Thankful day - um, the rest of them....

Who was I to think that I could actually keep up this blogging every day (or even every 3^rd day) for a whole month.  Well shoot, now I’ve missed the whole second half of November, but I would hate for anyone to think that I ran out of things to be thankful for.  So here are just a few of the many things in my life that I’m extremely thankful for – even though I don’t blog about them. ;)

*My Dearest AMAZING wonderful Mother.  I am forever grateful for the spectacular woman she is and the sacrifices she has made in her life to ALWAYS be there for me no matter what! I am especially grateful that we are now not only mother and daughter, but BEST friends.  I am the luckiest girl in the world to have her in my life!

*Holidays, and an excuse to get together with family & friends and do nothing but eat and talk and nap and watch movies and think about homework instead of actually doing it.

*A driving buddy – lets be honest, I used to dread my drives back to Provo, but with Skyler in the car we always have a blast, and I don’t have to worry about falling asleep, even when we roll in at 12:30 am.

*Pictures, yes I am thankful for pictures.  You don’t know quite how much you love them until you lose a couple years worth.  They are one of the only things you can take with you through your life to remind you of all the wonderful blessings you have had throughout your life.

*Modern Family.  If you have seen this show, you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, then it’s about time you take a break from whatever you’re doing and reward yourself!

*BYU.  Yup, I’m so very thankful for this experience I’m having in good ol’ Provo.  Don’t get the wrong idea, I’m not planning on spending any extra time here, but I am grateful for every second.  Ok, there are a few seconds I’m sure I could have lived without, but I am amazed at how much my life has changed while I’ve been here and I will always owe some of who I am to this little blue town.

*True friends! Lets face it, I’m not always the best friend a girl could ask for, but I am thankful for all the amazing friends that stand by my side through the thick and thin.  I have been truly blessed to have some spectacular people in my life!

*Christmas music! I’m one of those that refuses to listen to it before Thanksgiving, but you better believe I get my fill in December! :)

*Books. Oh how I love to read and can't wait until school is over so I can read books that I choose all day long! 

*Yay for the Christmas season – I’m so thankful for an opportunity to put life on hold for 2 weeks to just celebrate the birth and life of Christ.

*Last but not least, I’m grateful to be a member of a church that has instilled the importance of gratitude in my life.  What a blessing it is to have such wonderful examples in my life.  

"Our society is afflicted by a spirit of thoughtless arrogance unbecoming those who have been so magnificently blessed.  How grateful we should be for the bounties we enjoy." ~ Gordon B. Hinckley

Thankful day 17 - the appendix

Right now I am so so so thankful that I am done with the blasted appendix for my paper.  53 pages people, for an 8 page paper.... oh grad school, why the insanity?

I am thankful that I am on paper number 2 already and it's not even 8 yet! :)

Thankful days 14 - 16

Thankful day 16 - Perspective
I'm so thankful that even on the hard days I can keep a little perspective.  Here is my list for the weekend:

Do or Die :)

* Grantwell paper - my portion (Monday)

*Figure out what is wrong with Grantwell - ASAP

*Grantwell excel - email out ASAP

*Grantwell paper to Susie - Tuesday

*Ethics book report - Monday

*Team paper to Marianne by thursday night

*Appendix for team paper to team by thursday at 9 pm

*Final Team paper to Ashley by 9 am Sat.

*Prepare lesson - before sunday at 1... I guess technically 2 buy Kyler may hate me

*Measurement tools draft (to be graded) - Monday

*Interpretation section draft (to be graded) - Monday

*Validity section draft - Monday

*Exec Lectures

*Work at some point - if I enjoy eating

*Civil discourse blog  

In the case that these are not completed on time I can always move to Italy and become a gypsy with Holly... We will find Italian lovers, eat pasta 24/7, learn a beautiful language and buy amazing shoes. 

Thankfully Holly promised to quit life with me if I don't make it...I have to admit that after thinking about it, I may prefer my failure plan to my real life plan.... 

Thankful day 15 - Outstanding team mates
This is a shout out to the teams who make me love my life!  Nothing makes a class better than an awesome team or worse than a lame team.  I am eternally grateful for the rockstar Grantwell team I have this year (I had a pretty outstanding one last year too).  Today I am thankful for people that not only pull their own weight, but look for ways to lift others!

