Merci! - #18

I'm thankful for . . .

#18 BEING AN AMERICAN

(image found in article here)

After this fun-filled 4th of July weekend, I can't help but think about just how grateful and proud I am to be a citizen of the United States. I love this country, and I really am so incredibly grateful to live here. The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays ever because I love how suddenly everyone expresses their patriotism and how the people who have sacrificed so much, and are currently sacrificing so much, to protect this country and its values receive the appreciation and recognition they deserve.

I took a U.S. History class just barely that went from the 1600s until 1877. I have always been pretty pathetic when it comes to history, especially U.S. history, so the class was an interesting experience for me. But I am honestly grateful that I took it. I more fully understand the true roots of this country. Knowing more about how this country became the land of the free that it is today made me love this Independence Day more than ever before. I really just love this country!

On a separate note, here is an awesome video I forgot to post yesterday.
Watch it and you will love it. I totally do.

Summer Goals

At a ward FHE bonfire the other night, someone asked my roommate and me what we were passionate about. I couldn't think of anything to say! It was a very uncomfortable moment for me as I realized there wasn't really anything for me to say. I don't know what I'm passionate about. I mean, there are all the things like family, friendships, and Disney (ha!), but they don't quite fit into the category I interpreted the guy's question to be referring to. I still can't think of anything that I am so excited to do--that I wake up every day for. I don't mean this in a "woe is me" way. Just in a I-need-to-find-something-new-to-be-passionate-about way. There's all these things that people tell me they live to do, and I always think (or say) "Wow, that's impressive. That sounds like an awesome thing to do" or something to that extent. Like biking and hiking. I wish I loved to do those. So instead of always thinking these things would be awesome to do, I'm going to actually DO them! With this in mind, I finished up my list of goals for this summer. It's been floating around in my head since Winter semester finals, and I'm finally going to put it down on not-paper.

In no particular order of importance

1. Get back into the habit of writing in my journal
2. Improve my personal scripture study
3. Learn how to ride a bike (yes, I know I am 21)
4. Ride a horse (in Oregon)
5. Watch all of the Disney Princess classics
   
6. Run a 5k (4th of July?)
7. Find a new passion (too broad, I know)
8. See one of my best friends for the first time in two years
9. Learn a song on the guitar
10. Redecorate/rearrange my room
11. Get accepted into the Accounting Program
12. Learn how to play the drums and/or ride a horse
    
13. Go to FHE (nearly) every week with my roomies
14. Play as much as possible with my adorable nephews
15. Work on Family History
16. Get at least five names to take to the temple
17. Go to the temple to do baptisms
18. Type up my notes from my religion class on Joseph Smith and possibly make them into a book
19. Create a photo book about my escapades in Europe
20. Create a fancy photo book with all my photo essays from my Paris photography class
21. Watch at least 4 movies in French
22. Read a book in French
23. Be a better Visiting Teacher
24. Date Sterling Knight
25. See two best friends from high school get married in the temple
26. Paint a portrait
27. Read To the Rescue (biography on President Thomas S. Monson)
28. Go tubing down the Provo River
29. Finish my "I'm grateful for . . ." blogging venture (30 posts) - I saved all the important stuff for last and then never got around to finishing!
    
30. Get a massage
31. Write a significant amount of a book I'm attempting to write
32. Do lots of fun things with my family and with my friends

While this list is sure to be added to, I think it's a pretty good sum of what I'd like to do with my larger amounts of free time this Summer. I know some of them are probably not going to happen (#12), some aren't really that much in my control (#11), and some are just a given (#8, #24, #25, #32) . But I think they all deserve a spot on my Summer Goals list.

So . . . what do you think? Any suggestions on things to add or passions to pursue?

Merci! - #17

I'm thankful for . . .

#17 THAT FEELING WHEN
YOU FINISH SOMETHING
YOU REALLY DIDN'T
WANT TO BE
DOING

(I don't have a fitting picture, so just enjoy cute, li'l me...perhaps
we can say I was happy to finish those raisins?)

Whew. That was a long description/title. I realize I've missed quite a few days of this (but to be fair to me, you should know that my laptop is getting fixed so it's only semi my fault), so I am going to have to extend it quite a ways into December. Possibly until Christmas? We will see. But right now I am really just loving the fact that I finished my last mandatory Econ assignment. Moment of silence to appreciate this awesomeness. Okay, that was great.

Merci! - #16

I'm thankful for . . .

#16 LAUGHTER

Laughter makes everything better and heals all wounds. And when there aren't any wounds to heal, it's just really, really great. I feel like I have laughed harder the past two days than I have in awhile, and it has made me remember how great laughter is. Particularly when you are laughing so hard that you are crying. Funny, funny.

Merci! - #15

I'm thankful for . . .

#15 BEST FRIENDS

There's kind of just nothing like them. They make you smile, they make you laugh. You can trust them with your secrets, and you can trust that they won't judge you (too much at least :)). You care about them and know they care about you. You can be yourself with them, and you can become a better person because of them. I just love them. They are the best.