Cinderella Memories

So as many of you know, I was in my school's musical of Cinderella. I was a specialty dancer, so I got to dance a lot in it (mostly act 2). It was definitely a hard musical for me. There were lots of ups and downs throughout the whole process of the show, but as it came to a close, it was all worth it. I had lots of fun performing and remembered why I had tried out in the first place. Thanks to everybody who came and supported me and to all those who helped me so much during rehearsals...even on the days I broke down. Thank you all! I really can't thank you enough. Here are some pictures from closing night, there are many more, but I don't want to overload you. Haha :)

This is me in my first costume :)

This is my ball gown for Act 2 and also my outfit to the wedding in Act 3

Shaina being Shaina...

Dresses, legs, and character shoes. How we love it! (Me, Alexa, Shaina and Gabby)

Shoes and dresses (Alexa, Shaina, and me)

Me and Shaina! She was always there for me during this show!

Little miss Gabi being Snow White haha

My best friend came to see me on closing night :)

The three of us. (Shaina, me and Gabby)

Nathan Keele and me. He was my dance partner for half of the dancing.

Jake and me! This guy is hilarious! Him and his brother Colton are great!

The Godmother (Meghan Flinders) and Godfather (Trevor Hansen)

Cinderella (Amanda Flinders) and the Prince ( Josh Card)

The two stepsisters (Kylie Lord and Becca Cobb)

Me and the Stepmother (Jordan Bradford). This girl is so hilarious! I loved getting to know her!

This is my crazy ball gown! Petticoat, underskirt, and then the dress. Plus let's not forget all the pins and my tank top. Goodness. Haha.

Me and the Queen (Clarissa Smith), plus Lindsey being a creep. Haha.

The Godmother, me, Cindy, and the Prince

Family portrait time! King (Colton Story), Queen, Godmother, Cindy, and the Prince

They spelled my name wrong, but whatevers. Costume rack. It's all over :/

Shaina is a little weird...and exhausted. Hahaha.

My gorgeous flowers from my family! <3

Some of the eyes from the cast. Haha...creepy I know. We did a guessing game on Facebook with it.

One Lucky Girl

This past week has just been insane. I have been working my butt off to get my grades up this week. Ended this term with all A's (that's including 2 A-'s). I am so relieved but I know I am so lucky that I was able to get all my work done and be able to get my grades up.
Also I was so lucky this week to be able to go to my first choir concert at Mountain View! It was on Wednesday, which is young women's night and so I normally wouldn't be able to go, but my mom let me! And I was even luckier that I got to go with the most amazing guy...Andrew :) The choir concert was great. My friends Kirsten and Mvhayv did great on their first choir concert at Mountain View! My friend Zoe, she did great at her solo and it was all just great. It was even better because of being the luckiest girl...being there with such a great guy!
Thursday I felt lucky once again. I have rehearsals pretty much every day after school for my school musical, Cinderella. And on Tuesday-Friday after rehearsals I go to Lakeridge to help out with their rehearsals for a little bit. Thursday we didn't get out of rehearsals for Cinderella when we were supposed to and I had to be a Lakeridge that day to talk with the cast. Luckily I got there in time thanks to my friend Austin, and I was lucky that I got there in time before Andrew even left. Hehe.
Friday, I found my Halloween costume! I am going to be a "Fall Princess." I have a long, brown dress. I am planning on painting a leaf across my face and a leaflet necklace around my neck, maybe even a leaflet bracelet on my wrist if I feel like it. I am going to have orange nails and I have silver shoes and a silver mask that all go with it. I don't know exactly what I want to do with my hair but I have an idea. I was soooooo lucky I found my costume! Thank you so much Oquendo for letting me look through your costumes and letting me borrow it!
Yesterday was great! I had rehearsals in the morning which wasn't too bad. After rehearsals, Mvhayv came and she and I went to Wendy's to eat. Then I finally faced my fears and went to Target (There's a reason why I am afraid to go to this one Target...it's a certain one, other Targets, I'm okay with). Then Mvhayv and I went to her house to get ready for her party later that night. We finished cleaning up, then we decorated her house and made food (the food was great!). It was all a lot of fun. Then the party started!!! That was loads of fun. I think the funniest thing that happened that Mvhayv and I got some silly string earlier that day to spray Andrew with, but it failed us and we couldn't get it to work. We struggled with that for awhile. Haha. Oh and apparently Andrew is a "cat whisper." Haha. Got chocolate shoved into my mouth, very unromantically by Andrew...but whatever. It works. Haha. But yeah, it was a lot of fun.
I really have just felt like a really lucky girl this week. I was not expecting this week to have so much fun in it, I was expecting stress beyond galore! But that didn't happen and I have been so blessed! Thank you everybody who has helped me out this week. You all are amazing. Love you all!

