Happy New Year!!!

I think last night was the first year I didn't go over to my parents at midnight.  Every year I hang out with friends, but seem to find my way back home so that I can bang on pots and blow the conch shell.  I missed it, but it was still an eventful New Year's Eve, well actually most of this holiday season has been eventful.  On Christmas Eve it was just me, parents and grandpa.  I made dinner and cleaned up so Janet wouldn't have to.  We also popped over to visit with the Nielson side of the family.  Christmas morning we all slept later.  My family is still under the impression that I am going to wake them up at the crack of dawn, but I got out to the presents around 9.  Present opening was fun, I had few to open since I mostly got money.  I think my grandpa loved getting socks, LOL!  Some of the presents I gave are still not opened since some of them are the same and I wanted them to wait to open until all the siblings were here.

We also had the paramedics over on Christmas Day since Grandpa wasn't feeling well.  He improved only to have the same thing happen again the day after Christmas (while I listened over the radio at work) and be transported to the hospital.  He was in the hospital Wednesday to Saturday.  Now he is in a temporary care facility enjoying football bowl games and being visited by family.

This past weekend I was supposed to go out of town only to have all my friends cancel.  So we are going this weekend.  So I went on a date to see Les Mis.  Good movie, but darker then I would chose.  I also talked to my Bishop in my family ward and have decided to go back to the singles ward.  I just don't think I do very well if I am not super social!  So this Sunday is my last time teaching the youth.

New Year's Eve I was able to buy a brand new laptop, which I am so excited for since the one I am using is pretty old and the sound is going out.  I also went to a birthday party and a singles bash.  I would have been happy staying at home and watching a movie or reading a book, but it was nice to be social.  The lack of sleep is not good for me, but I am headed to bed soon.  I am also looking forward to my brother and his family coming to town tomorrow and we will get new family pics this week (not excited about this bc I am pretty heavy right now).

The best part of the New Year I have never been excited about...setting goals.  Don't get me wrong, I like setting goals, just on my own time and not when everybody else is doing it.  This year is different for some reason so I have been thinking of some great things to accomplish.  TTFN:)

Christmas Choas

It has been awhile because life has been filled with Christmas ongoings.  Let's see if I can remember everything.  My favorite thing was starting to work in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple.  It brings me so much happiness and I love getting up at 4 am (trust me I am not a morning person, but it is worth it).  At the beginning of the month I attended my ward Christmas party (see my earlier post), which in my opinion was the best one I have ever been to.  The next week I went to the BYU athletic Christmas party with all the family.  I always love it and this year was no different.  We decorated a gingerbread house (which saves me from buying one), ate Magelby's for dinner, and my Dad won the grand prize.  I went to a multi-singles-ward Christmas party were we all dressed up fancy.  I got my hair done, enjoyed dinner and mingling, but left when the dancing started.

I also attended a singles Christmas dinner hosted by my ward.  I met some very sweet elderly women, and had a Magelby's dinner again (I am blessed to have it twice this month, I love it).  Then my Grandma flew in to visit us for a few days.  I love my Grandma Mitchell and it had been over 3 years since she has come out from Missouri.  We went shopping, I took her to lunch, and she took us all to dinner.  We also attended my parent's family ward Christmas party.  Their party was really neat too and was themed after the movie Polar Express.  There was a train for the kids to ride in, the mail room (to write missionaries), Santa, a treat/craft station, and a snowball fight room (the boys loved this).  Dinner was catered by BYU, cookies brought by each family, and of course there was Hot Chocolate (just like the movie).  I also enjoyed watching Christmas movies, making cookies, and seeing Christmas lights with grandma.  My grandma had never been in the Tabernacle so we were also able to go to the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas concert.  I have also been wanting a big change lately so I dyed my hair blond.  It is taking time to get used to it, but I think I like it.  This week I went with friends to dinner and a Christmas Cruise.  I have also enjoyed giving little treats to others, wrapping presents, and watching all the Christmas classics.  I am looking for to Grandpa Zobell coming for Christmas and shortly after Christmas going on a quick weekend trip with some girlfriends.  What a busy time of year, but I have tried to keep my focus on Christ (see my other blog).  Happy Christmas everyone!   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sick Boredom

I have had a lot of time to think today because of being super sick, but I am so grateful!  First of all I missed Stake Conference this morning which made me sad because we had a visiting general authority.  Who?  I have no idea.  I also missed my tithing settlement, but got that rescheduled. I wanted to watch the Christmas Devotional online, but it doesn't work. However I get to go to the Motab Christmas Concert in a few weeks.  So with so many strikes I am still stinking HAPPY:D  This is because while reading in bed I was also listening to hymns.  The hymn "How Great the Wisdom" played and I was so grateful for everything!!!!!  The Savior is my Happiness.  I wish everyone got that!

