Christmas - the real reason

We had a really wonderful lesson in Relief Society on Sunday. Three different teachers taught about Christmas and it was so interesting to see their individual takes on it.
(Coincidentally, one mentioned art, one mentioned music, and one mentioned poetry - It was great.)

The whole lesson just got me thinking about Christmas, Christ, and everything in between. Here are snippets of my notes/thoughts on it.

Brian Kershisnik's The Nativity

We talked about this painting - which has Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, and lots of angels. The angels bring up two things: 1)If you look closely, the faces of the angels have so many different reactions to it. Can you imagine how they all felt? 2) The thought that maybe we were there as angels - watching this significant moment happen.

Christ was born in a lowly stable, son of a carpenter, and was raised in a small town. He had no formal education, no political office and was not wealthy. The scribes and the pharisees missed his birth because it wasn't what they were expecting it to be. Are there distractions in our life that keep us from having Christ as the center of our lives? (A couple that were mentioned were time, technology, worrying so much about the small "to-dos" versus the big picture.)

Sometimes the most precious gifts of life are right in front of us but we cannot or will not see them. If we really want to remember the true meaning of Christmas, we need to focus our traditions on Christ. I've thought a lot about the traditions that I want to have when we have children of our own. One comment that was made was that we need to be intentional about these traditions. We need to see Christ in Christmas. President Uchtdorf, at his 2009 talk at Christmas devotional (it's really good), said this:

All of these spectacular displays and decorations that compete for our attention can be beautiful and uplifting, but if that’s all we see, then we’re missing something that’s in plain sight. Sometimes, despite our best intentions, we become so preoccupied with responsibilities, commitments, and the stress of our many tasks that we fail to see with our hearts that which is essential and most sacred.

It is incredible to see how much of Christmas has been created by the commercial world - the gift giving, the decorating, the parties. But underneath it all, there is a small quiet reason for celebrating. Because on Christmas, we were given the gift of having a Savior. Someone who came into this world to take our sins upon him. Someone who loves us unconditionally. And that Someone is what Christmas should be about. How holy that night was when our Savior entered this world. It's my goal this season to remember that.

I really love the looks on Mary and Joseph's faces here.
painting by Simon Dewey

Another really good talk by President Hinckley.

Also, one of the girls talked about how one of her Christmas traditions is to listen to "The Real Story of Christmas" by W. Cleon Skousen. (Available in book or audio cd here) 

I looked into it and it seems really good. I'm thisclose to ordering it for myself.

So,

I learned a couple things today.

#1 - when they tell you not to go to the grocery store when you're hungry, LISTEN to them.

#2 - I'm a sucker for sales.

End of story. :)

Got money? Me too.

So, these are my new favorite blogs. Mostly because money is important and apparently most of the U.S. doesn't know how to handle theirs, it makes me want to be better about how I handle mine (soon to be ours).

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/

AND

http://frugalwifewealthylife.blogspot.com/.

Both just well-written blogs about being smart with your money. If only I could do that from the get-go.

"The Sandra Bullock Trade"

So it's definitely been a down week. And we won't go into that because that is a wee bit of a sore subject. (Jessi, thank you so much for understanding. Emailing you helped mucho. You are the best.) All I can say is that I am having a semi-hard time being happy right now. Not overall, but there are some aspects that I am having a really hard time with.

But then I read this op-ed, entitled "The Sandra Bullock Trade". And realized it was definitely something I needed to read today.

some of my favorite lines? (in no particular order)

1. "Modern societies have developed vast institutions oriented around the things that are easy to count, not around the things that matter most. They have an affinity for material concerns and a primordial fear of moral and social ones."

2. "Marital happiness is far more important than anything else in determining personal well-being. If you have a successful marriage, it doesn’t matter how many professional setbacks you endure, you will be reasonably happy. If you have an unsuccessful marriage, it doesn’t matter how many career triumphs you record, you will remain significantly unfulfilled."

3. "The daily activity most injurious to happiness is commuting." (I LOVE that he used the word injurious.)

Anyways, it was just my thought for the morning. Back to busting out some papers.

And I'm getting quite excited for GC this weekend.

xoxox

"I believe laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing; kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles." -Audrey Hepburn

It's all adding up.

So the end of semester is coming up. SOON.

