Million dollar question

We've all been asked the classic question, "if you were stranded on an island and could only have one thing to survive, what would you have?"   Or perhaps, "if you knew you were going to die, what few things would you be sure to have with you?"  I never thought I would actually have to apply those answers, until a few hours ago.

4:30 a.m. I wake up to my RA telling me to get up and pack a bag, "be in the hale lounge and ready to evacuate at 6 a.m."  The hale is a fury, girls rushing around like crazy filling up water bottles, calling boyfriends and family members back on the mainland. The whole scene is a little surreal.  I think to myself, what do I pack? is it better to take another bottle of water or a change of clothes? Makeup..... yea or nay?  Should I bring movies to watch in case we have power and nothing to do?  Funny as it seems, these were very scary thoughts... Now for the million dollar question:

What do I bring?

1. Scriptures

2. Journal

3. Special box containing pictures, patriarchal blessing, and every birthday card and special letter any family member has ever given me

4. Extra t-shirt and pants

5. Toothbrush and toothpaste

6. Water and food; i.e. sandwiches and fruit

7. Laptop 

8. Phone and charger

9. CAMERA : )
OH!  and my animal bracelets that match with my sisters' : )

So a massive tsunami is headed for Hawaii. Waves have already hit Hilo; beyond that, no one can predict.  Currently we are sitting in our rooms reading The Rules and waiting for more news; sirens going off sporadically.  For now, we are okay.  I'll try and keep you posted : )

1:02 a.m.
Thanks to all the thoughts and prayers, nothing really happened.  There was a swell, but just a couple feet. Some might think we were over-exaggerating the severity of it all, but it could have been devastating.  There was no way to predict the outcome of the swell, and we were directly in its path.  But because of the many prayers and thoughts of families friends and loved ones, we were all saved with not so much as a scratch.

THANK YOU

and BECAUSE our lives and our community were saved, the show went on! Hip Hip HOORAY!  Final show of "The Music Man" was a success.  Sold out house, best performance yet : )

Trisha did a wonderful follow up post on the Tsunami and the fun events of the day as well as the Music Man closing night...

For some of the best quotes from the Music Man click HERE : )

When Life Gives You Lemons

We all know the old saying: when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.  Well I've had issues with that saying; I have a tendency to complain because the lemon juice gets in my eye or something along those lines.  Its become a very bad habit, this complaining.  Be it "ugh I have rehearsal again" or "I'm so tired" or "I have too much to do",  I whine.  Here's the pathetic part,  I HAVE NO ROOM TO COMPLAIN.  I love all that I do;  I signed up for my dance class and committed myself to the concert and rehearsals every night until midnight or better to prepare for it. I auditioned for the musical knowing full well the time it would consume.  I signed up to take 18 credits this semester.  I took the job as a math tutor because I was honored.  I didn't have to do a single one of these things, but I did.  For one reason or another, I did.  So I have no room to complain. I should make lemonade.

On the flipside, I found out yesterday that my grandfather has been having heart issues again and is now getting a pacemaker.  His wife, my grandmother, may quite possibly have breast cancer again.  And my cousin has been having random strokes because her spinal cord is crumbling.  Its a mystery as to what is really going on but doctors suspect her spinal cord is trying to separate itself from the brain.  The BEST case scenario right now is that she is in a wheelchair the rest of her life.  28 years old, one precious little girl, and her life changed forever if not ended..

Don't take life for granted. It is a blessing that can be taken away from us at any moment.  Be the best that you can be at all times and never give in.  Stick up for what you believe in, but also practice what you preach. Make every day worth living for.

 "You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays"

- Professor Harold Hill, The Music Man

Reminiscing

Yesterday after a full day of rehearsals,  I began to reminisce about my favorite shows over the years.  The one show I would give anything to do again would be The Secret Garden.  It was an amazingly talented group of performers as well as a very intruiging show.  An extremely complex in musical score, and the plot line was very deep, dark, and thought provoking.  It is my favorite show of all times HANDS DOWN, and not because of the role I had in it, but because of the group of actors and actresses I had the chance to work with.  The show itself is phenomenal, the music absolutely beautiful; it should be considered an opera because the number of songs and their complexity.  Below is one of the reviews we received :)

The Secret Garden at Indian Springs Badham Theatre (CenterStage) 

Reviewed March 6, 2003 by Leonard Jowers

Pardon me for reviewing a show in which I have some personal interest, but after a while in Birmingham theatre it is hard to avoid a personal interest. The Secret Garden showcases several talented old friends and some exciting newcomers. Two of these newcomers are Kendall Johnson, and Adena Williams. One can tell from his portrayal of Fakir, that Kendall Johnson has an exceptional voice, quality and range, and stage presence that would add to any production. Adena Williams’ Rose made it clear that she too is a veteran of quality theatre. I commend both to Birmingham’s theatre community as persons well worth recruiting for lead roles. 

