Thursday, November 22, 2012

Christmas Music

Warning: the following contains a long-contained rant. It may or may not be worth your time.
What is up with the hype over Christmas music? Seriously, people. I listen to Christmas music year round--whenever I happen to be in the mood. What in the world is wrong with listening to music about our Savior? With listening to music that reminds us of the joy of the Christmas season? This isn't a bad thing, folks.
I understand that many people are concerned over the loss of Thanksgiving spirit. This is a real concern and quite frankly, maybe Thanksgiving is overlooked. But for me, Thanksgiving is like a preview for Christmas. People are reminded of the thanks they should be giving year round, which leads to a remembrance of the spirit we should have with us year round. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that!
The whole point of Christmas music is to get you in the holiday spirit. It helps you remember the best part in each of us--the part where we love and accept others, where we help and serve and give, because that's what our Savior would do. This contention over Christmas music is completely contradictory to what it's trying to accomplish.
So please, back off of my Christmas music. I'm going to listen whether you like it or not--before Thanksgiving, after Thanksgiving, and the rest of the year, too. Don't waste your breath telling me otherwise.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Wonders

     So I was talking to my good friend Shelby today, and we started talking about friends. Why we make the friends we do, etc. I mean, one of my best friends and I didn't like each other at all when we were little. (Of course, the way she tells the story, I'm not convinced that has changed...haha.) But really. My friends are basically the best people on the face of the planet. So this is a shout-out to some of my best friends ever. :)
     Oh boy...um, I'm not quite sure what to say about this girl. We've been through basically everything together. The best things about this friendship? We laugh. A lot. And then some. I think I've laughed more with this girl than I have with anyone else, except maybe my family. She keeps my head on straight. Our friendship has survived junior high, high school, and is still going strong in college. It's been halfway across the world and back. We've danced in parking lots, sung at the top of our lungs, jumped off of cliffs, and talked through the night. We've climbed mountains, watched movies, and shared clothes. It's been amazing. :)
     Haha. Haha...I have done some crazy things with this next girl. Oh gosh. Fffaaacccttt...we quote Kid History all the time. My face never looks normal in her pictures. Dancing in the rain is normal for us. We want to go boyfriend shopping at the mall. We make summer bucket lists that only get halfway done (next summer, we will finish). We love music, Disney movies, and Chinese food. She keeps my head from going on straight, which is great, because sometimes it's just more fun that way. The randomness never ends when we get together!
     Next comes my little gnome friend. She has seen more sides of me, more quickly than anyone else. She's suffered through my low points, my high points, and my really high Pringle points at 2 in the morning. She's gotten me to tell you more about myself in a shorter amount of time than I would usually tell. We share a love for manatees. We're friends even though she doesn't like flip-flops, which I'm pretty sure is up there with not liking sunshine, ponies, or happiness. I can always count on miu. ;) She save me when I desperately need sarcasm in my life, because I'm convinced that without sarcasm, we wouldn't be friends. We're proof that friendships can survive long distances.
     Last but not least, there's you. That's right, you. Because my life wouldn't be the same without any of you--my Harry Potter fanatics, my musical friends, and my coffi buddies. My roommates, my brothers and sisters, my fellow Vikings. My friends, new and old, who keep me going through all of the trials that life throws at me. Friendships are miracles--wonders, if you will. So here's a Rob Thomas song about the little wonders in life. :)