Well I am getting better. I am so bored of being in my apartment. I'm totally well enough that I could be around people, but most of my friends live a little too far for me to walk still. I walked to the Creamery last night. That was a terrible experience. I think I will have to wait one more week before I make an hour-long walking trip to my friends. If only the roads and sidewalks weren't covered in ice, I might be able to use my bicycle, but I fear that might be dangerous.
Speaking of ice, we had a ton of that on Thursday. If you are a fellow BYU student reading this, you will know exactly what I mean, but to my family from the desert, let me try to explain to you the anomaly that was freezing rain. It was below freezing...yet it was raining. I am quite used to having it snow and then melt as soon as it touches the ground, but this was the opposite. It was raining, and as soon as it touched the ground, it froze. Every sidewalk was covered in a layer of ice. BYU was a giant ice skating rink. We had no friction. And in case you didn't already know, I have to walk 30 minutes to get to school. But Thursday it took me an hour and a half to get to class (I was SO late). I was slipping and sliding all over the place. I fell three times, and the third time was the worst. Utah just loves to have these underground parking lots underneath apartment buildings with SUPER steep driveways. Well I slipped at the top of once of those, landed pretty painfully on my hip, my hat and umbrella went flying (for the third time), and I founding myself sliding down the driveway. I flipped over to my hands and knees and dug my fingers into the ground, trying to find something to hold on to, but there was nothing and there was no friction. I slid, crying from landing on my hip, all the way to the bottom. And then I was stuck down there. Because the ice was so slippery, I couldn't get back up the driveway! I hugged the wall trying to pull myself up the driveway as my feet continued to slide everywhere. A man came and helped me out of there, retrieved my umbrella and hat, and saw me safely to the street where there was less ice. Looking back, I now find it hilarious, but at the time I was in pain and I was still very sick from the flu. I had a paper due that day, and so I knew I had to go to school, but I still did not feel well enough to leave my apartment. Luckily, a woman gave me a ride to campus after that third fall.
I'm doing better now, but I am recovering very slowly. My body has started this sort of coughing that sounds like I am wheezing and honestly it sounds like I am barely coughing at all, but in truth I am coughing as hard as I possibly can. But there simply isn't enough force behind the cough to get the fluid out of my lungs. And yet, my body continues to try. So I cough...and I cough...and I don't stop coughing...and I don't get any relief...ALL NIGHT LONG!
But really I am doing better, I'm just complaining because I am tired of being sick. I want to be well already!
I made a most interesting connection the other day. So I haven't had much of an appetite all week. For a while I couldn't taste anything, and even now I still really don't have an appetite. And so I ate very very little for quite a few days in a row. Originally, the only thing that sounded good was bread. I craved a sandwich. And then I started craving fruit. And then I really started wanting cookies. Cookies, brownies, ice cream...any sort of sugar would do...but I didn't have any. And I figured it's unhealthy anyways. So I continued to starve myself. Then I saw something online that reminded me that when you starve yourself, your metabolism slows and your body really needs energy in the form of carbs. That's when I stopped and went "wait a second. Bread? Fruit? Cookies? I've been craving carbs all week. Oh. I think it's about time I ate something." So yep that was my brilliant discovery. Sometimes I amaze myself...mostly that I could be so stupid.
And that was my week. The take home message is don't starve yourself, and watch out for frozen sidewalks.
The end.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
Back to School Again, Except for Today
Since I have been in bed all day, I guess now is the perfect time to update the blog. This semester looks like it will be better than last semester. I am taking Mission Prep, New Testament, Strengthening Marriage and Family, Statistics, Ballroom Dance, Intro to SFL, and Human Development. My Human Development class has really got me thinking. I want to work with children, and I'm starting to wonder if maybe Human Development is a little closer to what I am interested in than Family Studies. It would still be the same major (Family Life), just a different emphasis. Obviously I just started the course, so I don't want to jump to any conclusions yet, but it's got me wondering.
