Herrrrooww?

Remember when I used to blog here? That was back when I was good at doing things like keeping up with two blogs, taking lots of pictures, doing all my writing, normal work stuff of course, working out, having a social life and all that other good stuff all at once. Apparently my multi-tasking skills have decreased with age. Who knew turning 26 was going to take such a toll on me ;)
I blog tons...like every day at munchercruncher.blogspot.com, so if you're going through withdrawals head on over there. I even do giveaways and such every now and again. I promise if something super cool happens I'll try and be better about blogging here too. This interweb stuff gets overwhelming! SHEESH! ;)

Mary did you know?

There are two Christmas songs that I don't like...
1) Mary did you know. Lindsey and I always laugh when we hear it together because both of us hate it and we hear it ALL the time.
2) The Christmas Shoes. Just give the kid the shoes already you greedy store keeper! Sheesh. The ultimate in depressing.

Anyways. The Christmas celebration continues.
December 6th: We had Christmas FHE at our Bishop's house. We went around the circle and told some of our favorite memories of Christmas, and fun traditions that we do. I told The Dollhouse Story, which is one that I will never forget. Oh you sneaky family you. It still makes me laugh. It was so fun to just go around and hear all of the fun and Christmas-y things that people do. It really helped to bring the spirit of Christmas. The only qualm I had was my seating location. I was sitting next to their revolving tree that had a reindeer that was just at my eye level. Every time the tree revolved around the reindeer stared me down...I made Brady take a picture with it.

I don't think this photo does it justice.
December 7th: A VERY busy day. My goal for the day was to read Luke 2 because I knew that there wasn't going to be much time for festivities. Benita (FINALLY) came home from NY, so her Sara Beth and I ended up laughing our heads off on my bed until like 12:30 AM. I had to be up for work at 5:00 AM, so I ended up going to bed. What is more Christmas-ish than laughing with friends, anyways?
December 8th: Ginger bread houses! SO FUN!!

 Alex's "Falling Water" inspired by the late Frank Lloyd Wright, and my classic house.

 My house and Mark's "pyramid."

 Moss did some great work with his assistant Sara Beth. They built in the rich neighborhood.

Rodney's duplex's and Benita's extremely stable floor plan.

Ryan Moss, Dean Peterson, Benita Bates, and Alex Merchant.                    Rodney Hansen, Lance Moses, Sara Beth Johnson and Mark Keller.

The Pride Family Christmas House Decoration Contest. (We missed you Lola and Ryan!)

December 8th: Christmas Music Day. Nothing but Christmas Tunes...allllll daaaayy longggg.

Favorites as of right now? 

- Christmas With The Rat Pack

- Nsync Christmas, still...it's hard not to love it when you know every word to every song.

- Glee Christmas. 

- I'm ok with Jessica Simpson's new Christmas album. She still kinda bugs.

December 9th: Ward Christmas Party. Always a good time. 

December 10th: Elevate Christmas Party. I love the people I work with!

I hope your holidays continue to be festive and fun!

Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

I had to sing that a lot of times in my head to make sure I got enough "la's." This December has turned out to be extremely awesome thus far, and here is why.

I decided to do something "Christmas-y" every day until Christmas. I, unfortunately, hate winter. So, I decided to make this winter AWESOME. It's all in your attitude, right? This is what I've got so far...

December 1st: Baked gingersnaps and gave them away to hungry neighbors. What smells more like Christmas than gingersnaps?
December 2nd: Made a count down to Christmas, paper Chain and watched the classic clay, stop-motion film, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. "Just put one foot in front of the other..." Did you know that was made in 1970? No wonder why it feels like Christmas when I see those. I've probably watched it every year of my life since I was BORN. I love them. It was more like Ryan made the paper chain while Sara Beth and I exchanged Christmas music and watched clips of Conan O'Brian wearing jeggings. Worth it.

And voila...the final product...
(and of course more phone pictures...)

December 3rd: I drug my friends to the live nativity at the Provo Tabernacle. They are good sports. It was quite humorous...Basically there was a 40 year old recording that the "cast" mouthed to awkwardly, a chinese Angel Gabriele, two individuals having a sign language battle, and a baby Jesus that almost crawled off the stage. Needless to say we were trying to hide our laughter 90 percent of the time. Oh, and I forgot to mention the live animals outside. Oh hello Sally...

