French Finals and French Singing

Today i took a test in my french class.  I absolutely love french but was studying it today.  Now its weird to type in english and i keep putting extra letters where they would be in french words... But on the up side we got to listen to Mikas song Elle Me Dit today before our final and it is an awesome song.  Here is the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiHWwKC8WjU

Conclusion

So for our writing class we are supposed to do a conclusion.  I decided that i really liked doing a blog and want to keep it up.  my posts have been kind of sporadic, but i would like to start posting at least once a week.  I think the main focus of my blog is on things that interest me like dance, my family, and other stuff like that.  I'm glad that we were able to do this in class and am thankful for the opportunity to start a blog.

Finals

I'm getting really nervous for finals!  im starting try to schedule everything in but i dont have the time!  hopefully  ill be able to figure it out.  Im glad that i have to take my french final earlier so that ill have time to study for all my other stuff though.  Well thank goodness itll all be over in two weeks and than itll be summer!!!

The Titanic

Okay, last post of the night.  Tonight i went and saw the titanic in 3D (amazing by the way).  I thought it was really interesting how it came full circle though.  I haven't realized it before tonight, but i guess i was looking at the movie more analytically.   The first thing that i noticed was that the quality of the movie was better.  They still took a lot of the main stuff from the former movie, but I think they changed around some of the backgrounds and i liked it more.  In the beginning they meet at they back of the boat and than Jack says "if you jump, I jump."  Right before the end Rose ends up saying the same thing that Jack had said previously.  Than right before the boat sinks Rose says how they met in the same place that they were at the time.  I think subconsciously people like to feel that things ended right, and even though Jack still dies in the end, they were able to leave their audience with a sense of the movie coming full circle.  It was cool to see how what can be used in writing is also used in films such as this as well. 

Family Pictures

These are some favorite ones of my family

I love the picture above because it shows all of us together even though its older. The one below is one of my favorites because i feel that it shows all of our personalities.  I also think its really cool that my parents are standing in the background watching over us.  

Butchart Gardens, the Sunken Garden

Another Picture of one of the beautiful gardens.

Butchart Gardens

Okay, so i noticed my blog looks a little boring so i decided to add a few of my favorite pictures to spice it up a little :) These is one i took at the Butchart Gardens in Canada. They are the prettiest gardens i have ever seen and loved going there.

L. Tom Perry's Talk Analysis

For our writing class we had to analyze a talk that was given in this Aprils' General Conference. 

Jessica Harding

Writing 150

President L. Tom Perry’s talk

I thought it was interesting how in L. Tom Perry’s talk he shared a story of a person who was adamant about testifying of the gospel.   L. Tom Perry’s talk was one of my favorite because of the story of a man who was a little handicapped that was his special friend.  He said how the friend of his always sent him a tie to wear at conference and how he was so good at sharing the gospel.   He constantly was talking to people in order to make friends and share what he knew.  I believe L. Tom Perry told this story in order to inspire us to share what we know as well.

L. Tom Perry used a lot of pathos in this speech, and this is one of the examples of his use of pathos.  Because he told us details about this man and the way that he acted and that he was a little handicapped, it pulls our emotions in.   People like to know what the person in the story looks like because than they have something to associate with.   This story also shows the people he is speaking to that if a man who is a little handicapped can go out and share the gospel so adamantly, than all of us should be able to do the same.

I believe that this talk was mostly centered towards adults and teenagers.  He talked about going out and sharing the gospel without fear, and I feel many adults and teenagers have a problem with this.  Children will usually go up to anybody and share what they believe but as adults, we are more likely to not follow their example because of our fear of causing disruption.  We should be able to share the gospel with people because everyone needs to know it.  It is our job to share the gospel with as many people as we can, and so we should follow the example of this handicapped man and share what we know.

Some of the enthusiasm of this man is shown in a short five lines L. Tom Perry shared.  

“Are you a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?” said this man.

“No, I’m not,” said the other person.

“You should be. It is a great church!  Have you read the book of Mormon?”  He asked.

“No, I haven’t,” said the other man.

“You should.  It’s a great book.”

I really liked how in this little section he demonstrated this man’s love of the church and the Book of Mormon.  If we all had this kind of enthusiasm, I believe the devil would not stand a chance against the strength of the saints. This little section shows how people can convey a message in such a short time. He can be an example to all of the members of the church.  Even though he is a little handicapped, he does not let this stop him.  We can all try to share the gospel, just as enthusiastically and frequently as this man does.  

Narrative Essay

Final Draft of  my narrative essay, any comments are welcome! 

Jessica Harding

Writing 150

Final Draft due April 4^th

The Dance of our Lives

“And now, the West Albany Hi-Steppers!”

It was time.  All of our hard work had amounted to this moment right here.  As my dance team slowly, gracefully walked out onto the former basketball court, I knew every member was as anxious and scared as I was.

“Would all of our hard work pay off?” was the question on every performer’s mind.

 It was the state competition and we had furiously practiced for this moment for months before this time.  Every step was ingrained in my deepest memory.  All of the dancers were counting on each other to know the tiniest details of the dance we were about to perform.  The dedicatory words of the dance started and we took position.  I could barely make out the faces of my family, but I knew they were seated in the largest stadium in the state of Oregon.   Both sets of grandparents had shown up ready to watch what I had been working so hard on for months.  Lying on the ice-cold court, ready for coach to cue the music, my heart was pounding in my chest.  The smile we were required to have on our faces before we stepped out onto the court felt uncommitted.  I was scared out of my mind, silently praying on the court that I would not embarrass myself in front of my family and ruin my team’s chances at the championship.  I was sure everyone in the stadium could see the girl on the floor, shaking like a leaf.

As we waited on the floor, the tension mounted.  My mind went blank as I tried to nervously go over the looming dance moves in my mind.  I could barely see the rest of my team next to me. 

“Why wasn’t the music started yet?” we wondered nervously.

When the music finally started, we preformed what we had been working on for so long.  As I started dancing I was enveloped in the words and meaning of the song.  At first, I was scared for all of us, but when I heard that beginning note a new, peaceful feeling settled over me.  I knew that my body was trained for this, and hardly had to think about what I was doing.  I had practiced for this moment and was ready.  This sudden calm side of me took over and I could feel the emotion pouring from my body.  The smile on my face became real as I became conscious of the fact that I was actually enjoying this!  Because we had practiced so hard, everyone knew exactly what to do and we could perform without a second thought.  I could dance with the enthusiasm and energy as if I had been practicing alone, but with the thrill and excitement of the crowd watching our every move. I was no longer afraid, but animated by the cheers of the crowd and smiles of the judges.  While showing the judges exactly how I felt, I could see my family cheering out of the corner of my eye.  Coach was crying in the third row, and as the song, ended most of us were crying tears of happiness as well.

We ran off the court and everyone embraced.  The tears of joy of competing mixed with the tears of sadness of another year ending.  I could feel the sense of accomplishment and joy that was unanimous as we executed the dance perfectly. 

Dirt Biking

I went dirt biking this weekend!  i went up to sand mountain and we had a big campfire and i met a bunch of people.  it was a lot of fun until we had to leave.  we ended up leaving around 2 in the morning but when we tried to move the car it wouldn't get out of the sand.  we had to get a bunch of random people to help us push the car out but than we finally got out and left.  we ended up getting home around 4 but we had a great time :)