Thanks a Million

Okay so blogging everyday = fail. But let's be honest, we saw the train wreck coming with this one. I average a blog about every 2.4 years, so one blog a day for three weeks was asking a bit much. But that doesn't mean I'm any less grateful. Here's today's grateful list:

1. BYU basketball!! I got to go to the home opener this weekend. So much fun! I have a good feeling about this season.
2. The other 22,699 fans that were at the game on Friday. It was a really fun atmosphere - hopefully we can carry that over the Utah State this Wednesday.
3. My phone. It doesn't do much more than send and receive texts and phone calls, but it gets the job done and helps me stay in touch with my friends and family.
4. Being at a stage in my life that I can do crazy, spontaneous things, like hiking the y at 11:00 at night with a half gallon of ice cream.
5. Cleaning checks. Call me crazy, but I love having an excuse for the apartment to be spotless every few months. Totally worth the time.
6. Magic erasers! These things really are magical. I'm pretty sure they can remove just about anything.
7. My car. I'm always just 40 minutes from home.
8. My whiteboard. No, seriously - endless possibilities.
9. My CrockPot. One of my favorite kitchen appliances. I love being able to throw everything in in the morning then come home to a warm meal at night.
10. Crunchy leaves. I love the sound of a nice, crunchy leaf beneath my feet.

Thanksgiving

Today I am grateful for:

1. Cold weather so I can wear my hoodies, sweaters, jackets, coats, gloves, hats, long-sleeved shirts, etc without getting hot!
2. Snow! Pretty sure the weather outside is perfect. Just cold enough for a light snowfall with the sun shining! I can't quite figure out where the snow was coming from though because there are very few clouds.
3. My job. I am reminded every time I go to work that I chose the right field for me. And I get the incredible opportunity to be a part of an organization that is literally changing lives.
4. My iPod, so I can listen to my Christmas music early without the social scorn that comes from those who...well, let's just say, don't share my same enthusiasm for Christmas music in October and November.
5. Thanksgiving. This one I included especially for those of you who may think that #4 somehow makes me overlook or not appreciate Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving and the opportunity to reflect on everything I'm grateful for...and any holiday surrounding delicious food has me hooked.



http://img.opentravel.com/TravelGuide/mount-timpanogos-utah-united-states-690_4.jpg

what are YOU thankful for?

Today the Mormon Message, "In the Spirit of Thanksgiving" popped up when I logged into Facebook. If you have five extra minutes, I highly recommend it. Random people on the streets of New York were asked what they are thankful for. Some of their answers are pretty funny - I especially appreciated the man that said, "Lunch, and breakfast, and dinner - I'm grateful for that." This video got me thinking though...what am I grateful for? I have so many things to be grateful for everyday, so I decided that everyday until Thanksgiving, I'm going to list five specific things I'm grateful for that day.

Today I am grateful for:
1. Parents who love me and support me in everything I do.
2. Two brothers that I can joke around with and have fun with, but are also always there when I need them.
3. A sister who has been an amazing example and support all my life.
4. The opportunity I've had over the past three years to live with my best friend.
5. My Food Preparation in the Home lab so I don't have to pack a lunch every Monday.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuwid8_O8dk

Halloween!!

This year Courtney and I started a new Halloween tradition; spooky Halloween dinner! I'm pretty sure we're going to continue this tradition. Our dinner included spooky Alamo Beef and Bean soup, Spider Web dip, bat chips (looked cool, but tasted terrible), orange jack-o-lanterns, and bone breadsticks. I think it was as much fun making the food as it was eating it. I must say, I was pretty impressed with how everything turned out. The ice hand in the punch bowl and the spider web dip were probably my favorite parts.

