Finally!!

Hello all!  

This is Lizzy's cousin Megan :)  I finally got access to Lizzy's blog so I can post all of her e-mails, just like she wanted.  So here goes!

If anyone is interested, her e-mail address is: nellie.anderson@myldsmail.net

This one is from her first week in the MTC.  July 7th, 2011:

Hola otra vez, mi familia!

How are all of you? How was fireworks? What is going on in the outside world?? Haha.

Things here are pretty dang good. I get to learn so much about the Gospel and on Monday, we did our first Teaching Resource Lab, which is where you "meet an investigator" and teach them the first lesson. It went pretty well for the first one, I think. But, my favorite part by far was testifying at the beginning of the lesson that there is a God and that He loves his children. I know the person I was testifying to was another missionary, but the Spirit was so poweful during that part of the lesson. It kinda went away in the middle because it was long, but it did come back in the end. :) 


So, I have a few funny stories for y'all.... So, my compañera, Hermana Ahern, was trying to bear her testimony en español and she said, "Yo se que Jesucristo suffrío por nuestro pescados." Which means, "I know Jesus Christ died for our fishes." (Pecados=sins, pescados=fishes. VERY important distinction. Haha) So, mis compañeras y mi were walking back to the room from clase and Hermana Ahern said, "Geez, I don't know how I'm going to go 18 months without even holding hands with a boy!" and Hermana Martino said, "Um........... blessings from the Lord?" Maybe that last one won't be so funny to you guys because you weren't there, but I thought it was HILARIOUS. So, we have to memorize The First Vision in Spanish and the last line is, "Este es me hijo amorado, escuchalo!" Which means, "This is my beloved son, hear him!" Elder Ritchie wrote it on the board to practice it and had misspelled "amorado," so Hma Ahern went to correct it. And then, Hma Battaglia changed "amorado" to "armando." When Elder Ritchie got back, he looked at the board and said, "I am so stupid! How did I write Armando instead of amorado??" And we laughed really hard because it was pretty obvious it wasn't his handwriting. So, now we talk about Armando a lot. Haha. Apparently, he's a guy we should listen to. We also have "investigadores" named "Bofonda" (Scarf) "Brujúla" (Compass) and "Pepe."

So.. Mom and Dad. I got to take one picture with my camera before it went kaputz. Is there any way I could get another camera? (This is also the one that ate all the pictures I had taken/needed for my grade for my make-up class...) I kind of need it soon because I'd love a few pictures of Hma. Battaglia before she goes to Guatemala in 12 days! eep! If you are going to give an answer and no camera, just DearElder.com me (all you need is my name and my box #, which is 358) so I can make other arrangements.

I hope you are all so grateful for the Gospel in your life. I know I really appreciate it, especially now. And I am so grateful that Heavenly Father thought me worthy enough to bring His Gospel to His Children. This is not a calling I take lightly and I assure you that I am working so hard. I love you all so very much. And I know that each and everyone of you have a personal Savior in Jesus Christ. He loves you so much. Much more that I do, which is REALLY crazy to me because I love you all so, so, SO much. Tell Lauren, Noah, Jack, Bella, Addie, Terran and Will to be good! ;) And the raptor lives again at the MTC! We have raptor fights sometimes before we go to bed. ;) Way before 10:15, however. WAY before. ;) Because obedience brings blessing and EXACT obedience brings miracles.

Te quierros muchas!!

