The Rockettes!!!

Two days ago I went to the Christmas Spectacular put on by the Rockettes. I hadn't ever really heard of the show but I was talked into going. It ended up being really awesome! They even threw in a live nativity in the end. I was so happy I had the opportunity to go! Tomorrow I'm going to the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller plaza. Christmas in NY is turning out to be awesome!

Thanksgiving was sick!

I mean this both in the literal sense and slang sense. I had an awesome time at the Macy's Thanksgiving parade where my group started a Christmas-song-singing phenomenon. Then after that we watched people ice skate at the Rockefeller center where it snowed for about a minute and made my day. I had Thanksgiving dinner with my ward family of about 20 people. It was a blast and almost made me forget how much I miss my family. Then yesterday I was sick in bed. I slept for 20 hours and today I feel fine. I'm ready to go see the Rockettes in the Christmas show tonight.

My grateful list (day 7)

I am grateful for:

-nice mechanics who fix things for free

-when I can help someone

-my dad teaching me how to maintain a car

-my awesome family

-natural medicines

-people who put up with me.....because I know it can be hard

Thanksgiving is so soon. What a great holiday.

My grateful list (day 6)

I am having a hard time mixing my culture with the culture in NY. The discipline (or lack of it) is not the same, the level cleanliness is in two totally different categories, and the money situation is so different from what I grew up with. I have been struggling to put myself in others shoes and see things as they do. I, however, am thankful for the knowledge of this tool because it helps me see that what I grew up with isn't the only way of looking at things. I can take a step back and see things as a 3rd person and get clarity on the issue at hand. I still struggle when the kids yell at their parents and no discipline is put in place. I still struggle when the parents leave things out for me to put away but I realize that we each have our own molded world where things that seem important to us may not be important to others. It's so hard for me to do this because I am a strong willed person and I feel I must control my elements to stay sane and at peace. I need to let go of my ego and be as a submissive child, ready to learn and able to be taught.

5 dolla! 5 dolla!

Yesterday I went to the city with a friend and took the ferry to Liberty and Ellis Island. It was so much fun and makes me want to do genealogy work now, or at least look at my genealogy. After a little mix up in directions we finally made it to Battery park. We saw a guy dressed up like the statue of liberty and wanted a picture. We had someone take a picture with my camera and were about to walk away when the statue said "No! 5 dolla! 5 dolla!" So we reluctantly gave him 5 dollars. That swindler then said "2 pictas, 10 dollas!" I then gave him another 5 dollars. While walking away I thought, We just paid 10 dollars for two pictures on MY camera. I was angry but then I remembered karma and how he was probably going to lose that ten dollars to the wind someday anyways, then I smiled as I pictured him chasing two 5 dollar bills in his green dress and misshapen mask. In conclusion....

liberty ain't free, quite literally.

My grateful list (day 4 and 5)

No one who achieves success does so without the help of others.
The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.
~Alfred North Whitehead

I am grateful for:

-friends

-opportunities available to me

-the atonement

-the gospel and the goals I have with it

-good books

-ability to learn new things