눈이 왔어

I grew up in places where it snowed. A lot. First Logan, in the Wasatch Mountains, then in Bozeman, where we played outside on the playground before school until the temperature dropped to zero degrees (Fahrenheit, not Celsius). Then when I was in middle school we moved to Tennessee, and I haven't seen much of the snow since. I've missed it. So many of my childhood memories of winter involve bulky snowsuits, lost mittens, our boots making wet tracks on the floor, the cold wind stinging our cheeks, sledding, snowmen, snowballs, snowangels...anything you could possibly make out of snow. I love the hush that covers the earth when the snow comes, and the soft, pale grey of the sky when it falls. I love the crunch of it under my feet, the white frosting that covers everything and makes the winter world into a winter wonderland.

Rick and me on our way to get food after an exciting drive home from the temple

So you can imagine my unbridled joy when I came out of the temple this morning to find it snowing heavily and two inches already on the ground! Could anything be better than to be surround by lovely, sparkling, brilliant snow after coming out of the temple? The only thing that dimmed my enthusiasm for the snow was the two-hour drive home - the two-hour drive that normally takes only an hour. And the fact that because Rick's brakes are not so good after he had a little accident the last time he drove in snow, we went between 15 and 30 mph all the way home, sometimes slowing to barely 5 mph. And we fishtailed some, failed to get the chains on, and didn't get to have Korean food for lunch. I am a slight bit miffed about that. But still, we made it home in one piece, I didn't have to go to work because of the snow, and campus looks just like a snow globe! It's definitely picturesque. Too bad a bunch of meanies have already ruined the snow so I can't take a picture.

Challenges

Often, I think the most difficult challenges in life are the smallest ones. Or rather, the deceptively small ones. You know what I mean. When something big and flashy happens in your life, it's easy to see what needs to be overcome and many people will be there to help you through the process. But those kinds of challenges (hopefully) don't happen to us very often, whereas we are beset every day by "little things" like bad habits, that one annoying person in your class, procrastination, etc.

I think the Lord provides us with these challenges to test our devotion to Him and our faith. The true measure of our desire to follow Him is in our willingness to do the small, everyday things, well, every day for the rest of our lives. Anything is easy for short periods of time; consistency is the real challenge in life.




I would have to say that I'm failing at this right now.

Things I Like About Myself and Don't Wish to Change

As I am sure you are all quite aware, this time of year is one where people tend to examine themselves, at least on a surface level, decide there are a few flaws in their characters, and make something called a "new year's resolution". Most abandon them as quickly as they make them, and with just about as much thought.

I thought I'd turn the system on its ear and reflect on things I like about myself, instead. Heaven knows I probably don't do it enough. So here you are: a (probably incomplete) list of things I like about myself.

A List of (a Previously Unspecified Number of) 

Things AnnMarie Likes About Herself

I like my eyes. I like that they're green, especially. Not too many people have green eyes, plus green happens to be my color of choice.

I like that I am intelligent. I don't wish to sound overly conceited, or even the least bit conceited, but my academic career bears out my self-assessment. (Nevertheless, I find it hilarious that it took me four tries to spell "assessment" correctly when I typed that. Never let it be said that I am incapable of laughing at myself. Or that I think myself genius material.)

I like that I am musical. I like that I have a pleasant singing voice and that I am mildly proficient at playing various musical instruments.

I like that I love to read. It sets me apart from your run-of-the-mill twentysomething and enriches my life.

I like that I have a crazy obsession with Korean dramas and cheesy Korean pop music. It took me a long time to learn to speak Korean, darn it, and I am proud that I can speak it even a little bit.

I like that I am a loyal friend. While I don't claim to be a perfect one, I always strive to be there for my friends. I am a good listener, and I have never betrayed a confidence placed in me.

I like that my greatest ambition in life is to be a wonderful wife to my husband and mother to my children. These are roles that don't get a lot of credit in the 'real world', but frankly I don't care.

I like that I love my family. I like that we have eight kids, and I like that my parents love each and every one of us.

I like that I enjoy learning. They say you never grow old if you continue to learn.

I like that I can do well at my job, even if it's something I've never done before and wouldn't have chosen to do if I'd had another option.

I like that I have strong, healthy nails.

I like that I still sleep with my baby blanket and my stuffed Pooh Bear, and I like that I can admit it without shame.

I like that I make a mean batch of chocolate chip cookies. They really are amazing. Plus, cookie dough is the best.

I like that I don't like chocolate. But I do like boys.