Thankful

By the time that you guys read this, I'm going to be up in the air on my way home for Thanksgiving! 

It's always nice to reflect on what you're thankful for this time of year. I try to remind myself to be thankful all year round, because I truly do have so much to be thankful for, but sometimes it takes a holiday to make you really think. 

I'm thankful for

My soon-to-be hubs that makes me laugh every single day

My wonderfully amazing mom and little sister 

Bugaboo 

hilarious photobooth sessions with my dog. 

My baby sister  

My heck of a woman mother 

Hockey. 

loving grandparents

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (image source)

Starbucks Salted Carmel Hot Chocolate (image source)

sushi <3

I really am truly blessed. I'm working on being thankful. I've started writing down three things I'm grateful for in my journal every single night. It's a work in progress, but it's getting there. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and doesn't get too full on turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. 

Me? I'll be hoping my Aunt won't spill any wine in the mashed potatoes this year. ;) 

Happy Birthday to Me!

I can hear it already...

Uh, Jack...your birthday was a few months ago. You wrote about it on here, remember. Don't you think it's too early for you to be losing your mind?! 

I'm not talking about that birthday though! I'm talking about my other birthday! My baptism birthday is today. On this day one year ago (at 11am Detroit time I believe) I was able to begin my life again with a clean slate because I was born into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

It's kind of crazy thinking about how much my life has changed in a year. I think this year was one of the most exciting, terrifying, fun, and intense years I've ever had. 

- I found my place in this world. 

- My relationship with Christ and my Heavenly Father is stronger than it has ever been. 

- I moved 1,600 miles away from the only home I've ever known. 

- I met the man I'm going to spend time and all eternity with. 

- I graduated from college. 

-I became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

(I'm going to warn you now, this part is going to get all mushy and stuff. I won't be offended if you want to smack me because I'm being sentimental and I won't blame you if you stop reading :) ) 

I am so happy with where I am in life. I've been searching for this happiness my entire life and I can't really remember a time before this that I was this blissful. I really owe it all to Heavenly Father. I know that I'm where I need to be to fulfill my purpose and I only hope I can live up to His expectations. 

Getting married and starting a family is going to be so fun. And hard. And trying. We're going to struggle and we're going to probably fall on our butts a few (or a lot) of times but the funny thing is, I'm not scared. This is what my purpose on this earth is: to be a wife to a worthy priesthood holder and a mother to the children that Heavenly Father entrusts me with. 

I am so thankful for the missionaries that sacrificed two years of their lives in order to better mine. I couldn't have done any of this without them. Especially the first two missionaries I met. Both of them are home now and I'm so grateful I got the chance to meet them. The three Elders taught me so much and I miss them so dearly. 

I am so thankful for a supportive family who have been there for me no matter what. Especially my mom. Even though my baptism was something that she didn't understand, she still supported me and came. That meant more to me than I think she knows (although she will know, because I know she's reading this. HI MOM!) 

I am so thankful for my future husband. He makes me a better person and makes me want to live more like Christ. He's an amazing example to me and I couldn't do this without him. He makes me laugh when all I want to do is break down and cry. And when I do break down and cry, he's there. He's one of the few people in this world that can actually calm me down when I'm freaking out. And believe me, I'm a pretty emotional person so that can be a challenge. I'm so thankful he wants me to be able to stay at home with our kiddies when we do have some and I'm thankful that he's willing to work to support us when that time does come. 

I am so thankful for the Book of Mormon, the Bible, Joseph Smith, Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. I am so thankful that I have finally found a religion that has everything right. The Gospel is a beautiful and perfect thing if you take the time to study and understand it. I'm still learning, but I'm on my way to being able to do it. 

Everything that I am thankful for is a direct blessing from God. I know it is. I couldn't have done it without the Gospel, Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ. I am so thankful for the decision I made to devote my life to Christ exactly one year ago. It's made all the difference in the world. 

