Christmas in West Virginia

Christmas was different this year. It was different in a good way though and I am grateful for that. This was my first Christmas away from home and I was so worried that I was going to be a total mess. Things ended up being perfect and I didn't cry once. I got a little weepy going to bed on Christmas Eve and thinking that all of my sisters were in the same bed in Utah without me, but I did it. Eric and I had a fabulous time in West Virginia for Christmas and enjoyed being with family. We ate, shopped, went to three movies, played games, and just hung out. It was so nice to relax and not have to worry about school and Eric didn't have to worry about work. We both had to do things for our callings but other than that, we had no responsibilities and it was so nice.  We also had family pictures which always makes mama's happy and we celebrated Eric's birthday with his family while we were there. So grateful for such a loving husband that I am crazy about.

Ever since I was called as Young Women's president, my eyes have been opened to things in this world that I didn't even think were happening around me. This Christmas, I sat back and reflected on things that really mattered. I had my Christmas shopping done in October so I could spend the holiday's thinking about everything that I have been blessed with and the birth of our Savior. I was able to give out my $10.00 on Christmas Eve that I talked about here to hopefully lighten the burden on someone for Christmas and this brought me so much joy.

I am excited to have children one day and to do Santa with Eric. I am excited to get our littles Christmas Eve jammies. I am excited to be with family and to carry out family traditions. As I have been thinking though, I am most excited to teach my children the importance of helping others and to help them remember the real reason that we celebrate Christmas.

Spirit of Christmas

This Christmas has been very different than others in many ways. I woke up this morning and it was 80 degrees outside and I put on sandals and a short sleeved shirt. There is no snow on the ground like I am used to in Utah and it isn't cold outside at all. There are trees and Christmas lights up but it just doesn't feel like Christmas quite yet. As I was thinking of all of the things that are making Christmas different this year, I realized that I have been thinking way more of the real meaning of Christmas and the Savior then I have in past years. I had my Christmas shopping done in October so I could really focus on the birth of our savior during the month of December and remember the real reason that we celebrate this season. When we were in Utah for Thanksgiving back in November, my parents gave my moms parents, brothers, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law's, nieces, nephews, my sisters, Austin, Eric, and I an envelope and we were asked to open it. Inside it was a letter and a $10.00 bill. The reason of this was to go out and do a random act of kindness for someone that may not have much this year for Christmas. I have had this cash in the back of my wallet and I am waiting for the perfect opportunity to make a difference in someone's life. This has been something that has made me think a lot. We are so blessed and there is no reason that we shouldn't be helping others that are less fortunate than we are. I am so grateful for the Christmas season and am so glad that this year's Christmas has been different. It has made me think less of the perfect gift for everyone but on the gift that we have all been given. Our Savior and Redeemer is the "gift" this Christmas season.

Thanksgiving In Utah

Eric and I were able to go to Utah this year for Thanksgiving and we had so much fun! We flew into Salt Lake and then a couple days later, we got in the car and drove to St. George to meet all of my mom's family for the holiday. There was about 50 of us down there and we had the best time. The week consisted of eating at all my favorite UT places that we don't have in Houston (Cafe Rio and Swig..I missed Zupa's this trip), hanging out with the family, exchanging Christmas presents with my sisters since we will be back east for Christmas, having family pictures with my mom's and my dad's side, visiting Grandpa Neal, the boys went shooting, the girls had their toes done, and just having fun. My sister McCalls boyfriend came with us and Eric and I loved getting to know him better. Papa Nathan's birthday was while we are there as well so it was fun to be with him on his big day. Get ready for picture overload! 

Eric, Austin, McCall, and I had this idea to tell the waiter at Texas Roadhouse that it was my dad's birthday so he got to ride the saddle. We were all laughing so hard we were crying. I am so grateful that even though Eric and I live in Houston that we have the opportunity to travel back to our families for the holiday's. Having things to look forward to makes living away so much easier. Now I need to get going and study for finals! Finals are next week and then we will be packing up and heading to West Virginia for Christmas. I hope everyone is having a happy Christmas season. 

