93. December 30

For the story behind this picture of the day, click here.

"In science one tries to tell people, in such a way as to be understood by everyone, something that no one ever knew before. But in poetry, it's the exact opposite."

~ Paul Dirac

92. December 29

Here's what I like about my sister:

She knows cool stuff, like how to give massages, or how to get pictures onto your computer when the camera cord won't work. She makes me laugh, a lot. She appreciates long drives and the car wash. I just like being with her, even if we aren't conversing or doing the same thing.

"The person I am in the company of my sisters has been entirely different from the person I am in the company of other people. Fearless, powerful, surprising, moved as I otherwise am only when I write."
~ Franz Kafka, Diaries of Franz Kafka

91. December 28

Today, Lisa and Danni helped me accomplish #37 on my list of Life Goals and Ambitions; float a wish away in a helium balloon. It was such a beautiful experience, I think we'd like to make a yearly tradition of it.

Here, prior to the balloon release, is me with Lisa's yellow balloon and my blue one, wishes not yet wished.

"Most people say if you tell a wish it won't come true. But I don't think wishes work like that. I don't believe there's some bad-tempered wish-fairy with a clipboard, checking off whether or not you've told."

~ Cynthia Lord, Rules

Thank you, Lisa, for the picture. Thank you, Danni, for the quote. Thank you both for the adventure.

90. December 27

Sunday drive with my sister, Lisa

"Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God's love encompasses completely. [...] He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken."

~ President Deiter F. Uchtdorf, "The Love of God"

89. December 26

This is one of those days where I didn't get around to taking a picture until the day was mostly over...

I had the delightful experience of watching the 2007 Persuasion for the second time with a few wonderful ladies. It is a gorgeously poetic film. And Captain Wentworth is appropriately dashing.

Here, Danni is clearly rivited.

"...the second time you see something is really the first time. You need to know how it ends before you can appreciate how beautifully it's put together from the beginning."
  ~ David Gilmour, The Film Club: A True Story of a Father and Son

88. December 25

Merry Christmas.

So it certainly wasn't a white Christmas this year, but for those of you who haven't ever experienced a red dirt Christmas, you are missing out.

Family hike, Christmas Day 2009.

"Isn't it funny that at Christmas something in you gets so lonely for--I don't know what exactly, but it's something that you don't mind so much not having at other times." 

~Kate L. Bosher

87. December 24

Christmas Eve.

My favorite day of the year.

What to say? I originally planned on posting pictures of the traditions that make the holiday: eating a big dinner, reenacting the nativity scene, unwrapping Christmas pajamas, sleeping in the basement, and watching Christmas Story... However, when deciding what pictures to post, I realized the pictures that caught my eye weren't those of the Christmas table setting, or of the tree, or of our makeshift manger. Rather, it was the faces of family. These are the faces that make Christmas for me.

So, as a small and humble present to you, dear reader, let me introduce you to the faces of family.

Cierra, Matt, and their beloved dog, Phoebe.

Lisa and Kyle as Mary and Joseph

Lisa and Kyle as Super Mary and Baller Joseph... or something like that.

Grandma and Grandpa O. as wisemen

Mother, the angel

Dad, the narrator

Regretfully, I have no pictures to share of Grandma and Grandpa S. But trust me, they are delightful faces.

Besides, I've already gone way over the "a" picture a day quota.

"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

~ The Gospel According to Luke, Chapter 2

86. December 23

This is also home.

St. George temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Beautiful, isn't it?

The best news of the day?

My sister is home!

Everybody needs a sister. Seriously. They are awesome.

And a little brother.

And a big brother.

And while we are at it, why not throw in a healthy mix of a sister-and-law, a mom, a dad, cousins, uncles, aunts, grandparents, pets, and a nephew to come.

"God is the designer of the family."

~ Gordon B. Hinckley

85. December 22

This is home.

"Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving."

~ Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky

THREE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS.

Can you believe it?

84. December 21

What book has had the greatest influence on your life, scriptural text set aside?

More fun answers from this intriguing little question...

My favorite answer thus far is Kim's choice of Shadow Spinner. Kim explained that as an eighth grader she was reading at about a third grade level. She hated reading. She hated the easy reader books. It was boring. It was stupid. Then, at the end of the year, Kim was finally allowed to pick a book she actually wanted to read. The book of choice was Shadow Spinner. Kim loved it. And she hasn't stopped reading since.

Tif chose The History of Love, by Nicole Krauss; Tuesday's with Morrie, by Mitch Albom; Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safran Foer; and The Mastery of Love, by Don Miguel Riuz.

Lee varied off the fiction path (way off) with Computational Differential Equations, by Claes Johnson et. al. And I'd agree with Lee--it's hard to separate the most influential works of literature from scripture.

