Check This Twice

     So this Christmas will be out first Christmas as a married couple. We have a tree with ornaments. we have four "Our First Christmas" ornaments. I cannot get over how excited I am for Christmas morning. My mom is not going to stay up all night wrapping presents and my stockings won't be full. I know that's how it works. A part of me is believing that when I wake up the cookies will be eaten and the tree will be surrounded with presents. I won't be disappointed if that dosn't happen. As long as when I wake up on Christmas morning next to the man I love; I know that I've been extra good all year because I will have received everything on my Christmas list.

How Rude?

     So I work in retail. Anyone who works retail will tell you the holiday season is crazy. There are huge crowds of people all looking for the same thing and work schedules are impossible to keep up with as far as making plans. Ummmm... Can I just step up on soapbox with Charlie Brown real fast?
     Somebody please tell me why the same people who walk around telling everyone what "the true spirit of Christmas" means are the same people who run through the busy store throwing things on the ground. I know that someone out there is going to get irritated at me and say that its my job to clean up the mess. You are absolutely right. It is my job to pick up after you. However your mess is not my only job. How would you like it if all the Tickle Me Elmo never were realeased to customers in time for Christmas because the person in charge of putting him out were also in charge of cleaning the entire toy department including the loose legos and cars that you couldn't wait to open. Also, wouldn't you be angry if you took great care to make a beautiful display of folded shirts then while you helped a single customer you return only to seey a ball of clothes where you just cleaned? That's what I thought.
    Sorry. I needed that.

    Now about Christmas. I recently was fortunate enough to enjoy a stake conference session at church where in I was blessed to hear the words of an Apostle of the Lord. He spoke of the Christmas Stories in The Bible, which we all know well, and of The Book of Mormon, not well known. I encourage you to read about what was happening in the Americas. I espaecially enjoyed the account in the third book of Nephi. READ IT. I won't tell you about it because then you won't feel the need to read it.
     I will say this. In Bethlehem Jesus was born and there was a day, a night, and another day as, one day. In the Americas there was a prophecy of that sign of the Savior's birth and has it not been for the prophecy coming true when it did, all believers would be put to death. When Christ was crucified and rose from his tomb, he visited the people in that area and also in the Americas. First He appeared saying he was the "Life and the Light." In the Americas, where the three-days-as-one was so relevant to anyone who believed at the risk of death, He returned saying I am the "Light and the Life."
     I seriously considered not sharing this for fear that the medium chosen would not do justice to his talk; it certainly does not do justice. But I know that if you want to see how clearly The Messiah knows each of us individually please read. From the prophecy to the coming. I will post the actual spriptures later. For now read.
     He loves us. He knows us. He lives.

I love My Sisters!

     So I had an amazing day today which ended with me watching Christmas Vacation with my family. If you haven't seen this hilarious movie with Chevy Chase, I highly recommend you go buy it. Anyway, there are some movie quotes that become an hilarious inside joke between family members that will always be funny. The point is, when I called my sister at the end of the night and recited these quotes we both started luaghing and had trouble stopping. I come from a large family and it's spread out across a few states. So it's easy to miss them. My sisters most of all.
    There is a special bond between sisters that you don't really realize is there until you're older. But when you can appreciate it it's amazing. Difficult to deal with the long distance. However, like every long distance relationship, it's hard but you have to make it work.

Getting To Know Us

     Hi, I'm Courtney Andrade. I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I grew up in Utah. Now I live in California with my husband and the man of my dreams, Jorge. Those are the two most important things in my life. Anything else I have to say that may need back story will be supplemented appropriately.
     Church: Yes, I grew up in Utah. Most of the kids I went to school with were sunbeams with me. I never really had a major question about whether or not I attended the true church. That is not to say I didn't learn for myself. I have a testimony of the truthfulness of the church. I know a lot of people would tag a beautiful and wordy story along with such a bold statement. A defense argument. I have many. I could brag about my story, I could share a meaningful and heartfelt explanation, but I won't. There's no need for fluff now.
     I know God lives. I know Joseph Smith restored the church, and that we have a prophet today who speaks with the Lord. I know this is true.

    Jorge: I love him. I met my husband in seminary. We saw each other at church, but he was just a jerk (He thought I was a bit stuck-up and snotty anyway). Then I started noticing him at school. He wasn't difficult to miss as I would run in to him kissing his girlfriend directly outside of my third period class. One day we were on each others radar, but we would never approach one another. Until the people who had crushes on each of us started saying things. My admirer asked when I was just going to start dating him. His accused him of worshipping the ground I walked on. One day, in the waiting room of the temple I finally had enough courage and was fed up with the stories I was sure he started, I was wrong but it worked out. We had now idea why those people thought what they did but it worked out for my husband and me.
    I can honestly say that dreams come true and so do wishes on shooting stars. One night after work at Pizza Hut, I stopped on the way home at my boyfriends house. (We hadn't established exclusivity but I wasn't interested in anyone else, and if he so much as looked at another girl I'm sure she would have vanished down a cold dark alley in the middle of the night, during one when I have an alibi.) We just were saying "hello," and wishing a good night in person. We had also shared our first kiss already so there was that to do also. I was leaving to go home and we both stopped to look at the stars since there were so many visible at that time. Suddenly there was a shooting star and we both paused to make a silent wish. Now I know you shouldn't share your wish aloud for fear it will not come true but we agreed to share with each other at the same time. "I wished we'd be together forever." I can't say who that quote belongs to for sure. Who spoke first? Who said it louder? Did he finish last? Did I start first? We wished for the same thing; We knew from that pure moment on that our thoughts, goals, everything were aligned. I love him. He loves me. And our dreams and wishes are all coming true.
    That's a little bit about me. The rest will present itself. Following my blog will prove to be interesting, funny, sad, and a few other emotions that you may not be able to fully understand. But that's okay. That is just a sign of awesomeness at it's finest slowly working it's way into your head until one day it evolves into something great. Me.
    And on that note, bed time. Time to relax. Ponder my thoughts (so I don't have to). And get ready for a journey. Now... Hang on to your hats and glasses, cuz this hear's the wildest ride in the wilderness.---I also like Disney stuff.