Thank you.

November 19: It's hard not to judge sometimes but people are still so accepting. I'm so weird somethings. actually usually the majority of the time. but so many people still talk to me and listen to all I have to say and accept me for who I am.

November 20: People who stay calm and don't get frustrated. We did BYU Concessions and some people just peeve me. This one guy came up and was freaking out to Spenc and me because he bought his hot chocolate somewhere else and it was cold. Not our problem dude. but Spenc didn't get mad or rage at the guy like I wanted to. He just calmly told the guy that we couldn't do anything about it. and then, this lady that was there with us too, came over and listened to him and just said "I'm sorry sir. If you would have bought your hot chocolate here that wouldn't have happened." What? I have people all around me that I need to learn from.

November 21: Small and simple things. Brett Jerman just got home from his mission and he had his homecoming talk. He went to Africa. He saw some of the worst of the worst. He talked about being grateful for small and simple things. I am thankful for the small and simple things in my life. Cars, houses, warm showers, freedom, freedom of religion, school, food, clothes, hair, a good community. 

November 22: Today I had.. not my best day. I woke up late, I was at the school for hours doing things that I didn't think would even be an obstacle when they were planned. It was just a hard day. When I looked back at my day though, I realized how selfish I was being. I have a great life. Today at lunch Laura looked at Michael and me and grabbed our arms and said "I hope you two are happy." I am happy. Thank you Laura. On my way to my car I said a little prayer to have something good happen. Of course secretly I was hoping that a good thing meant to catch a glimpse of Michael at practice. (Call me a dumb teenage girl I don't care. I know I am one.) I didn't though. Instead I walked past his car and I had a paper and pencil in my hand (no one knows why) so I wrote him a little note and left it on his car. He didn't even get it until like ten minutes ago but it still made me happy. Thank you Michael. I read Hannah Kroe's blog about what to do so that I could have a good day. It made me cry because it was exactly what I needed. Thank you Hannah. When I got home I talked to my sister on the phone. I miss her. I get to see her tomorrow and I can't wait. Thank you Molly. My family ate dinner together and then we had Family Home Evening. I have more blessings than I can count. Thank you everyone for helping me turn a bad day into a good one.

big brothers and boys that will take you to the mall.

Yesterday, I had a fantastic day.

First though, here's my daily "I'm thankful for..."

November 16: Good friends who are worthy to go to the temple and encourage me to go. and boys who make decisions. 

Let me clarify the second part of that. I obviously have an opinion about most things in my life but it's nice when that boy decides to be the man in the relationship and makes a decision every once in a while. I'm not trying to complain though, I'm just saying I need to be more grateful when he does make decisions and not take those times for granted.

November 17: Big brothers and boys that take me to the mall. (Hence the title :))

Laura told me about these mittens at Forever 21. I love mittens. I've kind of had a busy week though so yesterday was the first (and only day for a while) that I could go to the mall to get them. Also, now would be a good time to tell you that I hate going anywhere alone. especially the mall. So, I asked Michael to come with me. Michael is not a shopper. I think he told me once that his mom picks out all his clothes. (No complaints though. She obviously has good taste:)) He told me he would come and he even drove. I love when the boys drives. Not only am I grateful that he came with me but we didn't look just in Forever 21. We looked in every single one of my favorite stores, which happens to be quite a few. We were there for hours and do you want to know the best part? He didn't even complain once. and he held my stuff while I looked and tried on every item of clothing in every store. I'm a sucker for sales. So, while we only went there for mittens, of course, I came home with more. Girls, he's a good one. He's a tender mercy in my life.
I have one big brother. His name is Samuel. Everyone calls him Sam. but not me. I call him Samuel. He has a special place in my heart. I would say we've always been pretty close. Before he went on his mission he would drive me everywhere and listen to all my boy drama. He gives the best advice. Then, he went on a mission to Budapest, Hungary and served honorably for two whole years. They were a long two years. I missed him a lot but I knew he was being an instrument in God's hands. He came home on January 21, 2010. It's almost been a year and I can't believe it. I've changed a lot over the years. Some for the better and some for the worst. I've been ornery lately. Especially at Samuel. He's always happy and I've been taking that for granted. Last night I was doing my hair (because I had to wake up early) and studying for my Gov&Cit test and Samuel came into my room to ask me how I was and to ask me about my life. It was exactly what I needed. We talked about the cool people who live two houses up from us, the Utah Jazz, Harry Potter, the Sandy mall, Spaghetti Mama, The Big Bang Theory, and we showed each other our new clothes. Brother Lewis once taught me that "my family is my biggest blessing" and that "I'm in the family I am because they are who I need to help bring me closer to Christ." Samuel is living proof of this. He is so in tune with the Spirit that he has the courage to sacrifice his time to come talk with me late at night. He teaches me more about the gospel and more about why I'm here on Earth every day. He is part of my biggest blessing. I love you Samuel.

