It's Christmas Time!!

I LOVE Christmas. It's my absolute favorite time of year. In fact, I enjoy the day after Thanksgiving MORE than Thanksgiving itself. My mom and I spend practically the whole day decorating the house for Christmas, we go out and get our Christmas tree, and finally listen to Christmas music! (We're strict and don't listen to Christmas before Thanksgiving. We take one holiday at a time.) I thought to start off the Christmas season, I'd post a link to a story that I posted to my blog clear back in May in my "From Facebook" 'series'. For me at least- this story beautifully explains the true meaning of Christmas, and how we can keep that meaning with us all year long. The story is: The Three Levels of Christmas.

While you're reading that, here's a link to my favorite Christmas song, The Holy Child- by Afterglow.

In my opinion- this truly is "the most wonderful time of the year!" ... Now if only it would snow. Here's to hoping for a white Christmas!!

My Day of Thanksgiving

I didn't take any pictures. Sorry. But I still want to document this year's Thanksgiving anyways.

First is bowling. My brothers have started this "tournament" with a set of rules, trophy and all. This year the trophy went to Matt. Wish I'd gotten a picture of the trophy cause it is AWESOME.

After bowling we went home and stuffed our faces with delicious food. Some decided to recover from eating by watching a movie and others (me) decided to read a book. After everyone had sufficiently recovered (and the movie was over) then the games began! Along with more stuffing of our faces, but this time with pie instead of turkey and mashed potatoes.

While it was a simple Thanksgiving, it was still a lot of fun. I can't think of a better way to celebrate the holidays than by spending it with family. And that's exactly what I did- so it was a success!!

Here's a small, small list of some things I'm thankful for- it would take way too long to make a comprehensive list:

1. My family & friends
2. My health
3. The freedoms I enjoy by living in this great country
4. Those who have in the past- and currently- sacrifice so much to fight for & protect those freedoms
5. My car
6. Music & Movies- entertainment
7. Modern technology & modern medicine
8. To have ample access to food- I don't wonder when/where my next meal is coming from.
9. To have warm, clean clothes & shoes
10. A roof over my head- that feels like home
11. My education & college degree
12. The opportunity to serve my Service Mission
13. The beauties of nature

However, above all else I'm thankful that I was raised and taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And not only was I taught, but I'm thankful that I gained my own testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel. And of course I'm thankful for all the Gospel encompasses. Just a few:

• The Savior & Redeemer of the World
• The Atonement provided by the Savior
• The Plan of Salvation
• The Scriptures- particularly the Book of Mormon
• Prayer
• A modern day Prophet & Apostles
• Temples & the covenants that are made therein
• The Priesthood
• My Patriarchal Blessing

I truly live an incredibly blessed life and I have so so much to be thankful for! I hope your Thanksgiving was filled with good food, family & friends, and most of all- time to reflect on all you have to be thankful for in your life. 

If I could... would I?

Let me elaborate on that question a little bit. Help you make sense of what I'm really asking. Which is this:

If I could choose to wake up tomorrow and not be disabled- would I?

It seems like such a dumb question with such an obvious answer. How could the answer be anything but "yes", right?

This is a question I've thought about for hours. And I go back and forth between yes and no. And here's why:

We'll start with why I would say "Yes":

If I were to sum up my feelings about being disabled in one word it'd be frustrating. It's frustrating to always have to adapt and find a unique way to accomplish a goal/task. It's frustrating that it takes me 3x longer to accomplish something than it does for everyone else. It's frustrating to know that whenever I'm out in public, kids (and people in general) are staring at me. It's frustrating that my body will randomly hurt for no reason at all and then be completely fine after a couple of days. It's frustrating to always have to think about whether a place/building is handicap accessible when I go out. It's frustrating to live in a society that is so focused on superficial beauty, and how you look on the outside (especially if you're a girl); and have a body that doesn't even slightly come close to fitting in with the world's definition. The list goes on and on...

There is not one single day where I don't at one point think to myself, "If I wasn't handicap- this situation I'm in right now would be so much easier!" Even small things like getting the mail, checking out a book from the library, wanting to reach something up high, etc. Being disabled effects EVERY ASPECT of my life in one way or another.

However, here's why I might say "No":

First and foremost, I believe- no I KNOW (thanks to my Patriarchal Blessing)- that there is a divine purpose to why I am disabled. I know that this is Heavenly Father's will for my life. If it wasn't His will, I wouldn't be disabled. Simple as that.

Being disabled has also given me, and others, many blessings throughout my life. It has helped strengthen my testimony of the gospel more than any other part of my life has. It has made me more spiritually inclined and in tune. It's made my relationship with my Heavenly Father and Savior deeper and stronger.

