The Grand Canyon and Escalante.

So a few weekends ago, memorial day weekend at the end of May, my friends and I decided to take a little three day trip down to the Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona, and then to Escalante in southern Utah (pronounced ES-CUH-LAN-EE.) hah. And it was soooo fun!!

We spent the first night on Point Sublime in the Grand Canyon. And oh man was it beautiful. SUPER WINDY. But beautiful. At the point we had a 280° view of the canyon. And it was so ep. It said in the description pamphlet that "eating and sleeping will become secondary." And oh man. They were not lying.

ch-ch-check it out:


The next day we headed up to Escalante. It was gorgeous! He hiked to a waterfall (Calf Creek Falls) the first day we were there. And it was beautiful. We actually hiked out in the dark, and the moon was so bright that we didn't even need to use flashlights. It was great. By the time we had finished the hike it was completely dark though, and the place we had wanted to camp out was full.
So this was the sight that greeted Aleena and I when we got back to the car. hah.

The men. Gathered around the map:


Luckily, we found some random place to camp that night. hah. It was pretty sketch. But fun. It actually turned out to be a good little campsite. We made bratwursts and smores, it was great. Also. This was the first night that we were nowhere near a bathroom, or even port-a-potty. Luckily, I didn't need to go to the bathroom til I got to church. So I held it.

Church on Sunday was soooo great! I LOVE the Escalante Second Ward!! The people are just so genuine and kind. And the ward was fun. haha. Hilarious. And I just felt comfortable there. Even though I smelled like campfire and looked horrendous, everyone was just so kind and reached out to us; to me. hah. And relief society was a hoot. hahah. Oh my stars. The lady teaching the lesson taught on President Uchtdorf's last conference talk. So at the beginning of the lesson she brought a picture of President Uchtdorf to the front of the room, set it on the table and was like, "I just thought I'd put a picture of President Uchtdorf up here during the lesson so that we could all admire his pleasant face." Aleena and I almost died. It was hilarious.

After church we went to the hole in the rock memorial on the edge of Escalante which was cool. We then decided to go to the actual Hole in the Rock. So we went to set up our campsite and then headed down the long and treacherous road. It was quite the drive, but it was soooo good to see it. I've always loved pioneers, but I think I gained a newfound love and appreciation for them hiking down this place that they drug handcarts down. It was incredible. I want to do geneology and find out more about my pioneer ancestorage. Cause I think it'd be fun to name my kids after them and then tell them stories about the amazing people they were named after.

Here's a pic of the gang at Hole in the Rock:


We had the cutest little campsite the last night. I was in love. I probs coulda stayed there for longer had it not been for the whole no bathroom situation. hah.

Here it is:


It was fun. The last day! We hiked Spooky and Peek-A-Boo Canyons. And they were sooo fun! It was a blast to climb and hike through these. And we took lots of fun pictures. I'll try and post just a few of the best ones.

There were some tight squeezes:


I liked creepin':


group pic in peek-a-boo:


We were hiking through lots of sand, so we had sand contests. I won. everytime:


I was trying to be legit and take a cool pic. hah. but I was too chicken to go any higher than this:


And perhaps my favorite picture of the trip. hah. First, a little background. I HATE GOING TO THE BATHROOM IN NATURE. Just ask anyone that went on this trip, and they will attest to how much I whined about it. Like I was sooo obnoxious. [Sorry team...]

haha. but! In celebration of NEVER having to do it again, Aleena and I took this celebratory picture.

It's the best:


Ha. But yah. It was a great trip! And I'm sooo glad I got the opportunity to go enjoy nature and also to bond with these people. They're the best.

Happy Summer! Here's to, hopefully, many more fun adventures before I leave!

Katniss:


I Love Life!

The Church is True!

my cute lil mishs.

Ok. So I've slowly been hearing back from all my friends who are in the mission field. And they're sooo great! I love them all! Here are a few excerpts from emails and letters from my friends.

Irma Tingey:
her reply to my email telling her-
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!! CONGRATS!!!! O MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS MOTHER OR PEARL I AM SO SO SO SO EXCITED FOR YOU!!!!! I am so glad you told me where that was because I had no idea either! WOW!!!! Thanks for telling me!!! I AM REALLY SO EXCITED!!! AHHH!!!! I LOVE MISSIONS AND I LOVE YOU!!!!!"

and her shout out in a weekly email-
"Congrats to Pono and her mission call!!! SOOO exciting!!!! I don’t think I know of anyone that has been looking forward to a mission more than Pono Santos."

Elder Ellsworth:
shout out in a weekly email-
"One more good news, PONO!! For everyone else, Pono was my stand partner at BYU in the symphony. She's great and she was almost more excited about me getting my mission call than I was. She got her mission call to the Vanuatu Port Vila Mission. Where is that? I didn't know either. But she says it's kinda by New Zealand? Anyway, a big congratulations to my dear friend Pono. She will be an incredible missionary."

And there's more that I'll put up later and as they come.

I love mishs!

Can't wait to be one!!

The Church is True!

Vanuatu Port Vila.

Oh hey.

So I've been a terrible blogger lately, but I'll try to catch up soon. Life is crazy right now, but juries and finals will be over in a week, so that's wonderful.

Also. I don't think I'm gonna take any classes this summer. It's not official, but I'm pretty done with school for the next couple years. I'm just getting WAYYYY distracted and I want more time for mish prep, and I'll be honest, cello too :]

But yah. I got my mish call May 16th, and I opened it on the 20th!

And I've been called to serve in the Vanuatu Port Vila Mission!
FRENCH SPEAKING!!!
And I report September 12th.

