It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

There is exactly one month until the big 12.25 holiday. One month! Where did this past year go? I vividly remember it being this time last year....the feelings, the experiences I was having, everything. And here I am, one year later, starting to be overcome with those festive Christmas feelings all over again. The ads on t.v. and in the paper, the radio stations, the retails stores, and even home decor is all becoming Christmas-ified. Heck, even my little blog is now Christmas-ified.

So with this beautiful time of year beginning, I want to officially give one last shout out to the often-overlooked holiday of Thanksgiving and a few more things that I am truly grateful for.

Thanksgiving this year was just delightful. It was my family and my grandparents...8 people total. This was quite different for me because whether we are with my mom or my dad's side, there are always at least 20+ (if it's my dad's, at least 50+) people. However, I loved having it be small and intimate this year. My Grandma and Grandpa Mecham are two of the most incredible people I know. They have such wisdom and love in their hearts. They are seriously my biggest fans. If I'm ever feeling a little down or unsure of myself, all I have to do is talk to them and my confidence meter is boosted to full blast! :) But really, they are so wonderful, and I am deeply grateful for every single moment I get to spend with them.

Last Christmas (2010) with my grandparents

Needles to say, I am officially stuffed with enough turkey and pumpkin pie to keep me going for at least a week. Looking at our table full of more food than any of us could eat made me remember how blessed I am and how much I take for granted. How many people yesterday were a) not able to be with those that they love so dearly and b) have even enough food to fulfill their hunger? Probably more than I want to know. The Lord has blessed me tremendously. I am very thankful for a day to count my blessings and give thanks to Him who gives us everything.

A few other blessings in my life have been on my mind lately, and with all this "being thankful" business, I feel like I want to express my thanks for them...

My School

"Utah State, hey Aggies all the way! Go Aggies, Go Aggies, hey hey hey!"

Singing the Scotsman after our recent victory over BYU (11.12.11)

I love my school. Utah State has treated me so well over these past five semesters. The friends I have made, the experiences I have had, the professors who have taught me, the knowledge I have gained (both intellectually and socially), and the whole USU atmosphere have influenced and changed my life. I remember my mom telling me how much she loved her college years, and when I was in high school, I couldn't imagine how it could get any better than that? But it did. Oh how it did! I will always be an Aggie, but thinking that I have one semester left on campus and student teaching until I GRADUATE is freaking me out just a little bit. My "college years" are winding down and I am realizing just how wonderful they have been. I know that when I do finish, I will always look back on them with fond memories. Let me take you on a small journey through the past three years of my Utah State life in pictures...


The only thing that could possibly make my Utah State experience even better would be having my best friend live in Logan again. I am so thankful for this girl...

Whitney Davis

The Urban Dictionary defines a best friend as:

"Best friends are very special people in your life. They are the first people you think about when you make plans. They are the first people you go to when you need someone to talk to. You will phone them up just to talk about nothing, or the most important things in your life. When you're sad they will try their hardest to cheer you up. they give the best hugs in the world! They are the shoulder to cry on, because you know that they truly care about you. In most cases, they would take a bullet for you, because it would be too painful to watch you get hurt."

I would confidently say that this describes how I feel about Whitney. Whitney Ruth Davis is possibly one of the most incredible girls that I have ever met. Because she is 21 years old, I will list 21 things that I love about her (although let's be honest, there are way more!)

1. We have the same brain.
2. She is incredibly beautiful, in every sense of the word.
3. She is obsessed with BYU football. I know of no other fan that is as dedicated as she is.

4. She is hilarious. Hil-ar-i-ous. I am guaranteed to have some good deep-hearted chuckles when I am with her.
5. This girl has one heck of a voice. Whitney Houston, step aside.
6. She has more friends and admirers than anyone that I know. Everyone loves Whit.
7. She is partly Black...in many many ways.
8. She LOVES babies! And her nieces and nephews. Whitney = best future mom.

9. She is very generous and always so willing to share and give. Lately, I am thankful for her generosity of sharing her home when I go to visit.

Seeing White Christmas at BYU

10. I can guarantee that Whit will always be up for a good meal or a delicious treat.
11. She lends a constant listening ear and sincerely cares about what others have to say.
12. She has always supported everything I've been involved in.

13. Whit is a champ at whatever she sets her mind to. She is very determined and hardworking.
14. She and I are going to form a girl band "Waggles". It's going to be a big hit, just wait!

15. She loves sports. Volleyball, football, basketball...you name it. Her favorite TV channel? ESPN.
16. Whit has the best sense in fashion. She loves Nordstroms and the Buckle and nothing makes her happier than a good pair of jeans.
17. She is one incredible performer. She has grown up on the stage and is definitely made for it. I have been able to watch her and work with her in multiple productions, and she is insanely talented. Audiences love her. And she deserves every bit of fame and success that she gets.

18. Whit has been through a lot in her life, yet keeps a smile and a positive outlook. She is one of the strongest people that I know.
19. We have similar opinions and mannerisms. I could probably finish one of her sentences in the exact tone of voice she would use. She could probably finish one of my dance moves with exactness... oh wait, she does do that. It is so nice having a friend whose values to sense of humor line up with your own.

20. Her testimony and love of the gospel are evident in her daily actions. She shines with the light of Christ.
21. Whitney is the best friend a person could ask for. Everyone's lives that she enters are truly blessed and bettered because of knowing her.

Well, with Thanksgiving thankfulness and Christmas cheer in my heart, I can't help but feel so happy today. There is so much good in this world, and like President Uchtdorf said in his General Releief Society talk, there is absolute reason to be happy now. There is no need to wait around for a golden ticket when life is surrounded by delicious chocolate....
Now if I can just survive the last two weeks of school and finals week, life will be smoooooth sailing. Let the Christmas joy begin!