute talk (including answering questions from professors…so intimidating!!!) on the experiment I get to work on (stay tuned for another post about it!), and most of the other undergrads from BYU presented posters describing their research in optics. It was super fun and interesting to get to know a couple other people from all around the country, and to actually understand a little bit of what they’re doing in physics! Monday night we had a dinner with the other undergrads, and then wandered around downtown San Jose a bit before heading back to the hotel.

Saint Joseph Cathedral. (San Jose, anyone?)

San Jose Sharks. They had a game Monday night against the Anaheim Ducks.

Wish I could've heard them play.

lights in the city :)

I'm kind of a sucker for the varied architecture found in cities.

Tuesday and Wednesday were spent at the conference, listening to talks given by professors. Most of it went right over my head, but a professor at Yale gave a talk about using prisms to image neurons in the brains of mice, and a professor from Stanford gave a talk on using nano wires and silicon in solar energy stuff. Both of those were very intriguing to me. There was also a lot of talk on attosecond trains in laser systems. That I don’t know so much about, but it was still interesting. On Wednesday, I visited the Tech Museum in San Jose. It. was. so. stinking. incredible. Yes, I know I'm a nerd. :)

an underwater rover!! so cool!!

fun with light and shadows :)

duh. it's silicon valley!!!

DNA: the recipe of life. made with recipe books. :)
a robot spelled my name. I didn't get a picture of the one that drew my portrait. :)
what's this satellite doing in a museum??
not the best resolution, i know, but a super funny conversation between aliens. about humans.
a very cool music simulator.

The hotel we stayed at had a sweet buffet for breakfast! French toast, potatoes, scrambled eggs, bacon, fruit, pastries, croissants, muffins, orange juice every morning was great! Well, until I got tired of it. I spent the evenings in the lobby of the hotel, where I could get internet without having to pay for it, talking to other undergrads and working on homework, talking on the phone, and chatting on facebook.

Thursday morning, we went to a few talks at the conference, had lunch, and took a train to San Francisco. This was basically the highlight of my trip because it was somewhat spur of the moment, and it was just so much fun!!!

Pier 39

Sea lions in the sun :)

Alcatraz!!!

i love this bridge.

And here’s just a couple quotes from the exhaustingly long car ride home: (14 hours!!!!! Basically nonstop.)

“Back then they were hip. Now we’re fly.”

“Darth Peatross”

“Attosecond science is sexy.”

Beethoven

I want a child like this. Seriously, though. My family will have music become a central part of us.

Dinosaur Comics

10/12/2011

Pi.

'nuff said.

Thank You Pandora

I love discovering new songs. This one made made the ever-growing wedding reception playlist, mostly because I love the piano part.

A List

Because it's 2 AM and I want to sleep soon.

1. I love life right now. Like no other time before.

2. I went on a date with Neil Roberts tonight. It was super fun and yummy and cold. I love that kid.

3. I cut that date short. Why? to study..... dumb idea.

4. Later tonight, I went to a Dr Who watching party with my friend Luke Pritchett. It was super awesome. I am in love with David Tennant (still).

5. Don't even blink. Blink and you're dead.

6. I came home to a letter from Elder Kenneth Hinton. I started freaking out in the darkened kitchen where my sleeping roommates couldn't see me. and now I get to read that letter.

7. I realized how amazingly awesome my life is, so i decided to write this blogpost because all my friends are asleep and i have no one but the internet to tell.

8. We'd better win the homecoming game tomorrow, because i'm going to San Jose next week, and i don't want to be a cougar with my tail between my legs.

9. I'm giving a talk in San Jose on the physics experiment i'm helping to run. (say what?!!?)

10. I love life.

Doctor Who Returns

I.can't.wait.please.someone.find.me.a.tardis.in.which.i.can.get.to.august.27th.faster.k.thanks.

Conversation

Laura: I'll pray for you to meet someone. and you pray for me and tanner to work out. K? good plan I think
Me: definitely. i like it :)
Laura: haha. thanks..I try and it shall work!! the more prayers the better

Me: haha, yes. it'll work out in the Lord's time.

Laura: :D yup. hopefully that's in like a month.

Me: hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. I hope the same thing. :)

I love my friend Laura with all my heart. And our brilliant conversations.

What I Learned From my Run this Morning

* No matter what you do to try to get it out of your head, "stereo hearts" is one song you can't get rid of.

* When you try to replace it with "rhythm of love" the two will mesh together in a very strange way.

