TURKEY DAY.

"In the time of test, family is best." -Burmese Proverb

This week my entire family (cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, second cousins ect.) packed into one house for three days to bond over one of our favorite holidays in the Williams Family. Now before going into the events of this weekend you should know my family, is a lively bunch. We're tighter than jeggings, and crazier than snuggies. My Nana and Papa (or Packi depending on which cousin you are talking to) have a cottage on a lake where we spend many Summer weekends, Thanksgiving and New Year. This cottage is where some serious bonding goes down. I am extremely lucky in that my entire family gets along, all the cousins, we're all friends. Well let's get on with describing the weekend.

Well first off when we arrived the house was freezing. But that just gave us the excuse to make a fire and soon we were all nice and toasty. We settled in for some good old fashion family time. Which incluedes telling stories, watching football, playing football, playing card games, dancing, ect. Here are a few photos to give you an idea of what goes on at the cottage during the chilly months.



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These cookies are a staple at any William's holiday. Lovingly frosted by the grandchildren, baked by Nana.

 





Just gathering around the table for some good conversation.



Dance parties are common.

Playing a little football is always fun!

A good old fashion game of go fish!





Frosting some cookies! One of the most loved holiday activities!



Another activity I took part in this year, I am proud to say will hopefully become a tradition. Anyone involved will agree that Thanksgiving caroling is where it's at. More like Thanksgiving poem reciting, we traveled the neighborhood spreading Thanks and cheer. However would you believe there was only one person home in the entire neighborhood. However the one house we did carol at said we made their day. Thats just us Williams girls. The poem went something like this:

Greetings from the Williams Family

We send you greetings and salutations

we are thankful for you

and we hope you're thankful for us too

Blessings to you and your family during this holiday season

gobble gobble

Fellow poem sayers.

Not exactly fine literature, but it got the point across. Anyway since no one was home we just enjoyed a nice walk through the little neighborhood taking in the "sights".

Then it is time for dinner. Feeding all of us in no easy thing to do but Nana and she pulls it off with grace. After dinner there is the ever hated tradition. Me and my three other cousins or the oldest, are required to wash the dishes. We try everything to get out of it. This year we hid in a locked bathroom with a recording of someone saying "somebody's in here" however it didn't work. And we washed this dishes, and probably will next year. However if there is any group of girls I would love to wash dishes with it would be them. We sing youtube videos at the top of our lungs, and we may or may not have started a soap fight. 

The canned cranberries. Can you believe no one ate them?



Aunt Rae Anne proudly displaying her corn.



Aunt Laurie trying out the beans



Cleaning those dishes!



The next day was black Friday. My family has NEVER been one to take advantage of these deals, usually all of us cousins go to a movie the day after Thanksgiving, however this year the selections of movies were.... let's just say we didn't go see a movie. So me and one of my sisters and two of the other older girl cousins decided to hit a tiny mall type shopping center. After going there we realized why our family didn't ever go black friday shopping. There were very few shopping "hot spots". Instead we decided to just make a quick spot at dollar general, then chill in Bigbys.

About to hit the town!

Putting those dollar general coloring books to good use!

Warm cups of coffee and coco on a cold afternoon.

"Other things may change, but we start and end with family."

-Anthony Brandt

I suppose after reading this it goes without saying that I am extremely thankful for my family. I consider myself the luckiest person in the world to have them. We all fit together perfectly. All and all it was a wonderful Thanksgiving, and all my family that was not there I missed you, and I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and actually that goes to anyone reading this. Christmas here I come.

Seasons Greetings

Today Christmas music started on the radio. Oh so beautiful. It is really about time I have been waiting for this for a few months. This is when I put my ipod away and turn the radio on. (I really never listen to the radio because I don't understand the sense of someone else picking something out for you to listen to, when you could just decide yourself.) Now the season has officially started in the eyes of the world. It's such a happy time I can hardly stand it. This is the season for giving too many gifts, eating way to much, hugging like crazy, taking way too many picture, and creating memories. I guess this post is basically another "I'm excited" post but I need to tell someone about it and this is a pretty good way to get the word out about my excitment. Anyway, seasons greetings!

"When it snows, ain't it thrilling."

