.tender.mercy.

How today was supposed to look:

Class from 9:00-3:30
Beyond Measure 4:00-5:15
Work 5:30-11:00

Instead…

This is how today went:

Class from 9:00-11:50 {last two classes were cancelled}
Lunch/studying 12:00-2:00
Resting from 2:30-4:00
Beyond Measure 4:00-5:15
Work 5:30-6:30 {it was so slow that they let me go home early…made $30 in that hour}
Came home and took a bath.
Now I am in bed and it's 8:30.

Tender mercy?…

I think so.

"Tickle those ivories and have a good day!"

Today after lunch, I walked over to my piano bench, sat down and started playing.

{I haven't played in a long time and it was exhilarating to play again}

I get lost in the music when I play that I usually don't notice my surroundings. 

During one of the songs I was playing, I looked up and saw my dad in the kitchen 

doorway watching me play.

He then walked over to stood behind me as I finished the piece.

After I finished, I looked up at him and my tender dad had tears in his eyes.

I stood up and gave him a hug and asked if he was okay.

More tears filled his eyes as he said quietly, "You just make me so happy. I love hearing you play."

He started walking in the other room and I went to give him another hug.

Asking again if he was going to be okay.

He answered quietly again with even more tears in his eyes, "You just make me so happy."

He left and went back to work.

As soon as he left, my eyes filled with tears.

All I ever want in life is to make my parents happy and proud of me.

And to have my dad say those words to me with such emotion took my breath away. 

I sat down on the staircase thinking about my relationship with my dad. 

Dad… 

You have always been my number fan since day one. 

Both you and mom have supported me with singing, dancing and piano.

I feel that we have a special relationship when it comes to piano though.

Because I was so involved with soccer, dance and voice lessons, the only time I could

take piano lessons were at 6:30 in the morning on Wednesdays.

You would take me each week knowing that I didn't want to go so early. 

It was in the opposite direction of work, but you still took the time to drive me to lessons.

Dad, I don't know if you remember this, but every week as I got out of your car,

you would always say, "Now go tickle those ivories and have a good day my Annie Boo!"

I play back those words in my head every time I "tickle those ivories".

Dad, you are the one who encouraged me each week with piano lessons.

You were always there for my dance concerts when I know you would 

rather be at home watching Seinfeld.

You were there right next to me when I quit Ensemble to go back to Clayton.

You didn't say anything during that meeting with Ms. Belnap,

but your support and comfort spoke louder than words.

You have made so many sacrifices so that I could continue taking dance, singing and voice lessons.

I have you to thank for my success in music and dance.

Without it, I wouldn't be the person I am today.

I thank my Heavenly Father each and every day for blessing me with an earthly father

who loves and cares about me as much as he does.

I love you Dad. Forever and always.

Thank you for encouraging me to "tickle those ivories and have a good day"!

Love,

Annie Boo

.happiness.

Last night my best friend reminded me that happiness is a choice.
And I've decided to make that choice.
Life can get so overwhelming and confusing at times that we often forget to smile and be happy.
I am so incredibly blessed to have people in my life who make being happy easy.

Last night I decided to do more things that make me happy.
I realized that it's been a long time since I've done something that I enjoy doing
because it makes me happy.

Today…classes were cancelled by some miracle.
I was able to sleep at my parents house last night because that makes me happy.
I even slept with my best buddy Oscar.
I got to sleep in today because I LOVE sleeping and I don't get much sleep anymore.
I hung out with my dad for lunch.
Played the piano.
Dyed my hair.
Went to Cafe Rio with my beautiful sister.
Got her a few baby gifts.
{baby peanut comes in t-minus 10 days.. eek!}
Went baby shopping.
Played with my dog.
Played the piano some more.
And went to Beyond Measure practice.

I did all of these things because they make me happy and well… I never get days like this where I don't have class or work.

So my loved ones… Go do something that makes you happy!
Putting off my homework today was so worth it.
I get to go to bed with a smile on and that's all I needed today.

