Wicked....and Stuff

So the other weekend I got the amazing opportunity to see the show "Wicked". Now, this pretty much changed my life for the better!! No lie! I was like a little kid at Christmas! I couldn't sit still to save my life, and I'm sure I was driving the poor people around me crazy!! I laughed, teared up a bit, and just all around had the time of my life. For those of you that don't know (if you don't wow) its the musical telling the first story of the Wizard of Oz. Now, I was in the musical of the Wizard of Oz, and I have to say that this production was a million times better! (well, mine was a small town show, and this was a touring group so duh). The sets were amazing, and the costumes were incredible! The dancing, which I tend to focus on, was really good! The choreographer chose to use a more modern style of dance instead of a more traditional musical theater style. I loved it! There were some really interesting lifts and choices made that really added a lot to the show. The two lead women were nothing short of amazing! I could honestly go on forever about it, but I will stop now. Just know that it pretty much changed my world...and I got a t-shirt! Shock right!

So other than that, life is still the same. Busy with the job and schooling thing. I am still behind and playing catch-up, so stress is still my friend at this point. I have a great family that always supports me, and wonderful friends to back my up, I think I'll make it!

Edges update-I am a nervous wreck! I have been working on my song, but don't feel even close to ready to sing it in front of people!!!! I am totally scared and wondering if my choice to overcome this fear was a good one or not. I know that in the end I will be grateful that I did it, and I know it has already helped me a lot, but I am still very nervous. So fingers crossed, I can feel ready to do this soon! We shall see!!

Edges, School, and Just Stuff!!!

I know it has been a million years, and I am really trying to get better at this blogging thing! I am not sure that anyone even reads this, but it is good for me to do. I am really bad a keeping a personal journal, so this is really one of the only ways I have to look back on things that I have done and remember my life.

So, what is new in the world of me??

I am sad to say not much! I am super busy with work, and now starting school again, I am pretty much super boring!! I am behind already in school, and so stressed I can't even see straight! So really, that is all my life consists of at the moment....

I did conquer one of my biggest fears and insecurities two-ish weeks ago. I auditioned for a musical theater song cycle. It is basically a show with only songs, no dialogue. I know what you are all thinking: " Laney, you never sing in front of people??" I KNOW RIGHT!!!! This is why this is such a big deal for me! I was very proud of myself for even auditioning. I was terrified about it, and almost backed out. I knew that this was something I needed to do for me, or I would regret it for the rest of my life. So I got a song ready with the help of the amazing Julie Neish, and showed up for my audition. I was shaky, sweaty, felt sick, and was all around a hot mess! I almost left again, but having the amazing friends I do, they all forced me to stay!

I have to say that I totally sucked in my audition. I was so scared and I forgot the words halfway through and had to start again. I wasn't very loud (which isn't new for me), but I just tried to act my butt off in hopes they wouldn't notice what was in my mind awful singing! Turns out it wasn't as awful as I thought and I got a part! I know right?!?!?! I am super scared, but so excited!! I am singing a solo song called "Man of my Dreams" that I LOVE!! It is so much fun! I am also singing a duet with Jeff Fink called "I Hmmm You", and also in some group numbers! I think it is going to be very fun and I am excited for the challenge to overcome my fears!

Other than that, I am very boring! Work, school, rehearsal, and home! haha I promise I will get better at this blogging thing, and hopefully have much more interesting things to talk about!! ;)

Joyce Ileen Savage

I know that I am the worst at this!! The past few months have been insane, and has kept my attention away from my blog. Though lots has happened, I would like to talk about a very special person.

My incredible Great Grandmother Joyce Savage passed away in December. For anyone that didn't know her, she was one of the most amazing people I have ever had the honor of having a part of my life. She never had a bad thing to say about anyone, and loved everyone like family. It didn't matter if she was meeting you for the first time, or had known you for years, you were a dear friend in her eyes.

Because of health issues, she was unable to have children of her own. This didn't stop her from being a wonderful mother. She adopted 13 children, of different ages, and loved them and cared for them as if they were her own. She had to suffer through the loss of some of those children, and watch others fall away from the Gospel, but still loved them just the same.

She didn't have an easy life, but I have never met someone with a greater love for our Father in Heaven. Though she had reasons, she was never bitter or angry with life. She loved life and her smile and energy were contagious.

She was also one of the most beautiful, classy women I have ever met. She would have dinner on the table, the house spotless, the socks mended and the ironing done all in a skirt, heels, and pearls. She also ran a successful real estate business along with a home, and made it look so easy.

I am so grateful to have been able to help take care of her during the last bit of her life, and I treasure the moments I had with her. She will always be an example to me of the way to live my life and be a better Latter Day Saint.

I love you Grandma Joyce- "I got that kiss falling off"

Angie Walukonis

So my Disney Sister and best friend is the opinions editor of her college paper the Ferris State Torch. She started out writing more news articles, interviewing, finding facts, and all that goes with it. She really liked it and is really great at it! She got moved to opinions editor this year, and though I believe she is amazing at this too, she is finding it to be more difficult. She wrote an article recently, I finally got to read it tonight, and I have to say that I really liked it. It is really well written, and I respect her for taking on such a controversial and tabu topic. She has received a lot of hate mail for this. My heart goes out to her!!

Here is the article:

http://www.fsutorch.com/2011/09/07/opinions/we-don’t-need-god/

Little Update....Finally!!!

So, I know that I am THE WORST blogger ever!! I always promise to do better, then never do, so I will try harder....promise. haha. So what had been going on with me since May.....kinda a lot.