I'm definitely staying within the Family Life major though. I feel very confident about that. Last Friday I had my first class for Intro to SFL (School of Family Life) and I felt so strongly that I had chosen the right major. The speaker told us that if you ask anyone, "in sixty years, looking back at your life, what would you consider a successful life?" the majority of people will first think of their family and close relationships. In the church we are taught that the family is essential to God's plan and (besides Christ himself) is the most important thing in the church. The speaker than told us "So congratulations on choosing to study the most important thing in the world." That's when it really hit me. After all this time of considering pretty much every major out there, I felt the Spirit tell me "you have chosen well."
Last week was very fun. My FHE brother Mark came up to visit us one day. It was so great to see him. Our FHE brother Kenny sent us a picture of his first baptism with the captioning "The definition of SWAG." And our FHE brother Drew sent us a Christmas card, which is his first form of contact with us since he left a year ago. On Friday, I got to spend time and sleep over at my Spring Term roommates' apartment. We watched like 4 hours of "Say Yes to the Dress" and also watched Peter Pan. It was awesome.
My mission call has been temporarily postponed, but I'm hoping I'll get it in two weeks. I should have gotten it this week, so that's disappointing, but now that I am sick, I guess a trip down to Vegas this weekend to open the call wouldn't have been the most fun thing. I've been lying in bed most of the day. Yesterday I started to feel like I might be getting sick, but my symptoms weren't very clear. I felt chilled all day, and my body felt sore all over, and I just felt kind of icky, but other than that, there didn't seem to be anything really wrong with me. Then that evening I started to get a headache and a fever. The headache was mild though, and the fever didn't last too long, so I figured whatever I had, I would be better soon. And then I went to bed.
Last night was one of the worsts night I have ever had. I woke up every hour, sometimes multiple times an hour, because my body temperature kept fluctuating. Even though I had my electric blanket on, I woke up the first time curled in a ball shivering very hard, unable to sleep because I was so dang cold. I turned my electric blanket on to the highest level, put on my house coat, and fell back asleep, still shivering. An hour later, I woke up covered in sweat. My body temperature had dropped. So I turned down my electric blanket, took off my house coat, fell back asleep, only to wake up an hour later freezing again. This lasted all night long. By morning, I had an intense headache and my legs and back really hurt. I've been taking Motrin so for the majority of the day I haven't felt too bad, it's just when the medicine wears off that my fever comes back.
Even with being sick however, I still experience little blessings in my life. Yesterday I was running late for school, when someone offered to give me a ride to campus. Such a blessing! And my Relief Society President brought me a very delicious brownie when she found out I was sick. And I am ever so glad that my sister Kimberly gave me a Massaging Body Roll for Christmas because that helped the muscles in my legs to not be so tight.
Well, I've run out of things to say, so I'll end here and wish you all that you don't get sick.
I'm definitely staying within the Family Life major though. I feel very confident about that. Last Friday I had my first class for Intro to SFL (School of Family Life) and I felt so strongly that I had chosen the right major. The speaker told us that if you ask anyone, "in sixty years, looking back at your life, what would you consider a successful life?" the majority of people will first think of their family and close relationships. In the church we are taught that the family is essential to God's plan and (besides Christ himself) is the most important thing in the church. The speaker than told us "So congratulations on choosing to study the most important thing in the world." That's when it really hit me. After all this time of considering pretty much every major out there, I felt the Spirit tell me "you have chosen well."
Last week was very fun. My FHE brother Mark came up to visit us one day. It was so great to see him. Our FHE brother Kenny sent us a picture of his first baptism with the captioning "The definition of SWAG." And our FHE brother Drew sent us a Christmas card, which is his first form of contact with us since he left a year ago. On Friday, I got to spend time and sleep over at my Spring Term roommates' apartment. We watched like 4 hours of "Say Yes to the Dress" and also watched Peter Pan. It was awesome.
My mission call has been temporarily postponed, but I'm hoping I'll get it in two weeks. I should have gotten it this week, so that's disappointing, but now that I am sick, I guess a trip down to Vegas this weekend to open the call wouldn't have been the most fun thing. I've been lying in bed most of the day. Yesterday I started to feel like I might be getting sick, but my symptoms weren't very clear. I felt chilled all day, and my body felt sore all over, and I just felt kind of icky, but other than that, there didn't seem to be anything really wrong with me. Then that evening I started to get a headache and a fever. The headache was mild though, and the fever didn't last too long, so I figured whatever I had, I would be better soon. And then I went to bed.
