Grateful for 2015

I do truly believe that any day can be the beginning of a new year for anyone. But, I think it is still fun and productive to consider ways to improve myself for the new year. I looked at my resolutions from last year, and I didn't really accomplish most of them. But, I have noticed that I've done many great things right, and consistently. A couple of recent examples include working out with my parents every day this Christmas break (except Dec. 24 and 25), and never missing a day in this blog for the last four months of the year. For me, 2015 also included many wonderful friendships, an internship, and many great family relationships that continue to be great blessings to me.

So here's to 2015, and here's to an even better 2016!

Vacation at Home

A couple weeks ago, I told myself that I was going to get so many things done over the holiday break. I did get a few things accomplished, but not nearly as much as I hoped because I often have very high expectations for my productivity during off-time. In general, this has felt a little like vacation for me. I got to spend the holiday season with my family in my hometown, and it has been quite relaxing. Very soon, I will be back in the full-time school/part-time work routine.

I am grateful for a few weeks of vacation time at home.

Haircut at a Men's Hair Salon (or "hair-cutting place," whichever is more manly, I guess)

It's been too long since the last time I got my hair cut. Now, my hair has been reduced from about 3" to about 1", and it's such a relief! Even better, the hair-cutting place was pretty good. They specialized in men's hair, and I appreciate the work they do.

Go Speech Team!

I had the privilege of helping out at a "speech camp" today. It was an event for a local high school speech team of which I am an alumnus. Some of my greatest memories of high school came from my involvement with the speech team, and I am always very happy to help at the annual speech camp.

It was a productive activity for the current team members. I enjoyed witnessing the creativity, the energy, and the silliness of today's "speech kids," similar to the speech kids I worked with a few years ago. What a delight it was for me to be involved in all of this for a day!

I am grateful for the time I had to be with a high school speech team, to give them my support, advice, and encouragement.

Threadbarely Had A Chance

Often, without thinking about it, I find myself following an old saying: "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." This holds especially true for my socks. I didn't ask for any new socks this year because I thought I had plenty of them. They all worked fine for me, and if they got a little thin, I wore slippers more often. Who cares?

A-parent-ly, my parents care.

My mom asked to look through my socks before I packed them away in my suitcases. If she found any holes in them, they were thrown. Seven socks (yes, an even seven, odd isn't it?) were found wanting, and they were thrown away. To make up for my loss, my mom found some brand new socks among the leftover stocking stuffers. "Oh, alright, I'll take the new ones," I said. It's not like I don't like getting new socks; it's just that I usually don't get around to it, and my parents are only too aware of that.

Today, I am grateful for new socks. :)

Celebrating Love

Today, we celebrated my parents' anniversary by going out to a nice restaurant for dinner. They gave us a free dessert, and they even wrote "Happy Anniversary!" on the plate in chocolate! We all (my parents and I) had a lovely time.

Tonight, we decided to watch the film Interstellar. Oh. My. Goodness. Gracious. My mind was blown several times in the space (or was it time?) of 2.5 hours. I was quickly invested and wrapped up in all the emotion and science and technology and disaster and [insert further raving about this spectacularly stellar movie that blew me away while my confusion dawned into recognition and amazement...multiple times]...etc.

Anyway, that's enough raving. What impressed me the most about Interstellar was that at the heart of the film was love, hope, and humanity, especially love. Today, I am grateful for a celebration, followed by a wonderful film, centered on human love. :)

A Family Christmas

My parents and I opened all our presents and enjoyed Christmas treats and Christmas dinner today. We had a three-way Skype call between my parents and I at home, my sister on her mission, and my brother on vacation. Both of my grandmothers called to say hi, see how we were doing, and wish us a merry Christmas. My parents even played two rounds of Munchkin, the Christmas Lite version, with me (my mom won the first game, and my dad the second)!

My Christmas 2015 was all about family, and at the center of my family is Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrated with beautiful traditions. Merry Christmas!