Silver Bells and Pumpkin Scented Candles

Fall is in the air- and maybe winter too. The trees have turned, the landscapers have dug up all the annuals, each morning brings a hard frost, and last night and all day today, it snowed. Having just finished up midterms for the most part, I am free to enjoy a highland desert fall. The weather went from eighty degrees to thirty in less than a week, and has sustained autumnal temperatures for nearly a month.

I love this time of year. The summer things are put away, not to emerge till late next spring. It's finally cold enough to enjoy a comfortable hoodie. Hot chocolate or spiced cider no longer elicits odd looks from the roommates, and now the fight over the state of the window begins with the roomie. I like the room to smell fresh. I don't mind a little chill to achieve this. There is a reason why I lugged my electric blanket six hundred miles, after all. She would rather have a warm room, and deal with the stale air. We'll see who is more stubborn.

I'm looking forward to pumpkin pie, daddy's greenbean casserole, and yams smothered in marshmallows and brown sugar. Unfortunately, we are not allowed candles in the dorms, so I'll have to wait to go home before I get to smell the pumpkin and spiced cider candles mom buys every fall. I can't wait for the first serious snowfall. I get to go home for Thanksgiving in three weeks, and I am raring to go. Don't get me wrong,, I love my roommates. But two engaged girls and one seriously involved relationship in the apartment is more than enough estrogen to send me packing.

Snow is in the air, I'm wrapped up snug in my bed, and I have six weeks of school left before my refreshing three month absence from this campus. Life could be better, but I'm not complaining.

Making the Rounds

My roommate is sick. That is the catalyst for this very random and rambling post.

Everyone is freaking out about swine flu. They're freaking out here too. I think it's kind of funny. Let me explain myself. My poor cousin has two beautiful little ones, and another on the way. They all have the swine flu. Cousin, hubby, kiddos. She called the doctor and was told to not even bring her little boy in, because they were so slammed.

There are a few cases on campus, but they're all being quarantined. My roommate has the flu, but no fever or anything,so we're pretty sure its just a nasty flu bug.

From the CDC:From April 15, 2009 to July 24, 2009, states reported a total of 43,771 confirmed and probable cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) infection. Of these cases reported, 5,011 people were hospitalized and 302 people died.

Although more children under 5 were hospitalized, people between 5 and 24 were the hardest hit.

There have been four major quakes on the Pacific Rim in the last week. Over two hundred people have been killed.


California has been on fire since March. We have been "fighting" a war for over eight years.


We have been lucky that there have been no major hurricanes this year.

Our Government is spending us into slavery to other nations. People are losing jobs right and left.

Even though everything seems to be going wrong, I am unafraid. Well, mostly.

Mormon 8:29-31 says:

Yea, and it shall come in a day there shall be heard of fires, and tempests, and vapors of smoke in foreign lands; And there shall also be heard of wars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes in divers places. Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be great pollutions upon the face of the earth, there shall be murders, and robbing, and lying, and deceivings, and whoredoms, and all manner of abominations;whern there shall be many who will say, Do this, or do that, and it mattereth not, for the Lord will uphold such at the last day. But wo unto such, for they are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity.

But there is so much to be happy about. Missonaries are spreading the Good Word, temples are full to bursting and new ones are being built across the face of the Earth. Families are being sealed together. People are being found through the mists of time, and their work is being done. We do not lack for voices of warning and comfort in our day. We are in the final stretch. But it's ok, because we know that if we are obedient to God, and specifically our covenants, everything will come out alright.