Last night was one of the worsts night I have ever had. I woke up every hour, sometimes multiple times an hour, because my body temperature kept fluctuating. Even though I had my electric blanket on, I woke up the first time curled in a ball shivering very hard, unable to sleep because I was so dang cold. I turned my electric blanket on to the highest level, put on my house coat, and fell back asleep, still shivering. An hour later, I woke up covered in sweat. My body temperature had dropped. So I turned down my electric blanket, took off my house coat, fell back asleep, only to wake up an hour later freezing again. This lasted all night long. By morning, I had an intense headache and my legs and back really hurt. I've been taking Motrin so for the majority of the day I haven't felt too bad, it's just when the medicine wears off that my fever comes back.
Even with being sick however, I still experience little blessings in my life. Yesterday I was running late for school, when someone offered to give me a ride to campus. Such a blessing! And my Relief Society President brought me a very delicious brownie when she found out I was sick. And I am ever so glad that my sister Kimberly gave me a Massaging Body Roll for Christmas because that helped the muscles in my legs to not be so tight.
Well, I've run out of things to say, so I'll end here and wish you all that you don't get sick.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Happy New Years!
My vacation is pretty much over. I leave for Provo tomorrow morning. I really hope this next semester is better than last semester. These last three weeks have been lovely, exciting, fun, and full of love. The first week of break I worked on my mission papers. That was a whole lot of needles. You know how this summer I discovered that I have a fear of needles when I went to have my wisdom teeth pulled? Well that fear resurfaced again, and I almost fainted while getting my tuberculosis skin test. I say almost because I could still hear, I was still conscious, but I blacked out and I went limp, so I pretty much fainted. After that I was terrified of the following shots and blood tests I had to go through that week. But luckily, I was able to get through them with no more fainting spells.
The next week was of course Christmas. My sisters and their families came over for Christmas Eve, and then we went to my sister's house for Christmas. Then two days later we left for Florida. We spent the first day in Epcot, which we all enjoyed a lot. It was fun to say "We're off to Mexico! And then we'll go to China. It's right next door!" The next day we went to Universal Studios, where we spent the majority of the day in Harry Potter World. It was truly amazing. Extremely packed, but magical nonetheless. I took pictures of pretty much every inch of that place. I drank butterbeer and bought myself a wand. The rest of the day, I proceeded to cast numerous spells on my family and the people around me.
Sunday was hilarious. The plan was to drive to my sister's hotel, pick her and her husband up and go to a church that was near them. Unfortunately, we got lost. Pretty badly. By the time we got to the church...church was over. The only thing going on was the Spanish branch's Sunday School. Well at least we tried.
New Years Eve was in the Magic Kingdom. The majority of the day was happy and magical with the whole family smiling and laughing. But having woken up at 6 in the morning (which would be 3:00 Vegas Time), by 11:00 pm we were exhausted and getting cranky. But it was exciting to count down in Magic Kingdom and watch the amazing firework show. It was the most exciting New Years Eve any of us has ever had. We spent New Years in the Animal Kingdom, and the following day in Hollywood Studios. Finally yesterday, before we flew home, we went to Gatorland, which was really cool. The gators were huge and ugly and I got to feed and play tug-of-war with a giant tortoise as it tried to eat the stick in my hand.
And well, I'm in Vegas again, watching Aladdin. It was a great week, and starting tomorrow, it's back to reality. : ( Well at least I got three wonderful weeks of much needed vacation. Happy New Years Everyone!
The next week was of course Christmas. My sisters and their families came over for Christmas Eve, and then we went to my sister's house for Christmas. Then two days later we left for Florida. We spent the first day in Epcot, which we all enjoyed a lot. It was fun to say "We're off to Mexico! And then we'll go to China. It's right next door!" The next day we went to Universal Studios, where we spent the majority of the day in Harry Potter World. It was truly amazing. Extremely packed, but magical nonetheless. I took pictures of pretty much every inch of that place. I drank butterbeer and bought myself a wand. The rest of the day, I proceeded to cast numerous spells on my family and the people around me.
Sunday was hilarious. The plan was to drive to my sister's hotel, pick her and her husband up and go to a church that was near them. Unfortunately, we got lost. Pretty badly. By the time we got to the church...church was over. The only thing going on was the Spanish branch's Sunday School. Well at least we tried.
