To Christmas Eve

Through the years, Christmas Eve, you have brought me a lot of fun times. I remember being young and trying and trying to sleep but I never really could. I remember finally, somewhere in the night, drifting off to sleep, but waking up after what seemed only 15 minutes to see if it was morning yet. Finally, once it was about 5:30 am I couldn't take it anymore, at I just sat up and watched the clock until 7:00 (pronounced "seven-oh-oh" in your best little-boy voice) to wake up the rest of the siblings and go bounding into mom and dad's room. There we would wait and wait while they agonized us by saying they didn't want to go out yet or that they had to go to the bathroom or go make sure Santa still wasn't in the living room. I remember my dad going out to get the camera and having us take baby steps down the hall, all the while snapping picture after picture. Great times. My parents did an awesome job of building the hype.

I remember Christmas in the mission. I never wanted to eat spaghetti or buko salad again... Man you fed me a lot on those nights, Christmas Eve.

I remember lots of Christmas Eve's spent watching Christmas movies and going over to our friends, who are now also our family, to read and act out the Luke 2 story and share talents.

Tonight I was a Shepherd.

Christmas eve is full of beautiful sights and sounds, and of course delicious tastes (I've gained 3 pounds since being home, to give you an idea of just how delicious). Tomorrow everyone will wake up and open presents. Tomorrow our thoughts will be on family and Christ as we participate in our traditions. I love it.

I always love Christmas time, but I think I realized this year what it is exactly that makes the Christmas season just so special. It has to be the feast the senses get from the whole season. The cold is refreshing, the smell if just fresh, the tastes are rich, the sights are beautiful, and the smells are full of memory of Christmas past.

Thanks, Christmas. You rock.

To Home

There is somethin about going home that just makes life awesome. Even though I really don't have any friends at home anymore (except Ashley), I just feel at home at home... (Yeah I know what I said).

On may way back to you, home, I had to wait in Sea-Tac for an hour, but I even loved that! I stepped out of the airport and it was misting outside. Not raining, not sprinkling, but the classic seattle misting. Good thing I had my hoodie on. I fit in much better than those Southwest flyers coming in from Long Beach wearing shorts, sandals, and rain coats and sporting their umbrellas. Psh. Umbrellas are for wussies.

I love being with you, home, because you mean family, and family rocks. I've got the coolest nephew and the 3 cutest nieces in the world and they're all here with us this week. I get to be with my sister and her family and my bro and his wife who is prego. I get to hang out and go to the gym with my little sis who runs like a thousand miles a day. I can't believe how much we've grown, home, and you were always such a big part of that.

Now it pretty much just seems that I really only get to come back every Christmas, when family is here. Otherwise it's just not the same, ya know?

So, home, thanks for everything. Even though you don't provide me with a room anymore and I find myself sleeping on the couch most nights, I love being here. Thanks for the food. Thanks for the family. Thanks for the awesome weather. Thanks for the smells, tastes, sights, and feelings I've loved throughout my life. Seattle's always gonna be home for me.

To Santa

Dear Santa,

I hope you're doing well. I hope you had a good year and you're finding yourself ready for the holiday season. Crazy how fast it comes, no?

Anyway, Santa, I'm guessing you know all about what this letter is, so I'll get right to it. Here is my Christmas list:

-Underwear. Because the more underwear I have, the less often I have to do laundry, the more money I have.

-iPod speakers or a stereo for the shower so I can express myself in the mornings.

-Snowboard pass for night snowboarding, because I don't want to spend my monday/thursday/friday/saturday nights doing homework.

-Groceries. Cuz I mean, everyone needs to eat, right?

-iTunes money. Never does me wrong.

-Ties and white shirts.

-Homework elf. Yes. I want one of your elves to do my homework.

-8 hours of sleep a night. Or maybe just 2 more hours every day so I can be awake as much as I am now but still sleep 8 hours a day.

-Girlfriend. Complete with diamond ring.

-Dates that are cheap. Or a dating fund. Something to help pay for going on dates with that girlfriend.

-Textbooks. Or a college degree.

-A summer internship. Paid hopefully. Either in Provo or Seattle.

-Acceptance letter to the UW MHA program.

And of course...

-Peace on Earth.

Love ya, Santa. I know you can come through.

To Dating

You sure are a fickle friend, dating. It is definitely a love/hate relationship. I definitely enjoy your company, yet sometimes I just don't want anything to do with you. All in all, you're awesome. I just have a few questions for you dating...

I don't have any problems with trying to ask a girl to hang out with you one time... but how do I do it the second time with that same girl? I mean, how do I know if she's interested? How do I know when I can ask? Do I have to go on dates with some other girls first? What do you do on a second date? I don't even know what the girl is thinking at this point!

One thing I've noticed too is that you don't seem to be too keen on entertaining groups of more than 4, sometimes 6. Why is this? I know often times it gets a little weird for me, especially on a first date because it gets super hard to even get to know the girl I'm with. Maybe I just shouldn't do the group date thing... I dunno... You tell me what you want.

How do I know when to end you? Not meaning to stop dating, but how do I know when the date has gone too long? Actually, come to think of it, I think I know when you last too long, the question is how do I end it? Thats the tricky thing because if I end a date before curfew the girl might think she's a bad date or I just want to be doing other things. If I don't, the date could get boring or something. It's just tricky.

How do I make you cheap? I try, but just can't do it.

Thanks for being fun at least, dating. You're a good friend, even though I don't understand how you work sometimes.