happy sabbath

good (cold) weekend.

today I am grateful for rainy day runs, public libraries, great roommates, the Barlow family, new wards, karate kicks, testimony meeting, sample picture frame families, and new callings.

speaking of new callings, I am on the friendship committee. Somehow it morphed into the Cookie Monster for friendship, then "F is for friendship" and now we have been talking in cookie monster voices all day. quite delightful. so, on this unseasonably cold Sunday, I am grateful for this as well:

thoughts on a Sunday

This week, my darling baby niece Amy had skull surgery for her craniosynostosis. basically, her skull was fused together at birth, allowing her head only to grow length-wise. after her intense 7-hour surgery, Amy is doing great. Full recovery will take months, but she was released from the hospital today, right on schedule.

I was thinking about Amy in church today, when I realized the power of prayer and fasting. So many people have been praying for Amy in the last few months, and with a priesthood blessing and special family fast, everything was able to go well. Miracles happen.

I don't fully understand the Atonement, but I do know that through its power, Christ is able to lift us through times of need, be it the physical pain of surgery or watching a baby in need.

"...and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."
alma 7:12

what a great reminder during this Easter season!

100

This is my 100th blog post. Woohoo!
I feel like I should do something epic to celebrate,
but I think I'll do something celebratory to celebrate.

I was inspired by this fabulous video (I'm on a total video kick recently...weird)...



...to create a list of 100 things I am thankful for. 100 posts, 100 ways to be thankful. get it?

1. The Atonement of Jesus Christ

2. My eternal family

3. Temples

4. The scriptures

5. A living prophet

6. Good health

7. Sisters

8. Baseball

9. Mornings

10. Crunchy leaves and the colors of fall

11. Nieces and nephews

12. The start of a new season

13. a warm bed

14. BYU

15. Opportunities to travel, learn and grow

16. Post-it notes

17. Music

18. Piano (the ability to play and listening to talented people)

19. Journals

20. Cell phone

21. My laptop

22. Technology in general

23. Airplanes and the ability to go home when I need to

24. Sammamish

25. Trees

26. Rain

27. Pictures

28. Memories

29. Baseball

30. Endorphins from exercising

31. Bargain shopping

32. Small children

33. Smiles from strangers

34. Conference issue of the Ensign

35. Living in a free country

36. Great professors and friends in the PR program

37. PRSSA

38. Sunshine

39. Ovens and microwaves

40. My heritage

41. Grandparents

42. Laughter

43. Toast and hot chocolate

44. Tights

45. Personal revelation

46. Spunky Sally

47. Priesthood blessings

48. Choirs

49. Christmas

50. Thanksgiving

51. Roommates

52. People who freely share their talents

53. Books

54. Harry Potter

55. My internship

56. The freshmen I get to mentor this semester

57. Tuesday devotionals

58. The Sacrament

59. Comms 402

60. Gardens

61. Safely exploring new places

62. Fireplaces

63. Missionary opportunities

64. Missionary letters

65. Movies

66. Spontaneity

67. Organization

68. Automatic spell check

69. Good examples of those who have come before

70. Glasses

71. Holidays and reasons to celebrate

72. Notes for no reason

73. Phone calls from a friend

74. Random happy texts

75. Lakes, oceans and all bodies of water

76. Trials who shape who I am

77. Being busy

78. Beautiful earth and all God has created

79. Love

80. Plans for the future

81. Miracles

82. slippers

83. Time

84. Bulletin and white boards

85. Vitamins

86. Vacations

87. Being able to get an education

88. Visiting and home teachers

89. Free time to curl up in a ball

90. People who dress modestly

91. Libraries

92. People who are anxious to teach and learn

93. Fruit snacks

94. Umbrellas

95. Gloves

96. Ice cream

97. Thank you cards (writing and receiving)

98. Lists

99. People who do the jobs I never want to do

100. Late night chats

it's just great

the last few days have been a string of little moments where I've realized how blessed I am. Slightly disconnected, it's like a constant string of happiness weaving a gratitude web around my life. A sampling:

On Friday, I spent two hours with one of the freshman I mentor, planning her winter semester schedule. It was great. It filled the void of not planning my own winter schedule. Plus her wonderful company and heartfelt thanks made it time well spent.