* The temple is a beautiful goal.

* People are friendly.

* Dogs are friendly too.

* Man is nothing (read: I am nothing) but God loves us anyways.

* God hears and answers prayers.

* Sometimes what hurts a lot is actually really good.

* (There is such a thing as a good hurt.)

* It's easier to run uphill in smaller steps.

* You can pray anywhere, anytime.

* Don't worry about any of the bits of music you compose while running. You won't remember it by the time you get to a piano anyways.

* If you think of a faster beat while composing, you will run faster.

* Water always tastes good.

the empty box

Enjoy! :)

Moral Courage

I'd just like to share a passage from Pres. Monson's talk given in the October General Conference of 1986:

"Life’s journey is not traveled on a freeway devoid of obstacles, pitfalls, and snares. Rather, it is a pathway marked by forks and turnings. Decisions are constantly before us. To make them wisely, courage is needed: the courage to say no, the courage to say yes. Decisions do determine destiny.

The call for courage comes constantly to each of us. It has ever been so, and so shall it ever be."

Standing up for what is right has never been more important. Making correct decisions ought to be one of our main goals because it is through making correct decisions and following the Savior that we learn to become like Him, and have the opportunity to live with Him and our Father in Heaven.

It's not always easy to say "no" to a situation, or to say "yes" when you don't know the outcome. Trust the Lord. He does know, and He loves each one of us. Faith is a choice; choose to trust the Lord, and your faith will sustain you through the times when you don't know what's going on.

Psalm 31:24 says "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord."

I know that the Lord can strengthen my heart, if I trust Him, and show my courage to stand up for His gospel, even when it's difficult. He lives, He loves me and you, He wants all of his children to return to Him. He has given us guides to help us find our way back to Him, and He is always ready to receive us, to welcome us with open arms, we just have to choose to follow Him. That takes courage, and faith, and trust.

Trip of a Lifetime (Days 3 and 4)

The remainder of the New York Trip was spent on Long Island. Syosset and Greenport, to be specific. It. Was. Gorgeous. After going to church at a (Very!) small ward in Plainsville, we drove up to Greenport. I absolutely loved being with my family, and meeting the Phillips family too!! We played water volleyball in the pool, ate shrimp, and walked along a beautiful beach at sunset. The next day cruised around on the boat, went fishing (and caught two fish!), then I hopped on the train and rode all the way to Jamaica station, where I got on the Airtran over to JFK international airport and flew home, thus ending the wonderful summer adventure. I loved visiting New York, and I hope to return soon.

Thomas trying to sleep in the car.

After 3 hours of church, we got a little hyper in the back seat.

My dad and Mike Phillips.

I love this beach!!!

Jarrod on a rock


The Phillips family

The Lund family

It's August!

Wanted: A man as depicted above. You know where to find me.

Also, to make one chocolate chip cookie, follow this recipe.

• 1 tablespoon white granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 to 2 tablespoons chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract (essence)
• Pinch of salt
• Pinch of baking soda
• 4-5 tablespoons flour

Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl using a fork. Bake on a pregreased cookie sheet at 350 for 10-15 minutes. Enjoy!

This takes so much less effort than making a whole batch of cookies. It's just as good as the cake in a mug recipe, except, well, you know, it makes a cookie instead of a cake. :)

I had my very last class for summer term today, and now I have nearly a week to prepare for finals. I'm excited to take a break from school!! Huzzah for August!!!!

Trip of a Lifetime (Day 2)

Postscript to Day 1:

Sadly, I forgot that in our many walkings on Friday, we visited Ground Zero. There are a couple memorials and a new World Trade Center being built on the site. Here are the pictures.

On Day 2 of this adventure, we started out by taking the subway to the American Museum of Natural History. Only thing is, we got on an express train, that didn’t stop at 81^st street, but continued up to 130^th street, at which point we disembarked and got on a return train back to the museum.

AMNH is so cool!!!! I loved just about every part of it, including the mammals, dinosaurs, reptiles, the brain exhibit, Dum-Dum, planetarium, and just walking around all four awesome floors.

Well, we basically spent nearly all day at the museum, but afterwards, we headed to this delicious little Italian restaurant.

After eating all the pasta we could handle, we walked over to Central Park. We saw an awesome percussion group right by the fountain in the middle of the park.

We walked through the park to the Lincoln Center, where we saw the Manhattan temple right at sunset. It was so gorgeous.

After dark, we walked through Times Square again. I fell more in love with the city than ever.