What a life I have haha

This month has just been insane. These past couple of weeks have been super stressful with it coming close to the end of 1st term. I am very, very disappointed in myself this term. I don't know why I have let my grades slip so much. I am an A student and this term my grades, as of right now, 3 A's, an A-, a B, a C+ and a C-. It kills me to see the C's and that one B. I can handle an A- but for me, I know I can do so much better than I have done this term. I really am frustrated that I have let it get like this. I know I've been busy with rehearsals, babysitting when I can to earn money and helping out with another play...but that should give me no excuse. I chose to do those things and if I chose to do them, I should have enough self-discipline to keep my grades up or I'll have to change something in my schedule. I have been working my butt off this last week to improve my grades and luckily I've gotten some of them up, but I still have more to do and this is the last week. Wish me luck. I will not end this term with those grades, I will get them to be better than that. I give you that as a promise.
Other than that, life has been pretty good. Rehearsals have been crazy. Friday I was at school for 11 hours! Insane. I was exhausted. We were dancing all for rehearsals. I am so sore from it. Since I'm a specialty dancer in the play, I get to do a lift. Yay. I've done lifts before, so I'm okay with them. This lift has bruised me though, from my left armpit down to the side of my stomach. It's crazy. I am in so much pain from it, but I have to deal with it tomorrow when we get to do it again! Joy!!! My dance partner is somewhat awkward...but he's cool I guess. My second partner is a nice guy and really funny. I don't feel awkward around him, so that's good. I've met a lot of great people from this play and feel closer to a lot of people that I've worked with before. I love plays. I love being onstage. It's where I feel myself, but don't at the same time. I can just lose myself in my acting. It's an amazing feeling.
Best thing that has happened to me during rehearsals is that Criman has told me he loves watching me perform and that I have a talent. That made me feel a lot better! Also, I was talking to Mr. Young once before rehearsals (he's the ballroom coach) and he told me that he's seen me improve a lot from last year to this year and was asking how I would feel about team and stuff like that. Freak out moment! Haha. I was planning on trying out for team next year...I probably will. I just don't want to get my hopes up too high though. I know Mr. Young...he can say things just to be nice so I don't want to think I've got a spot secured on ballroom team yet. We'll just see what happens.
I'm really excited for Halloween. I think I might be a fairy...but I'm not really sure. This week I have my friend's Halloween party, and it's a Masquerade. I'm excited for that. I knew that she was going to be doing this, I helped come up with the idea of a Masquerade. So when I went to Shakespeare Festival, they had some masks they were selling and I got one just for the party! It's adorkable. It's silver and preeeettttyyy. Hahaha. So yeah...sups excited.
Then on Saturday is my Stake Dance!!! I LOVE Stake Dances. They are so great...especially now that we have an amazing DJ! I can't wait! It's going to be great. And I'm glad it's all after the term ends so I can just finally relax and have some more fun! So it should be great :D That's pretty much everything. I'll update ya later!