-Winter Wonderland (my all time favorite)

Thank You

When things work out, I think it is one of the most wonderful gifts. Especially when it is something I have been worrying about and then poof, everything is fine. It's almost like magic, when problems just disappear. Things that have kept me awake thinking about them are just healed in seconds. It is the most relieving feeling in the world. It is a little gift from God, he works in mysterious ways, and I truely believe that. That at the core of everything is good, because it was all created to be good. Sometimes things get bad for you to realize when they're good. We need to start believing that the world is working for us instead of against us, and that there is good behind and in everyone, even if it is hard to see. Behind it all is a beautiful plan, believe that and your eyes are instantly opened to the beauty in the world. We also need to remember to be thankful for all that we have, because we do have so much. We need to remember what we have, instead of what we don't. That's the hard part. Accepting good into your life is easy, and wonderful, but remembering and being grateful for it is a whole different game, that I am still learning myself. I find it most helpful to make a mental list of what I'm thankful for before going to bed. Enjoy the good, but remember it too, and be thankful for it. So I would like to personally say thank you to everyone who has ever made me smile, laugh, cry, upset, happy, jump for joy, start talking, stop talking, think a new way, or affect my life in any other way, because it has made me who I am today, and I would not be the same without you. On top of that I would like to give thanks for all the beautiful things on this earth and people in my life especially my family and friends.

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought

and gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."

Gilbert Keith Chesterton

make everyday the best day ever.

We all have bad days. I did today, and now that it is about eleven I figure I only have one more hour of it left. When I thought this to myself, and reflected on saying that in my head, I was kind of ashamed I had thought that. We should never wish away time, while some people are fighting for more of if. We need to cherish it, the good days and the bad. I firmly believe the only thing that can make you have a bad day is YOU. No one else decides that for you, it is a state of mind more than anything else. When I think back on my day, it really was not all bad, some pretty good things happened today, but as humans we tend to hang on to the bad instead of the good.
I heard once someone say their motto was: Best Day Ever. This is positive thinking at its finest, because I think back to days where I have said it is the best day ever, and even if I hit road bumps during the day I was still happy because it was the best day ever. What if we say everyday is the best day ever? Wouldn't that make everyday at least a little bit better. I think yes. When you wake up set youself in a state of mind that this will be the best day ever, and it will. Nothing can get in your way because this is the best day ever.

"ask me about the impossible

I'll tell you that everything is applaudable,

for life is a proscenium stage and we are the stars

and the audience we captivate

is already ours" 

We are so lucky in this life, for all we are given, and all the opportunities we have, but sometimes it is just hard to realize it. It can always be worse. You're alive, you're here, now, so do everything you can to enjoy it.

Music is the universal language of mankind. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Outre-Mer

A painter paints pictures on canvas.  But musicians paint their pictures on silence.  ~Leopold Stokowski

Music. It's pretty universal you could say. I have yet to meet to anybody that hates all types of music. Of course as humans we are all different and all have our favorite styles, artists, and bands. It doesn't matter what type you like, fact is most people on this earth like some type of music. However the overlapping theme all these genres have is the fact that they are all music. There are very few things you can say that about. Music is one of the only things I can think us that we can all agree is good. If there is not something to be said about that, I don't know what is, since we sometimes seem to have a hard time agreeing on anything else. Music is extremely influencial. It can make us laugh, cry, dance, and give us energy to go out and do something. This is a power each artist has, to provide a good message to spread to the world. To tell a story, and evoke emotion aiming to make this world a better place for all of us that like music so much. This should be the goal of every artist. To as Madame de Pompadour would say, "Every day, I wish to make the world more beautiful than I found it." I suppose that is why music is so fascinating to me. It can move people, unite people, and seriously change the world. Pretty extraordinary if you ask me.

A good book is like a garden carried in your pocket.

Today, as I was half listening in class, I realized that there is an interest of mine I have yet to write about. That is reading. I realized I love talking about books, yet rarely get the opportunity, because people hardly ever enjoy getting told about a book before reading it, therefore ruining the ending. Well I guess that is why people blog, so they can basically talk about anything they want and have people that are interested read it, and hopefully change some outlooks. Today I just wanted to write about books. Well I feel it fitting to first introduce you to my favorite writer. 

Mister Stephen King. The King of horror novels. Most of you have heard about him, or seen his movies, BUT have you ever read one of his books. Before reading him I had never honestly been scared by a book, I thought it impossible, but you only have to make the mistake of reading a King novel at night once before you find that to be untrue. If you thought his movies were scary, get ready because his books are way better (better meaning worse). Spine chilling, honestly is the only word for it. Now I know, you would probably think these books do not have any happy themes, but on the contrary. His books though dark, actually sometimes have nice messages, if you dig for them. There are lots of different views on life that you learn about a character if they are say being held captive, or being attacked by aliens. They are also humerous and the best part is they are interesting. I'm not a fan of those romantic novels where boy meets girl then they ride off into the sunset, it bores me quite honestly. I like the terror because at least it keeps me awake, even if it is because I am terrified. More than horror I would call King the king of suspense. The way he writes books is basically to drive the reader crazy, wanting to know what will happen next, however by the time you get back to that character you could care less and just want to know about another character. Also every book I have read by him, has had a relatively happy ending. My favorite book of his so far was Dreamcatcher. WARNING DON'T WATCH THE MOVIE UNLESS YOU ARE EITHER LOOKING TO BE ANGRY OR LOOKING FOR A GOOD LAUGH. Because I honestly have no idea what book the director read. It was fine, up until the end, which is kind of the best part of the book.