Hermana Anderson

P.S. (SHAMELESS PLUG FOR DearElder.com----Please, please, PLEASE use it!! You can write it like and email and they give it to me the same day and it's FREE!! Gratis!! All you need is my box # (358) and my name (Hermana Anderson) You will be happy and I will be happy and we will both be blessed.) ;)

My last week (.....month) at SUU

"At that moment, in the town of [Cedar City], events occurred that are not, were not, and should never be considered an ending. For endings, as it is known, are where we begin." ---Pushing Daisies

Hello dearest friends. I write you for the last time from SUU. For, you know, 20 months, or so. I'm sorry it has been so long since my last entry. April was CRAZY. There were recitals and concerts AHOY. (My aria at the student recital the day after my last entry went really well. For those of you who might be curious.) :) There were TWO choir concerts since I last wrote as well. I also finished my essay on Salome (8 pgs. and change), I got two new pieces in my voice lesson to play with before/after the mission (A Mozart art song and "What's the Use of Wondering?" from Carosel) and I had my theater make-up and educational psych. finals today. (The make-up final was pretty cool. I did Papagena from Die Zauberflote. Which also meant I walked around with Shirley Temple hair all day and bird make-up to the other final.)

My thought for this week is a combination of a few things. Well, really... it's more plans for the next few months and an explanation of the quote at the top of this entry, which is the thought.  *Ahem* Anyway... So, I'm going to be heading back up to Salt Lake on Saturday and I'm going to stop in Manti to do a session in the temple with a friend. An I look forward to going to the temple at least once a week until I report to the MTC on June 29. I'm attempting to read the Book of Mormon in Spanish in preparation for the whole mission thing. Piece of cake. "Los hijos de Lehi..." ;) I will also be spending lots of time with the fam. It's just what I do in Salt Lake. I yike he hat. Alright. Time to explain the quote. Which I also altered just slightly. I have never done well with endings. Ever. I'm not the biggest fan of change. I fight and fight and I worry and I think it's going to be awful and that I will never be happy again. And sometimes I'm resigned to it and sometimes I am really sad and grumpy about it. And I go into it thinking that it won't be as good or the same as what I just left. And then one little tiny good or amusing thing happens which starts an avalanche of happiness and joy. So it has always been and so it will always will be. That's why I love this quote. It rings very true to me. "For endings, as it as known, is where we begin." Amen. Pass the biscuits. :) 

Rectials, reports and concerts (oh my!!)

It is that time, once again. Another week (and change), another post. Since we last left our heros... Oh. Wait. Wrong show. Haha.

So, this week has been a mix of emotions for me. There has been a lot of really good and some times of..... not..... so.... good. Monday started on a fairly interesting note. I had a paper due in my English class comparing and contrasting three different works of art in three different mediums with the same theme. I chose to use the poster from the original 1875 production of Carmen, a picture taken from the final dress rehearsal of the production the Met did last January (with Roberto Alagna about to cut Elina Garanca. Oh, no he didn't!) and a sculpture entitled "Carmen Castanets" by Salvador Dali. It was pretty fun to write the paper and I got quite fired up about it. (For those of you keeping score at home, that is one project down I'm doing on an opera) And then I talked to my prof. about a final project involving a painting entitled Salome and the opera Salome by Strauss. (2) Tuesday brought the extreme old age final for my make-up class. And that was..... interesting. :] My model looked more like a zombie than an old man after the latex, but what can ya do? I also got to go on a relaxing late night walk with a good friend. We were honked at like 3 times. What the what, Cedar. Wednesday was... very Wednesday-ish. I got a call from my aunt at 7:30 a.m., who thought she had called my mom. We talked about opera for a minute and then I frickin' ROCKED my practice hour. I nailed my high As in "In Uomini, In Soldati" from Cosi. And later, I had a hard time paying attention in choir due to the hilarity of myself plus the two other altos who stand next to me. Good times, oh, boy. We also had a night rehearsal. For our concert next week. At St. Jude's Episcopal Church. At 7:30 p.m. Also on Wednesday. I have a solo. In Latin. <<<That was not a shameless plug. Today was pretty dang good. The make-up final today was to make ourselves look like celebrities. I chose Bryce Dallas Howard and decided not to take my make-up off only to put more, different make-up back on. A lot of people kept telling me how good I looked. Esp. from far away. Baha. I also talked to my make-up teacher about doing my final project on a character from The Magic Flute (3). Different than the Queen of the Night I already designed for that class. (4). 

