Word of the Year: Soar

My goal for 2017: Soar to new heights.

Reporting back on my word of the year

As 2016 winds down, it's time to report back on how I did with my word of the year, "Love."

Goals:

• Spend more time with my loved ones.
• Verdict: Success! I spent a lot of quality time with my family and with my closest friends.
• Of course the best part of this was getting to spend time with Kristie and Jason as they got home from their missions.

• Another highlight: spending time with loved ones in places I love.

  
• And doing fun things with people I love. :)

• Returning to the things I love, like writing.
• Verdict: Success. :) 
• Novel wise, my best month was January, when I wrote 7,000 words in a stretch.
• When my perfectionism got to be an issue, I wrote a 30,000 word fanfiction over the summer. It's four chapters away from being done--but on hold now because I'm back in novel writing.
• And just look at this blog! I've set a new record for blog entries in one year. :)
• Another thing I love that I've brought back into my life... I've always loved animals, and so this year I adopted a little furball into my life. :)

• Another love: reading. And this year I've joined an awesome book club that's been awesome. We even went to a book signing together (my very first!)

• Loving myself more.
• Verdict: Success
• Maybe it's just my age, but I feel more confident and at peace with myself than I ever have before.
• Loving my fellow men.
• Verdict: Success... at least I hope so.
• This is personal enough that I don't feel comfortable writing about it here.

A lot of people say 2016 was awful... but for me, it was a good year. Here's hoping 2017 is even better.

What is Christmas?

Today I had the opportunity to speak to my singles congregation during our church service. Here's the text from my talk:

Merry Christmas brothers and sisters! My name is Shelece McAllister, and I’m from the Mount Herman ward. Today Brother Gardner asked me to speak on a talk by President Monson from 1998 called, “What is Christmas?”

In the modern era, the spirit of Christmas is sometimes hidden under the secular, materialistic version of the holiday. The true joy of Christmas doesn’t come from Santa Claus or the gifts under the tree. Instead, the true joy of Christmas comes from Jesus Christ. In President Monson’s words, “This joyful season brings to each of us a measure of happiness that corresponds to the degree in which we have turned our mind, feelings, and actions to the spirit of Christmas.”

What then is the spirit of Christmas? There’s something special about this season of the year. Hearts are turned to focus on the wonderful gift God gave us when He sent His only begotten son to Earth. As Christmas approaches, everyone seems to become kinder and more caring and more invested in their fellow men. President Monson explains it this way: “Of course, that which prompts such feelings is the spirit of Christmas, which illuminates the picture window of the soul, causing us to look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than in things. To catch the real meaning of the spirit of Christmas, we need only drop the last syllable, and it becomes the Spirit of Christ.”

How can we increase the spirit of Christ in our own lives, not only during this time of year but all year long? In his talk, President Monson shares 4 places where we can find the Spirit of Christmas—in children, in remembering, in giving, and in studying.

First—the spirit of Christmas can be found in children. President Monson shared a story of a visit he made to the Primary Children’s hospital during the Christmas season. He was a young elder at the time, and he was there to give the children priesthood blessings. It was his first time being in a children’s hospital, and it was hard for him to see the little ones suffering. In his words, “A feeling of sympathy welled up within me as I noticed these tiny children, many with legs or arms in large plaster casts. Some were ever so weak and pale.

A young lad called out to us, “Will you give me a blessing?” Of course the blessing was given. I shall ever remember placing my hands on the tousled head of that faithful boy who was desperately ill. As we left his side, he looked up into my eyes and said, “Thank you, Brother Monson.”

We walked away, only to hear him call out, “Oh, Brother Monson, merry Christmas to you.” I could scarcely see him for the tears in my eyes. He had that glow about him that comes only at Christmastime. That boy trusted in his Heavenly Father. He acknowledged the priesthood of God. His faith was unwavering. I felt I was on holy ground. What made the glow emanate from the presence of this faithful boy? It was the Christmas spirit.”

How can we apply this to ourselves in the singles ward? Though we are not children any longer, the scriptures tell us to “becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon [us], even as a child doth submit to his father.” The world is still new to little children. They know that their parents know more than they do, and they trust their parents to teach them and guide them. We too should remember that Heavenly Father knows more than we do, and He will guide us (if we let Him) to grow to become our best selves, the people He needs us to be. The trials we face will ultimately be for our good and even our glory.

