Why Can't We All Just Be Friends?

So I was just thinking the other day about how sad it is that we can't even include Christ at Christmas. At school, everybody wants to include all the holidays...Hanukkah, Kwanzaa,etc. And I think that's great! Let's all learn from each other and celebrate together. But the thing that gets me is that if we even mention Christ in conjunction with Christmas, people get all upset. What?! In going to school, we are supposed to learn and be tolerant and accepting. Where does that apply when talking about Christ? Christmas as it is today originated through the Christians celebrating Christ's birth. Yes, we know Christ really wasn't born in December and that the Christians adopted the date in conjunction with a pagan festival. But Christmas as it is has been celebrated for thousands of years to remember Christ. Even if you want to look at Christmas as a historical, traditional celebration you have to include Christ. What is so wrong with saying, "Christians celebrate Christmas to remember the birth of Jesus Christ who they believe to be their Savior." If I can learn about Hanukkah and why the Jews celebrate it, why can't others learn about Christmas and why I celebrate it? Taking Christ out of it is in very essence intolerance and prejudice against Christians. When we become intolerant to others' beliefs, it makes it easier for hatred and misunderstanding to grow. In order for us to all live together in peace, we should learn about each others' beliefs and respect each other for those beliefs and not try to change their religious celebrations because it might offend someone! If people don't want to celebrate Christmas as a Christian holiday, don't! That's fine! But don't try to take Christ out of it for me. What's all this talk about us forcing our religion on them? They're forcing their beliefs on us by taking Christ out of one our most important celebrations. If people want to include all religions in the holidays, let's include ALL the religions, including Christianity! I wish that we could all just be tolerant of each other and not single out other religions because somebody might be offended. Well, I'm offended that people can't have some respect, especially when they're always talking about accepting everyone!

I know Christ to be my Savior, that He was born in a lowly stable to free the world from death and sin. It's only through Him that we can repent (overcome our mistakes) to return to live with God, our Eternal Father in Heaven. And it's only through Him that we can be resurrected, to live again with our families forever. This knowledge is the center of my life and Christmas is a wonderful time when I can feel connected with fellow Christians, whether they're of my faith or not, to celebrate the birth of the man we know to be the Son of God. Want to celebrate a different holiday at Christmas? That's great! Go ahead and celebrate! I'll let others celebrate their holidays if they just let me celebrate mine! And don't try to take Christ out of CHRISTmas!

Merry Christmas!

*Good Song: "Little Drummer Boy" - Josh Groban
*Good Movie: Star Trek

SNOW!!

So I feel like I'm inside a snow globe - you know the ones that you shake and the little snow swirls around whatever object may be inside. That's how I feel today because there is so much snow swirling around outside. It's kind of rejuvenating. I just want to twirl around in it. (Does that make me crazy? Maybe...I probably shouldn't ask that question haha!) Even though I'm not a huge fan of snow, for some reason today it's making me really happy. The snowflakes are just dancing as they fall to the ground - there's almost a feeling of hurried excitement. It makes me kind of excited to be alive and enjoying life! Life really is so great. So maybe there are unanswered questions about what the future holds and I'm still not sure what to do with my life, but today I just want to enjoy being here...in the snow. I'm even going to appreciate being cold...and maybe I'll even make a snowman once the snow sticks!

*Good Song: "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri
*Good Book: "The Host" by Stephanie Meyer

It's Cold!!

We had a big snowstorm this morning!! I woke up and it was lightly raining outside. I thought to myself, "This looks like it's going to be a beautiful day!" But later in the morning, it started snowing! I was driving in it and I was a little nervous because it's been over 2 years since I've driven in snow. My tires slid a little as I made a right hand turn towards my house. But no fear!! My car and I made it back into my parking lot without incident. I then had to brave the walk to the stairs and up to the 3rd floor in my high heels with snow flurrying all around. Slightly terrifying! I don't know if I would recommend walking in high heels in the snow... The weather cleared up through the afternoon and it even got a little warm with the sun shining. Weather here is so crazy!! =)

This week has been exhausting!! I had a big project due in one of my history classes that I spent like 2 whole days working on, but that's what I get for procrastinating! I have a Spanish project due next week that I have also procrastinated on. I think I have discovered one of my many talents - procrastinating! I wonder if there is anybody better at it than I! So looks like I will be living at the library for a few days again next week. Finals are fast approaching as well as the due date for another big history project...I better get on that, but I'm sure my talent will show itself again and coming back from Thanksgiving Break will be a nightmare. Or I could just get a head start (it's probably too late to call any studying for these assignments a head start...) and start getting things done now. But what's the fun in that?? I would miss the headaches, the panic attacks, and the stress that come with knowing an assignment I haven't even started yet is due the next day!! Haha!! =)

Well I am off to a hockey game tonight because I can't get enough of being in the cold. So why not go spend a few hours in an arena with an ice floor?

