Emily's Exploits

Don't know whether or not to be proud of that, but it's a milestone. Right now I'm in the last place on earth that you'd want to be on a Saturday night. In the Library. I took a nap earlier, so now I pay the consequences and I'm here to do some homework. But the sad news is that I left the right binder in my backpack in my apartment! (that's what I get for having all black binders and not color coding) The good news, however, is that now I get to blog (as I surreptitiously eat my cornbread muffins. Mmm Mmm good. ) One of my favorite parts of being a vocal performance major is GETTING TO PERFORM! So today the girls and I (anyone who's in the major along with Dr. Reich, our professor) went to Allyse's bridal at the University Mall to try on performing gowns. What's awesome about being a soloist is that you can wear whatever you want, and if it's flashy, you look cooler. So I found this dress. The price? I mean, it looks like it could be around $30...

I live in Utah. Utah was settled by pioneers. So we have Pioneer Day, every July 24th. Which means I have no school today. Just one more reason to love it! ;) I feel I wouldn't be doing my civic duty without blogging about Pioneers. Or about my pioneer ancestry. It's hard work, but somebody's gotta do it. Hannah Thornock (my great-great-great grandmother on my father's side) was three months old when her parents and five older siblings boarded the ship Golconda to emigrate to the United States, specifically to meet with the rest of the Mormons in the Salt Lake Valley. The ship left Liverpool, England on February 4th, 1854, and arrived in New Orleans on March 18th. From there they went to Kansas City and outfitted themselves for the nine week trek over the plains and rockies to Salt Lake City! "In addition to all the heavy labor of assembling the wagons, training the young oxen, constructing pasture fences and corrals and all the camping and household chores, there...

"In the course of always looking for what others have done and what others have thought and what others have felt, we never learn what we think or feel about a subject. We overlook learning what is in our own hearts, and in so doing we never make the most important of all discoveries. That is, How do I feel about the subject? What do I think about it? That introspection or exploration is perhaps the most important kind of study in which we can engage." - Boyd K. Packer I'm reading this book right now and encourage anyone who hasn't to read it- it is a fabulous book about how to teach moral principles, based on how Christ taught His disciples in the New Testament. I've been able to examine how I learn, and how I can teach others, even when I don't formally teach a class or have any kind of training. p.s. I just love the retro book style- this cover is the first edition, but there have been several since its publication in 1975

When Joseph went to Bethlehem, I think he took great care To place his tools and close his shop and leave no shavings there. He urged the donkey forward, then with Mary on its back And carried bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack. That Easter Morn, a grave that burst, proclaimed to man that last and first Had ris'n again, and conquered pain. I wonder, when he comes again, Will I be ready there To look upon his loving face And join with him in prayer? Each day I’ll try to do his will And let my light so shine That others seeing me may seek For greater light divine. I’m sure he’ll call his little ones Together ’round his knee, Because he said in days gone by, “Suffer them to come to me. ”

While in Florence, Michael took us to the Uffizi Gallery, the first art gallery ever! So here are four of my very favorites. Leonardo da Vinci: Unfinished Adoration of the Magi Sodoma: Christ amid his tormentors This one made me cry. Sorry for the poor quality- the original was beautiful. Lorenzetti: Madonna and Child enthroned between 8 angels Giottino: San Remigio Pieta I love the sad, expressive faces of the apostles gathering around Christ.

I owe Amy big time that I even saw any of these beautiful paintings! It was the Sunday that we got to Milan, and I was exhausted from our train trip, it was raining outside... and I wasn't too excited to go out into the city. But I really wanted to make the most of my day, so we headed to Brera, one of the most famous art galleries in Milan, and we got in for free! I've only posted a few of my favorites that I saw there, but I'll just let the paintings speak for themselves. Guercino: Abraham reprimands Hagar Batoni: Sacra Conversazione (Brera, Milano) Giampietrino: Madonna col Bambino (Brera, Milano) Hayez: Il bacio (Brera, Milano) Induno's Triste presentimento (Brera, Milano)

When we were in Salzburg we all took a jumping picture together and this is the result. Probably the funniest thing in the world! I just got this copy from my friend Rebekah (my copy of the jumping picture was much less exciting)