It's Begining to Look a lot Like Christmas

Folks, last night I took a stroll down Temple Square, and you know, strange things are happening there: store windows have been turned into glittering fairylands, street corners are sprouting lighted trees, and everyone seems to be wearing a special kind of glow. So I said to myself, "Shelby, you know somethin'? It's begining to look a lot like Christmas".

And isn't it?

It's wonderful.

It's almost like since I took my first step out of school today jingle bells are following me and everyone suddenly has a million dollar smiles. Already I've recieved words of love and kindness a little more prevelent than usual in light of the Christmas season, and each time: I really do get a little teary-eyed because I just love them back so much. That's my favorite thing about the Christmas season:

Love

=

Charity

=

Christ

People are generally more Christlike. I have been paying special attention to being more like my Saviour this week.
It was a difficult...

I was dissapointed in some of my friends.
I was not being so nice to my mom.
There were some REALLY frustrating people in a few of my classes that make rude and inappriopriate comments.
I got little sleep and had lots of gigs, and concerts, and tests, and stress.

But, I have been trying. And I did a pretty good job. I treating those frustrating people with love--even though I'm not quite sure where that love came from. I have burst into tears of joy a couple times just because I love my friends and what they do for me. I have prayed for strength to be kinder to my mom. And it helps. All this trying to be like Christ despite the difficulties involved has made me ridiculously more emotional than usual--but also happier :)
And this is the real reason people are happier during Christmas time.
It's CHRISTmas time.

Hopefully during the break I can be especially kind and loving and, well; Christlike.

Instead of focusing on glittering fairylands, sprouted light-strung trees, presents, Santa Claus, food, parties, clothes, stockings, sugar-plum fairies, etc.--I can enjoy them; but, instead focus on that special kind of glow everyone is wearing--the light of Christ.

Stereotypes Come From Somewhere...

Do you need a laugh right now?
Cause I do.
REAL bad.
Enjoy.

A Holly Jolly...Birthday(s)!

Yes. I did just name this post A Holly Jolly Birthday(s). And no. It doesn't make any sense.
But here's why:
It's Christmas.
And there are two (meaning plural and not singular) birthdays I wish to tribute today(well, yesterday; since their birthday is December 12)!
I am on a roll with bad writing here.

Firstly: My dear friend Christian Sagers.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! He is one of the best boys I have ever met. Well..he's almost a man now! 18 years old! (sorry for the outdated picture). I hope he had a great birthday because he deserves it.

Secondly: (drumroll.......)

Chairman Of The Board

Ol' Blue Eyes

The Voice

Swoonatra?

You guessed it:

Frank.


Frank Sinatra.

Oo baby baby!
I love Frank. As you can tell. So he deserved a tribute today as well.

Here's some of my favorites of his:

The Best Is Yet To Come
Moonlight Serenade
These Foolish Things
How Little It Matters (How Little We Know)
The Lady Is A Tramp
Here Goes
You Make Me Feel So Young
Autumn In New York
Fly Me To The Moon
Come Fly With Me
I Get A Kick Out Of You
My Funny Valentine

And there are tons more...but I could waste all day listing his songs. So I won't.
Too bad he was a die hard smoker and was in the Mafia.....
Eh...Oh well. His voice is divine.

So, Happy Birthday to two of my favorite men out there!

Some Feminine Charms

Sometimes the saying "Sugar, Spice, and everything nice"...has absolutely nothing to do with girls.

But, sometimes--it's perfect.

Today I LOVE BEING A GIRL.

Boys:

"Boogers and bugs.

Boys never listen.
And they moon you.
and they smell...
Eeeeewww!"

Thank you Little Rascals. It's perfect.

Girlfriends are the greatest. Sometimes I don't credit them quite enough because I am fond of boys... mostly/sometimes/occasionally/very rarely/not really. Anyway- they are great.

I just wanna have a slumber party! And giggle. And dance. And jump on the bed with pillows and scarfs and red lipstick. Sing "Love is a Battlefield". Wear bras on the outside of our shirts(never actually done that one...but it might be fun). Smile and cuddle with each other and our boyfriends(the stuffed animals we brought to the party). Draw our wedding dresses and hold a ceremony! Pick flowers and put them in a cup next to the bed. Talk about how boys are so DUMB! And secretly get real giddy just because we are talking about boys! Paint nails. Love babies. Lay on the bed with our heads upside down and laugh and laugh until we fall off.

Doesn't that sound fun?

Ya. It does to me too.

But, I have a confession. I don't really ever do any of that stuff. But today I REALLY want to! I want to be with my girlfriends and just BE A LITTLE GIRL. Not this 18-year-old adult stuff who cares about school and grades and money and work and laws and acceptance. None of that.

My dear friend Anna came over and chatted with me in the car today. We giggled. And laughed. And put pillows over our head. And got scared by my brother and screamed. And got excited about secrets and fun and sleepovers and boys. It was so fun. SO FUN. I am so happy to have a blossoming friendship with that girl. For we are girls. And that was fun today.

So I realized--every old girl is a little girl who has just had more life to live but really wants all the same things and does the same things for fun when she has time but sometimes she just doesn't have time but inside her heart she likes dresses and boys and pretty things and flowers and kindness and giggling and babies and colors. It's true. Maybe if I had the chance I'd put on a big poofy princess dress and a crown and find a ballroom and dance with a stuffed animal pretending he was my prince who had come to sweep me off my feet and take my to our castle where I could sing songs and grow flowers and bake cookies. Yes. I would. I'm still waiting for a prince who ISN'T a stuffed animal. But the substitute will suffice for now.

