I Am In The Christmas Mood!

So here's some Christmas cheer on the blog. AND SNOW

Something Witty This Way Comes

That's as good as it's getting today, folks.

But tonight I have a story to tell.

Once upon a time it was Halloween.

I know you can't tell from these pictures but it was. Promise.

So this night was an adventure to say the least. You know how college kids are on Halloween. Naturally it led to this:

Don't judge us; it's cute so it's acceptable.

But there was one thing that happened that Halloween night that we kept a secret until last night. Yes, we bought Christmas decorations. But we made this stealthy plan to decorate the boys' apartment door with our super cute stockings that we bought (which, by the way, there were only EXACTLY six of left). And all that planning led to a surprise attack:

 And us being super cute again. Luckily, it was the right time frame this time.

It's the start of some Happy Holidays. <3

Fall Semester

It's almost over. And you know it's going well when you have a whole apartment of guys that will:
a.) make you chocolate chip pancakes on a whim
b.) listen to the same music as you
c.) get addicted to How I Met Your Mother almost as fast as you did and now are in a race to finish before the end of the semester.

To top it all off - they walk you home at the end of the night. #win

THIS

Being at BYU has made me realize that there are a lot of douchebag guys out there. Now now, I know that there are A LOT of respectable men that understand what it means to be a gentleman and how to treat a lady. But I feel like here, where all the boys are focused on their missions, they feel like they have a free pass to treat people - girls especially - like garbage.
And it makes me sick! I watch those sappy old love stories, and I just wonder, what happened to all those guys? The ones who hold open doors. Who walk on the outside edge of the sidewalk. Who pull out chairs. Who offer their coats. Who pay for meals. Who are thoughtful and helpful.
The chivalrous ones that treat women like the princesses they are.
Guys have grown to be such pigs. And I know that's terrible. But it's true.
Ladies - accepting these things from a guy does not make you a prima donna. It shows that you understand and value your worth.
Gents - Treating a girl with respect benefits you in the long run, I promise you.

This guy, bless his heart:

I love watching old movies. Particularly movies from the 30’s and 40’s.
It’s fascinating to see the interaction between the characters and how well they treated each other. During that era, even Hollywood, in all its trendiness, still managed to pump out movies highlighting good old fashioned values.
So are old fashioned values still relevant today?
Is it possible to live with 20th century morals and ideals in a 21st century world?
Do these values really play a role in increasing the romance needed in marriage?
Let’s take a look at three key “old fashioned values” and see how they might help us today.
Chivalry
Chivalry is one of the easiest to indentify as being “old fashioned”. Guys, this is a message especially for us. What would it be like if we, as men, all stood up when a lady entered the room? What would it be like if we took her coat for her? What would it be like if she never had to open a door?
I know from personal experience that most women are a little shocked at first. Then, at a deeper look, you can see that it really makes them feel special – like it’s a way they’ve always wanted to be treated.
Just before my wife and I were married, a piece of advice someone gave me that really stuck with me is, “she never touches a door handle”. Meaning, I need to always be there to hold the door, open the car, and so on. By being chivalrous, you can bring back the true meaning of the word ‘gentleman’.
Even in our busy modern lives, there’s always time for a little chivalry. In fact, it’s one of the best ways to help the ladies feel grateful to you and induce more romantic feelings for you.
Respect
Tied closely to chivalry is respect. Respecting your spouse involves treating him or her the way that makes them feel important. The highest form of respect in marriage is seeing and treating each other like royalty.
Service
Serving your spouse manifests itself in many ways. It could be picking up a chore they aren’t very fond of. It could be doing something they really enjoy. It could be just taking the time to be involved with them, whatever that may mean at the time. The ways to serve your spouse are almost infinite. It’s just a matter of actively looking for ways to help.
It’s my experience, that as you look for ways to serve your husband or wife and actually do it consistently, that love will be reflected back and yours will be a happy marriage.
So are these values too old-fashioned?
What if we just removed the word “old-fashioned” and simply called them values?
In reality, any value that encourages a more romantic, more loving marriage is never old fashioned.

So give me a love like Eric and Ariel

Or Allie and Noah

Or Carl and Ellie.







That is a love worth waiting for.

Genetic Blog {Five}

In SFL 210, child development, a lot of emphasis is placed on how parents influence development in children. This can be cognitive, emotional, social, or moral development. How we are raised determines how we will grow in the world. If our parents are kind and warm in rearing us, and teach us how to react with others we will reach social competence and be able to contribute to the world.

We will be able to show empathy and sympathize with those around us.

We will learn the value of hard work and realize that effort is greater than ability.

We will understand morality and treat others with kindness and equality.

We will serve those around us.

And most importantly, we will prepare to raise our children in such a way that they, too, will be influential in society. 

I have never been more grateful for my parents until I came to BYU. I appreciate their sacrifices more, long to be near to them, and strive to better our relationships in every way possible. Learning about the roles of parents in our development have encouraged me to reflect on my childhood and realize how successful it was. Not only am I learning ideas that will help me pass the test, I’m learning about myself and my relationships with my family and that is the most important concept I will learn by far.