Christmas time, 2014.

For the second consecutive year,  I was really in the Christmas spirit. It was weird. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas, but for some reason the past several years it's been hard for me to really feel Christmas-y. This year I made sure to: watch all of my favorite Christmas movies (White Christmas. While You Were Sleeping, Love Actually, Its A Wonderful Life), decorate our house, bake, listen to the Christmas radio while driving Nat around, and just do festive things in general. I also have been making an effort to appreciate winter this year. I know. SHOCK. But I decided that if its not freezing freezing, I like to bundle up. I'm trying to be more positive guys.

Also, I was trying not to dwell on the fact that it was only going to be my parents and i for Christmas this year. Yes, it was going to be hard to not be with my siblings and nephews, but I was looking forward to a quiet Christmas with my parents, and spending time with R and G. I also had to work until about noon on Christmas Eve, and I was worried it wouldn't feel like Christmas because of that, but it didn't affect me as much as I would have thought...I guess its all an effect of getting older :)

I only stayed in WB for two days, but it was nice. Wednesday afternoon, my parents and I took a last minute trip to Target, and then had our traditional Christmas Eve dinner of broccoli cheese soup in bread bowls with hot cider. I went to Christmas Eve mass with R, G, and the Kolanda's which was so nice. The priest spoke about how humble the Savior was to come to earth as a child, when he could have come as an adult. He chose to come to earth like we all do, and grow and learn just like we do. We had actually talked about this same thing the week before in Relief Society and I enjoyed hearing the priest speak about it too. It was a really nice evening with beautiful music. When I got home, dad read the Christmas story, and I watched "Its A Wonderful Life" before going to bed.

Christmas morning we slept pretty late and once we went to our stockings and ate breakfast, finally opened our gifts around 10:30. We had a leisurely afternoon, reading and FaceTiming with Arizona and California. We watched "White Christmas", ate our Christmas dinner, and then watched "Amazing Grace". It was a quiet, relaxing day and while I so wished the rest of my family had been with us, I still had a nice day. Its amazing how much your situation seems to change when you refuse to focus on the negative things, and instead embrace the good things. It really does make a difference.

Friday my mom and I went shopping, and I got a NEW PHONE. finallllllly. a brand new, 64gb gold iPhone 6. having a brand new 6 is fine and everything, but mostly I'm just happy to have a phone with more space that I don't have to keep deleting things off of. soooo happy. we got groceries, and packing up my car to go home I realized I was heading home with a billion bags, and that I was beyond blessed this Christmas season. A loving family, loyal friends, membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and so many things to look forward to in life.



annual Mt. Vernon by Candlelight tour with mom and dad.

a peaceful night at the temple. it was beautiful seeing the Christus statue surrounded by thousands of twinkling lights.

the day that R and I went to Nats Fest was also the Army-Navy game. every year, the City of Annapolis hosts their Christmas Lights Boat Parade in the harbor on the same day. it always starts right about the same time the game would be expected to end. the past two years i have gone up with some friends, ate dinner in a restaurant and watched Navy beat Army (for the 13th consecutive year!!!), and then walked down to the harbor and watched the boats go by. its one of my favorite recent Christmas traditions and we had a nice time this year.

the menorah in Nat's house

my roommates had never seen "White Christmas" (!!!) so i fixed that. hot chocolate included.

G and i went and saw Handel's "Messiah" at the Kennedy Center, performed by the National Symphony Orchestra. it was absolutely incredible!!! just stunning. i felt so much joy as a i sat there listening to this brilliant piece of music being performed...our Savior is real, His life and atonement is real, and that brings me joy. i don't know how anyone could sit there and listen to that and not think that Handel was divinely inspired when he wrote it. it was an amazing experience!

Whit and i attempted a gingerbread house while watching "The Sound of Music" sing a long, hahaha. we struggled, clearly.

Christmas Eve mass at St. Francis with my favorite Catholics.

Christmas Day with my family. isn't technology wonderful???

the king and queen.

"As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ this season, let us also celebrate all that His birth symbolizes, especially the love. When we see shepherds, may we remember to be humble. When we see wise men, may we remember to be generous. When we see the star, may we remember the Light of Christ, which gives life and light to all things. When we see a tiny baby, may we remember to love unconditionally, with tenderness and compassion. May we open the doors of our hearts and reach out to those around us who are lonely, forgotten, or poor in spirit." -Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson