Ushering in Christmas

 After all of the craziness of November and because of Thanksgiving's lateness, I felt completely unprepared for Christmas this year. Like, I didn't even want to listen to Christmas music after Thanksgiving because I was that unprepared. We felt like we had been running and running all year and couldn't believe it was already the season to be merry and joyous (falala). Come December 1st, we finally started pulling out Christmas decorations slowly--very slowly. I had almost no enthusiasm in the process like I usually do. 

Finally, on December 5th after a busy night we curled up and watched The Santa Clause with Tim Allen. It was a light switch for us. It finally put us in the Christmas mood, and from then on, I had no problem embracing the holiday season, especially after watching this powerful video reminding me of the reason for the season:

We had about two weeks between embracing the Christmas spirit and leaving to California to be with family, so we celebrated when we could. Each night we read a Christmas story of some kind--such a fun way to bring in the Christmas spirit; this may become a tradition of ours! 

And then I surprised even myself by putting up Christmas lights on our trees, bushes, and railings. Once we had decided to buy our home, one of the first things I noticed was that it screams Christmas lights with the trees, bushes, and wiring we have going on. So we bought some net lighting and pulled out our inherited cast off lights from family. I kept hinting for Ben to put them up, but he was, understandably, busy with tons of final project assignments, so in a moment of desperation, or pure insanity, I decided to, for the first time in my life, put up Christmas lights. I have never even put up lights on a tree before (I always delegate this assignment), so this was a big deal! I was so excited for Ben to drive home and see my random light display! 

So when all was said and done, it didn't look as magical as I was expecting, but at least I was no longer being Scrooge. 

The weather may have contributed to my denial of the Christmas season. It did not feel like a typical Utah December. 

I apologize for my perpetual sunset postings. Since living in Pleasant View, the views have me entranced every single night. 

Ben and I went on a Christmas light date night. We stopped at Boston's in Layton, and I'm still dreaming about my food. So fun!

Then it was off to our 50 degree night of looking at the lights on Temple Square. I love the spirit of that place. 

The following night we had a double date with Ben's parents to do sealings in the Ogden Temple and then to see a movie at the Movie Grille. Two date nights in a row--the best!

I was introduced to this deliciousness as a Christmas goodie, and my life will never be the same. 

It's amazing how the small things can change your heart. I started off this Christmas season "not in the mood" and frantic but ended with a feeling of peace as I remembered that the birth of our Savior is something we can rejoice in each day as we implement the Atonement in our day to day lives and remember that we have a Savior!

P.S. This video probably touched me more than anything else this season. It was three Kleenex worthy. 

Thanksgiving Week Recap

Thanksgiving week was a whirlwind of fun! We crammed as many fun things as possible while both working the majority of the week :) 

Baking: Of course, Thanksgiving gives me an excuse to bake, which I appreciate! Sadly, this beautiful pie didn't look or taste that beautiful once it went into the oven :( Baking is always an experiment for me--meaning there are definitely some failures, but it's so fun to keep trying new things!

Friends: We got to drive down to Draper the night before Thanksgiving to reunite with some of my best friends in the entire world, and their families, who live in Texas and Orem. We had so much fun eating Cafe Rio, chatting, and having fun with their kids :) 

Ben and Kenzie had fun playing a candy game!

It's weird that BYU is now feeling like it was a trillion lightyears ago. 

I couldn't wipe that smile off my face for the remainder of the night--it was too much fun. 

Family: Thanksgiving Day was glorious! We got to reunite with family in Iowa, and I got to play with my nephews and niece! 

Cousin bonding!

Wedding: Spencer and Katherine got married the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We are so happy for them!! We were totally missing Sam and Natalie all day though--we were so sad they both got SO sick!

The luncheon

With the Browning gals!

Waiting for the bride and groom!

The darling couple!

After the fun luncheon and special sealing, it was reception time! I got to take Lucy since her parents were so sick and, boy, did we have fun but were missing her parents!! 

All of the Browning cousins!

Cute brothers!

