Merry Christmas!

Chris and I had a relaxing Christmas. Chris made breakfast and we opened presents. It was so fun. We got presents from both of our families. I don't really have a favorite present, but it's been a blast. We also got to call my sister, Heather, for her birthday. It was nice to talk to her. I hope she had a good day. It was also nice that Chris had Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off. I got to have him all to myself!! :)

We got to Skype Jared with Chris's family. They Skyped us and then they went on their other computer where Jared was. It was so fun to talk to him. I wished we were back home for that, but it was so cool. I miss my little brother a lot, but I'm so glad Jared's doing well.

Christmas always gives me the opportunity to think of how much my Savior, Jesus Christ, has done for me. I'm so grateful that He suffered not just for my sins, but for the sins of the world, and I'm so thankful to know that He lives. I'm grateful for good parents and good teachers who have helped me on the path to righteousness. I'm thankful for good sisters and good in-laws who keep me on that path of righteousness. I'm grateful for the temple and that I can be with my family forever. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't be with my family again after this life. I'm grateful for the Book of Mormon and I know that it's true. I've read it so many times. I love that when I read it, I always feel the Spirit and I learn something new every time.

Christmastime brings up so many childhood memories. I remember when I was younger, every Christmas morning, me and my sisters would get ready for the day, put on our pajamas we received from our grandma and grandpa, eat breakfast, open Heather's birthday gifts, and then we could open our Christmas gifts (in that order). Plus, I'd always get a rubber bug or critter of some sort in my stocking from Mrs. Claus (my mom said she has a sense of humor). One year, my sister and I got big rubber spiders in our stockings. I reached my hand inside it. I felt it, threw it on the ground, and screamed as loud as I could. ;) The next morning, I opened the coat closet to grab something and I found one of them on the top shelf. Then, I went into the kitchen for breakfast, and I found the other one on the kitchen counter. My dad was laughing at me and told me that they're fake, but I'm still scared of them to this day. That's really embarrassing, but it is the truth so don't laugh at me! ;)

I was sad that I wasn't with my family for Christmas this year since we are really close, but I'm also grateful to start new traditions with Chris. :)

Christmas Eve

Tonight, my family Skyped Chris and me from Shelley, Idaho. My mom's family goes to my mom's house every Christmas Eve. They do a little program. I loved seeing my family. I miss them a lot. The only people that weren't there were my cousin, Brynne (she spent Christmas with her husband's family in Utah) and her brother, JD (because he's on a mission in Seattle, Washington). The program was awesome. My aunt did the Top Ten things we did this year. We did a cousin ornament exchange. I got an ornament from my cousin, Sam. It was a cowgirl boot since I live in Texas. My cousin, Brigham (I call him Buggers) had Chris. We don't know what it is yet because it's still in the mail. So, we should be getting it soon. My cousin, Shane (I call him Shaners), and his brother, Luke (I call him Duke), told us jokes. They are funny boys. I miss them. We got a breakfast sandwich maker from my Aunt Patti. I'm so excited to use it. She always gives the grandkids awesome gifts. We got pajamas from Gran. Dad brought them down when he was here. We put them up in the closet until Christmas came around. I sure miss my fam.

I cannot believe tomorrow is CHRISTMAS!!! I also can't believe that it's my sister, Heather's, birthday tomorrow. She's going to be 15. I feel so old! This year has gone by way too fast.

Chris didn't have to work today and he doesn't have to work tomorrow!! I am so excited to spend Christmas Day with him. He is the greatest husband I could've ever ask for!! :)

Family Home Evening

Chris and I had Family Home Evening with Sara Comish and her family. Sara leads the music in Sacrament Meeting and her husband, James, is a Primary teacher. They have a little girl, Jade, who is just adorable, and a little girl, Emma, who is equally adorable.

We made sugar cookies. Jade talked my ear off. She yelled at Chris because he didn't do the cookies like she wanted him to. It was so cute. I had a good talk with Sara. I'm sad because I don't get to sit by her in Relief Society anymore, but seeing James in Primary kind of makes up for it.

Sara and I have become pretty good friends. I'm still getting to know her and her family, but I think it's safe to say that she's probably my best friend in the ward. It's nice to have one of those again. Sara's the biggest sweetheart ever. When we met, we instantly connected. One Sunday, I was telling her I am not a very good cook. That next week, Sara gave me a cookbook she had in college that had really easy recipes in it. She told me to try some of them (I've tried a few, but not very many).

It's crazy how much my family has grown in the last two years (well, almost two years): my sister-in-law got married in May, my three sisters gained a brother-in-law, plus I have these awesome in laws to add to my already amazing family. I am so blessed. There is no better time than the Christmas season to be reminded of how much we all have and how much we have to be grateful for. I'm so grateful for my Savior and that He and Heavenly Father have blessed me with good parents who are faithful, who go to Church, who try to do what is right, and who set good examples for their children to follow. I'm grateful for my testimony and for how much it has grown and has been strengthened over the years. I'm grateful to know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that He died and lives for us. I'm grateful for the scriptures and how I always learn something new when I read them. I'm grateful for the temple and that I know that families can be together forever. I don't know where I would be if I didn't know that. I want to be with my family for eternity. I am so grateful for a loving, kind, patient Heavenly Father who will always be there for me when I am struggling and who will help me when I am in need of His help. I'm grateful that I can talk to Him by just getting down on my knees and saying a prayer. I'm grateful for the priesthood. I'm so thankful that Chris lives worthily to hold the priesthood. I know that the priesthood has certainly changed my life and saved my life on occasion. I am so grateful for this time of year and how we can each ponder on our blessings and thank Heavenly Father for all we have been given.

Aced It!!!

I took my final exam online for my Life Skills Class this afternoon. And guess what grade I received on it? I received a 91% which is AN A!!!! I'm so excited about it. I called my mom and she was literally bouncing off the walls (well, I'm guessing). I am so relieved that I received that grade. My overall grade has been all over the place. I wasn't very good at the quizzes at first, but I got better halfway through the lessons. My overall grade is a B. I wished it was an A, but I will certainly take it!

Chris told me to wait until he got home from work to start on my final. I started on it anyways, but I waited until Chris got home to submit my answers (so I kind of listened to him, right?). :) I like that he likes to look over my work before I submit it for a grade. At first, I wasn't really good at it, but I got better and it really paid off.

The Pathway Program has been a huge blessing to me. I never thought I'd be receiving my education and figuring out what I want to do with my life. Before I started, the only thing I really ever wanted to be was a mom. And I still want to be a mom, but I'm so glad that I have more options and I can earn my degree and use it in case something happens with Chris's job.

Next semester, I'm going to be studying English and taking the second part of my Book of Mormon class. It'll be fun. I'm so glad it was English. I was always good at English in high school and it's my favorite subject. At first, I thought it was Math. Thank goodness it's not because that is my worst subject. :)

My mom mailed me Christmas gifts from the fam (aka family) and we decorated our Christmas tree a while ago. It's getting me in the Christmas mood. I can't believe that it's almost here. Chris wanted a tool box to put on the back of his truck. So, I got him that. After we bought it, he said that I shouldn't give him any more presents because it was really expensive. Now I just need to get things for our stockings. I still wonder what Chris gave me. He's being really sneaky about it. We also received gifts from both of our families. Chris's sister, Cindy, had me. I had Chris's other sister, Anna and Anna had Chris. My sister, Heather, is going to be 15 years old on Christmas Day which means I'm getting old! Where did the time go?