Christmas memories.

I woke up this morning with my favorite Christmas hymn stuck in my head: 

Oh, Holy night! The stars are brightly shining! It is the night of our dear Savior's birth. 

Christmas is such a special time for me. Being in college is hard because i'm missing out on all of the things my family does together every Christmas. My family has such fun, strong traditions and part of the reason I'm so excited to have a family of my own is to carry the traditions on that I love so much. 

After dinner, we used to turn all the lights in the house off, but leave the lights on the Christmas tree switched on. I used to love to turn on Kenny G's Christmas album, lay on the cool leather couch outside the kitchen with a blanket and just relax. The beautiful soprano saxophone is so soothing, and when Christmas comes around there's nothing I love more than turning on a little Kenny G right before I go to bed. 

My mom always simmers mulling spices on the stove to make our home smell like Christmas every year. The smell of ground nutmeg, cinnamon, orange, lemon, clove, and bay leaf reminds me of home. On top of the mulling spices, she would make the best soft gingerbread cookies, coined "ginger gems" in our house, and we would make cinnamon applesauce ornaments which both also smell amazing. Nothing else smells like Christmas so perfectly. 

Christmas music is always playing in our house- but not just any Christmas music. The oldies. I can't listen to any of that modern Christmas music crap. Every holiday season, I start to crave Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Gene Autry, John Denver, Elvis, Ella Fitzgerald, Andy Williams, The Ray Coniff Singers... you get the idea. There's just one thing I can't stand: The Carpenters Christmas. My mom is in loveeee with the Carpenters but I just can't handle it for whatever reason-so we bond over Transiberian Orchestra instead. It's a good compromise. 

Like I mentioned earlier, "Oh, Holy Night" is my favorite Christmas hymn. 

My great-uncle Gordon has the most beautiful, deep, rustic singing voice ever. I didn't know this song especially well until one family dinner in the Tri Cities when Gordon sang it to us. There's nothing quite as tender as an old country boy singing a Christmas hymn about the birth of our Savior. He sounds just like Bing Crosby, and it warms my heart to hear this song. 

I love Christmas. 

What are your family traditions and favorite memories?

happy easter.

 

i love easter. after christmas, it's my favorite holiday.

 

this year was really, really hard for me. i made a lot of mistakes and went through miles and miles of hard times. this easter marks a year from the time my family was uprooted & my life was turned upside down, and so i have a certain tenderness and appreciation for this time of year. i love what easter is all about. it's not about a new dress to wear to church, or a fun easter basket with spring colored nail polish & lots of jelly beans and easter eggs. it's about recognizing Christ's sacrifice and resurrection and renewing our lives & being thankful for Him.

 

some people think it's a little crazy to put all your faith into someone who supposedly saved the entire human race. but you know what? i belive in Him. I have a relationship with him. 

because He did save us.

and i know he did.

 

how do i know?

i've prayed about it. i've read the scriptures and asked heavenly father to know if Jesus really was who we say He is. i've talked with my church leaders, my mom & dad, grandparents, friends, aunts and uncles, basically anyone who would talk to me about my questions. and i received an answer.

to me, Christ is more than a spiritual leader who taught people moral lessons two thousand years ago. to me, Christ is my personal redeemer. He suffered beyond what anyone imagined was possible. He was ridiculed and mocked and ultimately killed, because He knew what his purpose was. He was laid in a tomb after his crucifixion, and then three days later, He walked out perfectly alive and with a perfect body.

because He suffered for you and i, because He suffered death, we can live again.

this year especially means a lot to me because i have had too many friends & family members pass away this year, and knowing i can see them again and that they are still with me gives me so much comfort. it's hard when someone you've been friends with for years and years suddenly be gone. its a harsh reality. they were all my age, went to high school with me, i laughed and went on dates and parties with these guys. in some cases, it's my friends siblings. it's beyond what was expected but it's alright in the end. He lives. He is a living witness that death can be overcome. it is so wonderful to know that we can see those we love who have passed on again- because of the wonderful gift that our older brother gave us.

we can become perfect because He suffered for us. He loves us, and i am so grateful for Him.