Thankful day 14 - not having roommates
I love coming home to a place I feel is mine.  I'm thankful to have had a 'roommate experience' so that I can fully appreciate NOT having one.  Skyler is so much fun to live with and I so appreciate the opportunity to live with a best friend instead of a stranger! I am a very lucky girl!

Thankful days 11 - 13

Thankful day 13 - Family Wards
I LOVE family wards.  Relief Society is more enjoyable with babys babbling in the background, Sunday School is more meaningful when coming from someone who has a little more life experience, and Sacrament meeting isn't as long when you have someone to share their  Cherios and coloring books with you. :)

Thankful day 12 - Ballet
Sort of a random thing to be thankful for today, but as I was leaving the tanner at 6:30 at night, I looked over to the RB and could see in the upstairs window of all the beautiful ballerinas taking class.  I longed to be one of them.  Then as I stood there (looking completely ridiculous and slightly stalker-ish i'm sure), I was overwhelmed by how lucky I was to be one of them...even if it didn't last.

I'm thankful for wonderful teachers that taught me so much more than ballet, the opportunity I had and still have to express my feelings through my body, for a family that was always so supportive, and even for these darn ancle pains that remind me that I used to dance on my toes & loved almost every minute of it.

Thankful day 11- Veterans
War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things.  The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse.  The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. - John Stuart Mill 

Thank you to all those 'better men' {& women} who have fought and continue to fight to keep me FREE.

Thankful day 10 - Great Grandma Nora

I am eternally thankful for the my dear great grandma Nora.  Her example is forever with me.  She is the perfect role-model of hard work, strength, faith, and love.  I have never met a more Christ-like woman!  She will be remembered for her love of the arts, her thirst for knowledge, her commitment to healthy living and her strong testimony and willingness to share.  She is not only remembered, but adored by her 7 children, 51 grandchildren and 124 great grand children.

Nora Rust Mickelson 1934

Being the oldest great grand child, Grandma was always on my case about getting married and geting her 5th generation here so that she could die. {Talk about adverse incentives} I always joked around with her, even though she took it very seriously.  Now that she got sick of waiting, I know I really have to watch my back - that woman always found a way to get what she wanted, and I have a feeling she has a lot more power now. ;)

My hope and prayer is that I can grow up to be half the woman she was.  It doesn't seem right to talk about grandma without bringing up the gospel, so here are a few things my grandma made sure I always knew.

I know my Father lives.  I know that Jesus is the Christ.  I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and restored the true and living gospel upon the earth today.  I know that families are eternal and that the reunion I was privileged to have today is no match to the one my grandma had and the one she will prepare for me one day.  I know that we are never alone, and that God always sends help when we most need it - sometimes from those we love on earth, and sometimes from those that love us from beyond.

I am so thankful for this knowledge and an amazing example of what it means to endure to the end! I love you grandma Nora!

Thankful day 9 - Running

Today I am thankful for the ability to go running.  The blessing to live in a safe neighborhood.  The joys of running through crisp beautiful fall leaves.  The encouragement from a running buddy.  A body that functions {most of the time} to allow me to enjoy Gods beautiful creations.  And signs that remind me of people I LOVE!

 Holly - come running with us! ;)

Thankful Days 6-8

Thankful day 8 - The Freedom to VOTE
Today I am thankful for the amazing blessing it is to vote {or not vote} without any fear of what will happen to me.  The price of FREEDOM is anything but free and I am grateful for the men and women who have sacrificed their lives to give me the privilege to vote for my leaders!

Thankful day 7 - MPA friends
Today I am thankful for wonderful friends in my program who completely understand my frustrations and my joys.  I would be lost if it wasn't for amazing women like this to suport me, laugh with me, cry with me, and look out for me when times get hard!  I love these girls and thank heaven above for them on a daily basis!

Laura, Me, Patty & Morgan

Thankful day 6 - Sunday Dinner
Today I am thankful for Sunday Family dinners at home.  Nothing in the world makes my happier than having the chance to go home on Sunday afternoons. :) Family, Friends and Food...who could ask for more?!