So Long November

Well gang, here it is. The last day of November. The last day that I have to be thankful. Just kidding, but after today I'm going to have to find other things to talk about. For today though, for my final post, I'm going to talk about good health. It's one of the things that you don't think about until you're dying from ebola like I currently am. Ok, so it isn't really that bad, just a cold that probably required black magic and an animal sacrifice to summon. Ok, fine, so I'm just starting to feel the onset of potential illness. I'm at the point where my ears have the weird feeling that comes right before a soar throat. Ugh, I hate that. It's like your ears itch on the inside. Anyway, I'm thankful for when that doesn't happen to me and my ears and totally normal and fully functional. And with these wonderful words, I'm going to bed. So I abide you, November, and hopefully  annoying itchy ears adieu.

Defying the Spiral

I few days ago I watched a movie BYU made about the origins of the Christmas hymn Silent Night. The movie was alright, but I was surprised at the story behind it and how the song was written almost as a symbol of hope and freedom from oppression. So tonight I'd like to give a shout out of gratitude to those who have had the courage to stand up for what they know is right. Or rather I guess I want to say those that stand up for what they believe. Even if I disagree with someone usually I'll admire them for sticking to their guns and not caving, especially if they are in the minority. To use a term that I learned in Comms 101, those that choose to defy the spiral of silence. Isn't that such a cool term? Spiral of silence. All it really means though is that people have a tendency when they are in the minority to not voice their opinions. Anyway, I'm grateful for these people and the example that they provide. It helps me and inspires me to live a better and more honest life.  

Company

The topic for today is good company. By company I mean the company of others, rather than you have company over. I've just been thinking about and been thankful for how having good people makes situations so much better. As I'm sure you all know I've been pretty whiny about my Japanese class this semester, and while I'm still tired of learning the language, I really enjoy the kids in my class and my TA's and so I have fun.
On the other hand, I don't really like my dance teacher's style of teaching. It confuses me. So even though I like dancing, I don't like the class.

 It's not that you can't have a good time alone, but good company always seems to make a situation better. I went to a dance lab tonight where I really wasn't expecting to have much fun. My frustration with my class has kind of cause me to resent dancing. I don't mean to sound angsty or dramatic or anything, just that my feelings of annoying were being projected onto dance itself an my attitude towards it had started to become a little less than positive  At the lab though I ended up having a pretty good time. I knew a lot more people there than I thought I would (apparently a lot of my associates are in to dance) and we were able to talk and dance and just have fun. I even got a chance to talk to my old teacher. Sure I messed up some (ok a good amount) and we crashed into people and people crashed into us and feet were stepped on and what not, but I was with good company, so I didn't care.

Modern Day

I'm back in Provo which means that regular internet connection has returned! That's also why if you've noticed there have been burst of posts. It was due to lack of internet. But now all should be right with the world.

I'm thankful today for modern technology. I know I kind of talked about this when I said that I was grateful for reception and internet and stuff but today I just generally mean technology and also that people are still innovative, still curious, and still always trying to improve and be better. I can't remember when but some time in the beginning of the 20th century or something the US patent office said that all of the things that would be invented had been. Right..... I'd like to show those people modern day.  So I guess what I'm saying is that what I'm really thankful for is the spirit of innovation and the "anything you want to, do it." type of attitude. I know that often I can get really frustrated when things don't go well or when there isn't something I want or need around, but necessity breeds ingenuity and I'm glad of that and I'm glad that humankind has embraced that and despite setbacks continues to push on.

Merry Christmas!

So I know that Thanksgiving is over now but it's still the month of November, so I've still got a few more days of being thankful. Now that it's the Christmas season though I can finally say Merry Christmas! And so Christmas of course is what I'm choosing for today. Hmm, what to even say about Christmas? I love the atmosphere of Christmas, I love looking for presents to buy for people, I love the food and smells and sights associated with Christmas, everything about it is just fantastic. You hear a lot about people bewailing the commercialization of Christmas but I really don't think that it's as bad as a lot of people say. All of the symbols of Christmas, at least all of the ones that I can think of point to Christ. When the symbols no longer point towards and are designed to remind us of Christ than I'll start by bemoaning. By the way, have you noticed that a lot of our "Christmas" songs are really just winter songs? Like winter wonderland of Frosty the Snowman? It's kind of funny then that we only sing them around the Christmas season, especially since technically most of the season isn't even in winter. Anyway, I'm done being annoying about the seasons. I hope you all have a magnificent Christmas season. I'm excited for the season and I certainly intend to, and don't forget to remember the symbolism and think of Christ.

Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! Obviously today I have to be thankful for that. Like I mentioned yesterday, I'm glad for hospitality and especially the hospitality that I've received here and really when it comes to Thanksgiving what it makes me think of and what it makes me most thankful for is families.

I'm so thankful for the family that I have. I know I don't always show it or act like it, but they really mean a lot to me. Thanksgiving is one of the busies times at the jail I've heard because families get together, get drunk and have at it. I'm glad I've never had to and hopefully never will have to worry about something like that. I'm thankful for Thanksgiving and that it gives us a chance to reflect and to think about our lives and how truly blessed we really are. I'm also Thankful that it hasn't suffered from commercialization really like many holidays. I guess a little in the promotion of food, but in general I think that it's hard to lose the true spirit of Thanksgiving and forget what the holiday is really about. 

So here's to Thanksgiving! Now get off the internet and go spend time with your family. In my family, we have a tradition of sitting around in a circle and listing three things that we're thankful for. Since I can't be there to do that than I guess I'll do it here, even though by now I'm sure you're all pretty tired of me telling you that. 

1) Being in an area with internet access and cell phone reception and that these things even exist! I'm lacking both out here which is why you won't get to see this post for awhile. These are both things that I don't even think about not having but when I don't it's a big inconvenience! 

2) I know I already mentioned it but family. Both my own family and just the consept of families themselves. They really are wonderful things. I love the definition that I learned way back in middle school health class. The family is the basic unit of society. I really hope that always stays true. Also, my knowledge of eternal families. It really just helps to put things into perspective and makes me want to be better so I can be with and love my family forever.  

3) Beds. I don't know who invented beds but they are awesome. They lull you to sleep when you're exhausted and they're comfortable to read on or work on or whatever. Also, I don't know why but one of the greatest feelings ever is to come back home after a ways away and to fall asleep in your own bed. Whenever I get to go home I love sleeping in my bed. The bed at my apartment is actually to short for me, but hey, it's still great. 

Welcome

Today it's all about hospitality. I'm just really grateful that I have a family that was willing to take me in for Thanksgiving, even after I'd been here before and they knew how crazy I could be! When we got here last night Autumn's little sister Amara had cleaned out her room and insisted that we take it and left for us on the beds a chalkboard with our names, a note and a set of scriptures. It was just the nicest thing ever. Today we got up and went into Twin Falls with Autumn's mom who works there and we spent the day wandering around the town. Idaho might be a frigid bramble, but all of my experiences there so far (all three) have been very kind and caring.

This evening we went to Autumn's grandma's house for dinner and a few of her cousins and their kids were also there. We played scrabble and talked and played with the little kids for a while and it was nice to be around a family. Granted it was a family that I hardly knew anyone in but it was very inviting. So I'd like to give a shout out and be thankful today for that and for hospitality in general.