Here's My Christmas Post

So I realize this is quite a few days past due... But I am just now finding the time and motivation to write this post. It may be because I'm sitting at work with nothing to do. I find that is the best time to write my blogs. :)

The Christmas season is one of the greatest times of the year! Everyone's attitude changes and you can tell people are just genuinely happier even if they get stressed out and can be rude to other people in stores. There is something about listening to Christmas music that just brightens your day. For me, Christmas is all about the traditions. And in my family there are tons of them that I just love!!

Christmas Eve:
~Around noon o'clock we head to Cracker Barrel for an early dinner. I am not sure how that one started but it just wouldn't be Christmas without going there. Without fail, three of the siblings get basically the exact same meal: Chicken Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes, side salad, corn, carrots, apples, or country potatoes. Mom always makes fun of us for getting the same thing each time, but heck... ITS TRADITION!
~Then afterwards we come home and open our "Siblings Presents" where we each give the sibling we picked the present we bought for them. This year I got two books from my great brother, Bryson. Everyone should read Matched by Ally Condie and Legend by Marie Lu. Both are excellent Dystopian novels.
~Out in Virginia we would go on the Tacky Light Tour looking at all the pretty Christmas lights. This year we didn't do that because we were busy trying to help get Christmas together for a friend who had been kicked out of her home.
~We always end the night with reading the Polar Express. This is probably my most favorite part about Christmas Eve. I love that story so much! It holds a special place in my heart and is something I intend to read to my children each year on December 24th.

Christmas Day:
~We all wake up at 7:00 am. No matter what. When we were young this would kill me because I would be up at 5:00 that morning and have to wait for the parentals to come and get us. We then go into the front room where we have a Christmas devotional. I won't lie... I hated this when I was little. I just wanted to go open all my presents. But we do this devotional where we sing Christmas hymns and read the story of the First Christmas. It is now my favorite thing on Christmas day. I love starting the day off remembering what we truly are celebrating this day.
~Present time. Obviously I love opening presents too. Even if I already know what I'm getting. Its still great. We take turns opening them so that we can see what everyone got. This year I got a nice new camera, some sweaters, a gift card, and my favorite by far was my new HelloGoodbye gear. A nice new t-shirt with Forrest Kline's face on it and a sweatshirt just with HelloGoodbye on it. They are fabulous! Along with those two clothing items, I got a signed Christmas card from Forrest, a copy of their CD, and a bumper sticker that says "This car stops for puppies, kittens, and HELLOGOODBYE SHOWS!" Which is very true for my car.
~After we are done opening presents, we all go upstairs and help get breakfast ready, which usually consists of cinnamon and orange rolls, bacon, sausage, and eggs. Delicious in one word.
~This Christmas was a special one where we got to Skype with my dear sister, Kaitlyn Marie, who is serving her mission in Argentina. I loved talking with her and seeing her face. You can just tell how happy she is and how much she has changed while being out.
~Seeing as Christmas fell on Sunday this year, I had the opportunity to skip out on my YSA ward and go to church with my family. It was so great! I loved the talks and music that was shared. So beautiful.
~Christmas nap. 'Nuff said.
~Christmas dinner. Always delicious. We usually have a Surf an' Turf theme. There is grilled steak and shrimp. Twice baked potatoes. Salad. Rolls. And everything that makes the meal one of the best!

I love Christmas time! It is so great! I realize that I need to be better about keeping the Christmas spirit with me all year long and finding ways to be kind and serve those around me. It is my goal this year to try and remember the true meaning of Christmas and how Jesus Christ came to this earth and made it possible for me to one day return to my Heavenly Father.

Why Men and Women CAN be Friends

There has been a video circulating the Facebook world about if guys and girls can be friends. 

If you have not seen it (or just think its hilarious and want to watch again), take a minute to watch it.

I won't lie... Its hilarious. The sandwich guy is by far my favorite!

But... I have to disagree. 

This kid is saying its impossible because there is that underlying attraction,

But that does not mean the guy and girl can't still be FRIENDS.

