Tomorrow is Christmas. Excuse me but when did this happen? I don't really feel in the spirit very much. It feels like the holidays came too soon. There are two things that I'm really looking forward to tomorrow though; giving the gifts that I got for my family, and eating sticky rolls. Honestly I'm so much more excited to give my gifts than I am to receive, mostly because I'm not expecting to get anything. We already all got new phones, so we aren't doing anything else present-wise. I just wanted to get gifts for my family because of course I love them. This is the first year when I can really say that I am so much more pumped to give. Because this is the first year when I actually thought out gifts for everyone in my family and went out and bought them with my own money. It really feels good knowing that I got something perfect that each person will love and that I can bring a smile to their face. It sounds super cheesy, but I'm just so excited. Also, it has sunk in recently that experiences are way more valuable than gifts. These moments that I am having with my family and friends right now won't last forever, and I really want to embrace and appreciate them while they're here.
The best thing about this holiday season by far has been the relaxation that I have been doing and seeing family and friends. This is the last Christmas until who-knows-when that I will be spending with all of our family. Which is sad since I will miss them like crazy because I love them like crazy, but I'm just enjoying the time we have with them right now. I love spending time with the Kirby side of the family. They make me so extremely happy and I don't know where I'd be without them.

This post is so cheesy it's not even funny. But you see what I'm sayin.

Other things:
Just finished the season of Amazing Race. I was so upset when Adam and Bethany didn't win. I love them so much.

I absolutely love the way God created people. No two people are exactly the same; each individual has their own strengths, talents, and flaws. Why do we need to criticize people's flaws when God made them to be just how he wanted? A person is not defined only by what they do well or what they don't do well. A person is defined as everything that they are: their talents, their struggles, their experiences, their attitudes. And sometimes a person's limitation in one area can lead them to excel in another area. I love how there is something good to be found in every person, although it can't always be seen or even the person hasn't found it. I think that it is important to not judge people for where they are in their lives because I believe that people do change. I know I have changed a ton, just in the past couple of years, and it's not fair to judge anyone for the way that they were. It's not fair to judge anyone at all, because you can never know what kind of battles that person is fighting that you can't see. We should only praise God for people's strong qualities, and not criticize them for not having every perfect quality. Because really no one does. And if everyone was good at everything, no one would be amazing at anything.
I'm sorry this was all over the place but I felt the need to express my thoughts. I love the complexity of human lives so much. And the fact that there have been around 108 billion unique individuals on this earth is remarkable to me.
God is truly amazing.

There's this thing with words. You can't take them back. Of course you can apologize and make excuses for what you've said, but once those words have been spoken, the listener most likely has them in the back of their mind, at least for a while. And the thing with words that I have realized lately is that they are extremely damaging. Don't let anyone ever tell you that "sticks and stones can break your bones but words can never hurt you," because this couldn't be further than the truth. Words hurt. Even a small critique, if it is about something that you are proud of or you are already self-conscious about, can make the biggest difference in your attitude. And when these harsh words are constantly thrown at you, it beats your soul down with a hammer.
So this is a reminder to be careful of what you say. I know that I need to be reminded of this more often than I'd care to admit. Because sometimes, so amount of apologizing can heal wounds to the soul. You never know what each person you come in to contact with is going through, and sometimes even small things can push them to the edge.
So I'm sorry. Even though I know it may not make a difference. To anyone who I have damaged with my careless words, I am deeply sorry.

I have no plan for this post. I just need to talk. I am so happy this week is done with. Honestly this has been the worst week of the year. But it's over! YAY! My brain hasn't been this strained since like... finals last year. Which actually makes me really happy because it means that for one whole semester school has been going great. And really it has. This has been the best year so far, academically and socially. I'm not surprised, actually, because it seems that I always really start enjoying things once they are about to finish. But anyways, it has been a fun semester. And I only have one day of school which should be pretty easy, then a couple of two-hour finals, then I'm FREEEEEE. Sort of . For two and a half weeks anyways. And those weeks will be full of work. Dad is leaving a few days after Christmas, and mom is driving down with him to help explore the new town and keep him company and such. Also, we are planning to list our house right after break which means we have a few more cleaning and fixing-up things to do. Yippee. Also, I can't believe that it's December 12. This year has gone by so fast. And I'm not in the Christmas spirit which is really sad. We aren't putting up decorations this year, and I want to feel in the spirit, but I'm really not at all. I don't even have a desire to listen to Christmas music. Is there something wrong with me?
Oh, new thought: I feel like I'm becoming more extroverted. I don't really ever want or need to spend time alone. Even if I am just on my computer or doing homework, I want to be out in house around my family. I am comfortable being alone, but I'm comfortable with others too. I like it.
I just keep thinking of stuff to talk about. Goodness I shouldn't go so long without writing. Anyways... movies. Lately I've noticed that I don't really like movies as much as I used to. I like the emotional ones, and I'm not really sure why, maybe just because I love seeing other people's lives and emotions and struggles and stuff. But I don't like most comedy ones, especially the ones high- schoolers like. I think they are for the most part really dumb and not funny at all. I'm critical of a lot of them (movies in general), about anything from their special effects, dialog, story line, characters, and acting. Right now we are watching Gatsby in English and I am really disappointed. After hearing so many good things about it, I expected more. I really just don't like anything about it. I could go into more detail but that would take forever. My favorite ones though are ones that make me think and ones that help me to see that there is more to this life than just me. Ones that aren't trying too hard but just have a lot of thought and care put into them. And Disney movies of course. You can't ever go wrong with a Disney movie. Or a book. Books>Movies
Aaaandd yet another topic: driving. I love driving. So much. I feel so free and independent when I can just go places without having to call someone and wait for them to pick me up or take me somewhere. I can go places with my friends, stay later for stuff, and enjoy a peaceful ride home while I listen to one of my four gorgeous Taylor Swift CD's.
More stuffs:
God is amazing.
Jesus is super sassy.
Mom's homemade toffee is really good.
I finally got some super cute boots.
Learning and knowing stuff is awesome.
I can't stop listening to Taylor Swift's album

Sorry this turned into an essay. Thanks to anyone who read it all.