It's Beginning to Sound a Lot Like Christmas...

Actually, it starting sounding like Christmas on November 1. We could probably listen to it all year long, but I don't want to get bored with it. I want it to be special music for a special time of year. In fact, this year, I did something I've never done before. I took the time to get to know the lyrics. I wanted to pull out the lyrics that described what I thought Christmas was about. Some of them are just words pulled from songs, others are phrases. All of them are things that I want to remember about this time of year. Today I am going to share some of my favorites.

• Tis the season to be jolly! 
• Jolly= full of happiness and joy. 
• Let your heart be light
• The holidays are a reminder of missing loved ones (or not being married or not having kids or being away from family). These reminders are often painful and weigh down our hearts. During this season, we can take hope in the fact that because He was born, He was able to fulfill the requirements of the Atonement. This isn't a season to dwell on our losses. It is a time to feel the peace knowing that those losses will be made up for.
• Don't cry, I'll be back again some day.
• Okay. This was from Frosty the Snowman, but think about it in a different light. We celebrate Jesus Christ coming to Earth. Someday, we will get to celebrate Him coming again. That day, there will be no more tears.
• Making spirits bright
• I think there is definitely a theme to Christmas songs. Let the magic of this time of year touch your hearts, uplift your spirits, and renew your hope for the next year. 
• Offspring of a virgin's womb
• This is one of my favorite miracles. Jesus Christ had to be the offspring of God in order to fulfill his mission on Earth. He had to be the offspring of man to be subject to death and to understand the spectrum of feelings associated with being mortal. Because He was Mary's son, He can understand the trials I go through in a way that no one else can. 
• Let every heart prepare him room
• It is easy to fill this time of year with shopping, planning, decorating, baking, etc. Those things can all be important, but it is most important to make room for Him in our hearts.
• There's a happy feeling nothing in the world can buy
• Happiness, peace, and love come from the Savior. Nothing can replace that. 
• Laughing all the way
• Don't forget to laugh! Watch funny movies and spend time with family and friends sharing the love of Jesus Christ.
• Remember Him as you picture Christmas this year
• Plan ahead so that when you think about how Christmas of 2013 was, the Savior was at the center of your celebrations.

There were so many more, but they all reiterate the same message of Christmas: Focus on the Savior this holiday season and your hearts will be filled with peace and love. That will always be better than any gift you will receive. I hope that this will encourage you to listen to beautiful Christmas music and listen to the lyrics as you decide what you want your Christmas to be this year.

Let it Snow!

My favorite three months of the year are November, December, and January. Yep. Today you get to know why.

November: Two reasons. Gratitude and food. I am happier when I think about the things I have been blessed with. There are a lot. I learned long ago to be specific. Make a really long list of things you are grateful for and you have less time worrying about the things that are going wrong or things you lack. (Don't be specific about those things. Doesn't help you have a thankful heart. Just makes you eat more.) I am so sad about the commercialization of Thanksgiving. It makes me so sad that Thanksgiving is cut short for shopping. Thanksgiving should be a day you spend time with your family playing games and watching movies and eating delicious food. It should not be a day that people are trampling over each other for a sale. Nothing is worth that. The end.

The food should go without saying. It is delicious. I love it all. I love that it brings families together to cook. Sounds like me, doesn't it? Food with family. It's such a perfect holiday. Plus if you make a lot (like my family), you have leftovers for days. Thanksgiving could last all weekend if you plan it just right. 

December: I love the snow that usually comes with the final month of the year. That's what prompted me to blog today. It started snowing last night and isn't going to stop for a couple of days. Plus temperatures aren't going to be over 30 degrees all week, so it is just accumulating. I love sitting inside, cuddled under a blanket watching it snow. I have always loved shoveling snow. I love how pretty it makes everything. I love how quiet it makes everything. Finally, I love seeing the animal tracks in the snow. Am I the only weirdo that looks for tracks in the snow whenever I am in the car? Yes? Then forget I said anything. Pretend I am normal. Or just don't judge. Even better, try it! It is fun to see the pathways they take.

My favorite time in December is Christmas. I love Christmas music. We have a rule in our house that we can't start listening to Christmas music until November 1. You would think that would be easy, but I could listen to some Christmas music all year long. We want to make Christmas a very special time, so we limit the music to two months instead of twelve. Christmas is always special because we get to focus on such an amazing part of our Savior's life on Earth: the beginnings. It's such a fascinating and humbling story. I love getting to spend time studying those stories in the scriptures. I have so much respect for Mary and Joseph. I will talk more about the Nativity story another post. (Bonus - I will also talk about Christmas music in another post. Yes, you're welcome.) December in my family also means a repeat of Thanksgiving dinner plus a ham. Yum.

January: At the beginning of January everyone is determined to be their best self. Yeah, it doesn't usually go beyond January, but it's nice while it lasts. No, I'm not one of those people. I don't like people telling me when I should make a decision to be better. I am just going to like myself how I am and try each day to be a little better. I don't have a deadline for my resolution, and somedays I fail. Luckily, I don't have to wait an entire year before trying again. It's nice.

I was born in January. I love having a birthday in January. (Things go on sale after Christmas so my birthday presents can always be purchased on sale.) I get presents a month after Christmas so if something is missed at Christmas, I only have to wait a month. Plus it is still cold and snowy. Plus it is a day that is dedicated to me. I get to pick what I want for food and I usually get ice cream or ice cream cake. Yum. (Apparently, everything revolves around food in my life. I like it.)

I am going to enjoy the next couple of months and I will try and blog to share the things I have been keeping from you. Sorry about that, by the way. I'll be better. You'll see.