Christmas; Take Two

Kelene Fletcher's View on Christmas: December 2013

This Christmas has been... different. I'm not spending it alone, since my best friend coerced me into going to her house, but I'm spending it away from my family for the first time. And I am oddly okay with that. It's strange, since looking outside it appears more like Christmas than it ever has before, but I simply haven't been in the Christmas spirit. Then I planned this blog post. And I pulled out my bible. And I started reading. 

I think I am fine with spending Christmas alone because it doesn't matter who you are with. It doesn't matter if it is snowing outside, or if you have a tree or a nativity set. It doesn't matter if there is Christmas music in the background while sugar cookies wait in the oven. Because this is about Jesus of Nazareth. That's all it ever was. 

As I was reading, I saw all of the different people who came unto Christ, and I saw all the people who come unto Christ. 

There was Joseph. "Joseph her husband, being a just man." He was the perfect father for the savior of all. He was tasked with keeping his family safe, and he did it. "But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not... Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him." He did not fear, though the task before him was soul-shaking. He is a quiet example to us all of the importance of loyalty and steadfastness.

And, of course, Mary. "And the angel came in unto her, and said, "Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." Later, the angel also commands her to "Fear not...For with God nothing shall be impossible." This woman. This woman! She is one the most righteous women to have walked upon this earth. "And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." And after Jesus had been born, and they had been visited by angels and shepherds and all sorts, after prophecies had been spoken of and whispers of her son had spread throughout the land the scriptures say this: "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." If I could be a fraction of the woman that she is, I think I could do anything. 

The shepherds, a symbol of Christ, were told immediately to go, and to fear not. "And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger... And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child." They came with haste. With no delay. And having seen of themselves the glory of God, they made it known to the world. 

The wise men came later, the distance to travel great. They came to worship him. They rejoiced with 'exceeding great joy'. And when they arrived, "They saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." When they arrived, they gave gifts to Him; This is something that I often have a hard time doing. How often do we ask for blessings, and forget to give unto our Savior?

And then there were the messengers, the angels. Accompanying every message given was the great command "Fear not." And why? "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Of anyone, I imagine the angels were the most excited. They knew, they knew the eternal and infinite importance of this moment. Suddenly, everything was possible. "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Jesus the Christ was born on this earth in order to know us. To know our pains and sorrows and afflictions and to overcome them with us. His birth was accompanied with a shout of praise, but it is in the power of his mortal existence that the real joy is found.

There is a video that has already been shared quite a bit, but I decided to post it here anyway.
It very beautifully shows the incredible consequence of Christ's birth; I hope we can never forget what that is.

I've heard about this baby boy
Who's come to earth to bring us joy
And I just want to sing this song to you
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
With every breath I'm singing Hallelujah
Hallelujah

A couple came to Bethlehem
Expecting child, they searched the inn
To find a place for You were coming soon
There was no room for them to stay
So in a manger filled with hay
God's only Son was born, oh Hallelujah
Hallelujah

The shepherds left their flocks by night
To see this baby wrapped in light
A host of angels led them all to You
It was just as the angels said
You'll find Him in a manger bed
Emmanuel and Savior, Hallelujah
Hallelujah

A star shown bright up in the east
To Bethlehem, the wise men three
Came many miles and journeyed long for You
And to the place at which You were
Their frankincense and gold and myrrh
They gave to You and cried out Hallelujah
Hallelujah

I know You came to rescue me
This baby boy would grow to be
A man and one day die for me and you
My sins would drive the nails in You
That rugged cross was my cross, too
Still every breath You drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah

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"In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehendeth it not. ...That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name"

Merry Christmas everyone.

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Christmas; Take One

Finals and Prescott Arizona

It's been a pretty good December. I can't believe how fast this year has gone! It's been crazy and hectic and wonderful and insane. But overall pretty decent. And without further ado, some highlights of the past few weeks:

The parting words of accounting to me, as I was studying for my final. (Scored an A- in this nasty class, but I'm DONE!)

Finals week was kind of insane. I probably read 600 pages worth of textbook, did a bunch of homework, cracked a bit, but overall did pretty dang well. And when the stress seemed to be getting to me (and everyone else) luckily there was the silent dance party in the library (where you wear headphones and dance silently to any music you want with dozens of other people).

This is was followed by the HOWL. On the count of five, everyone in the library screams with all their might. It was amazing and I will definitely be participating in this every semester from here on out:

Also, I've discovered my new favorite game. It's called Betrayal at House on the Hill and my friend Matt owns it. But you can't buy it. It's temporarily out of print. Rude.