I'm SOOOO EXCITED! I can't even wait.

So yah. That's what's been on my mind lately.

I also went on a super fun trip to the Grand Canyon and Escalante that I'll blog about in a week, after finals are done :]

ME and my bffs right after I opened my call:


And my flag and I!!!


So happy. I can't believe I know where I'm going and when I'm leaving. It's beginning to sink in. Very VERY slowly.

I love life! so much.
and The Church is TRUE!

Love, Sister Pono Santos

my best friend's wedding!

So last weekend, I got to go home to WA for Laura Bizull's (now Gladson's) wedding. And Elder Jack Quinton's farewell.

And it was THE BEST!! I love being home. I'm convinced that Washington is the most beautiful place on earth. I haven't traveled everywhere yet, but seriously, so gorg. I can't even take it. Like look at this.

I took this pic while on a run Saturday morning. Beaver Lake Park. And it's sooo beautiful!

But yah. Laura's wedding was great! J-Dawg and I got to get ready together and then head to the temple to watch Laura and Brett come out.
They both looked sooo happy! It was fun to see them.

Laura and I!

And then that night was her reception! It was fun to see people from the ward and old friends from high school! Everyone was talking to me about waiting for my call and it was exciting!

Lovely Laurel Ladies:

some things never change. hah.

And yah. Sunday was mother's day and Jack's farewell. It was great! I was excited to be home fore mother's day with mom, cause I don't think I have been since like senior year. And Jack's farewell was great. He's gonna be such a good mish! And I'm excited to swap stories and experiences when he gets home.

Me and the bros:

But yah! Good weekend! I love home! And I'm grateful that I got to go for a bit! Even if it was less than 48 hours :]

I love life. I might get my call tomorrow. and The Church is True!!

summer '12 hairdo.

so remember how last summer I did a side braid all the time?

well this summer, my hair is a bit too short for that, so this is what I do to my hair probs more than 50% of the days.

a Mulan bun:

haha. I love it. I just pile my hair on top of my head and then pin up what doesn't want to stay (in the back).

Well. that's all for now. cause I needa do french hw before class.
I'll blog about my FANTASTIC weekend soon.

Also. My mish call comes in 2 days. Hopefully.
and I can't wait.

The Church is True!!

It's Friday Friday.

Gotta get down on Friday.

This post is dedicated to Forrest and Elise and everyone else who likes this song. hah.

Glee actually did a version that I'm listening to right now and it's actually pretty good. Better than the original! (Which, granted, isn't hard to do, but still!)

haha. listen if you dare.

Anyway, I guess I'm just kinda really stoked for this weekend, cause I'm flying home tonight and it's gonna be greattt!

And my call hopefully will be here NEXT WEEK!

Cannot Wait.

The Church is TRUE!!

this past year.

So I just thought I'd do a year in review cause I've just been thinking about how blessed I am lately. Especially just this last year. It's been sooooo good!! And I can't help but smile sometimes (all the time) because of everything I have and all the experiences I get to have.

So lets see. This last year,

Spring/Summer:

~I started theory core.

~I played my first jury.

~I played my first solo recital, and I'm about to do another one! [The real ones will begin after the mish]

~I got to room with Becs over spring and summer.

~I got to serve with Sophie and Amber in the r.s. presidency over summer. it was THE BEST.

~I made two of my best friends this year. Ben, and became really good friends with Forrest.

Fall:

~I got to go back to my favorite ward of all time (BYU 70th, now the Provo YSA 138th)

~I auditioned for three groups at the beginning of the year, and I only made women's chorus.

~I cried for an entire day when I found out I didn't make phil.

~I finally got to hike timp. It was great.

~I survived a semester where I had class and work for 7 hours every Saturday. It was horrible, but I did it.

~I got to play in the MoA with Ben and at Jamestown with the cello studio and I played in church; twice.

~I FINALLY played in my very first masterclass.

~I sang and played in 12 concerts.

~I played my second jury, and found out that I was a semi finalist for the concerto competition.

~I celebrated my last Christmas at home with my family, and caroled for the last time til after the mish.

~I attended an evergreen reunion. it was ep. 20 cellos.

Winter:

~I got to play for Kory for the concerto competition finals, I didn't win, but I talked to Kory and got into phil, I think, as a result of this audish :]

~I instantly became the littlest fish in a BIG pond.

~I played the HARDEST orchestral work I've ever played in my life. Ein Heldenleben, with phil. It was like a concerto in an orchestra piece, but it was amazing.

~I sang at devo with wc, and played with phil.

~I survived two seating auditions.

~I went to LOTS of recitals. (Mostly piano and cello)

~I got to go to Utah Symphony. [RACH 2]

~I shook President Uchtdorf's hand. He came to the phil concert.

~I started and finished my mission papers.

~I celebrated my last pi day before my mission.

~I got to go to USC for the International Piatagorsky Cello Festival with half of my studio.

~My best friend went into the MTC, 2 of my best friends got engaged, and my other best friend got her call.

~I got to do chamber music, with Jeff Smith. The best.

~I played and sang in 10 concerts. Including my first with phil, and one with Synthesis.

~I played my third jury.

~I FINISHED THEORY CORE!

~I turned 21!

~I almost got straight A's. 7 A's. 2 A-'s

This year has been THE BEST.

I'm so grateful for all the tender mercies I've been given! Life is so good. Don't waste time complaining and frowning, because it's too short. Enjoy every minute!!

The Church is True!

p.s. hopefully 8 days til my call. Cause that's about as long as I can wait...