Sitting On Santa's Lap

How old is too old to sit upon Santa's knee? 

I don't worry about the answer to these types of questions when I see an authentic-looking jolly old Saint Nicholas.  I just smile and tell Santa my Christmas wishes.

This year, Megs and I went to This is the Place for their Candlelight Christmas celebration.  On our way out, they asked if we wanted to talk to Father Christmas.  YES!  Megs was a little more hesitant than I, but my excitement was utterly contagious and she gave in:-)  Father Christmas never got around to asking me what I wanted, he was more interested in where I graduated (BYU is the right answer, apparently) and what I was doing with my life.  I'm glad Santa is a supporter of education.  He clearly got around to asking Megs her wishes, as you can see the wheels in her brain turning in her photo. 

The best part may just have been that they thought we were sisters who were sending our photos home to our parents in Ohio.  Precious:-) 

I love Santa.  Do you?

Santa Vomit

Do you all like how it appears that Christmas has vomited all over my blog?

Oh yeah, it's that time of year:-)

BIG HUGE thanks to Melissa Singleton for being the raddest friend of the week.  What did she do to deserve these accolades?  I mentioned I loved her new blog banner and within 24 hours she had created six (!!!!!!) for me and e-mailed them my way.  I opened the e-mail towards the end of a horrendously long and stressful work day and boy was that like opening a box of smiles.  Love. that. girl.

Don't forget to go make a guess for the contest on this entry.

Santa and Coke - two of my favorites:-)

New York at Christmas Time!

I failed to mention that I fled the sorrow that was encompassing my life a few weeks ago by taking a less-than-one-week's-notice-holiday trip to NYC!
I have had a dream of being in New York at Christmas since, well, at least since Home Alone 2.
I stood there watching the Macy's Thanksgiving parade in Times Square and thought to myself, "I feel so foolish. The only reason I'm standing here is because I am running away from my problems." Then I realized, no matter the reason I was there at that moment, I was living a dream come true - not just for myself, but for so many others. I received a text from my mom during the parade about how she has dreamed her whole life of doing what I was doing.
I also decided to fly in my little sister as her Christmas present, although she couldn't come in until the day after Thanksgiving. She somehow convinced her friend Ryan (who came with us in April) to come as well. The three of us had a blast.
I can't describe the feeling of your heart being filled with sorrow and joy, both overwhelming, at the same time. My life is extremely blessed. I know this even when I'm going through any sort of emotional or physical challenge. I know my Heavenly Father loves me and watches out for me - including making the fares to NYC the same price five days in advance as they would have been a year in advance:-)