 

new years resolutions.

quite frankly, i think new years resolutions are crap. they set people up for disappointment and most of the time aren't realistic. however, i do think that feasible lifestyle changes and habits that you want to create are fabulous. there are some things i want to do and change this year as well.


i want to live by the slogan "love everyone & be indispensable".

lose the 20 pounds that snuck up on me this last year. yuck.

drink less coke, drink more water.

ride more horses, go on more drives, get a little muddier.

i want to go running more than the one or two times a week i'm doing right now. 

i'm going to make sure everything i say is uplifting and real.

i'm done being "fake nice" to those around me that i have a hard time getting along with. 

i'm going to genuinely love people. 

i know it will make a difference in my life. 

this year, i'm going to make more friends and jam to more music. 

i'm going to spread my talents and conquer a couple of fears. 

i'm going to make amends and turn nineteen.

i will think before i speak.

maybe travel a little bit and maybe find myself a boyfriend.

i'm going to quit being rude and start being kind.

(not that i'm rude alot, but i have my moments.)

in 2013,

i'm not going to hold back.

this year?

it'll be the best one yet.

the last three years.

i started this little tradition a few years ago where i take a picture of myself on christmas eve. i like to see how i change throughout the years. as you can tell, my hair is pretty darn different, but other than that i look basically the same. my hair is a little darker this year than it usually is, and we're in a different house. but, the thing is, looking at each of these pictures brings back memories. not just memories of what my hair was like, or how i did my makeup, but memories of people that came and left my life. people that affected me in some way or another. my maturity levels (ha). so, here i am. 2012, 2011, 2010. and next year, 2013 will be added to the list.

if you asked me if i was an artist,

i'd say no. unless you were talking about making paper snowflakes. then i'd say yes. 

lately in #112,

my crazy roommate sings too loudly all the time.

i love special k cereal with red berries. the generic kind is just as good as the original.

i put up icicle lights all around my room. i love them.

going to bed at 3am has become a habit, which is awful.

clara and i like to reminisce about eagle high school. what a great place.

ella fitzgerald, frank sinatra, bing crosby, gene autry, barry manilow, the carpenters, transiberian orchestra. nuff said.

still no snow... waaaahhhh. 

today i had my practical for my riding fundamentals class. i was super nervous because this is hands down the most important class i have this semester... but i passed with flying colors, with only a few minor mishaps. i'm really proud of myself. this class challenged my horsemanship in every way and i am so much better for it.

i love winter.

i love horses.

i love my truck.

i'm glad finals are almost over.

i love utah state. 

i love christmas lights.

i love christmas music.

i love my life.

xoxo

jessica :)

thanksgiving: 2012

i'm thankful for

staying home for the holidays

my friends

seeing my family

my horses

where i live

the support of my extended family

my university

modern technology

& too many other things to count.

happy thanksgiving, y'all.

xoxox

jessica :)

hey i'm legal.

GUYS.

today is my birthday.

and i'm eighteen.

my first birthday adventure was dying the underneath of my hair black. 

i really like it. a lot. 

i promised my mom that i wouldn't do anything crazy with my hair but i think this is perfectly acceptable. haha.

anyways. 

happy birthday to me.

thats all. 

xoxox

jessica :)

she's eighteen.

i dont even really know what to say.
other than.
i owe her.
for so much.

she's the best friend i've ever had in my life, but really she's just the long lost older sister i always needed. and i love her to death. and today is her birthday.

i should end this post before i start crying.

because i'm proud to be an American.

i am so glad to be an American. 

true blue through-and-through.

and so.

wishing you the best on your fourth of july, 

my favorite patriotic songs.

peace, love, blessings, and freedom,

jessica :)

thats a negative on the camping.

i never did end up going camping yesterday & today. whoops.
i'm dying my hair real blonde tomorrow. (i'm nervous).

today was the sister's birthday!
she's 11.
we celebrated with dinner at red robin.





and that's all.

loves,
jessica.

ps. i promise my posting will be interesting and frequent after this weekend. :)

my main mothers.

oh boy, ain't that true!!

this mother's day, i have soooo much to be grateful for. 

and so, i believe it's appropriate to give a largish shout out to my momma. 

it's real hard to be away from my parents and it's weird to not have my entire family under one roof. that being said, i consider it a blessing to stay with my mom for the weekend. 

she's doing a great job under the circumstances. it's weird how no one quite replaces your mom, isn't it?

speaking of replacements, 

my other two main mommas, ann & nicki need a little recognition too.

they've let me become part of their families. i split my weeknights, laundry, and other needs between them. and i will love them & their families forever for it. 

(i've also gained eight other fabulous siblings. :) )

also. 

gramma & meesh are pretty fabulous too.

basically.

i've got some killer great women in my life.

i really hope you do to. let them know, okay?

and if you don't have some killer great women in your life, 

feel free to share mine :)

love always & forevaaaa,

jessica :)