A New Hobby

So I have a new hobby. All of a sudden this summer I've become addicted to photography! I LOVE taking pictures and editing them to make them beautiful! I recently joined a group on facebook where we put in our pictures and people comment on what they like or suggestions they have on how to make the picture better. I love it so much!! Here are a few that I've submitted to the group. You've seen some of them... but I've edited them a little bit since I posted them last. Enjoy! If you have any suggestions let me know!

Nauvoo 2010!

As I rounded the river bend for the first time in 11 months and read the sign, “Welcome to Nauvoo”, tears streamed down my face. These are the streets I walked with two wonderful companions. This is the river where I read scriptures and made dreams for my life. That is the temple I went to almost every week, seeking direction, seeking service, seeking time with my Heavenly Father. There is the home I lived in with 9 of the most wonderful women I’ve ever met. This is the place I prayed more than at any other time in my life. I gave tours in these homes and shops.

I initially hesitated coming to Nauvoo again. I heard from past YPM’s that it’s a very difficult thing to come and see the new performers performing your shows, singing your songs, saying your lines, and wearing your dresses. We arrived on a Sunday evening when the YPM’s were performing the sing along with the community. As I saw the YPM’s in their white and black outfits (just like us last year!), my heart was full to the brim. I immediately loved each of those YPM’s. I was so excited for them. I was so excited for everything they are learning. I was so excited for the testimony growing inside of them and what they were testifying to the rest of the world. Elder Camp told us (Mary-Martha and I) that he was going to put us back to work. He said we were going to be saying the prayers. We both thought he was joking, but when the sociable began, the senior missionary conducting the meeting announced that former YPM’s Sister Jackson and Sister Gardner would be saying the prayers. I loved it. :)

It was fun to be famous again for a couple of days. Many of the senior missionaries recognized Mary-Martha and I and ran up to give us hugs and see what we were doing with our lives. They mentioned my clogging and mentioned Sister Jackson’s fiddling.

I really enjoyed watching the shows and seeing the changes the new directors have made. I feel like High Hopes and River Boats makes sense now. :) They have done a beautiful job with the blocking and with the feeling of the whole show. Just Plain Anna-Amanda was a true joy to watch. I laughed at the puppet show like it was my first time watching it (I suppose in a way it is!). Each of the casts had their own twists and hilarious things they did. It was fun to see the differences. The only show that made me miss Nauvoo was Sunset by the Mississippi. I put my heart and soul into that one last year. I loved that show so much. The new directors have cleaned it up and made it a very classy classy show. I LOVED how they blocked Frog Kissin’. I love how much the band is a part of the show. It’s just a delight to see everything they have done.

Pageant was amazing as usual. I really enjoyed seeing it and not worrying about being home at a certain time. :) It was fun to remember what I was doing backstage during the different parts of the show.

Nauvoo was wonderful. It is still the city beautiful. The show lives on and grows and becomes better every year. I am so grateful for my time there. I am so grateful for everything I learned. I also know that my life didn’t end in Nauvoo. Like the saints, I am moving and growing and learning new and greater things in my life all the time. Before I left Nauvoo last year, I was having a hard time thinking that Nauvoo would be the highlight of my life. I told a YPM who had been there previously that and he said that he asks himself every day if he is a better person than he was the day before. If the answer is yes, he knows he is headed in the right direction. I’ve made that my commitment to myself. Sometimes, I fall short, but in the end, I will make every day better than the last. I will make every summer better than the last. I will make every year better than the last.

June 6, 2010 - LONDON! (Windsor)

Windsor Castle

Me with Windsor castle

me with Windsor castle again!

Windsor Castle again! The Queen lives here sometimes

And me with another part of the Windsor castle

Today we went to Sacrament meeting at the London family ward. I really enjoy family wards. I went to a sung Eucharist with Chris and Matt at 11. It was beautiful! They only had four voices instead of a full choir. The male alto was also the conductor and the organist. He was a very busy man. They sang “O Sing Joyfully” which is what I sang when I went to Corpus Christi so it was really fun to listen to them singing it. It was really well done! The soprano was awesome! I’m noticing that I love British sopranos so much!

We went to Windsor on a coach and I had the most delicious Sunday roast at a pub. It was so good!! It was only 7 pounds too!! Later we went back and I got a toffee waffle. Um... I think Americans need to learn how to make real belgian waffles. It was so delicious.

We went to Evensong and I loved the performance! They were fantastic. I really love boys choirs. They are so free up high. I love it. I’m feeling really sick though so I’m going to go to bed now. :) Have a wonderful night!

June 5, 2010 - LONDON! (Natural History Museum, V&A Museum, London Philharmonic Choir)

An urn at the British museum. Oxen... interesting, no?

A cool Asian thing

Her name is Emily!

I love this one!

Ok... the next few are just a TON of amazing cars that I saw on my way to these museums.

