Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Today I am thankful for...

1. My Bed! It's really nice to be able to sleep in my own room with my comfortable bed. I love it.
2. A warm house to be in. It's around 29 degrees outside right now. But I'm actually pretty warm inside my house and for that I am thankful.
3. Christmas. I'm thankful for the Christmas season because it gives me a greater opportunity to remember Christ& all that he does for me.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Today I am thankful for..

1. FHE. It was great to go wrap Christmas presents for needy families tonight at FHE. I had such a good time socializing with people and kind of hanging out.
2. An empty apartment. It's been really nice to have less people in our apt. the last few days since some already left for Christmas. Not that we don't get along, but it's just nice to have the place to myself sometimes & have time without roommates.
3. Reuniting with friends. It's been a while since I hung out with the girls in D4, so when Beatriz starting inviting me to the missionary discussions again, I was excited! Since then, I've gotten to spend more time with the girls over there & it's been really nice to get out. :)
4. The knowledege that things will be okay. I don't really know what's going to happen in the future & I get so anxious about it sometimes. But it's nice knowing that no matter what happens, things will be ok and things will work out for the best.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Today I am thankful for...

1. Friends and meeting new people. It was so good to be able to get out of the bubble today and just meet people at church that I didn't know. There was a big difference in my Sunday all due to simply meeting and chatting with people. I love this church & the people in it are so awesome.
2. Family. Last night I was able to go hang out with my aunt for a few (ok like 5) hours. It was great to just sit and talk together. She is so sweet and fun to be with. Also, today I was taking a power nap when my Dad happened to call. I ended up waiting until later to call him back, but it was nice getting to talk to him for a little bit. Family is so nice because they are almost always on your side and they are so supportive; I love it. :)
3. This semester almost being over! So this semester has been great in many ways, but also quite challenging in others. I'm excited for the new semester to start with my new calling, in the new ward split, and new classes, and Trevor leaving on his mission (which is, of course, bittersweet). But all in all, I am just excited for things to start happening because I am going to make them happen, rather than waiting for someone else to do so.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Today I am thankful...

1. for this quote.

" When things go wrong, as they sometimes will
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don't you quit. "

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Today I am grateful...

1. That things have been going better with roommates this past week. We have all been a little more unified and it has made a big difference. Of course there are still the exclusive relationships and etc., but really, can you expect perfection when living with 5 girls?! I'm just thankful that things have been going well and we could enjoy the holiday season together.
2. For the weather in St. George. It puts me in such a good mood to be able to breathe fresh air- which reminds me that I'm thankful for being able to go running this week! It's been hard starting and getting back in shape, but slowly it's getting better. And I think it's also giving more energy and endorphins too. :) I'm thankful for running.
4. The temple and my counselors that did baptisms with me today. It was nice to do something with people besides my roommates and just enjoy being with them in the temple. I really love the St. George temple, it's so pretty and peaceful. I'm also really thankful for the Christmas lights and manger scene that they put up at the temple. Earlier this week I had the chance to go walk around it at night by myself without any music or anything, and it was really relaxing and nice to just enjoy it. I like the temple at night when it's all lit up- so pretty.
5. My institute teachers this semester. They are the cutest old couple ever and I really am going to miss seeing them. The husband is always so positive about us, individually and as a class, and it just means a lot on a rough day to see him.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Today I am thankful for...

1. A great break. This thanksgiving break was so great. I loved being able to spend so much of it with Trevor and that things worked out so well. I'm thankful for the kindness he is in my life. And also that tonight we could go over to Mother's house and just be a part of talking to everyone. It was kind of nice and his Grandma always makes me feel really at home.
2. My Dad. He has been really nice this break and today we got to just sit and talk for a couple minutes, which I enjoyed. He was also kind enough to fill up my gas tank before I leave tomorrow to go back down to school...which reminds me- I need to fill up with some windshield wiper fluid.
3. Home. I don't know what it is but there is always something about home. It's been nice to just be with my family and not have to worry about roommates and whatnot. I've loved being home in my own room. in my own house. on my own street. in my own city. It's a good feeling and I'm kind of reluctant to leave.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Today I am thankful....

1. that me and Trevor made it home safely! We had many minor problems and delays, but we made it to IF. I am so thankful that we could travel up together because it would have been a night mare had I been by myself. It WAS a nightmare from St. George to Provo.
2. for songs and singing- today when I was stressed while driving or in the car, it helped to sing a song or two and lift our spirits.
3. for Roger and Annie. It was SO great to be able to stay at their apt. last night and play with their kids and then stay up talking with them. What a good night. :)
4. Trevor. I am so thankful that he was with me on our drive and that we could spend some time together. He is awesome.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Today I am thankful for...

