101 (or Maybe Just a Lot Of) Things to be Thankful For

Today is Thanksgiving and I thought it fitting to pause my ABC posts to share a few things that I am especially thankful for right now.

~My family loves me.
~I have amazing roommates who are there be it rain or shine.
~I get to go to BYU where I have amazing classes with some pretty phenomenal professors.
~I have enough food to eat and clean water to drink.
~My extended family lives nearby and are there for me when I need them.
~Cars and airplanes allow me to go home occasionally.
~Cell phones let me talk to my family when I can't go home.
~Good music: on my phone, on the computer, on a CD, on a movie, you name it.
~Beds, especially mine! Jean blankets, clean sheets, feather pillows... it's the best!
~Chick flicks. Don't laugh, I love them!
~Any uplifting media really: books, movies, songs. I just love that feeling from inside that spreads out to my fingertips and up to my head and makes me feel all sparkly inside!
~I'm an American Citizen.
~I have freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom to persue happiness.
~My ancestors took the time and the trouble to move somewhere where I would be able to enjoy all those freedoms.
~Family Search Indexing... the best computer addiction ever! Do your family history and have fun all at the same time!
~CrossFit, which goes back to being thankful for water!
~Ibuprophen... especially the day after CrossFit.
~The internet: seriously, how amazing is it that I can type something on my computer at my apartment and then access it anywhere in the world? That is AWESOME!
~Facebook. As obnoxiously addicting as it, it really has changed the world.
~My digital camera: perfect for taking pictures to upload onto facebook.
~Space heaters. Just ask Ariella.
~Friends: Chris, Nathan, Barrett, Daniel, Jared, Michael, Jake, Sadie, Sarah, Esther, and Kas... just to name a few. =)
~Time to have fun, like tonight when Sadie, Sarah, Elizabeth, and I put on old wedding dresses and took pictures. I just love that!
~My vet class. The best 6 hours of the week!
~Make-up... maybe I'm just a vain girl, but I love it!
~Curly hair. I love it, on me and on anyone else. It reminds me I'm an individual.
~Hugs... they're my favorite!
~I'm healthy, safe, and loved.
~I have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.
~The scriptures and the Church Magazines, which have real life examples of people who made it through bigger trials than the ones I'm facing.
~The Gift of the Holy Ghost. How wonderful to have a member of the God-Head with me at all times if I'm just worthy of His presence.
~Most of all I'm thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ who came to this earth as a tiny baby in Bethlehem, to live for us, to be an example of perfection, and then to suffer for the sins of all that we might not suffer if we would repent, and then to die for us and rise again on the third day, having unlocked the gates of death and hell. If we will follow Him, He will take our burdens and make them light, and help us succeed along the path to eternal life and becoming like Him. That is what I am most thankful for this holiday season, and all year round. May God bless you every one! =)

Compliments

My roommates and I were watching some silly YouTube videos tonight instead of going to bed, and it made me think about my favorite YouTube video of all time: Validation. If you have not seen this delightful 16 minutes and 24 seconds of smiles I suggest you do so now. There's just nothing quite like those few words, "You are Great." This started me thinking about some of the best compliments I've gotten. Here are just a few of my favorites:

Seth once told me my family reminded him of the Murrys in A Wrinkle in Time... he was worried I might take it as an insult. He shouldn't have been.

Jake was looking through pictures on my phone last night and found one of just my eye (I was bored one day.)
"That is one good-looking eye! ... I'm just saying."
How can you not smile at that?

By far the most unique compliment ever came from the cardiologist I saw over the summer. "You have beautiful arteries!"
"Um... thank you?" I wasn't sure how to respond to that one, but hey, I'll take compliments where I can get them!

So go brighten someone else's day. Pay them a compliment and watch it change their mood, their day, or maybe their life! Always remember, You are Great!

C - ...?

I can not think of anything to write about for C and I don't like being stuck, so here's a list of things that start with C that make me oh-so happy!

Cookies: We make a LOT of cookies in my apartment: cookies for boys who kill spiders, cookies for missionaries, cookies for fun... Kenzie's mom sent her a recipie for some delightful ghost cookies that we made for Halloween. We love to make cookies!

College: As much as I hate the hours of homework and the stressful tests that make me doubt my eternal worth, I LOVE going to school and learning!

Costumes: Halloween was this past weekend, and I must say, we had some pretty awesome costumes at my apartment! Here are just a few of the many great ones I saw that night:

Pixar's "Up" anyone?
Notice he's even missing his "Assisting the Elderly" badge

The Mimes were amazing!

Michael went as his red-head roommate with broken ankle...
which was my idea. =)

Aren't we cute??

Cell phones: Seriously, I don't know how people survived before they were invented!

Country Music: I didn't even know there was other music until I got into high school... there was just normal music (country) and weird music (anything else.) I'm definitley a fan!

Calendars: I just LOVE them! Pictures. Planning. Marking the days off with little hearts in the corners... It's just so good!

Chris: I think the pictures speak for themselves... =)

They have the same smile!

Carving Pumpkins and just being ridiculous.

Pie Night... no additional info needed.

Just being silly

He thinks it's HILARIOUS to take pictures of himself pretending
to be asleep... a little odd, but whatever!

My personal favorite... =)

The "do whatever boys do" pose.

And of course... Christ: I just love my Savior! And since my name means "little lamb" I think this picture is especially appropriate. =)