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.