1. People I love calling me. My favorite old roommate Becca calling me last night and it was the best surprise. We ended up talking and catching up for quite a while and it was a blast. Trevor was going to call me last night but ended up falling asleep, so it was a pleasant surprise to wake up to him calling me this morning. I always love talking to my favorite people and it's such a blessing that I get to.
2. My Bishop. He is such a nice and humble man. The other night I was feeling really sick and when I asked him about anyone in the ward to give me a blessing, he immediately found someone. Not only did he do that for me, but the next day he texted me to see how I was feeling. It's nice to have such a caring bishop.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Today I am thankful for...

1. The lds website. Things have been kind of rocky with roommates lately, so sometimes life feels a little lonely. But it's always comforting to turn to the gospel and to hear what the prophets have to say. I love watching the mormon message videos that they have on there, and there are a few good ones about gratitude on there right now w/thanksgiving around the corner.
2. Running water. This realization is due to our water being out for today (and who knows how long!) but it has made me more grateful for being able to wake up and brush my teeth in the morning.
3. A fun Saturday night yesterday! It was so great to just go and be with people and have such a good time with them last night. I'm glad Jonathon asked me on a date because I had a really fun time with everyone and it was nice to have something to look forward to on a Saturday night again, it brightened my whole week.
4. Something to look forward to! I'm really excited for thanksgiving break and being able to go to my hometown and see my favorite people. I don't know why, but there is a hope and happiness in having something exciting to look forward to. This leads me into-
5. Trevor. I am thankful for him and every thing about him. Even when he falls asleep while I am waiting to talk to him, because it gives us a chance to grow closer by working through it and to be patient with each other. It also makes me even more grateful for better conversations when he doesn't fall asleep! I'm thankful that we care about each other so much that it's always worth it for us to work through struggles or rough spots. I have never regretted it.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Today I am thankful for...

1. Trevor. I am so thankful he could come down this weekend and that it went so well. I'm thankful for his love and the best friend that he is to me. I'm thankful that we could spend some time having fun and bonding and remembering how much we like each other. I am thankful that he could make it back safely and that we had such a good weekend in every way. :)
2. Sunday naps. today I was so sleepy that I fell asleep on the couch while my roommates watched hannah montana. it was so good to sleep and get some good rest for the first time in a few days.
3. pictures and photography. it was so good to have april take pics of me and Trevor yesterday, they turned out awesome and i'm thankful that we could all go do that and that I can look at the pictures and remember.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Today I am thankful for...

1. Friends. Tonight I got to go with Bea to the top of Dixie Rock and then we just kind of explored other spots too. It was fun to just get to talk with her and get to know her better. Friends can make such a difference in my day.
2. People who have gone through the same things that I'm currently going through. It's so good to hear their advice and know that they have made it past this point and are doing well. I also love it, because they are so supportive and understanding, because they have been in my shoes. It's really a blessing.
3. Something to look forward to. I haven't looked forward to weekends since I've been down here as much, because nothing really seems to happen. But I've been excited to for this weekend all week and it's almost here! I can't wait to see my best friend and spend time doing fun things together. It's going to be great, and even more, it's so good to have something to look forward to!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Today I am thankful for...

1. Sisters. I love both of mine and they are so awesome. I don't know what it is about sisters, but they've always got your back and no one can really take their place.
2. The words thank you. especially when people use them. It makes things so worth all of the trouble and it makes a big difference.
3. That I made a cake and it turned out so well! I am so proud that it worked out ok because I've never done something like that before, but it turned out a lot better than I expected.
4. Trevor. I am thankful for Trevor always.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Today I am thankful...

1. For Elise telling me how she couldn't wait to come back to St. George JUST to see me. It made me feel so good that she felt that way. :)
2. For driving with the windows down on a fall day. It felt so good to have the cool wind blow through my hair while I drove to Target today.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Today I am thankful for...

1. Going to the ward thing tonight, it was so much fun playing fugitive and just running around trying not to get caught!
2. Making a few new friends and getting to carve pumpkins tonight with everyone. It was good just to laugh and have a good time hanging out with people again, it feels like I haven't done that in forever.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Today I am so thankful to be a member of God's church. That I could go to church today and hear talks that were so specific to all the thoughts I have been having lately. I am thankful for my dear friend Beatriz and the great opportunity I have to be a part of the life she is considering.
I am thankful that it IS my life and a part of who I am. That God is a part of who I am and I have a part in him as well. That I get to be like him and keep trying even when I'm not perfect. I'm thankful for good friends who see through my bad days and know me for who I am.

I am thankful for the missionaries who have sacrificed 2 years of their lives to teach people, especially Beatriz, the happiness of the gospel. I am experiencing on such a small scale what they get to experience for 2 whole years and I beginning to understand why it is the best 2 years.
Listening to the missionary discussions with my friends has been a greater blessing in my life than I could have imagined. Tonight I had the opportunity to be invited to a small meeting/gathering of investigators and converts, put on by the missionaries at the visitors center. It was incredible to listen to the speakers and the general authority that was there. I have never gotten to talk to a general authority, but since I was with the missionaries and Beatriz we were personally introduced and we got to have a good discussion with him and his wife. The spirit and love that they have is touchable just by looking at them.