Here's my to-do list from now until Monday:

school:

stats exam (maybe one of the hardest ones)

stats homework

chem exam (the hardest one yet!)

nutrition paper

nutrition readings/quizzes

history paper

doesn't sound like a lot.

But I'm starting to stress out.

Next week gets even more full with papers and tests. Oh man.

I cannot wait for the next 30 days to go by.

Dear Graduation,

I'm coming. Please don't go by without me. I'm hurrying as fast as I can. I already deleted facebook off my phone and have written everything out in my planner. I'm just waiting for my motivation and focus to catch up with me. But please please wait for me. I won't abandon you if you don't abandon me. Please. We are so close. We can do this.

I'm coming, please wait,

pertinaciously yours, etc etc

Lessons learned.

What I learned on March 12:
1- The citric acid cycle in all it's detailed glory. Holy smokes it makes your brain hurt. .
2- My hair is unpredictable and unruly. Normally I like it. Not
today. Today was a day when I wishes I had straight hair.
3- I desperately need new contacts. Too bad my prescription ran out and I don't really have the time/money for an appointment right now.
4- Springtime is sometimes a facade that winter wears so it can trap you in your shorts, sandals an skirts unawares. Then will remind you that a winter in UT extends to
May sometimes.
5- I could never be a model: a) I don't like cameras and b) I don't like audiences, catcalls, or whistles


- Posted from iPhone

shout hooray!

I get one of these this weekend:

Not the cake/presents/balloons specifically. But I get the birthday that goes with them.

I'll be the big 22.

Sometimes I feel old. But not very often. Sometimes I feel young.

But mostly, I feel the right age.

I think I'm supposed to be 22 now.

21 was a big year for me.

I had a lot of things happen - bought a car, had two surgeries, went to lots of school, went on a girls trip to hawaii!, got my best friend to agree to be my boyfriend, got an iphone, took boyfriend home for christmas, got a ring, got a sister-in-law and a new nephew.

So it's hard to think that 22 could possible be better than 21.

But I've got the feeling it will be.

And it makes me curious, hopeful and very very excited.

For them.

Dear Random Bloggers,

You don't know me. And I can pretty much guarantee that we will never meet. But I just wanted to thank you for having a blog. And not making it private. And for letting me become a part of your world for a few short minutes. I just happened across your blogs in my everyday wanderings of the worldwide web. I was only looking for something to read about that would take my mind off of the clock that ticks so slowly and reminds me that there are plenty of minutes left before I can go home. BUT for a few short minutes, I stumble across your world. A world that seems out of a fairy tale. A world that I long to be a part of for even a short space of time.

I envy your lives sometimes. You all have incredible stories to tell and captivate me with the minute details that make it feel so intimate. The courage and faith and patience and love and firm hope I read in your words is marvelous to read about.

I envy your trials - even the pain that comes from them. The lessons you learned from them and lived to blog about are awe-inspiring. You say that they were so difficult, yet you made it through them with such grace and poise and elegance. I know that maybe I'm not seeing the whole picture, but the glimpses that I do catch take away my breath and make me wish I was stronger like you.

I want to have the same kind of happiness that you have. The babies being born, the myriad of memories, the holiday celebrations, the school performances, the vacations, the moments where you have tender mercies and hopeful revelations. Oh please, take me into your world for two seconds. School and work seem oh so dull and not worth blogging about. There are millions of people around me saying the same thing. "School is hard, work is tough, not enough hours in the day." All I want is to have an adventure. And you give me that while I can't have it on my own - by letting me look through your eyes.

May you continue to have wonderful birthdays and beautiful memories so that I can continue to grow from seeing how you go through your world. You make me want to live better, be better. And I owe you tremendous thanks for that. I am excited to have adventures of my own someday. And if we do meet, can we trade stories?!

Graciously,

The girl you don't know and probably never will.

in my perfect world.

As of right now, my perfect world contains ZERO finals. But is that what I really want in my perfect world?

No, I can handle the finals. I think I want something else instead.

in my perfect world, I would devote more time to appreciating God's hand in my life.

I would savor and cherish the good times.

my pride would never come first.

i would apologize more. and so, so much sooner.

i would be more understanding and try to listen more.

communicating my love would be the most important.

be forgiving, gentle, and unfailingly kind.

the people i love most would always know it and know it because of my actions.

