Thankful

I just have to quickly say how thankful I am right now. I missed posting anything in the way of "thanks" for Thanksgiving...and my last post was NOT so Christmas-cheerish....but as I sat in my parent's living room tonight watching White Christmas (ha ha ha) with my mom and sister, and earlier playing Mario Kart with my brother and sister (in-law), and about three minutes ago while reading my aunt's blog...I realized that I'm truly blessed and SO VERY LUCKY to have the family that I have. We're far from perfect, and yet for me...they are THE. PERFECT. FAMILY.

I'm especially grateful that we can be together for eternity...I don't feel that way ALL the time ;) but in the big picture...it's pretty rad!

In the words of Tina Turner, they are "simply the best".

Christmas Cheer...not here....

I realized today that it has been over a month since I last posted. I apologize to my avid readers (insert sarcasm). I usually am all about the writing, but I've felt uninspired this holiday season...which is really a shame because generally I enjoy the holidays...unfortunately I'm lacking in holiday cheer this year. I have made attempts to find my excitement...Thanksgiving dinner was tasty enough, and I did get to see The Blind Side which was excellent, and spending time with my extended family is ALWAYS a good time.

But then Thanksgiving was over and now it is December and I should be jumping for joy with Christmas cheer...but I'm not. I went Christmas tree shopping with some friends last week to see if that would help...not so much. I watched a Christmas devotional last night and listened the the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing...and yet I am STILL lacking in the Christmas cheer department. This week I'm going to attend the Mo Tab's annual Christmas concert and hopefully that will help. This evening I am off to see the Zoo Christmas lights...and I'm sure some time this week I will make it downtown to see the lights on and around Temple Square...until then you can call me Scrooge. No...actually you can't. You see I'm not actually in a BAD mood, I'm just NOT in the Christmas mood. Suggestions of course are welcome :)

I don't know why...but it STILL bothers me...

that many, many moons ago (2003 to be exact) the Dixie Chicks were ostracized for the following comment: "Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas." I understand that the political climate was vastly different than it is now and that they said in London but imagine if they had made that comment just two years ago...

I'm not a political person. I vote because it is a right and civic duty, but I don't often have strong feelings regarding out political leaders...I didn't have strong feelings about W, and I don't have strong feelings about Obama...but I DO have strong feelings about the Dixie Chicks...I'm not even sure why, since I don't love country all that much...but it just seems so ridiculous to me that these things happened to them...so unfair...and I AM a fan of justice...I do know you reap what you sew and you have to pay the piper, etc...but what happened to them was so extreme and as I sat here listening to Taking the Long Way, I could not help but get irritated all over again.

I realize this was a random outburst, but still after all these years, it really frosts my cookies!

SERIOULSY?!

Is it really possible for this kid to be truly this adorable?!Yes...yes it is.

"Dreams" Brandi Carlile