Friday, December 31, 2010

A Christmas Story

I'll be the first to tell you that I was quite a Grinch on Christmas. You're probably thinking, "How is it even possible to be unhappy during the best month of the year?!" Any other year I would have smacked someone who was being a Debby Downer on my most favorite holiday. I mean, who could possibly be a grump on Christmas with tons of delicious food, family, presents, and boat loads of candy


It's most definitely not something I am proud of, and I promise that this post isn't as depressing as it might sound, just give me a moment to wallow (I promise I'll be quick). This Christmas was very different from all the other ones we've celebrated.  Not only was I away from Joe, but this is was the first Christmas we had since my parents divorced over the summer. My sister and I woke up and did a little bit of Christmas with my Dad and left to go over to our Mom's for breakfast and more presents.  You know those days you have and from the moment you wake up you just know that day is going to be awful? I never thought those days could creep in on Christmas! 

As we drove over to our Mom's I couldn't help but think of how much I hated the hassle of driving the whole 5 minutes to our Mom's house and how stupid it was that Santa didn't come (oh yeah, the whiney, cry baby award clearly goes to me!). I was in a mood and I didn't care that it was Christmas, nothing was stopping my pity party!  Don't get me wrong, we had a lovely time with our Mom and her husband Mark and we of course got wonderful gifts that we definitely didn't deserve or need (well, except the socks I was in definite need of those).  The gifts my Dad got us were also outrageous and I was not deserving of them at all (especially with the tude I was pullin' that day)

I was in a funk, and no amount of perfectly decorated and sprinkled sugar cookies could pull me out of it!  You know it's bad when cookies can't make me happy...

My Dad reminded me that we were going to go do a service project with another family in our ward later that afternoon.  Surprising, my heart wasn't bitterly cold that day, I was eager to go and get my mind off how unhappy I was. 
You know that one family in your ward, the one that is gorgeous and perfectly put together all the time? The family where each person is ridiculously talented, and without effort can make anyone's resume look like an old scrap of paper. Yes, this is the Bluth family for those who might be fortunate enough to know them. My Dad, sister and I went over to their house to make and assemble lunches that we would hand out to the homeless in downtown Phoenix. 
These weren't just your ordinary brown bag lunches. We're talking about the Bluth family, they were gourmet lunches and it was hard not to sneak some of the goodies (I promise the missing pudding wasn't me!) 
The lunches included a Turkey sandwich with lettuce and cheese, peanut butter crackers, chips, a baby orange, pudding, a Capri Sun, and napkins and a plastic knife and spoon! Talk about some amazing lunches, and if it couldn't get any better than that, there were adorned with the cutest Christmas tree decorations  that gave them that extra festive punch!  I wish I would have taken a picture because they were adorable! 

The adults piled in one car and McKenna, Lexi, and her older sister and husband and I got into another car and headed down to Van Buren, a street in Phoenix that doesn't have the best reputation. The entire drive down I complained about how I didn't get a new ipod (in my defense, my itouch broke the week before Christmas, so I was a little bummed to be ipod-less). We didn't really have a plan we just decided to stop and hand out the lunches to people who we thought looked in need of some Christmas cheer (quite the responsibility! We wanted to give a lunch to everyone we saw) We found a park with a few people sleeping and gave the lunches to them. Us girls didn't think it was the safest to get out on our own so we delegated the handing out to Courtney's husband, Austin. When we would see someone on the street we'd pull over and Austin would roll down his window and say, "Hey! You want this?" it was hilarious and quickly became the ongoing joke of the day. I'm sorry if no one else thinks that is funny, but it was a riot to us.

Slowly, my perspective and attitude started to change.  We saw so many people living on the streets, not knowing when they would get their next meal and I had the audacity to complain about how much of a "hassle" my life was and how upset I was that I didn't get a new ipod.  The sinking feeling in my stomach and the lump in my throat grew and I felt horribly selfish and ungrateful. (I'm sure most of you reading this are saying, "Well good you deserve it!")  

There was one man that we gave a lunch to that especially touched each of our hearts.  We only had a few lunches left when we followed the adults into an empty parking lot.  Sitting behind an old Chinese restaurant with a shopping cart full of empty cans and cardboard boxes was a rugged looking man.  He wore a tattered trucker hat and sported a long gray beard, he was the stereotypical man that you would feel increasingly uncomfortable around if you were alone saw him on the street.  My Dad got out of the car and started talking to him, immediately his face lit up and he smiled the most genuine smile I have ever seen; despite the missing teeth he had.  
I don't know what my Dad talked to him about, but as he stood there I thought about how lucky I am to have all that I am given so freely.  I never have to worry about where I'll sleep at night or where my next meal is going to come from.  I have an amazing family who loves and supports me, even though we don't have"the perfect family" it is still great and a lot better than what most people have. 

As we started to drive away we saw the old man say a prayer and throw his fist in the air in a joyous expression, as if he was explaining "yesssss!" .  He held on tightly to the box and gently touched and admired the decorative Christmas tree that perfectly topped the box.  As we  watched this, there wasn't a dry eye in the car and we humbly sat in silence in awe of what we just witnessed. Courtney said, "and this is why we do this, for people like him!" I couldn't agree more with her statement!  For those couple hours I didn't think once about the gifts I didn't receive or about myself and the "problems" I had.  I felt an overwhelming sense of joy and love from my Heavenly Father during the quiet drive back to Scottsdale. The gratitude I have towards my life all the wonderful blessings I take part in every day touched me like never before. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to lose myself in service and help those in need.  I have always thought if I can touch the life of just one person,then my work has been done. 