Shakespeare Festival Adventures :D

Sorry it's been forever. I have been crazy busy!!! This weekend I was able to go down to Ceder City for the annual Shakespeare festival! Oh my crazy it was just amazing! There are lots of pictures, but I'll show you some of my favorite ones. Cuz seriously...there's like a hundred of them. Hahaha. Anyways, it was an amazing weekend...actually it was an amazing week. Started off amazing, and just kept getting better day by day :D

Colton in the background. I thought this was a cool picture.

Just had to take a picture :P

Austin...he seems drunk...but don't worry he's not. That's sparkling cider.

Kimmy doing her monologue!

Prodigy's drawing!

MVHS Shakespeare team

Team's funny picture

Lakeridge's Shakespeare Team...minus 3 girls. They were in the bathroom.

Their funny picture :P

The best people...THE OBSERVERS!!!

Our funny picture :P

I just love this picture of Gabby!

This girl is just amazing! She and I became really close over the weekend. Prodigy, you rock!

Ciera! I love this picture of her :)

My foot, Gabby's foot, and then Ciera's foot :D

Crazy, great week

Oh and I had these pics taken this week
and I really like them, so I thought to
share them. Hope you like them :)

Third week of school completed! I've got a lot to update on...well not really, but still. Haha. So for those of you who don't know, I tried out for Shakespeare team and then also tried out for my school's musical of Cinderella! I didn't make Shakespeare team, but I'm glad I tried out, it was something I have never done before and I'm going to try out next year for it. I did make Cinderella though! I am a dancer in it! Which really is shocking to me! I didn't think I would cut it for a dancer, but I did. It also is great because my ballroom teacher is going to be working with the dancers a lot, since a lot of it is ballroom dance. I feel like this will help me with my ballroom, and perhaps I will try out for team next year :) I'm really excited for Cinderella. It should be fun! And just so you know, I will be selling tickets for it, so if you want some, just call me. I'll get more info when I know more. We haven't really talked about the tickets too much yet. But just so you know in advance, yes I will be selling them and I hope you all can come. There are going to be lots of surprises with this musical and it's going to be great! ;) So yeah, you should really come. Oh and I'll tell you now, I would try to come on our Saturday night performance...hint hint. ;) So yeah :)

This week has been pretty great. To tell you the truth, it's been insane! It was great that I didn't have any school on Monday. But I think that's what made the rest of the week insane! I was off on my sleep schedule because of not having any school on Monday. So Tuesday I was tired, but then Wednesday I was soooo exhausted that I was going insane. It seemed to me that Wednesday, everybody needed sleep. And a ton of it at that! In my french class that day, my french teacher was hula dancing. In ballroom, well that class is always insane...but that day, it was a different insane! Drama. Oh gosh. How can I even explain all that happened in that class. Mr. Criman and our student teacher decided to be raptors, and then they almost had a "Lady and Tramp" moment with a phone...awks! There was a lot of insane in that class, we'll say that.

Lunch was weird too. Kirsten and Mvhayv were talking with me by the vending machines and then all of a sudden I was a vending machine as well. Hahaha...one of those, had to be there moments. And Zoology. Oh goodness gracious. That was bad. End of the day, right? Yeah...not the best. It didn't help that we had to write the life cycle of cnidarians (they are like jellyfish, sea anemones, etc). We had to have certain words in it. For example, egg, sperm, fertilization, sexual reproduction, asexual reproduction, etc. Yeah, and our teacher is expecting nice clean stories. Yeah...good luck with that...haha. Mine was just....oh man. Horrible.

Thursday was the cast meeting for Cinderella. Soooo excited for it. That was fun. I actually got enough sleep that night seeing that I went to bed around 5:40 ish. Haha...even though I woke up around 8:30ish, but I did go back to bed around 11. Haha.
Yesterday...GREAT DAY! I went with my friends, Kirsten and Mvhayv to their choir social. Lots of fun. We kind of suck at volleyball...well at least Mvhayv and me. Haha. Then we learned disco...that was a lot of fun. Embarrassing, but fun. We stayed there for like ever. Then walked home, well walked together till we had to split. Kirsten and I got to walk together longer since I live past her. We had a HUGE and great talk, which was nice to have! As I was walking the rest of the way home by myself, some weird guy looked at me as he drove by. He smiled creepily, and then waved at me. It was weird. Haha.