My thought this evening has to do with tomorrow. *Gulp* My first student recital. It may sound silly, but it's a big mile stone for me. I came here as a Freshman COMPLETELY TERRIFIED of all the talented voice majors. Knowing I wanted to sing in a choir in college, I had my voice teacher work with me on sight singing and aural skills for 2 or 3 months before I came down to school. Due to my involvement with On-Campus Housing, I had to be here a few weeks early. And the first thing I did after moving in was find out when choir auditions were. Or rather.... walk nervously into Prof. Guttenberg's office and ask if I'd already missed try-outs. And oh... the first day of choir. The first day of choir INDEED. (The music majors may skip this part, if they like. Because I've told this story a million and one times) :) I was so shocked that I had made it in to concert choir in the first place, terrified I didn't belong there and I knew not a single soul on top of that. Prof. Guttenberg recognized me and told me that I should be friends with a girl named Geneil, who hadn't come to class yet. A few minutes later brought the arrival of this Geneil-character. As is typical of Geneil walking into a room like that, everyone squealed her name as she went to sit down. (Don't even try to deny it.) I was so intimidated by this girl everyone loved and then we started warm-ups and I was downright petrified when I heard her sing. And not five minutes later did she ruin the whole charade by cracking some lame, ridiculous joke to the girl sitting next to her. That, ladies and germs, pretty accurately summarizes the way the rest of my experience has been in the music department. I try something new. I'm pretty ok at it. I get nervous. I psyche myself out. And then, I snap out of it because I realize that either a) everyone else is just as nervous as I am or 2) any variety of wonderful people help me realized not to take it too seriously. So, here's to...... consistency. :) Or, here's to hoping for it.

I hope they call me on a mission... :]

Ok. So I only have about 10 minutes to do this... therefore I will be brief

So I have been called on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I will be serving in the California Arcadia Mission and I will prepare to teach the gospel in Spanish. (I was REALLY excited about that last part... haha). I cannot believe how blessed I have been. So many wonderful friends and church leaders have inspired me over the years and given me the desire to serve and to become a better person. My YW leaders in particular have been so amazing. By watching the way they truly live the gospel, I came to a greater and deeper understanding of what that phrase truly means. I am grateful for two loving parents who only want the best for me and who have been so supportive of my desire to serve. I am grateful for an AWESOME extended family. I am especially grateful for my cousins who served missions and the examples of faith and love that they have been to me throughout my life. And I am so, SO very grateful for the amazing friends I have made down here at SUU. They have taught me a lot about life and basically showed me how much God loves me. Because He loved me enough to send me a million and 0ne guardian angles in the form of roommates and friends. Especially. Those crazy music majors. What would I do without them? I am a very, VERY lucky girl. <3

The Flowers That Bloom in the Spring

Hello, dear readers. :) So, this entry will blur the lines a wee bit. The week summary and the thought melt into each other. I'm sleepy. Bear with me.

Tonight was closing night/strike of The Mikado. It was a lot of fun, but it was sure a lot of work. Here is a basic run down of what I did each night. 

5:35 p.m.: Get my little buns to the Heritage Theatre
6:05 p.m.: Supervise make-up application of the chorus girls. I.e., draw on eyebrows, smooth out streaky white patches, blush cheeks, ect.
6:45 p.m.: Begin putting on wig caps and wigs. Usually were ready in the same order each night, which was funny AND helpful.
7:30 p.m.: Top of show.
7:50 p.m.: Assist with wigging and dressing of principle girls. I.e., lacing cumberbund/corset things and pinning pillows and capes.
8:20 p.m.: Watch the last of "Big, Black Box."
9:15 p.m.: Act I finale, do chorus fan choreography.
9:25 p.m.: Move set during intermission.
9:40 p.m.: Fly out various things.
9:45 p.m.: Wander around and chat until Finale.
10:20 p.m.: De-wig/costume principle girls.
10:35 p.m.: End of night