And then sometimes when I want to make my friends happy and my co-workers annoyed, I take my friends out for half price shakes at Cold Stone!

And that's finals week. After a stressful time getting home, I was chilling with my parents all week!

First of all, we went to the most comfortable movie theater I have ever seen. They were plush recliners. What? Yeah. Plush electric recliners, and plenty of arm space. It was splendid.

I also participated in an old person choir (also known as the family ward). May I just say, it was strange to go to a family ward. I don't think I've attended one since last Christmas, and then it was people I actually knew.

And just a few pictures to remind you how gorgeous it is in Arizona. I fell in love all over again. 

We saw the holiday house:

And I was able to hang out with some of my favorite cousins ever!

And the dogs, of course (I miss having pets).

But watching Sam and Sarah wrestle with Ares was comic gold. Sometimes the kids would hold steady...

...and sometimes the dog would win.

This is to T. Peterson. See? You're not the only one I make shopping lists for!

 There's a rather wonderful person in my life that doesn't get the recognition on this blog that she deserves. And that girl is Liz Gunnell. She's my Arizona best friend. And that's kind of a big deal.

And we both decided that when (more like if) we ever get boyfriends or permanent roommates, we will be buying this for them. It is a beautiful cologne. 

(We might have been smelling colognes and perfumes in Sephora for an hour or two)

And we did our nails on the trampoline. It was 80 degrees out and I'm pretty sure it was summer. 

 And we took a girls' night out to see the Mesa temple lights and talked about the universe.

...We're pretty cool.

Later, I went to the Prescott zoo with my parents! For all of my uncultured Utah friends, this... is... GILA MONSTER:

And here are a bunch of other animals (me included!):

We were also fortunate enough to get there for Tiger feeding time:

My new life goal is to sew this snake: 

Then on Saturday, I witnessed the cutest little sheep parade on stage, while my father narrated the Christmas story.

And speaking of Christmas, I got to have mine a bit early, with my wonderful family. Who cares about the 25th if you still have Christmas, right?

It's been a great two weeks. I have thoroughly enjoyed myself (despite being sick for 6/8 days in Arizona), and I get a feeling 2014 is going to be an even better year than the ones before it.

Love you all, and Merry Christmas!

(speaking of which, check back in a few days for my Christmas post!)

Finals are Fast-Approaching

Happy Finals Week!

Let's rewind for a second. Last Tuesday, Hannah put on a Hanukkah Party! It was actually really cool! We had some traditional dishes, heard some stories, and played Dreidel.

I've also been going to Spanish Club (hey, I need the extra credit!) and this last time we made a PIÑATA!

And this is my amazing Spanish buddy, Daniela. She may be the reason I'm doing so well.

And, of course, what would one of my blog posts be without my best friend? We went to another jazz night, but this one was weird and a bit snooty.

But we got lemon cake and créme brûlée!

and we took some time out of dead week to go swing dancing. 

I was able to see my incredible first counselor, Stephanie, dance like a professional.

Then on Saturday I hosted a homemade pizza party in Reeder. I made 16 pizza doughs, a quadruple batch of eggnog, and homemade pizza sauce! It turned out amazing. But unfortunately I did not get any pictures of the actual party.

But may we take a moment to celebrate finding the perfect ugly sweater?

Now, on Sunday we wanted to have group scripture study, because we'd been slacking a bit lately, but the lounge was occupied, so we had a totally awesome, somewhat ghetto study in the boiler room!

(From left to right: Chris, Larissa, Jessica, Taylor)

And we watched the Christmas Devotional together!

Now it is finals week. And I have wonderful family who sends me strengthening packages in the mail.

Chocolate covered coconut, mixed nuts, chocolate milk, oatmeal, hot chocolate, cider, Emergen-C, biscuits, and Lindor chocolates!

Other things that happened recently:

- I played Betrayal at House on the Hill (which may be my new favorite game. I want it.)

- I finished my entire Corporate Finance Textbook

- I stayed up until 6:30 for no reason

- I was in a barefoot-in-the-snow contest with Taylor and after 10 minutes we called it a draw

- I participated in my ward choir Christmas program (a.k.a the best choir in the stake)

- I made my first solo batch of caramel apples at Cold Stone

- I drove in full on snow for the first time

- The Relief Society took cookies to the Elder's Quorum to thank them for being amazing priesthood holders and to wish them a Merry Christmas

-The Elder's Quorum returned the favor by singing us a Christmas Carol at the end of our lesson, then singing "Once There was a Snowman", actions and all.

- I got tackled into the snow after throwing a snowball (Let's be honest, I was asking for it)

Life! It's happening!

Good Luck on Finals!