Kevin's Better Half

I've been writing birthday posts to my nearest and dearest all year long, and now its time for another one that may be last, but is certainly not the least.

I have been blessed with really great sisters-in-law. Both amazing girls who I get along well with and enjoy talking to and spending time with. Several years ago my brother Kevin was lucky enough to marry Carli, and she has been the perfect addition to our family. While it may have taken her a little while to learn not to laugh at dad's corny jokes, she fits in so well now that its hard to remember what things were like around here without her. She has brought much joy into the family as she has been an amazing wife to Kev and has given us two more adorable little girls to go crazy over. Spending time with her family who live nearby has provided us with much entertainment and many fun holiday gatherings over the years. And now that Carli and Kevin have bought a home in the Seattle area, life has gotten even better since we get to see them more often and spoil those little girlies more easily :) Carli is a beautiful, kind, funny, loving woman who I am lucky to claim as my sister.

Happy birthday Carli! I love you!

The Real Reason

Mamma says she's got the day-after-Christmas-blues. We all know that feeling.

Thankfully, the true meaning of Christmas can be recognized any time of the year. While twinkling lights and candy canes, colorful bows and shiny tinsel, Hallmark movie marathons and Santa at the mall all add the magical feelings of the season, they are not the real reason for our celebration.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called 

Wonderful,

Cousellor,

The mighty God,

The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

CHRISTmas. It is about our savior Jesus Christ. It is about his birth and his life and his death and resurrection. It is about everything that he has done and continues to do for us. Christmas is the time of year we have chosen to emphasize these things, but our worship of him need not be postponed until the tree goes up the day after Thanksgiving next November. We should celebrate him always.

There is no doubt, this holiday season carries with it a feeling of magic. But we can carry the special spirit of Christmas in our hearts every day if we choose to invite Christ permanently into our lives.

 And that, my friends, is a reason to kick the blues and be happy.

{...Or maybe just be cheesin' for the camera}

To Josh and Kristin

Once upon a time, I met Kristin Queen. While we didn't exactly click at our very first hello (she thought I hated her for some reason... I didn't!), living together for a school year allowed us to develop an awesome friendship. Through spilled jelly, shared frustration over crumbs on the counter, long talks in the living room, runs around Provo, and all the other fun stuff that comes along with being roommates, I got the chance to discover what an amazing woman Kristin is. She is thoughtful, kind, compassionate, caring, selfless, and extremely funny. Being her friend has made my life better.

Once upon a time, I met Joshua Garvin. It only took about two seconds for me to click with this kid. I had the chance to spend a lot of time around Josh when he first moved in, and it didn't take long at all for us to form an awesome friendship. I quickly learned that there is never a dull moment in his presence. His energy is boundless. His enthusiasm for life is contagious. His desire to serve others is inspiring. In the year that I have known Josh, he has earned a spot as one of my favorite people in the world. 

Once upon a time, Josh met Kristin. And if you ask me, it didn't take long for Josh to fall hard for her. I mean come on, you can't blame the guy. However, circumstances at the time prevented them from being any more than friends. And the best of friends they became. Having connections on each side of their relationship was an interesting position for me to be in. I knew what each was thinking and feeling about the other, and at times it was a struggle to keep track of everything that was happening. More times than I can count Josh called me up and we would head out to run a few miles so he could unload his thoughts and questions on what to do and how to make it so that something more could happen between him and Kristin. Me being the relationship expert that I am (insert heavy sarcasm here), I assured Josh that he was an incredible guy, and that if he just held on a while longer then maybe something would change. If it was meant to happen, it would. He didn't need much more than that from me to take matters into his own hands and start his future with Kristin.

Today, two of my best friends are getting married. To each other. Two of the greatest people that I know are being sealed together for eternity, and I have no doubt that they are going to be happy from now until forever. 

Josh and Kristin, I love you both! Congratulations!

Being Home Means I Get To...

Being home is fantastic.

I get to find pictures like this on my phone:

I get to go to bridal showers with a bunch of my girlie friends from high school:

I get to kiss these little faces:

I get to go running with Jules on the Burke-Gilman Trail again. And also its in the pouring rain every morning. Seattle is doing a stand-up job at giving me a traditional welcome home :)

I get to spend a LOT of time parked right here in this cozy spot:

I get to have pizza and game night with my extended family. 

I get to watch Boy Meets World.

I get to blast music on my stereo and belt out some Lady A at the top of my lungs without worrying about who else can hear me {Okay so maybe I still sometimes do this in my apartment complex... and maybe I have a mortifying video that my roommates caught of me... but thats for another day. MAYBE.}.

I get to take a break from school stress and enjoy the holiday season in a place that I love with people I love.

I repeat, being home is fantastic.

Its That Super Busy Day of the Year

If you've been a dedicated follower of my blog for a while, you might remember that today, December 18th, is the day of Birthiversaries. If not, you can go back and read it here, if you so desire.

So of course, without further ado:

Happy 32nd anniversary to my wonderful parents.

Happy {third} 29th birthday to my best friend in the world.

Happy 21st birthday to my awesome cousin who I can't wait to be reunited with in a few short months.

And finally, happy birthday or anniversary to the tons of others who were either born or wed on this day. I'm telling you, its a seriously popular day.