My Passion is History!!

Have I mentioned on here how much I love studying history?? I'm pretty sure that I have!! But I really do. I'm working on an assignment for one of my history classes that's given me a chance to look at a lot of primary sources. I'm studying the role of African Americans in the American Civil War. They're so often overlooked even though the Civil War was a result of the conflict over slavery. I really loved just looking at pictures from the time, reading journals, newspaper articles, etc. I really think that I want to go into research. Would it be tedious? Maybe, but the people come alive! I love it!

I think that's part of the reason I adore the Book of Mormon and the Bible so much too. It's not only stories of people, but how they were able to follow Heavenly Father's plan. I can connect to those people so well because the questions they had are the same questions I have! And they found the answers through prophets, scripture, and their own experiences with the Spirit. Then they wrote it down so we could learn from it too! That's what history is all about - learning from others' experiences! Love it!!

So I've become addicted to Pinterest...just today, but I've already spent far too much time on it...especially because I have a Spanish test tomorrow! :/

*Good Song: Life Ain't Always Beautiful by Gary Allan
*Good Book: The Infinite Atonement by Tad R Callister

I Love the Gospel!!

I really need to put some pictures on here I realized...but I don't have my camera close so I will have to do that next time. I was just thinking today about how grateful I am for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I've been taking an Institute class (Institute of Religion for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where we go and take religion classes) about world religions. It's been so fascinating!! So many religions have so many things in common and it's beautiful to see. Even non-Christian religions have so much truth!! It's amazing!! I'm so grateful that I have the gospel that pulls all of those great things together.

I've been reading in the book of Alma in the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon amazes me. The people within its pages are just amazing! I only pray that I can strive to be like them...so many of them have such great Christlike attributes. And of course that's who I try to pattern my life after - Jesus Christ. The men and women in the scriptures are just so good at emulating some of those attributes that I really long to have. If other people can follow Christ in such hard times, then I definitely can too! Christ lives!! He really does and I just love the plan that God has for us and our families. How grateful I am for the Bible and the Book of Mormon and how they teach that plan so wonderfully!

*Good Website: http://mormon.org/

*Good Song: Before the Rocks by Justin Robinett

Fall Break!!

So Fall Break starts this weekend...we get Friday off. And pretty much Thursday too because most of my classes are cancelled. Happy Day!! But terrible of all terribleness...I have a test on Monday!! Why would anyone give you a test the day after Fall Break? It just seems cruel. Because that's what I love doing during my holiday...studying. At least give us a day...Wednesday, why can't we just have the test a class later? I'll study on Monday and Tuesday. Some people like to ruin everybody else's lives! That's the conclusion that I have come to.

And what the heck? It looks warm outside...but it's NOT! I go to bask in the sun and then an icy wind blasts me in the face. Good thing for warm jackets. I think I just feel like complaining today because I didn't go to bed early and now I don't feel very good. Haha. My own fault...that's what I get for getting distracted by like everything.

*Good Song: "Olive You" by Dave Days.

RUGBY!!

I have recently come to discover the sport of rugby...well when I was in Australia I heard about it all the time. Then in the last couple of months I heard talk of the Rugby World Cup and started watching it. Next I discovered that my university has a rugby team! So basically I have discovered that rugby is probably the best sport known to man. The scrums, the hard out tackling, the kicks, the tries..LOVE it! How did I ever live without this sport before? I get distracted by it when I'm at the library trying so hard to concentrate on my Spanish homework, distracted by it when I'm at home doing whatever it is I'm doing, and just distracted....I really love it. And New Zealand and Australia are playing each other tomorrow and I am excited! I love discovering new things that are AWESOME!

So some days I find myself not really knowing what to do with myself...like today. It is a Saturday night and yep, I'm writing on my blog because I can't seem to find anything else cool to do. Sad, I know, but what can ya do?