The Book of Mormon and the Bible have changed my life more so than any other written work.

For more about The Book of Mormon, feel free to visit www.mormon.org, or just send me an email.

It's curious, so far, no two answers to this question of influential books has been the same...

Well, enough on that.

Today was a long day, but one of the most excellent variety. Following nine hours working retail, I drove around with my family to enjoy the beautiful Christmas lights. Driving around to see Christmas lights is one of my favorite holiday traditions.

I can't believe Christmas is almost here.

In just a few short days, this stocking, made years ago by my Aunt Lanette, will be stuffed full of Christmas delights.

I can't wait.

"When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes."

 ~ Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus

Sadly, true. I may be very, very poor, but oh I have a beautiful collection of books to share!

And one more quote for you tonight,

"Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at all." 

~ Henry David Thoreau, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers

83. December 20

One of my favorite places to be is in the comfort of Grandma and Grandpa's home.

I am eternally convinced that of all the good people God put on this earth, my uncles are the funniest and brightest, my aunts are the most gracious and lovely, and my four grandparents are hands down, the best.

Did I mention I love, love, love my family?

I thoroughly enjoyed celebrating Grandma's birthday with this fine crowd.

"...these foolish, affectionate people made a jubilee of every little household joy."

~ Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

82. December 19

A couple things on my mind tonight.

First of all, I posed the question, what book has had the greatest influence on your life, scriptural text set aside, to my coworkers today. Debby mentioned childhood favorites--The Boxcar Children, A Wrinkle in Time, The Westing Game, Anne of Green Gables, and Winnie the Pooh. Marcie chose Eagles Don't Eat Worms and the Angels Don't Knock series. My mother commented yesterday that her choice would be AJ Cronin's Keys of the Kingdom. Amy chose The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. Danni mentioned Lance Richardson's The Message. This question fascinates me. I want to ask it of the world! I guess because first, it tells a lot about the person, and second, it gives me a great list of books I hope to some day read.

So I ask again; what book has had the greatest influence on your life, scriptural text set aside?

Second of all, whenever I come home from college all I want to do is eat and sleep. I have this vague desire to be reading all these great books I keep hearing about, but then I pass through the kitchen and all thoughts are lost. I am in awe of a refrigerator full of food that I can eat, with nothing off limits. It's truly incredible. There are shelves and shelves of food in the cupboard. I can snack! I can have toast any time of the day! And an oven! How cool is that? Most of all, I have an amazing mother who cooks me homemade food--real homemade food. And thank goodness for Christmastime, because there seems to a plethora of sweet delights all around me. Oh, I do love this eating business. Too bad I can't seem to get more of the sleeping business. Or this reading business. Or this getting things done that need to get done business...

Well, here is the beauty of the refrigerator.

And so I give you two quotes: one for the book lover and one for the food lover in me.

Some quotes are particularly dear to me and this is one such quote:

"I have sometimes dreamt [...] that when the Day of Judgment dawns and the great conquerors and lawyers and statesmen come to receive their rewards--their crowns, their laurels, their names carved indelibly upon imperishable marble--the Almighty will turn to Peter and will say, not without a certain envy when He sees us coming with our books under our arms, "Look, these need no reward. We have nothing to give them here. They have loved reading.""

~ Virginia Woolfe, The Second Common Reader

And because Little Women can pretty much narrate my life, I think I'll let it do so tonight:

 "...and everyone settled themselves to a hearty meal, for youth is seldom dyspeptic..."

~ Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

81. December 18

Genuine cotton, from Utah's Dixie.

Awesome.

A week until Christmas.

Even more awesome.

I haven't had time these last few weeks to really consider Christmas and now that there is only a week left to build up to it, I kind of feel gypped, like I missed out on the season. I hate for the Christmas season to end. Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year. And the day after Christmas? It's one of the saddest.

What does Christmas have to do with cotton? Not much.

Tonight, my friends and I were playing a game and the question came up of which book has had the biggest influence on their lives, scriptural text set aside.

For me? Hands down, Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott. For my friends? The TimeTraveler's Wife , Siddhartha, the Harry Potter series, Breaking Dawn, and Mere Christianity were a few that made the list. Well, maybe the Harry Potter and Twilight series aren't making my list of books to read, but the others have definitely been added.

What would you say is the book that has had the biggest influence on your life; scriptural text set aside?

"I love quotations because it is a joy to find thoughts one might have, beautifully expressed with much authority by someone recognized wiser than oneself."

~ Marlene Dietrich 

What does this quote have to do with cotton or Christmas or books?

Absolutely nothing.

I just like it, that's all.

Thank you for allowing me to indulge in unrelated delights.

