Merci! - #32

I'm thankful for . . .

#32 JENNY

Jenny is my oldest friend. I still remember when I was this nervous little almost-5th-grader who moved into a new house and didn't know anyone, and there was this girl who lived two houses down who befriended her. I will forever be grateful that she did. We didn't become really good friends until Jr. High, but when it happened, it seriously happened. She is one of the best friends I will ever have. She cracks me up and she makes me smile. I enjoy spending time with her, even if it's just talking. She's married now, but I still get to see her and I love that. It's crazy - I won't see her in ages, but when we do see each other it's like no time has passed. She has been a great example to me and I just love her.

Merci! - #31

I'm thankful for . . .

#31 JANSON

I love this little guy! He is so absolutely hilarious and so cute that it's actually ridiculous. I love how happy he always is. He just loves everyone and everything. At the same time, I adore those rare times when he isn't happy because it's too funny and he is so adorable. He is quite the little drama king and I love it. Every single time I see him he makes me happy. It doesn't matter how horrible of a day or week I'm having. He is (almost) always so genuinely happy/excited to see me and I am instantly completely happy. He's a sweet little spud and I really can't say no when he so sweetly asks me to play with him. Not that I mind. :) I love him so much and wish I got to spend more time with him than I usually am able to. I'm so grateful for the blessing he is in my life.

Merci! - #30

I'm thankful for . . .

#30 EMILY

Remember those three sisters I mentioned? Enter Emily, the youngest. She is such a cutie. Sometimes I’m a little annoying and tease her too much, but that’s just cuz it’s my job! And most of the time she tolerates it. It’s been so fun seeing her grow up all these years. I just get all teary when I think about how my baby sister is growing up and is a young woman now. It’s precious. She really is adorable and I really enjoy spending time with her. Sometimes I pretend to complain about the fact that I’m not the spoiled baby of the family, but really I’m so grateful that I’m not. My life wouldn’t have been the same without Emily, and I’m grateful we had that extra surprise.

Merci! - #29

Sorry it took me so long to get some more up. I just got busy! So, impatient ones (you know who you are haha), here we go. Now you know I am grateful for you too. Though you should already have known that.

I'm thankful for . . .

#29 (my) DAD

*He is quite the model.

My Dad is pretty much the coolest Dad. He is downright hilarious. In fact, my Pops and I are just about the funniest people ever together sometimes. Often the other people in the family don’t understand our sophisticated humor, but it’s definitely legit. :) In addition to being funny, he is also just very caring and I know he loves me. It’s wonderful having a Dad that I know loves me and cares about what is going on in my life. He makes me feel better about myself, especially since I know how much he trusts me and how much faith he has in me and my abilities. I love our sushi daddy-daughter date nights and when we go get Thai food with Emily (since my Mom hates it). He does sweet little things for me like that, and it’s so nice. He’s such a wonderful support and I’m so grateful for him.

Merci! - #28

I'm thankful for . . .

#28 BROTHERS

*Sorry . . . I worked with what I had, which was pretty much nothing

I'm not lumping them together because I love or like them any less than my sisters - I just don't have so much mushy gushy, warm fuzzies stuff to say about them. But I really am grateful for them. I barely consider Jason and Jeff brothers-in-law. As far as I'm concerned, they are basically just my brothers. I love having brothers. They are funny and nice and I know they care about me and my life too, just like my sisters. It's been really fun having more males in the family in recent(ish) years. And I've always loved having Brycen for a brother. We had our rough patches growing up (he just loved picking on me ALL THE TIME haha) but over the years we've gotten closer and we actually get along. They're all great!

Merci! - #27

I'm thankful for . . .

#27 BRITTANY

Brittany is the second oldest of those wonderful sisters I mentioned yesterday. I don't know what I'd do without her either. She is also really so great. I enjoy spending time with her and I really like how sometimes we randomly just talk on the phone for awhile. It's always good catching up with her, and I love that I seem to see her more often than I used to. No matter how boring my life is, she always seems to be interested in what is going on. She likes to hang out with me when possible and that always makes me feel good. :) She's fun and does random things with me like audition for Deal or No Deal. She is a really strong person and she's a wonderful example for me.