New Years Eve was in the Magic Kingdom. The majority of the day was happy and magical with the whole family smiling and laughing. But having woken up at 6 in the morning (which would be 3:00 Vegas Time), by 11:00 pm we were exhausted and getting cranky. But it was exciting to count down in Magic Kingdom and watch the amazing firework show. It was the most exciting New Years Eve any of us has ever had. We spent New Years in the Animal Kingdom, and the following day in Hollywood Studios. Finally yesterday, before we flew home, we went to Gatorland, which was really cool. The gators were huge and ugly and I got to feed and play tug-of-war with a giant tortoise as it tried to eat the stick in my hand.
And well, I'm in Vegas again, watching Aladdin. It was a great week, and starting tomorrow, it's back to reality. : ( Well at least I got three wonderful weeks of much needed vacation. Happy New Years Everyone!
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Finals Week, Soup, and Christmas Programs
So our heater is not working...This isn't the first time either. But it was working this morning. But now it only turns on for like 3 minutes and then turns off and during the time it is on it only spews out cold air. So we are basically freezing. My roommate's currently jumping and spinning around the room to stay warm. On another note, church was lovely today. We had the Christmas program, which I sang a solo in. The Christmas stories were beautiful and touching, and the choir did very well (at least I thought).
Just a suggestion though to, well, everyone. When you are sitting in the audience, try to at least look complacent while someone is giving a talk or singing. Because some people look grumpy or depressed when they relax their face muscles. I used to notice that my old bishop in my home ward looked angry when he would sit up on the stand. He wasn't angry, of course, but that was just what his expression looked like when he didn't put any expression on it. So just a suggestion, smile at speakers, or at least try to look a bit more bright eyed and complacent when someone is speaking/singing. Helps them out.
It's finals this week, which means I won't be getting on facebook again until they are all over. I do this every time I take finals. I'm kind of really superly stressing about this (meaning finals). But I made a promise with Heavenly Father that I wouldn't study today if he would help me pass my finals. It's seriously taking a lot of will power not to break out my notes and start making flashcards. My instincts are telling me that it just makes sense to utilize this time with studying. But recently I read a quote by some apostle that promised that if you keep the Sabbath day holy and leave your studying for the rest of the week, you will do better on your tests. So as much as my heart is hyperventilating over this, I am going to have faith that the Lord will bless me if I wait until tomorrow to study. So I guess I'll let you know how that goes.
Well last Friday I had work and then went to a friend's house to study. After a while of studying, we went to the store and everyone bought food to get them through finals week. Except me, because I forgot my wallet. But I have discovered something about myself. Grocery shopping stresses me out. Or really any sort of shopping just for myself. Part of the reason I have not gone grocery shopping this semester is because it seriously stresses me out so much. When I am at the store, all I can think about is "I can't afford this. I am so poor. Is it worth it? I have food at home. This is only going to make me fat." I will literally pick something off the shelf, stare at it in my hand for a minute, and then put it back on the shelf. BUT yesterday, I found something that I didn't mind at all buying in abundance. Okay so it stressed me out a little bit. But I bought a bunch of cans of soup to get me through finals. Some people prefer ice cream. Some people prefer food for munching, like cookies or chips. But what gets me through finals however is soup. That's what I ate last year during finals, and that's what I'm going to do again this year. Why is this significant? Because I have finally found my comfort food! Because honestly, when I am stressed, eating sugar usually makes it so much worse, because all I can think about is how unhealthy I am being and then it doesn't comfort me at all. But I don't feel guilty about eating soup!
Anyways, sorry for boring you all with that bit of news. What I really want to write about was the beautiful Christmas program I went to tonight. It was for my friends' stake. Two of my friends were singing in the choir, so we (myself and two friends) came to support them. It was so beautiful! I felt the spirit so strongly, and I want to tell you why. Haha I sound like a salesman. But every time the choir sang, this girl who was deaf got up and signed the words. My eyes were fixed on her. And not just because her hands were moving. Think about it. Imagine not being able to hear. This time of year is such a beautiful time of year, with songs everywhere, rejoicing in Christ and his birth, in family and love, in this gospel. Music touches us in ways nothing else can. It expresses our deepest feelings. I do not think I could every truly comprehend how it would be to live in a world of silence, but as I watched this girl sign the words to these Christmas songs, I imagined what it would be like to stand up on that stage, with a choir singing behind me, but not being able to hear them. To be full of emotion and love of the gospel, and want to show it to all. To pour my heart out into my hands. To sing with my arms. As I watched this girl signing, the spirit touched me so strongly. Her silent song was the most beautiful sounding song I had ever heard.
