savior of the world

On Tuesday my parents, Stephanie, and I went to Savior of the World in the Conference Center. This was my second time seeing it. In some ways I think it loses impact after the first time, but as I've been thinking about it the last few days, I've come to appreciate it more. One thing that I love about it is that while it focuses on the Savior, it takes a different approach by showing how his birth and resurrection affected other people. I like this better than a repeat of the same story I've known my whole life. I get wrapped up in the commericalized Christmas (no pun intended), and I often forget why we even have reason to celebrate. I do have a testimony of Jesus Christ, and I am so grateful for all that he has done for me. I'm not going to say what that is. Even if I had the time and space for that, I know that he has done things for me that I can't know right now. I'm also glad that we have reason to celebrate, and I am grateful that Christmas celebration is an excuse to bring families together! I am so excited to go to Washington!

unshared poem

Last year at the end of the semester I wrote this poem. I refer to some of my favorite poems that I studied quite thoroughly in my poetry class: "Lake Isle of Innisfree" by William Butler Yeats, "The Tyger" by William Blake, "Carrion Comfort" by Gerard Manley Hopkins, and "Dover Beach" by Matthew Arnold. I know the title is not very creative, but I used the date as a temporary title, but it just kind of stuck. And one thing I've learned about writing is to never impose my own ideas on my writing. I know that sounds silly, but it is so true. Check the sidebar if you would like to read the four "reference poems.""13 December 2007" by Lindsey Kay
I will arise now from the heaps of sultry bodies
Melting, puddling, sinking into one soggy mass.
I will shed the dark cloak that masks my face.
I will shatter the glass that stares back,
Hurt it like it hurts me.
I will tip the goblet of bitter hate back into the pool
Of dissatisfaction.
No more will I answer to the mistress who beckons,
“Come, child, come play. Come play with the Tyger.”
Nor will I kneel beside the carrion and weep,
Nor gaze downward to the deep and misty shadows of the sea.
But I will look on, on to a gold-crested cloud
And there rest for a day
Before turning back to face what stands proudly before me.
I will pull from the ashes my heavy-laden feet
And trample the garish of vain piety.
I will not lie on a blanket and wait
While pale, clammy hands claw my face.
I will not let contentment succor my pain.
I will move on from here, leaving behind the body
That joined the masses to begin with.
She has no place next to me.
A phoenix has risen time and time again
And each time quicker than the time before.

"home" for the holidays

This weekend I made a quick trip back to "the greatest place on Earth!" No, not DisneyLand (though that would have been really cool). I went to Rexburg. I drove up on Friday evening to surprise Elisabeth. She was very surprised! I had a great time up there. I watched two great Christmas movies--A Matter of Principle and the original Miracle on 34th Street. I had not seen either of them. I also watched several episodes of Whose Line is It Anyway?, Time Warp, and Destroyed in Seconds.

On Sunday, the Rexburg 15th Ward had their Christmas program. Elisabeth and Mom & Dad S were in the choir. Mom S also played the piano for the Primary kids, and Elisabeth played her cello for one of the choir pieces. It was a wonderful meeting. On Monday night I went to a REAL Family Home Evening! We went to Andrea (the oldest Samuelson) and Kevin's house for a lesson and activity. They have five boys between 13 and 1 years old--Adam, Nathan, Daniel, Seth, and Isaac. Also, the two younger Samuelson boys were there, Ian and Richard, with their wives and son's--Isaac (Ian's) and Ethan (Richard's). Andrea taught a lesson about gifts from Christ. Then Mom S and Elisabeth played "Sleigh Ride" on the piano. After that the kids went downstairs to watch "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," while the adults and Adam had a "white elephant" exchange. I got four stress-reliever lego pieces. They're fun. We had treats and watched some cute videos of Andrea's boys.

I painted three pictures to give to Dad & Mom S and Elisabeth. They will be up on Blackbird eventually, when I find a way to get the pictures from my camera to my computer. In return, Elisabeth gave me two of her drawings, both very beautiful, and Mom & Dad S gave me a framed picture of the four of us that was taken on Sunday before church. I had a hard time leaving them to come back to Utah, and they are already planning another time for me to come back.

Although I miss Idaho, I'm glad to be back in Utah. Mom & Dad, Stephanie, and I are going to see "Savior of the World" tonight at the Conference Center. On Christmas day we are flying to Washington to be with Sarah and Justin and their families. I'm so excited to be there. After being around so many little kids this weekend, I can't wait to see Sierra, Sophie, Rochelle, and LaMar!