Not a newcomer to Birmingham theatre, but seldom on stage here, is Brent Jones of Tuscaloosa. Brent masterfully developed the character of Uncle Archibald better than one normally expects a character in a musical to be developed. But musically, wow, Brent Jones’ and Frank Thompson’s “Lily’s Eyes” was undoubtedly the best male duet performance I have heard in decades. 

Ali Fredrick and Alie B. Gorrie are the young stars of the show. Gorrie plays the mostly bed-ridden Colin Craven; Fredrick is the lead, Mary Lennox. Both of their vocal performances seemed flawless; during their duet I wondered how they could be so good, so young. Of particular note is that of Fredrick’s role in relation to her age; many many lines delivered and songs sung, with meaning and without noticed error. 

This cast is very talented. Unfortunately, in a review that does not ramble, for a good production, it is not possible to praise every performer worthy of praise. With one short exception, all of the vocals of this near-opera were delivered as well as one would expect or better. There were a couple of issues that did detract from the performance for me. Although the lighting was well designed for this show, it appeared there were some glitches and sometimes the cast did not “find the light” for stationary lighting. In a couple of cases from supporting roles, lyrics are not understandable by someone not already familiar with them. These are close enough however to be corrected by your performance. 

Another bright young star in the cast is Sara James. Whether solo or otherwise, Sara’s character (Martha) and clear chansons were delightful; as one expects from anyone of her talents. The ensemble of ghosts and individual ghost performances were strong and had some interesting choreography. 

If you are a person for musicals, this is one to see. It has more than twenty-five, well-done, enjoyable numbers, and one can tell the score is not an easy one with which to sing. As I recall, several of the numbers begin a capella or go so within, requiring confidence and pitch. This The Secret Garden is a good production, and there are several individual efforts that make it worth the price of admission and your time. It is a story about love, love lost, and about the power of love to heal.

5 key principals to a happy life

In this week's devotional, President Layton quoted verses in D&C section 59 outlining the 5 key principals of the Lords plan to a happy life and it really hit home with me. I have been struggling with petty little concerns such as boys. I have convinced myself that there is no shame in asking for such a thing; and often get discouraged and ask why when I do not receive the answers and outcomes I hope for. I say, "Is this not a righteous desire? I just want to find a close friend- to have someone besides my family and girls to talk to; someone I can trust completely who I know wants the same in me. I am not asking for wealth or worldly things; just happiness. Is that not a righteous desire?" 

I have realized since this week's devotional, that perhaps I have been taking this the wrong way. Happiness does not have to come from a companion. Happiness, as the Lord has planned it, comes from serving the Lord and striving to be the best we can be. Righteous desires are those that will help us to accomplish that. Though a man may help me through rough times righ now, now is not the time for that to happen. Marriage and family will happen when it is supposed to happen. It will fall into place if I simply focus on those 5 key principals of the Lord's plan to a happy life.

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve Him. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Thou shalt not steal; neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor do anything like unto it. Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things. Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit."

I need to completely sacrafice for the Lords work, I need to recognize his hand in all that I do and thank him ALWAYS, never forgetting what he has done for me. If I could just try and comprehend all that he has sacraficed and given for me because he LOVES ME, I would never forget.

This was a fantastic devotional and I am so grateful to President and Sister Layton for making the long journey out here to speak to us.

the GREATEST

I recently found out that my sister and some friends participated in a Mardi Gras Parade; they decorated 

a trailer and rode in the back tossing out Fruit Roll-ups and Moon Pies with pass-a-long cards attached!

How awesome is that?!

She really is the greatest and I love her to death : )

Video for Valentines

Today we made a video for Valentines day!  Photography by the one and only TRISHA ZEMP!  It is so cute and was so much fun to film, I just can't get over it : )

Happy Valentines Day! from trisha Zemp on Vimeo.

Froot Loops and Milk

Fantastic photo shoot today with my wonderful friend TRISHA ZEMP!  Bowls full of cereal and milk POURED on our heads!! I cannot even explain how amazingly spectacular the event was, so check out my friends Sydney Sturgeon and Jarek Buss's blogs to hear about the wondermus excitement!