Heather and I at the Natural History Museum

Heather and I slept in today!! Oh happiness!! I really needed it. We made our delicious scrambled eggs and potatoes. I’m excited to be her roommates in the fall so we can make that yumminess again at home. (yes, yumminess is a word... I have decided so) After that happy happy breakfast Jonnie, Chris, Heather and I went to the Natural History museum. They had a cool exhibit about ants. They also had a human body exhibit that was interesting. We went to lunch at a British Chinese food place. We also went to the Victoria and Albert Museum. I thought that museum was about Victoria and Albert. Turns out... it has nothing to do with them. It has some really amazing sculptures of humans. It also has a replica of The David. It was amazing!! We also waded in the wading pool. That was one of my favorite parts of the day.

We went to see the London Philharmonic Choir perform Haydn’s “The Creation” tonight. The soloists were phenomenal. I really enjoyed the soprano and tenor sounds especially. They both were very free and powerful at the same time. The choir struggled a bit with pitch as did the orchestra. They got a little better throughout the evening. I love the piece, so it didn’t bother me very much because I was just excited to hear the music. I performed in that piece when I was at MSUB. It was one of the highlights of my time there. I went to McDonald’s with a bunch of people after the show. I think it’s funny that I’ve eaten at McDonald’s way more in London than I ever do in America. Actually, that’s a little bit sad. Anyway, another good day in London town!

June 4, 2010 - LONDON! (World Wars)

Signs in the trenches during WWII

Today was a heavy day. We talked about the origins of the World Wars and how it affected Britain. Honestly for my post today, I’m just going to write my notes from class and from my own research. We went to the war museum. My favorite part of the museum was the war through children’s eyes. I cried when I saw how much those children went through. I bought a small book of encouraging words. During the war, Britain put posters all over that said, “Keep calm and carry on”. I think those are some powerful words. Britain went through so much and I had no idea. There are buildings all around London that have chunks taken out from the bombings in London during the wars. War is horrific. It is tragic. I learned so much today and I felt so much today. There is a poem called In Flanders Fields that is very poignant. Read it. I think you’ll get some really good inspiration from it. I am so grateful they had us learn about the wars from Britain's perspective. My eyes really have been opened.

HOMEWORK

What significance the wars hold for me personally

Both Grandpa’s fought in WWII

Favorite book The Hiding Place

I have a fascination with WWII

Grandpa Gardner was on a submarine that was never ever attacked. He said there were some scary times though

I studied WWII with my sister in-law in depth for about 2 months

President Uchtdorf’s stories

Vietnam war... had an impact on my parents getting married when they did.

Grandpa Jim was in the air force. He doesn’t talk about what happened

Nauvoo escorting military up the steps to sing all of the military songs to them and honor them for their service. Crying many times because of what they had been through and that I could see how it had impacted them.

I’ve been to Pearl Harbor. The exhibit there was very moving

Cambridge War memorial was very moving for me.

CHORAL WORKS

The one that I heard in music history that was Hiroshima

I remember a cello composer - I don’t remember his name though

High Flight

Benjamin Britten - War Requiem

Battle Hymn of the Republic

When Johnny Comes Marching Home

Keep the Home fires Burning

Flanders Fields

Yankee Doodle

Reasons for WWI to start:

Britain was had the most power out of all the countries in Europe in the 1900’s. Britain had the largest navy and the most money. Germany was jealous and decided to build up their navy. Germany took over some areas of France and that made France upset. Also, Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated by the Serbians and that began the conflict between the Austro-Hungarian government and Serbia. Germany sided with Austro-Hungary and Russia sided with Serbia. Germany therefore declared war on Russia and on their Ally France. Germany also sent troops into Belgium which broke the peace treaty and started WWI.

Notes from class:

WWI began as a “spat between cousins”

The “Great War”

The governments are not the same! Germany didn’t become a nation until 1871 - before that it was a number of principalities but not a nation. It was very autocratic and militaristic. England was stressing parliamentary government, culture, trade etc... This created a lot of tension between Germany, England, Russia, and France. England felt they had solved the tension with the alliances that had been formed.

England felt that if you can balance power then no one with drop the bomb.

Because of all the alliances, everyone became involved.

WWI was fought over about 40 miles because of the accuracy of the weapons.

God was one of the casualties of this war - at least faith

Three reasons for the war

Imperialism

Competition about who could go the farthest

Alliances

Arms race

Who could accumulate the most

Reasons for WWII to start:

Germany was bitter because of what happened during the first WW. Germany had to be reparation damages of the war. They were blamed for the war. They were upset! WWII began when Germany invaded Belgium. The treaty of Versailles had been broken with that invasion. France and Britain now care because Belgium was completely neutral until the day the Germans invaded. The treaty of Versaille threw Germany into deep poverty. There was worldwide depression but it was even worse in Germany. Because they were poor and did not have employment, it enabled the Nazis to begin. The Nazis were led by Adolph Hitler who was a corporal from WWI. He used this group to preach his brand of subversive rhetoric. Eventually, Germany followed Hitler to go annex back territories that had been taken because of the Cersailles Treaty. Eventually, this led to the invading of Poland. France and Britain had to declare war on Germany because they had a pact with Poland. Other factors contributed to the war like Japan invading Manchuria, but the biggest problem was that Germany invaded Belgium which broke the peace treaty because before they did that, Europe didn’t really care so they didn’t need to do anything.