The Day-After Letdown

You know that feeling you get the day after Christmas? That weird, melancholy, confusing, I-don't-know-what-to-do-with-myself feeling? Because suddenly all the gifts are unwrapped, the Coats and the Carpenters and the Chipmunks have stopped playing on the radio, its time for the tree to come down, and that magical Christmasy feeling is just *poof* gone. I woke up sort of feeling that feeling this morning. Why? Because Christmas happened last night!! Well, at least our super awesome roommate Christmas did. A few weeks back we decided that before we all packed up and headed home to spend the holidays with our families, we would have our own super special celebration. So thats exactly what we did. To get in the spirit, we threw on our footsie pajamas, BLASTED Baby It's Cold Outside, and then hunkered down in the living room with blankets and pillows and presents. As we ate candy canes, sang along to carols, and tore into the silly and wonderful gifts we purchased for one another, it truly felt like Christmas to us. I was surrounded by people I loved. I was filled with excitement and happiness. We talked and laughed and took pictures and laughed some more. I don't think I have ever been so elated about chip clips as I was the moment I opened my gift from Hallie. And the fat kid watermelon picture from Rachel. And the heavenly scented candles that i'll be drooling over for months from Christie. Once the gift giving was completed, we cozied down with ice cream and hot chocolate (ever had them together? try it) and then fell asleep watching Christmas movies. It was wonderful. It was happy. It was fun. It was marvelous. It was magical! 

Getting into that Christmas mood!

 Best thrift find ever by Rachel. That girl is impressive at finding the funniest/most random stuff.

 Soooo glad she liked the Spongebob soap I got her haha.

 Check it. Is that not THE funniest picture you have ever seen. It is now being displayed at a prominent point in our living room, because I cannot not laugh every time I see it.

 We even made the typical Christmas morning mess :)

And then played in it!

FAVORITE.

So sad we won't be together next semester. We are losing Rachel to a mission and Hallie to her man. I love you all!

Merry Christmas, from our awkward family to yours!

I may have felt for a short while today that I had transitioned to the post-Christmas mourning period, but then I remembered: real Christmas still hasn't happened yet! I have one more final to take tomorrow, and then early Saturday morning I get to board a plane to go home for 3 weeks and spend some serious quality time with my family. I cannot wait to walk into my house and smell (and then, of course, taste) my mamma's delicious cooking. And smell the real tree. And cuddle with my puppy by the fire. And hold my sweet new niece for the first time. And reunite with my friends and siblings I haven't seen in months. And sleep in my big cozy bed. Ohhh baby, it's going to be good. 

Where Everything's Made Up And The Points Don't Matter

As you can probably tell by my recent lack of regular posting, I haven't been feeling too motivated to blog lately. However, in honor of finals week, I feel obligated to join in with the rest of my college cohorts and contribute at least at least a little somethin' somethin' to whine about how much finals stink. Enjoy.

And for your viewing pleasure, see previous stressed out finals week posts below.

• StuDYING
• Surviving or Dying?

Almost There

0 more classes.

9 more breakfasts.

2 more loads of laundry.

3 more plasma donations.

6 more runs.

18 more times brushing my teeth.

1 more day at church.

2 more suitcases to pack.

6 more satsumas to eat.

1 more pretend Christmas Eve with my roommates.

5 more finals.

And then i'm going home.

2 More Days Until 25 More Days

So, good news: I saw a dog today (if you are a sad sad person and don't understand this reference, see HERE and go to the 50 second mark). 

No but seriously, good news guys: Thanksgiving is over and its OFFICIALLY time to start celebrating Christmas. Yes, in our apartment have been semi-secretly celebrating for over a month now... but now that the Turkey is gone and the radio has started playing Christmas music, it is socially acceptable to break out the Carpenters Christmas album and everyone can start spreading happy holiday cheer without being bullied for starting too early. 

This is, without doubt, my favorite time of the year. There is an almost tangible magic in the air. So everyone, I hope you are contributing to the special season by praying for snow, counting the houses with pretty lights, preparing for ABC Family's countdown to Christmas, starting in on your goodie making, decorating your homes, singing carols, looking forward to Santa's visit, and putting up your trees. No Grinchyness is acceptable in a time like this! Loosen those socks, enlarge your hearts, and making it the most wonderful time of the year!

Hmm, speaking of trees, I think its high time we get some new lights for ours...

Maybe Santa will bring some early!! :)

Thanksgiving in Texas

Last year and the year before, I spent the Thanksgiving holiday away from my family for the first time ever. Thankfully, I was still had wonderful friends around me to take me in and make it pretty special. However, the chance to spend a week with my family over the holiday this year was FANTASTIC. 

We played outside.

We made hard tack candy.

We did trust falls.

We went to school and bought a scantron from a VENDING MACHINE. Say what?

We spent a day at the park.

We grilled out in the summery weather in the backyard.

 

We made adorable candy turkeys.

We ran a super fun 8 miles in Dallas on Thanksgiving morning.

We ate a DELECTABLE Turkey Day feast.

We went to "cut down" a Christmas tree.

 Welcoooome to Texas...

 

 

This is why they pretend to cut down a tree and then buy one of the ones that are shipped in from the northwest :)

Found one! And yes, it is INSIDE the car.

We went to downtown McKinney to watch the tree lighting ceremony.

 

This is how Texas rolls. Making artificial snow for sledding in the streets downtown.

 

We fell asleep and looked drop dead adorable in the living room. And then let Aunt Nettie carry you to bed.

  

We played with beautiful long blond hair.

We played a lot of hilarious catch phrase.

 And then we got on a plane and headed back to Provo and wondered when we'll see Texas next. 

All I know is that its not soon enough :(