Our heater's working again! Hopefully it stays working during the night. Well, wish my luck on my finals. The semester is almost over. My sister and I have been counting down the days until it ends, as it has been an extremely stressful semester for the both of us. I am very impressed with the work load my sister has. She has a job, is part of a choir, has a church calling, has three little boys, is pregnant, and is trying to finish school. Crazy! I am so excited to go home and see my nephews and watch Christmas movies and eat real meals and hug my mom. It's going to be a good Christmas.
Well, I am going to bed early tonight. Merry Christmas everyone!
Just a suggestion though to, well, everyone. When you are sitting in the audience, try to at least look complacent while someone is giving a talk or singing. Because some people look grumpy or depressed when they relax their face muscles. I used to notice that my old bishop in my home ward looked angry when he would sit up on the stand. He wasn't angry, of course, but that was just what his expression looked like when he didn't put any expression on it. So just a suggestion, smile at speakers, or at least try to look a bit more bright eyed and complacent when someone is speaking/singing. Helps them out.
It's finals this week, which means I won't be getting on facebook again until they are all over. I do this every time I take finals. I'm kind of really superly stressing about this (meaning finals). But I made a promise with Heavenly Father that I wouldn't study today if he would help me pass my finals. It's seriously taking a lot of will power not to break out my notes and start making flashcards. My instincts are telling me that it just makes sense to utilize this time with studying. But recently I read a quote by some apostle that promised that if you keep the Sabbath day holy and leave your studying for the rest of the week, you will do better on your tests. So as much as my heart is hyperventilating over this, I am going to have faith that the Lord will bless me if I wait until tomorrow to study. So I guess I'll let you know how that goes.
Well last Friday I had work and then went to a friend's house to study. After a while of studying, we went to the store and everyone bought food to get them through finals week. Except me, because I forgot my wallet. But I have discovered something about myself. Grocery shopping stresses me out. Or really any sort of shopping just for myself. Part of the reason I have not gone grocery shopping this semester is because it seriously stresses me out so much. When I am at the store, all I can think about is "I can't afford this. I am so poor. Is it worth it? I have food at home. This is only going to make me fat." I will literally pick something off the shelf, stare at it in my hand for a minute, and then put it back on the shelf. BUT yesterday, I found something that I didn't mind at all buying in abundance. Okay so it stressed me out a little bit. But I bought a bunch of cans of soup to get me through finals. Some people prefer ice cream. Some people prefer food for munching, like cookies or chips. But what gets me through finals however is soup. That's what I ate last year during finals, and that's what I'm going to do again this year. Why is this significant? Because I have finally found my comfort food! Because honestly, when I am stressed, eating sugar usually makes it so much worse, because all I can think about is how unhealthy I am being and then it doesn't comfort me at all. But I don't feel guilty about eating soup!
Anyways, sorry for boring you all with that bit of news. What I really want to write about was the beautiful Christmas program I went to tonight. It was for my friends' stake. Two of my friends were singing in the choir, so we (myself and two friends) came to support them. It was so beautiful! I felt the spirit so strongly, and I want to tell you why. Haha I sound like a salesman. But every time the choir sang, this girl who was deaf got up and signed the words. My eyes were fixed on her. And not just because her hands were moving. Think about it. Imagine not being able to hear. This time of year is such a beautiful time of year, with songs everywhere, rejoicing in Christ and his birth, in family and love, in this gospel. Music touches us in ways nothing else can. It expresses our deepest feelings. I do not think I could every truly comprehend how it would be to live in a world of silence, but as I watched this girl sign the words to these Christmas songs, I imagined what it would be like to stand up on that stage, with a choir singing behind me, but not being able to hear them. To be full of emotion and love of the gospel, and want to show it to all. To pour my heart out into my hands. To sing with my arms. As I watched this girl signing, the spirit touched me so strongly. Her silent song was the most beautiful sounding song I had ever heard.
