'Tis The Season

After a very successful Thanksgiving with great friends, I was excited to get into the Christmas spirit. We didn't get up super early to partake in the Black Friday sales, but we did make it to Nordstrom Rack (we had groupons, got some great deals!) and Target. Our apartment is kind of small so the only place that we had to put a Christmas tree was on top of a bookshelf. As soon as we got home from Target I set it up, and it's really starting to feel like Christmas now! Christmas is my favorite part of year and it will be kind of fun to start our own traditions this year since we will be in Texas for Christmas. Break out the Christmas music!!!

Count Your Many Blessings

I've been doing a lot of complaining lately. It's bad and I'm trying to stop and to turn the things that have been getting me down into positives. For example:

Complaint:
I hate how busy I am. I'm at school all day, every day, including most weekends.

Positive:
How lucky am I that I'm in a great program and I get to work with awesome musicians everyday and develop my talents?

Complaint:
I miss my family.

Positive:
I have a wonderful husband who I love and adore and we are a family. I get to talk to my family almost every day and they love and support me in everything I do. I maybe be away for a while, but it's only temporary!

Complaint:
Because of Bryce's new job at Costco, we will be in Austin for Christmas. I've never spent Christmas away from home and I don't know how Merry it will be this year.

Positive:
We are extremely blessed that Bryce has been able to get a job. Now when bills come in the mail, it's a little less stressful than it has been in the past. We can start our own traditions and spend the whole day together rather than splitting between two sides of the family. It may be a humble Christmas, but that really doesn't matter in the large scheme of things. We are blessed to have each other.

I could go on, but I won't. I'm very thankful for everything I have been blessed with. Sometimes it's easy for me to look at what other people have and be jealous, but I really have so much to be thankful for.

My favorite talk at General Conference this year was given by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. Even if you don't share my religious beliefs, I encourage you to read or listen or watch this talk. You can read it here, listen here, or watch here. It only takes 10 minutes but I think his message can apply to everyone, regardless of religious affiliation. This talk really struck me and I've re-read it several times since it was given at the beginning of October. When I heard it I immediately knew that it was written for me and was exactly what I needed to hear. I love it when that happens.

I'm a lucky girl. I just need to remind myself of that more often.