Also I started making lists, not "to do" lists, but just fun things:
Favorite Christmas Songs...
O Holy Night
Silent Night
Carol of the Bells
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
O Little Town of Bethlehem
To name just a few:)

Favorite Christmas Movies...
Elf
It's a Wonderful Life
White Christmas
Anything Hallmark
A Christmas Story
The Nativity
Home Alone

Randomly I enjoyed making my own homemade OJ made in the juicer I bought last month.  I also scarfed down some tomato soup and grilled cheese.  Now the best part is reading a good book and listening to the rain!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I am loving Christmas this year.  I think I am realizing that even though I am very lonely I am loved by Christ and he brings me so much happiness!  I have been enjoying every detail of the Holiday because of this fact.  In the 2 last weeks I set up 3 Christmas trees, went on 3 Christmas themed dates, but my favorite activity so far has been today.  I woke up this morning and went to my Ward Christmas Party.  The details of that are on my other blog.  Then came my yearly tradition which I have been doing now for 3-4 years, The Festival of Trees!  I think this is the most wonderful thing ever!!!!  I love seeing the religious themed trees.  Pictured below are some of my favorites (I limited myself to a top 6 this year instead of like 20).  After the festival I enjoyed lunch with a friend and then crashed when I got home.  I have been getting more and more sick everyday this week.  Today it hit me like a brick wall, probably because I have been doing too much.  So I tried to sleep, but kept waking up because I would stop breathing.  This is when it would have been a good time to have home teachers assigned, but I haven't got them yet.  So here I am at home enjoying a book, being online, and about to watch a Christmas movie.  The holiday's can't get much better (I guess if I wasn't sick or had someone to share them with they could, LOL)!

My 2nd favorite tree decorated Missionary style with ties.

All the stuff that came with the Missionary tree if you purchased it.

My favorite tree decorated with different Nativities and also hand sewn costumes.

"It's a Wonderful Life" tree.  I should have got closer to show the details.

My favorite Christmas mug that I have been enjoying cider, cocoa, and Crio in.

I finally found an advent calender.  It is not my favorite as I am looking for a religious one,
but it will suffice until I find the best one. 

And last, but not least...my homemade Charlie Brown Country Christmas Tree.

Trending Now...

I was talking to a guy friend today and he was telling me how he was frustrated with dating.  It was interesting to note that I have had a lot of the same feelings he is feeling now.  Luckily I am in a patient, faithful stage right now so I was able to help him, or so I think.  I have known this friend for at least 5 years, maybe longer and we are about the same age.  We notice that there is a huge trend now among mid-singles.  That trend includes being scared of dating, commitment, and marriage.  We thought the trend also included lack of faith such as wanting to be financially stable before marriage or just thinking it would never happen.  I felt bad that he was feeling discouraged, but the best advice I could him was to have faith in the Lord's timing.  I also loved the below quote that I found today.  I believe that we can get through anything if we have someone to get through it with.  Right now I just have to do all things with the Lord. 

Fall Pictures Part #1

Recently a photographer friend wanted to take pictures of me and who am I to say no to building up my self-esteem. So here are a few of my favorites. More to come after our next shoot:)

 

 

Happy Halloween

I love Halloween!  I am pretty sure it is because I just enjoy all the fun costumes out there, with the exception of gory, immodest, or just gross.  I look forward to my Halloween work party more then the Christmas one.  This year I stressed a lot about what I was going to wear, but a friend came through and I had to supply very little.  I loved winning my work costume contest and especially loved seeing the delight in Trick-or-treater's eye's when I answered the door.  Almost every kid said, "Are you Mary Poppins?"  All the treats don't hurt either(; 

My favorite costume besides mine, was the "Double Check Discount" woman.



The lace up shoes were pretty painful,
I feel for the women of the early 1900's.

Completley authentic down to the shoes, carpet bag, bird umbrella, and hat. 
The only thing I forgot to put on was the scarf.