Our heater's working again! Hopefully it stays working during the night. Well, wish my luck on my finals. The semester is almost over. My sister and I have been counting down the days until it ends, as it has been an extremely stressful semester for the both of us. I am very impressed with the work load my sister has. She has a job, is part of a choir, has a church calling, has three little boys, is pregnant, and is trying to finish school. Crazy! I am so excited to go home and see my nephews and watch Christmas movies and eat real meals and hug my mom. It's going to be a good Christmas.
Well, I am going to bed early tonight. Merry Christmas everyone!
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Christmastime is in the air
It's been a good weekend. I guess it's preparing me for a tough next two weeks. With finals approaching I have SO much to do. I can't think too much about it, or I feel like my heart starts hyperventilating. I should have done so much homework this weekend, but I didn't. But this weekend was still magical for me. Friday night, I went to dinner with friends for a girl's night out. It started off with running through the rain on campus to get to the ATM machines. There were Christmas lights on the trees and the lights glistened off the wet ground. Something about running through the rain with friends and with Christmas lights around you is just magical feeling. We then went to dinner and laughed and acted like our crazy selves in between worrying whether or not our waiter hated us. After dinner, we went back to their apartment and laid down in their hallway. How I love my friends!
The next day, we had our pictures taken so that we could make Christmas cards for our friends on missions. That night, I went with my friends Lexi and Becca to a concert outside in the cold. The concert wasn't exactly my type of music. And I wasn't wearing a sweater with sleeves, so I froze. But still it was nice to be with friends, and to meet new people, and to eat cookies afterwards while watching Mulan.
And then today was church which was very good, and I just got back from the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional. It was lovely. The music was beautiful, the talks were touching. And to top this wonderful weekend off, I was able to get a sub for my shift on Tuesday, which I am SO happy about, because that means I get to go to our ward's Christmas dinner and special program in Aspen Grove. I felt so bad because I told the bishop I was going, and they paid for the tickets, and then I got called in to work. But all's well.
So hopefully this will be enough motivation to get me through the next two weeks. Those 5 essays I was going to write last week? Yeah I only finished two. And tomorrow is cleaning checks. Who does that? Make us clean on a Sunday?
Well anyways, as it is now December, I would like to say my words on Christmas. Christmas is magical time of year, but only if you make it so. One thing I have learned over the years is that you can't say "It doesn't feel like Christmas" or it REALLY won't feel like Christmas. You have to just start saying "It feels like Christmas" and pretty soon it will. Because each Christmas is unique, and you can't expect it to be the same as last year's, especially since our memories tend to distort things from how they really were. No matter if it is raining instead of snowing, if it is hot instead of cold, if you are the only one in the apartment who will decorate for Christmas, if you are far from home, if you just haven't had time to watch your favorite Christmas movie, if the gingerbread cookies burnt, you can still make it feel like Christmas!
Here's how:
1. Sing Christmas songs.
2. Read the Christmas story during your scripture study.
3. Serve someone. The more you serve, the more you love. The more you love, the more it feels like Christmas.
4. Make a new friend.
5. Every time you see a Christmas tree, take a second to admire it's beauty.
6. Wish everyone you meet a Merry Christmas.
7. And (again) tell yourself that it feels like Christmas.
Because in the end, it's not the place you are in that makes it feel like Christmastime, it's your own attitude.
With that, Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!
Celeste
The next day, we had our pictures taken so that we could make Christmas cards for our friends on missions. That night, I went with my friends Lexi and Becca to a concert outside in the cold. The concert wasn't exactly my type of music. And I wasn't wearing a sweater with sleeves, so I froze. But still it was nice to be with friends, and to meet new people, and to eat cookies afterwards while watching Mulan.
And then today was church which was very good, and I just got back from the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional. It was lovely. The music was beautiful, the talks were touching. And to top this wonderful weekend off, I was able to get a sub for my shift on Tuesday, which I am SO happy about, because that means I get to go to our ward's Christmas dinner and special program in Aspen Grove. I felt so bad because I told the bishop I was going, and they paid for the tickets, and then I got called in to work. But all's well.
