Gratitude

Thanksgiving. The holiday that often gets overshadowed by the commercialized and materialized Christmas. It makes me sad. Thanksgiving is the best prelude to Christmas - when Christmas is seen as more than just a way to make money or get gifts. This month, I've been taking the time to think of the things I'm thankful for. I thought I'd share some.

*I'm grateful for the opportunity to get an education - the education I want, the way I want.
*I'm grateful that I had a scholarship, that pays for my tuition.
*I'm grateful for a job, so I can pay for all my other expenses.
*I'm grateful for a boss at said job who is understanding, caring, and makes sure I am fed and healthy.
*I'm grateful for my roommates, each and every one of them. They bless me in different ways.
*I'm grateful that my sister Amy and her husband Stephen are up at Flagstaff also, so I have some family near me.
*I'm grateful Amy is pregnant. There will be one niece/nephew who will grow up, at least for a little while, knowing me while I'm going to school.
*I'm grateful for being so sure in where I'm supposed to go in the future - education- and occupation-wise.
* I'm grateful Katie Alston is up at Flagstaff. Seriously. No words. The only close friend who came up, and we've only become closer.
*I'm grateful for good food.
*I'm grateful for pizza. It sounds silly, but it's always a treat when I get to eat it, and it's the one food I never, ever tire of.
*I'm grateful for roommates who make food and then let me eat it. (I instantly love you if you make me food. No beating around the bush on that one.)
*I'm grateful for warmth - such as awesome jackets, beanies, scarves, gloves, and Billy the heater.
* I'm grateful for good health. Having the energy to accomplish the things you need to do is such  a blessing. I'm only realized this now, as my body has been doing some funky things.
*I'm grateful for music and it's wonderful power and influence in my life.
*I'm grateful for Sara Barielles, Ingrid Michaelson, Mika, Regina Spektor, and Adele. They help cheer me up, help me focus, and help give me energy. They've spurred many a writing assignment along.

These are the most important things. Yes. More important than pizza.

*I'm grateful for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The hope it instills in me. The light it brings into my life. I know my life would be much darker. I would not be as happy, nor as kind without it in my life. I would be an extremely angry, sullen, withdrawn, harder, and miserable person without it. This I know.

*I'm grateful for my knowledge and testimony of the Gospel. Because I know, I dare not deny, are try so hard not to falter.

*I'm grateful for the scriptures. Many a time prayers have been answered, comfort has been given, revelation received.

*I'm grateful for the Spirit - for above reasons.

*I'm grateful for psychology. Silly...maybe. But I feel such joy when I learn more. And it gives me the ability to help people in a way that others may not be able to. It gives me the chance to make the difference in the world - which is, after all, my ultimate goal in life.

*I'm grateful for my family. So incredibly grateful. Even though when we get together, it's so chaotic that I begin to shut down, it brings me great joy to see everyone together. They are such a support to me. I treasure sweet mispronunciations of my name, such as "Bep" and silly statements like, "you have shorter hair than I remember." (By the way...Jakob...that's called a haircut! haha)

*I'm grateful for my friends. They help keep me out of the darkness. I doubt that they truly know the difference they have made and continue to make in my life. I don't know if they understand how much I treasure their friendship. It's something I have a hard time expressing. (heck, I have a hard time expressing anything!)

*I'm grateful for the Lord's presence in my life. For His foresight in the people He places in my life. They are so amazing! He knows what He's doing. Whenever I have a struggle, need to be reminded of something, or need another example of Christlike attributes or need someone else in my life with Christ's countenance ever present in their own, He sends someone my way.

*I'm grateful that I'm living my life the way I am that have allowed me to cross paths with these people. If I was not down the right path, then it would not have crossed the paths of others down their right path.

*Above all, I'm grateful for Christ. He is my Brother. My Best Friend. My Savior, Redeemer, my Rock, my everything. I would be nothing without Him. It is with His help I can become the person I want to be. Because of Him and His atonement, I have the courage to not be self-degrading - and yes, that does take courage. I know that I cannot achieve perfection in this life, but that's why He did what He did. So I can repent, and then, in the next life, I will be able to become perfected.

I love times like this when I reflect on what I'm thankful for. I'm grateful for gratitude! It is only when you are grateful that you truly begin to realize just how blessed you are. You'll see blessings you've never considered as blessings. You'll see God's hands in your life in ways you never considered. Tender mercies will seem to pop up everywhere! Don't forget to express gratitude to those around you and to the Lord. It's never time wasted, so take time to do it. You'll be amazed what you'll see.

