Before I forget- this is my 50TH BLOG POST!! Whoa! That's kind of crazy, right? I'm starting on year number three and I'm already on blog post number fifty! I would like to say that I didn't really expect to make it to fifty, but I didn't really have any expectations when I started this blog! I kind of feel like having a party in honor of number 50, kinda like TV shows and they're 100th episode....
So this blog is going to be part insight, part update. I think I'm going to go with insightful first, just so I don't lose any of them...and I think they are pretty good insights, so I hope you'll read them :)
Let the insightfulness begin!
This past weekend I finished a book titled "New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance," by Elna Baker. I saw the book over the holidays while I was shopping, but I wasn't shopping for myself. When I picked it up, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. I started the book at 10 o'clock or so on Saturday night and after sleeping a couple of hours or so and going to the gym on Sunday morning, I was finished with the book by Sunday afternoon. I will say that I've never related to a character, real or fictional as much as I did to Elna Baker, a chubby Mormon girl who had spent most of her childhood being the funny girl. I don't want you to think this is some sentimental journey of a "fat girl" losing weight, it was REALLY FUNNY. Just to give you an example of the book's humor, when Elna was preparing to go to college at NYU, her very conservative mother gave her some advice to prepare her for life in the liberal and asked her what she would do "if a lesbian asked her to make out?" Elna responded, "I'd say.....no thank you, lesbian.." hahaha. There are many stories like this in the book, and I would highly recommend it, but don't take my word for it. So now for the insights. There's a part in the book where she is discussing soul mates with a friend and her friend says, "I don't believe in fate. You just find someone who likes the same things as you. You just don't know what you like. (or that you like too many things)" I had to paraphrase. This part of the book really hit home with me. I declared several years ago, although it was an internal declaration, that as a youth I was a "people-pleaser." I came to this conclusion when I started to think about the music I liked as a youth, basically sixth grade and younger, was the music choice of those around me. I don't know if it was out of fear or lack of self confidence, but I was never willing to express my opinion around my friends. Working at Girl Scout Camp was the catalyst that brought me out of my shell, although sometimes I feel like I'm just playing a part. I've always found it odd that I can't choose a favorite type of music, color, type of movie, nothing. I also don't have that ONE PASSION. I don't know if having a passion is a myth, but I've never been able to say, "If I could do one thing the rest of my life, it would be...." I like trying new things, learning new things, listening to new types of music. I'm very open-minded about my experiences I guess you could say. I've also never felt that you could "classify" me or "group" me with people. You know, I'm a nerd, but I'm not a nerd that sits around and "dreams about a faster computer" (to quote a friend). I'm wild and crazy, but I'm not one of those wild and crazy people that you always assume is either on something or off medication. I like listening to Rock music, but I'm not about to apply for "Rock of Love." I like watching/playing sports, but I'm not really a "sports fanatic." I could come up with more examples, but hopefully at this point you have caught my drift. For most of my life, I've compared myself to others and thought how do some of these people find their "soul mate." One thing that hasn't changed, I still find it odd that I'm 26 (and 1/2) and have never had a boyfriend or dated anyone. But I've never really felt like the dating type. They say opposites attract, and I don't know that you could have the "opposite of me." I guess some would say that I need to define myself, but I think giving myself a definition is boring. I don't want to be stuck in one category. The problem is that I'm either in all of them or none of them. I'm not really sure what that means for me. I guess the only thing I can do is be happy with the way my life is, single or not, defined or not. Or decide that it's not the right way to life and give my life "definition" or "classification." I just don't feel like that's something I should have to do. I mean it's not like choosing a cereal brand or what kind of car you want to drive. In some ways, this book has almost made me more confused with who I am, yet utterly content with the person that I've become!!