We ended the evening with some warm soup at Gloria's Little Italy, hot chocolate, and a showing of How To Train Your Dragon. That movie is precious.
December 4th: Christmas Gift Planning and Sara Beth and I participated in some ABC Family Christmas Movie Marathon...Hello Harry Potter, which we later drug our neighbors in to as well. I also met up with Janae for some frozen yogurt, which was SO fun. I feel like frozen yogurt can be holiday-appropriate for any holiday of the year, or any non-holiday.
December 5th: Read two Christmas talks. Roxanne and I are trying to read a Christmas themed talk every day (I had to catch up from yesterday, so I read two today.) It has been awesome to help get me in the right spirit of Christmas. Today's talk was exceptionally great. What are you going to give Christ for Christmas?
Church was really AWESOME today. It was definitely decked with holiday cheer, and the Christmas devotional was great as well. President Uchtdorf is awesome.

So far I feel like the month is off to a great start :)
Oh and yesterday I received the BEST news ever...The Fitches are moving back to Utah!!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh. this made my day.

My last thankful day.

November 30th. Although some of my posts have been pretty scarce, I have loved the thought process of having to evaluate my day each day and think of what I am truly thankful for. I feel like I could probably go for a year of posting something daily, and I would still be coming up very short. I purposely saved my most thankful thought for the last day because It is by far the most important. Today, and every day, I am thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ.

I am a basket case a lot of the time, let's be honest, but the one thing that keeps me grounded is my faith in Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for his atoning sacrifice in my behalf. I am eternally indebted to him for that. I am grateful for his capacity to understand and know us each individually. I am grateful that because of that capacity, He is able to help me with His grace. I am grateful for the knowledge of the gospel I have, and for the plan of salvation; knowing that because of his atoning sacrifice I will get to be with my family forever.


I don't know if there is a better way to say it than through these words...

I know that my Redeemer lives.
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead.
He lives, my ever-living Head.

He lives to bless me with his love.
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed.
He lives to bless in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with his eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise heav’nly Friend.
He lives and loves me to the end.
He lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing.
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.
He lives and grants me daily breath.
He lives, and I shall conquer death.
He lives my mansion to prepare.
He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”
He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”

So much to be Thankful for...

I could go on. It's amazing how sitting to think and pick one thing that I am thankful for from my day has really caused me to reflect on how many blessings I have in my life. I think that the holidays can really make us take a look at what is important in our lives. Today I am grateful for tender mercies. I am amazed at how clearly I can see the Lord's hand in my life when I am looking for it. The tender mercies that occur happen so frequently. When you look at it in that respect, you can't deny the truthfulness of this gospel. This year has been a really challenging one for me, and it continues to be so. I have several things that I look at from the forefront and think...how in the world is this going to work out? However, I know that it always does. I know that every single thing that we go through is not without purpose. Our job is to find the lessons in our trials, and learn from them. It is the tender mercies that we experience each day that remind us that we are going to be ok, that we have someone looking out for us.

1 Nephi 1:20 - "But I Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."

Bless you daddy-o

We left AZ at 8 AM.
What should have been a 9.5 hour drive turned into a 12.5 hour drive...Looks like the weatherman was a little off on the great blizzard of 2010.
Lots of snow.
Lots of cars.
Not a lot of speed.
Today I am grateful for answered prayers and dad's who drive like Greg Biffel. Way to go daddy-o.

Deck The Halls...

Christmas lights really are magical. Today I helped my mom put up Christmas decorations, and it just makes me smile. There is something about those lights that just makes me happy. Throw in a little green and red glitter, and some fancy schmancy ornaments and I'm a goner. I love Christmas!! 

It is always fun to help my mom with holiday things because she is so dang good at it. She has so much attention to detail, and she is so creative. I followed her around all day today. I'm pretty sure I have been following her around since I was tiny, and what a great example to follow. She is absolutely amazing. One of the most positive, upbeat, genuinely loving people I know.

(One day the phone photos will stop...that day is not today)

Today I am grateful for examples. It's been fun to be here with the Barney family, and get to hang out with Nichole, as well. Watching her with her kids, friends, and even strangers I am always amazed because she is just such a positive, fun, optimistic person. Everyone loves to be around her. I have always looked up to her, as well as my big sister Lindsey, who was kind enough to let me mimic her my entire life...She is another great example of someone who I want to grow up to be like! I am so blessed with awesome friends and family members who I look up to so much. I am not ready to go home. I just keep getting texts about how cold it is, and dad and I are supposedly driving through a storm tomorrow. Wish us luck. I'll miss you AZ sunshine. xoxoxo