Life is just a journey, drop your worries. You are gonna turn out fine.

Where do I even begin?

Life has been a whirlwind since school started.

I finally got a bed! Amazing.  My stress level dropped about 50 notches after a few nights of finally getting off of the floor.  There was a week there I honestly thought I was going to pull my hair out.  It's crazy how much a good night's sleep can really change how you feel.

Life is good.  I don't know what to say other than that! I have some amazing friends.  I have an incredible job.  School is fantastic.  I have a church that I love and is wonderful.  The opportunities are endless.

Can I just talk about how much I love Salt Lake City?  Utah has become the love of my life.  I really need to spend more time up on the mountain.  I think it is so funny how anti-cold/snow I was before I learned how to ski.  That boy who took me to Snowbird the first time didn't know the monster he was creating! = )
I was on that mountain about 5 times a week last April and May, but for some reason I could't bring myself to go up there during the summer.  I was pretty down this summer.  No need to lie about it, but things are so looking up now.  But so besides all that, I've been up the fabulous LCC a few times lately.  My dear friend Melissa and I went to Oktoberfest at Snowbird a few weekends ago.  There is just something special about being up there.  I went  again with our mutual friend Natalie on Sunday.  Let's just say that trip was very successful. ; )  Bup Bup!  My friend Natalie cracks me up.  She and her friend Joey were definitely key in helping me make a new friend... Well so being up at LCC again made me want to go up even more. Yesterday I got in my little bug and drove up to Alta.  It took me a while to get up there in my little four cylinder VW but I eventually made it.

I had been dying to hike Cercret Lake again, and so hike I did.


Cecret Lake is the first trail I hiked in Utah last year.  My friend Robin took me and our friend Owen up there.  Last year when we got to the lake we just sat there for a long time.  I don't know how to describe what it feels like other than just to say it is truly amazing.  God created some beautiful places on this earth.

When I made it to the lake, I sat there for a while just to enjoy the beauty.

It would have been nice to have had someone to hike with yesterday, but I've never been one to not do something just because I have to do it alone.  Why wouldn't anyone want to experience beauty like this?

Being up there makes me feel so much better about life.  Not that I was feeling badly about life this past week, but being up there just feels rejuvenating and I love it.

I had to stop here and take another picture because Robin, Owen, and I stopped here for pictures a little over a year ago.

I can't believe that in a few weeks all of this will be covered with snow again! I am so looking forward to that! Crazy, huh?  Until then I am enjoying every moment of being in the sun shine that I possibly can!

I went to yoga at Centered City tonight with Melissa and Natalie.  It just felt so good.  When I got done I was so relaxed.  I really want to start doing more yoga.  After I recover from the surgery I'm having in 8 days it will definitely be added to the work out regime again.

Oh, and by the way, I'm having surgery a week from Thursday.  I'm not too sure how I feel about it.  Hopefully it won't be a terrible experience.  I will be out for the count for a hot minute.  Momma is flying up to help take care of me.  We'll see how all that goes...  I need to do some more hiking before next week!

Who wants to go???? = )

The Legacy of You

So I’m taking a 19^th Century Music Research Seminar this semester.   So clearly France had some crazy cracked out times in the 19^th century.  The opera house in France went through some pretty big changes.  The people loved art.  They wanted it all.  It was not uncommon to see ballet along with the opera.  Well there were these three famous Parisian ballet dancers that worked along with the main opera house (my dancer friends will have to forgive me for I have forgotten their names already. 

Well the first of the three ladies was the very first dancer to dance on pointe for the entire show.  She was a virtuoso. No one before her had been able to do it.  Throughout her career her father maintained her finances (that’s just what people did then).  When her father died she found that he had squandered all of her money and she was penniless.  She was never able to retire.  She danced until she no longer could, and then taught all the way until she died around 80 years old.  In her lifetime she revolutionized dance.  Because of her, dance was changed forever. 

The second famous dancer was not as talented as the first.  She was loved because she was beautiful, sexy… She danced until she was 30.  At the age of 30 she had made enough money that she moved to America and was able to support herself on the money she made in her dance career. 

The third dancer was just as good as the first.  A virtuoso.  A very successful performer, she was loved by many. She had a good career and retired after having the illegitimate child of a European prince and moved out of France.  She was then supported by that prince for the rest of her life.  She had a great career as a dancer and never had to worry about money. 

Here is the question I pose to you:

Which of these three dancers had the most successful life? 

The one that worked her entire life to get by, but because of her teaching changed the future of dance?  Would dance have been changed so if she had been able to retire at the age of 30 and never taught lessons to so many dancers? 

The second one who was loved by Paris and was able to support her self for the rest of her life? 

The third, who was the picture of virtuosity and was taken care of the rest of her life after retirement?  She had it all: a great career, children, and a generous fund to support her.  

If you know me, you know who I thought had the most successful life. 

What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind? 