This was a great experience. It was a big learning experience on many, many, many a vase and jar. I mean, different levels. (I'm still stuck in G & S mode!!) On the practical side of things, I got LOTS of wigging experience. I had only attempted it once before this, and it was in a classroom setting. Now, I'm a pro! :) It also taught me to be patient and that sometimes, even when you think you know the best, you have to go along with what other people want. I am also grateful for the friendships I was able to develop and create during this process. It's always interesting to see how relationships grow and evolve during the rehearsal/performance process. You may think you know a person, but when you are constantly pinning silk kimono-type things shut, that's when you REALLY know them.

I think my favorite parts of all of this, however, were all of the little moments that happened outside or backstage rather than the actual show itself. I loved running lines and songs with people. I loved the side conversations backstage and in the dressing rooms. I loved the Disney/90's music sing-a-longs with the chorus girls as they got ready. I loved being asked questions all the time. I loved the way the girls all looked like little porcelain dolls with their false eyelashes. I loved the accidental 3 car dance party at a stop light that happened last night. I loved quoting lyrics and lines off the top of my head to create statuses encouraging people to see the show. And, most of all, I loved spending crazy amounts of time with my favorite people. What a great way to end a fantastic school year and prepare to begin another chapter of my life. Again, I am so grateful for this experience. For my final G & S quote, I would simply like to say that it has definitely filled my life with merry sunshine.  

Pish-Tush, Katisha and Kjersti-Puck :)

Several Little Maids from School

Mice, Valentine's Day and Other Four-Letter Words

Oh, oh, hey Readers, hey. Thanks again for reading my silly ramblings. I was once told that in theatrical design, an element appearing once is a mistake, twice is an accident and three times is a pattern. So, apparently all of my blog entries will follow the week update/thought pattern. :)

As most of you know, Monday was Valentine's Day. Not Single's Awareness Day or that nonsense, Valentine's Day. My mom sent me to school with FunDip and note cards to give out. I am five years old. But, I did have a great time. To me, Valentine's Day is just a celebration of love! Whether that be friend-love, romantic love, familial love or otherwise. It was so fun to see all my friends faces light up when I gave them a little note and some of the best 90's candy EVER. I don't know, you may be alone one Valentine's Day (I'm not dating anyone...), but you don't have to be lonely. Tuesday was crazy busy. I did get to have lunch with two of my favorite people, however. I did homework until call for V-Monologues and then went home and did more homework! Yay! Wednesday was pretty busy, too. We watched part of an opera called Dialogue of the Carmelites in my Intro to Opera class (duh), and it made me really sad. It was a bunch of nuns being executed near the end of the French Revolution. I think it upset me for two main reasons---I just don't understand how one can be so cruel to one's fellow human beings, especially innocent people! And the second reason is it made me think of last semester's opera (which was also about nuns). Moral of the story, don't be a nun. Thursday was NUTS, but it was super fun. I had a test in my make-up class that I ACED. Thanks to all my practice with the opera. I also had lunch at a sushi restaurant called Ninja with some of my friends. Here are a few cute pics I took. :) 

Schlaney and Taliah on the way to Ninja!

Geneil and Kjersti doing what they do best---looking cute and having fun

Trying to decide what kind of sushi (Geneil got the Vegas and Laney got the Cedar )

Yay!! Food!!

After that, I had a good voice lesson and then went straight into a production meeting! The make-up is gonna be so great. I'm excited to get in on it's feet. Following the prod. meeting, I had dinner with my best friend and then opening night of V-Monologues! It went great. The best night, I think. After the show on Friday, I took my roommate to Off The Cuff, which is an improv comedy group here in Cedar. Saturday, we spent the afternoon cleaning up after the mice that made their home on our pantry. YUCK. I would post pics, but they are really gross.

