I met Kristi, my sophomore year at Utah State when I began my job as a teller at Deseret First Credit Union. Right away, I knew she was a kindred spirit. Her fiery red hair, not to mention her fiery personality made us instant friends. We had much in common, our majors, our age, our love of broadway musicals, our love for LOST and Gilmore Girls, our love of Harry Potter, and our addiction to Cafe Rio pork salads. Kristi was my savior at work, making the days more bearable simply by being there. I was then blessed to be able to have her as my roommate. What luck! I soon found her to be even cooler than was originally thought! She may seem quiet, but she's truly the most hilarious person I know.

For me, Kristi is proof that heavenly father knows me. He sent me her precisely when I need her! I cannot tell you how many times I've felt like my life was falling apart and had Kristi me step in and catch me. Between all of my roommates I'm sure she's seen us all do a number of stupid things. However, she is the one we all go to, because we know she will just listen and not judge us for our idiotic tendencies. She's coached me through, count em', 4 break-ups, the application process for the ELED program, drama after drama in my apartment, work outages and break downs, family troubles and many times where my testimony waivered.

Now she is leaving for the Houston Texas Spanish Speaking Mission. I am terribly sad she's leaving, but she will be the most incredible missionary. Kristi has extraordinary faith, and a strong, simple testimony of the gospel. Though I don't want to share her, I'm so excited for the people in Texas to be able to know the wonderful person that I've grown so attached to!

Kristi on the right...eating the ice cream. Courtesy of Amy's Blog. Love it!

Christmas Songs

Okay, so I'm a sentimental fool when it comes to Christmas music. Several songs almost bring me to tears, which is kind of a big deal for me. These songs include, but are not limited to:

• Where Are You Christmas: Especially the version with that adorable little girl singing it!
• My Grown Up Christmas List
• A Special Night: Rarely heard, and usually just in Sacrament Meetings
• When Christmas Comes to Town
• The Christmas Shoes
• Believe
• I'll Be Home For Christmas
• Were You There: Also usually performed in Sacrament Meeting
• Do You Hear What I Hear: When sung correctly with no fancy pop fanfare

I'm sure some of you laughed when you read these titles. But, I have no intention of letting you change my mind. I like what I like so sorry if you don't. So I'm a Christmas Song Sap, leave me alone.

As for my other favorites, that don't bring me to tears, but make me happy every time I hear them:

• A Wonderful Christmas Time: Paul McCartney, if you didn't know that, shame on you.
• White Christmas: The Bing Crosby version, really is there any other good version?
• Have a Holly Jolly Christmas
• Silent Night
• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas: James Taylor
• Santa Claus is Comin to Town: Springsteen....excellent
• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/ We Three Kings: Barnaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan
• O Come, All Ye Faithful

Arguing

I've never been much good at arguing. In middle school when learning how to debate, I remember quite specifically standing up to make my point and forgetting everything I was about to say. I guess I'm not that great at confrontation.

Now, obviously this becomes a problem during long, lengthy and important arguements. I get rather flustered and am easily swayed to one side or another just to avoid talking about it any more. The more frustrating thing however, is that when I'm trying to pick a silly fight. For example last night when I was on the phone with my friend he mentioned that, of the two of us, he was always the optimist. I laughed, saying that there were several times he'd been the pessimist. The trouble came when I couldn't produce an instance where this was the case. For some reason when I'm fighting with someone, all details and facts immediately leave me.

Problems also occur when throwing insults, bantering with friends or working with 2nd graders. I'm good for one good retort, and then I'm out. After that, I have to start using generic comebacks such as "your mom...insert clever comment here" or "I'll...insert whatever they said here...your face!" Not really very original, am I? When fighting with my 2nd graders I was often challenged as to what the consequence would be if they didn't do what I said. On one occasion in particular I remember saying, "Well I don't know what will happen, but it won't be good." Oh yeah, I've definitely got them scared now!

Therein lies my struggle. I often lose the arguements because I know that I don't have the facts to back me up. I get too flustered, defensive or annoyed to remember.

My point is this, it certainly becomes infuriating when I'm the one who picks the fight and I can't even finish it!

I am not a big advocate for snow. Sure it looks pretty, as it's falling down from the heavens, blanketing the world with white. However, I have come to a very simple and logical conclusion about snow. It is INCONVENIENT.

I'm sure I come across rather harsh, but that my friends is the truth of it.

When I was little, I looked forward to the first snowfall. I would spend hours outside in my "snow bunny suit" (affectionately named by my Dad) building snowmen and forts, and making snow angels. I wouldn't go inside until I couldn't feel my toes. Now that's dedication! Snow and I always had an understanding before.

Then...I moved up to LOGAN.
Then...I had to start driving in the snow.
Then...I had to endure snow for 6 months out of the year.
Then...I had to walk to class in the blizzard (which is quite difficult at a 70% incline of ICE)
Then...I had to pay my sky high heating bill because of the snow.
Then...I had to cancel important plans with friends because of the snow.

So now snow has become a bother, and a hastle to me. I propose a new deal, snow over Christmas Break! Not Before, Not After! Who's with me?

"Me and snow, we're through."

Have you ever had those moments when you just want to say EEEEE!!!! You are so giddy and so excited that it's all you can do to contain yourself from bouncing of the walls. You find that you cannot sit still in your chair, nor can you focus on anything but the happiness building inside you. You are smiling all the time...big toothy grins...the likes of which are rarely seen outside of cartoons. You go to bed smiling, you sleep soundly and you wake up smiling. Moments like these can be the result of many things. I'm sure most people have had a moment like this! If not, I feel sorry and hope that you will experience it soon.

This my friends is pure happiness. This is being content with your life and excited about the challenges you are about to face. This is what it feels like to be truly, incandescently happy.

Try it sometime...