The true meaning of Christmas

This Christmas was one of the best I've had so far.

My funds have been super lacking so I didn't have much money to spend on gifts.

I was feeling badly about this, when my bbff Jeanie called me up asking if I wanted to go to a discount book store with her to get gifts for people. I jumped at the invite because 1) we don't get to hand out much anymore and 2) because I needed to get something for people in my life.

So we went there and only a few books really popped out at me. One was a Mother Goose book that reminded me of my child hood. I got this for Amber because she loves Mother Goose, and has another book of her stories, (this was an ABC book). She opened it Christmas morning and LOVED it! So I was really happy about this.

Another was a book of old short songs that I got for my dad. He loves that sort of thing and the minute I saw it I knew it was for him. I didn't really recognize a lot of the songs in it, but there were some like "My Bonnie" and "Sipping Cider through a straw" that my dad sang to us when we were kids. My mom later came up to me and informed me that mine was his favorite gift. That made me so happy because he is such a hard person to find gifts for!

Attached to every one's gifts was a personalized hand written letter to the members of my family. The reason I did this was because I didn't feel like Micheal's (my brother in law) gift was very personalized. His letter was pretty long, and VERY heart felt. I told him about how I love having him as a big brother, and that he's such a good example to me of so many things. I got all mushy-gushy on him and he love it! He bragged to Amber saying that his was longer than hers.. whatever, but it was fun! I felt like this Christmas wasn't as materialistic as others have been.

I took time to really put thought into the gifts I gave people, and to be honest, you can't beat the fact that I got everything for less than $20! (for 8 people I might add)

I'm going to make this a goal, that from now on, I will make my gifts more sentimental and meaningful than in years past.

The true meaning of Christmas isn't about gifts, or money, or things... it's about people, and love, and family. I hope I can remember that.

1950's T.V family

Today I finally made it home for the Holidays, we rolled into town around 12 pm. It is so good to be back home.
I just wanted to post really quickly about some cute things that happened to me today.


So let me set the scene for you; my Grandparents are over for Christmas Eve dinner, every one is getting ready to go read the famous Christmas story, sing some songs, and open our pj's.
Before anyone came in the front room Jacob, my 11 year old brother pulls me in, sits me right next to him on the couch, and insists that I sit right next to him. He gets this really serious look on his face and says "Shaela, we never just talk. So... lets talk. Do you like me?"
It was so stinking cute! Shortly after that he got distracted and ran around the room for a few more minutes till every one else came in the room.
Jacob is seriously the cutes little 11 year old I know. When I lived with my parents I would always read him bed time stories, and we would pray together each night. I really miss that. But it's fun to see him growing up into a great kid!

My dad was all goofy today at the store where we met my parents when we got into town. I was looking around for my mom, and I see my dad and he's hiding around a corner, then I see him spring out at my mom and sister just laughing like a 4 year old. It was so funny. For any of you who know my dad you know he's usually very reserved in public, and melo. So this came as a pleasant surprize to see him just let loose and be goofy!

I just love my family.

Also, Amber my 22 year old sister told me a couple of funny things today:
1) We have so much fun and laugh all the time, so Amber said "Shae, when we get older and our husbands die, we HAVE to live together. We just have so much fun, and laugh at each others jokes all the time!" I'm paraphrasing, but it was probably the funniest thing I've heard all month!
2)We were talking about chickens and how funny they walk, and Amber bursts out and says "Chickens look so retarded when they walk, it's no wonder we eat them!!"


Oh man, my family is so funny!

Life is good!

I feel the need to thank my Heavenly Father for everything in my life. I am blessed with so many graces that help me in ways that I don't even know where to begin.

1)My room mates Emily and Kelsie are amazing girls and wonderful examples to me. They make life at home so much fun! I didn't have that last year, and it's nice to feel like I'm part of a family unit again while away from home.

2)The ward I am in is amazing! Yet another thing I didn't have last year. I distanced myself from them a lot last year because I didn't want to get connected to things too much and then have to move. I pushed people away from me intentionally so that I wouldn't have to deal with the loss of yet more friends. This year I decided to make sure that I didn't do that again. I may not know all these people my whole life, but I sure as heck will have fun with them while I can. I am not going to let fear of loss get in my way of living life.

3)I finally have someone in my life that I am a little bit interested in. Someone who I can have hope of future events with. That's all I'm going to say because it's still very very very new to me and far away from becoming anything. But lets just say I'm getting the vibe that he's feeling it too. :)

4)My parents are amazing people and I love them so much! They have faith in me even when I fall short sometimes. Sometimes I feel bad for being a disappointment to them over some things, but I know that I'm a good person and I try to do what's right. That's all because of them. They are great examples in my life of faith in God and reliance on his grace. Sometimes I struggle with that, I feel like I have to do everything on my own, and I forget to let the Lord help me.

5)The love that I feel from my Savior every day of my life. Even when it's epic fail #84, He still loves me and wants me to come back home to Him. I can't wait for that day, but I know I must.

I didn't mean for this to be all sentimental, but there you go.

I meant to say how completely awful I did on my Stats final. But luckily I have more to be happy for than to be upset about.