Now for a news update in the ridiculous life of Lizzy. First, I made the official announcement today, but since I'm leading a group with EF tours, they have international training tours for first time leaders in Paris, Rome, Beijing and Madrid. I've chosen, and signed up for, the training in Paris over the Thanksgiving holiday. I'm really excited about it. Second, this week I "officially" became a girl scout leader, now I just have to get enough girls to sign up. My niece and sister are both pretty excited about it. I think that's about it for right now. I've been working out for almost two weeks and I'm really enjoying it!! In fact, it's time to go to the gym now. So I better sign off. Thanks for reading.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Legolas does everything right
Well, I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed lately, but I'm feeling much better now. We have a Student Council function this Friday and Saturday and our PSIA campus competition is next weekend. I've been panicking on having enought people for it, but luckily I've guilted some of my students in to helping and some of the teachers and parents have come through. I was standing in the office this afternoon with my two main administrators. They asked if I was in charge of tomorrow night's function and then asked if I was in charge of Saturday night's function, of course this was after I had asked a couple of questions about PSIA. So then one of them said, "Is there something you're not in charge of?" We all kind of laughed, and I said "I would say that I'm going to stop saying yes to things, but that's just not going to happen." The response I got to that made all of the stuff I've been doing worth it, "No, you're not going to stop saying yes. You're a good person and a hard work and we appreciate it." It's nice to know that people notice my hard work, of course, that's not why I do it. I couldn't tell you why, but I just do. I'm also really excited about starting to work out again. I couldn't tell you what happened but I just lost it. I've got a workout buddy now and I'm joining the new gym in town "Planet Fitness." I've got a Tuesday night class starting this next week that I'm really excited about. It's the "Traditional Archery II" class at Amarillo College taught by Ken, the same guy that taught me like 6 or 7 years ago. Also, for anyone interested, I will be hosting the first "Dance Party" next Saturday night after PSIA campus competition is finished. I've got to start putting my playlist together, so if you think you're coming you better put in your requests early. No limits- as long as it has a good beat!! Alright, I'm done for now, gotta get ready for Young Adults. Can't believe you got two blogs in one week!!
Until next time :)
PS I don't feel like proofreading so, sorry about the mistakes. :)
Until next time :)
PS I don't feel like proofreading so, sorry about the mistakes. :)
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering
I know, I know! It's been 2011 for a whole week and I haven't blogged yet. I decided to take a week "reflecting" on my resolutions, goals and plans for 2011. This year, I think my resolutions will be different from years past, but instead of comparing them for you, I'll just share them with you now. (As you know making them public puts more pressure on me to actually fulfill them and 2010 was year number 3 of 3 (I think) to follow my new year's resolution!) Also let me say that these aren't in any particular order, mostly.
I resolve to help those around me each day. I acknowledge that this may mean something different each day, but whether it means being a listener, an advocate, a friend, a court jester, a lunch date or a movie date, I will do my best to improve the lives of those around me. For it is by those around me that my life is improved or detoriated.
I resolve to maintain the recommended visits with all health professionals, eye doctor, general doctor and anyone else that is recommended to me. For without my health I have nothing.
I resolve to participate in the sacrament of confession on a regular basis. Cleansing of the soul is just as important as cleansing of the body. Plus, I think there are some bad spiritual habits that I need to break and confessing them on a regular basis may help me break them.
I resolve to be less dependent on technology. I've already begun by turning my phone OFF, not just on silent, during meetings and church. I'm hoping as the year progresses I start to spend full DAYS with my phone completely OFF. This also includes no texting while driving, no one I know, including myself, is THAT important.
I resolve to not be afraid to say "NO." In the first week of the new semester I've volunteered for TWO committees, in addition to the FOUR extracurricular activities I already assist with and I've also taken on another class. I realize that I do not have to be in charge of EVERYTHING and that (for the most part) there are other capable people out there that can do the job just as well (almost) as I can. This also includes saying no to go spending money when I don't have it.
I resolve to host a Dance Party in my living room at least once a month. Nothing feeds the soul or self confidence like listening to some great, and maybe not-so-great, music while looking like a fool. "You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, Love like you'll never be hurt, Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth." — William W. Purkey. You are invited if you promise to participate without judgement. :)
I resolve to stick with my past new year's resolutions throughout this year. I will be maintaining this blog as a way of staying in contact with those of you that I've deemed important to my life for whatever reason. I will be reading at least one new book a month, and not just the equivalent of one book a month. Reading should help put me to sleep and if I'm not finding time to read even one chapter every other day, then I need to reassess my priorities.
