Christmas with the Crank

I don't know what it is this year...but I am just not in the Christmas spirit. And, it seems, that no matter how hard I try I just can't find it in myself. I've tried shopping, decorating, giving, serving, and am just not having any luck. In fact, yesterday I was about ready to cancel Christmas. Our family doesn't even have our decorations up yet and if it wasn't for everybody coming at the end of the month for me we probably wouldn't even put them up. (at least that would be my opinion.) I also went shopping and finally told my siblings that we either needed to draw names or I was canceling Christmas because I'm not in the mood to pick out a present for all of them. I guess I've been pretty ornery lately because I wasn't in the mood for Halloween, or Thanksgiving, and now Christmas. I really am the Grinch this year. I just don't know why. Maybe it's because I'm tired of being "alone" for the holidays and having nobody special invite me to ride the carriage in Salt Lake, or see the lights...or dress up to match me or invite me to meet there family at Thanksgiving. Maybe it's because I don't feel like we need holidays to remind us of the things we should be doing everyday. Maybe it's because I want to know I have a special present waiting under the tree for me...only to find that it's not there, not that I even know what I would want it to be. Perhaps, it's because, no matter how much I do for other people I feel like there is more to be done, or that those asking for help appear to be doing nothing for themselves.
Regardless of the reason, I have yet to find the Holiday spirit since last Christmas. All the holidays between then and now have been pretty bland for me. I try to get way into them, and that doesn't help. I try to step away from them, and that doesn't help. What's a girl to do!!!?? I am thankful for all my blessings and for the Saviors birth, death, and resurrection. But I haven't caught the holiday bug...perhaps it was that flu shot I got. Nobody said that would be one of it's side effects.

Christmas+Disneyland=MAGIC!

Well, the rest of my California adventure turned out to be a great success. We went back to Disneyland and I fell in love all over again. I can't believe how well they do at bringing out the kid in everyone who walks through their gates. I truly and 100% enjoyed my time very well spent there.
I hope that everyone's holiday was as great as mine was. As I thought of Thanksgiving this year I tried counting my blessings...but I realized that I have to many to count. The Lord truly has spoiled me rotten in my life and I am forever thankful for that. As I went to bed that night I layed down quietly and thought to myself how I truly can say "it's a wonderful life" because it is. I have the best life! I love being alive and having "my turn on Earth" as Aunt Lani put it. In the end...all of our "stuff" can be taken from us. All the we posses and the material things that we hold dear...and after that all you have left is your story. And, that's what I'm trying to do...is just live a good one. A good one of laughs, of testimony, of strength and knowledge, but mostly a life that will Glorify my Heavenly Father in all that I do. I love Him, and He has blessed me so much in my life that I want nothing less then for all the credit to go to Him.
I also had the amazing chance to go to the Redlands Temple while I was there. I love the temple. I'm so grateful for the gift of eternal families and being with the ones that we love forever...clothed in a miraculous glory. It's fabulous!

I "heart" Disneyland

"Heart" implies love...because the truth is is that I have discovered a new found love for the inner child within. Disneyland really is the happiest place on Earth and I loved it! I didn't get the best pictures in the world because when I got there my camera battery was dying so it was having a hard time focusing...and sometimes my camera does weird things at night...but I did get some and today I will get MANY more. I love being a young single girl..because I loved watching the parades and having all the boys flirt with us...it was the bomb...and they really did, you know by winking, shaking their bums at us and just looking at us smiling and I just love it. I love being the age I am...it's marvelous!
When I was coming to California I wasn't sure that I would enjoy the theme parks as much as I have. Mostly because I'm not really into "theme" parks per say anymore...I more into walking around, and looking at museums and finding people to watch and going to plays...I guess I'm getting old and boring. But Disneyland is all of those things wrapped up into one! It'was totally and completely FABULOUS! So here are the few pictures from yesterday...we are going again today and I will take a lot more and post them tomorrow. Love You All! ps. I've also added a few pics from Vegas.