Tonight, I'm going to my friend, Halle's birthday party. It shall be fun. I can't wait. Andrew will be there too, so I am excited. Hehe. Anyways, that was this week. I will tell you this school year has been amazing so far. I am going to be super busy this semester though. I have Cinderella, I babysit 3 times a week for a couple hours, I have homework/school, young women's, Oquendo wants me and Kirsten to help him with his 4H drama club, which I will help out of course, and then any time I have goes into helping Oquendo's musical, and then I hope to have at least a few minutes of free time to spend with friends, and Andrew ;)
Haha. Yeah, insane life. So it shall be fun. Wish me luck. I don't know how this will all work out...but it will and I can't wait to see it all play out. I'm actually kind of glad that I didn't make Shakespeare Team now because that would just make my life that much more insane. Haha. I think Heavenly Father knew I wouldn't be able to handle it. He's great that way :) Well that's enough for now.
 Oh except for one last thing, last friday I went to the football game with Kirsten, Mvhayv and Andrew. Tons of fun and it was an amazing night. Plus on top of it all, we won that game! Perfect night. I shall always remember it! :D There, now that's enough. Haha. Love y'all!

And school is back!

So, as most of you know, school has started for moi! This first week of school has been INSANE! Like literally! It was crazy and stressful because I started the year off with auditions for my school's Shakespeare team. I wasn't sure if I was going to try out for the Shakespeare team because I never have and I don't particularly care for Shakespeare. I don't even really understand it unless you give me like a month...just to learn a monologue. And even then I still don't completely understand! So yeah, I was not sure I should try out, but my friend Gabby has always tried out and tells me about how great it is. I always hear about these stories from Shakespeare festival, and it was sad because I couldn't be a part of them and I didn't really understand it. So I wanted to try something new and learn what it's all about. I have never been so afraid for an audition in my life! Of course with auditions, I always get nervous...but this was different. See my forte are musicals. I feel more comfortable trying out for musicals. And trying out for this, something I wasn't comfortable with and didn't know much about, it was so nerve-wracking! I was literally shaking uncontrollably. It was closed auditions, meaning only one person would go in and audition at a time. I was lucky enough to have my friends Gabby and Kimmy come in and audition with me! It was nice to have them there and I felt a little more at ease. By the way, this audition was on Thursday. My friend Kirsten also tried out! Anyways, Friday, Criman put up the call back list and call backs would be after school that day. Freak out moment! So Friday morning, I was dreading to look at that call back list. I found Kirsten and we went to look at it together. We both made it! Same with Gabby and Kimmy! I was so relieved! Then I started freaking out again. Now I had to do call backs, and I heard you had to do improv for it. Which is not a strength of mine. So I was freaking out...again! After school, all the nerves came again. And yes, we had to do improv! For those of you who don't know what that is...it's improvisation. Making things up on the spot, pretty much. Criman gave each of us a partner randomly. Luckily I was partnered up with Kylie Lord, who I know and I was happy to have her as my partner. Then he split us into 3 groups. Gave each group their own Shakespeare plot and then we would have to improv it. For example, my group was given the plot of a girl who had to dress up as a guy for some reason. Their master was in love with a certain girl and wanted this girl/guy to tell the girl that he loved her. However, this certain girl, she was in love with the guy/girl. And yeah...that's the basics of the plot. Well I had to play the girl and Kylie was the guy/girl. I feel like we did quite well on our improv. We made them laugh, and that's a good sign. Kirsten said she felt pretty good about hers too! So that's great! We don't find out who made it until Saturday!!! Soooo long to wait! I don't know if I can wait that long!