Even though I said these were in no particular order, this last one is my favorite and the one I look forward to reflecting on at the end of this year:
I resolve to become the BEST possible version of myself that I can be every day and taking steps to ensure that nothing is prohibiting me from becoming that version of myself. This includes my health, happiness, relationships and the legacy that I will leave behind one day, if I don't want it shared at my funeral one day, then I shouldn't be doing it. This also includes overcoming failures and missteps that could cause me to give up completely. I will not allow anything to stop me from being the BEST "Elizabeth/Lizzy/Aunt Lizzy/Teddy" that I KNOW I CAN BE.
Well, there's my resolutions and goals for the year of 2011. I look forward to sharing with you the plans and progress throughout the year. I feel blessed to have a group of friends and family as fantastic as all of you reading this now. When I started this blog two years ago I didn't think I would ever have anything to write about, and then when I found things to right about, I didn't think anyone would actually read this. And even though I'm LONG WAY from becoming a Blockbuster movie, you should all start thinking about who should play you in a made for TV movie. Of course my life isn't cheesy enough for Lifetime, I don't live on a farm so there goes Hallmark channel and I'm certainly not hip enough for MTV, so we'll have to wait until we find the right market. :)
HAPPY NEW YEAR (a little late...)
I resolve to help those around me each day. I acknowledge that this may mean something different each day, but whether it means being a listener, an advocate, a friend, a court jester, a lunch date or a movie date, I will do my best to improve the lives of those around me. For it is by those around me that my life is improved or detoriated.
I resolve to maintain the recommended visits with all health professionals, eye doctor, general doctor and anyone else that is recommended to me. For without my health I have nothing.
I resolve to participate in the sacrament of confession on a regular basis. Cleansing of the soul is just as important as cleansing of the body. Plus, I think there are some bad spiritual habits that I need to break and confessing them on a regular basis may help me break them.
I resolve to be less dependent on technology. I've already begun by turning my phone OFF, not just on silent, during meetings and church. I'm hoping as the year progresses I start to spend full DAYS with my phone completely OFF. This also includes no texting while driving, no one I know, including myself, is THAT important.
I resolve to not be afraid to say "NO." In the first week of the new semester I've volunteered for TWO committees, in addition to the FOUR extracurricular activities I already assist with and I've also taken on another class. I realize that I do not have to be in charge of EVERYTHING and that (for the most part) there are other capable people out there that can do the job just as well (almost) as I can. This also includes saying no to go spending money when I don't have it.
I resolve to host a Dance Party in my living room at least once a month. Nothing feeds the soul or self confidence like listening to some great, and maybe not-so-great, music while looking like a fool. "You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, Love like you'll never be hurt, Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth." — William W. Purkey. You are invited if you promise to participate without judgement. :)
I resolve to stick with my past new year's resolutions throughout this year. I will be maintaining this blog as a way of staying in contact with those of you that I've deemed important to my life for whatever reason. I will be reading at least one new book a month, and not just the equivalent of one book a month. Reading should help put me to sleep and if I'm not finding time to read even one chapter every other day, then I need to reassess my priorities.
Even though I said these were in no particular order, this last one is my favorite and the one I look forward to reflecting on at the end of this year:
I resolve to become the BEST possible version of myself that I can be every day and taking steps to ensure that nothing is prohibiting me from becoming that version of myself. This includes my health, happiness, relationships and the legacy that I will leave behind one day, if I don't want it shared at my funeral one day, then I shouldn't be doing it. This also includes overcoming failures and missteps that could cause me to give up completely. I will not allow anything to stop me from being the BEST "Elizabeth/Lizzy/Aunt Lizzy/Teddy" that I KNOW I CAN BE.
Well, there's my resolutions and goals for the year of 2011. I look forward to sharing with you the plans and progress throughout the year. I feel blessed to have a group of friends and family as fantastic as all of you reading this now. When I started this blog two years ago I didn't think I would ever have anything to write about, and then when I found things to right about, I didn't think anyone would actually read this. And even though I'm LONG WAY from becoming a Blockbuster movie, you should all start thinking about who should play you in a made for TV movie. Of course my life isn't cheesy enough for Lifetime, I don't live on a farm so there goes Hallmark channel and I'm certainly not hip enough for MTV, so we'll have to wait until we find the right market. :)
HAPPY NEW YEAR (a little late...)
