PlayLIZt: February Week 2

As I was thinking about a song to post for the PlayLIZt this week I couldn't help but think of this song from Leona Lewis that I recently discovered. I will admit although I have a love for music, I often discover songs a year or two after they have been released. Whether a new song, or just new to me, great music is great music!

Enjoy! :)

"I Got You" by Leona Lewis

Faithful Through Tribulation

I will be the first to admit I don't have the longest attention span, especially when it comes to going to an institute class after a busy Tuesday at work. However, yesterday I heard some scriptures that described not only exactly what I needed to hear, but what I think a lot of people need to hear--essentially, the message that yes, we will experience tribulation in this life, but the glory we receive for keeping our Father in Heaven's commandments in this life is worth it and greater than anything we can imagine, even though we're not there yet. We just need to hold on and keep going.

D&C 58:2-4
2 For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.
3 Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.
4 For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.

PlayLIZt

Earlier this week at work, I was talking to Kristy about all of my favorite songs, or songs of the day, and at some point in the conversation she used the term "PlayLIZt" to describe all of them. Then with some more help from her brilliant mind, I came up with the idea to post a PlayLIZt of my favorites on the blog. For some reason when I get stuck on a song I play it over and over all the time and it usually lasts a few days at least, so every week I'll post my song obsession for the week. I hope you will enjoy these songs as much as I do. 

P.S. I figure I would just start with the month of February and add in two songs for the month of January, you know so there's at least one song in every month this year and I had more than one song obsession in the month of January. :)

Song of January

"Blue Eyes" by Cary Brothers

"Wait Til You See My Smile" by Alicia Keys

February: Week 1

"Powerful Stuff" by Sean Hayes

Enjoy!

Great Music on a Saturday Night

On Saturday, I went to my see my friend Kristy perform at Legend's Grill with the Feel Good Alliance group. She was amazing! I beamed with pride as I stood front and center cheering her on. :) It was a great night! Some of my other favorite parts are unfortunately not documented in the pictures below, but I loved the break/step dancers, Young Sim's (who is featured below) rapping and the awesome dj who just might have to mix at my wedding reception someday-yes, mix. :)

Shanna and Kristy before Kristy performed.

The beginning of Kristy's set.

Kristy singin' her heart out. :)

Young Sim. I swear I was so close he kept looking right over my head.



Somewhere in the Middle

The other day I walked into my condo and thought about how I would put my current state of life into words. I decided it would be called "somewhere in the middle." It's like this feeling of not being able to see the future and the past seems so far behind you, you can't remember how your life got the way it is. Nothing bad. Nothing great. Just life. I wouldn't say I'm unhappy by any means. I would actually say most days I'm in a content and slightly optimistic state of mind, but it feels very "in the middle." I'm in the thick of life. So I've been trying to decide if I like the middle or where do I go from the middle. I don't know. Maybe we live life more in the middle than we realize and we just don't notice it. Anyway, food for thought.

NO EXCUSES!

The great thing about starting a new year is that it is this defined, determined, specific time to make changes in life. I typically hate making New Year's resolutions; seriously, I haven't made one in years. This year, however, I felt the need to change or improve a lot of things in my life. And as I thought about what might be included on my list, it just became overwhelming because I kept thinking, "What is going to make me actually accomplish any of my goals?" I realized it came down to one thing: stop making excuses. It hit me that I know what areas of my life I want to improve; I know them all year round, not just at New Year's. My reason for not accomplishing any of what I want to is because I make excuses. I tell myself, "that's too hard," or "I can't do that," or "that's not realistic."  My one and all encompassing New Year's resolution is to stop making excuses and do it already; do whatever it is I really want to do. Here I go...



Christmas 2010

Okay, so techincally it's the day after Christmas so maybe I shouldn't be writing anything with 'Christmas' in the title, but I'm going to anyway. I guess this is my post to sum up the holiday season.

1. First time at the First Presidency Christmas Devotional
2. Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert with David Archuleta
3. Patino family Christmas party
4. Awesome work Christmas party with great prizes and food
5. Got to go to my cousin's sealing in the Mount Timpanogas Temple
6. Bought a new computer with a webcam on Christmas eve which allowed my family to speak to my brother in Spain serving in the Navy on Christmas day (face to face) ;)
7. Spent my first Christmas in Utah with all the single kids in my family and my parents and went to see the Temple Square lights with them.

I would say all in all it was a pretty successful Christmas season. I don't have a lot of pictures, but here's what I took:


My niece Maya opening presents when we opened some presents at Thanksgiving



My nephew Asher opening a gift at Thanksgiving.

 

Kristy and Clark toasting at the work Christmas party



Kristy, Janna, and I at the work Christmas party



Janna and Kristy showing us the yummy food. Haha.



My cousin Ric and his new bride.