Christmas isn’t always a happy time. It can be a time we mourn lost love ones or life circumstances that don’t match the Hallmark movies. But even in the midst of all this—if we look to Christ and seek to serve Him, we can find joy. We can be like that little boy in the hospital, still finding joy in life’s hard times.

Next, President Monson says that the spirit of Christmas can be found in remembering. He shares a journal entry from a pioneer woman, Rebecca Riter, written on 25 December 1847 as the Saints spent their first Christmas in the Salt Lake Valley. Rebecca wrote, “The winter was cold. Christmas came and the children were hungry. I had brought a peck of wheat across the plains and hid it under a pile of wood. I thought I would cook a handful of wheat for the baby. Then I thought how we would need wheat for seed in the spring, so I left it alone.”

This story breaks my heart. Can you imagine not even being able to feed your children on Christmas day? During this Christmas season, we must remember those who have come before us, and the trials and challenges they faced so that we could live our lives as we do today. My family had the chance to visit Salt Lake City a few weeks ago. Now it’s a beautiful city with central heating and many food pantries to feed the hungry. But it could never have become that without the sacrifices of the pioneers. We can’t let those sacrifices be forgotten.

And, we shouldn’t take for granted the blessings that we have now. I’ve never been in a destitute circumstance like Rebecca Riter where I didn’t have enough food, and I admit I eat my meals each day without stopping to think about what a great blessing it is to have enough to eat. Satan tries to distract us from the blessings that we do have by reminding us of the blessings we don’t have yet. Comparison is a thief of joy. The Christmas season, at the end of the year, is a wonderful time to pause and think about all that we have been blessed with.

Of course we must always remember the Lord and His great love for us, every day of the year and not just at the Christmas season. Even greater than the gift of His birth is the gift of His atonement. The Savior suffered for all of our sins, sorrows, and griefs. Because of His sacrifice, we can repent and be made clean, so that someday we might return to our Father in Heaven. Above all else, we must never take that gift for granted. Remembering the Savior and His sacrifice every day helps motivate us to follow in His footsteps and walk on the strait and narrow path.

President Monson also speaks about experiencing the Spirit of Christmas through giving. He isn’t speaking of the commercialized gift giving which sometimes takes over this holiday season. In fact, he quotes Ralph Waldo Emerson’s thoughts on the matter: “Rings and other jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only [true] gift is a portion of thyself.”

How can we give of ourselves during the Christmas season? One way is by serving as Christ has served. This year, the Church put out a social media campaign called “Light the World.” Many of you have probably watched the videos they’ve created. These videos focus on showing us ways that we can serve as Jesus did. The works He did were miracles. Miracles still happen today through priesthood power—I bear testimony that that’s true. But more often, the ways we serve are more subtle—yet still very meaningful. We may not heal the blind, but we can read to someone with failing eyesight or donate eyeglasses to a charity. We may not feed 5,000 with five loaves and two fishes, but we can feed the hungry by volunteering at a soup kitchen, donating canned goods, or even by signing up to feed the missionaries.

President David O. McKay has said: “True happiness comes only by making others happy—the practical application of the Savior’s doctrine of losing one’s life to gain it. In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit, that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to kind deeds of service.”

Finally, President Monson talks about feeling the Spirit of Christmas through studying fulfilled prophecy. From the days of Adam and Eve, God taught His children to look forward to Christ’s birth and atoning sacrifice. The Bible and the Book of Mormon are filled with prophecies of the coming Messiah. Isaiah, more than 700 years before the birth of Christ, prophesied, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

On the American continent, King Benjamin said: “For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent … shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay. … He shall suffer temptations, and pain. … And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.”

And yet despite all the prophecies—many doubted. We see over and over again that believers were mocked for believing in a coming Savior.

Five years before Christ’s birth, a prophet named Samuel prophesied to the people in the American continent that the Savior would be born in 5 years, and that there would be “a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day” (Helaman 14:3). He said this sign would occur “the night before [the Lord] is born” (Helaman 14:4). In addition to prophesying of a night without darkness, Samuel told them to watch for “a new star … , such an one as ye never have beheld” (Helaman 14:5).

Five years passed. “But there were some who began to say that the time was past for the words to be fulfilled, which were spoken by Samuel, the Lamanite.” The unbelievers set a deadline for the sign to appear—and if it did not, on that day they would kill all of the believers.

I’m sure this was a terrifying time for them. They believed in God and His promises, but they feared their pending execution. The prophet Nephi prayed mightily on behalf of their people. And the voice of the Lord came unto Nephi, saying, “Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.”