Life is Good

When we first moved to Texas, I was complaining because I was getting so bored. I didn't know anyone but, I didn't want to work. I had so much homework and had all the time in the world but, I didn't want to do it. Ah! Now that I am keeping busy, I am loving the down time when I get it to do homework and just hang out and spend time with Eric. Eric has been traveling for work quite a bit lately so we love our weekends and we are especially looking forward to all of the time off over the next month. Life is good and we are SO excited for the holidays coming up. As of lately...

We have been hanging out with our friends all the time. They moved here from Utah in July and have the cutest little girls. I don't think I have gone an entire day since we met them at church not talking to Kimmie. How grateful we are for good friends. We love to spend time with them. As hard as it is sometimes to be away from home, having our friends here has made the move so much easier. Now we can both never move from Houston! 

I was out shopping at the outdoor mall the other day and they were putting up this gorgeous tree. There is no snow on the ground and it is still 70 degrees somedays. The Christmas decorations around the city are making it feel a little more like home. We can't wait to be with our family for the holiday's. I guess when we get back from Thanksgiving break I need to put up some Christmas decorations. 

I started watching a little baby a month ago a couple days a week. I have a friend down here and one of her friends is a nurse and wanted to go back to work for 15 hours a week so I totally jumped all over watching him. He is the cutest thing ever! He is 4 months and I just love this little guy. I am so glad to get out of the house for a couple hours a week and to play with this little baby. It has been so great!

I put the Christmas cards in the mail this past week. I wanted to get them out before people sent out theirs because we have a new address. We wanted to have some fun with them this year so we went out and tried to act "Texas like." I am a city girl and I like to think that Eric has a little bit of country and city in him. This year we sent out 121 cards. It is so fun to watch our Christmas card list grow. 

I have finished 3 courses which means I only have to finish 3 after returning from Thanksgiving break. I have applied for graduation, my application has been accepted, and after my 5 classes next semester, I will be a graduated girl. How great it will feel to have a bachelors degree and be done with school. I know you have all heard about this so much but, Eric and I just can't wait.

Young Women's is keeping me so busy! I had my first ward council this morning and I was so nervous but it went great. I love these girls so much already and am so grateful to be able to serve in this organization. I have learned so much already and am looking forward to serving in this position. I love this gospel and am so thankful for it in my life. There is not a day that goes by that I do not do something for young women's and I am grateful for that. I am so glad that I am able to serve and be apart of this great work. We are truly blessed to have the restored gospel on the earth. 

Eric and I just finished packing and we are UTAH BOUND for the Thanksgiving holiday. We are boarding a plane tomorrow afternoon and are so excited to go and be with family for the holiday. In December, we will be going to West Virginia for Christmas. We were in West Virginia for Thanksgiving last year and Utah for Christmas so this year we did the swap. I have Christmas presents for my parents, sisters, and grandparents all packed and ready to go. Some school work will have to be done and I know something with young women's will make its way into the week but that is just fine. As long as we are with family, we will be so happy. 

This time of year I am especially grateful for the plan of salvation and that I will see my Grandpa Savage again. It will be one year this week that he passed away. As hard as it is and how terribly bad I miss him, I am so glad that he is happy and that he is healthy. I am so blessed to be his grand-daughter. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about him. He taught me so much and always was sure to tell me that I was beautiful. I promise Grandpa that I will continue to do everything that I can to make you proud. I love you to pieces. 

There is so much to be grateful for! I have so many reasons to smile this season of Thanksgiving. I am grateful for our home, food, clothes, and everything else that I have been so blessed with. I am grateful for family, friends, and the opportunity that Eric and I have to be with family over the holidays. I am especially thankful for my calling in the church and for the gospel in my life. There are no other words to say than, "Life is good!"

The Past Week...