And as hard and frustrating as finishing my finals seem right now, this perfect world sounds even farther away. And as impossible as that sounds, I am comforted by the fact that everyday is an opportunity for me to become a better person. And take one step closer to that perfect world.

consider it.

"Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life." - Ezra Taft Benson.

Which reminds me of this:

Thanksgiving marks the time when we begin to focus on presents and gifts and decorations and carolers and snowmen and twinkle lights and hot chocolate and treats and stories.

However, it also kicks off the start of the season of giving.

Maybe there are a few gifts that we can give that might leave a more lasting impression than any temporal, store-bought, bow-topped gift under the tree.

think about it.

about TIME. sheesh.

I did it. For real this time. I took a whopper of an ANATOMICAL test at the infamous and awful testing center, known loathingly as Heber. AND I came away with a solid 92% on the multiple choice with a "fantastic!" written next to my number on the score screen.

Can I just say I've been waiting for a moment like this for 4 years? I've gotten good grades like this before, but not on a test for my major. Just on little side tests like ethics, and judaism, and d&c, and english. but never on a test for a major class. BOOOOOOOYAH.

I'm pretty peacock proud right now. Except I have yet another test (for my major, yet again) tomorrow before I can claim my freedom for the holiday weekend.

Time to get off my proud pedestal and back to the old grind. I just wanted to document this moment for posterity's sake (and my sanity's - for when finals roll around and I feel utterly stupid again). And I thought this picture was strangely appropriate:

RSVP please.

I'm taking a break from anatomy and I thought I would share this gem with you. Written in the margin of my anatomy notebook was this: "Everybody is invited to think."

And you are. So please do.

Think about stuff. Think about your family. Think about the words you say. Think about the things you do. Think about your attitude. Think about your blessings in life. Think about the opportunities of life. Think about love. Think about beauty. Think about nature. Think about all the wonderful things in life. Think about the answers we have to life's great questions. (If you're still thinking about them, go here.)

But please. Start thinking. And appreciating.

This one hits home.

Does this resonate with anyone else?

Because it sure struck a chord with me.

'Tis the season, I suppose.

It is almost Thanksgiving. And I'm starting to think I need to start taking a healthy dose of gratitude every day. Sometimes being a grump is so strangely satisfying that it is hard to get out of the slump.

I should be grateful I have at least one exam every week because it gives me more points to help my grade (theoretically speaking).

I should be grateful for the long hours at work despite the slowness because it means a bigger paycheck with less stress.

I should be grateful for my education because it is almost over and I am starting to get the feeling I might actually miss it.

I should be grateful for my busy days because it means I am actually doing something with my time (and hopefully those things are worthwhile)

I should be grateful for the time I get to spend with friends because very soon we will all be doing different things with our lives and going in different directions.

I should be grateful for planes that can fly me home for Christmas because it means I do not have to take a 176 hour train ride or 5 day bus ride.

I should be grateful for this blog because it gives me SOME PLACE TO RAMBLE on about things and not waste someone else's time by making them listen to me.

I am grateful for family and soon-to-be-family.

I am grateful for winter. Because it makes springtime even better.

I am grateful for photographers who can capture the incredible beauty of the world we live in. And make us realize how precious the little moments are.

I am grateful for twinkly lights, pumpkin rolls and hot chocolate. Because being happy inside makes you happy on the outside and then the happiness spreads like warmth.

I am grateful for professors who tell you everything they are asking about on their exams. Because it is nice to know that they aren't trying to kill you and that they want you to do well.

I am grateful for fashion. And the pops of color that have been carried over from summer. And ruffles. For some reason, I really like the femininity they create.

I am grateful for the Honor Code. For the ways it helps us be better.

I am grateful for weekdays. They make the weekends so much better.

I am grateful for bloggers who are willing to share their creativity and imagination with the world.

I am grateful for emails from across the world. Because somehow reading someone's words brings them that much closer. Even when they are really FAR AWAY.

I am grateful for my best friend.

And, I am grateful for hope. Because sometimes things get overwhelming. And that is okay. Because I can handle it. At least, that's what I keep telling myself. Maybe if I keep repeating it, one day I will believe it.

I guess that's enough gratitude for the day. I apologize if you made it to the end of this post. I think I needed to write this more than anyone else needs to read it.

Maybe next time I will just make a thankfulness tree like this one:

sunshine and stormy clouds.

