Happy Christmas

It's Christmas. I'm happy. Family time. Beautiful musical hour of church, focused on my Savior. Hours of smiling at my niece and watching her big dimples appear as she smiles back at me.

I apologize to any of you who read my previous post. I took it down, because today is a happy day. A day I need to recognize the sweet gifts I have because of the Savior. A day to forgive, love, and be happy.

Merry Christmas.

It's time for another post

It's the Christmas season, and I feel the need to write.

My new favorite Christmas candy is this:
Deliciousness. I was first introduced to it by my step-sister, Penny. She bought some at Costco...or Winco (one of those "co" stores) and brought it to the big family Thanksgiving reunion. It was divine.

Then, my cousin-in-law, Tyler, or...let's just say cousin...brought some HOMEMADE peppermint bark over to our house about a week ago for dessert after Sunday dinner. EVEN BETTER than the "co" store's kind. Of course. Homemade is always better. And luckily, Tyler told me it was super easy to make. And it was! So I made some yesterday. One layer of melted dark (or milk) chocolate melted in a pan. Sprinkle crushed up candy canes. Let harden. Then melted white chocolate on top of that. Sprinkle crushed up candy canes on top. Let harden. Wala! Peppermint bark. Then you get to break it...which is the best part. :) Yummy!

Also this Christmas season, I've started something new.
You would not believe how much this has improved my outlook on life. I know it sounds predictable and cheesy, but it's completely true. Over a week ago my step-dad and I had a conversation about gratitude and the good it does to write things down. I decided to try it. It's been a life-saver. I find myself thinking all day long about what I will write that evening. It helps me look for the good things in my day. It's honestly such a beautiful thing and I plan to do this forever.

I've been thinking about this story.
I feel like it's such a simple, pure Christmas story and is centered on Christ in its entirety. It's a story for the lonely, the broken- or hard-hearted, the overwhelmed...and so on and so forth. It makes me tear up every time I think of its sweet message (or what I get from it, anyway). The message that Christ is there for all, no matter what goes on in our life, no matter if we're surrounded by loved ones or all alone...Christ is with us. We are never alone. He's with us, and we have this beautiful season to focus even harder on that fact.

Another thing that has been happening to me this season...
I've been crying like crazy! Can't seem to turn it off. It mostly comes on when I'm pondering someone else's life...and my heart yearns to comfort them. Or, I don't exactly know what the tears represent.... I guess just the strong desire I have for them to feel comforted by the Savior. Here's an example. A friend of mine, Heidi, whom I grew up with, died in a car accident while I was serving my mission. She was adopted by Pam, a single woman who never married. Pam happened to be my dad's high school teacher once upon a time (long before adopting Heidi). But anyway, Pam is single, raising her only grandchild, the son of her late daughter. The same year she lost her daughter, Pam's sister died from cancer. I sometimes run into her on the streets while walking, and she's told me how lonely life can get at times. I decided to get her "The Forgotten Carols" on DVD and give it to her with some homemade chocolates for Christmas. I tried to drop it by this evening, but she wasn't home. When I was explaining to my mom why I wanted to give her this gift, I couldn't even get the words out. Tears were the only thing that would come.

I'll see a homeless man holding a sign...tears. I think of couples who want to be parents. Tears. Parents with sick children...tears. Someone spending his/her first Christmas without a constant in his/her life, whether it be a spouse, a parent...a grandparent. Tears. Single adults who want an eternal companion or a direction and purpose. Tears. I don't know what it is lately...but it's like I'm feeling this strong desire to run around and hug everyone and say, "I don't know what you're going through, but the Savior does. I love you. So does he." All I do know is, the tears need to stop, because I'm sick of trying to hide my wet eyes from my co-workers. :)

I love Christmas. I love my family. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that Christ truly did come to this earth. That He was and is the truth, the light, the reason to hope, to believe, to have faith, to keep going. He cares about, loves, and knows each one of us individually. I know this. Merry Christmas everyone!

Some good things

Here are some good things that have been happening.

*I was accepted to Journalism Grad program at Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies. I was supposed to start in January, but I deferred to May.

*Two weeks ago I was at my lowest weight since I started my weight-loss journey, with a total of 21 lbs down, but I unfortunately gained 4 lbs over the grad school celebration and Thanksgiving festivities. BUT, I went jean shopping yesterday and I'm nearly down 2 pant sizes. "Nearly" means that one size down is too loose, but two sizes down is a bit snug. :) I think the snugness will go away soon though. I'm pleased with my progress. :)

*I'm following through with my plan to throw a "feed the homeless" birthday party. It's going to be great. I haven't been this excited for my birthday in YEARS.

*A friend of mine won tickets to a private Snow Patrol concert and she invited me to go with. It was super fun. I got to shake the lead singer's hand and sit super close while they were singing. I even won some prizes while I was there. :)

*We got our Christmas tree yesterday. It's a skinny one...and I like it!

*I was able to spend 4 days in the snow with my entire family. It gave me time to reflect on my life and my gratitude for my family and my past experiences. I love all of the people God has allowed me to get to know over the years.

*I love Christmas...and it's Christmas time. :)

So, while life is hard...there are plenty of little good things happening in my life every day.