Day 16!

Today I am grateful for:

1. Boots. I know. Slightly random. But seriously. Boots have been my lifesavers recently. Especially because sometimes I have to dress up for performances or other things which means skirts. In 20° weather. NOT FUN. However, when you pair that cute lil skirt or dress with boots, suddenly you do not hate life as much being outside at 7 in the morning, because the skirt is covering the upper half of your legs and the boots are covering the bottom half. It's sooo great! haha. And yes. I totes am rocking this look right now because I went to the temple early this morning. Anyways. Boots are the best. Also, after much observation, reflection, and asking friends that were here during 2012-2014, I've decided that Ugg Boots are no longer a thing... So I'm gonna try and stop wearing those. hah.

2. These cuties!

Bella and Lizzy! My nieces.

They are just sooo cute! I getta go hang out with them later today and I'm stoked. They are both hilarious and getting so big! Bella is turning 5 at the beginning of next year. Which is pretty weird just cause I was there and remember pretty vividly the day she was born. #whatthe It's crazy. But they are just so great and always happy to greet me and I luh them! We always have fun together

3. Sunshine! So I grew up in the PNW my whole life. So rain didn't ever really bug me. But ever since going on my mission to New Caledonia and coming back, the gray and rain haven't really been my thing. So I am grateful to be living in Utah! Where, even though it is rather cold outside, especially right now, it is usually sunny! And there are blue skies. Which I just really love. It's the best! I feel like the sun helps me be happy when life seems hard.

Well! L'évangile est vrai!

Love, Pono 

Day 14 and 15!

I just am never around computers on Thursdays. Mais bon. Yesterday! Grateful for:

1. BYU Philharmonic. On Wednesday night we got to play our concert for the semester. And it was THE BEST!! I love playing in this wonderful orchestra. It's so fun! We gotta play such good music. Like Prokofiev 5. So good. I still remember the day I got in for the first time. I was stoked. And I try to remember that when I forget to be grateful for rehearsals and all the music playing I getta do in orchestra.

The phil cello section! fall 2015.

2. Nights at the symphony! I am grateful for when I get to go see good orchestras live!! Last night I went to Utah Symphony with a friend and it was sooo beautiful! And great. hah. And the whole evening was made when Thierry Fischer hit something with his baton and somehow broke it, (it wasn't quite in half... but it was a good chunk). Anyways, it was way funny. And the concertmaster like kicked it under his chair. But, after the concert, we went up to the front and I awkwardly started a conversation with this violinist and was like, "Hey beautiful job tonight! And I was wondering if you would mind tossing me that piece of baton..." haha. SHE LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS CRAZYYY. But it was hilarious. AND totes worth it! As I am now the proud owner of part of Fischer's baton when he conducted Mahler 6 at BYU. hah.

3. The feeling you get after you turn in a HUGE research paper! I turned in my big 303 paper yesterday on Ein Heldenleben. And I'm sooo happy that it's outta my hands! #feelsgood 

And today! I am grateful for:

1. Modern Family. Hahah. This show is hilarious. I'm watching it now and it makes me laugh. Phil Dunphy is my hero. The only thing is it kinda makes me miss Elise. hah. Cause we would watch it together.

2. BYU Basketball Games! I decided to get an all sports pass for the rest of the year and I'm going to my first basketball game tonight! It's gonna be so fun! I am excited. Basketball is always the best. It reminds me of the glory days! #Jimmer4lyfe

3. Fridays. I know. Cliché. But really. I legitimately listened to the Glee version of Rebecca Black's "Friday" right when I got to work this morning cause I was so excited it's Friday! hah. #nofriends But really though. They're just the best. I work a lot on Fridays cause class wise I only have Baroque from 1-3. So it's kinda nice. It's usually just relaxed. No pressure. I luh it.

Well, L'évangile est vrai!

Love, Pono 

Day 13!

Today I am grateful for:

1. French! I dunno why it just hit me today, but French is so very beautiful. And I am so grateful to speak it! C'est bien la langue de mon coeur. And I miss speaking it 24/7. So sometimes I just throw out random French words/phrases parce que ça me manque GRAVEEE. #maisbon Anyways. Je suis bien benie de pouvoir parler cette belle langue.

2. Birthdays! It was my friend David's birthday today. And we played slash sang happy birthday for him like three times in an hour. haha. #musicmajorprobs #wethinkwearehilar But it was so fun! First Forrest started playing happy birthday on the piano instead of accompanying him like he was supposed to. And then we played a cello trio version before starting Popper (thanks Clark!) hah. And then we played for him in phil before we started rehearsing. So much fun. Anyways. Birthdays are my fave. I luh them.

3. Accidental twinning. Bahaha. So this last one is funny... I was legitimately twinsies with Kory the other day as I walked into phil. We were both wearing dark turtlenecks. haha. And then it happened today again. With Dr. Morgan... We were like seriously wearing the same outfit. Brown boots, black pants, denim blouse, etc. I was just missing her yellow cardigan. But we were like dressed the same. KRAY. Haha. I don't even know how it happened. Anyways. It was funny. Also, apparently I dress maturely for my age... Or something.