Some days are like rainbows and puffy clouds - filled with imagination and adventure and beauty and hope. But sometimes there are dark grey ominous clouds that bring in the storms that make the day seem bleak and sad. And so these thunderstorms have a bit of a reputation that makes them most unwelcome, unpleasant and rejected. I guess I kinda learned today that sometimes stormy clouds like this aren't as terrible as they seem. They bring the rain that washes all the dirt and gloom away. And then the world is beautiful again.

And so amidst days with sunshine and days with storms, I would just like to say I am grateful for ending stormy nights on a good note. And for the beauty that comes afterwards.

two balls or three?

So this girl brought her son to class today. I think he is maybe 1? 1 and a half? Doesn't really matter, I guess. He is so stinkin' cute. And of course I can't pay attention now when he is sitting on the ground next to me making the funniest faces. It makes me want one of my own.

But then, he gets up and starts running around. And falls down. And starts crying. And I realize I really don't want one right now. Especially because I still have to go to classes and stuff. Poor girl. She's a saint for juggling classes and a baby. Literally. Juggling.

I can't juggle. I was never good at it.

Where'd all the Good people go?

I found one. One good person. I don't know his name. But he made an impression on me. Not because of his awesome hair, or his smartly pressed uniform, or spiffy shoes or the accent he didn't have. But because he did a good deed. And he did it for nothing.

Imagine being passed up by a full bus after waiting and waiting and watching and hoping. It's kind of saddening. And then all of a sudden, a bus that we weren't waiting for pulls up, asks us where we are going, tells us we won't be able to make it there because the bus we need to get on will be too full and that we should get on his bus and he will take us to where we can get on the bus that we need.

We were pretty stoked about that. But, it gets even better! We got on the bus and he wouldn't let us pay the fee! AND he gave us a free transfer! He didn't do it for personal gain or to get something from us. He was just a nice guy giving six girls a way to get to where they wanted to go.

He made my day. And now I'm going to pass it on and make someone else's day. Not because I want something or anything like that - We just need more good people in this world. And I want to be one. And I'm grateful for each one that touches my life.

wednesday wonders.

today was interesting. good and bad, with ups and downs. lots of downs, but really good ups. because it is the 12th, here are 12 things I learned from wednesday.

1. "If there's something wrong, those who have the ability to take action have the responsibility to take action." i believe it.
2. the tiles in the bathroom at my brother's house aren't really tan. they are purple. i just didn't realize that until after i scrubbed it for 2 hours.
3. the BYU bookstore can be talked into giving you an extra 20% (40% total!) off of all 48 pompoms, 24 footballs, and all 29 yards of fabric (etc.) that you have to purchase. it just requires that you climb up and down 3 levels of stairs repeatedly, go on a goose hunt for someone that doesn't really exist, and convince a lady named Nicole that you really are doing this for a good reason.
4. pinesol smells DEE-LISH. actually, I really like cleaning with it. when something smells so fresh like that, i'm more willing to scrub harder because i want the whole house to smell like it.
5. sometimes good things happen to good people.
6. mango flavored things make the days a little bit better.
7. BYU football and thursdays are exciting. :D
8. attitude is a matter of choice, not consequence.
9. land rovers are very roomy. they can fit 3 sets of golf clubs, 2 suitcases, 1 memorabilia football, 3 containers of random clothing/curtains, 2 boardgames, 1 lampshade, 3 college students, and lots of love.
10. relish the awkward moments. they make for awesome memories.
11. I have no Napoleonic dream. I'm just hard-working and pragmatic. ("pragmatic"=matter-of-fact/concerned with practical matters)
12. as long as you don't give up on me, i won't give up on you.

I'm on a boat

So I was on a boat last weekend. We woke up before the sun so that we could be on the lake before anyone else. And it was totally worth it! We had absolutely the most beautiful water. So glassy and perfect to wakeboard on. I haven't ridden on perfect water like that in a LONG LONG time. It was incredible.


And yet, I still managed to do something like this:




It kind of really really stung. And kept stinging after I'd gone and fallen again three more times.
Then, I decided to jump off the boat. But I got a lovely reward for trying to do it with a wakeboard on. :)



This picture is from 4 days later. It is so colorful!
All in all, it really was a fantastic trip that I now have a reminder of every time I raise my left arm. :) I just wish I could go every day.




20 days until school starts? where did summer go?