When I was little, I desperately wanted to play the violin.
SO very badly.
My mother said that I needed to start with the piano first - so that I could read sheet music, and understand the theory behind it.
5-year-old Kira thought that was dumb.
I took piano lessons, and you know what? At first I hated them.
It took a few years, but I grew to absolutely love the piano.
I waited rather impatiently for 5th grade, when I'd get to play the violin in school.
Well, it finally rolled around, and I started to play. My parents even bought me a lower-end violin to practice and learn on. And you know what? After three years, I was a whiny little monkey and I quit, because I didn't sound like a professional yet. How dumb is that? Ooh! New bucket list item -
76. Re-learn/get better (much) at playing the violin
Anyway, that brings me to the real reason for this post.
Meet Lindsay Stirling.
It is people like her that make me remember why I wanted to play in the first place - I wanted to be able to make music like this.
Maybe someday I'll be able to! For now, I'll stick to jamming on the piano, singing my lungs out, and pretending that I can play guitar. :)
I know that Christmas is over, but always a good time to celebrate Christ's birth, so here -
She is incredible, right? Super inspiring, too. Check out her story here.
While you're there, check out her blog, too! It's grand!
Have you ever made a horrible mistake?
I have. Several.
Usually I learn something from them, so while I'd never do them again, I don't necessarily regret them.
I don't believe in do-overs, after all.
But this week I did something horrible.
I missed my best friend's birthday.
I feel so horrible.
She lives on the other side of the country.
I haven't seen her since August and probably won't for a good long time still.
And I didn't call.
Didn't even send her a text.
A dumb Facebook post would've been better than this.
I am officially the worst best friend ever.
Don't follow in my footsteps, lovely people. You will hate yourself.
Well I hope that everyone had a super amazing fantastic marvelous Christmas!
I did! Full of family and Christ and happiness! And food... So much food...
Anyway, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and here is the marvelous:
Things I love:
-Jesus Christ
-Mary, for being probably the bravest and most amazing woman ever!
-Joseph, for being possibly the most fabulous husband in all history. Wow.
-The Shepherds, for spreading the word and for coming to worship baby Jesus. I am sure that Mary was grateful that He did not have to come into the world completely alone!
-The wise men, though they came later. They recognized a toddler as the future redeemer of the world. That would be so difficult... "Wise men sought Him, so should we."
-The smell of pine
-The DI right after Christmas (and any other time, but it was like... Ahhhhh!)
-Comfy shoes
-$2 cowboy boots. I am serious.
-Colorful cell phone cases
-My family
-Babies laughing
-Babies in general - they're kinda adorable.
-Cozy blankets
-Soft clothing
-Good deals
-Watching peoples' faces as they open presents
-Sleeping
-Getting a raise
-Looking awesome
-Sweatshirts
-Watching good movies that I have not previously seen
-Laughing at myself when I cry in Disney/Dreamworks/etc. animated movies
-Silver
-Christmas colors
-Getting things that I need from other people so I don't have to buy them
-Being spoiled (but only on occasion so I'm not a brat.)
-Charlie Brown
-The Wii
-Netflix
-Candycane Hershey's Kisses
-Delicious food
-People who care about other people
-The Christmas Spirit. It is real, folks. I will miss it a lot...
-Love
-Laughter
-Life
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. :)
Sooo I just rediscovered Fleet Foxes today. As in... I accidentally stumbled on them on Spotify and was like, When did I stop listening to Fleet Foxes?!
And whyyyy?
Anyway. All is okay now because I am listening to them as I type here.
