Drive Home

Alberta license plate. Veteran. "Do you think they are an American veteran or a Canadian veteran?.....Canada doesn't fight."


I haven't learned the purpose of the desert yet. It's just a big empty space with nothing useful in it. Actually, it's useless. There aren't any natural resources, and it will kill you faster than it will keep you alive. Why a desert? What could be the point to create such a huge expanse of uninhabitable land on every continent? Maybe someday I'll learn, but for now, I'm still perplexed. 


Ten hours in the car is a long time. Somehow it is worth it though. Home and family. What could be greater? Probably nothing. 

Finals, but not mostly

I am completely done with finals! It's a pretty great feeling for sure. I feel quite elated and pleased. Just a big sigh. I now have time to relax for the next two days before I get to go HOME! Which is extremely exciting. Roommates are great. Sometimes we just have a great moment studying together in the kitchen in silence, or eating cookie dough right before bed and peanut butter and jelly, I make everyone try my rice pudding before they even think about leaving the kitchen, except Geoff because he never eats anything. What a silly little boy. It's almost 3 am and I've been chatting for that last 4 hours about. How great is that? I'll tell you...on a scale of 1 to 10, it's priceless. What a great way to spend our last night together before Christmas break. I wonder if I'll be able to fall asleep. Tonight I made rice pudding and watched Phantom of the Opera with Raquel, Laura, Brian, Adam, and of course Geoffery. Well, Adam only watched like a fourth of the movie before he ran out, and didn't come back till it was over so we'll have to watch it again next semester since he's actually never even seen it. Geoffery, spell check dislikes your name. 


For the last lecture of American Heritage, one of the clips we watched was of 9/11. It was probably the most touching one I've ever seen. Tears were streaming down my face and my heart beat loud. I am at a loss for words now. I really don't know how to describe the feeling and give it justice. It made me proud to be an American, and I feel the suffering from that dreadful day in history. It is even more significant to me because it has happened in my lifetime. God was there to uplift those fallen souls. 


I really love learning and I love that I gain so much knowledge in my classes that I never knew before, or that I see through a different light now. It is amazing really to learn the American Heritage through the eyes of someone spiritual. I think deeper thoughts and appreciate science, for real. I feel like I really didn't understand anything until I learned it from this perspective. Life makes sense, evolution makes sense, the universe makes sense, people's ideas and motives make sense. Well, as much as any of those things can make sense to a young college freshman experiencing things in a different light for the first time in her school career. I feel I am able to understand things more as God intends for me to understand them, rather than how the world does. I've learned so much about science and creation, and evolution through a more spiritual light that I am willing to listen now, willing to understand, it is now amazing to me, not just something the world expects me to believe because it is proven fact, but so much more added to that. I usually tried to avoid talking of those subjects with others because I really didn't know much and understood even less, but everything I've learned in school up to now makes so much better sense in my mind because I see it through a different light. I'm not really sure if I'm even explaining this in a comprehensible way, but it sure makes sense to me.


So there's this boy..........and that's all that needs to be known. ;)  

The Spirit of Christmas

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

By the magical light of a small Christmas candle

A little old man tries to carefully handle

The small porcelain manger which serves as a bed

For the wee baby Jesus to lay down His head.

In wonder he brings the manger up to his view,

Smiles at the baby and whispers, "I love you!

I love you for bringing this season of joy

I love you for growing to a man from a boy;

For being our light and leading the way

For being the spirit which brings Christmas Day!

You've been my mentor, my model, my hero, and guide

Please continue to help me and stay by my side.

I've tried to follow your teachings and give as you gave,

Reminding all to be kind and that it's wise to behave.

Help my to serve others and bring them Your light,

Especially the children, please bless them tonight!

Somehow so very little, scarce food for their table,

You know how it feels - You were born in a stable!

Bless all their mothers and fathers with knowledge that's sure,

The best gift they can give is their love, strong and pure.

That's the spirit of Christmas when all's said and done,

God's gift of love, that came as His Son!"

Then back to His mother the child is returned

The Nativity glows as the candle is burned.

In a wink the little old man slips quietly away

Some say he goes up the chimney and climbs in a sleigh.

Whatever the case, His mission is clear - 

Give to others, bring love and good cheer.

He flies into the night and bids us adieu

Doing for others what Jesus would do!

Greg Olsen

                                                                                                                                                                 
           What a perfect image to remind us of the true spirit of Christmas. This season revolves around Christ, and Santa Claus, is shown worshiping our Savior. It is just so appropriate in my mind, that the artist brings in Santa as the worldly symbol of Christmas, representing Jesus in all that he does. Everything of Christmas is to draw us to Jesus Christ. 

Who am I to judge another?

Who am I to judge another when I walk imperfectly? When I am brought to stand before my Maker and be judged, He will judge me on my countenance. In the world, we are judged by others for one wrong thing we do that ever defines us, but Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know our whole life and the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. Such pure and perfect judgement. We will be judged out of the Book of Life, with all our life recorded in it in heaven. We will testify against ourselves. I imagine our mind being open and remembering everything that has ever happened to us, our feelings, desires, intentions, just everything, laid out before us. It is amazing to think about, just being able to remember every little detail from our lives and all the memories we've stored away and forgotten where we placed them in our mind. Are my intentions good, are my thoughts worthy, should I change something to be better?