So after our call backs, Kirsten, Mvhayv, and I went to Lakeridge to go see Oquendo! Well, first off that walk to Lakeridge...haha fantastic. Also it just happened to be Lakeridge's 9th Grade Barbecue. So that meant Andrew would be there. We saw him and I had Kirsten and Mvhayv go in front and I would walk behind them. Andrew saw Kirsten and Mvhayv and ran up to them and gave them a hug...which is when he saw me. :D So he ran to me and gave me a hug as well! It was great seeing him again! We went to Oquendo's room and talked for a couple hours. Then we left so that we could get ready for the MV game! We met each other all at the game and had fun! We didn't even pay attention to the game that much haha. But that's okay...we only got 7 points. Oh well. Better luck next time, Bruins! It was a lot of fun just being there with my friends...and Andrew! :D It was a perfect day!
Yesterday was my multi-stake dance and ohmycrazynessofalife. It was awesome! I had the time of my life! We got rained on (we were outside) but that just made it even more fantastic! The music was awesome! And it was a blast! Haha. I danced all night, with friends, with strangers....with boys. Haha. I met this guy and I wish guys would be more like him at dances! He was talking it up with everybody! He danced with a girl every dance and would ask them right away. He was a really funny guy and I can't wait till he's at MV because that dude is great! Haha. Me and Sydney were joking today that since he would be a sophomore next year, Sydney could date him. (Sydney would be a senior) And then I would have Andrew who would be a sophomore, and I would be a senior. Haha. Oh we're great. But yeah, the dance was awesome.
Also, yesterday I had my family reunion. Wow that was great! I was so grateful that everything worked out and I was able to go to it. We were afraid that I wouldn't get a ride home in time to go to the dance (my mom wanted to stay). It all worked out, I was able to get ready and make it to the dance around the time I like to go (I don't like being there on time, I have to be at least 30 minutes late haha). So it was perfect!
This week will be crazy as well. I've got auditions for my school's musical, Cinderella! I'm so excited. Wish me luck! Those auditions will be Monday, Tuesday and then Wednesday (Wednesday are the dance auditions, and Monday and Tuesday are the auditions, auditions). So I'm auditioning tomorrow cuz I have babysitting on Tuesday. Wednesday I'll be doing the dance auditions. Thursday I'll be babysitting again. (By the way...thank you Sister Stott for letting me babysit! I have needed money and need it even more now if I make Shakespeare Team). Friday I have my drama banquet. Yay! Drama is great and I'm so glad I'm taking it this year!!! After our little party, we are going to the football game! Sweet! Saturday is when Criman will put up the cast list for Cinderella and Shakespeare Team. Sooo I'm super stoked for this week! This is going to be great, and crazy! That's pretty much my life at about now and this is getting to be too long. Haha. So I guess I'll end here. This year has been great...oh and my seminary teacher...AMAZING! Love Bro. Taeger! I can tell, this year is going to be awesome. "Life is better on the Mountain!"

24 Letters...my last letter!

Wow, this is my last letter I'll be writing for my challenge. There are many more I could write to and I have so much to say to each of you! Thank you all for being great friends! I love you all! It's been great writing these letters, they have had me look back and think about all the great times! I have had 24 days of reminiscing, and that's been so great! You also get to know a little more about me through these letters, which I find pretty neat. Thank you all for everything! Today's letter is going to be different than all the letters I wrote. Thank you all, once again for everything! Love you all..