Sunday, December 26, 2010
The music that brings harmony
Merry Christmas! Being the second day of Christmas, I hope you are enjoying your two turtle doves and a new partridge in a pear tree :) I guess partridges have a short life, I'm not sure what anyone would do with 12 partridges....at least they'd all have their own home. Ok, this is so not the point of my blog, I got distracted. :)
I've been sitting at my parent's kitchen table since we came home from mass/ grocery store this morning. I ate lunch with mom and we listened to some great music together. Then I decided to get some work done ( I KNOW, DON'T BE SHOCKED). But last semester the college Algebra class required some extra work on my part, so I'm getting a head start on the Dual Credit Trigonometry class for next semester. I even bought a new spiral notebook. :) Then I got distracted by my mom and my sleepiness. I posted on my facebook a few days ago that I was looking to start acting at the local little theatre. I however am rethinking this. A few weeks ago, I noticed that Amarillo College is offering a "Traditional Archery II" class on Tuesday nights. It's taught by the same person that taught me back in the day at Camp K, and it's an advanced class for people "looking to further their skills with the traditional bow and arrow." Its dates are January through March. So I think I'm going to use a portion of my Christmas money, which includes extra money for house-sitting and baby-sitting, to take this class on Tuesday nights. I've wanted to take it FOR A LONG TIME. Plus, the play that I was looking to audition for only has like 3 male parts and 3 female parts, and while I think I'm fantastic :), there's a lot of other really great people out there. Of course, this also means I may have to wait until next season to audition cause the other play this season is a musical. While I enjoy music, I generally enjoy music in my car or house when no one is watching. I don't think anyone wants to hear me sing or watch me dance on stage, hahaha. Which is okay again, cause I have quite a few things to do with school this spring semester; PSIA is happening SUPER FAST after the break, which if you're in Amarillo or the surrounding area and would like to judge at our campus competition, it's Saturday Jan. 22nd, and I do not feel ready for it at all. Plus, my new year's resolution is to go to Confession/Reconcilliation at least twice a month, I'm going to aim for every week, but I'm a busy person :/ Oh, and don't worry, I will be continuing my blog :) I know you're ALL SUPER PSYCHED ABOUT THAT :)
I'm going to end the blog asking about your Christmas, it can't always be about me. Share your stories in the comments section so we can all get to know each other a little better :) How is your holiday season? What is your favorite part of the holiday season? Did you get what you wanted for Christmas? What are your plans for New Years? The last question is a selfish one, I don't have plans yet ;)
I've been sitting at my parent's kitchen table since we came home from mass/ grocery store this morning. I ate lunch with mom and we listened to some great music together. Then I decided to get some work done ( I KNOW, DON'T BE SHOCKED). But last semester the college Algebra class required some extra work on my part, so I'm getting a head start on the Dual Credit Trigonometry class for next semester. I even bought a new spiral notebook. :) Then I got distracted by my mom and my sleepiness. I posted on my facebook a few days ago that I was looking to start acting at the local little theatre. I however am rethinking this. A few weeks ago, I noticed that Amarillo College is offering a "Traditional Archery II" class on Tuesday nights. It's taught by the same person that taught me back in the day at Camp K, and it's an advanced class for people "looking to further their skills with the traditional bow and arrow." Its dates are January through March. So I think I'm going to use a portion of my Christmas money, which includes extra money for house-sitting and baby-sitting, to take this class on Tuesday nights. I've wanted to take it FOR A LONG TIME. Plus, the play that I was looking to audition for only has like 3 male parts and 3 female parts, and while I think I'm fantastic :), there's a lot of other really great people out there. Of course, this also means I may have to wait until next season to audition cause the other play this season is a musical. While I enjoy music, I generally enjoy music in my car or house when no one is watching. I don't think anyone wants to hear me sing or watch me dance on stage, hahaha. Which is okay again, cause I have quite a few things to do with school this spring semester; PSIA is happening SUPER FAST after the break, which if you're in Amarillo or the surrounding area and would like to judge at our campus competition, it's Saturday Jan. 22nd, and I do not feel ready for it at all. Plus, my new year's resolution is to go to Confession/Reconcilliation at least twice a month, I'm going to aim for every week, but I'm a busy person :/ Oh, and don't worry, I will be continuing my blog :) I know you're ALL SUPER PSYCHED ABOUT THAT :)
I'm going to end the blog asking about your Christmas, it can't always be about me. Share your stories in the comments section so we can all get to know each other a little better :) How is your holiday season? What is your favorite part of the holiday season? Did you get what you wanted for Christmas? What are your plans for New Years? The last question is a selfish one, I don't have plans yet ;)
Merry Christmas!