I want to be a revolutionary.  I want to change peoples’ lives.  I hope that one-day people will remember me as someone who made a difference…as someone who sparked excitement and motivated change.  I want to be remembered as an encourager.  

Oh the places we will go...

So school has started.  Wow.  I am one busy girl. 

 

I am so excited to be around for another year.  I am excited for everything that I will get to learn this year.  Let me tell you, I learned so much in the past year….  Let’s just say it wasn’t the easiest year of my life.  You know that saying, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger?” Well I think whoever came up with that saying is a liar.  Whoever started that quote was trying real hard to make the best out of a situation.  That I understand.  However, I think a more appropriate statement might be, what doesn’t kill you leads to the opportunity for perseverance.  Suffering happens.  You can choose to sink in a hole, and allow that suffering to keep you from living with passion and enthusiasm.  Or, you can choose to persevere.  Suffering leads to perseverance.  Perseverance leads to building character. 

 

I’m playing a LOT of trombone this fall.  I am pumped about that.  Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Quartet, Quintet, etc.  YES!  

 

Marching band is going exceptionally well this year.  It really is a joy and a pleasure to get to do what I do here.  Life is a process.  Trust the process.  Keep trucking along.  Keep pushing. Keep making improvements.  I love it when things start to come together.  I love it when I can talk to my coworkers about new ways to explain an old concept.   I’m getting excited just sitting here typing about it. 

 

I’m going to be doing a lot of research this semester.  I’m okay with that. I can handle it.  This is going to be fun.  I’ve got enough coffee to keep me going.  = ) 

 

Me and trombone?  I’m not exactly sure what I want out of it, but you better believe I will put my heart and soul into becoming the best musician I can over the next year.  

Who am I?

The other day I thought I saw someone that used to be in my life.  I’m still not sure if it was that person or not.  I mean, this city is only so big.  Sometimes I wish I could read minds.  (Key word = sometimes).  I’m sure you never worry about running into me.   Why should I care about running into you so many months later.  Why do I still think about you on a daily basis?  I’m sure I never even cross your mind anymore.   

Happiness hit her like a train on a track

School has started! The summer... well it ended...and end fast it did.  I can already feel myself getting back into the swing of things, and it feels so good.  I really am so lucky.  I love what I do.  Man, I can't tell you how much I look forward to doing my job.  I'll be stressed out, anxious about life, etc and when I start doing my thing it all just goes away.  I'm so thankful for the opportunities I have here at Utah. 

So I played trombone this summer, but not nearly enough... My face hurts! Going from one hour a day to four to five just plain hurts!  I'll get there though.  I need a good kick in the butt for not practicing enough this summer. 

What a year this is shaping up to be.  Lots of life lessons this year. So many tears shed.  So many friends made.  So many laughs.  So many second chances at life. 

I tried to cry the past few days.  Like 5 times.  I couldn't.  I didn't have any tears left.  My eyes said no, even though my heart wanted to unlock the flood gates.  I wonder if you can only cry so many tears in one year before your body just says no. Stop. You've got to get a move on with it.  My body knows better than my mind.

This week I was reminded that I need to remember who I am.  I am Lisa Tatum.  I'm a child of God.  I'm a warrior. I am passionate. There is more than one reason why I have a crown tattooed on my hip. It is a reminder of who I am and where I come from.  Until recently I had been ignoring that reminder.  I am strong and independent.  I work hard.  My word means something.  I am reckless.  I am emotional. I care. 

I mean something. 

I am not worthless. 

I need to remember that more often.   

The dog days are over. 

At least this round anyway.

What? No, I'm not being pessimistic. I'm human.  I have good days and bad days.  My life isn't going to be perfect from here on out.  I'll just keep using the lessons learned this year and keep on trucking along. God's grace gets me through the good and the bad.  That's why it's GRACE, remember?  = )

Love.

Amazing grace, what a sweet, sweet sound...

Grace.  It is so beautiful.  The fact that God can love me in all of my faults...and trust me, I have so many. 
I absolutely love going to K2 the Church. This morning the message was about the unlikely hero.  Dave Nelson spoke about Moses.  God chose to work through Moses and make him a hero even though he couldn't be that on his own.  Now that is grace.

Isn't it amazing the way God chooses to work?  He takes something absolutely worthless and uses it for His glory.  I'm a screwball.  I mess up constantly.  I make wrong choices all the time.  I think I can do things on my own.  The truth is, I can't. I'm a sinner, but Jesus died for me anyway.  He broke his body and shed his blood to remind me that he loves and forgives me.  I'm not perfect, but God loves me anyway... enough to do all of that for me.  He can use me in spite of all my faults. 

Romans 8:28-
 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Bad things happen.  Sadness happens.  Things get taken away from us. Suffering exists.  You've got to learn from it.  Suffering leads to perseverance.  Perseverance leads to character.  I refuse to let my sufferings send me into a hole.  Sure, I might cry a little...a lot, actually...but I know that God is there to get me through it.  I've got His amazing grace.  

