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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Helping with Stuart Edge

You all know that Kenz LOOOOOVES being in the recording studio. 
Stuart Edge invited Kenz to help with harmonies on his upcoming EP.
Kenz was HAPPY to head to Audio West to work with Stuart, John Allred, and David Devaney
Click on their names to learn more about these talented men. 


Sunday, December 28, 2014

Dallas Nelson's Farewell

Dallas Nelson has been called to serve an LDS mission in South Carolina.  He asked Kenz to sing at his farewell.  She knew exactly what she wanted to sing... except the piano music was in the wrong key for her.  We knew who we needed to call.  Mr. Jake Justice.  Click his name to learn more about how BRILLIANT he is!!! 
He met Kenz on Saturday and looked at the music, added a few scribbles, and played it beautifully.  They ran it twice.  
This was their second run through
Got to church a few minutes early on Sunday and ran it one more time then performed BEAUTIFULLY!!!  
I am so grateful for people who say YES when they are asked to serve and share their talents.  I am also very grateful others are INVITED to serve.  This is the first time Kenz has been asked to sing in sacrament meeting.  No one thinks to ask her.  I was a proud and thankful mom today.

Monday, December 22, 2014

What's Your Notion?

If there is an elephant involved, she wants it.

Check out Notion Threads HERE
Get the shirt HERE

Friday, December 19, 2014

CCHS Christmas Assembly

Kenz accompanied (and sang a lilttle) with some darling girls for her high school's Christmas Charity Assembly
Morgan Gailbreth & Rachel Russel?
Kenz always says she LOVES playing guitar for other people.  It takes some of the pressure off of her and she loves playing her guitar...

they had some technical difficulties at first... but after they got the mics working they all did great!

Christmas Medley

After her song, she saved Hayden a spot while he ran around taking photos of all the events.  
They are so cute. 






Sunday, December 14, 2014

Kenzie is EIGHTEEN!

Opening Gifts!!




Her choice for a cake each year is Mrs. Fields


 Party at Jenn's house to open gifts from the family

Saturday, December 13, 2014

The Stereo Room - Birthday Bash




Playing around before the show

Ain't No Sunshine



One Good Reason


Take Me to Church



Not the Only One




For You


Dirty Diana


Won't Set Fire



Monday, December 1, 2014

Silent Night

Singing Silent Night at the annual neighborhood Walk to Bethlehem
Grandpa Earl accompanied on Kenzie's electric guitar

Songs For Life

Kenz had the honor to judge this contest.  
Since losing her Grandma Kathy to melanoma, 
Kenz tries to stay involved in the community 
with events related to cancer in honor of her grandma.

Click HERE to visit their website.



Sunday, November 16, 2014

Young Women's Recognition Award

Kenzie earned her 
Young Women's Recognition Award.

To learn more about this award click HERE
They presented it to her at the Young Women's in Excellence Night.
But she was asked to speak..... 
I was so proud of her.  
She has had to do a lot of things to earn this and with her schedule it wasn't always easy.  
This is Kenzie gathering her thoughts as we drove to the church.



Personal Progress Talk

Intro: 
This year was busy for me and I have to admit that focusing on getting my personal progress finished wasn’t always at the top of my list.  But I had promised myself (as well as my mom) that I would get my YW Recognition before I turned 18.  
President Henry B. Eyring said:
“The patterns you establish as you work on Personal Progress ... will become personal daily habits and will strengthen your testimony and help you learn and improve throughout your life.”

I am grateful for the patterns that Personal Progress helped me establish.  I realized that finishing my requirements wasn’t going to be hard, because they had become part of my daily life.  They had become my habits.  

Music/Service: 
Many of you know that MUSIC is also one of my habits.  But it fit nicely with my Personal Progress.  I want to share a few personal experiences I had where my personal progress habits mixed with music helped “strengthen my testimony.

In October, Salt Lake holds an event called “Light the Night”.  This is an event for cancer survivors as well as family and friends to carry a lighted lantern around Sugar House Park in honor of loved ones who have fought cancer.

Last year when they walked, I could barely speak let alone sing for them.  My heart hurt to see so many people whose lives were effected by cancer.  That night I told my mom, I wanted to continue to be a part of this event.   

American Idol has given me many GREAT opportunities, to which I will forever be grateful. So when the Light the Night organizers called to ask if I would sing.  They said they figured I probably had “bigger opportunities” then their little cancer walk & since it wasn’t a PAID event that there was no obligation for me to say yes.  I think they were surprised when I quickly said “Absolutely”.  What they didn’t realize was that the small act of service I could provide was NOTHING compared to what I got from singing to them.  

This year there was three times the amount of lanterns.  My heart still hurt as I sang.  But many stopped walking so they could thank me for singing.  I was in awe at the kindness they showed to me.  They touched my heart.  As I reflect on this experience, I know the spirit was there.  

I am grateful that service is part of Personal Progress.  It gives me opportunities to feel closer to my Savior and improve myself and my testimony.

Righteous Habits Protect:
I also know that when we are making Personal Progress part of our daily lives, We are Blessed and we are protected from the things of the world.  

A few months ago, I felt the promptings of the Holy Ghost so strongly.  But doing what the Holy Ghost was telling me to do was going to be hard. 

Again Music is my passion.  I love to perform.  But I knew I needed to change the people I was working with.  (I even wrote a song about it that I put on my album.)  To the outside world, it looked like I had everything going for me.  I was performing all the time.  But something repeatedly told me a change was needed.  This change would mean I would not perform as much and may even have to deal with some backlash.  I spoke to my parents and they supported my decision.  

I don’t perform like I used to.  And it was a hard decision to make but each time I feel sad or start to doubt myself, I read something on social media or hear a story that reminds me, that I made the right decision and I was being protected from the things of the world that I wanted no part of.  I know I will still get to sing.  But I will forever be grateful that I have the Holy Ghost and can feel it’s promptings.

Closing:
Sister Dalton said:
“Personal Progress is a pattern of small, righteous actions that, if done consistently over time, will strengthen your faith in Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ, and build your testimony and prepare you for your future roles.”

I am grateful for Personal Progress.  
I am thankful for leaders who helped me accomplish this goal.  
For advisors who supported me and took time to love me and encourage me to continue to do what I know is right.   
I look forward to my “future roles” and hope to continue to prepare myself and strengthen my testimony as I continue doing the “small, righteous actions” of Personal Progress.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen


Saturday, November 15, 2014

Girls Choice Black & White Ball

Kenz & Tanner Townsend





Bowling
The Harvest for dinner
The Dance
Watched Blended at Laurens