Can you guess what languages these are without using google?
I'll post the answer in the comment section sometime this week. :)
1.Feliz navidad.
3. QISmaS botIvjaj 'ej DIS chu' botIvjaj
4.Ya'at'eeh Keshmish
5. Feliz Natal
6. Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito
Friday, December 17, 2010
What Christmas Means to Me
Warning! IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF LIKE 13, YOU MAY NOT WANT TO READ IT. IN FACT, I DON'T WANT YOU TO READ IT. SO STOP NOW AND GO WRITE A LETTER TO SANTA...
As promised here is my Christmas blog, I honestly wasn't expecting it to come so soon either, but I was inspired. Any of you writers out there can testify that when the inspiration comes, you must let it flow. So let me just give you some background info, in case you don't actually know me, or don't know me as well as you should. I LOVE CHRISTMAS MUSIC. When I was a kid, I remember listening to a Christmas tape of my mom's in like August! I still listen to the same music I did when I was 7 and I know every single word. I love our family's CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS! First the Nativity Scene: we usually set it up near the Christmas tree, with the Baby Jesus hiding of course until after Christmas Eve Mass. The wise men are also separated from the rest of the scene and they get moved closer each day until the Epiphany. We always going to mass on Christmas Eve, whether the Children's liturgy or the Midnight Mass, my personal favorite is the Midnight service. Usually either before or after mass, we open our "Christmas Eve Gift," which coincidentally is also how your greet people on Christmas eve. Nine times out of ten the Christmas Eve Gift is cutesy matching pajamas. For the past 18 years or so, I, along with my brother, will watch "Muppet's Christmas Carol" on Christmas Eve. For as long as I can remember, I have never been able to sleep on Christmas Eve. I have ALWAYS BEEN the first one up on Christmas day. In fact, Harry Connick, Jr. sings a song "I'm Gonna Be The First One" that he wrote just for me. :) FYI: WE from now includes Cassi and I as children and Bobby and I for the last 13 years. :) So WE get up and go through our stockings that we strategically placed the night before so that Santa could fill them up with all kinds of goodies. I would like to say this is my favorite, but the WHOLE HOLIDAY is my favorite! So "WE" go through our stocking bit by bit, usually with one or two big-ish presents sitting outside of our stocking. WE of course are super quiet during this time, cause mom and dad are still asleep, seeing as how it's like 5 am. Around 6:30- 7, we finally get brave enough (hungry enough/excited enough, take your pick) to go wake up mom and dad, usually showing them one of the gifts that Santa got for us. Next all of us, go through our stockings, children dumping it all out now that we don't have to be quiet. Then, the parade or something gets turned on the TV, WE play with something new that we just got, while mom and dad start to cook us pancakes (occasionally waffles) for breakfast. After breakfast, we pass out all of the presents to the members of the immediate family. Once all presents are passed out, the opening bananza begins. You can usually tell when you're opening something good cause mom will stop and watch and have her camera ready to take a picture, this is true even to this day. Then the rest of the family comes out, which is normally Bernetta, perhaps Genece, nowadays Cassi, Josh and the kids. And the present process happens again. I'm sure very similar things happen, or happened at your house, but I'm not sure if I would be ok with something just similar. haha. Which brings me to my point... (I know that was a lot of background info, but I think this next part is going to good so stay with me)
So, I was about Bobby's age when Bobby came around and I'm fairly certain if he hadn't come around, I would have had this brainblock then, but as I said getting up early and seeing the Santa gifts is one of my favorite things to do at Christmas, in fact there were a couple of years where I was more excited than bobby, so I took a Tylenol PM before bed so I could actually SLEEP on Christmas morning. So Bobby has overtaken my joy for Santa and christmas and until this year, at least as far as we know, still believed in Santa. Most people may mock him for such a thing, I however applaud him. I also think it comes from having me as a big sister and from watching "The Santa Clause" too many times as a kid. So this year he found out, which