Rain and Fall Weather

It's been raining the last couple of days and it's been beautiful. As much as I don't like walking around with wet cold feet, I really loved the brisk breeze and the dark hovering clouds that threatened so menacingly. There's a deep beauty to a sky clouded black. I love the smell of rain! I felt like a cup of hot chocolate would have made my enjoyment just perfect. I'm sure that will be coming along soon with the winter weather just around the turn. I really love the fall. Especially when the leaves all start changing colors. I love to step on the crunchy leaves...it's just satisfying in some weird way. It will be good to see snow again. I'm not sure how well I'll handle it since I haven't seen snow in 2 years, but I'm sure I'll be fine. I can't wait to make a snowman!

School!!

So it's been awhile since I've written on here, but who really reads these things anyway?? School is going okay...I'm only taking 14 credits, but I'm SO busy!! I love my job...I work with kids at an elementary school. It's just the best. I'm so glad that it's General Conference this week!! (Every 6 months the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has a general conference where we all tune in and listen to the words of the living prophets!!) Amazing!! We get to listen to living prophets!!

It's amazing how scattered my thoughts are. I went to Lagoon today with my family. I haven't been there in years!! The rides all seem much smaller and shorter than they did before...but I'm sure that's just because I've grown up a bit since the last time I went. I love my family...how blessed I am to be able to have such a wonderful family. We had a really good time.

As for dating stories...I don't really have any. I'm not sure that I quite know what to do about boys/men. Dating seems to be such a joke sometimes...so many games that people play. It makes me tired. I'm tired of waiting around for some guy to decide that I'm worth his time ya know? And who has time for it anyway? So I have decided not to dwell on it too much...I am going to just live my life!! And make heaps of friends!

I'm still confused about what I want to do with my life. I think I've decided that I really don't want to teach...but now I'm trying to think of what else I could do with a history degree. History truly is my passion; I don't mind if that makes me a nerd. I just love it!! I love the stories and the people and just everything about it!! Now I just need to decide what I want to do with that passion...I think I want to go study abroad, but I'm just looking at all my options right now. It's hard being at this age and trying to decide what to do. So many decisions to make!! I'll figure it out one of these days...

*Good movie: The Conspirator (I just watched it tonight...and it's a historical movie!! Super good!!)
*Good song: Nothing by The Script

Back to University!!

I am now back to Cache Valley for school to start next week. It feels weird being back here after being away for so long. I'm a little nervous for school to start, but really excited. It's going to be super great to be getting back to a busy schedule. I've been trying to figure out what to do with myself the last few days. And it is hot!! I think I'm excited for the fall to be here...cooler weather but not too cold yet. Love it!! I really love my roommates and I've been able to visit with a few old friends. I even got a job!! So I think I'm all set up for the semester...well except for my Spanish 2020 class...taking a 2 year break from Spanish is not the best, but it was for the best reason -serving my mission. So now I just need to really buckle down this year and study hard!! And find a Spanish tutor!! Good thing there are a lot of returned missionaries who speak Spanish hangin around!!

I Love the Outdoors!!

So these last couple of days I've been reminded of how much I love the outdoors. I went to Bryce Canyon National Park yesterday. Today I went to the Grand Canyon!! It's just incredible to see the creations of our Heavenly Father. I feel so small and insignificant when looking down into a massive canyon. This world truly is a beautiful place and I'm just so grateful to be alive...to be able to enjoy such beautiful creation!!

Dance Parties!!

One of the simple things I love in life is music and random dance parties with my friends or family at home. Like today I was listening to Justin Beiber and my grandma came over. And my grandma and I were totally having a dance party. It was pretty much the best. I love my grandma!! And I love my family...random, but great!!

Small Things

I've really been loving life lately. It's been a bit weird being home after being in Australia for 18 months. But I've had some really good times since being home. Like last night I went to zumba!! And it was so fun even though I'm sure I looked quite ridiculous. I also went to a rodeo a few days ago in Salt Lake and I realized again how grateful I am for growing up in a small town. I love it!! I love being around animals and the outdoors and everything that comes with it!! (except maybe mosquitos at night...haha) I just feel like the Lord has really blessed me in so many ways. I know He won't let me down in the coming months as I head back to university. He's never let me down before and I know He won't now. I love my life!!

Home Again.

Well, I'm finally home and loving spending time with the family. I'll be staying in my small town for a couple of months before heading off to university. It's a bit of a culture shock being home and away from Australia. But I can honestly say that my mission to Australia was one of the best decisions I ever made. I've become so much closer to my Savior Jesus Christ and gained a greater appreciation for the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I truly feel blessed to have had the opportunity to teach people about Jesus Christ.