41. Become a therapist (on my way! :) )
42. Shop on Black Friday
43. Kiss someone at midnight on New Year's Day
44. Change someone's life
45. Witness a wedding proposal
46. Ride an elephant
47. Get my picture taken in front of the Hollywood sign
48. Jump in a pool in regular clothes
49. Live near a beach
50. Ice skate at the Rockefeller Center or in Central Park
51. Visit the Mall of America
52. Learn how to play the cello
53. Learn how to play the banjo
54. Visit all 50 states
55. Learn to surf
56. Get kissed underneath a waterfall
57. Go scuba diving
58. Go to London
59. Not be single on Valentine's Day
60. Drive Route 66
61. Have a walk-in closet
62. Swim with dolphins/a whale
63. Propose to a stranger with a ring pop
64. Go on a spontaneous vacation
65. Write a song
66. Kiss under mistletoe
67. Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
68. Visit Alnwick Castle (Hogwarts)
69. Jump off a waterfall
70. Attach a lock to a love bridge in Europe
71. Spend a Christmas in New York City
72. See the Northern Lights
73. Send a message in a bottle
74. Start posting outfits
75. Get a 4.0 GPA (cumulative or not)
I care a significant amount less about everything than I should.
Like my piano proficiency in the morning?
Eh. I'll practice for it. I just don't care.
I especially don't care about all the people around me in relationships.
...But, for some dumb reason unbeknownst to me, the thing I do care about today is that I am not one of those people.
Honestly? Doesn't usually bother me. I'm not in any hurry to get married (at all), I am perfectly content being single, and I dislike that relationships bring drama. These are all true things.
For some reason... I just want one. I don't need one, but I want one.
It would just be nice, I guess.
On Saturday I went to Temple Square with some of my friends. One of them commented on how she wanted someone to be in love with because everyone at Temple Square is in love. We decided we could just all be in love.
I started to think about what she had said. I've been to Temple Square almost every year of my life, but I'd never noticed the couples before. I decided that I would pay closer attention this time.
...It's true. The couples are everywhere. They all look so happy.
My friend, the one who wanted to be in love, asked if I'd heard this song by the Weepies. I hadn't, but I looked it up, and I love it.
I don't think I necessarily think it completely describes my situation, because I don't even have anyone I'm super interested in, and I really don't mind being alone...
I tried to find a song that explains how I feel, but there really isn't one. I am so happy with life right now. I love being single, but I'd like to share my happiness with someone, I guess.
Studied for hours last night, and fell asleep doing so? Check.
Woke up 50 minutes after final started? Check.
Finished final in less than an hour, like a boss? Check.
I am feeling pretty darn cool right about now.
Anyway, great morning over all...
Here are some happy things. :)
Things I loooove:
-Feeling good about tests
-Only having two finals!
-Music Therapy. My major is the bomb diggity, guys.
-Temple Square! Again! With friends!
-The Christmas atmosphere... Seriously y'all. Sounds cheesy, but think about it! Makes sense!
-Orange Juice. Helps me to stave off this dumb cold that's trying to eat me. I will resist!
-UO sales... Except then I buy things... And want to buy more things... C'est la vie.
-Whoever it is that writes the text on Target's website. For serious.
-The D.I. My lovely friend Minden and I discussed it several times this weekend... I seriously could live there.
-Barnes and Noble. Also could live there.
-This book, found at Barnes and Noble. It's HILARIOUS. :)
-Seeing people I know in Salt Lake. Everywhere. Gateway, Temple Square; seriously everywhere we went.
-Running, especially when you catch that second wind and feel like you could just go forever. :)
-Endorphins! They make me feel awesome!
-Shoe circles! They will never get old. Never!
Christmas music gets its own section:
-"Last Christmas" by Wham has always been one of my favorites... Not sure why. Haha.
-"The 12 Days of Christmas" by Straight No Chaser
-"Christmas Lights" by Coldplay!
-A Very She & Him Christmas!
-Sufjan Stevens' Christmas Album!
-Meeting new people! I definitely met Madison and Lauren of Awkward Girls at Urban Outfitters. They were super nice, and styin' as always! Check out their blog here.
Sooo I'm fairly sure that most of you have heard of Pinterest by now. It is a beautiful, beautiful thing.
Anyway, as I did not get a whole lot of pictures taken over the last few weeks, there will be some photos collected from Pinterest in this post. It's a lovely place, check it out if you haven't! :)
Also, I am officially changing Marvelous Mondays. No longer are they only going to be about what I loved that day, or that week, or that month. Now they will simply be things that I love. Enjoy!
