THEreason

To all my dear friends {and family} who love to sing, who love the Christmas spirit, and who want to get a little bit more involved this season, listen up!

Remember when I used to schedule a caroling day around STG for the day? We'd sing at the visitors center, the hospital, the homeless shelter, and more? 

We'll we are upping the game this year. I'd like to put together a {non-rehearsing} caroling choir {called THEreason} to perform not just in rest homes and around STG, but also a day in Vegas, and SLC. 

{un} Fortunately I no longer am a resident of Facebook. I've kicked that habit {and insta} in it's rear and considered myself free. However, this new glorious freedom has its draw backs, and that would be lack of contact with lots of people. {like everyone.} 

SO! This is where I need the help of those of you who still do read my blog, and who would like to {or know someone} be a part of this great new {but treasured} experience this season. 

If all goes well this season, I hope to continue THEreason for many Christmas' to come. But for our first year, no auditions, no practices. Here's how it's gonna work. 

I need to fill a sheet of people willing and able to come to each {or few} Caroling performances. Once we have a fair group, I'll copy and MAIL {like actual stamp and address type stuff} our plethora of INCREDIBLE Christmas sheet music. {all thanks to MR.R} 

YOU will be responsible for learning your own parts. {It'll be easy. and you'll puck up quickly as we begin to sing together.} {trust me.} 

Our Performances will start the very FIRST Sunday after Thanksgiving. Each Sunday from then on, we will sing at a rest home in STG, {this could be considered our practice.} 

Then as the December month moves along, as will our performances. 

If you can't attend all of them, that's okay. Come to as many as one, if you can. This experience is as much for you as it is for your listeners. 

Anyway, now is the time to put my list together. If you are interested, {or know someone who is} email, or call, or text me. And I will fill you in on the rest. 

If you have any ideas of places to sing in any of our designated locations, please share. 

I look forward to the contact 

And the season!! 

my cell: 435-879-9658 

my email: kirisaystry@hotmail.com.

ps. we don't discriminate against age. ;)

i should have doesn't count.

today I saw a man walking in this awful heat.

He was wearing long black pants, and a long sleeved shirt. 

His back was slightly hunched and you could tell that perhaps his day hadn't been the best of one. 

i thought to myself i should turn around and pick him up, take him to his destination.

but i didn't.

i think the choices like that one, are the ones i will regret most. 

serve.

When feeling under the weather? serve.

When upset by someone or something? serve.

when truly missing someone? serve.

When wishing you are elsewhere? serve.

When you can't kick the habits? serve.

When you've layed down for one to many hours? serve.

when in the need to break the ice? Serve.

When you see something that needs to change? serve.

When pride resides within? serve.

when church is too far away for attendance? serve.

in all things? serve.

Recently i've been feeling oh so blue. i can't seem to kick this awful state i am in, and every day it seems to get progressivly worse. tonight however, after dinner instead of coming back up to the apartment and falling asleep Jennie and Jenna stopped to ask if they could help the couple at the bottom  of the stairs, cut jean strings. I found them each happy, and quickly joined in the service. It was amazing to me how much better i felt almost instantly. Though it was so simple, the results were so profound. I don't know how i can forget this so easily. Service, unselfish and thoughtful, is the best answer to almost any question. I am so grateful for the gospel, and it's constant reminder that service is the key.

one of my favorite quotes is from the Joseph Smith movie at the visitors center. JS is chopping wood for an old lady when she comes to thank him. She tells him she doesn't agree with his religion, but is grateful for his service, and his quick reply is, "Well ma'm, you might say that is our religion." I couldn't agree more. :)

I've also found myself saying that i wish we had an oven so i could make people cupcakes and what not.. and by saying and wishing this, i've realized that i've come to crack up service to a bake good. Though they are delightful, service is much more then a colourful tasty cupcake. It's the smile that took awhile to muster, the plop of a seat near the sad stranger, the ball thrown for a kid who needs a friend, or... a pair of scissors and the simple gesture of the will to help.

I hope i can seek out the opportunities of service God has given me while i am here. And I am so thankful for the constant reminders and examples i have around me. I may forget too easily, but I always wish to remember. That's gotta count for something, right? :)

Makes Me Think.

"Today, I was sitting on the steps of church waiting for a bus when I saw an old Catholic nun being assisted up the steps by a young man wearing a Muslim turban. Once they were at the top, the nun turned to the young man and said, “I can see both of our gods raise beautiful children. Thank you.” The young man smiled and nodded. MMT"

chill after chill after chill

so many beautiful stories.

it makes me think why i spend my time with the other trash on the internet. 

peace corps

get up.

wake up.

because today you might be given the chance to help someone else. 

something different.

I really love everything about TOMS shoes. really. 

:)

i guess it is little moments

i bought a car today that basically broke down the same day.

i put over 400 dollars in that car alone, just today.

a roommate just informed me she is moving out, tomorrow. That means I'll be covering her rent for September.

a song about my old great friend came on the radio, and i teared up suddenly. I guess I miss him more than I remember.

the pair of TOMS i ordered, {finally} arrived today. they are too small.

its too hot outside.

im still jobless.

i owe someone 700 for buying me something i {guess} i don't need. now, anyway.

my dixie card is charging me about 2 dollars with every transaction. And the only place to not get charged is on campus. Where you can only take 50 dollars out at once.

i'm already doing basically bad in three classes already.

i have to button my only shorts that fit me with a safety pin that comes undone and stabs me

i dropped my new laundry soap all over the pavement, spilling more then half the new bottle

my back hurts from yoga.

im still single.

still chubby.

i am constantly aware of how much i wish i wasn't here.

i keep missing Jenny's phone calls

i probably won't have money to go to disneyland, again.

i am already about 6,000 dollars in debt from school loans.

and because of all this and other frustrations in the mind, i cried a bit coming home today.

and then i saw this video.



even though recently i would be fairly quick to tell you that i feel life isn't worth all the ... crap, we seem to all go through. this video showed me how we get through it.

Today, it helped me stop crying and have the strength to make dinner with a smile.

today, thats all i could have asked for.

i guess that means its all about the moments that help us put one foot in front of the other.

if you can help:

Dear Friends and Colleges,

Thank you to everyone who supports me and my work. I couldn't do it without you. Happy New Year everyone! (better late than never!!)

In March we will have a dinner to celebrate the spring season, the 8^th of March holiday, and to raise money to help Dennis. Along with the dinner, we will also have a raffle with prizes from Wella cosmetics, Sheraton Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Radisson Royal, and Moscow River Boat Cruises. All participants will receive a coupon for a free brunch at Starlight Diner. 

Allow me to tell you a little about Dennis. Dennis is 16 months old and suffered difficulties at birth. He has been diagnosed with “West Syndrome” (синдром Веста) as well as Cerebral Palsy (ДЦП).  He needs an operation and, unfortunately, he will need to be sent to Germany to receive the operation.

Please contact me if you are interested in more information about the dinner and about Dennis. We are thankful for your help and support.

 Best regards,

Gezahgn Wordofa 

General Director, OPORA

Goodwill Ambassador

IF you wish to help out Gezahgn, by sending money, please let me know, and I will get you his address. You can do a lot by giving a little. :)