Merci! - #26

I'm thankful for . . .

#26 AMBER

Sisters are the best, and I happen to have three wonderful ones. Amber's the oldest, and I don't know what I'd do without her. She is always there to listen to me babble on and on about my life and she genuinely cares about what is going on with me. She thinks (or at least pretends to think) that I am funny and that is great for my self-esteem. :) She gives great advice, and I really love spending time with her and just talking to her. She is an incredibly nice person and I happen to find her funny also. She is an amazing example to me and I want to be just like her when I "grow up" (aka graduated, married, and with a child/children).

Merci! - #25

*I put off posting about people because I didn't want people to get offended by the order. Silly, but true.

But it's time. I'm going alphabetically! I tried to go by age but it got all complicated when I tried to
figure it out haha.

I'm thankful for . . .

#25 ALLEN

*I'm totally copying my BF4E with this picture collage idea. I hope she forgives me...
** I can't believe how few pictures I had of only us - I don't even have any recent ones

Allen has been my best friend since the end of 8th grade. Around 7 years. And I truly don't know what I would have done without him all this time. He is honestly one of the most amazing people I have ever met in my entire life. He got home a couple weeks ago from his mission, and I couldn't be happier. I was so proud of him for being on a mission, but I missed him so so much. I kept thinking it would get easier, but I really just missed him more every day. Having him back home is like having a part of me back that I thought I'd lost. We are both different people and our friendship isn't the same that it was before his mission, but he is still my best friend and it's practically like he never left. He is the best example to me. He is always nice, incredibly thoughtful, hilarious, and just downright wonderful. He makes me happy and he makes me want to be better. I trust him more than I ever thought I could trust someone (and that's saying a lot), and I couldn't ask for a better friend. I'm so grateful we became friends all those years ago.

Merci! - #24

I'm thankful for . . .

#24 PEP TALKS

*No relation other than that these two silly boys always
make me feel better - much like a pep talk

At the end of class yesterday my professor gave us a pep talk of sorts. She said she usually gives it Winter Semester but she realized she won't have us all next semester. Which is sad because she is a fantastic teacher. Fingers crossed that I get her again.

Basically she said that she has noticed that people have started to lose faith in themselves. The second midterm was rough on a lot of people (including me) and as she has talked about it with students who come in for help, she is noticing a trend of "giving up." I was one of those people she was directing her words to. I have been feeling extra failure-like lately and I feel like no matter what I do I'm going to fail - so why try? Bad, I know.

But listening to her pep talk made me realize just how not alone I am in the feeling. And her words of encouragement and all that jazz were just what I needed to hear. I'm feeling better about life again. Especially about the program and her class (my personal Everest). I'm really grateful for pep talks like this. They are often needed and I'm grateful there are people who care enough to give them.

Afterwards I felt like I should read one of the talks from last General Conference ("You Matter to Him" - President Uchtdorf). I'm so glad I did. There was a part of it that is my new favorite quote. It was a good reminder to remember what's important and that my best is good enough and that everything will always work out how it is supposed to.

"What mattered to Him was that I was doing the best I could, that my heart was
inclined toward Him, and that I was willing to help those around me. I knew if I did the best I could, all would be well."

Merci! - #23

I'm thankful for . . .

#23 THE JR CORE

*Confession: This is totally from when I was taking my
final pre-req for the Jr. Core - not from the actual Jr. Core.

Now this may come as a surprise to many, but I really am grateful for the Jr. Core. For those of you who may not know what that is, it's the year of the Accounting program I am currently in at BYU. And yes, I did just capitalize it.