            ME!                                                                Kristal Sabaitis

 

Jarek Buss                                                         Sydney Sturgeon

Jessica Crandall                                                   Jefferson Campbell

 

Joanna Morrill                                                          Hannah Cash

Kylie Soelberg                                                       Champ Vinitnantharat

and last but certainly not least our amazing photographer TRISHA ZEMP!!

Visiting Teaching

Tonight was our stake auxiliary training meeting. I am now super pumped to kick my visiting teaching into high gear. For those of you who may not know what visiting teaching is, allow me to explain. But first, perhaps I shall inform you of a wonderful program in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints called the Relief Society..
Female Church members ages 18 and older belong to the Relief Society. The Relief Society was founded by the Prophet Joseph Smith on March 17, 1842, in Nauvoo, Illinois. In the days of its founding, it had two main purposes: to provide relief for the poor and needy and to bring people to Christ. The organization continues today, staying true to those original guiding principles as women in the Relief Society meet together on Sunday and in other settings as needed.

This is our theme: 
THE RELIEF SOCIETY OF

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

WE are beloved spirit daughters of God,
and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction.
As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion
to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar.
We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who:
Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ
through prayer and scripture study.

Seek spiritual strength by following the
promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Dedicate ourselves to strengthening
marriages, families, and homes.

Find nobility in motherhood
and joy in womanhood.

Delight in service and good works.

Love life and learning.

Stand for truth and righteousness.

Sustain the priesthood
as the authority of God on earth.

Rejoice in the blessings of the temple,

understand our divine destiny,

and strive for exaltation.

The Relief Society is now the largest womens organization in the world with over 5 million members. Within this organization, there are many programs established to provide care and compassion to brothers and sisters in the world. One of these programs is the Visiting Teaching program. Visiting teaching is the heart and soul of Relief Society. The purposes of visiting teaching are to build caring relationships with each sister and to offer support, comfort, and friendship. In visiting teaching, both the giver and the receiver are blessed and strengthened in their Church activity by their caring concern for one another.

I have a testimony of Visiting Teaching,  I know it is designed by the Lord and can work miracles in the lives of many around us.  We may not even realize the affect we have on others we visit teach. 

Not to sound like I'm giving a talk in sacrament meeting, but in closing I want to share a quote I heard tonight from one of our mentor service missionaries:

A friend is someone who listens when you say nothing at all...

Life is Good

Sometimes, I wonder if I will ever be able to have a normal life.... I wonder if I will ever be satisfied with a boring schedule.  Rehearsals today ran from 10:30 am - 7:10 pm, then I headed off to the library for a couple hours to study and do homework and I STILL FELT IT WAS AN UNPRODUCTIVE DAY. Am I crazy?  I think so.  I am ADDICTED to my agenda.  I really think I would break out into hives and go in to anaphylactic shock if I ever lost it.

EVERY WEEK LOOKS LIKE THAT. Those are just meetings that I have to be at, scheduled for certain times.  That doesn't include laundry or studying or food or sleep (which I've really been lacking in). Tell me there's not something wrong with that. 

I've recently had some uneasiness about my career choice;  I got a little scared the other day, worried that I wouldn't be able to handle the work load.  But then again, it continually amazes me how I handle all that I do right now.  Thanks to the amazing PB blessing that I have, I know I will be able to complete my studies.  So I shouldn't be worried, right?  The Lord wants what is best for me and only wants to see me succeed.   He won't make it a cake walk, but he will never give me anything I can't handle.

I love the little things he does everyday to make life just a little better.

For example:

The one day I leave my umbrella at home, he holds off the rain until I literally step foot into the Hale.

When I think I am running late to a class, the lecture just happens to start as I take my seat.

I somehow manage to get all my work done.... still figuring that one out.

FRIENDS. I HAVE REAL FRIENDS WHO LOVE ME AND I WOULD GIVE ANYTHING FOR THEM.

you know, Life is Good.

Shropshire Music Foundation

There was a FANTASTIC devotional given this past Tuesday, by Liz Shropshire, founder of the Shropshire Music Foundation.  Click here for her devotional and to hear more about the program and her amazing story : )

Information Please

 I had never heard this story in my life, but both Monday at FHE and today at our tutor meeting it was shared. An adorable story I thought I'd share with you... Information Please

When I was quite young, my family had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood. I remember well the polished oak case fastened to the wall on the lower stair landing. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I even remembered the number - 105. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked into it. Once she lifted me up to speak to my father, who was away on business. Magic! Then I discovered that somewhere inside that wonderful device lived an amazing person - her name was "Information Please" and there was nothing that she did not know. My mother could ask her for anybody's number and when our clock ran down, Information Please immediately supplied the correct time.