…Happiness is two kinds of ice cream and tying your shoes for the very first time…

-Kim Clayton

.me.

i mumble... i would rather sleep than socialize... i bite my nails... i watch too much netflix... i trust too easily... i suck at math... i don't work out... i am a doormat... i interrupt people.... i have celic... i cry too much... my laugh is obnoxious... i am never on time... i try too hard to impress... i am insecure... i am a diet coke addict... i feel that i am awkward... i don't eat healthy... my immune systems stinks... i make mistakes... but been with these many flaws of mine, i have grown into a young lady that i am proud of. and i love my life.

.oh.hello.

Well… I officially suck at blogging.
Here are some updates for those of you who read my blog… Thanks mom and Aubrey ;)

--> School has been the death of me this semester. I really like it though. It is just really overwhelming.
--> I have a job that I LOVE. People. Food. Management. $$. It's all good.
--> My sister is due in less than 4 weeks….adkj;auhgljdvhalejg
--> Beyond Measure made it through the Quarter Finals at the ICCA's. We are now going BACK to California in 2 weeks to compete at the Semi-Finals. Woot Woot!
--> I still haven't seen Austenland.
--> My phone charger has been broken for a quite a while now and I have been borrowing one from my roommate. The one I ordered finally came in the mail.
--> I'm still dancing and loving it. It's my escape.
--> I'm either in class, doing homework, at BYM or working. Social life has gone bye bye.
--> I am going to DISNEYLAND with 2 of my best friends in 2 weeks!
--> The sun is shining and I'm stoked.
--> Life has been overwhelming and stressful but somehow, I am surviving and staying happy.

These are probably boring updates for you. But this is my life right now!

..

I am so blessed to have someone in my life who makes saying goodbye to at the end of an amazing night so incredibly hard.

.miracle.

To be honest, I haven't been enjoying this semester as much as I would like to. My classes are all over the place, I'm in Stats (yucky) and I just haven't felt my heart loving it as much. Just when I am about ready to be done with this major of mine and and move onto something different, a miracle happens.

I am in a Transition class where we are learning about the transition phase in education. This is one of the most important things we learn as special educators. We were asked to find a high school student and work with them on their goals and future plans. To be honest, this project sounded nothing but miserable to me. Our professor was telling us stories about BYU students who worked with very rude and stubborn high schoolers. I was super nervous about this and not too excited.

Maggie (girl in my cohort) and I walked through the doors of Westlake High School and I felt an overwhelming feeling of peace and confidence. Yes I was scared as heck to roam the halls with high schoolers who probably thought I was a sophomore, but I felt like this was where I was supposed to be. We waited outside of the classroom where our 2 students would be. We stood and talked to one of the teachers of the classroom before 2nd period started. A boy walked up to him and said "Hey Mr. D. I'm new in your class!" I looked at the kid and immediately wanted to be his friend.

Mr. J. pulled Maggie and I out into the hallway and told us about the students we would be working with. He pulled out 2 boys from the classroom and one of them just so happened to be "the new kid in class". Those feelings I'd had were no mistake. I needed to be his friend.

We went down to an empty classroom and Maggie took one student and I took my new friend. Let's call him Brian. We sat down in 2 desks that were facing each other and started talking. He told me about his love for reading and listening to Lady Gaga. Turns out that Brian also loves Star Wars and can't get enough of it. I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. His response? "I just want to make people happy and I feel like I can do that as an entertainer. I dressed up as Spiderman for a Heroic volunteer program and I had about 50 kids wanting pictures taken with me. They kept telling me I was their hero. I just want to make people happy." Curse my tender heart as I held in tears. (I actually had to hold in tears the whole time we talked... I love and hate this tender heart of mine.)

Brian told me more about himself. Turns out that we have a lot in common. Music. Dance. Star Wars. Etc. He told me stuff that was more personal, yet, he felt like he could tell me these things. He hasn't had an easy life but he still has a good attitude about it all. Looks like he'll be the one teaching me during this project... and boy I can't wait.