MERRY CHRISTMAS

I'm so sad that Christmas is over only 362 days left till next christmas! ;) But, just because Christmas is over doesn't mean we have to stop spreading the Christmas cheer of Christ-like love and happiness. We should always strive to "Share the Gift" which is Jesus Christ. He is the first gift, the greatest gift of all!! This Christmas season was so great! I got to spend it with Family, which is the best! Also, I got to skype IAN!!!!!! Best present ever, something money can't buy. (THANK YOU PETTYS FOR LETTING ME IN ON THE VIDEO CALL!!!)

Christmas Eve, every year we go to my Grandma's house and have soup and sandwiches, open presents from Santa who comes early to our house, and from cousins and siblings. It is always fun spending time with family, especially my nephew Jackson! He's starting to talk and his voice is SO ADORABLE. Then Christmas day, we opened presents, I skyped Ian in the morning and went to go see the movie, Unbroken. I highly, recommend you all go and see it!!!!

I hope everyone else's christmas was as wonderful and happy as mine :) Lets remember its not about the material things but the gifts of spending time with family, making memories and spreading love and cheer like our Savior, Jesus Christ would want us to! Hope you all have a great New Year!

xoxo

#SharetheGift

As Christmas is just right around the corner, a lot of thoughts have been coming to mind what the meaning of Christmas is and how we should celebrate it. I want to know, what do YOU think of you think of "Christmas"?

I think of:
-Joy
-Love
-Happiness
-Family
-Hope
-Faith
-Humble
-Compassion

The list goes on and on. In the talk given by Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson from this years Christmas Devotional she said:

"As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ this season, let us also celebrate all that His birth symbolizes, especially the love. When we see shepherds, may we remember to be humble. When we see wise men, may we remember to be generous. When we see the star, may we remember the Light of Christ, which gives life and light to all things. When we see a tiny baby, may we remember to love unconditionally, with tenderness and compassion. May we open the doors of our hearts and reach out to those around us who are lonely, forgotten, or poor in spirit. As we contemplate the example and infinite sacrifice of the Savior, may we also consider how we can be more Christlike in our associations with family and friends, not just during this season but throughout the year."

Recently the Church created a video about how Jesus Christ is the gift. you can watch it here at: http://www.christmas.mormon.org It is an amazing video and a great reminder that God's first and greatest gift to us was his son, Jesus Christ. We must try to remember to "#SharetheGift" in ways of being Christlike, spreading the joy that we feel from our Savior, Jesus Christ, The love that God has for all of us. This doesn't have to stop after Christmas. We should try to Share the Gift all year round! Have that joy and happiness we feel about celebrating Christ's birth all year! We need to be more Christ-like all the time in any way we can. I thought of some ways I can share the gift:

-I will try to smile at strangers more!
-I will acknowledge people's Gift's and Talents
-I will try to speak only kind things of people
-I will look for the best in people, not the worst
-I will remember my worth, that I am a daughter of a King, and remind people of their worth as well.


Now what I want to know is, how will YOU share the gift?! What are your thoughts this Christmas season? 

I love this Gospel, this Christmas season. I am very grateful for the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ and the love he has for each of us; how he wants us to HAVE that love and to SPREAD that love! Have a Merry Christmas everyone and a great Sabbath day!

xoxo

ps: here is an AWESOME video that the Piano Guy's did that broke a World Record! https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=PrLoWt2tfqg&app=desktop

Fall Semester 2014: CHECK!

Well, I did it! Another semester in the books. Fall Semester 2014 is DONE! I finished checking out of the IVY and now I just have to wait until I get on the shuttle and head to SLC to fly home! I am so excited to be home for this Christmas season! ONE MORE WEEK TILL CHRISTMAS! I love this time of year :) I am so grateful for this semester! I've learned so much but had so much fun too! I took a class where I learned about interior design, I learned how to sew and I've learned how to cook other meals! I'm grateful for the friends I've made, the experiences I've had, the opportunity I've been given to have this time to grow as a person, focus on developing my talents, gaining knowledge and learning how to come closer to my Heavenly Father. I'm becoming the person I've always wanted to be, it just took me a little bit to get there. I'm not completely there yet, but I am far from where I was. Lets reflect back on the goals I made at the beginning of the semester:

1. Get into shape!

2. Get all A's!

3. Have FUN with my friends!

4. Strengthen my relationship/testimony with my Heavenly Father

1. I am still working on getting into shape! haha It takes a while! I am soooo far from where I WAS and closer to where I want to be! Next semester will be so much better because I will live closer to the school's gym and I will be taking classes where we EXERCISE! So I will be getting so much exercise in! I will eat healthier too.. this semester I wasn't...the best.

2. I did NOT get all A's... This semester was tough! I took a lot of credits and didn't expect it to be that hard! But next semester, I'm shooting high for better grades! 

3. I definitely had fun. I've made so many memories! I have done so much this semester and learned to actually have fun in Rexburg ;) I have so many ideas and places to show Ian when he is back at school with me! I cannot wait! But I really have had fun and maybe sometimes too much fun and not focused enough on school but I will be better! I'm grateful for my friends here! I don't know what I'd do without them. 

4. I have learned so much about myself and my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for what I've learned. I am better at saying my daily prayers and reading scriptures which I've seen SO many blessings from! I have gained a testimony of saying prayer and fasting. I have seen in my own life that when I pray with a sincere heart for things in my life I see my Heavenly Father pronounce blessings to me. It is amazing! I am so grateful for the power of prayer and the tender mercies, blessings and love I receive from my Heavenly Father. I am continuing to strengthen my relationship with him and gaining an even stronger testimony. I am never done learning! 