My first personal experience with this genie-in-the-receiver came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the toolbench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer. The pain was terrible, but there didn't seem to be of much use crying because there was no one home to offer sympathy. I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway. The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver and held it to my ear. "Information Please," I said into the mouthpiece just above my head. A click or two, and a small clear voice spoke into my ear. "Information." "I hurt my fingerrr-" I wailed into the phone. The tears came readily enough now that I had an audience. "Isn't your mother home?" came the question. "Nobody's at home but me," I blubbered. "Are you bleeding?". "No", I replied. "I hit it with the hammer and it hurts". "Can you open your icebox?" she asked. I said I could. "Then chip off a little piece of ice and hold it on your finger. That will stop the hurt. Be careful when you use the ice pick," she admonished. "And don't cry. You'll be alright".


After that, I called Information Please for everything. I asked for help with my Geography and she told me where Philadelphia was, and the Orinco--the romantic river I was going to explore when I grew up. She helped me with my Arithmetic, and she told me that a pet chipmunk--I had caught him in the park just that day before--would eat fruits and nuts. And there was the time that Petey, our pet canary, died. I called Information Please and told her the sad story. She listened, then said the usual things grown-up say to soothe a child. But I was unconsoled. Why was it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to whole families, only to end as a heap of feathers feet up, on the bottom of a cage? She must have sensed my deep concern, for she quietly said, "Paul, always remember that there are other worlds to sing in." Somehow, I felt better.


Another day I was at the telephone. "Information," said the now familiar voice. "How do you spell fix?". F-I-X." At that instant my sister, who took unholy joy in scaring me, jumped off the stairs at me with a banshee shriek-"Yaaaaaaaaaa!" I fell off the stool, pulling the receiver out of the box by its roots. We were both terrified--Information Please was no longer there, and I was not at all sure that I hadn't hurt her when I pulled the receiver out. Minutes later, there was a man on the porch. "I'm a telephone repairman. I was working down the street and the operator said there might be some trouble at this number." He reached for the receiver in my hand. "What happened?" I told him. "Well, we can fix that in a minute or two." He opened the telephone box exposing a maze of wires and coils, and fiddled for a while with the end of the receiver cord, tightened things with a small screwdriver. He jiggled the hook up and down a few times, then spoke into the phone. "Hi, this is Pete. Everything's under control at 105. The kid's sister scared him and he pulled the cord out of the box." He hung up, smiled, gave me a pat on the head and walked out the door.


All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. Then, when I was nine years old, we moved across he country to Boston-and I missed my mentor acutely. Information Please belonged in that old wooden box back at home, and I somehow never thought if trying the tall, skinny new phone that sat on the small table in the hall. Yet, as I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversation never really left me; often in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense of security I had when I know that I could call Information Please and get the right answer. I appreciated now how very patient, understanding and kind she was to have wasted her time on a little boy.


A few years later, on my way back to college, my plane put down in Seattle. I had about half an hour between plan connections, and I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister who lived there now, happily mellowed by marriage and motherhood. Then, really without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information Please." Miraculously, I heard again the small, clear voice that I know so well:"Information." I hadn't planned this, but I heard myself saying, "Could you tell me, please, how to spell the word 'fix'?" There was a long pause. Then came the softly spoken answer. "I guess," said Information Please, "that your finger must have healed by now." I laughed. "So it's really still you. I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during all that time...." "I wonder," she replied, "if you know how much you meant to me? I never had any children, and I used to look forward to your calls. Silly, wasn't it?" It didn't seem silly, but I didn't say so. Instead I told her how often I had thought of her over the years, and I asked if I could call her again when I come back to visit my sister when the semester was over. "Please do. Just ask for Sally." "Goodbye Sally." It sounded strange for Information Please to have a name.


Just three months later, I was back again at the Seattle airport. A different voice answered, "Information," and I asked for Sally. "Are you a friend?" "Yes," I said. "An old friend." "Then I'm sorry to have to tell you. Sally had only been working part-time in the last few years because she was ill. She died five weeks ago." But before I could hung up, she said, "Wait a minute. Did you say your name was Villard?" "Yes." "Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down." "What was it?" I asked, almost knowing in advance what it would be. "Here it is, I'll read it-'Tell him I still say there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean'"  I thanked her and hung up. I did know what Sally meant.

