To a Brighter Future

Hey all!

Yes I am posting again. I'd promise to get better at this but let's face it, I am not a good blogger! That's ok because I am trying and I haven't forgotten! So I thought I should give you an update. My sophomore year went very well. My grades were excellent. I loved living in a suite with 5 other girls. It was a ton of fun! The stress came and went. I managed to over come the Pierne Impromptu Caprice (a really hard harp piece). There are friendships that I have continued to strengthen. I now look forward to coming to Indiana. Winter and I still aren't on speaking terms but I am ok with that!

I have grown so much. I feel like I am no longer the little girl far from home and more like the woman who is deciding to become an adult. (Well kinda, no one wants to grow up too much!) I have a fabulous new roommate names Audrey. We are having the time of our lives living together. Plus we have quite a few classes together so we help each other remember to do homework!

My YSA is absolutely fabulous! Honestly I don't think you can find a better YSA branch if you search the world and not because I am in it. They are so observant. No one gets missed and we just know how to have fun! Yesterday we had our own Olympics! We had 6 teams. We played two rounds of volleyball. We also had tug-of-war and the human knot. We also played three-legged race, 50 meter dash, water balloon shot put and we had synchronized swimming. It was hilarious. Everyone was involved from our Branch President and his wonderful wife to the amazing Institute couple. It was a blast! It was a little cool (58* and I forgot a jacket) so I wore my blanket from my car like a cape. I was awesome!

This year appears to be my hardest year academically. I have my Junior Harp recital November 15th at 5:30. I am learning a harp and piano duet called Introduction et Allegro by Ravel. It is intricate and difficult but for now I am winning! It will be an absolutely stunning piece once I have it learned and polished. I am also playing other solo pieces. I am hoping to get it recorded so I should be able to let you listen to it if you can't make it to Indiana!

Hope everyone is doing well and I will try to update more but as I said, no promises!

Love you lots!
Valerie