Weekend happenings

I suppose I could tell you all that went on during the week before the weekend...but all it was was school. And work. And Harry Potter. Then came Thursday night. On to Mesa! How to tell I'm ready for this semester to be over: it gets harder and harder to leave Mesa. Before, I would be so ready to get out of Mesa. I missed it, but knew my place was in Flagstaff. Now, I know my place is in Flag...but I'm tired of the responsibility that ties me there. I need a good solid break. Then I'll be craving responsibility. (I know. A crazy thing to crave. But it happens.)

I saw lots of friends this weekend. Even if I didn't get to have in-depth conversations with them, it feels so good just to SEE them, to BE there with them. I don't think they understand the good it does me to see their happy face, and to see that they did actually miss me, even if it was just a little bit.

Possibly the highlight of this weekend was getting to sing with all of Chamber again. It felt good. I mean, I love to sing, but our bond first began with music. And each time we sing, our bond grows stronger. It's hard to say if we will ever sing all together again in this life time. Which is a little bit depressing to think about, but it was a wonderful thing. Johnathan is leaving for his mission in less than a week. We sang at his farewell. While it's crazy to think that I won't see him for two years (not that I've seen a whole lot of him in the past 5 months - that's right FIVE MONTHS I've been living in Flag.) but I'm incredibly excited for him. He will be such an amazing missionary. He will change the world. Bradley got his mission call. He's leaving in March. That is also crazy to think about, but he also will make an amazing missionary. There's not a doubt in my mind about those two boys leaving, making an impact on the natives they teach, and then coming back as men, ready to change the lives of the people around them.

Lots of other things happened this weekend. I saw family. Other friends (it's incredible how many of them were at Johnathan's farewell). For the first time I struggled to go back home - because as much as I love Mesa, it is only my second home. Flagstaff is my first home, as of right now. After spending time with Chamber and renewing that bond we have, it was like moving to Flagstaff all over again. So many conflicting emotions. But, Chamber is a family and we will be reunited again. And again. And again.  We will be together again. Because families are forever.

In other news...the holidays are upon us. This means it's time for Josh Groban Christmas music and enjoying Bing Crosby's smooth, jazzy voice while watching White Christmas. This means that the world turns to a time of reflection, of love, giving, and gratitude. We all think a little bit less about ourselves and try a little more to do good. The world turns towards Christ and we see the best of people - along with the worst in certain people, but the good usually outweighs the bad. It means family comes around, and I get to spend lots of time in Mesa, hopefully with lots of family AND friends. It means Thanksgiving sometimes gets overlooked, but those who celebrate Christmas in the right ways can celebrate both simultaneously. Thanksgiving is the greatest prelude to Christmas - after all, one of the greatest gifts we've been given is Christ. The holidays are here. Be prepared for chaos. But also prepare yourself so that you can experience the peace alongside the chaos.

I made a new friend...named snow

So, yesterday morning, I wake up and my roommate says something about there being snow outside. I shoot up out of bed, look out the window, and do a nice little there's-snow-on-the-ground happy dance. You see, I've lived in Mesa all my life. My family never did a whole lot of traveling. Especially during the winter. The traveling we did do was during the summer. So...this was my first experience with snow on the ground. Seeing things like this:

Pretty much insanity. I saw it in real life. Not in a movie, not in a picture, but I was actually outside in it. It really is a beautiful thing, snow. Once you get past the coldness of it. You may think I'm crazy but for someone who has never seen it or been in it before...it truly has great beauty. I marvel at the things the Lord creates.

So, anyways, after I had my nice freak out and happy dance, I texted my friends Katie Alston and Hannah Russell to play in the snow with me. I threw my first snowball, I made my first snow angel, I attempted to make my first snowman (both attempts failed rather miserably. Oh well, there's going to be more snow soon!) and  I just had fun running around in it.

Ah, yes. My first picture in the snow. Good thing Katie always has her camera. Otherwise this exciting event would have gone undocumented! 

Sometimes it's fun to throw snowballs at people's windows. Not that I would know. And not that that's what we were doing when this was taken. Nope, not at all!

See! me and snow are best friends now!

Haha, I did have fun yesterday. Although it was quite cold. My feet aren't used to being frozen solid. And rain boots, although they are quite effective at keeping your feet dry, even in the snow, don't do much for keeping your feel warm. Oh well. I'm hoping I won't get sick of it too quickly. Maybe I won't get sick of it at all, despite what everybody keeps telling me. Who knows. I guess we'll just have to see!