New Year's Wish

The snow is finally here!  It happened yesterday morning.  Our roommate ran out of her room screaming "The snow is here!!!!!!" Everyone ran to the windows and ripped open the blinds.  We stared at the white blanket of twinkling snow.  It was picture perfect!
  Then Sister Hatch {my teaching companion} and I walked 4 miles through this "picture perfect" snow.    All of then sudden it wasn't so glamorous as it was blowing sideways into our faces. My wish for snow became more of a burden.  I even had the thought when will spring be here?
  But then I saw the miracle in the snow.  This is something I previously loved and wished for, and now I was grumbling.
Hmmm...sounds like New Year's resolutions.  We wish for something {to be skinnier, happier, get a better job, etc}.  We're excited, we just can't wait to loose the 20 lbs and then......it gets hard!  All of the sudden those things we want and wish for become a burden.  It's a picture perfect trial!  My New Year's wish is to set goals and keep them....even throught the good, bad and the ugly.  This will help me become a better person, and a better discliple of Christ. 
 

Start off the New Year hopeful:)

Missing Snow?

Never in a million years did I think I would say this.....but I miss the snow!  When I told all my friends and family I would be serving an LDS mission in Rochester New York, the first thing I'd hear was "You're going to freeze to death up there!"  But last year I survived my first New York winter.  You think I could at least get a bumper sticker for that or something.  Now it's Christmas time again, and we've been going door to door, spreading Christmas cheer and a message about Jesus Christ.  Only one thing is missing.....the snow!!! There's something about snow that makes Christmas complete.  Maybe it's because it validates some of my favorite Christmas songs.   
I have been in deep thought about all this.  Going to the shopping malls you see piles and piles of toys and "sale" signs.  Everyone is hustling and bustling around town, the post office line is clear around the corner, the tree and lights are going up, every single night is scheduled with a holiday concert or party, and hundreds of Christmas cards are sent.  Hopefully there's even snow to plow:)  I love all of these things that make the Christmas season happy.  

In the center of all the hustle and snow and buying and sending, there is something of greater value.  If it were missing, Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas.  There's is indeed the "reason for the season".....a reason to celebrate.   It is our Savior, Jesus Christ!  His birth represents everything we have in our lives!  So this year--if I must--I will go without snow, but I will not let this year past without remembering my Savior and celebrating His triumpant birth.  I know He lives!  May He be in your hearts this Christmas season.