08/16/12
Dear Heavenly Father,
Wow, this is so different writing this. I don't know where I should begin. There is a lot I could say. Heavenly Father, thank you so much for everything. Really, you have been there for me everyday. Even when I didn't think you were, I now realize you were and you always will be. I feel awful because of how I turned away from you. I really have never felt so empty before. I'm so grateful that I took seminary and you had given me a friend I needed to help me realize you were there. Just looking back at that time in my life, it really does hurt me to see how lost I was, and how confused I was. I do remember, I had no testimony at one point, and it hurt to hear people tell me that they thought I was so strong in the church because I didn't feel like it, because I didn't believe it. I have now gained my own testimony and I know you are always there for me. "I have learned for myself."
With Jeremy and that whole thing, I remember one night I just broke down. I really didn't know what to do and I prayed so hard that night. I remember asking to have peace and comfort and I just remember feeling as if somebody was hugging me and telling me things were going to be okay. I have never felt like that before, and it was incredible. And then talking with Jeremy's grandfather. I know you had him say what I needed to hear that night.
Heavenly Father, I know you have helped me so much this year. I have such a strong testimony that you are there always, and that prayers are answered. When things got really rough this summer with an old friend, it was through your help that I was able to just forgive and move on. I can't believe the peace I had that morning when I woke up and had truly forgiven. I know it was because of you, I had tried on my own but couldn't seem to forgive, but once I asked for your help, it came easier. It was incredible.
I can't thank you enough for always listening. You know me more than I even know myself. You have been with me through EVERYTHING. You've been there the nights where I cried myself to sleep, the days that were the best days of my life, you've been there when I was sick, everything. You are constantly there and there aren't words to describe how grateful I am.
I remember at girl's camp, my third year. I had been dehydrated and I was really sick. The priesthood men gave me a blessing that night. I don't remember what they said, but not all of it was for me to feel better. I remember the feeling I had. The spirit was so incredibly strong. I couldn't believe it.
I also remember just this past year, when things were just getting to be too much for me. I was trying to fix things and I felt like I was failing. I needed a blessing, and when I finally got one, I couldn't believe, once again, how strong I could feel the spirit. The guy who was giving me the blessing, he hardly knew me, yet what he said was exactly what I needed to hear and I know it came from you. I think that moment was one of the times I have felt the spirit the strongest. Words cannot describe that feeling I had. I felt so comforted, and loved and I knew you were there for me. I have no doubt in my mind, you are there. I can't even begin to tell you how strong my testimony is of that. I just know, for myself, you are there for me.
You know me more than anybody else does. You know my strengths, and you know my weaknesses. After all, you are my Father. I know that you give me trials that you know I can handle and I know they will make me stronger. I've been through a lot this past year, as you know and I know it was all for the better. It has made me a better person and I have become stronger because of it. I've grown up a lot because of the trails I have had this past year. I have learned a lot.
Heavenly Father, thank you so much for always being there for me. Really, thank you. I know I keep saying it, but I really just can't tell you enough, thank you! I do know you care and I know you are doing what's best for me. Looking back, I really do feel so bad that I turned away from you. I can't believe how much I had forgotten. I forgot who I was and I feel awful that I forgot you. I am so grateful to have you in my life. I really don't know what I would do without you. You know how I like to try and fix things on my own, but I have learned that I can't. I can't always do things by myself, and that I do need your help. I have learned to ask for your help. I know I can always count on you.
I hope you know that you really do mean a lot to me. Even though life has been crazy and it always changes, you are always constant. Thank you for teaching me so much throughout my life. Thank you so much for being there for me over 16 years now. Most of all thank you for your love. I don't know who I would be if it wasn't for you. I seriously can't imagine it. I love you and you mean so much to me. Thank you for always guiding me, and helping me be a better person. I really do want to make you proud. I really do try my best and I know you know that. I can't thank you enough. I know you are watching over me, and like I keep saying, I know you are always there. Thank you for giving me everything I have. I am so blessed. I can't thank you enough for the friends I have, I am truly blessed to have them in my life.
I feel so lucky. At times, I feel like I don't deserve things, and that other people deserve them, but I want to thank you for giving me what I have. I really am grateful for everything, even the little things. I know that my testimony actually started to grow from the simple little things because I had to start small. Thank you. I really do hope of making you proud, my Father in Heaven. I love you so very much. Thank you, once again, for everything.

Your daughter,
Alissa A'Lynn Lopez ♥