Christmas, Oh Joy!

Well, we all survived 12/21/12 but the bigger question this year was, would I survive the annual Bryant Family Christmas party?  It's been a long standing tradition that we all get together on the 23rd of December (22nd this year) for some of the most amazing food of our lives, in exchange for small amounts of exploitation.  If we want to eat, we have to put up.  Put our talents on display, that is.  Mom and Dad pull out all of the stops on the meal and expect everyone else to provide the entertainment via our talents.  This is non-negotiable (trust me, I've tried), and it gets harder and harder every year.  For starters, I seriously have the most adorable nieces and nephews.  And the older they get the more talented they get.  It's getting harder to deal with that kind of pressure.  Another problem is, I'm running out of really creative ideas.  Stand up comedy?  Done it.  Music video?  Done it.  Ventriloquist act?  Done it.  Let's face it, the only REAL talent I have is playing the piano, and all of the little ones are surpassing me on that.

Do you understand my desperation?

So this year, I had to pull out the big guns.  Slam poetry.

Don't know what that is?  Neither did I.  Check it out on YouTube and you'll get a good laugh.

I dressed in all (mostly) black, stood under a spotlight, and recited my original Christmas poem while everyone in the audience "snapped" me on.

Needless to say, it wasn't my finest hour.  But I survived.  And the food was amazing.  And everyone else really brought their A game, talent wise.  We had gymnastics, a beautiful craft, piano, violin, cello, guitar, singing, a sun BEAM! song, storytelling, and a family slide show.  All in all, it was a pretty fabulous night!  A great way to kick off the final days until Christmas!  I hope you and yours have a fabulous holiday!

Merry Christmas to all!

(For anyone interested, and for my own, personal record keeping, my slam poem is below.......use your imagination.  After I performed it, Hudson looked at me, smiled, and shyly said, "that was weird."  Ya buddy, I know.)

Christmas, Oh Joy!

Christmas!  Christmas!
Joy to the world, oh joy, oh joy, joy to the joyous world!
There's so much joy.........
Joy in the smiling, in the sledding, the singing, the skiing, and in the shopping.
The shopping!
Shopping and crowds and sales and traffic and chaos.
Buy!  Return!  Buy!  Return!  Buy!  Return!  BUY!  RETURN!!
Exhaustion.
Relax.
Listen......listen......listen.....
Do you hear them?
The Bells!
The bells!  They're ringing and singing and jingling.
Jingle!  Jingle!  Jingle!
He comes.
All red and white and jolly with his belly full of jelly and sack full of toys.
His rosy cheeks and charcoal boots and brass belt.
Who is it?
Ho!  Ho!  Ho!
Santa Clause!  St. Nick!  Kris Kringle!  Papa Noel!
Bringing toys and toys and toys, more toys.
Oh the joyous toys!!
The stockings, the candy, the holly and mistletoe.
And the lights!
SO BRIGHT!
Brightly shinning,
On the rooftops, the housetops, the midnight sky.
They lead the way.
Lead to your house, your tree, your heart, your fam-i-ly.
They bring peace.
Peace and comfort and joy.
Oh Joy!
It's Christmas!  It's Christmas!!  CHRISTMAS!!!
May your days be merry and bright.
Oh joy!
It's Christmas, oh joy, the joy.
Christmas Joy!!!

Week In Review

Some people think that the life of a single person can be boring.  Sometimes I think that a "boring" week at home sounds really nice.  For me, this week has definitely been eventful!  To recap:

• Went to the Jazz v. Spurs game (thanks Mom & Dad!) with Shan.  It was so great to spend some quality time with her even though we both had super busy weeks.  She is a fabulous sister and I love laughing and being crazy with her.  Just like old times!  The game was awesome.  Tim Duncan was amazing, although I don't think he'll be playing for much longer.  Such a talented ball player.  My allegiances were torn because I'm such a devoted fan, yet I felt a pull to cheer for my "home town" team.  Luckily for me, the Jazz ended up winning it with an unbelievable 3 pointer at the buzzer!  Sorry Tim, maybe next time.
• Saw "Lincoln."  Wow.  It really made me want to read up more on him and his life.  I wish that my history teachers in junior high and high school would have focused more on the individuals of history rather than memorizing dates.  That was boring.  The older I get the more I realize that history is entirely fascinating.  I'm just sad I jumped on the train so late.
• Went to the Christmas Concert at Temple Square and cried like a baby.  It was INSANE trying to even get downtown and we barely made the concert.  Once again, it was a busy week but I'm so glad I went because it was one of the best concerts I had been to!  Not only did Alfie Boe sing a "Les Mis" song ("Bring Him Home"), but Tom Brokaw was there to narrate.  He told an inspiring story of the "Candy Bomber" during WWII.  I don't know what it is about me and war stories, but I love them.  Not only was it an inspiring story, but the concert designers arranged to have the sound of jets flying in the background while they were showing home video footage of German children near the US airstrip.  Then they brought out snow.  And if that weren't enough, they threw parachutes of candy from the ceiling down to the audience.  For anyone that wasn't in tears by this point, they pulled out the big guns.  The Candy Bomber himself appeared after the story was told.  I'm telling you what, nothing brings the Christmas Spirit stronger than a story of someone engaging in a small act of kindness (that subsequently turned very, very huge.  But I guess that's what kindness does, it inspires us all to act a little better).  Afterwards my friends and I walked around Temple Square to look at the lights and see the candy displays in the Macy's windows.  It was a magical evening! 
• There was a huge "women wearing pants to church" movement.  Being a recent law graduate, I had a lot of friends who joined in the debate.  I personally did not share my views on the subject because, quite frankly, I've got bigger problems to worry about.  Like, for instance, whether I even have any CLEAN clothes to wear to church.  My laundry is seriously getting out of control.  But I digress.  I heard and read a lot of commentary on both sides and I've come to the conclusion that........I'm Switzerland.  
• Tried eggnog (again).  Decided I kind of like it (in small quantities).  Then again, maybe not.
• I was double booked for Christmas parties on Saturday.  My work threw an awesome Christmas party at the restaurant I named (Sixth Street Pizzeria) and then spoiled me with gifts.  I also went to a Christmas party with an amazing group of friends.  It seems like time slips away so quickly and we don't get to spend as much time together, but it was great to get together and celebrate the season!  I also drank some of the best hot chocolate I've ever had.  The secret?  Half and half.  Maybe I shouldn't have asked.........
• I listened to a Seventy speak at church.  Due to the fact that my calling legally allows me to "ward hop," I've had the opportunity to hear from quite a few general authorities in the last year and a half (Elder Bowen, Elder Munday, Elder Keech, Elder Lund, Elder Terry.......Sister Beck......Elder Bednar).  Sometimes I wish that I could listen to them every Sunday.  It is so uplifting to have them expound the scriptures and bare testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel.  Unfortunately, when the time comes, it may be a difficult transition attending the same ward every Sunday.  It's definitely been a blessing that comes with its hardships, but for now, it's my life.
• For anyone living under a rock, there was a shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut.  Once I heard the news, I immediately called my friend, Sara, to make sure it wasn't her kids' school.  Thankfully, it wasn't.  But it was still a horrific tragedy and my heart breaks for everyone affected.  It has been inspiring, however, to hear the stories of forgiveness and families/communities coming together to support each other.  Maybe we can find peace on earth, even in the midst of such tragedy.  

See what I mean?  Definitely NOT boring.  This time next week, it will be Christmas Eve.......I should probably start shopping.  An even bigger problem, though, is what the heck am I going to do for the annual Bryant family talent show?