tender mercies.

I've been feeling like I'm drowning a bit lately, what with school, work, practicing, orchestra, women's chorus, tests, friends, etc. So naturally, today I was being all emo most of the day, which is a real shame cause it could have been a fantastic day all day instead of just the last few hours. But, the point is that my heart was touched today in a couple different ways. Firstly, in D&C we were talking about sections 121-123 and the purpose of suffering and trials and such. I don't wanna kill the lesson, so I won't attempt to reword it, but, take D&C from Bro. Perkins and your life will change and your testimony grow.

But basically we were talking about how we're tested and tried in life because the Lord is trying to better us. He's trying to take us from out god/goddess in embryo stage and start making us into gods and goddesses. We talked about how when you refine gold, you melt it down. All of the fake yucky gold or the dross, floats to the top. And the real stuff goes to the bottom. And that's how gold is purified and refined they melt it down and take out the bad stuff. Well, in the same way, when we are tried we have to be melted down, and some time this process hurts a lot and is just hard. but this has to happen in order to remove all the dross and grow to become more like the Savior.

So yah. That was the first big thing kinda changed my heart. Plus, I'm not even facing the tough things that the saints went through, so I was kinda just like, "wow Pono, stop whining..."

So yah, the second tender mercy that made me realize how loved I am by my Heavenly Father was the fact that I got a 93% on my D&C test after studying for only an hour. Last time I got like an 80% and I studied for 4. Basically, the point is, I was greatly blessed in a time when I felt like I was in over my head.

I'm sooo grateful to have a loving Heavenly Father and a Savior and friend who care for me. Who love me more than I can imagine and who are always there despite what we may think.

Life is great. Crazy, but great.

The Church IS True!

sleep is overrated.

Today, between orchestra and practicing, I spent as much time on my cello as I did sleeping last night. bahaha. woooo!! And then I sang for three hours on top of that. I guess you could say I love music. That is all.

Also, this week is crazy. 2 concerts. and more.

ok. bedtime. soon ish.

peace.

the music room.

So I took a psych test yesterday in the testing center. And I tried the music room for the first time. I loved it! And I got 24% higher than I did on my last psych test. Not saying that the music room was the cause of that, I studied a lot harder for this one, but basically, the music room is BOMB. And you should all try it. That is all.

Also, this was from a couple nights ago studying psych in the HFAC.


and a twirling pic. just for fun :]


The Church is True :]

fun at work.

'Nough said.

Double O C.

These next few weeks are gonna be out of control. I wanna just enjoy the last moments of time I have, with my roomies, with my ward, with my friends that are leaving on mishs, but life is sooo kray!

Don't get me wrong. I luuuhh it. And I love being busy, but these next few weeks are gonna be a little stressful to say the least.

I have:

~2 more devos to sing at.
~2 more french tests.
~1 more french oral.
~1 more psych test.
~1 more D&C test.
~3 more masterclasses.
~3 more cello lessons.
~Persuasion to go see a couple times.
~Men's Chorus Concert.
~Phil Concert.
~Utah Symphony Concert.
~Festival of Colors.
~My fam coming and being in town for a while.
~Isabella's blessing.
~Lots of recitals to attend.
~Playing at the Easter Fireside.
~Signing up for the St. George Marathon.
~Registering for Classes.
~1 more orchestra Concert.
~1 more dress rehearsal and Women's Chorus Concert.
~General Conference.
~2 more Women's Chorus Parties.
~1 more psych paper.
~Psych research.
~1 more history paper.
~2 more reading quizzes.
~2 more work meetings.
~1 more cultural activity to do. (4 more to type up.)

And then 4 finals and my birthday.

And then Spring!!

Wow.

Let the fun begin :]

just some Sabbath day service...

burnt cookies with a love note for our fave apt :]


And with our Jimmered plate too :]

too much fun!

The Church is True!

Bach.

Yes it can be the bane of every cellist's existence, but I luuuhh it.

I'm finishing up the D minor suite right now. And I'm not gonna lie, it's kinda kicking my trash, but it's amazing. I'm working on the Menuett and it never ceases to amaze me how easy the melody can be yet how hard the piece itself can be to play and deliver. It's amazing.

Other random reasons I adore Bach:
~The first time I heard Valerie play Prelude in G major.
~My nieces favorite song is Prelude in G major. presh.
~The recordings of Mischa Maisky on youtube. I could watch them eyday, errday.
~I just got my bow rehaired and I broke my first new bow hair the night after I got it back playing Bach.
~Yo Yo Ma CD.
~I got into the cello program playing the Prelude and Courante of the D minor suite.
~I got into Marrowstone playing the G major Courante.
~I'm kinda just obsessed with Prelude in C major.

Mk. That is all.

I love Bach!

The Church is True!

p.s. I wanna read this book:

i miss evphil.

