Aaaaand the first month of 2012 is ending today.
Seriously, time... why do you pass by so quickly?
If time moved this quickly when I was 5 or 6, then Christmas Eve wouldn't have seemed to last so eternally long.
I am currently incapable of smelling anything.
Or tasting anything.
Which is in some ways awful, but in other ways great.
Because it means that the worst of my cold is over and I'm on the mend.
I'm guessing (and hoping) that my nose will be clear by tomorrow evening.
And I'm not even coughing! Escaping from a cold without gaining a cough almost never happens to me! And hopefully I didn't just jinx myself.
It makes things difficult when I'm hungry and want to eat something yummy though.
I mean... why eat something yummy if you can't taste or smell it??!?!
I'm just glad I can still see, touch, and hear. Although the pressure in my ears does impede my hearing very very slightly...
In other news, my little sis is rocking school.
Youngest in her class by far, yet one of the top students.
Yeah. That's my sister.
So... why is it that I keep insisting on changing the background and layout of my blog? It's like I think it's reasonable to change it according to the season/month. Well, I must admit that it's fun to change things up... but still. I should just find a cute vintage background that fits in with all seasons and keep it. But it's so fun... yeah. I'm just gonna keep going with changing my blog background nearly every month. It keeps things interesting. Creative. Fun.
What's NOT fun is being sick when you have classes to go to, homework to do, activities to attend... but what makes it better is when you have an amazing boyfriend that really cares for you, even when you look half-dead and are sniffing all over the place (which can't be attractive at all).
This popular saying is SO not true. I never had to kiss any frogs... :)
In any case, I'll be relieved to be healthy again.
Meanwhile, I've caught up on the latest Once Upon A Time episode (AHH!), I've kept myself comparatively well-rested, and my desk has exploded because I don't care as much about being tidy when I am sick. And cleaning checks were only 2 days ago... that was fast. Who wants to clean when your nose is running all over the place though? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
I go to my aunt's house for Thanksgiving.
I find out she has 9 puppies.
A cute white and brown one captures my heart particularly.
... And I simply die.
I come back after Christmas break and go over to my aunt's house.
I run into a familiar, furry, four-legged friend.
She's grown much more than I expected.
Ignore the fact that my hair is puffy and just look at those puppy eyes...
Once again... I died.
She is toocute! It's puppy-love moments like these that really make me wish that my apartment complex allowed pets... but it would be difficult to own a puppy in an apartment complex. She'd have to stay inside a lot, and would have to be potty trained, and I'd have to buy lots of food and stuff... so... yeah. No puppy for me :(
What type of awesome little 7 year old sister gets you a head scarf for Christmas?
Mine does!
I didn't even realize that these things existed!
And when I'm wearing all black,
it makes me feel like a ninja.
I should totally wear this when we start working with swords in my stage combat class.
I think we start that unit in 2 weeks...
Ninja status.
Enough said.
Wow, I never thought I'd make a ninja-related blog post. And I'm not even a ninja fan anyways. Unless I get to act like one. Hence the reason why I used to spy on my little siblings when they were playing at Orso De Oro Park or in our backyard. They never knew I was coming. Hehehe.
And then there's the late night "ninja runs" that my roommates and I make when we want to get something done. At night. Quickly and quietly. [Hey, it happens! But what we do on those late night runs is top secret.] So now, this head scarf is my official "ninja run" gear. We're gonna make a run sometime soon so I can use it. We have to come up with an objective first though... can't make a run without a purpose!
I am learning to fight like a ninja too. True story. Well........ maybe not quite. Because it's stage fighting. So it's not even real. But it makes me feel legit, that's for sure.
I always knew that my blog would be useful for something other than an outlet for me to ramble on and on about things that I think are worth rambling about!
My teacher for my multicultural education class told us to do something creative to put together a visual representation of a small assignment we have been working on, and one of the possibilities was a blog post. Perfect. So, the post previous to this one is for my class. Don't judge it :P
It wasn't much of a large assignment, very short and to the point. But I just thought it was great that I get to use my blog for the benefit of my educational experience! Whoo!
Let's take a brief peek at my cultural identity! (assignment for my Multicultural Education class)
Social:
The books I read have done so much to shape me and reflect my moral views and what I consider social norms. I feel like books communicate your social values more effectively than many other artifacts would - and they certainly represent who I am culturally. I was always a bit of a bookworm, to the point where I almost read a little too much. When I was younger, my reading was strictly for pleasure. I even enjoyed the books that I read for school because they all interested me.
