- Goodbye Home -

The break is coming to an end but that's okay because...



..it has been a good one. (:

- Christmas Reflections -

Christmas's origin was put a little differently for me this year than it has been in years past. Instead of reading out of the scriptures, Mom read to us excerpts from a unique story of Mary and Joseph. Like I said, the story was not read from the scriptures, but from a book. A book whose author- using her incredible knowledge of both history and scripture- wrote a detailed simulation of what Mary and Josephs life, love, and travel to Bethlehem could have been like.

Even though it was the view of one lady, of how their lives could have been, it was so interesting and made me think about things I never have. Like- the love Joseph and Mary shared for each other. The feelings of inadequacy Joseph must have felt- not being able to find a midwife to assist his dear sweet wife with childbirth, and not being able to find a place for that same dear sweet wife and soon-to-be newborn child to rest in peace and comfort. The feelings of Mary when her mother didn't believe she was the virgin meant to bear Christ, the son of God, and the feelings of Mary's mother when she realized she had been wrong, but Mary was gone to Bethlehem, and too far away to ask forgiveness.

It's impossible for me to fathom the amount of purity and faith Mary and Joseph must have had in order to be and feel worthy enough to overcome their hardships and receive the blessing of bringing into this world the greatest gift ever given- Jesus Christ, the Savior of all the world.

I stand all amazed.

I love Christmas. I get so caught up in the world and in my own life that far too often I forget to think about and be grateful for Christ. I'm so thankful we have a season meant specifically for the remembrance and celebration of Him. And I'm also thankful for Mary and Joseph, the young couple who stayed strong, faithful, worthy and pure enough to receive him.

- Photo Album -

Every Christmas eve all the kids in the family get to open 1 present. Though most families with a similar tradition receive a pair of P.J.'s every year, we do not. Which present we unwrap is usually our decision, unplanned and simple. This year, Jake wanted me to open the gift from him. So I did.

Believe it? Me neither at first, but now I do.

I know the pictures are bad (because I had to take them with my macbook), so... Incase you can't read the labels, here is what they say-

Front:

The Great

Elephant Poo Poo Paper

Company Limited

100% Recycled and Odorless Paper Products

Made From Elephant Poo!

www.poopoopaper.com

Back:

The Most Ecologically Responsible Product In a Really Long Time...

Made By Elephants in the Kingdom of Thailand

PHOTO ALBUM

A percentage of profits from the sale of this product

is contributed towards the conservation of Elephants.

For fun facts about elephants, how we make our products & how

your purchase helps

read the free booklet included with this item

or visit us at www.poopoopaper.com

Can you believe that? Gross. Yet, A+ on the gift big brother, A+ on the gift. (:

P.S. YES, the above paragraph is linked to www.poopoopaper.com

I got a package from California today. (; I'm so happy!

- I Hope My Kids Are Awesome -

On a scale from 1-5, where 1 is poor, 2 is fair, 3 is good, 4 is very good, and 5 is excellent, how would you rate the overall excellence of this video?

Definitely a 5.

- 2010 -

I have NO IDEA what I want to do with my life but.. in the past little while, I've come up with plenty of things I'd like to change about it. And, I've decided to start all of the changes come New Years- you know, all as New Year's resolutions. My overall goal is- to be a healthy person, in all areas. How possible will that be? I don't know right now, but I guess I'll find out.

These are a few of the things I am going to do starting in 2010:

Go to church, every Sunday.
Go to bed by 11:00 pm on weekdays.
Get up by 8:00 am every morning, except Saturdays.
Talk a lot less.
Limit facebook to 10 minutes (or less) per day.
No T.V., except 90210 of course.
Journal writing.


Can't be too hard, right?

- Grades -

I know in reality that D+ is a huge bummer, an utter disappointment, some sort of distress signal, a reason to be mad at your child, meaner than hate e-mail, etc..

But, I'm actually pretty happy about it... Because it could have been worse.

- Couldn't Be More Happy -

It has been a first-class weekend. No doubt.

I love talks about Christ.

I love Christmas.
I love Christmas lights.
I love snow.

I love Sufjan Stevens.

I love a clean apartment.
I love keeping the tv off.
I love quiet.

I love Christmas break.

- This Just Happened -

And no one will play Yahtzee with me. I hope I marry someone who will take Yahtzee, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from the day him and I get married- until death do they part.

- Finals Are Over! -

And I'm SO HAPPY ABOUT IT.

We spent a while before my last final studying in the library. And we ordered pizza!!! And it was delicious but my hot chocolate was not. Cafe mixed the whip cream into it. Whip cream+ hot chocolate + mixing = frothy, yucky.

I'M SO GLAD A NEW SEMESTER IS STARTING. (':

- I Copied Megans Blog -

I stole this picture from Megan's blog. But this is the truest story about our internet! We are Dumbledore's Army and someone copy catted us and became Death Eaters.

- Magazine Spread -

I finished the magazine spread for my computers and art class. I truly like it. HERE's the link.

- We Refuse To Call A Grown Man 'Jimmer' -

All I can say is... My roommates and I had a very unique night and USU beat BYU [because we're the best :)]. I'll write more our experience on a later day when I don't have work at 7:30 am the next morning. I'm so proud of my aggies!