Ready for Christmas?

Today I was walking across campus and overheard a woman on the phone..
"I'm just not ready for Christmas"
And I thought, how can you not be ready for Christmas?
was she not ready because she hadn't finished her Christmas shopping?
or was it because she wasn't ready to remember Christ?


"The gift of Christmas isn't wrapped up in presents or parties. The gift of Christmas is Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten of the Father, the Son of God. As you follow Him, you put people first. You may spend less time in lines and more time serving others. You may spend less money on - and more time with - the people you love. You may lose yourself and you may find everything else that matters." lds.org


I think I'm ready for Christmas.
and I hope I'll be ready all year round.

Finals

Wow! Did you know I LOVE finals week? It's the best week of the entire semester. I'll even prove it to you...

No classes
Sleeping in...unless you have a final at 7...
Temple trips in the middle of the day
A 95% on a test which indicates that I will be an A+ wife. (inside joke)
Seeing your favorite class one last time


Almost failing a Family History final but my mom telling me that my ancestors still love me
Christmas music
Learning
A cute boy

Told you I could prove it! :)

I love crying

I love the movie A Little Princess. My cute roommates and I watched this movie and completely bawled throughout the ending. I have never been able to watch it without feeling moved and edified. Cheesy, I know. But really. Just listen to this quote.

"I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny old attics. Even if they dress in rags, even if they aren't pretty, or smart, or young. They're still princesses. All of us. Didn't your father ever tell you that? Didn't he?"


kindle my heart.

post script: Christmastime is here. I love snow.

Cami said some really cute things the other day:
While point to a picture of Christ as a baby, "Oh look! Jesus Christ! My favorite person in Heaven".
and...
Dad: "Are you excited for Christmas Cami?"
Cami: "yes"
Dad: "Why?"
Cami: "Because it's my favorite Holiday!"
Dad: "Why is it your favorite Holiday?"
Cami: "Because it makes me happy in my heart that Jesus Christ was born"

It makes me happy in my heart too, Cami.

Just for fun

Just thought I could share these here...where not too many people will ask questions :)

www.amandacastleberryphotography.blogspot.com

I did a bridal photo shoot for my cute friend who's majoring in Photography here at BYU. It was a lot of fun to slip into a wedding dress...but also a little creepy. I'm not quite sure I'm ready for it!

An Attitude of Gratitude

"While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help." Thomas S Monson



I am grateful for teachers. I am grateful for the ability I have to learn at Brigham Young University. I am grateful for my passion of learning and my passion to become a teacher. I have never wanted anything more than to change the world, and I know that is possible through teaching. I have recently started to read "Three cups of Tea" (fits in well with this little blog theme, huh?). This book is, "proof that one ordinary person, with the right combination of character and determination, really can change the world." -Tom Brokaw. Greg Mortenson is one such exceptional character and teacher who has established schools in Pakistan and throughout the Middle East. What an easy way for us to change the world. If we can set an example for the children, and teach them to become the best people they can be, we will have succeeded. That is why I want to be a teacher.

I am grateful for the divine institution of marriage. Taking my marriage preparation class has opened my eyes and softened my heart in ways I couldn't imagine. I am learning so much. I am grateful for my teacher who is in tune with the spirit, who teaches me that being a better disciple of Christ will help me not only in marriage, but in whatever I do. I am grateful for my parents marriage and their ability to forgive each other and work together with the Lord.

I am grateful for parents who sacrifice. I am grateful for people who sacrifice. I have met so many selfless people in my lifetime and I am grateful that they forget themselves and truly go about doing the Lord's work. My extended family is very dear to me at this time and I am grateful for their willingness to serve each other, to comfort one another and lift each other to be better than they were before. I am grateful for life and I am grateful for the plan of salvation.

I am grateful for good friends who help. They make me smile and feel loved. I am grateful for incredible roommates who serve one another. I am grateful for opportunities we have as human beings to be friends to one another.

I am grateful for my testimony in the true gospel upon the earth. I am grateful for my legs that enable me to walk and dance. I am grateful for my country. I am grateful for ears that let me hear music and for a voice that can create words and song. I am grateful for the ability I have to think, to choose and to become someone great.

The Lonely Bug

“I've got everything I need except a man. And I'm not one of those women who thinks a man is the answer to everything, but I'm tired of being alone.”

jalapeno peppers

Things I learned over this spook-tacular Halloween weekend:
1. I want to be in third grade again and have a Halloween party, complete with BINGO
2. Black lipstick does strange things to your lips
3. I love sharing things with my roommates
4. Psycho, Nightmare before Christmas and Hocus Pocus are the best movies ever created
5. Michael Jackson is a musical genius. Go see This is it.
6. My little sister makes the most beautiful dead woman ever.
7. After you cut jalapeno peppers, NEVER TOUCH YOUR EYES
8. I don't want my best friend to move to Hawaii
9. I love hosting parties
10. I love President Uchtdorf
11. Never share a twin bed with someone else