Coming Home and Lazy Sundays With Family

Living Close to My Home:
I am so grateful that I live close enough to my family to come home often. I love the feeling of coming home. Of sitting in the kitchen late at night and having that warm, comfortable, loving, homey feeling creep over me. There is nothing like the feeling of being home and I'm completely grateful for it.

Lazy Sundays with the Family (all of them):
Today was my cousin Lori's farewell up in a beautiful little town called Morgan. After a great sacrament meeting we spent the afternoon eating, laughing at the entertaining little ones, catching up with cousins, and sleeping the whole way back. I love the sun in the fall, catching on the leafs, yet still a cool breeze. To me it is the perfect setting for these lazy family afternoons, and right now I'm so grateful for the time I get to spend with all of them.

Also right now I'm grateful for night time, which is what I'm going to do right now :)

DAD

Today I'm especially grateful for my dad. There are many reasons why, but they can all be summed up in about one sentence: He is the best dad ever. (he denies it but he is wrong-probably because hes just getting old and forgot) He really is the best dad I could ever ask for. He does so much for me from managing all my financial affairs(and by this I mean breaking the news to me when I'm completely broke in a loving, concerned way) to randomly texting me just to tell me he loves me and he hopes I'm having a good day. He is a loving, patient, kind, caring father who loves his wife and daughters more than anything. He sacrifices so much time, money(he has all daughters so this really can be a HUGE sacrifice) and energy into making sure that we are provided for and happy. All of this alone is evidence enough in proving he is the best dad but there is one more thing that I'm especially grateful for these days-he understands.

One day when I was particularly struggling with working out my life and school and thinking my dreams were unreachable I became very discouraged. He told me about a time when he was in school and the struggles he had with a certain class. In that moment my dad was not just a dad, he was a friend who had been there before and was telling me it was all going to work out, and that sometimes we all struggle. Knowing this man that I've always thought was invincible struggled with the same things I do made me admire him even more. I don't think I ever told him how much that meant to me, so Dad-thanks for sharing your struggles and giving me the hope to overcome mine. You probably don't even remember this event but it meant the world to me. So today as I continue to struggle with Chemistry and school I am particularly grateful for you. I love you Dad.

I'm also grateful he knows how to be a straight up G-unlike some of those parents you hear about these days ;) jk

Dreams

Today I'm full of gratitude for something very powerful, dreams. Not the sleeping kind, although those hold a very special place in my heart too, but the ones we conceive when fully awake and aware. Think where we would be without dreams? Without the dream for a better future, I would be content with mediocre grades and wasted hours. I would not know disappointment because I would not know achievement. I wouldn't cry over roadblocks to my destination because I would have no destination or hope of one. Without dreams I wouldn't know the satisfaction that comes from achievement, from reached or exceeded expectations. I would be hopeless, very hopeless.

Luckily, I have dreams. Many big, lofty dreams full of excitement, achievement, adventure and happiness. While I'm fully aware that dreams are easier imagined than achieved I don't get discouraged. I realize that I have the power to achieve anything I dream. That knowledge gives me the power to pick myself back up when knocked down, and try harder from then on.

So, while I may be currently struggling with Chemistry, or having a difficult time reaching beyond my zone of comfort I know that I can, with every step, become closer to a dream imagined. And that is what will keep me smiling while heading toward the testing center today-my future and the dreams it holds.

PS: These are some of the things filling my dreams lately :)

My favorite city in the world. I want to go back so badly right now....

Home and Christmas, two of the very best things...

Someday-eventually-I will be done with school and my dreams hold a hope that I'll be doing this...

Slacking...

So, I missed a few days. But not to worry I will make up for them:

November 2nd: I'm grateful for my roommates who happen to be the best roommates EVER! They take care of me when I'm sick, make me laugh, keep me humble by making fun of me and my labyrinthitis, drive me when I'm too lightheaded to function, take notes for me in IR and love me. They are seriously the absolute best. Ever. No contest.

November 3rd: I'm grateful for lame TV. I know, this sounds very pathetic but when you're home sick you end up watching a lot of it. Whether on the television or through my good friend hulu on my laptop it never fails to disappoints. A recent favorite: Gossip Girl. I know I know, you've heard it's horrible and 'very bad for you'. Well, I don't disagree completely but the life these characters live fascinate me and I'm completely head over heels in love with Chuck Bass. I've now officially seen every episode of this show. Let me put out a little disclaimer though: Do NOT start watching this show it is highly addictive. Trust me on this one-I'm looking out for you.

(Don't judge)

November 4th: Today I'm grateful for my mom. I guess sometimes I don't realize just how amazing she is until I'm not around her. I've been missing her a lot lately because I haven't felt well and have wanted to be taken care of. Since shes been unable to make it down and it's probably best for the entire population of Utah if I do not drive that far in my current condition she has initiated many a phone call or skype conversation. And today she is driving all the way down here to pick me up and take me to the doctor. She wins the mom of the year award every year. I love you mom!

2 Days Later: Being with my mom was great the other day. One thing I love about her is that she is so strong, and all of her stories increase my faith and make me want to be a better person. Mom, I don't tell you nearly enough but I love you a lot and hope someday I can be just like you as a mom. After you left I was talking to one of my friends and she asked if I ever fought with you in high school, and I could honestly say we didn't. We've always been friends while still being mother and daughter. I love you so much and I'm so grateful to have you for a mom. :)

Day One of the Gratitude Experiment

I'm going to try to blog about one thing I'm grateful for every day of November until we reach Thanksgiving Day. I'm hoping that by doing this I keep the focus on the things that are really important to me, and become more aware of how blessed I really am.

So here we go:

Today I'm very grateful for CJane's free for all give away. I just won a half dozen S'mores cupcakes from Sweet Indulgence Cupcakes. I'm not feeling so great today and a box of free cupcakes made me smile. So thank you so much, today I am grateful for you!

And I can't wait to try the cupcakes!

Spice Up Your Life!

The Original: Posh, Sporty, Scary Ginger, Baby

And now.. our more moddest yet hotter version:

Posh, Baby, Sporty, Scary and Ginger

Thats right-it's awesome!

We even had the perfect shoes! B does the perfect Posh face

Exactly one year ago..

I had an unexpected phone call during dinner

I couldn't hear what my Pops was telling me

Once I understood I wish I didn't hear it

I was angry, I felt like he gave up

Once I was permitted to come down, he explained it

And I felt peaceful

And I defended his decision

And I held his hand

And we cried

And he told me he loves me so much

And a year later, I still know that as strongly as if he was holding my hand telling me that again

And I still feel that peace that the decision was right

And although it was a hard day, exactly a year ago, it was the day that I realized that the hardest things are usually the right ones

And that he loves me, even if he had to go.

I love you Pops.