Now for the thought. This is the part dealing with the four-letter word. Love. This week has been one of reflection on that word for me. I don't recall telling anyone outside my family that I loved them until about Jr. High. Needless to say, it was kind of a big deal. After that, I did say it more, but I didn't and don't ever say it unless I really mean it. I am a very deeply emotional person, which is why I think I love acting and music so much. It helps me channel out the extra. Anyway, the combination of me being an emotional creature and having so much respect for the word, "love," I am unable to reciprocate unless I really feel it. Usually, when people I don't know very well (or even at all sometimes!) tell me they love me, I just say, "Thanks!" or I smile and try not to look really uncomfortable. :] I wish I could say, "I like you a lot, too. But I don't know you well enough to love you," and not look like a big weirdy. The people I do love know it, however. I feel like I tell them adequately, whether it's face to face or in my silly, little notes. So, that's my thought for this week. I hope it made sense. :)

Instead of homework, I opt for this (The 2-week version)

Aiight. So, this blog will follow a similar fashion as the last. But, don't get used to it. Week summary, random thought. Ready, go.

Last Monday, we found out that prof. directing the opera had major surgery. Utter chaos ensued. Haha. We are mostly back on track now. There was also a quiz in my opera class. I'm a nerd, but I was so excited. I LOVE a challenge. Tuesday I had a test in my stage make-up class and I feel like I did ok. I was responsible for a red carpet glam look on myself. And I looked good, but with all that schtuff on my face PLUS fake eyelashes, my eyes looked like 7 times their size. And I already have fairly sizeable eyes, so the effect was interesting. Wednesday was fun because it was the first make-up call for Mikado. It was interesting to see what was good in my designs and what still needed work. I think it's going to turn out really nicely. And by "nicely" I mean "HILARIOUSLY." Nothing worth mentioning happened Thursday, but Friday was all kinds of exciting. My best friend got married and I was her maid of honor. She looked so beautiful and she just radiated happiness. It was a great experience. And, then.... Lizzy got up at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday to drive home. I got to my cousin's house just in time to watch her kiddies. The highlight of the visit was singing Disney songs and playing the piano while her 2-year-old daughter sat on my lap. And my cousin just HAPPENED to get home right at the end of "Zero to Hero" from Hercules. Talk about impeccable timing! Haha. After an afternoon of shopping and lunch with Mom, we went to Aunt Mern's for a birthday party. And my temple recommend/mission interview with the bishop. (That was way cool. The bishop is my uncle. Haha) Sunday was my interview with the Stake Pres. and then back to Cedar. (3 hours, 15 mins. With a stop. That's how I do.) 

This week was kinda nuts. It all ran together. I had a presentation in my Education Psychology class that I ROCKED. It was on nonverbal communication. I showed a clip from Act III of Carmen from the Met. I had a paper due about beauty, specifically how it defines art. (Rocked that as well.) Voice lessons and practicing didn't go to bad either. I just need to work on not pushing the high notes in both of my songs. And yesterday was the publicity call for Mikado. Jana and I did make-up for the Mikado and Katisha and they both looked AWESOME. I am so excited for the real thing and to see everyone all done up.

Random thought of the week: As I get closer to entering the mission field, I can't help but thinking about my friends and family it what it's going to mean saying goodbye for a whole 18 mos., specifically about what it means with my SUU friends. I have loved and appreciated all the time I've been able to spend with them. When I first came to college, I had had a bad experience with a close friend that made me wary of making new friends. I thought that they'd end up hurting me or leaving me. But, through lots of patience (on everyone's part) I have learned that good friendship is stretchy... for lack of a better word. The Lord knows who you need and when you need them. :) That is also something I've learned. So, the moral of the story? If you need, me call me. No matter where you are. No matter how far, don't worry, Baby. Just call my name, I'll be there in a hurry. You don't have to worry. 

...Or something like that.