means no more Santa. I shamefully admit that I was saddened by the discovery of this fact. I started wondering what I had to look forward to on Christmas Day. Coupled with the fact that I don't really make a lot of money and wasn't really sure that my gifts wouldn't just be a dissappointment, I just completely lost the Christmas Spirit. I stopped listening to Christmas Music, I didn't go shopping at all, I just wasn't interested. It was my students, actually I think that changed my mood. Our school newspaper had an editorial about Christmas by one of the students. She said something close to the following: Christmas isn't about buying gifts or getting up at 4 am. Christmas is about showing love, we buy gifts to see our loved ones reaction knowing that we put effort into it. God showed us his love by giving us his son, so we show love to one another with our gifts.
I think this is where it gets tricky, cause our love is not measured by the amount of money we spend on each other. Rather, our love is shown by the time we spend with our loved ones.
One day, I hope to carry on the traditions with my own family, of course combining with those of my husband's. I'm also plan to challenge myself, as I challenge you, the reader, now, to add other acts of love to your Christmas traditions: serving those less fortunate, helping salvation army, the Angel Tree, or be creative and find some other act of love or kindness. So that when the "magic" of Christmas fades away, the meaning is there as a reminder of the "Reason for the Season."
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Here is My Christmas Gift to you all :)
As promised here is my Christmas blog, I honestly wasn't expecting it to come so soon either, but I was inspired. Any of you writers out there can testify that when the inspiration comes, you must let it flow. So let me just give you some background info, in case you don't actually know me, or don't know me as well as you should. I LOVE CHRISTMAS MUSIC. When I was a kid, I remember listening to a Christmas tape of my mom's in like August! I still listen to the same music I did when I was 7 and I know every single word. I love our family's CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS! First the Nativity Scene: we usually set it up near the Christmas tree, with the Baby Jesus hiding of course until after Christmas Eve Mass. The wise men are also separated from the rest of the scene and they get moved closer each day until the Epiphany. We always going to mass on Christmas Eve, whether the Children's liturgy or the Midnight Mass, my personal favorite is the Midnight service. Usually either before or after mass, we open our "Christmas Eve Gift," which coincidentally is also how your greet people on Christmas eve. Nine times out of ten the Christmas Eve Gift is cutesy matching pajamas. For the past 18 years or so, I, along with my brother, will watch "Muppet's Christmas Carol" on Christmas Eve. For as long as I can remember, I have never been able to sleep on Christmas Eve. I have ALWAYS BEEN the first one up on Christmas day. In fact, Harry Connick, Jr. sings a song "I'm Gonna Be The First One" that he wrote just for me. :) FYI: WE from now includes Cassi and I as children and Bobby and I for the last 13 years. :) So WE get up and go through our stockings that we strategically placed the night before so that Santa could fill them up with all kinds of goodies. I would like to say this is my favorite, but the WHOLE HOLIDAY is my favorite! So "WE" go through our stocking bit by bit, usually with one or two big-ish presents sitting outside of our stocking. WE of course are super quiet during this time, cause mom and dad are still asleep, seeing as how it's like 5 am. Around 6:30- 7, we finally get brave enough (hungry enough/excited enough, take your pick) to go wake up mom and dad, usually showing them one of the gifts that Santa got for us. Next all of us, go through our stockings, children dumping it all out now that we don't have to be quiet. Then, the parade or something gets turned on the TV, WE play with something new that we just got, while mom and dad start to cook us pancakes (occasionally waffles) for breakfast. After breakfast, we pass out all of the presents to the members of the immediate family. Once all presents are passed out, the opening bananza begins. You can usually tell when you're opening something good cause mom will stop and watch and have her camera ready to take a picture, this is true even to this day. Then the rest of the family comes out, which is normally Bernetta, perhaps Genece, nowadays Cassi, Josh and the kids. And the present process happens again. I'm sure very similar things happen, or happened at your house, but I'm not sure if I would be ok with something just similar. haha. Which brings me to my point... (I know that was a lot of background info, but I think this next part is going to good so stay with me)