Please pretend I'm not wearing a hideous white jump suit ;) 

i can't wait

for this weekend. Why? because I get to go here: 

General Conference couldn't have come at a better time. I'm so ready to forget about everything that is stressing me out right now and focus on my faith. I've only been able to listen to 2 conferences before since I've joined the Church, but each time it's been wonderful and testimony strengthening. I am so thankful for T's mom who got us tickets even though we didn't ask her. She felt prompted to ask her bishop for tickets for us last week and he happened to have some. I had all but given up getting tickets but then I got a text on Sunday with a picture of a pair of tickets. :) 

I need it so badly. General Conference couldn't have come at a better time. 

:) 

be thankful

Being thankful is something that sometimes gets tossed by the wayside and only remembered and vocalized around November when families get together to eat themselves into a food coma and watch endless hours of bad football (okay, the bad football part is only if you're a Detroit Lions fan.)

Remember those annoying '25 random things about me' note post thing that everyone was doing on Facebook a few years ago? I did it. It's a way of discovering things about yourself, but at the same time it's a bit narcissistic don't you think?

I was sitting on the couch tonight in a bored stupor from being stuck inside all day thanks to my strep and suddenly I just had this feeling of great thanks. I can't explain where it came from but I suddenly realized how truly blessed I am. I admit that I am one of those people that sometimes forgets how truly lucky and blessed I am. Sometimes, it takes a tradgedy to realize how good you have it. Sometimes, it takes being surrounded by family all day and eating all day to realize that. And sometimes, all it takes is a snoring puppy, a Book of Mormon sitting on your coffee table, and the air conditioning humming keeping you cool to make you realize how truly lucky you are. 

Tonight I decided to make a list of things that I am thankful for. 

1. My entire family. No matter how crazy, loud, overbearing the might be. They're my family and they're everything to me.

2. My dog Charlie. He's kept me sane and grounded for the past two years. I know it's silly to rely so much on a dog, but he is my guardian angel. 

3. My friends. I've met so many wonderful people through blogging and consider them to be part of my inner circle of friends. I also have some of the greatest friends that aren't online and they mean the world to me too. 

4. My testimony. It's been a long time coming, but I finally found where I belong and feel at home. I don't always nourish it like I should and it's still growing day by day, but I know in my heart my testimony is true and strong. Finally. 

5. My mom. She is my rock. My support system. I couldn't do anything without her. She is the most generous, loving, caring, kind person I have ever known. She puts me and my sister above her happiness and if I'm even half the mother to my kids as she is to us, I think I'll have done a pretty good job. 

6. My baby sister. She is also my rock and support system. I'd be lost without her. She makes me laugh despite my tears. She always knows how to cheer me up or when to just be there for me. She is the calm one when I go into one of my melodramatic episodes. She balances me like no one else. 

7. My upbringing. I have led a privileged life that, I'm ashamed to say I sometimes take for granted. The opportunities that have been given to me are beyond measure and I am who I am today because of how I was raised. 

8. T. T gets his own number. T has taught me so many things in the short time I've known him. He's taught me that there are guys out there with hearts of gold. He's taught me I am worthy of being loved. He's taught me what a good relationship looks and feels like. I've had some pretty nasty relationships that had all but destroyed my faith but he's restored that faith. He is the best guy a girl could ever ask for. 

9. Technology. This goes without saying. Without technology, it would be impossible to skype with my mom for over an hour while she's thousands of miles away. It would have been impossible to meet T without technology. 

10. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I already touched on my testimony, but I am also thankful for these two men in my life. I haven't always been close with them or even wanted them around but they stayed, waiting for the perfect time to bring me back into their presence. 

11. Modern medicine. Without modern medicine, I would probably not be able to have children or even see my 50th birthday. 

12. The Pioneers. I look up to these heros so much. Their struggle and journey to the west keeps me inspired and going when I think I've made the wrong decision. 

13. Prayer. I'm learning to be prayerful always. I don't always do it 'right' but I try as hard as I can.

14. The Atonement. He died for me even if I don't come close to deserving it. 

15. Utah. Another weird one, but I finally feel at home here.

I was going to round it off at a nice 15 things but I remembered one more:

16. My life. My entire existence on this planet. I am so happy that I chose to come to earth to be tested and tried and to prove myself to Heavenly Father.  

At 22 years old, I have finally found my place in this world and feel like the next chapter of my life is beginning. I couldn't be more thankful.

(image source)