¡feliz navidad!

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."

-Luke 2:10

"And it came to pass that Jesus blessed them as they did pray unto him; and his countenance did smile upon them, and the light of his countenance did shine upon them, and behold they were as white as the countenance and also the garments of Jesus; and behold the whiteness thereof did exceed all the whiteness, yea, even there could be nothing upon earth so white as the whiteness thereof."

-3 Nephi 19:25

la noche buena.

today was one of the best days i've had... in a long time.

somehow, all of the fates aligned, and i just felt good.

it was like the old anna was coming back, and i loved it.

i had the energy to:

-go grocery shopping with my mother

-help wrap all of little benny's presents

-make delicious enchiladas for dinner

-enjoy bing crosby and fred astaire in holiday inn

-eat aforementioned enchiladas..que rico.

-sing like alvin and the chipmunks, one too many times (i just want a hula hoop!)

-listen to the christmas story, so creatively narrated by padre

-bake and decorate some cute, gluten-filled christmas cookies

-dominate the parents in pictionary... good work, benny!

-and now, a little white christmas- bing crosby, take two

the spanish got it right. la noche buena is the perfect way to describe christmas eve.

though life's been terribly hard as of late, i am currently feeling incredibly blessed.

thank you all for being a part of my life.

i am thankful for you. for my family. and for Christ.

merry christmas to all, and to all a good night!

even the owls are more social than i.

tonight, i am falling asleep to an owl party of sorts.

or an owl correspondence, at least.

a few nights ago, i fell asleep to the howls of coyotes.

i love where i live.

sometimes in my tears i drown, but i never let it get me down.

listen to this.

and then think about it for a sec.

it's clear why this song is going to be the olympic song this year.

just another reason to love matisyahu.

check out his new album. it's excellent.

taking a rest.

rest:

–noun

1.	the refreshing quiet or repose of sleep: a good night's rest.

2.	refreshing ease or inactivity after exertion or labor: to allow an hour for rest.

3.	relief or freedom, esp. from anything that wearies, troubles, or disturbs.

4.	a period or interval of inactivity, repose, solitude, or tranquillity: to go away for a rest.

5.	mental or spiritual calm; tranquillity.

6.	the repose of death: eternal rest.

7.	cessation or absence of motion: to bring a machine to rest.

this is what i need. though on july 31, 2009, i promised to commit myself to 365 days of sunshine on this little blog of mine, i have realized that this is a bit too difficult at present. why?, you ask.

just as i have had to part with most everything else in my life, i am in need of a rest. a break from blogging, if you will. especially in this season of gratitude, i know the importance of being grateful. and i will not rest from my gratitude; do not fret. i may just be a bit less descriptive, a bit more private about my gratitude as i try and sort out my life.

my apologies.

i hope you're having the loveliest of sundays. i am going to try to enjoy mine here in sunny arizona, that's for sure.

here today, gone tomorrow.

utah yesterday.

colorado today.

arizona tomorrow.

does the madness ever end?

ay yi yi.

it's unbelievable to think that a week ago, i was enjoying a basketball game with my roommates.

i'm glad that i have the memories to enjoy, at the least.

every little thing's gonna be all right.

i woke up in provo, utah.

i'm now going to bed in grand junction, colorado.

tomorrow, i will be home. for good.

i cannot believe it.

i hate rushed goodbyes. and not being able to tie up loose ends. and saying goodbye to best friends (some of which for five months or two years.)

at least my dad was here to help me through this crazy day.

ay yi yi.

this is what i had to keep telling myself to get through the day:

sorry my blog stinks 99.2838393% of the time.

to my roommates...

this is because i love you.

and sometimes, i secretly love your two a.m. "party in the u.s.a." dance parties. just sometimes.

i am so terribly sad that i have to move home on such short notice.

but i digress, check this out:

p.s. byu freshmen made this video... can you believe it?!

i must admit, our music video from the dorms isn't nearly as original. but i still love it.

do you believe in magic?

so often lately, i just want to go back to happier times in my life.

i know that these struggles will end. and that life will get happy again.

but at this moment, i just wish with all my heart that i could return to my safe home, to my loving family, to my blissful childhood.

anyone have access to a time machine?

or even better... a time-turner (hp style, of course)?

they say life is full of surprises.

remember yesterday, when i said i would see my family in eight days and couldn't wait?

well, it turns out that i didn't have to wait nearly as long as i had thought.

after a scary morning and frustrating afternoon in the emergency room, my wonderful father flew out to utah to take care of me.

did i think this would be the situation today? not at all.

i am so grateful for such a wonderful, caring family though.

without them, i would be lost.

a truth.

sometimes, i feel as if i am invisible.

like no one around me knows that i am here or what i am doing.

i know that this concept is full of fallacies because i have an incredible family who constantly cares about me and my situation. and i know that the Savior knows me, even more than that.

though today was hard, i have something to look forward to in eight days.

i can't wait to see them:

they're the best.

do you realize?

this song is pretty beautiful.

it was a pretty nice saturday.

though it was pretty darn cold.

welcome snow. welcome winter.

maybe it's time to hibernate?

i think so.

wrap your head around this...

today i went to a byu basketball game, and i watched it from a couch.

a couch right up next to the court.

i've never been so comfortable at a college sporting event.

also, the mascot asked for a kiss.

and we won!

photos of the crazy event to come!

a blustery kind of day.

today epitomized november.

the sky was a gloomy, ash-gray canvas.

a perfect compliment for the burnt orange, red, and golden leaves barely hanging on to their branches.

and the wind took all of the fallen leaves for a ride through the gray sky.

the bright leaves paired perfectly with the gray background to paint the loveliest fall picture.

oft times, the beauty of this earth astounds me.

freaky fashion.

i'm no fashionista, but i just read an article about the retail item that is supposed to "save" the holiday season... and to me, it just appears utterly absurd.

the "snood." i find these equally as classy as the snuggie, no matter how high-fashion they supposedly are. does anyone agree with me on this one?

some trends should just quit while they're ahead.

other than this little oddity, my wednesday has been quite decently-filled with genetics, gilmore girls, eighth-grade science projects with my argentine amigos, kick-boxing enrichment, and now some sleep!

hope your wednesday was wonderful!

some high points of today:

-a nice, near two-hour nap.

-discovering i can keep my job... hooray!

-learning i am not nearly as incompetent in chemistry as i might've believed.

-some nice phone calls with my dear mother.

-biology. yes, i like biology... call me a nerd; i dare you.

-exercise. i did it. i went to pilates for the first time in two months! it nearly killed me, but i lived to tell the tale... and hope to go back next week!

it was a nice tuesday, i'd say.

also, the public health side of me needs to inform you all to please not text while you drive, ever. i learned today how dangerous it really is. and one measly message is not worth causing an accident, is it?

believe.

"the future belongs to those who believe in their dreams."

-eleanor roosevelt.

well mrs. roosevelt, i'm believing.

hope my future brightens up here.

¡vamanos!

hey benny,

remember that one time we went to europe and all we ate was ice cream?

let's go back.

any other takers?

i love europe. and european ice cream.

come and open up your folding chair next to me.

they say a picture is worth a thousand words.

well, here's five thousand words for you.

and just wait until you see the videos...

then you'll be speechless.

an amazing concert with some best friends makes for one memorable evening.

and that's an understatement.

call that calculation perfect love.

REGINA SPEKTOR=love.

amazing concert.

so amazing, that i feel as if i need to write about it when i am much more coherent.

also, another interesting fact...

have you ever seen anything more messed up?