Timeline WWII-

1939

• Hitler invades Poland on 1 September. Britain and France declare war on Germany two days later.

1940

• Rationing starts in the UK.

• German 'Blitzkrieg' overwhelms Belgium, Holland and France.

• Churchill becomes Prime Minister of Britain.

• British Expeditionary Force evacuated from Dunkirk.

• British victory in Battle of Britain forces Hitler to postpone invasion plans.

1941

• Hitler begins Operation Barbarossa - the invasion of Russia.

• The Blitz continues against Britain's major cities.

• Allies take Tobruk in North Africa, and resist German attacks.

• Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, and the US enters the war.

1942

• Germany suffers setbacks at Stalingrad and El Alamein.

• Singapore falls to the Japanese in February - around 25,000 prisoners taken.

• American naval victory at Battle of Midway, in June, marks turning point in Pacific War.

• Mass murder of Jewish people at Auschwitz begins.

1943

• Surrender at Stalingrad marks Germany's first major defeat.

• Allied victory in North Africa enables invasion of Italy to be launched.

• Italy surrenders, but Germany takes over the battle.

• British and Indian forces fight Japanese in Burma.

1944

• Allies land at Anzio and bomb monastery at Monte Cassino.

• Soviet offensive gathers pace in Eastern Europe.

• D Day: The Allied invasion of France. Paris is liberated in August.

• Guam liberated by the US Okinawa, and Iwo Jima bombed.

1945

• Auschwitz liberated by Soviet troops.

• Russians reach Berlin: Hitler commits suicide and Germany surrenders on 7 May.

• Truman becomes President of the US on Roosevelt's death, and Attlee replaces Churchill.

• After atomic bombs are dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrenders on 14 August.

The GreatWar 1914-1918

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

June 3, 2010 - LONDON! (Canterbury... for real this time)

Punting with my friend Chris

The first Canterbury Cathedral ruins

A stained-glass window in the new Cathedral that looks like it's from Disney

The next few are just some cool things I saw in the Cathedral

Me in front of the Cathedral!

What an awesome day!! We arrived in Canterbury and each of our little groups broke off. I ended up with Heather, Nick and Logan. It was such a fun day! I’m really glad I got to know Nick a little bit better. We ate at Pizza Express. I think it’s so funny that a lot of the students here crave American food so much. I actually really enjoy the European food I’m eating and I don’t really have the desire to eat American stuff... ah well. If the group goes... I tend to go also. Anyway, I got a non-American dish that was quite lovely. We sat in a garden while we ate and in order for us to eat in the shade, we sat next to the bins (trash cans). It was really amusing. As long as you could overlook the bin, it was a very lovely garden.

We went shopping in some very lovely little shops. I bought some really fun jewelry that I’m really excited about. Then we headed back to go on a tour of Canterbury Cathedral. It was a really cool Cathedral! We learned about the firekickers who would go kick the bombs off the top of the cathedral during the war so that it wouldn’t hurt the cathedral. We also learned about “Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. He engaged in conflict with Henry II of England over the rights and privileges of the Church and was assassinated by followers of the king in Canterbury Cathedral. Soon after the death of Thomas Becket, Pope Alexander canonised him and the murdered priest was elevated to sainthood.

The monks were afraid that Becket's body might be stolen. To prevent this from happening, Becket's marble coffin was placed in the crypt of the cathedral. The monks also built a stone wall in front of the tomb. There were two gaps in the wall where pilgrims could insert their heads and kiss the tomb. In 1220, Becket's bones were moved to a new gold-plated and bejewelled shrine behind the high altar. The shrine was placed on a raised platform supported by pillars. Canterbury, because of its religious history, had always seen a large number of pilgrims. However, after the death of Thomas Becket, the number of pilgrims visiting the town grew rapidly.” (Taken from Wikipedia because I didn’t want to have to reword everything) Anyway, it was a really great day and I learned a ton of stuff!

There were some really interesting ruins from the previous Canterbury Cathedral that was torn down.

After we took the tour, we went back to the Chapter Room and sung some hymns on oo. It was so nice. I love the acoustics in these buildings! It’s so incredible.

After the tour, we went punting. :) I really love punting! It was extremely relaxing and very informative. I love those trips. Punting really is one of the highlights of my experience in England.

After punting, we went to the Evensong at Canterbury Cathedral. The music was nice. It wasn’t the usual boys choir so it wasn’t the sound I wanted, but it was all right. I’m pretty sure I would have preferred the other choir. :) When it was time for the elements to be brought up, my friend Josh walked in with the Priest holding the elements!! Apparently they asked him to help even though he’s not a member of their faith! Crazy! It was so funny to see the reactions of everyone in the study abroad group. I saw some double takes when they saw Josh. They asked if anyone wanted to be blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and I went up. I knelt down and he traced the outline of a cross on my forehead and said a quick prayer/blessing. It was also interesting because I had just witnessed a blessing with proper authority the day before. There is a power in the Priesthood that these other churches do not have. I am so grateful that the true Priesthood of God has been restored upon the earth. It’s so comforting to know that Heavenly Father’s power is on the earth today. What a good day today was.