Vegas Baby

I'm spending the next week in California with one of my girlfriends from school. Well, we decided that it was much cheaper to drive then fly so we called it our first ever college road trip. She met me at my house Friday night...after driving from Rexburg...and then we took off early Saturday morning to begin the 10 and a half hour trek to Riverside California. It was a really fun drive actually and it was good to have two drivers. We only stopped for gas...the rule was that if you had to pee you just had to hold it because we weren't stopping. Well, we only had to stop once..in Vegas so we held it for a very long time. In Vegas we had the sweet opportunity to meet up with my cousins Steve and Emily and just make a quick stop to have lunch, some gellato, and a short walk through the Belagio. It was so fun...I love those guys, and I'm so grateful that we stopped and visited for 3 hours because Emily made a point during our visit that they are spending Christmas in Orgen with her family and so won't be able to spend it in Grantsville with my family for my farewell and stuff so I won't see them until after my mission...tear tear. So thanks Em and Steve for the bite to eat, and the quick visit. I love you guys!
We got to California late Saturday night, ate a small dinner and hit the sack. At least I did, I was SO tired! Sunday was so cool. That is definitly one of my most favorite parts of the church is that no matter where you go you can find a ward and the Spirit is still the same and ########## always remains constant. It is the only constant in my young life right now and I'm so grateful for my membership therein and my testimony.
During sacrament meeting man had a diabetes attack and we had to stop for 10 or 15 minutes to help him. It was so cool to see the church rally together, even in their simple silent prayers, to help this man. I love ##########! It's the best thing in this entire world!

Tagged by Lacey

I've been seeing all these tag things going around and I thought it would be fun to do one. But, I don't have very many friends that have blogs yet so I've anxiously been waiting my turn. Thanks Lace!

Two Names You Go By: 1. Abi 2. Brigal
Two Things You are Wearing Right Now: 1. A scarf...that my mom calls an aunt jamima scarf. 2. flip flops..in November.
Two Things You Want Right Now: 1.Some Abreva 2. My nose to stop running
Two Things You Did Last Night: 1. Watched Dancing With the Stars 2. Got lost in Ogden.
Two Things You Ate Today: 1. Cereal 2. Bagel with cream cheese of course
Two Favorite Drinks: 1. Water 2. juice..all varieties
Five People I'm Tagging: 1. Whitney 2. Aimee 3. Emily 4. Courtney 5. Lara...sorry guys, you're like the only people that even read my blog. I only have 5 friends so it wasn't hard to pick.

Going through the Temple

Okay my fellow bloggers. I'm going through the temple this Saturday, Novermber 15th at 4pm. I'm going through the Salt Lake Temple. Be there by 3:30. I'm inviting all who can to come because I would love nothing better than to be surrounded by my family and friends during this special occasion. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers this week as I prepare.

I have wanted this for so long. I CANNOT wait! It seems as though it's been a long time coming. However, these few weeks that I have to prepare for my mission are going to go by so quickly. It's already almost been a week and I can't even believe it. How am i ever going to get this all done? I'm not sure. I ask myself that question every day! Well, gotta fly! More later. Lots of love coming your way!

My Mission Call

Cleveland Ohio. Yes, that is where I will be spending a year and a half of my life. In the blistering cold of North Eastern America, and the humid summers of Lake Erie. I'll be speaking in church on the 28th of December. I'm going to the Salt Lake Temple Saturday November 15th. It's the 4pm session and I'm inviting all my friends and family that can make it to be there. I'm so excited to serve the Lord and dedicate my life to him for just a small moment. For those of you who haven't heard there is quite the story in the opening of my call.

When I got my call out of the mailbox, I was the only one home. I was ready to rip it open right then and there. However, I decided that I couldn't handle the upsetness of my mother after. So, I called her and told her it was here. Well, Dad and Ethan are out of town for a couple of days and Emalee was...well doing whatever Emalee does...and Winston of course is down at school. So, we got permission to open it and I went up to the store where we got everyone else on speakerphone and mom and I and Emalee opened the call.

As I read the letter..."Sister McNeil you have been called to serve in the New Jersey Cherry Hills Mission Departing February 11." right on! I was so happy about this I've never been to the east coast so that will be awesome! Well, We opened my little booklet thing to see what my area was and mom says, "Abi, we have a problem" Oh dear, what could it be. Well, your booklet is for Cleveland Ohio! As you have probably guess we were in quite the predicament. We had to call church headquarters, figure out what the deal was. Well, after a while I discovered that the letter was addressed to a Sister Madeline McNeil. I just didn't notice at first because I was so excited to read the call. well, Yes, my call is to Cleveland Ohio where I will happily serve the Lord for 18 months. And my departure date it much earlier so that makes me happy.