Being disabled has made me who I am (however it does NOT define me as a person. There's a big difference, I promise.). And while I have my many flaws and aspects I don't like about myself- on the whole I do like the person I am today. I am more compassionate and empathetic than I otherwise would be. I am able to adapt to situations/circumstances. I have learned how to not let hardships be an excuse for not being successful in life. Instead I've learned how to overcome hardships and make me a stronger person. I've learned how to not measure my self-worth by my outside appearance and the world's definition of beauty (remember above in the "yes" section).

Those are some pretty amazing blessings I'd have missed out on if I wasn't disabled huh?

So here's the short-ish answer to my really long explanation:

Ultimately, yes I would choose to take away my disability and wake up tomorrow in a normal body. The chance to live a life without all the added struggles and frustrations of being disabled sounds absolutely fantastic! HOWEVER, (and this is really important) I wouldn't be any more happy in life if that were to happen than I am right now- disability and all. 

Don't get me wrong- I'd be deliriously ecstatic if I were to wake up tomorrow in a normal body. But overall in my life- I'd be just as happy with a normal body as I am now with my disabled body. Because although life is really frustrating and hard; it's also fantastically good too. 

To just name a few reasons: My disability could be so much worse, and I'm blessed with all the abilities I do have- and how independent I actually am. I am in good health (I could be suffering from a life-threatening disease). I have an amazing family that love and support me in all I do. I have wonderful friends who accept me just the way I am. I have clothes on my back- and in a closet! I have food in my stomach- and in the pantry/fridge! I have a roof over my head that feels like home. I have an education, and a degree to go along with it! I have a car that gives me independence. I have good finances. I think you get the point... I have so much to be grateful for in my life.

However, most importantly than all of that is I have a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Which teaches me that I will someday receive a perfected body- and THAT body is mine for eternity. Knowing that makes it slightly easier to be patient in this life with my disabled body. The gospel also teaches me that while I am waiting, I have a Savior who knows exactly what I am experiencing and how I feel. And He is there comforting and blessing me every step of the way.

*Here's a link to another, much shorter, post I did on my body awhile ago: My Body. Enjoy!

My Favorite Scripture

"2. For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.

3. Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.

4. For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand."

- D&C 58: 2-4

Halloween Festivities

A couple of Sunday's before Halloween we decided to carve some pumpkins:

We put Makai inside the pumpkin too- she HATED it. Poor girl. And Camren only did it cause his dad told him he'd pay him $1 to do it.

Go Utes!!

Then the Saturday before Halloween (Oct. 27) was the annual Halloween party my aunt Marci gives. As you can see I put a lot of thought and effort into my "costume" and went as a missionary. Which was doubly convient because I served that Saturday. Laura was my "companion". Aren't we cute?

On actual Halloween, I dressed up as a witch (again- all about convience and easiness!) for my service mission. Yes it felt a little weird putting the badge on dressed as a witch...

An accurate depiction of how I feel about spiders!

I wasn't the only one who dressed up for Halloween at my service however...

This is Brenda. She's my absolute favorite. She's just the sweetest lady ever. And yes I'm surprised myself that I could even stand to look at the spider on her head. *shudders*

Here's the Johnston Crew all decked out in their costumes:

Jaden- Minecraft character; Makai- Bumblebee; Camren- Vampire

And oh yeah, that's my dad in the Grim Reaper costume holding Makai. He sits super still in a rocking chair holding a bowl of candy with a sign that says "Take 1 Please". It is HILARIOUS watching from inside the house kids stand at the bottom of our porch steps egging each other on to be the brave one and go get the candy. And then when they finally do come up, they stand as far back as possible but still reach the candy. Pure entertainment I tell ya!

So if you're like me- you had no idea what the heck "Minecraft" was. So while I was impressed with Jaden's costume before (which he made himself by the way), I'm 100x  more impressed after having Googled images of Minecraft. That kid has serious artistic skills. Wouldn't you agree?!

So while my dad was outside dealing with the trick-or-treaters, my mom and I were inside watching this show:

Yes... we own all the seasons. Well the seasons with the original Darrin that is. ;)

I may not have been alive when this was originally on, but I love it just as much as if I had been. I absolutely love Samantha. And how can you beat a good, CLEAN, hilarous (in my opinion at least) TV show?! That's nearly impossible to find these days. 

All in all- I consider it a successful year for Halloween. But I'm MORE than happy to see all the spider decorations disappear- until next year that is... 

Hopefully all of you only got treats and no tricks!! Happy Halloween!!!