Merry Christmas, to me!

Merry Christmas to me! I am the proud new owner of some pretty awesome shoes. I told one of my students that this was what I wanted for Christmas. He didn't come through, so I thought I would take it upon myself to buy them for me. I always seem to get me just what I want for Christmas. I also got myself the boardgame sequence. We have already enjoyed it several nights here at Sparks II and I have converted several of my roomates to its greatness. Tomorrow I leave for Arizona, so until I see you again, or when I see you there, Merry Christmas!

Christmas Time

When many are excited to head home for Christmas I am excited to be going the other direction. This will be the third Christmas in a row that I will spend in Arizona with all of my extended family on my mom's side. We are the only ones that live in this winter wonderland of Utah.

This means that five of the list six Christmas days I have not been home. You may find that sad, but really the memories I have from Arizona are far better than any I have had at home. I love being able to see my cousins and to play games with each other. We especially love playing hearts, we have played a game of hearts with about twenty people and three decks of cards. It is crazy! Especially if you get all three queens.

I love everything about Christmas. I love the spirit of giving, the music, and being with my family. Unfortunatly I won't be able to see or talk to my brother this Christmas since he is in the MTC. Him being on a mission has helped me stay focused on the true meaning of Christmas and on what life is truly all about. I hope that we can all remember the true meaning of Christmas.

I hope that your Christmas is a great one! May all of your wildest dreams come true.

Football

Nothing like a great football melody to make one happy. ;)

Thanksgiving

As a defender of the great holiday of Thanksgiving I feel a need to post something in regards to this wonderful season. There are so many things we have to be thankful for, even the things that seem small and insignificant. In class this week I had each student share at least one thing they were thankful for. I love how simple children are and how they can find joy in so many different things.

Here are some things I am thankful for: First of all my family, I am so lucky to have a family that loves me and that I know will do anything in their power to help me. To have a brother that is my best friend, a mom that is fighting through cancer treatment and the blessing she recieved from our Bishop that she would live, and a dad who can make me laugh.

I am also thankful for my wonderful friends. I have been so blessed to have friends that have stuck together. We just can't get rid of each other, even those that are married, we all try and see each other at least a few times a year. I wish we saw each other more, but I know they are still there for me if I need them, and I would do anything for them. I also have such great friends here at my apartment, life without them would be uber lame.

I am grateful for a job and money in this time of economic difficulties. I am glad I worked hard to graduate at the age of 23, two and a half years after I got home from my mission, so I could be where I am today. I love my job and have grown a lot. The kids make everything worth it, even with the hard times.

I could go on and on forever, I could talk about how I am thankful for grapefruit, trees, sports, lettuce, air, water, freedom, the gospel, indoor plumbing, carbohydrates, grass, clouds, hydrogen, music, blankets, hands, health, the list goes on and on. I hope we each can take some time to really think about how good we have it here. I know I for one am very thankful, Happy Thanksgiving!