They may come and They may go.

I fully believe that specific people have been placed into our lives for a reason. Whether it be a family member, a friend, a teacher, a significant other, or just a passer-by, they have crossed paths with us to help us live, love, and grow. The wonderful thing about this is that it can be a two-way street; we also have the opportunity to inspire those who have come into our lives.

To all those friends that shared good times-

 thanks for the amazing memories, the nights where sleep was never an option,

the ab workouts from laughter, the adrenaline rush of immature moments,

the learning and growing of relationships, and the love.

To those of you who smile back sincerely-

thank you for the pick-me-up.

To the many leaders/teachers among the years-

thanks for educating me, inspiring me,

the discipline, and for making it enjoyable.

To the bestie-

the unforgettable days, the best times i've ever had,

the uncontrollable laughter, childish pranks,

spontaneous moments, adventures,

the embarrasing moments, the late night binging,

the support, encouragement,

the best friend i could ever image, and the 18 years!

To the people that count the clock-

thank you for the training, the laughter,

smiling because killing isn't company policy,

seeing my potential, helping me grow,

and enjoying my company.

To the most amazing people in the world-

thank you for a loving home, dinner together,

for crazy sisters, your example,

for loving one another, family home evening,

advice, forgiveness,

talking to me (or just listening to me talk),

and truly being the best parents i could have been blessed with.

To the few that i truly came to love-

thank you for the happiness, the fun,

the inspiration, the kisses,

the laughter, love, and tears,

 for that special bond, and for that hope.

It is no secret that i have had tremendous trials, but with the people who are in my life and even those that have come and gone, I am able to overcome the tough times with hope. I do not know why certain things have/have not happened to me, and even though it entirely does not make sense to me I do my very best to learn and grow from my experiences. Many years ago Pres. Monson said that asking "why" in times of trial is completely counterproductive, and will prevent us from moving forward and being happy. With his advice i will move forward with hope. Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible. I thank everyone who has given me hope.

Keeping Christ in Christmas

Despite the prominent and recurring place that Christmas holds in many people’s lives, there is surprisingly little research about the season.The Christmas holiday has evolved from an event banned in some American colonies to one that dominates the month of December, and it gets worse every year. Not only is Christmas effected by the consumer-happy goers, but Thanksgiving has become part of the fiasco. Last year as I was driving to work, the radio station i was listening to stated that due to the complaint of many customers Sears would be open regular hours on Thanksgiving day. This year Walmart announced it would be open at midnight on this day that we give thanks. Not only are we forgetting the point of these holidays, but we are celebrating them with records of violence and chaos! This year 7 states saw the upperhand of the violence of Black Friday. Among many things, a man shot in a Walmart parking lot for not giving up his purchases, another woman shot for the same. Twenty people maced to get an advantage for an x-box, and a man arressted for attempted homocide. Last time i checked spreading Christmas cheer didnt involve the bloodshed of others.

Would recieving all of this years must-have gifts really make your festive indulgance complete? I think it is completely necessary to remember that Christ is the center of Christmas to truly celebrate and enjoy this holiday season. We must do the same as the Wise Men of old. They sought out the Christ and found Him, and so must we. If we are wise at all we will still seek him today. The Christmas season gives us encouragement to remember Him and His infinite generosity. If it is not already one of your traditions, I challenge you to remember the birth of our Saviour and center Christ in your Christmas celebrations. I promise you that the joy and well-being you recieve will be much greater and more memorable than ever before. And we can't forget the most important Christmas rule of all: the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear! :)