Opprotunities in the A Cappella Club

Today I am grateful for the opportunity I have to serve as an officer in a fun club. It is very fulfilling to be a part of a successful club activity, like the club auditions we had tonight. It was great to meet people and welcome them. I am glad I am able to serve as an officer for a fun club that is all about great music and a fabulous circle of fellow student-performers/music enthusiasts.

John Williams

Today I am grateful for John Williams, the film composer. The first time I truly felt the desire to write great music was during an orchestra concert that featured the well-known music of John Williams. His music was among the first to inspire me to be a composer. Since then, I have come to admire many other composers, but I will always be grateful for the inspiration and influence John Williams brought to me through his great film music.

Ecclesiastical Leaders

Today I am grateful for the service given by local church leaders. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, they are called bishops. I have been blessed to serve and attend church meetings under the leadership of a number of great bishops over the years, including my current bishop. They certainly have a lot to do for a lot of people, but I know they receive the help and blessing of God as they serve in their calling.

Planners

I am a person who likes to plan and organize my time, so I am very grateful for planners. In a way, a planner is like the Pensieve in the Harry Potter books. The Pensieve is a shallow basin in which people can store memories to look at later. Albus Dumbledore once talked to Harry Potter about the trouble he saves in storing memories there so he won't have to store everything in his head (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Ch. 30.)

In my planner, I record events, notes, to-do items, and goals so they are all in one place for me to review when I want to. An added bonus is that I don't have to keep all that information in my head because it is recorded elsewhere. Journals and diaries are the same way. It's neat how much "magic" we "muggles" unconsciously use.

The Viola

I attended a lovely viola recital tonight, I am grateful for the second-highest of the string instruments: the viola. I really appreciate the rich sound as well as the musical and emotional range of a viola. Along with that, I have good friends who are violists, including my sister. So here's to the viola and the great people who play them. :)

Usage Dictionaries

Since I am taking more editing classes for my minor, I am recognizing the value of usage dictionaries in answering usage questions (for example, should I use "between the trees" or "among the trees"?). I still have much to learn, but it is so helpful to know some of the best, reliable sources I can go to for help in the field of editing.

A Temple Close By

Today I am grateful to currently live within a mile of an LDS temple. For me, the temple is a place that stands apart from the everyday cares and concerns of daily life. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to go to the temple to worship God, and ponder the role He has in my life. I probably won't ever live so close to a temple if and when I leave town after graduation, so I express gratidute for the opportunity I have to attend the temple so often.