Once I got older, my taste in reading started to change to reflect my personal preferences, morals, and ideas. The beautiful thing about looking at the books that an individual reads is that there are so many books to chose from, so which of those books you actually take the time to read deeply reflects on your values. I have a preference for romance novels (clean ones), mystery novels, religious literature, a bit of fantasy, and then I have a big love for the classics written by authors such as Dickens, Austen, Dumas, and Bronte (just to name a few). The question is: how does my literature choice reflect my values and morals? For one thing, the literature pieces that I take the time to read do not have explicit scenes in them. There are often good moral messages at the end of these pieces, and many of them make me think about a given topic at a deeper level. I will admit that Harry Potter does not require much deep-thinking, but it reflects the child-like, creative nature inside of me, which is completely separate from the part of me that wants to learn and grow from literature.
Cultural:
Out of all the options I could choose from to represent me culturally, my mind kept being drawn back to one in particular, although it's a very broad category. I think that many would agree with me when I say that the Disney franchise has done much to shape the culture of America over the years and will continue to do so in years to come. This short clip is often shown in the previews before Disney movies, and I have a great many Disney movies in my collection. Too many to chose just one from. So I chose this clip to represent all of them. It is also representative of how I was primarily exposed to Disney through visual media:
So... am I right in assuming that Disney is a HUGE cultural artifact? It's not a specific artifact; rather, it is a collective idea that is represented as whole by thousands of smaller artifacts. I grew up on Disney movies, Disney music, Disney merchandise, and Disneyland. In 2010, the revenues for the year of the Disney company totaled about $38.1 billion dollars. This franchise has done so much to shape the world - and on a smaller scale, my life. I do believe that I grew to love music because of Disney. Some of my fondest childhood memories relate to Disney in some way, even if only in a small way. Disney movies tend to teach morals related to dreams, magic, kindness, laughter, and the ability to believe in happy endings. Instilling these values in a child at an early age can affect how they view the rest of their life, and I am certainly a happy person today. I'm sure that I can credit some of that happiness to the magical years that Disney provided me with. It sounds very cheesy, I know, but to a child... Disney is a whole new world! [see what I did there? Eh??!?]
Ethnic:
At first, I was not sure if what I am about to talk about is considered an ethnicity. But after a little bit of research, I discovered that Mormons are considered as an ethnic group. After all, ethnicity is not only about race, but also about a central belief system or a common heritage. So, assuming that is true, I feel that the scriptures represent me very well, ethnically.
(Isn't it a little ironic that my ethnic artifact is a BOOK?!) I have grown up reading the scriptures. My family has gathered together to study them often, and I study them on my own as well. I've taken 4 years' worth of seminary classes and continue to take classes in college that focus on the Standard Works. The pages of these precious works contain words that are the foundations of so many of my moral values, my beliefs, my philosophies. They bind me to the rest of the Mormon "ethnicity" because we all believe in these scriptures. We read them. We study them. We pour our minds and souls over them. I truly testify that without the scriptures, my life would be hopelessly deficit of much light and knowledge. I have gained so much from these books, and I know that there are many more treasures of knowledge hidden in their pages - I just have to keep studying until I find them. Additionally, the scriptures are representative of my religion as a whole. I am so proud to be a member of the Church, and what better object to chose to represent the church than the books that we get most of our knowledge about God and His Gospel from?
When I stop to consider all of the options that were available to me to choose from for this assignment, I think it says a lot about me that I settled on these particular things. There were so many other artifacts I could have chosen from! However... I just like books. And happiness. And spirituality. And music. And the things I chose just seem to go hand in hand in my life.
It's interesting how you can do something for someone, and then not find out until several months later just how much it really meant to them and how much it impressed them.
Lesson to be learned? Just because someone doesn't openly thank you for something does not mean they are not touched by your actions.
Sure, it's very nice to hear someone tell you how they appreciate what you did for them, but if they don't say anything it doesn't mean your actions weren't appreciated.
As I discovered... maybe it just means that they are so taken aback by your actions that they don't know how to respond. They don't know what to think. They don't know how to say thank you. And so, the signs of appreciation come later down the road. Even several months later.
Isn't it just great to show genuine compassion, interest, and support to others?!?
It takes somemost all people by surprise at one point or another.
I laughed when I read this.
