thank you

...Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."

Christmas is, just as much as Thanksgiving, a time for gratitude.


I am so thankful for:

- My parents, who expect me to always do my best.
- Megan, who thinks I'm much better than I truly am.
- Tanner, who willingly discusses any intelligent subject for any length of time.
- Jessica, who loves me, always.

- My grandparents, who teach more than they realize.
- Uncle Michael, who is truly my friend.
- Aunt Lisa, who is always positive.
- Uncle Todd and Aunt Allison, who take care of me while away from home.
- Uncle Brad, who is always kind.
- Jared, my cousin, who is happily bribed into friendship.
- Abby, who has already mastered the Mitton humor.
- Desiree, who cannot imagine how much I respect her.
- Christian, who is always smiling.

- James Grant, my oldest friend.
- Veronica Gomes, my best friend.
- Abby Spackman, who has put up with more from me than anyone outside my family.
- Andy Fererra, who has never let me down.
- Mary Houghton, my favorite roommate, and my sounding board.
- Christian Lobo, who constantly challenges me to do better and pulls me back to reality.

- Mrs. Simpkins and her joy in us.
- Mrs. Roeding and her love of reading.
- Mrs. Fickes and her style.
- Mr. Malone and his willingness to be a teacher, mentor, and friend.
- Mr. Thompson and his ability to think critically and ask real questions.
- Mr. Hill and his desire to explore uncertainty while holding onto sound convictions.

- Lori Dalrymple and her smile.
- Debra Stewart and her love for my family and me.
- Eva Gomes, the best role model for any young woman.
- Barbara Stevens and her joyful laugh.
- Laura Smith and her strong spirit.
- Mary Lyn Westenhaver, our closest Young Women's advisor.

But mostly, I am thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ. He loved me enough to suffer for my sins, to feel my fears and loneliness, my immense physical pain. He knows me better than anyone else ever will, and I am so thankful for the hope that He brings into my life. Through Him I can find peace. Because of Him, we can have joy.

Christmas ridiculousness

Question. Why do moms stress out about Christmas?

I went to a bridal shower with my mother this morning and the majority of the talk (except for the wedding conversation) was Christmas: shopping, baking, cleaning, decorating, music, Santa, family.... and apparently, the general consensus among mothers is that Christmas is the most stressful time of the year, and they will never be as prepared as they would like.

I don't understand this. You have your list of people you buy presents for: check. You have your list of people you take plates of cookies to, and of course some for yourselves: check. You shouldn't have to clean any more or less than the rest of the year: check. Decorating can be fun if you don't go overboard; the tree is a must, but then it's only as stressful as you make it: check. Music is also up to your own discretion, just get out the Christmas CDs that you like and they're available for the season: check. Santa comes for the kids, all he asks in return is some of the cookies you've already baked: check. Family is great, and (in theory) the best part of Christmas, so why do extra relatives create issues? Maybe it's just a mom thing. But the holidays shouldn't be a stressful time, they should be enjoyable. People get so caught up in all the materialism (and not just "I want [blank]" but the food and decorations and Santa and specific traditions, etc) that they forget that Christmas is a time for family and gratitude and love.

So. When I finally am a mother (in another ten years) I will not fall into the stress trap. I will enjoy Christmas like I've always enjoyed Christmas. I refuse to become a crazy woman who panics because she didn't make a certain kind of cookie or didn't get out a certain Nativity Scene. That's just ridiculous.