          The past week and a half has been one that I will remember forever. Eric and I walked into church two Sunday's ago and as soon as we walked in, the bishop asked if he could talk to us. He went on to tell us that he had some new callings that he wanted to extend to the two of us. This meant being released from Cub Scouts and Nursery and to be honest, I think both Eric and I were a little nervous about what he was about to say. He first talked to me and asked me to serve as the Young Women's president. He then went on to ask Eric to serve as the 1st counselor in the Young Men's organization. The bishop asked that I pick counselors and get back to him.            I walked out of the bishops office and had a rash on my chest. I was so shocked that a 21 year old girl that was in Young Women's only 3 years ago was just asked to be the president of the organization in the ward. Eric and I went into sacrament meeting and we started talking quietly about what had just happened. Was this for real? Was the bishop sure that I was the right one? As Eric and I discussed what had just happened, we both started to get tears and a little choked up. We both remembered that in my patriarchal blessing, there is a paragraph about serving in the Young Women's auxiliary.            I went home and I could not get it off my mind. So many different things came to my mind. When I am in a family ward of so many women that are capable to be the Young Women's president, why me? I am so young and there is no way that I have enough experience to teach these girls do I? Girls camp?! Ah! How am I going to pick counselors? How am I going to finish school within the next four months and still do everything that comes with this calling? Are these girls going to be okay with the change that is coming on Sunday? How am I supposed to be their leader but also their friend? We have only been in the ward for 10 months so do these girls even know who I am? What even happens at Ward Council?            I had many emotions running through me last week and I feel like I was on my knees talking to my Heavenly Father the entire time. I talked to him about all of my concerns and worries. I found myself praying for these 25 young women that I am so worried about the day after the bishop asked me to serve in this calling. I decided that I needed to get together a list of women and go to the temple with my list. I prayed about it, fasted about it, and then made my decision. I went to the temple and had the impression that the women on my list were not the ones that needed to be called.  In fact, two women came into my head in the temple that day that I was not planning on choosing and it was crystal clear to me they were it. I felt the spirit so strong and there was no way that I could go against this feeling.

          My counselors and I were sustained on Sunday and it was an incredible day. I have felt so close to my father in heaven and am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to be in this organization. I hope that I can be as influential in these girls' lives as I know they will be in mine. I have been reflecting on my young women years and am so grateful for good leaders who put so much time and effort into everything for us. I am grateful that I was taught everything that I know now. I am feeling so blessed to work with such incredible ladies. As overwhelmed and stressed as I am feeling, I know that this is where I need to be and I am excited to work with these young women. I have not listened to anything other than Hilary Weeks and Jenny Phillips in my car over the past week and a half. My dad is an incredible man and he called me last week when I wanted to break down in tears I was so terrified and said, "Madison, whoever the Lord calls, he qualifies." I am so glad that I am apart of the Lord's work and am able to serve in this church. The gospel brings me so much happiness and I will be forever grateful to be apart of it. These girls truly are daughters of a King and it is my hope and prayer that I can help them realize how important they are to their Heavenly Father. I already love these girls more than they know. Eric and I are so excited to be working with the young men and young women. 

Fall Family Pictures 2014

Even though we had engagement and wedding pictures last year, I decided we needed more family pictures in 2013 and decided to start the tradition of Christmas cards. Well, if I was going to keep the tradition that meant having family pictures in 2014 as well. Eric asked me the other day if we were going to have family pictures every year. I told him we were so get geared up for many more pictures to come. Pictures can be stressful but, Eric and I decided to make it fun every year. We haven't changed much from last year. However, we moved to Texas and that was a major change in our lives. We decided that we wanted our family pictures this year to be "Totally Texas" so we got on our Texas outfits and went out into the country. Eric and I are truly loving this experience that we having as a young married couple to live in Houston. As hard as it may be to live away from our families sometimes, we have found so much joy being in a new place and experiencing new things together. We are loving the Texas life!