And then came the night when the shepherds were abiding in their fields and an angel appeared bearing good tidings of great joy. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” In the Americas, Samuel’s promised signs did appear—and the believers were spared.

Christ’s birth, life, atonement, and resurrection show us that God always keeps His promises. In the end, things are always made right.

In our lives now, we are in the decade of decision. As we seek to build our lives, sometimes promised blessings are delayed. Sometimes they even seem impossible. But we must not lose faith. Just as the Father fulfilled His promise to send His only Begotten son, so He will fulfill every promise He has made to us. We need only be faithful and trust in His timing.

Brothers and sisters, I hope you all have a wonderful and merry Christmas today. May we all keep the spirit of Christ with us not just during the Christmas season but all year long. I’d like to close with my testimony. I know that Heavenly Father sent His Son to us. I know that Jesus lives, and because of His Atonement, we can become clean and forgiven for all our sins. Because of Him, we can return to live with the Father someday. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Gilmore Girls (Spoilers Free!)

Anyone else watch the Gilmore Girls revival? I wasn't as big a fan as many of my friends, but I've seen most seasons and I do like it. I'm 85% of the way done watching the new episodes.

And.... it's interesting. The original is a classic coming of age, watching a girl go from 16 to 24. I sort of grew up with her.

The revival (without giving too much away) is about her quarter life crisis. She's 32, she's not married, she doesn't have a stable job, she gives up her apartment and just couch surfs from friend to friend. She's nowhere near where she (and we!) thought she would be at the end of the original series, and she doesn't know what to do.

There's a whole subplot involving the "Thirty Something Gang," a group of young adults in Stars Hollow who have "been to college, then out in the real world, and it spit ‘em out like a stale piece of gum, and now they’re all back in their old rooms." Oooooof.... That one hit a little too close to home.

I mean.... I wouldn't say that the world chewed me up and spit me out. But I did end up moving back home in my late twenties... and that was never in the plan. Actually, my life hasn't turned out anything like I thought it would. It's still good, but... very few of my childhood dreams ended up happening.

Every YA novel and movie ends when the person is at the brink of adulthood, when hope is bright and anything is still possible. But if you skip ahead a few years (like Gilmore Girls does) for those characters, you'll find that dreams don't come true for anyone.

Life is crazy and unexpected. No one has all of their childhood dreams come true. Okay, maybe there's a very rare person who has everything happen that they wished, but my guess is even they would tell you life hadn't turned out quite the way they expected.

That doesn't make life bad. I still have a good life, even though it's nothing I hoped for or expected. I think an important part of life is accepting that most of it is out of your control. You can choose how you react, and you definitely make decisions that shape your life path... but a big part of it is learning to enjoy the ride even when it doesn't take you where you thought.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

Hope everyone had a wonderful day filled with good food and good company.

Jason is home!

Jason is home!!!

He came back home last Monday. Today in church he gave his homecoming talk. I am so proud of him. He's grown and matured so much over the last two years, especially spiritually. We've had some great deep talks on gospel topics since he got home.

It feels so great to have our whole family reunited again.

Our extended family came to Jason's homecoming talk, and of course for dinner after.

It's not for very long. In 5-6 weeks or so, Kristie and Jason head back to Provo for another semester at BYU. They're both tentatively planning on staying there for Spring/Summer, so this could be the last time all 6 of us live together.

Of course, didn't I say that about the summer before Jason left on his mission? I guess you never know what the future holds.

And no matter what it holds... we'll make sure family is always a priority for us. We'll find a way to stay close, no matter what. That's what families do.

Why NaNoWriMo Is So Hard

Last night, my awesome book club went to a book signing. :)

We recently read We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. Around the same time the library was sponsoring a community read of another one of her books, so they flew her in to give a speech and do a signing. So of course, we went. Natalie helped us all make matching t-shirts so we could be a team (actually, she 100% made mine--thanks again Natalie! :D)

It was really fun and now I want to go to more book signings. Unfortunately it doesn't look like there's any more coming up in 2016, but I'll keep my eyes open.

Anyway, during the author's speech she said something that really struck me about NaNoWriMo. This is a professional writer, right? Someone who does this for a living.

She said her goal is to write 1,500 words a day.

In order to complete NaNoWriMo, you have to complete 1,666 words a day.

No wonder I never finish! No wonder it's so hard! Life is just so busy. Oh well, it's too soon in the month to give up yet!