A Brigham Young University Student Journal
by Kaylyn Johnston Family. Defined by the dictionary as, “a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not.” This definition, however, does little to reflect just what family really means to an individual. Aren’t families …
by Joshua Cox Music has been part of my life as long as I can remember. Growing up in the Cox family felt like a constant musical stage. No matter the time of day, there was almost always somebody singing or practicing an instrument in …
by Cecily Lew
And I lay there and listened
That easy kind of listening
Like when you read to us each night
Those cool summer nights
The wind slapped our blinds against the window
And we shivered under our blankets
But it was never too cold for ice-cream
And so the blinds tapped to the beat of your story-telling voice
When your words are smooth
And you get louder or softer at all the right parts
And when our bowls were empty
We fought fluttering eyelids
And swore we were still awake
To hear how Bilbo escaped the dragon
How Aslan was resurrected
How the Goose Girl spoke to animals
Or how the ogre got her prince
And there were other nights too
When it was clearly time for bed
But you let me add just one more log to the dying fire
And you sat down to play piano
Sometimes I sat with you to sing along
But other times I’d lay by the flames
Watching your expert fingers glide off the keys
That is where your hands were most at home
Trained to feel out every note
Weaving a blanket of harmony
Covering us both
by Emily Smith I couldn’t imagine a life without my siblings. Although they weren’t my best friends from my early stages of life, I have come to love and appreciate them for the people they are. Unfortunately, there are children who grow up without sibling …
by Tanya Cumberland “Why don’t you call Aunt Samantha ‘mom’?” The question caught me off guard, and I looked down at my step-cousin in surprise. His Aunt Samantha was my stepmother; that’s why I didn’t call her “mom.” Still, I was worried about being tactful …
by AmberLee Hansen
As I was walking across campus the other day huddled in my coat against the recent fall chill, I saw grounds crew putting Christmas lights up on the trees in the JFSB quad. I smiled. Some people think that November is too early for Christmas music, too early to think about Christmas. For some reason, people see looking forward to Christmas as overlooking Thanksgiving. But for me, they all go together. From Halloween to New Years Day are two months of wonderful memories every year.
What I love about the holiday season is the time that our society sets aside to be with family. Some of my most cherished memories were made during the holidays. Like the one year my mom tried to make cornucopias for each Thanksgiving place setting out of steamed sugar cones. Or all the times we decorated gingerbread houses while the snow just kept piling up outside the window. I remember shaking the gifts underneath the tree trying to figure out just what my sister got me for Christmas. And sitting on my uncle’s couch—full, warm, and happy—content to just sit and listen to my family chattering around me.
The holidays wouldn’t be much without my family because to me that is what the holidays are. So bring on the holiday music! Bring on the Christmas lights! It’s never too early to take time for family.