November 18: I had multiple people today who just plain made my day better. To name a few (most of who don't even know how much they did for me and probably would think I was a creeper for even putting their name in the list), Brett Miller, Jenz Bunnell, Laura Cottrell, Nate Ensign, Natalie Cameron, Ryan Draper, Derek Durphy, Kadan McMurtrey, Michael Wells, Tyler Cox, Justin Brockbank, Hannah Kroes, Daniel Bradford, Hannah Denney. Just a few.. I promise there was many more. 

Also, I was thinking today during Seminary, how great are temple workers? What if every time they were tired or having a bad hair day or every thing in their life seemed like it was going ten times too fast and they didn't have enough time to get everything done, they took it out on the people at the temple? How awful would that be? But they don't. They are always happy and always beaming with the Spirit. I've always wanted to be a temple worker when I'm older and hopefully be as happy and as good of an example of Christ as the workers I've had the opportunity to be around. They're such just plain good people. A little random thought to be thinking I guess but, go to the temple as soon as you can! Be around those good people who make our lives soo much better.

Gratitude

 "We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues. Someone has said that 'gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others.' . . . "Do material possessions make us happy and grateful? Perhaps momentarily. However, those things which provide deep and lasting happiness and gratitude are the things which money cannot buy: our families, the gospel, good friends, our health, our abilities, the love we receive from those around us. Unfortunately, these are some of the things we allow our selves to take for granted. . . . "A grateful heart, then, comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives. This requires conscious effort--at least until we have truly learned and cultivated an attitude of gratitude." - President Thomas S. Monson


Yesterday morning before church I read this quote and then my Young Women's lesson was on the same talk that this quote is from. Coincidence? I don't think so. (Really I don't believe in coincidences so I guess that was a dumb question.)
Something that I need to work on in my life is not taking so many things for granted and for really realizing how many things I have to be grateful for instead of just everything that I don't have. So, for every day of November (I know that I'm a little behind so I'll catch up today) I'm going to think of at least one thing that I'm grateful for.

November 1: I get the opportunity to go to a seminary council meeting every Monday after school and even though sometimes we get a little off topic and they go a little longer than we plan and sometimes I feel a little overwhelmed, I absolutely love them. The other members and our advisers are such great examples in my life. They help remind me of what's really important in life.

November 2: Michael Wells is a blessing in my life. I know I'm a teenage girl and that brings along all types of drama with boys but he really makes me want to be a better person because of the great person that he is. 

November 3: The scriptures are a HUGE part of my life. They continue to help me with my trials everyday. They help me remember to have an eternal perspective and to focus on the things that matter the most in my life.

November 4: Scripture mastery scriptures are the best! It's so hard to memorize them sometimes but what every single one of them teaches me is incredible.

November 5: I was like a half an hour late to the dentist and I was terrified because, call me a child but, it was the first time I had ever gone without my mom. The people there were soo nice though. There are so many great people out in the world that are here to teach me how to come closer to Christ.

November 6: My mom is a blessing my life every single day. I could never thank her enough for all she does for me.

November 7: The lessons in Young Womens could not be more perfect for my life. Recently I've had physical health, self-mastery, responsibility, optimism and then of course yesterday gratitude. There are certain things in my life that I need to learn right now and these lessons are helping me put those things into action.

November 8: Family Home Evening. I love it. I love spending time with my family and learning more about the gospel from them. 

November 9: Janene Paulson, Nate Frandsen, and Stephanie Peeples are three of the greatest people I know. They have such high standards and they've already taught me soo much. They help me live the gospel in every thing that I do. 

November 10: I have so many amazing people in my life that listen to my problems. Something I definitely need to work on is being a better listener. I'm thankful for all of their examples in helping me remember how important it is to be "as eager to listen intently as [I] am to talk." - Elder David A. Bednar

November 11: Some people drop everything that they're doing to do things that I ask them to. It means a lot to me that so many people are willing to sacrifice their time to do things for me.

November 12: Seminary teachers are soo great. I have Brother Jorgensen this semester and he is so in tune with the spirit. His lesson and our conversation after class couldn't have been any more perfect for what things are going on in my life right now.


November 13: I'm so grateful to have people in my life that don't try to alter my standards. I know so many people that truly are great friends and that make it easier for me to live the gospel when I'm around them.

November 14: My Young Women leaders teach me soo much. They put so much into their lessons. I hope that if someday I'm called to be a Young Women's leader that I can follow their example and really change the girl's lives for the better that I get to work with.

November 15: Laura Cottrell is my best friend. She encourages me to be better every single day of my life. Her personality is incredible and I try to learn from her every time I'm around her. She is a blessing in my life.