The Browning family is now complete!! We are so glad Katherine is now part of the family :) 

Why Fiction Is Truth: My Reading Journey

Reading is seeking for understanding, a quest to understand people, topics, events, places, attitudes, and personalities. Because, here's the thing, fiction is truth in the highest sense. Fiction conveys the things that people often think but are too scared to say; it portrays the emotions and fears tied to historical events usually read about in a dry text book;it emphasizes that even throughout the span of time, people are still relatively the same; it displays human nature for better or for worse and depicts the inner thoughts of its narrator. A book can be your friend in the hardest of times, opens worlds to you that you never could have dreamed up, helps you understand others, encourages empathy, portrays the consequences of choices, and leaves you better than before.  And for me, the best type of fiction is the kind that makes you want to be better.
 
I developed my passion for reading in about third or fourth grade. I remember devouring Boxcar Children books, Nancy Drew mysteries, and Little House on the Prairie series. By sixth grade, I was carrying around Shakespeare's greatest works (which is not cool in 6th grade, BTW). From there, I was on to historical fiction and classics. In seventh grade, I read the entire Work and the Glory series in 27 days. I couldn't read fast enough to catch up with my desire to get on to the next book. I didn't have the best social life (okay, it was pretty much non-existent) in middle school, but my books were my friends that I so desperately wished for and needed.

Originally, when I started off at BYU, I wanted to major in elementary education because I loved kids and eventually wanted be a mom, and so I thought it would be a perfect fit. I remember volunteering as an aid for a community service program in elementary schools that first year and thinking--"Wow, I do not have the multi-tasking abilities that these elementary school teachers have. They have to be thinking twenty steps ahead." (Props to all you elementary education teachers out there; it takes a special kind of person!) I realized that my skills did not match those of an elementary school teacher, so I pondered and prayed at what I could do instead.

Then it hit me. I was obsessed with reading--why not use something that I loved for my major? The problem--what in the world do you do as an English major? I was, and still am not, much of a writer, so I wondered how this love of reading would help me in life...so I took an Intro to the English Major class my second semester of my freshmen year to see what it was all about. When I heard about the broad expanse of positions for English majors, such as communication skills needed for practically any business, editors in multiple fields, and teachers, I knew this could be a great fit for me!

It was. Being assigned to read 800 page English classic novels in two weeks and then write in-depth analyses/projects of them was my version of a bookworm's paradise (not like it was never not stressful with those types of timelines)! I loved tying the books I read to their historical and societal context, searching for themes, and gleaning a new depth of understanding with each book I read while refining my writing skills.

When the time came for me to graduate with my Bachelor's in English and minor in Humanities, I knew I didn't want to stop. My true passion was British Literature (I'm obsessed with the classics), and so I chose Weber State, which let me emphasize in British Literature for my Master's while obtaining my teaching certificate.

The first year of my post-formal schooling I took a year break and only read a few books since I had been bombarded with so many tight reading timelines for six years. Now that my formal occasion has ceased and I have had my mini-break, I find myself craving to keep up with that learning. I have challenged that for every three "fun books" I read, that I read a classic so I can keep up with my field! I have been doing this for almost two years, and it has been so fulfilling to keep pursuing my passion and, even though I love the classics, it has been so fun to read books that are simple, easy, and enjoyable as well as some popular young adult fiction. With Ben gone so much, it's been a comfort to curl up to a book on those long, lonely nights. I'm so grateful for the companionship of books!

After my time at BYU and Weber State, I have never, not once, regretted my choice of English in education. I feel like studying books is one the best things I could have done with my time. I learned about a variety of fields and lives, increased my ability to research and analyze, and, believe it or not, I think one of the best things you can do to improve your writing is read, read a lot! I have been surprised at how handy these analytical, writing, and reading skills have been for me in the business world that I am now immersed in. That's the great thing about English...you can apply it to everything because everything ties back to communication. Studying books is a way of life that doesn't need to stop after your formal education finishes. It lets you keep learning without a formal teacher.

One of the most simultaneously satisfying and dissatisfying things about being a reader is--you're never done. There's always the next book on your long "to-read" list to look forward to, disecting the last book you read, and losing yourself in a clever plot.

My relationship with books will never end because I love the truths that I find in fiction. 

*To see my reading list and reviews click here.