So, I was about Bobby's age when Bobby came around and I'm fairly certain if he hadn't come around, I would have had this brainblock then, but as I said getting up early and seeing the Santa gifts is one of my favorite things to do at Christmas, in fact there were a couple of years where I was more excited than bobby, so I took a Tylenol PM before bed so I could actually SLEEP on Christmas morning. So Bobby has overtaken my joy for Santa and christmas and until this year, at least as far as we know, still believed in Santa. Most people may mock him for such a thing, I however applaud him. I also think it comes from having me as a big sister and from watching "The Santa Clause" too many times as a kid. So this year he found out, which means no more Santa. I shamefully admit that I was saddened by the discovery of this fact. I started wondering what I had to look forward to on Christmas Day. Coupled with the fact that I don't really make a lot of money and wasn't really sure that my gifts wouldn't just be a dissappointment, I just completely lost the Christmas Spirit. I stopped listening to Christmas Music, I didn't go shopping at all, I just wasn't interested. It was my students, actually I think that changed my mood. Our school newspaper had an editorial about Christmas by one of the students. She said something close to the following: Christmas isn't about buying gifts or getting up at 4 am. Christmas is about showing love, we buy gifts to see our loved ones reaction knowing that we put effort into it. God showed us his love by giving us his son, so we show love to one another with our gifts.
I think this is where it gets tricky, cause our love is not measured by the amount of money we spend on each other. Rather, our love is shown by the time we spend with our loved ones.
One day, I hope to carry on the traditions with my own family, of course combining with those of my husband's. I'm also plan to challenge myself, as I challenge you, the reader, now, to add other acts of love to your Christmas traditions: serving those less fortunate, helping salvation army, the Angel Tree, or be creative and find some other act of love or kindness. So that when the "magic" of Christmas fades away, the meaning is there as a reminder of the "Reason for the Season."
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Here is My Christmas Gift to you all :)
Monday, December 13, 2010
Hello family and friends and random blog readers. I'm not sure how many people actually just read this that I don't shove it down their throats...lol. Anywho...I'm still on Michael Buble euphoria and so I'm going to start this blog with a list. Here are the concerts I have attended in somewhat of an order...we'll see how well my memory is:
So Michael Buble was on my bucket list and so now to complete my concert bucket list I just need to see Jason Mraz and Harry Connick Jr. Oh, and a show on Vegas! Well that's my blog for now. I have more to blog but I am getting sleepy right now so. I'll have to blog again after the vacation has started, which is just 20 school hours away :) be jealous...very jealous :)
- New Kids on the Block- Lubbock, TX
- Tim McGraw, Black Hawk Down, Little Texas
- Wade Hayes (and some other people)
- The Beach Boys
- Clay Walker
- there was another random high school concert...
- K-Ci & Jo-jo
- Breaking Benjamin & Three Doors Down
- Blake Shelton
- Montgomery Gentry, Kenny Chesney
- Willie Nelson & Pat Green
- Big & Rich
- WT's 2007 Homecoming concert (I don't remember who it was)
- Blue Man Group
- Nickelback, Puddle of Mudd and Finger Eleven
- Miranda Lambert
- Toadies
- Jack Ingram
- Honeybrowne
- Justin Cooper (i think that's right....)
- New Kids on the Block- Reunion Tour in Dallas
- Michael Buble- Oklahoma City, OK
So Michael Buble was on my bucket list and so now to complete my concert bucket list I just need to see Jason Mraz and Harry Connick Jr. Oh, and a show on Vegas! Well that's my blog for now. I have more to blog but I am getting sleepy right now so. I'll have to blog again after the vacation has started, which is just 20 school hours away :) be jealous...very jealous :)
Monday, November 29, 2010
A family that....