I can't wait to be home but I am grateful for all I've learned from this Fall semester! Excited for what Winter 2015 semester will bring! But for now, it's time to celebrate CHRISTMAS!!!!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 

xoxo

M I S S Y || portraits

Today I got to take pictures of one of my goooood dearest bestest friends Missy Minor. She is absolutely stunning and so photogenic. I love taking pictures! It's fun to feel like a "photographer" sometimes. Take a look! 

wanna see more? check out my vsco... madisonanne.vsco.co 

hello december.

what the flip. how is it december? 2 weeks left of this semester...what! I have done nothing productive today towards studying...looks like I will have a lot to do this weekend. Finals are coming up and as I am sitting here procrastinating studying and working out (which I usually never do). I thought I'd share with you what I did today.

My best friend, Natalie Fisher has a photography business and took pictures of my roommates and I. take a look!

cute huh? she's awesome. check out her photography page! http://www.nataliefisherphotography.blogspot.com Now, I should probably get back to studying. May the curve be ever in your favor as you are studying for your finals too! eeep.

xoxo

New hobbies

November 27th: I am grateful I am able to still learn new things! 

I recently, well a couple weeks ago, learned how to crochet and it is so fun! I've made so many hats, headbands and just made a scarf today! I am grateful that I am able to learn new things in my life still. I can teach others as well!! 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

November 26th: I'm grateful for, the opportunity I have to babysit and make money
I babysat Wednesday night for, Mrs. Zornes and I am so grateful I have the opportunity to make some extra money while I am home! It is great because she pays me a very good amount and is so easy going with the time and what her kids do! Thank you!!!

November 27th: I'M GRATEFUL FOR THANKSGIVING!!!!
So, even though my family isn't celebrating till tomorrow for thanksgiving I am still so thankful for it! It is a wonderful time of year where families are able to get together and enjoy each others company while eating a wonderful meal! My favorite things from Thanksgiving meal is, rolls, turkey, stuffing, vegetables and PIE. Oh I also love the sparkling cider! Yummy!!!! It is always so great when I go to thanksgiving dinner at my grandmas because I get to see all my family members! Its a really great time of year :) Plus... Christmas is just around the corner!!!!!!

Catching Up

November 22nd: I'm grateful for Missionaries!

That boy in the middle is Spencer Niederhausern and guess what?! HE GOT HIS MISSION CALL! I am so insanely proud of him and I am grateful for him to go out and teach the people in Brazil! Missionaries are amazing and dedicate 2 YEARS (or 18 months) of their lives to serving the Lord and teaching people. How amazing is that?! I'm grateful obviously for Ian who is a missionary as well but this post was mainly about Spencer who got his mission call!! He reports April 15th to the Brazil MTC! Go Spence !

November 24th: I'm grateful for my Grandma

My grandma is one fireball of an little old woman! She is one of the funniest people I have ever met. She laughs at the weirdest things, and her reactions to things are so exaggerated and over the top I love it. She is crazy and I wouldn't want it any other way!!!!

November 25th: I'm grateful for the peace I can receive from this gospel. 
In light of recent evens of the chaos going around in St. Louis, I want to share something I posted on my facebook...

"I … stand upon this principle, that the truth is in the gospel of Jesus Christ, that the power of redemption, the power of peace, the power for good will, love, charity and forgiveness, and the power for fellowship with God, abides in the gospel of Jesus Christ and in obedience to it on the part of the people. I therefore admit, and not only admit but claim, that there is nothing greater on earth, nor in heaven, than the truth of God’s gospel which he has devised and restored for the salvation and the redemption of the world. And it is through that that peace will come to the children of men, and it will not come to the world in any other way."-Joseph F. Smith

Sometimes in the midst of chaos we need to remember how our Savior, Jesus Christ would react in this situation. Would he be rioting with those people? No. He would be comforting the families on BOTH sides of the situation. Would he be looking only at this situation based on race? No, he would know that this would've been the decision no matter what color of skin the people involved have. Would he be fighting on facebook about it? No. Maybe he would share his testimony on a few comments about showing charity and being kind. I believe we need to pray for both sides of this situation for the people who are causing chaos to stop, and the people who are being affected by it will be kept safe. I'm not saying everyone needs to convert now, but what I am saying that whatever your religion may be, I know one thing most all have in common is being Christ like, a Christian. I encourage us all to step back and think, if the Savior stood beside me, would he like what i'm doing or even saying? What would he want me to be doing?

I know that peace can be found through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and by reacting in a Christ-like manner. We need to make the effort and try to be more like him and I think people will catch on. 

HOME

November 2st: I'm grateful to be home!

No words can express how happy I am to be home for the Holidays. I am grateful for my parents being able to have the money to buy me a plane ticket home and I am grateful that I was able to come home early! 

November 22nd: I'm grateful for weddings!

Today Jessica Bean got married and it was the best wedding ever! She is the most beautiful bride I have ever seen. I LOVE WEDDINGS!!!! they make me so happy :) 

Katie, Alix & Sandra

November 20th: I'm grateful for my camera to capture beautiful people!

So I am no photographer but... my friends Katie, Alix and Sandra wanted their picture taken and I wanted to really know how to use my camera my dad gave me so, I took their pictures! They turned out GREAT! I really got to learn how to work the camera with all the settings and they got wonderful pictures! The lighting was perfect and it makes my life easier when I have photogenic models ;) Take a look!