Christmas Blessings

We had a great Christmas holiday and I feel so blessed. We flew out to Salt Lake for a couple of days and then headed up to Idaho to spend a week with Jared's parents. I feel blessed that I was able to take 7 days off work even though I just started in November. I feel blessed that there were no delays or complications on our flight out to Utah (although Jared and I did have to run full speed through the airport to catch our flight as they were announcing "last call" for boarding). I feel blessed that we were able to see several friends and family members, go skiing/snowboarding, and have a merry time. I feel blessed by the generosity of others. I feel especially blessed that a bird hit the plane we were supposed to fly home on and there was a convenient and remarkable delay that allowed us to spend a night in Dallas with my family, whom I did not plan on seeing over the holidays. Of course I feel blessed for the gifts I received, too, but most importantly, I'm grateful for the gifts of life, health, marriage, family, and the Savior.

I hope all of you had an equally Merry Christmas.

No Grinches Here

Sometimes I feel like Thanksgiving and Christmas come and go so fast, I forget to pause and enjoy it. There's all this anticipation for Christmas Day and then - poof! - it's over before you know it.

That is why I like to start listening to Christmas music in November. The more you get to celebrate Christmas, the better! I don't get the nonsense behind waiting for a certain date to pass before it's acceptable to start celebrating. Ridiculous! Also, since there's no such thing as Thanksgiving music, I'm a fan of letting the Thanksgiving holiday share Christmas' music. Which is why I sometimes (like this year) start listening to holiday music in October. It gets the Thanksgiving spirit flowing! And anyone who says otherwise is a grinch! ;)

Speaking of Thanksgiving, we spent this year in Miami with some of Jared's family, which was great. The only picture we have to show for it is this one, in which I look completely ridiculous. Enjoy.

We don't have a Christmas tree this year (we'll be out of town anyway), but we went shopping today and got a poinsettia and some awesome elf stockings for our mantle. Our first Christmas decorations! Speaking of elves, I have a little elf in the kitchen today making sweet treats like peppermint patties, chocolate-cinnamon-chili ice cream, and roasted banana ice cream. I love that elf.

My elf friend at my apartment about 4 years ago. I still can't believe that the man I'm married to now is the same goofy guy that used to come visit wearing spandex and thermals.