I hope this blog finds you all safe and healthy. You're probably all recovering from the return back to work. like myself. So how was my holiday, you ask. FANTASTIC, actually!! I think it was one of the BEST of all times. There were a total of 29 people at our house at any given time, that includes, Aunts, Uncles, cousins, second cousins, first cousins once removed, nieces, nephews, and Bernetta, our "adopted Grandmother", who also happens to be my dad's Godmother. As most of you probably heard, I was really excited for this family gathering and I was not disappointed. So the festivities really began on Wednesday, I didn't make it out to mom and dad's as soon as I would have liked, but I didn't get my stuff done early enough. So some of the highlights of the holiday weekend would be Pictionary game that lasted until 3 AM, Scattegories, "Gluten-Free Baking", my dad losing the Scrabble game, laughing to the point of tears, the Pace Family Video, Cowgirl Birthday Party, Trampoline Jumping, Boys and the Four Wheelers, the Hula-Hoop competition, Bingo, the Estimation Jar, and Thanksgiving in the New millennium- aka everyone playing on their iPhones/iPads/iPods. Of course, the Aggies won the football game against UT, the Cowboys lost to the Saints, two more highlights of the weekend. I didn't go shopping on Black Friday nor did I end up in the paper, also highlights. My cousin Kim got us all addicted to new apps on the iPhone, "We Doodle" which was free and is basically pictionary, and "Train Conductor" which was .99 but is so addicting. I've mastered the day shift, and I think I just mastered the night shift this evening. All the little second cousins are bonding which is super cute. There are four little girls that are pals: Renee, 8, Aubrey, 8, Sarah, 6, and Rylee, 4. The boys are a little more spread out: Josh, 11, Andrew, 10, Jakob, 6, and Cedric, 4. My brother is becoming a typical teenager, unfortunately. He's almost 14 and spent just about the ENTIRE weekend playing video games. On Saturday morning, he looked awful, so now I'm anxious for him to outgrow that phase. My pictures are all on facebook and shutterfly so you should check them all out. Unfortunately the weekend wasn't ALL fun and games. My mom's aunt Betty (my grandpa's sister) passed away on Thanksgiving Day and her uncle Jay ( Nanny's brother) passed away on Sunday morning. Betty I didn't know very well cause they used to live in Fritch but moved to Oklahoma when I was a kid. Uncle Jay though I did know quite well. Jay lived a sort of gypsy life in that he moved around alot. He also was a very good storyteller. He always used accents and his stories always had lots of details. My mom was able to drive to Oklahoma today for Betty's funeral though and I'm glad she got to see some of her family. I love you MOM!
Well, I would like to end the blog on a brighter note though. As of publication time, I had 8 paying travelers on my trip to Italy & Greece which means that my trip is now paid for and I'm only 4 away from the next free chaperon place. And on another happy note, our school's raffle was a very successful fundraiser. We sold over 2000 tickets! Oh and my principal told me today that people are noticing how much the school's been in the news lately! We were in the paper 3 times just last week alone!! Someone told Father that "someone must be doing their job right" ahhh, that's ME! Well, I think my new laptop is about to die so I better wrap it up and get this thing on the World Wide Web! Eight more regular school days until Semester Tests start! By the way I have half-days that whole last week of exams!! Isn't that neat?
Have a GREAT WEEK! Thanks for reading.
Until next time~
Well, I would like to end the blog on a brighter note though. As of publication time, I had 8 paying travelers on my trip to Italy & Greece which means that my trip is now paid for and I'm only 4 away from the next free chaperon place. And on another happy note, our school's raffle was a very successful fundraiser. We sold over 2000 tickets! Oh and my principal told me today that people are noticing how much the school's been in the news lately! We were in the paper 3 times just last week alone!! Someone told Father that "someone must be doing their job right" ahhh, that's ME! Well, I think my new laptop is about to die so I better wrap it up and get this thing on the World Wide Web! Eight more regular school days until Semester Tests start! By the way I have half-days that whole last week of exams!! Isn't that neat?
Have a GREAT WEEK! Thanks for reading.
Until next time~
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