I have many a guy friends who I think are very attractive, but I know they are just FRIENDS

Example:
When I was with my ex I got to know his roommates and some of his friends pretty well. There were a few that I thought were so cute, but we were just friends because I was obviously with someone else. They still were my friends and we would talk about things that any friend would talk about. Even after I broke up with the ex, I have still remained friends with one in particular and he's helped me with things and I've helped him. But we still are just FRIENDS.

Another example:
Last year around this time a lot of the guys in my ward just got home from their missions. There was one in particular I thought was so cute and at first I was definitely interested in him. Then I found out that he was dating someone and now they are happily married. But I didn't know him at all before his mission and I feel I got to know him after even though he was dating/engaged/married. He is someone that I love to see and spend time with whenever I can. His wife knows that I'll talk to him. He is probably one of my most favorite people and he is just a FRIEND.

Last Example:
I have had a great guy friend here in So. Weber for the past year and half. He has been a constant friend. I'm pretty sure he has been interested in me from time to time. But in my mind he is just a FRIEND. Once he figured that out, our relationship completely changed. You might think that our friendship ended, when in fact it became so much better. There is just so much more we can talk about and joke around about now. I mean the other night we went to a friend's birthday party together and on our way home he was asking me if I was interested in a guy. My dear friend then went on to give me advice on how to show interest and make sure the guy knew that. It was so great! And you know what he is just a FRIEND. In fact he's one of my BEST FRIENDS. (I even have a friendship bracelet to prove it)

So I disagree with the video. 

There may be an attraction to your friend, but you can still be FRIENDS. 

Just because there is that instinctive attraction to each other doesn't mean that you can't be FRIENDS. 

I personally hope that I will marry my BEST FRIEND. 

I may not know him at this time, but I hope we take times to become FRIENDS first.

So its ok to be FRIENDS with people you are attracted to.

New Hair

It is definitely time for a new hairstyle. 

I am sick of my hair! 

Its driving me up the wall! 

But... 

I don't know how to get it styled. 

That's where you come in...

Here are the four styles I like

You tell me which one you like.

Emma Watson:

Mandy Moore:

Jessica Alba:

Kelly Clarkson:

So let me know which one you like. 

Just comment the actress' name 

I'll take a poll of which one gets the most votes. 

:)

Two Months Gone By...

It is weird to think that it was two months ago that I made one of the hardest decisions of my life. It is one that I have struggled with for a good portion of these last couple of months. In the beginning, I had lost all hope that I would ever be able to figure out what the Lord wants for me. I had just hurt someone that I loved (and still love, just not in the same way). I didn't feel like I was good enough for anyone or deserved anything. There were so many times I just wanted to run away.

If it were not for the help of some amazing friends and my family, I would have given up hope. They helped me realize that all I needed was to turn to the Lord. It has been a struggle to strengthen my faith and turn to my Savior in order to become happy once again. Through much prayer and reading and listening to the council of prophets and apostles and other motivational speakers, I was able to change my way of thinking. I am thankful now for this trial I had to go through. I've learned so much from it already. I have made changes in my life in order to be happy.

Sure I have my days when I just wanted to cry all day long, but I think that the Lord has something else in mind for my life and my ultimate goal in life is to serve Him and do what it is He would have me do. I know there is something better out there for me (not to say what I had wasn't good). I know the Lord has a plan for me. I should not try to make things work the way I want them and in the time I want them to. I need to trust in the Lord and give my will over to Him.

"Faith in God includes faith in His timing"-Neal A. Maxwell.

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, in a town called South Weber, there lived a girl named Alexa Rochelle. Alexa always dreamed of being a princess and living in a princess castle. She was searching for her Prince Charming but it was to no avail. She loved reading stories and watching movies about princesses. Alexa was determined to one day be a princess. Then one day, she heard about a wonderful television show that she began to watch immediately.



As soon as Alexa began to watch it, she was obsessed. It was a dream come true! It was a great story that incorporated all the different fairytale stories into one central story. It showed how a girl that grew up living a hard life was starting to do something great with her life, trying to help all the people from Storybrooke remember who they truly are. Sure, Alexa knew that it was just a story, but she couldn't help but fall in love with the story.

If you have not already started to watch this wonderful show, you most definitely need to! It is excellent!