I have honestly never felt so stressed, overwhelmed, frustrated, inadequate, and just overall failure-like as I have since the first day of the Jr. Core. It is so incredibly hard and I am so not faring as well as I would have hoped. But at the same time, I have also never felt so confident and proud of myself. I am doing things that I swore I'd never be able to do. The things that used to scare me to death and that I had to force myself to do are now things that I do without even thinking about it. And I'm not just talking about accounting. Though I am quite proud of the fact that I understand pensions - a few days ago I was sure that would never, ever, ever happen.

This program has already changed my life. I am not the same person I was a few months ago. Part of that is from other sources/circumstances in my life, but a good portion of it is due strictly to this fantastically trying program. I still may not love it (and I complain A LOT about it), but I am definitely so grateful for it.

Merci! - #22

I'm thankful for . . .

#22 HOME TEACHERS

[Picture]

Sorry I don't have an actual picture today! So today I'm grateful for home teachers. I've never really seen what the big deal is with home teaching. I usually had good home teachers growing up, but they were never really anything more than people who would come over once a month and I'd have to listen to them give us a lesson - all the time crossing my fingers that they wouldn't ask me a question. Unfortunately, they often did. So basically my history with home teachers has been neutral at best. Just not a fan. But for the first time I have home teachers that I feel are actually blessings in my life. I look forward to them coming over because I enjoy their lessons and I feel comfortable talking to them. They are really nice, and I feel like they actually care about coming over to visit us. And maybe it's weird, but I like when they mention their girlfriends. It makes me happy that people are in love and all that jazz. But more than just being grateful for my current home teachers, I'm grateful for the whole concept. I finally understand that they can actually be a great thing - not just people who scare me and make me feel intimidated. It's nice.

Merci! - #21

I'm thankful for . . .

#21 THE GYM

I have so much homework to do tonight, it's actually a little ridiculous. But I wanted to get up this post really fast! The gym is great. It's hard to get myself there sometimes, but I'm always glad I went when I do get there. Thankfully my friend Becca finally got a Gold's Gym membership, so now we go together! It makes me way more likely to actually go, and it's a lot more fun. I'm feeling especially grateful for the gym tonight because even though I have tons of homework, and I'm going to be up extremely late, I have the energy to get through it. Thanks to my gym time tonight. Plus. I'm liking how I'm not feeling like quite as much of a wimp. I am even getting some muscle! Just look at me now haha.

Merci! - #20

I'm thankful for . . .

#20 MUSIC

Here are some artists that have gotten me through the last little while. Don't judge. :)

Music is just so great. When you're having a great day, it makes you even happier. When you're having a lousy day, it can cheer you up or it can just be exactly what you need in your morose state. Sometimes it's just necessary to get through arduous tasks. Many a homework assignments would NEVER have been completed if I didn't have my tunes to get me through it. Music is great in SO many ways, but the best thing about it is how it can speak to your soul and say exactly what you wish you could say - only loads better. Even when you totally can't relate to the song (like break up songs and "you are the love of my life" songs in my case), somehow you totally do. You connect and you feel as though you totally know what they are talking about. It's a brilliant thing. Love it.

Just for Lesa

I'm taking a break from the thankful posts I restarted yesterday. This list is for my friend Lesa. Unfortunately, she isn't even going to know how lucky she is because she is currently in the MTC. :( I really wish I could have actually made this list when I said I would. Oops. She would've seen it then . . . Oh well!

Here is my less man-centered list. It's eleven things I want to achieve/do in the next 25 years.

• Get married in the temple (sorry - I just couldn't not include this man-centered goal)
• Become a mom
• Travel the world (particularly Greece, France, and Italy)
• Go on a serious tour of LDS Church History sites (up until Carthage at least)
  
• Work with Lesa as an accountant in whatever organization she starts to help women in the world
• Work for the Walt Disney Company (some type of accounting position)
• Volunteer/work with the Make a Wish Foundation (in an ongoing capacity)
• Spend some time living abroad - preferably France or England (with Lesa of course - we have grand plans to live in France together)
  
• Publish a book
• Start my own company - most likely an all-inclusive wedding reception venue
• Serve in Young Women's (true story . . . knock on wood)
  

Merci! - #19

I'm thankful for . . .