The poor Elder was probably close to tears before he got to the end of the letter. [Quick background on "Dear John" letters for those of you who aren't familiar with them: 19 year old guys in my church go on missions. So let's say a guy goes and his girlfriend says she'll wait for him. Then while he's gone, the girl finds another guy. And likes him. A lot. So they date, get engaged, etc. And now... she must tell her missionary about it. So she writes him a "dear john". So sad for the guy who gets the letter...]
Dear John (alias Elder Davis),
To introduce myself, my name is Elder Nebeker. I am writing on behalf of a mutual friend, her name is Karen Jackson. I have had the opportunity over the last little while, to become very well acquainted with her. She is as I am sure you will agree, a very special young lady. Karen has asked me to write and tell you about the latest commitment that she has made in her life. She just didn't know how to tell you!
Over the past little while, Karen and I have developed a very special relationship with Christ, and with each other. We have united forces and faith, to help fulfill her desires and my goal. Two days after the birth of our Lord (April 8) I posed a question that will no doubt, change the path of her mortal probation. And eventually the state of her eternities.
It is a decision that came after much time and communion with our Heavenly Father. This major decision in her life will no doubt, bring much happiness to the three of us. I'm sure that you know of the covenant that is mentioned in the 132nd section of the Doctrine and Covenants where it says, "For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then ye are damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory." Elder, now I hope that you don't think that we have done this without you in mind. We have wondered how to tell you this for quite some time. So we just decided to stop beating around the bush and tell you. I'm sure that it shows in the letters. The commitment has been made, the date has been set, and we are going to go for it. We hope that we have your best wishes.
Elder, this is something that must happen to the best of us. I am sorry that it had to happen while you were out on your mission. But, I hope that this will not affect your missionary work in a negative way. Karen and I have been seeing each other 3 to 4 times a week. As we have met, we have had those special feelings that must come in order to make the decision that she has. Elder, I wish that I could tell you in person, I feel that this is the right thing for us to do. I am sure that as you pray to our Heavenly Father, you will also come to the knowledge and the conviction that what we are about to do is the will of our Heavenly Father.
I hope that you are not getting the wrong idea. We are already starting to prepare for the event. She has started to invite people to it. The date that we have set is May 13, 1982. This will be the day that Karen Jackson will become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Elder Davis, in other words she is going to be baptized a member of the church.
She is ready and more than willing. Maybe what I should do is to tell you a little bit of the background of what has been going on up here. On April 6, Karen called us here in the mission office and asked if she could take the missionary discussions. We said we would work her in. The very first night that we met with her the spirit was one of the Lord. That of truth and peace. She accepted the invitation to follow the Savior into the waters of baptism. Elder, you are very fortunate to have a girl like that. She will be ready and fully prepared to be yours for the eternities.
She will be baptized in your ward, and your father will perform the baptism. Elder Burk, another missionary that has been working with her will confirm her into the church. Congratulations on your diligence in the field. You have been a very effective and influential part of her life. I can see that she is very much in love with you and what you stand for. May this bring much happiness to your day, and may you find and share the blessings of this with a new investigator.
Buddies in the Gospel,
Elders Nebeker and Burk
P.S. Sorry for the Dear John on the front.
**(Note from Elder Davis:) The letter was received 2 days before her baptism. We were married 3 months after I returned home from the mission. **
Oh, poor Elder Davis... but he and Karen are happily married now. He probably almost had a heart attack though.
Hello friends! Sorry for the late(ish) first post of the new year. Better late than never right? Even though it took me several days... well, Happy New Year everyone!
I'll keep this a bit more short and to the point than I was going to make it originally: 2011 was a great year. I mean, it was really good. I thought that 2010 was a good year. Until I reached the end of 2011. Looking back at everything I've experienced this year, from start to finish, I must say that it's been my favorite year yet. Getting accepted into my major, another Disneyland trip with one of my best friends, meeting tons of great new people, coming to appreciate my family more after living away from them, beating a bunch of guys at laser tag, vocal point concerts, hiking in Yosemite, discovering that I absolutely love ballroom dancing and have the potential to be a legit hip hop choreographer, having one of my childhood friends Samantha get married (I have a picture of us together from back when we were in diapers!), tons of new music and movies and adventures... so many good things. These are definitely only a few.
And if my life follows the pattern that it has been following so far, then this year should be the best yet. Which makes me super excited. Because last year was already pretty good. I like my classes, my roommates and friends are absolutely wonderful, my cousin and brother will be starting college this fall, my friend Jacee and I are still itching to go on a trip to Magic Mountain... I still haven't gone... (gasp!)
I do believe this year will meet my expectations. Which is so good to know. We'll see what happens... let the good times roll!