Count Your Many Blessings

Now this post is a couple weeks overdue, but I guess it's better late than never. And let's be honest - that's practically early for me when it comes to blogging. A couple weeks ago I took my first test of the semester. I decided a long time ago that I would not study for tests as I walk to the testing center. I put away my books and notes and try to think about anything but the material that's going to be on my test. I try to notice the weather, the trees, the people walking near me - anything that will keep my mind off the test. I feel like this gives my brain a little time to sort out all of the information I just tried to cram into it. I inevitably start to feel the knots in my stomach becoming tighter and tighter with every step, regardless of how hard I try to not think about the test. However, this time was different. I didn't feel nervous or anxious or afraid as I walked into the testing center. I know it sounds crazy but I felt grateful and almost excited. I was about to go take a test at the BYU testing center. I've wanted to come to BYU ever since I can remember and here I was - living my childhood dream. I had never taken the time to look at things from this perspective. I began to think about how much I am going to miss campus when I'm graduated, how much this has really become my home for the past three years, and how grateful I was to have this amazing opportunity. I learned once again how much I have to be grateful for everyday, regardless of my circumstances. A situation that normally filled me with fear suddenly filled me with gratitude. I can see the Lord's hand in my life in so many ways if I just take the time to open my eyes and look.

SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!! Day 1

Last night I officially finished my last final for four months! There was much rejoicing and Courtney and I celebrated by stuffing ourselves with Burger Supreme. But now that school is off my mind I've had some time to think about what summer is going to hold for me. Last summer was...well, interesting. So much changed in so little time. And sometimes it was all I could do to hold on to the roller coaster that was my life. So what's in store for me over these next four months? I have no idea, but I do know that I am going to make this the best four months possible. Starting with this:

Comet

This is comet. I have fallen in love with him this semester and I can't imagine life without him. When I get on him it is like some sort of natural high. I love feeling like I'm seven again, pedaling as fast as I can with the wind in my face. Let's just hope things don't go the same way they did when I was seven on a bike...

And That's Good for Another Cougar...First Down!

I love my roommates - all three of them. They are all completely different, but each has something great to contribute to our apartment. However, two of them don't share mine and Courtney's same passion for sports, in particular football and basketball. They say that they will never understand. And likely they never really will. But this has got me thinking lately - why? Why do I love standing in freezing temperatures for four hours to watch twenty two college guys in tight pants fighting over a ball? Why do I love standing shoulder to shoulder with a few thousand other screaming students to watch ten guys in baggy shorts trying to throw a ball through a hoop? Why is it that while many girls cringe at the thought of watching a four hour football game on TV, I get anxious with excitement?

Thinking back to the BYU-Utah football game a couple months ago helps me answer these questions. The team was in the old school royal blue uniforms, I drove down to the game from Salt Lake with my parents and siblings, I got to spend the entire game with my brothers and sister in law, and my whole family was there before the game to tailgate. This game reminded me of why I love Cougar sports. The whole game I kept flashing back to my first game at Lavell Edward's Stadium (then Cougar Stadium). Then I thought of the many games that followed in the stadium.

I remembered driving down I-15 in our old Aerostar van listening to Yz guyz with my family.

I remembered sitting next to my dad, asking him why that penalty got called or why they ran this play - I remembered him patiently explaining the complicated rules of football over and over to me until I began to understand.

I remembered standing up with my mom to yell and scream then sing the fight song following a touchdown.

I remembered going to stand in the long line at the drinking fountain at half time during particularly hot games.

I remembered my mom bringing in sandwiches for all of us when we got hungry.

I remembered stopping at my grandparent's house before the game to visit with them and pick some apples from my grandpa's trees.

I remembered my parents making sure they kept every Saturday open so we could be together as a family either at the game or in our living room watching it on TV.

I remembered my disappointment as each of my siblings in turn left our family's spot in the North endzone to go join the student section - then I remembered my excitement when I could join them there too.

Even today BYU sports are a family event for me. Rarely do I go to or watch a sporting event without at least one of my siblings. I fully realize that when it all comes down to it, football and basketball are just that - games. But watching them has become so much more than a game for me. It has become a way to connect with my siblings, share a common interest, and create amazing memories.

This is why I love BYU (and college) football and basketball. This is why I still make sure that I make it to every game. BYU sports (and sports in general for that matter) have always been a family event. Some of my favorite memories growing up happened at BYU sporting events, with my family by my side, and I wouldn't have it any other way.