So hopefully this will be enough motivation to get me through the next two weeks. Those 5 essays I was going to write last week? Yeah I only finished two. And tomorrow is cleaning checks. Who does that? Make us clean on a Sunday?
Well anyways, as it is now December, I would like to say my words on Christmas. Christmas is magical time of year, but only if you make it so. One thing I have learned over the years is that you can't say "It doesn't feel like Christmas" or it REALLY won't feel like Christmas. You have to just start saying "It feels like Christmas" and pretty soon it will. Because each Christmas is unique, and you can't expect it to be the same as last year's, especially since our memories tend to distort things from how they really were. No matter if it is raining instead of snowing, if it is hot instead of cold, if you are the only one in the apartment who will decorate for Christmas, if you are far from home, if you just haven't had time to watch your favorite Christmas movie, if the gingerbread cookies burnt, you can still make it feel like Christmas!
Here's how:
1. Sing Christmas songs.
2. Read the Christmas story during your scripture study.
3. Serve someone. The more you serve, the more you love. The more you love, the more it feels like Christmas.
4. Make a new friend.
5. Every time you see a Christmas tree, take a second to admire it's beauty.
6. Wish everyone you meet a Merry Christmas.
7. And (again) tell yourself that it feels like Christmas.
Because in the end, it's not the place you are in that makes it feel like Christmastime, it's your own attitude.
With that, Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!
Celeste
Sunday, November 18, 2012
It's almost Thanksgiving
It's been a good week. It started off with last Saturday. I competed Samba in DanceSport. We didn't get very far, but we had fun and I thought we danced our best. My sister had come in to town, and so after DanceSport I spent some time with her. Then I had work which was my last football game of the season and last time working in the President's Loge. It was a lot of fun. Our Events Coordinator is so nice. She got us all gift baskets. Sunday I had dinner with my sister and her husband at my cousin's house. It was nice to spend some time with family. On Monday, I had my Waltz test for Dance 380. I had fun with that and think I did very well. And we started learning Tango. I am very excited about Tango. Tuesday I had my Samba test for Dance 185, again I think I did well, and I worked the Basketball game. Basketball games aren't as fun as football, but we got to eat some good cake afterwards. The rest of the week just went by as normal. It wasn't very busy. It was nice to take things at a slow pace.
Friday night I watched Hocus Pocus with friends. Saturday I spent with more friends, eating ice cream, going to a poster sail, going Christmas shopping, watching Nightmare Before Christmas, and decorating for Christmas. It was a ton of fun! But I had wanted to buy Christmas decorations, but kept deciding against it, and in the end, the only thing I bought was a cheap Christmas tablecloth. There was a prettier one, but I thought "Nah, I'll just get this, it's cheaper." Unfortunately, it's too small for my table! I don't know what to do with it now! That's what I get for being cheap. ;)
Well Thanksgiving is almost here! Tuesday I get out of class at noon and then Lexi and I are going home!! I am so so excited to see my family. I have missed them so much this semester.
Well, I have started to write a list of things I am thankful for. These are things I have never really thought of before to be thankful for until this semester. It is inspired by the classes I am taking as well as other experiences I have had this semester.
Friday night I watched Hocus Pocus with friends. Saturday I spent with more friends, eating ice cream, going to a poster sail, going Christmas shopping, watching Nightmare Before Christmas, and decorating for Christmas. It was a ton of fun! But I had wanted to buy Christmas decorations, but kept deciding against it, and in the end, the only thing I bought was a cheap Christmas tablecloth. There was a prettier one, but I thought "Nah, I'll just get this, it's cheaper." Unfortunately, it's too small for my table! I don't know what to do with it now! That's what I get for being cheap. ;)
Well Thanksgiving is almost here! Tuesday I get out of class at noon and then Lexi and I are going home!! I am so so excited to see my family. I have missed them so much this semester.
Well, I have started to write a list of things I am thankful for. These are things I have never really thought of before to be thankful for until this semester. It is inspired by the classes I am taking as well as other experiences I have had this semester.
I am grateful I have all my limbs.
I am grateful that my family has routines and rituals.
I am grateful to not have a vitamin deficiency (well that I
know of).
I am grateful to not have vitamin toxicity.