Girls definitely have their fair share of challenges and trials and I'll be the first to admit sometimes I wish I was a guy. When I was little I thought I had been gypped! I pretended to be a boy with my two brothers actually. I swore never to wear make-up. I wore gym clothes and despised my sister for trying to give me make-overs. But now I want to be a girl. I'm proud of my girlhood. Us girls have some great qualities yes?

Love. Kindness. Caring. Compassion. Service. Charity. Cleanliness. Nuturing. .

If I could remember I'm a daughter of God and I am a little girl at heart who loves and cares maybe I would be less bitter and spiteful. I think so. Very much.
And when I look DEEP into my heart...well not that deep...but a little bit deep into my heart!-I see a little girl who wants to have the perfect slumber party.
And when I looked at some of my pictures...
I realized us girls never change...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A "squeeze my eyes shut" Day:

You know when everything is going right? 

Happiness.
Love.
Laughter.
Health.
Accomplishments.
Friends.
Family.
Hope.
Then all the sudden...

CRUSH. DASH. DESTROY. TERMINATE. RIP. TEAR. DEMOLISH. GONE.


Ya. That happened yesterday.
Bad news- My Preference date can't go anymore! I'm not allowed to return the dress. I got sick and missed part of madrigal because I was hacking up a lung in the bathroom. I got tons of homework. Etc.
So, my happiness rapidly died for a while.
Today my day was pretty crappy. Teary-eyed and tired and disappointed I walked to all my classes quite angrily and it's no wonder no one wanted to talk to me.

Then I went to seminary... Oh, the joy of the gospel.
A wonderful girl named Gabi gave a thought. Here it is:

The Fellowship of The Unashamed

I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit
Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has
been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow
down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense,
and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight
walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions,
mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or
popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised,
regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by
patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my
way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted,
or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the
presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the
pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of
mediocrity.

I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed
up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a
disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop,
preach until all know, and work until He comes.

And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My
colors will be clear for "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the
power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.." (Romans 1:16)

By Dr. Bob Moorehead

Isn't amazing how applicable that was to my crap attitude? God must have whispered in Gabi's ear I needed to hear that. So I felt a little guilty. But I was inspired. I remembered my philosophy about how it's my choice to be happy. So. I shut my eyes, closed them REAL tight, said a quick prayer, cried a bit, then chose to be happier. I will not let down. I will give till I drop. I will be a disciple of Christ. And I will CHOOSE for myself how to live. I will not let Satan discourage me. I will NOT.

So, once again The Spirit gave me a little slap in the face and made me remember: I have a choice.

And guess what?

It works.

It always does.

  

Shhh!

So....

I have two secrets.

But you can't tell ANYONE.

First, I am winning the Christmas Tree game.
Explanation: Devin and I have pictures of us when we were little kids as ornaments, and each year we have a battle to hide the others ornament and put ours in the VERY FRONT OF THE TREE WHERE EVERYONE CAN SEE. I think Devin has forgotten our challenge--he hasn't even noticed I am winning! Woot!
Aren't I adorable?

Second-
I AM DYING OF EXCITEMENT.
So...I went to this fabulous store called Dear Lizzie's yesterday. And...I bought this mouth-dropping flowy beautiful dress for Preference. Well...my mom bought it. And it's beautiful and I just want to put it on and dance and sing and laugh with pearls and curls and good smelly stuff. But, there's a catch. It's for Christmas. So I have to WAIT.
I'm not very good at waiting.
And I'm supposed to suppress the memory and forget all about it.
BUT I CAN'T.
I'm REALLY REALLY REALLY excited.
So I had to vent somehow.

Just....

Don't tell anyone. Alright?

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

'Ello there! Me name is Winifred an' I 'ave been participatin' in this wonderful show put on by King Connor and Lady Samantha! Its called Ol' Madgrigal Feast! Each night I's a playin my recorder for quarters--you see, I'm a beggar.

This feast is put on each year and the King so kindly les us join him in 'is court for some shinys in light o' Christmas spirit! We's a doin' six whole shows! Aroun' the hour o' seven till nine o' clock. It really's so much joy and merriment. Firstly the King makes all the latecomers act like animals!

All us beggars gets to sit in front and watch the Half-Act Players an' there performance.

The King also has a shapely leg contest for all male guests! (Me 'usband Uther tried once but 'is legs aren't really that shaply) I loves the shapely leg contest. We also sings a 'Appy Occasion to all those folks with anniversaries and birthdays and happy occasions to celebrate! Such fun.

 I 'ave to admit though... me favorite part is when the King explains all the rules. He tells the one about the salt--and he lets me go kiss Sir Dylan on the cheek for some salt! I gets to do it each night. Shhh! I just a laughin' and havin' so much fun.

Then's after we serve soup an' dinner an' dessert; the King asks us to put on a concert for the folks who come from alls over to our kingdom. We all sing many Christmas songs and feel the spirit of Christmas. We's all havin' mighty good singin' voices too I think.

I is definitely the best beggar the King asks to come. I is doing tricks and singin' songs and talkin' to all the folks. Givin' kisses on cheeks for coins and playin' my recorder. I been too poor for lessons but I take requests and I play nice melodies for people. They especially like my song from the shire I think. Its been most popular these past two days of me doing to the castle.

Anyways; is you 'avent 'ad the chance to come and see yet- you are missin out you are! COME! There really is such merriement all round.

Maybe I'd even give you a kiss on the cheek if yous a givin' me a quarter. (But no throwing them at me like me brothers!) We'll see. ;)

A Merry Merry Christmas to ya!