Don't get me wrong... I'm loving orchestra at BYU izzle. But ev was THE BEST. haha. And we were pretty legit too :]

From Disneyland, to playing frisbee during our concerts when we weren't playing, to cello parties (sectionals), to frolicking around Europe and squeezing 90 people in a small gazebo, to laughing uncontrollably in the middle of rehearsal with Brady, Ev was where it was at! Good, good times :]

So yah, needless to say, I've been spending a lot of time on this website lately...

http://evergreenphil.org/drupal6/recordings

Listening to the 2009 stuff.

Tchaik=LOVE.

yah, I know, it's good stuff.

music classes.

I signed up for music classes for spring and summer!!

This is my spring schedule:


I'M SOOO STOKED!!!

livin' in the HFAC, ahhh yeaahh.

home.

So, I went running today. Orem run to be exact. (5.77 miles) but anyway... the point is. I love being in a place where you know enough people that you can go running and have people yell your name out car windows, or honk and wave. It's sooo fun! I've never really thought about p-town as home, but it's growing on me. Which is good. haha. cuz I'm gonna be here for a while.

The Church is True :]

Love, Pono

10Ks and Pi Day!

This weekend was a fun one! Although I spent a lot of it writing my history paper, I gotta get out and do some fun things. Saturday morning I ran the Rex Lee 10K. Here's the thing... I was abismally outta shape come race morning. Like it was bad. But, I did it. My goal was simply to get under an hour. And I knew that would be a bit tough. But, with the help from my good friends Becs and Andrew, I was able to do it!! We got 57.13. Which is about a 9.14 mile. So I'm pretty happy with how we did :]

Also, Monday was pi day! So, like usual, I threw the party of the century that night, just like every year :] It was sooo fun! I had a good turn out! Like more than 50 and there was lots of pie and lots of fun. I luuuhh it.

So yah. fun fun! Here are some pics of the festivities!!


CARBO LOAD.


REX LEE.


Decorations!!


oh my pie.

Me, Laura, and J-Dawg took such an awk pic it can't even be put up here. bahaha. no. but seriously.


foot pop!


cute girls!


me and J Dawg. trying to make pi...


me and Laura Bizull.


ROOMIES.


we heart pi.

and thennnnm we started the jumping pics...



BAM.

Good Stuff.

The Church is true!!

you've got mail.

ok. so here's the thing. I kinda wanna make a gmail account and drop the hotmail... plus, ponosantos@gmail.com is def open! but here's the thing: I feel like no matter what I do, a bunch of stuff will still be sent to my hotmail account. So idk what to do. dang it.

SUNSHINE is WONDERFUL :]

time flies...

when you're having fun :]

I know we still have like a month ish left and then finals, but I've been feeling all sentimental, so what the heck. This year has been AMAZING. Like I can't even explain. It's been too much [to quote the double rainbow youtube video.] but I'm serious. I've been sooo blessed. My testimony has been strengthened sooo much. I have AMAZING people surrounding me all the time. The best roomies ever, the most amazing ward I could ask for, etc. Basically, this year has just been AMAZING. Like wow. Here are some highlights of the past year. Amazing things that I've accomplished and been able to check off my bucket list.

~I ran a half marathon. 13.1 miles :]

~I've started saying morning prayers [used to be really bad at this]

~I've gotten to room with my best friend, Elise Osorio :]

~I played in my first orchestra pit [Peter Pan at BYU]

~I'm an AUNTY!!

~I got into Women's Chorus and am Alto 2 subsection leader.

~I got an AMAZING job at the HLRC.

~I went to a pre premier showing of Harry Potter!

~I've gotten to go singing almost every Sunday at a nursing home :]

~I've gotten even MORE stoked to serve a mish in just over a year.

~I've made some AMAZING friends that I'm sure I will keep in touch with.

~I've decided to stay in P-Town for spring/summer.

~I'm officially a French minor :]

AND:

~I got into the cello program at BYU!!!

I love life. I will forever treasure this year and all the memories that I've had.

To LIFE :]

The Church is True!!

practice, practice, practice.

Ok, so it's been two weeks since I heard that I got into the cello program. And life is kray, but good. My life in a nutshell. Wake up at 5 and be at the HFAC to practice at 6am. Then go to work [most mornings] at 7:45. Then class from 10-4. Homework, maybe a little nap, maybe go home if I get the chance, then I go back to the HFAC and practice some more at night. No. but seriously, I've like opened and closed the HFAC for the last week ish. Ridiculous. And I know I should prob get friends. But I just wanna learn Lalo super fast! So yah. I learned the first two pages this last week. And its sooo fun! I luuuhh it. Can't wait to get the rest of it under my fingers.



And here's a picture of me being really productive... bahahah. jk. I think this was actually from before my audish.

Anyway, I love life. And cello.

The Church is True!!