I am grateful for plant hybridization, otherwise we wouldn't have most fruit
I am grateful for beautiful music like on “How to Train Your
Dragon.”
I am grateful for the trust my parents gave me and also the
boundaries in my family.
I am grateful for ChooseMyPlate.
I am grateful the FDA regulates foods and drugs to keep us safe.
I am grateful that my family tells each other “I love you.”
I am grateful that my family discusses our losses.
I am grateful that my family can evolve.
I am grateful that my parents got college educations and made it a family goal that we all do the same.
I am grateful that my parents, my sisters, and my
grandparents were married/sealed in the temple to set the example for me.
I am grateful for beautiful dances like the cha cha, waltz, tango, rumba, and samba.
I am grateful that my parents have allowed me to grow up to be an adult.
I am grateful to have finally chosen a major.
I am grateful that my family didn't force me to do things with them growing up, but instead made it so that I just always wanted to.
I am grateful for family outings and picnics in the cold.
I am grateful that my mother fed me vegetables.
I am grateful that my family read scriptures together every night and I learned to read through this process.
I am grateful that the age requirement was lowered for women missionaries.
There is so much more that I could write. But these were things that became especially significant to me this semester. Usually when you list the things you are grateful for, you list your family. But this semester, while taking my Family Processes class, I have realized just how much I am grateful to have my family and not any other family.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Happy Sunday!
Today was a good Sunday. I went to the Temple Prep Class for the first time and really enjoyed it. I don't know what it is, but I have just not enjoyed Sunday School very much. I feel like something is missing from it. But whatever that missing thing was, I found it in Temple Prep. It felt very right to be there, very peaceful, and for the first time, I didn't look at the clock even once. I was very surprised when I realized it was already time to go.While sitting in that class, I knew that this was what I was supposed to be doing: preparing to go through the temple and serve a mission.
School has been going a lot better for me. Things have really slowed down since I dropped my Spanish Class. I'm still busy a lot, but I no longer feel like I'm drowning. I took my second midterm for my Living with Plants class and did SO much better. I have my Family Processes midterm tomorrow. No, I'm not ready for that, but I'm also trying to not stress, because I also have my nutrition midterm later this week, and I know I will stress about that later as I always do.
Halloween was fun. I went to the Social Dance Lab and had a blast. Then Lexi and I made mummy dogs and smores and watched "Elf." We were going to watch a Halloween movie, but then decided we were really in the mood for Elf. Tehe :) The weekend before, my family came to visit me. We went on a picnic and saw the movie "Hotel Transylvania" which was adorable. Sunday morning we went to a park and talked and ate snacks and I played in the leaves while my family watched me. It was very hard to say goodbye to them. I missed them so much, and was so excited for them to be there. But I've only got two weeks and then I can go home for Thanksgiving! And this week is bound to go by fast. Two midterms, and I work a basketball game and a football game, and Saturday morning is DanceSport which I am dancing the Samba in. I really enjoy the Samba.
Well the CES Fireside is about to start, so I will say goodbye. Happy Sunday!
School has been going a lot better for me. Things have really slowed down since I dropped my Spanish Class. I'm still busy a lot, but I no longer feel like I'm drowning. I took my second midterm for my Living with Plants class and did SO much better. I have my Family Processes midterm tomorrow. No, I'm not ready for that, but I'm also trying to not stress, because I also have my nutrition midterm later this week, and I know I will stress about that later as I always do.
Halloween was fun. I went to the Social Dance Lab and had a blast. Then Lexi and I made mummy dogs and smores and watched "Elf." We were going to watch a Halloween movie, but then decided we were really in the mood for Elf. Tehe :) The weekend before, my family came to visit me. We went on a picnic and saw the movie "Hotel Transylvania" which was adorable. Sunday morning we went to a park and talked and ate snacks and I played in the leaves while my family watched me. It was very hard to say goodbye to them. I missed them so much, and was so excited for them to be there. But I've only got two weeks and then I can go home for Thanksgiving! And this week is bound to go by fast. Two midterms, and I work a basketball game and a football game, and Saturday morning is DanceSport which I am dancing the Samba in. I really enjoy the Samba.
Well the CES Fireside is about to start, so I will say goodbye. Happy Sunday!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)