Gratitute

I feel so amazingly grateful for everything in my life right now. I feel like I have to share some of this happiness, or it will come bursting out of me.

Things I am grateful for:

- this Christmas season. I have tried to make a more diligent effort to invite the spirit of Christmas into my life this year. I've been pondering what that first Christmas must have been like, and I just have to say, I'm kind of glad I wasn't Mary. :) It's just so amazing, if you think about it. The Son of God, choosing to be born as a baby in such a dismal, humble place. He could have been born in a palace, surrounded by adoring subjects. He could have had a queen or an empress for a mother. Instead, he was born into the most humble of circumstances. It boggles my mind. And makes me grateful.
- The snow. I don't love snow, and I'm traveling tomorrow and want the snow to go away quickly. But today it's beautiful.
- My wonderful warm house, with all the windows for letting in natural winter light.
- My fantastic and (occasionally) eccentric family. I love all of you guys. Thanks for being such an excellent support group, and letting me share this mortal journey with you.
- the opportunities I've been given. As crazy as I have been with school and Steve's work, and all that, it has been so great. Despite the rocky path that led me to where I am right now, I am so grateful that Heavenly Father is letting me do what I am doing. I love it. I know it's going to change soon, and that's great too, but right now I am happy.
- a functioning car. I still am amazed at how great it is to get in the car, turn it on, and start driving somewhere. We have not once had this car in the shop for anything more than an oil change. Considering the problems we had with my last car, this is like a miracle.
- Most of all, my wonderful, hard-working, handsome, unselfish, patient, eternal husband. I love him more at this moment than I could have imagined when we got married. It is so wonderful to have someone I can trust so much, that brings so much happiness and peace into our home. I love you, babe!

The end.

P.S., I am also about to go to the library for the first time in months. Color me excited!

the end ... of the semester ...

Several words come to my mind, but when I try to articulate them, they just come out blegh. I'd forgotten the level of stress associated with the end of a semester, and it is much worse as a grad student than an undergrad.

I think I'll go drown my sorrows in a glass of milk before I embark on today's projects.