Hello.

I know it's been a long while, but I'm not going to go through the list of excuses or whatnot as to where I have been. Instead, I'm revamping this little thing to keep track of my experiences at the beginning of medical school. If that actually keeps up, we'll see where I go from there! Let's see...how do I do this whole 'publish' thing again? Oh yeah, click that button.

January 2011 CES Fireside

Even though these firesides are directed towards Young Single Adults in the church, this is one of those firesides that can apply to everyone and anyone who might happen to feel swamped in life. I think we all are there at some times...

:-)

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree

I know that many of you may have already seen this text on my Facebook account, but I was really impacted by this song as I sang it with St. John's Episcopal Church Choir recently. Please notice with envy the age of the composer. Here is the piece as sung by the St. Olaf Choir, along with the text (if you're on Google Reader or other RSS feed, go to the actual blog at sabegalli.blogspot.com):

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
pub. 2009, Stanford Scriven (b. 1988)

The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit, and always green:
The trees of nature fruitless be
Compared with Christ the appletree.

His beauty doth all things excel:
By faith I know, but ne'er can tell,
The glory which I now can see
In Jesus Christ the appletree.

For happiness I long have sought,
And pleasure dearly I have bought:
I missed of all; but now I see
'Tis found in Christ the appletree.

This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,
It keeps my dying faith alive;
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the appletree.

I'm weary with my former toil,
Here I will sit and rest awhile.
Under the shadow I will be,
Of Jesus Christ the appletree.

-----------------------------------

Words: Anonymous; from Divine Hymns or Spiritual Songs
Compiled by Joshua Smith, New Hampshire, 1784

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was awesome this year! I know I haven't posted in a while, but I'm not going to apologize and try to recap. Instead, I'm going to post the things that I really feel grateful for. This is not an exhaustive list by any stretch of the imagination; I just feel the need to express my appreciation for the things in my life that really matter. :-)

• A family that loves to be together
• Numerous houses and homes where we can congregate (I mean, we live all over the place)
• Family members that open up their homes to all of us
• My grandma Loretta's yams (Oh. My. Gosh.)
• Pets, that remind us to take care of something all the time
• Asa, who reminds us of what's most important in life
• Siblings who are not afraid to slap me when I say something remarkably stupid (or just stupid)
• Three beautiful sisters
• An extremely handsome identical twin brother (is that self-serving?? ;-) )
• A father who's a doctor
• All of us being in good health (these two don't really go together...)
• Financial means to attend school
• Understanding and approachable professors (SO important)
• Tallahassee Singles' Ward and Institute
• All of my friends in Tally (including a new best one)
• The many talents I enjoy
• The many NON talents that remind me what humility is
• The love and support of friends far away
• Contacts. Because I hate wearing glasses.
• My trooper of a Civic, Cindy, who has put up with me from coast to coast and 12k feet to sea level
• The situations I've been in that have required me/given me the chance to travel to so many different places
• The many life experiences I've been blessed to have
• Facebook. Just think about it.
• The love my parents have for each other and their family
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the community it entails
• The Book of Mormon - it is an anchor to my soul and the foundation of my testimony
• The Gift of the Holy Ghost, which has saved me on numerous occasions and giving me so much direction in life
• The love of God, without which I would not be here (not to be melodramatic...)

I had to stop a bit before I thought I would, because I could feel the beginnings of emotion coming on (you know, those emotions). I'm just so thankful for all the blessings that I have and have had - they've all led me to where I am today. :-)

Update: FSU beating UF soundly. Life is good.

A quick post...

If any of you follow my sister's blog, you would have seen this a-dorable photo of my nephew putting his entire rattle in his mouth.



Well. Like uncle, like nephew.