Well! That's all for now! Phil concert tonight! It's gonna be soooo good!!

L'évangile est vrai!

Love, Pono

Day 12.

Today I am grateful for

1. Crazy bowling! Its so fun! hah. I crazy bowled with a friend today and it was great. Except... that awkward moment you bowl left handed and almost put a dent in the lane because you throw the ball so hard. Or fall over after dizzy bowling cause you can't see straight. hah. But there were also sweeeet moments. like when you get a strike off speed bowling. SOOO COOL. And still bummed I didn't video that... Anyways. It's way fun. And sure to make you laugh :]

2. Chamber music. A couple things made me realize that I am grateful for this today. So this morning I got the chance to rehearse Popper's Requiem for three cellos with Stephanie and Kelly and it was sooo fun! And beautiful. I'm not doing straight up chamber music right now (just baroque) so I miss it and am really excited every time I getta do anything remotely chamber music like. I also got to go to a chamber music masterclass today with the Lydian string quarter. And it was really good! I learned lots! And enjoyed learning and observing.

3. ULTIMATEEE! So, just to be clear here. I am grateful for the beautiful game and also for the wonderful people with whom I play and have been playing for several years now. Ever since that fateful freshman year at Helaman. haha. But seriously... I'm on an intramural team right now (17 Again.) And we're doing pretty good. We're in the semi-finals right now, 4 teams left! And it's been so fun to play frisbee and just run around like a crazy person. We have a game tonight and I'm excited for it! Even though it's literally gonna be 28 degrees... #maisbon I'm STOKED. Here goes!

And that's all for today, folks! I'm grateful for this beautiful life!

L'evangile est vrai!

Love, Pono

Day 11.

Today I am grateful for:

1. Straight hair. Haha. made especially grateful by the fact that it took me more than an hour to straighten yesterday... haha. But seriously. I just like it. Even though my mom does not. hah. It's just fun to change it up once in a while. Plus I think it kinda freaks people out, myself included. hah.

2. Vending machines! Because some days, especially as a college student, you have to survive off of them. Like today for example... Mais ce n'est pas grave. Je serai chez moi dans moins que deux heures. Et là, je vais bien manger.

3. THIS SUHHWEEET SPEECH that reminds me many days why I do what I do.
But seriously... Give it a read. I love it. And as we talked about it today in string lit, it kinda rekindled the fire, which has mostly been wavering cause I'm just tired. But I love music and it is important because of what this speech explains.

Anyways, today's is short. But! Life is great! I'm grateful to be focusing on things that I am grateful for. I think it's helping me better see God's hand in my life!

Well, l'evangile est vrai!

Love, Pono

Day 10.

Today I am grateful for:

1. Sunday dinners with family. I have three brothers in Utah with me, and they are married to three wonderful sister-in-laws, and two adorable nieces. Sometimes we get together on Sunday night and it is always so good! I love my family and I'm so grateful for them and for their love and support! I love spending time with them and getting to talk and catch up. It's so fun.

2. My own washer and dryer. I'm living in a condo this year and it has its own washer and dryer. It's the best. Ever. Yesterday I did three loads of laundry in the comfort of my own home. It's so happy!! I dunno if I'll ever be able to go back...

3. BYU Chamber Orchestra. Being in the chamber orchestra has been such a great experience for me! It has helped me learn to play more cleanly, and has helped me become a  more confident player. Yesterday night, we had our chamber concert and it was so fun!! I loved getting to play on the dejong with all those great musicians and getting to play such wonderful music! #thatHaydnsymphonytho it's so good. I will miss rehearsing every Tuesday but I'm excited for next semester. So fun!

Smooz and Megs came to my concert last night!

Day 9!

Today I am grateful for:

1. Soccer. I gotta play for the first time in a long time this morning. And it was so much fun! I love running around like a crazy, playing with friends, smack talking, and yelling in frustration when I don't quite hit goal. All of it! It's so fun. I gotta take intermediate soccer over spring term and it was so fun! And ever since then it's kinda re-become a love of my life. haha. Like when I was five!

2. Getting texts from home like this... 

But really... My family is hilarious. And sometimes they like to do what I do. And I just love hearing about it cause it makes me laugh :)

3. Car talks. I'm not talking like npr or the news or anything. I'm talking about good ones with friends. I've had so many just good moments sitting in my car or a friend's car and just talking about life, the gospel, boys, music, etc. And they are always sooo good. The talks. And the words of wisdom exchanged. So I'm just real grateful for them and for good friends that are willing to take time out of their busy schedules to talk and to listen.

Well, I am happy. Life is so good. It's busy, but it's wonderful. And I am so blessed!

L'évangile est vrai!

Love, Pono