And please, think about the book question.

80. December 17

I love cluttered antique, consignment, and second-hand shops; personable used bookstores; curious historic sites; and very old houses.

I guess I just love old things, things that had a life before they found me,

like this:

"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing."
~ Albert Einstein

79. December 16

I think it's good to home in the company of familiar faces.

 

Tonight, I went to an ugly sweater/white elephant party with the most delightful crowd of friends, acquaintances, and new faces. We didn't stay too long at the party, but we kept our ugly sweaters on the whole night through.

Here is Krista modeling her sweater.

"What I find exciting in a new acquaintance is  the thought: Maybe I'm making a discovery here; maybe someone is entering my life who is nice. That's what gives me joy: the possibility of goodness. I appreciate exceptional intelligence. I can be charged by beauty, and I am intrigued by charisma. But I will be moved by goodness."

~ P. M. Forni, Choosing Civility

Welcome home, Elder Burton.

78. December 15

It is the strangest thing to return home after quite some time away and to sleep in the same bed that you dreamt away your childhood in. The past layers upon itself on my bedroom shelves in the form of knicknacks, dried roses, sea shells, journals, and books. How far away today childhood seems! I shuffled through clothes that had been left in my closet: prom dresses, a graduation gown, coats, and costumes, all hanging like ghosts of yesterdays since forgotten.

Who is this girl who wore these prom dresses and carefully hung the corsages to dry? Is she the same girl as the child who stenciled crooked  hearts and bows on the walls? And is that child the same girl as the teenager whose stacks of unfinished writings now fill the dresser drawers? Who is it that carefully selected these shelves and shelves of books, picked these curtains, and chose these pictures? Who is it that taped a map of Europe by the door, next to pictures printed off the internet of fields of golden daffodils, pictures to help her memorize the words of Wordsworth? Who is it that carefully packed away her old dolls and stuffed animals, saving them for children of her own? Is she the same girl who flew home only yesterday after months away in Asheville? Who does she make me?

I've always disliked the idea of finding yourself. I don't know about you, but I don't recall getting lost in the first place. And if I was to find myself, then what? Would that be the climax of all growth and progression in being? What happens after one is "found"? I prefer the idea of creating and becoming yourself. I feel in these few months away that I haven't found a missing girl, but I've created more out of who I was already. Life is an endless process of becoming and creating, not a search for a stagnant ending. And, for me, much of this process is evidenced on the shelves of my childhood bedroom. Here, home has remained an unaltered marker off of which I can gauge my progression in becoming.

"The deepest secret is that life is not a process of discovery, but a process of creation. You are not discovering yourself, but creating yourself anew. Seek therefore, not to find out Who You Are, but seek to determine Who You Want to Be."
 ~ Neale Donald Walsch

77. December 14

 Dear Asheville,

I miss you already. Thank you for the sunny send off. I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful last day. I will forever remember you as home to some of the best days of my youth.

 

 I am always awed when I manage to find a quote that encapsulates the exact emotion I feel but do not have the words to express. Thank you, Azar Nafisi. This is beautiful and the truth of it makes my heart ache.

"You get a strange feeling when you're about to leave a place, I told him, like you'll not only miss the people you love but you'll miss the person you are now at this time and this place, because you'll never be this way ever again."
~ Azar Nafisi, Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books

 

76. December 13

O babe I hate to go...

All my bags are packed I'm ready to go 
I'm standing here outside your door 
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye. 
But the dawn is breaking it's early morning 
The taxi is waiting, he is blowing his horn 
Already I'm so lonesome, I could cry 

So kiss me and smile for me 
Tell me that you wait for me 
Hold me like you never let me go 

I'm leaving on a jet plane,
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe I hate to go.

~ John Denver, "Leaving on a Jet Plane" 

75. December 12

Today's picture displays my avid enthusiasm for an awesome white elephant gift.

Thank you Jordan, for being tonight's guest photographer.

Now just one problem--I need a dachshund to love.

"Why can't we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together? I guess that wouldn't work. Someone would leave. Someone always leaves. Then we would have to say good-bye. I hate good-byes. I know what I need. I need more hellos."

~ Charles M. Schulz

Happy twentieth birthday, Danni. You are beautiful. I can't wait to celebrate your birthday next week!

74. December 11

Today consisted of packing and goodbyes--lots of goodbyes. It feels so strange to be leaving this life behind. Bittersweet day.

One of the sweet moments of this bittersweet day was a matinee showing of Elf at this fun movie theater/pizza joint. Pretty cool place!

"If there is ever a tomorrow when we are not together there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But most important of all, even if we are apart, I will always be with you."
~Winnie the Pooh

(Thanks Sam)