Ugg- Life is so distracting- I started writing this the Saturday after Christmas, and I finally finished, though I skipped the big family play day at the park. Maybe I'll just post pictures from that day.
My life has been pretty great recently. I finished school on December 17, completing all the credits I need to get my Associates Degree. I'm very glad that I was able to do it in only 2 and a half years, but it was a lot of work. I have not, however, applied to SDSU yet because...drum roll... I've decided to serve a mission!
I turn 21 in March, which means I've been considering the idea since I turned 20. A couple of months ago I really thought about the idea, and I finally decided to do it a few weeks ago.
My first official meeting with the Bishop will be this Sunday.
The most special moment for me which really pushed me towards deciding to do it happened while I was at December Nights with my best friend Kristine. She is not a member of the church, but she has always been curious about Mormons. Kristine always loves to come to the church Christmas events, and she has come to church with me a couple of times, so she knows a bit about our culture. I told her while we were walking back to our car that I was considering serving a mission. She gasped, loudly, and exclaimed, "DO IT!!!" I was so surprised by her reaction. I was expecting "no, we won't see you for 2 years," or "why, are you sure?" But the last person I ever thought would be the most excited for me to go was her. It meant more to me than she'll ever realize, and I really love her for it.
So I had told my best friend, and I wrote to my cousin Elise, cuz she is also my inspiration and I tell her EVERYTHING. I told my close friend and adviser, Marty Morgan, and my Bishop; but I wanted to wait for a good moment to tell my parents together. I didn't get that.
My mom was writing the family Christmas letter and she called to me from the other room, asking me when I was going to apply to SDSU. I thought, "Dang, how to answer that without telling her?" I couldn't. So I went to my mom and said, "well, mom, I've decided I'm going to serve a mission, so I didn't apply to SDSU." So I had told my mom.
Then, later that night, Dad was revising the Christmas letter and asked me exactly the same question about SDSU. I thought "seriously? this is how I have to tell them?" So I had a deja-vu moment telling my dad the same thing. He was so excited and asked me lots of questions. I was glad to tell them, but I wish I could have done it with both of them there and on my own time.
Some of the rest of my family found out later, and I officially told all of my family on Christmas. I was glad that I got to have almost all the Reads present to share my exciting news. *I love you guys, by the way!
So that's the biggest news of my life recently.
Christmas has been very great, even with my mind being occupied by lots of other stuff. We stayed in town, which was SO great, because I really needed the relaxation after school. I had a wonderful party with my friends. And I got to see a lot of my cousins.
We had an enchilada dinner with the Sensenbaughs, which was DELICIOUS. David wasn't home yet, so he came over to hang out one night while Karen and I went crazy in the kitchen.
We spent all day cooking brownies, chocolate oatmeal bars, and two kinds of very elaborately decorated cookies. It was really fun, but very tiring; by the end, both of us were too lazy to do anything and complained about our feet hurting.
We had a night in Bethlehem dinner with the Reads (it was fun to have the Cedar Reads with us!). Though it was not my favorite Night in Bethlehem MEAL, it was still a great night because of the company we had. I was happy to see Madeleine again, home from BYU, and as I said, Spencer and Joanel's family.
Carl and I make the best Christmas shopping team. We went into Target and Walmart with Carl needing presents for about 5 people, and we were done in no time. We really rock!
Spencer and Joanel's family came over to our house on Christmas Eve.
It was a wonderful evening. We played some card games with Andrew. Dad, Kristen, and McKenna took Maia for a walk, and then we all sat together, talked, were thoroughly entertained by Jonathan, and sang some songs.
We actually stayed up later than we ever have before on Christmas eve. Normally, our parents demand we go to bed at a reasonable hour so we'll be asleep when Santa comes. 
Christmas morning was very special.
Eric and Lora came over very early and came upstairs. It has always been a thing for the kids in the family to hang out together in someone's room until we were allowed to 'wake' our parents up.
Oddly- I am not usually a part of that- cuz I am a big sleeper- they always have to wake me up too. 
We opened all our gifts from Santa (I got a great new camera!), and then, for the first time ever, we had a sit down breakfast together. We all worked in the kitchen, making eggs, waffles with delicious syrup, bacon, and juice. It was really fun, really delicious, and very special; I hope we keep doing it.
After breakfast we went through the family presents. The rest of the day was really relaxing- normally we try to make it to both sides of the family, but this year we spent most of the day at home, and then we went to Grandma Read's Christmas night.
I had a really fun time playing 'Signs' with the cousins. It can get really heated when our family plays games, but they are still really fun.
So- That was relatively short- I don't want to go on too long about everything- especially since now it will take a long time to post the pictures.
