Batyah

My hope for both of us – you and I – is that

we spend a little less time creating worry lines,

more time creating laugh lines.

That we live a bit more simply,

but also a bit more glamorously.

That we place fewer restraints on ourselves,

one another,

and God.

That our eyes might see those things that help us grow,

good and bad, happy and hurtful.

And, most of all, that we might feel each day that we acted

instead of being acted upon.

She's awesome.

I simply remember my favorite things.

Days have slipped by in blogging silence. Desolee, my sweets. In the interim between then and now have come finals, food poisoning, miracles, and holidays filled with laughter, merriment and – best of all – lots and lots of reading.

I have flipped through the pages of Tolkien (my first time!) and pondered the emotional life of boys in America. I have procured, to my great delight, vintage beauties from an idyllic second-hand bookshop in Bountiful and stacked high tomes from the library. I think I had forgotten this past semester what joy I find in reading.

That got me thinking about some of the other things that are such boons to me:

Waking up to NPR.
Falling asleep to NPR.
Ira Glass' infinite Ira-Glass-iness.
Making things.
Giving (humble) gifts.
Writing letters... real letters!

My list is decidedly more pedantic than Maria's cat whiskers and brown paper packages tied with twine. But, still.

I'm not one to really make New Year's resolutions, if only because calling them such dooms them to failure. I am, however, one to readdress priorities. And so, I will say this: I have found much value in pausing and engaging in those things that bring me stillness and fullness; this year – and, hopefully, much longer than that – I will place a higher priority on items that seem to continually get pushed to the bottom of the list in favor of the much more pressing, and stillness-snatching, idle to-do's.

Advent: December 5th

DAY FIVE

20 Days Left!

Before Christ’s birth, the angel Gabriel visited Mary.

“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women...For thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.” (Luke 1:26–28, 30–31)

A Vintage Birthday

You guys, I love you all. Thanks for making my birthday eve and my birthday day so. freaking. awesome. I am so tired from the party last night (Mad and I stayed up until 3 partying and talking and generally being awesome), so this one's going to be short.

...But first some of my favorite pictures from the vintage photo booth we had...

Advent: December 4th

DAY FOUR

21 Days Left!

Samuel the Lamanite’s Prophesying of the Signs of Christ’s Birth, 5 BC

“Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.

“… There shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day. …

“And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you” (Helaman 14:2–3, 5).

Advent: December 3rd

DAY THREE

22 Days Left!

Alma’s Vision of Christ’s Birth and Death, 83 BC

“The Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth. …

“And behold, he shall be born of Mary, … she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.

“And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of the people.

“And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy” (Alma 7:9–12).

Advent: December 2nd

DAY TWO

23 Days Left!

Nephi’s Vision of the Virgin Birth, Circa 600 BC

“And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.

“And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!

“And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.

“And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!” (1Nephi 11:18–21).

Advent: December 1st

I made an advent calendar for Mad this year, and each day has a scripture inside with a nice little treat. While I can't send you twix bars through the 'net, I thought I might share the scripture every day so that we can share in the holiday of His gift.

DAY ONE

24 to go!

Isaiah’s Vision of the Christ to Come, Circa 740 BC

“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14; see also 2 Nephi 17:14).

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6; see also 2 Nephi 19:6).

My New Year's Wish

This girl.