To start, I took a trip back to Florida in June to visit my Disney family. I LOVED being there again! Though it was painfully hot, I had the best time! I got there at like 10:00 Tuesday night and my wonderful Disney Sister Angie and Joey were waiting for me! She even had a vanilla bean from Starbucks waiting for me!! I sure love them! We went to eat, then to her apartment to get her things. She lives in the Disney housing, and the rule is that guests have to be out by 1:00 am. Since staying with her was not an option, my other friend Beth said I could stay with her. After Angie got her things ready, we were prepared for a very confusing (we had never been to Beth's apartment, and we weren't sure where the streets she gave us as directions were.....) drive to her place. Come to find out, she lives right across the street from Angie's apartment, so it worked out great!! Angie also gave me my early birthday present that night. A really cute green Disney bag, an autograph book for the very important characters I would meet there, a Donald Duck magnet, a Donald Duck pin, and a gift card!! She is so wonderful!

The next day we hit our first park Animal Kingdom! We did everything we could! I love that park, it was a great way to start! After that, we went to Downtown Disney. Angie and I had decided before I left that we would go there and make matching t-shirts. We got them made and they looked amazing!!

Thursday we went to Hollywood Studios!! We saw a ton of shows, did Rockin' Rollercoaster (favorite ride) and a bunch of other things! We even saw Phineas and Ferb!! I KNOW RIGHT!!! haha Love them!!

Friday Angie had to work, so I stayed with my other good friend Allison (I shared a room with her first then with Angie...). We hit Downtown Disney and Cast Connection for some shopping. Then Angie met up with us again at Downtown Disney to see Cars 2. We were at Earl of Sandwich when it started raining super hard and we had to walk to the other side of Downtown to get to the AMC. By the time we got there it looked like we had jumped in a pool. haha So much fun! The movie was so cute, and the little girl sitting next to me was SOO excited! She couldn't even stand it! She kept yelling things at her mom..."MOM, LIGHTING McQUEEN!!!" The mom would keep telling her to be quiet and apologizing to me...I said it was no big deal, it was so cute!! We had a great time in the movie!!

Saturday we went to Epcot! It also rained on us here too! We had a good time at the park, even though we were wet!!

Sunday we went to spend the day with some of Angie's family. They were so much fun!! We laughed soo hard! They took us on a tour of some parts of Florida that were gorgeous!! Then they took us to a place called the Salty Dog. I was looking at the menu and freaked out cause it said that the Man Vs. Food's Adam Richman had been there!! I got the Salty Dog (pretty much the best corn dog I have ever had put in a bun). When Adam was there, he got it with all the toppings he could, I didn't do that, but it was still very exciting!! Great day!!

The last day was Magic Kingdom! Best way to end the trip! We watched the new castle show, and wished! The best firework show!! So many memories! Angie and I wore our matching shirts...I didn't want to leave. We stayed til around midnight, got my stuff, and went to Allison's house. My flight left at 6:00 am so we just stayed up until Joey came to get us for the airport...then I came home!

It was a wonderful trip! I LOVED being back there with my friends and everything!!

I also had a birthday! I am now 21!! Wow huh!! haha

Other than that...not much! I will try to do better with the blogging thing!! Promise!!

Baptism

My cousin Avery Kira got baptized today. It was a wonderful baptism!! She looked very pretty, the talks were good, and The Spirit was definitely there! It made me think back to my baptism. It was almost 13 years ago, so I don't remember it too well, but I will never forget it. It was back when they were combining the baptism of the kids that turned eight close to each other. I shared my day with my friend at the time Hayley. I remember my Grandpa gave a talk about repentance. He put a backpack on my back and explained that with every sin (or in this case rock that symbolizes sin) we become weighed down. Each rock was a sin and it was placed in the backpack until it was so heavy it was very uncomfortable. He explained that through my Father in Heaven I can be forgiven and my sins will be lifted, or taken out of the backpack. I remember being so excited, but so nervous. I am so grateful to have parents that taught me, and continue, to teach me the importance of the Gospel. I am grateful for the church and having the standards I have. I am also grateful for a my cousins that have been baptized and will be baptized. They also teach me everyday through their innocent example!!

It was also wonderful to see all the Priesthood holders in our family that came to do the confirmation. It is such a powerful thing to see the men with the Priesthood stand in a circle. There is such a power and reverence the is just amazing!!

Mommy

So I know it has been a million years since I posted, I am sorry. I get so annoyed when people don't post in forever, then I do the same thing. I will try to be better at that.

I have the best Mom in the world, I know that everyone says that, but its true. She is so patient with me, and that is a miracle with me!! She gives me the best advice, but doesn't push me to do anything. She will talk to me for hours about anything be it boys, clothes, my insecurities, or just life in general, without passing any judgements. We dance in the kitchen, sing loud in the car, and laugh all the time! She is so beautiful inside and out. She has a quiet confidence that I hope to have one day. Everyday she teaches me by example to be the best women I can be. There have been some major challenges and struggles in her life and she has taken them on with grace and that is something I am learning to do. She is always kind to people, and has a smile for everyone. I realized while I was in Florida, being so far away from her, just how much I took for granted. I was so grateful that I could call her at anytime and talk to her about anything. There were even times when I would forget about the time difference and call her super early in the morning. She always answered though..

There is SOOO much more I could say about this amazing women! One day I hope to be even half the woman and mother she is. I love you Mommy, Happy Mother's Day!!