It has always been in the back of my mind that I might want to serve a mission depending on where my life is. There are so many good people in the world who don't know the simple truths that I was privileged to learn at a young age. Hearing their stories tonight and their thoughts on not having the gospel in their lives literally broke my heart. It is amazing how my Heavenly Father knows exactly what I need in my life and he allows a way for it to happen in the right time. There was so much at that fireside that I needed to hear, and just to partake of the sweet spirit that was there.

I have so many blessings, and all of them I owe to being a daughter of God. He is looking out for me. I received so many answers to unasked questions tonight, just from listening to the spirit. I am thankful for having the life that I have and though it is sometimes my greatest trial, it is also my greatest blessing. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Today I am thankful...

1. that i randomly dropped into my friend's apartment and got to make a new friend and have a good long chat with her. it was so comforting and nice to just talk and hear her perspective on what she is currently going through.
2. for the chill and the cold bite in the fall air. i got to wear boots and a jacket today...it was great!
3. for the invite to go play laser tag. i was feeling kind of lame for staying home on friday night because that's the way it seems to go while living in st. george. so when i got invited to go play, it was nice to know that someone was thinking about me.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Today I am thankful for

1. the month of October- it is such a fun month and i really love fall. it's been raining for the last part of today and i absolutely love rain!
2. it was fun to go "boo" people with cupcakes with a few of my roommates and spend some good bonding time while doorbell ditching people.
2. my sweet bishop. i got to talk with him tonight and he is such a humble and kind man. i appreciate his example and i think it must be rough being a bishop of a constantly changing single's ward, but i'm thankful for him and his example.
3. the people that i get to meet. tonight i got to talk to some boys that are in my ward, and it was nice just talking with them, they were really nice and sincere; i'm grateful that i was able to be sitting in the same place that they were so that i could talk with them for a minute.
4. surprise emails and great friends! and even more, surprise emails FROM great friends! when i opened my inbox today i was pleasantly surprised to find an email from a very dear friend. they have had a rough year but it looks like things are starting to look up for them, so it was great to hear about it and know that they care about me as much as i care about and look up to their family.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Today I am thankful for...

1. the beautful cool night air tonight. i'm so thankful i got to go out on a run, it felt so good to move and exercise, especially because it was actually cooler tonight.
2. the confirmation that things will be ok and that i am on the right track. in college, especially right now, it's hard to know what direction to take. so i'm grateful that just by doing "small and simple things" I can feel more at peace and centered.
3. the fact that it is tuesday and not wednesday. all day long i kept thinking that it was wed., which would mean that i had institue. today was a really busy and tiring day, so i was happy that i got to stay home and get other things done tonight.
4. Trevor, my very best friend. last night i fell asleep but i was having a nightmare when all of the sudden i woke up to my phone vibrating. he called me to say good night but we ended up talking for about an hour, and it was really nice and relaxing after having a bad dream. what good timing from a sweet friend. :)

Monday, October 18, 2010

Today I am grateful...

1. For the lady at the volunteer center who helped me get an interview so that I might be able to get involved with some volunteering down here in St. George. It looks like I'll be volunteering at a center where I may be watching children or teaching a class. Either way, I'm really excited and I hope it works out ok, I think it will be fun.
2. For laughter and being hyper. I haven't laughed quite so hard since I have been down here and it was great. Michelle dragged me off the couch and all the way to our room and it was so fun to just laugh so hard. Even if I couldn't breathe for a minute.
3. That I didn't get in a car accident today and that my car is performing the way it is supposed to. It's something that is easy to take for granted, but I am really grateful for that blessing in my life. I've been a little nervous about my car having some sort of problem, but it has been doing really well. And as far as getting into an accident, I just had a small scale close call today- but it was a good reminder to be more alert and careful, and for that I am grateful.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

I have been wanting to start a gratitude blog for a little while now and today at church I heard a quote about gratitude being the gate to all other virtues.That was the push I needed to finally go ahead and hop to it. So the goal is that daily I will find small and simple things that I am grateful for.

Today I am grateful for...

1. The family that I have here in St. George. It is suchh a blessing and a joy to live so close to all of them, especially my sister and niece. We have grown so much closer and I love it. I spent the day at church with my Aunt Mary Ann and had dinner with them; she is so kind to me and makes me feel so at home.
2. April being so understanding of me at this time in my life. If I ever just need a hug, she willingly gives me one without question. And she is teaching me that it is an ok thing to cry as much as you need to.
3. I'm thankful for meeting and rooming with Michelle this year. Heavenly Father was really looking out for me, without my realizing it at first. She's been gone all week on a cruise and it's so nice to have her back! I'm glad that not only do we get along, but we really like each other and are close.
4. I'm thankful for peanut butter hot chocolate, it is such a comforting and relaxing drink. Mmmmm.
5. I'm thankful for 1 Corinthians 13- I have so much to work on to develop charity but every time I read that chapter, it is a sweet reminder and motivation to be better.