I know that my Redeemer lives

Last Sunday I was asked (while into Relief Society) if I would sing just over an hour later in Sacrament meeting. At first I was taken off guard and in shock, but I took the challenge.  I had no idea how the song would turn out. I didn't even have the opportunity to run through the song all the way one time.

Fortunately, the song was a success, but not because of me. The Lord works wonders, and that Sunday was just a glimpse at his capabilities.

I know that my Redeemer lives.
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!

He lives, he lives, who once was dead.

He lives, my ever-living Head.

He lives to bless me with his love.

He lives to plead for me above.

He lives my hungry soul to feed.

He lives to bless in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply.

He lives to guide me with his eye.

He lives to comfort me when faint.

He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears.

He lives to wipe away my tears.

He lives to calm my troubled heart.

He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise heav’nly Friend.

He lives and loves me to the end.

He lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing.

He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath.

He lives, and I shall conquer death.

He lives my mansion to prepare.

He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives! All glory to his name!

He lives, my Savior, still the same.

Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:

“I know that my Redeemer lives!”

He lives! All glory to his name!

He lives, my Savior, still the same.

Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:

“I know that my Redeemer lives!”

a moving gospel

A couple of days ago I had the thought to start a blog. I didn't know why, or what about, I just felt impressed to start one. Tonight, at a devotional, my questions were answered and I knew exactly what I was supposed to blog about and why. So here it goes...

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Mormon church. Both of my parents are converts, but I have had the privilege of growing up in the church. I was a fantastic child; rarely got in trouble, worked hard, and excelled in everything I did without my parents having to push me. I followed the standards of the church, hardly questioning them. One youth conference, I was listening to the closing devotional when something the speaker said hit me hard.  I realized at that moment, that I had just been going through the motions of being a member; I didn't really know if it was true or not. I had never given it a second thought. I was a good person, I hadn't ever done anything wrong; but I didn't really study and read my scriptures. I hardly prayed except for with the family and at meals. I had never really bothered gaining my own testimony. As I sat there, a timid 15 year old mia maid in an auditorium full of a thousand or so youth and leaders, the floodgates opened up and the tears began pouring out. I felt guilty. Guilty that I had taken for granted the amazing blessings that I had been given; I had a strong family who loved me more than I could ever imagine, I had talents and gifts out the wazoo, and I was at a youth conference full of hundreds and thousands of youth with the same standards as me. All I could think about was how I had done nothing with all that I had been given. There at that youth conference, were many many people less fortunate than I, but who loved the Lord and would give everything they had for him. I felt guilty; disgusted with myself for being so selfish and not even giving it a second thought. That day I made a promise to myself that I would try harder and stop going through the motions. I would gain my own testimony, and stop living off my parents'.

For a while, I read and really pondered my scriptures. I prayed daily and tried to keep him in the front of my mind. But, as usual, I fell back into the pattern of reading maybe one scripture a day, praying when I remembered- and even then it was rarely on my knees. My journal writing was pathetic. I would sometimes go a month and write in it every day. Typically, however, I would open it up to see that it had been a months or even a year since my last entry. Pathetic as it sounds, those habits were still worlds better than they had been.

Back in August, a good friend made a very wise comment on growing in the gospel and building our testimonies. He explained that the gospel was a moving gospel. In order to gain a testimony, we have to always keep working harder and moving forward. We can never just sit still; the minute we do so, we immediately begin to fall backwards.  This comment has remained in the back of my mind. I am at a time in my life right now where I have infinite opportunities in front of me. I have the privilege of constant exposure to the gospel, an amazing blessing. I have begun to really truly study my scriptures, and pray daily. I have sincere desire to know and grow in the gospel. My testimony has grown so much these past few months, and it would not have been possible had I not had the honest desire to build it. Daily I see the Lord working in my life. I am receiving answers to my prayers; something I had claimed to have experienced, but never really did. I feel his love every day and want to spread it. All I want to do is grow and continually learn; it's the most amazing feeling. I am realizing things about myself that I never imagined and it is helping me to become a better person- the person I had always hoped to be.

My intentions with this blog are not to document every little detail of my life, but more to share how the Lord is working in it each and every day. To my followers, if I ever get any, I hope you find this blog helpful and inspiring in some way. But to be completely honest, I am writing it for me; so that I recognize the the Lord's hand in all that I do and hopefully never take it for granted again.