Even though we didn't make a huge difference in the world nor did we provide lasting happiness for the people we saw, I know that we provided them with a little ounce of joy and perhaps a sliver of hope that there is good to be had in the world, we just have to go out and find it. Every time I start to complain (which is quite frequently) I think of that old man and what he might be doing and my attitude changes immediately and the gratitude I felt that day rushes over me once more.

I am proud to say that by the time we got home my heart, much like the Grinch's, grew three sizes that day and I gained a new and much needed perspective on life.  Next year (hopefully if the Bluth's invite us again) we would like to make 100 lunches.  There is nothing quite like service on the best day of the year! 
 

 

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Came Early!

I have been so excited this last week to post this blog entry (go ahead and make fun of me, McKenna) because I actually felt like I had something "blog worthy" to talk about. In the midst of all the crazy that happened during finals week and clean checks, Joe and I managed to find time to go Christmas shopping for each other.  I have always loved gift giving (despite what my family might think) and seeing the excited looks on family and friends faces when they open their gifts is always so rewarding.  I felt an inner desire to go above and beyond on Joe's gifts and give him the best Christmas he had ever had.  Unfortunately, a college budget left me limited and very discouraged on what I could do for him. I had some help from his close friends on what I could do and I felt very confident in what gifts I was ready to exchange. Since Joe has to stay in Rexburg for Christmas because of his stupid job ( alright, his job really isn't THAT stupid, it is just stupid  that he has to stay over the break. He works so hard to save money for us when we're married, but really what kind of Christmas is one spent in the dismal and frigid cold Rexburg?)We decided to do Christmas early! I love learning new things about Joe and I quickly learned that he is a pro gift wrapper (my mom is going to be so embarrassed when she sees my gift wrapping ability...or lack there of). Joe did a lot of service on his mission wrapping gifts at the mall during Christmas time, so that's where he gained his expertise :) 
(just ignore the mismatched wrapping paper) 
My sad looking presents. 






I was so excited to show off my awesome gifts and eager to see if Joe just threw my gifts in a colorful bag with matching tissue paper. (alright, that was actually MY idea since gift wrapping terrifies me. Joe told me I had to wrap them...ugh!) 

I'm not going to lie, when I saw what kind of wrapping job Joe had done I was a little bummed and a lot embarrassed. He had everything perfectly wrapped, and let me tell you, his corners looked perfect!  Gift wrapping is the thing the girl should be good at, but hey, maybe I've gotten myself out of gift wrapping for the rest of my life?
                                                      The beauties Joe walzted out with!

 That huge box is every kids fantasy (I'm a little kid at heart, surprising I know!) Inside it contained box after box filled with presents and all sorts of amazing goodies, he knows me so well! 
                                                   Fully equipped with bows and ribbons
The new trucks and wheels I got Joe. Don't worry, I didn't know what they were either. The guys at the store told me they were "sick" and Joe liked them so yay!
                                                   Annoyed with all the pictures I'm taking :) 
All in all, our first sort-of Christmas together was perfect! I can't wait to spend our first real Christmas together next year! I love the Christmas season, I wish that it never had to end!  I want to make it a goal to keep the Christmas spirit with me throughout the year! 
Merry Christmas Eve everyone! 


Friday, December 3, 2010

All You Need is Love

This is my very first blog entry, ever! Thanks to the help of the ever-so-wonderful Lauren Woolley for teaching me the ways of the blogging world! 
My little sister, McKenna, has told me numerous times that only married people have a blog and if I get one I'm just conforming to what is popular.  I decide to go against her advice (insert dramatic gasp) and create one! Even though Joe and I aren't married yet I thought it'd be fun to document our engagement and everything else in between! 
Joe and I got engaged on October 9th, 2010 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was the best day of my entire life and it has just gotten better! I am so lucky to be marrying the most amazing guy out there. I could go on for hours and hours about how wonderful he is to me and how happy I we're going to be, but I'm afraid my sister is already gagging so I'll spare you the details :) 


Joe and I are getting married on April 30th, 2011 in the Mount Timpanogos temple.  To all of the people in Mormonville (aka BYU-Idaho) that seems like an eternity away (we most certainly can confirm that it IS an eternity away) but, to the rest of the world, who isn't apart of the BYUI "bubble" they think we are absolutely crazy for getting married so soon.  I couldn't be more excited to get married and start my life with my best friend.  


Our wedding plans are going so well, we have an amazing photographer, Tyra Andrews who just took the first half of our engagement pictures on Tuesday! She is so wonderful to work with, and her photography is brilliant! We decided to take half of our pictures now and take the other half in the "spring".  The pictures probably won't look much different since it's brutally cold in Rexburg up until April/May ish, but we figured it'd be best to split up the sessions so we don't die in the cold. When we took our engagements it was 13 degrees outside! Brrrr!Ever since we took the pictures I have been so excited to see them.  
Since our engagement isn't the traditional 2-4 months long, like most young LDS couples, it doesn't feel like it's actually happening. (IS THIS REAL LIFE?!) Sure I have my gorgeous ring on my left hand, and my insanely beautiful wedding dress purchased it just feels too good to be true. Can I really be this lucky? Yup, I guess I just have to face the facts, I AM this lucky :)