                                     Never judge a book by its movie.  ~J.W. Eagan 

Thank you J.W. Misery is the best movie I have ever seen come out of a Stephen King novel. All of his books are good, I have yet to not enjoy one. Of course I will end my rant about Stephen King with my all time favorite quote from any of his books.

"Dreamers age faster than dreams."



Alright another one of my favorite books is Alice in Wonderland. I have never seen the movie, and I am seeing the play tomorrow, but nothing could be quite like the book. It explores imagination, and adventure, and expresses belief in the impossible. The author is Lewis Carroll. There are alot of stories behind the reasons for writing such a different kind of book where one of the themes is being crazy, and nothing really makes sense. The one that makes most sense to me is that it is an allagory, but hey thats just me, think whatever you want about this book because it is insane. My favorite quote? Well since you asked:

"Sometimes I have believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

Another wonderful author is S.E Hinton. I read her most popular novel The Outsiders in gradeschool, and went on to reading all of her novels. My favorite is Rumblefish, but all her books deal with groups of teenage boys, and the only reason she went with the name S.E. was because they did not think a girl would be able to write well enough on that particular topic, but they are extremely realisic and beautiful books.

Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to the only series I have ever liked. A Series of unfortunate events by Lemony Snicket. Just good stuff. Don't watch the movies and thing you know the books, because you are 100% wrong.

Water for Elephants. Fascinating.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Beautiful.

In Cold Blood. Chilling.

Like Water for Chocolate. It's certainly something.

King Soloman's Mines. Classic.

Room. Unique.

Rapture of Caanan. Interesting.

There are so many more I could talk about, but these are basically all my favorites. Books are a way to just get away from it all, to just sit back, relax, and enjoy.

The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it.  ~James Bryce

(so true James, so true)

It's the most wonderful time of the year

That's right. I am blogging about Christmas, on November second. It's been said that the "Christmas season" is allowed to start after Thanksgiving. However I have been mentally preparing for some time now for the holiday season, and now it is time to openly being my excitment in the fast approaching celebration.

Yes, my count down is proudly displayed on my panda calender. I would like to point out today is 53 days, which is not long at all! Personally I don't think it is ever to early to get into the Christmas spirit, since when is it a bad thing to spread cheer? Exactly, and it's not so much the actual Christmas day that I love, but the entire season, and the preparation for the coming of Christ. Everyone just seems a little happier, a little more generous, and everything just gets better for a little while. You don't even have to celebrate Christmas to benefit from its sheer awesomeness. Everyone can be happy at Christmas time.

As I said, preparations have been in the making a while now. Multiple cards and gifts already made but plenty more to make. Just as a heads up if I know you, you will probably recieve a card, at least. Do not be creeped out, its just inevitable. Anyway I long for the day Christmas music starts, because that to me is when everyone else realizes what I did a month earlier, that the season is among us.

To me Christmas is a time everyone can be happy, we can all be one and celebrate together. Not the gifts, or the material stuff so much as the company is what I enjoy most, as generic as that sounds it is actually true in my case. Christmas eve is my favorite, because I go to Mass with my family, and then go to a family members house with my entire family. My family and I are extremely close, and anytime I get to get to see all my cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, second cousins, and of course my sisters and parents, it is a great time. We don't do gifts on Christmas eve, but it has always been my favorite, because it is usually the biggest party of the year for my family.

So this is the first of many posts that will deal with the topic of Christmas, and the holiday season in general, because EVERYONE can take part in this wonderful time of the year.

Half full

Today while listening to my collection of tunes I came across a song with a beautiful quote in it. (If you haven't noticed by previous posts that I love quotes, I may as well tell you now that I do.) Anyway the quote was:
"I believe that the power of positive thinking, is going to keep this world from ever sinking."
I really like this quote, because I consider myself an optimist, however I am quite aware that there are pessimists among us, and I hope to convert a few with this post.
Upon further research I found that positive thinking does alot for your body and mind. The physical effects of positive thinking should be enough to convert anyone to optimism. Positive thinking helps reduce stress because when thinking on the bright side, we are often more comfortable confronting our problems head on, and more successful in our efforts. I learned that "self talk" is a constant stream of thoughts going through your head. (No idea they had a word for that, I thought that was just called talking to yourself) Turns out these thoughts are either positive or negative. The key is to make sure they are positive by transforming your view of life as a series of opportunities instead of obsticles.
And guess what, thinking positively can increase your life span, lower depression, resist the common cold, reduce the risk of cardiac disease, and helps you better get through hard periods of time, that even optimists are going to have. The reason scientists think that positive thinking helps these people and their health, is that positive thinkers are better at coping with stressful situations.
You only have this moment, don't waste, live it.