#19 TENDER MERCIES OF THE LORD

This picture (by Del Parson) isn't completely connected, but I was looking for a good picture of Christ,
and I fell in LOVE with this one and had to post it. It's simply beautiful and powerful.

*Disclaimer: This is really long.

As many of you know, today was Fast Sunday in church. When I got there, I was surprised (guilty) to realize I actually really wanted to bear my testimony. I've done it more in this ward than I have in my like . . . life (guilty again). But I still was surprised. And nervous. So I kept waiting for one more person to go. And then we were out of time. :( So I'm bearing my testimony on the tender mercies of the Lord via my blog instead! I just needed to share it.

A few years ago, in General Conference, President Henry B. Eyring gave a talk titled "O, Remember, Remember." I don't know if I've ever mentioned this talk before, but it had a bigger impression on me than almost any other talk I've ever heard. I hate to admit it, but I thought about it for years and felt like I should do what he said he did. But I never did. He asked himself a question every day: "Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?" A few months ago, I finally did what I always felt I should do, and I began to ask myself that question every day. I didn't miss a single day. Eventually, I basically couldn't. And from the very first day, my life completely changed. I was going through a rough spot, and I just was not feeling great about much of anything. But as I took the time every day to see God's hand in my life, that all changed. Now, I regret to tell you that the first day I missed asking the question/writing in my journal was the beginning of the end. I haven't done it since. Even though that's the case, I will FOREVER be grateful for that talk and for the strength I found to do it myself.

And now the reason I felt the need to talk about this today. Lately I feel like my Heavenly Father has been encouraging me to start it up again. I'm seeing His hand in my life so much, without even trying. So many things keep happening just when I need them to happen, and my testimony of the tender mercies of the Lord has grown so much. It's amazing. Literally day after day something would happen and I would know instantly that it was the blessing I needed at that moment. The biggest one was a week and a half ago. I had a group project/presentation for the Accounting program. It terrified me and it was so hard. But even though I was nervous, I felt like I knew my part for the presentation part. So I was the first to go, and I stepped up to the plate . . . and totally missed. It was bad. I forgot what I was going to say. Luckily, I didn't forget it completely and the last half went alright. But the first half was really not good at all.

So I left the building feeling like the world was over basically. I was on the verge of tears and I just knew with every fiber of my being that I had chosen the wrong major and I was never going to succeed in this terrifying business world. Yes, it was quite the downer moment. It was the final straw in the already constant feeling of being overwhelmed and inadequate the whole semester.

Here's the great part. I'm walking across campus to go to work for the next eight hours, fighting back the tears and wishing I could just go home and sleep or something. Suddenly, I see a friend I hadn't seen in a long time. We talked for ten or fifteen minutes, and when we parted ways, I was happy. Not just "Okay, I can handle this until I get done with work" or anything like that. I was literally happy. I went from being positive that my life was over to being honestly happy to be alive. The minute I saw her, I felt so strongly that she was the blessing I was receiving at that moment because my Heavenly Father knew I needed something right then and there. I know that He cared that I was so upset. And I know that He loves me enough that He was willing to bless me in the way that He knew I needed.

I am so grateful for my testimony. I don't know how I would survive this life if I didn't have the knowledge I have. I am grateful that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me more than I know and who really does care what is going on with me. I know that we are all children of God and that we have so much potential that it's actually overwhelming. And incredible. And I know that since we are His children, and He loves us, He blesses us every day. Our lives alone are a blessing in and of themselves. I know that if you take the time every day, you will notice ways He has blessed you. Every single day you can see His hand in your life. Because He loves you. More than you know. Our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, want us to be happy. We just need to let the gospel help us do it.