Some of you might think all that's a little crazy, a little who-ha even, but that's okay.  It works for me, so I'm going with it, and I won't apologize for it.  = )


Psalm 19:1-4 -

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.  They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.

Random...Because my life if just that all the time.

So I've done two of these before. Basically you just sit and put down random thoughts, fact, feelings, opinions, etc, about yourself.  

Here's 2008: 

 10. Sometimes I wish life were a musical. 

 9. I love the feeling of being sore after a good work out. It means I’m actually pushing myself.
8. I cry when I watch the Lion King
7. I love to perform. I’d do it the rest of my life if given the opportunity.
6. I feel guilty when I eat food that is bad for me (ex. Fried food), but I sometimes eat it anyway.
5. I feel sexy when I run.
4. Right now I have a five year plan (that is falling into place quite well), but I have no clue what I want to do after that.
3. As much as I hate to admit it, sometimes I do miss living in Wetumpka where everyone knows you and life is pretty quiet.
2. I have this habit, that when I go to someone’s house, I always look in their pantry and/or fridge. I just like to see what they keep in their home.
1. One of my biggest fears is being alone.

Here's 2009:

1. Sometimes I wish I lived in a musical, and could sing anytime, anywhere and not get crazy looks.

2. I cry when I watch the Lion King. 

3. I love the feeling of being sore after a really good workout. It means I'm actually pushing myself.

4. Performing is one of my favorite things in the world. I'd do it the rest of my life given the opportunity.

5. I feel guilty when I eat food that is bad for me, but sometimes I eat it anyway.

6. I feel sexy when I run.

7. I have this habit, that when I go to someone’s house, I always look in their pantry and/or fridge. I just like to see what they keep in their home.

8. One of my biggest fears is ending up alone.

9. My favorite movie of all time is The Little Mermaid.

10. Speaking of The Little Mermaid, that is the movie that began my love of musicals.

11. If the whole "music thing" isn't working for me 10 years from now, I'm going to open a restaurant.

12. I LOVE to cook.

13. If my parents had not gotten divorced, and I had staid in FL for the 6th grade, I would be playing percussion now, instead of trombone.

14. I love Disney. One of my life goals is to go to every Disney park in the world. I've already finished the US and Japan! :)

15. When I believe in something, I give it 110%.

16. I love love love sushi.

17. I secretly wish I were a vampire. Anne Rice's version, not Stephanie Meyers.

18. I've seen a movie every weekend since coming home from Japan.

19. I want to have children someday, but not anytime soon.

20. Sometimes I have problems speaking up for myself.

21. Being a Brass Angel definetly changed the way I think when performing.

22. It really offends me when people underestimate me. I'm who I am for a reason, when I say I can make something happen, I mean it.

23. I hate the cold. I thrive in sunny weather.

24. I've been blessed in that I've always been able to do whatever I wanted.

25. I love the state of Alabama, but I don't think I can stay here forever.

 Here's 2011:

A lot of things are still the same. Some of them have changed. I've learned some other lessons since these.

1. I miss the stage

2. I really do love teaching. I love seeing someone get something for the first time and continuing to improve upon it.

3. The Salt Lake City Farmers Market at Pioneer Park is one of my favorite things in the valley.

4. I'm actually looking forward to winter for the first time in my life. Thank you skiing.

5. I change my mind on a daily basis.

6. Loving someone doesn't make them love you.

7. I have no idea what I'll be doing this time next year. You would think that would scare me. It doesn't. Okay, well maybe a little, but I'm not freaking out or anything.

8. I've said it before, and I'll say it again...It doesn't matter what you are doing, as long as you are doing it with people you care about.
   
   
9. After all these years, The Little Mermaid is still my favorite movie of all time. Yup, go ahead and laugh.

10. I love finding new clean recipes for my collection.

11. I'm trying real hard to not become bitter. People keep trying to make me that way though...

12. I still love to run, but it is getting way harder on my body.

13. Being sick for 2 weeks is awful.
    
    
14. People in Salt Lake City are pretty rocking.

15. I can tell myself something doesn't matter. I can tell myself that all night long. It doesn't make it hurt any less.

16. Bed bugs are not a fun thing. At all.

17. I'm not afraid to do what I have to do.

18. I just don't understand why we treat people the way we do. When did it become okay to treat people like garbage? To just throw them away like they meant nothing.

19. Tomorrow will always come.
    
    
20. The sun still shines even when the clouds don't seem like they'll ever go away.

21. Life without internet and cable at home isn't so bad, until you're stuck on your couch for two weeks with a bacterial infection.

22. I deserve so much more than what I've been settling with.

23. Help people when they need it.

24. I am obsessed with Del Taco $.99 bean burritos.

25. I need more sushi in my life. Anybody want to start a sushi night with me?