You should definately try to be like the yellow smily face throughout your life. He knows where it's at.

I've learned that...

Today I recieved a book from my Aunt entitled "Live and Learn Pass it on". In this book people age 5 to 95 share what they've discovered about live, love and other good stuff. I quite enjoy these cute kind of books, that inspire me how to live my life, and even though they are not the type of books you actually read page for page, and more just skim through, it is still extremely enjoyable, and I am going to quote some of my favorite "life lessons" from this book. Enjoy.
"I've learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it."
-age 39
"I've learned that the great challenge of life is to decide what's important and to disregard everything else."
-age 51
"I've learned that almost no quality products sell for a cheap price."
-age 52
"I've learned that it doesn't cost anything to be nice."
-age 66
"I've learned that it's hard to argue with someone when they're right."
-age 58
"I've learned that enthusiasm is caught no taught."
-age 51
"I've learned that the tooth fairy doesn't always come. Sometimes he's broke."
-age 8
"I've learned that you should never jump out of a second story window using a sheet for a parachute."
-age 10
"I've learned that how you do your work is a portrait of yourself."
-age 64
"I've learned that to love and be loved is the greatest joy in the world."
-age 78
"I've learned that there are no unimportant acts of kindness."
-age 51
"I've learned that if your life is free of failures, you're probably not taking enought risks."
-age 42
"I've learned that if you allow someone to make you angry, you have let him conquer you."
-age 54
"I've learned that good health is true wealth."
-age 77
"I've learned that optimists live longer than pessimists. That's why I'm an optimist."
-age 84
"I've learned that my best friends are usually the ones who get me in trouble."
- age 11
"I've learned that you can keep going long after you think you can't."
-age 69
"I've learned that love will break your heart, but it's worth it."
- age 26
"I've learned that big problems always start out small."
-age 20
"I've learned that you can't please some people, no matter what you do."
-age 35
"I've learned that learning to forgive takes practice."
-age 15
"I've learned that my worst decisions were made when I was angry."
-age 62
"I've learned that you often take out your frustrations on the people you love the most."
-age 29
"I've learned that there are still some things I haven't made my mind up about yet."
-age 91
"I've learned that you can never have to many smart people in your life."
-age 48
"I've learned that regrets over yesterday and fears of tomorrow are twin thieves that rob us of the moment."
-age 29
Well I know thats alot, but this book is full of beautiful, and witty thoughts about life. It was written and compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. The author had the idea on his 51th birthday when he wrote a list of what he learned himself in his life. It's a fascinating book, with plenty of ideas on how to live life to the fullest.

Life can be a walk in the park

Today my friend and I had some spare time on our hands and took a journey to a local metropark. For the first time this year it felt like fall. My favorite season is Winter (mostly because of Christmas) however Fall has many charming advantages. I simply love the colors, and the weather, and since I start preparing for Christmas in October, Christmas is half in Fall. Anyway, a walk through a park on a lovely Fall day like today, is a perfect seasonal activity. Here are some of the snapshots I took that made me feel like it is autumn.

"Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities.

Seize common occasions

and make them great."

Orison Swett Marden

Take it all in, from a giant tree to a tiny leaf, realize the beauty that has been given to you. Enjoy all the wonderful things on this earth, especially with this brand new season staring right at us, open your eyes and look back at it.

Title of blog

Hello there. Okay so let me start out by saying I am a new blogger (seeing as how this is my first post I would assume that to be obvious, but I will say it anyway.) Well I figure I should start with explaining the title of the blog. I do this because whenever I find a nifty blog, I always wonder the story behind the mysterious name. Also, I have thought too long and hard about a title to not share it. So here it goes. I have been thinking of a title since Summer. While I was pondering my all time favorite quote popped into my head.
"This is no ordinary world,
We need extraordinary glory."
Sang by my personal favorite artist, Jason Mraz. Usually when I have a good idea, it occurs like this, it just comes to me. So I thought the word extraordinary is the "climax" you could say, of the quote, however the entire quote is beautiful. The first line reminds me that we are all special, no one is just ordinary, because we are all different, so what can we base "normal" on. The second line reminds me that I need God in everything I do. The entire quote speaks quite loudly to me, that we need to live each day to the fullest, because life is a gift and we shouldn't waste it. Each moment is a special opportunity that we should take. However the other thing I like about this quote is I am still thinking about its entire meaning. So this blog is going to be dedicated to living happily, and taking in every moment, and never forgetting that life is extraordinary.