I got to see my new niece for the first time and show her off to everyone I know. She is the cutest small child I have ever seen. Welcome to the world, Amy Catalina. (9lbs, 1 oz...good job, Janice. I'm impressed at your birthing abilities).


Listening to Christmas music all the way to Draper and back. I'm so ready for Christmas.

Getting ready with my wonderful roommates, going to the stake Halloween party and dancing so hard my toga fell off. (not to worry, there were layer underneath)
I woke up early on Saturday to the most beautiful morning and baked while enjoying a peaceful view of Mt. Timp out the kitchen window. The baked goods went to a Guatemala breakfast, so even better.

Studying on the grass outside, freshman-style, to enjoy the beautiful fall afternoon. Way to go out in style, October.

Rocking out to "The Monster Mash" whilst driving to Kylie's house for Halloween movies. I have the best roommates.

And now onto a beautiful Sunday, full of testimony, peace, and President Uchtdorf tonight!

"The temple is a place where we can find peace. There we receive a renewed dedication to the gospel and a strengthened resolve to keep the commandments. "

-Thomas S. Monson

This weekend I am very grateful for temples, turkey harvest crossaints, autumn leaves, cover letters, good friends, graham canyon ice cream, great deals at the lost and found sale, beautiul saturdays, the special olympics, costco, football, wal-mart, halloween decorations and early church. Happy Sabbath!

what a weekend

hooray for conference, rain, tights, missionary letters, football, soccer, naps, candy, taking the tram, PR, professor's houses, MoTab, lightning storms and sister missionaries.

I love General Conference. From the moment it came on, I could feel the peace that comes from the Gospel. Our church leaders are so inspired, and they have inspired me to be a better person, reach out to others, and draw closer to my loving Father in Heaven.

Also, shout out to the Tabernacle Choir. I always love them, so I realized just how amazing and powerful they are this weekend. Also, the lavendar looked lovely.


Tonight we had a PRSSA fireside with Brother Corbitt of LDS Public Affairs. Amazing. I love my major so much and its ability to further the work of the church. I am seriously inspired to be the best person I can be, PR or otherwise.

if today had an acceptance speech.

I feel like I won the emmy for good monday, and I would like to thank the following people for making my day enjoyable.

first, to the people at the ID center,
thanks for laughing at me when I told you the story about flushing my byu id down the toilet. I'm glad I made your day, but did you really have to make me take a new picture?

I would also like to thank the boy at the library (yes you), even if your music was really loud. just because your headphones are in doesn't mean we can't hear your music. i was enertained, but people were trying to study. i loved the relient k selection, but was embarassed for you when taylor swift came on super loud and you had no idea.

Next, thanks to the byu games center for the change machines I used to get laundry quarters today. I felt like I had won a slot machine jackpot. and thanks to the riv dryers for actually drying my clothes.

I would like to thank my new fhe group for an entertaining evening, dave for providing a lovely SWKT tour for my freshman, fall for starting to come, and Brother Bott for giving a mission prep lesson that I needed alot.

not a bad day.

Also, today is the 21st of september! Celebrate with one of my favorite songs.

rise and shout

Being a Y Group Leader at New Student Orientation this past weekend was such a fun experience! It made me think back to my own freshmen year, which seems like it was yesterday even though it was two years ago. I had a slight palpitation when I realized that I'm getting pretty old.

I loved being a fake freshman for a few days. The freshmen are so excited about everything that I am used to and take for granted about BYU. I am truly blessed to go there.
A sampling of things I have a renewed appreciation for:

• Saying prayers and singing hymns before each meeting and class. I forget how unusual and wonderful it is.
• Weekly devotionals that allow me to de-stress and feel the spirit
• A beautiful and huge library that is full of so many resources
• creamery chocolate milk
• The award-winning Department of Communications
• BYU sports, and athletes with standards
• The Honor Code. People give it a lot of grief, but it really is an amazing thing.
• The ability to combine spiritual and secular learning and to gain a love for learning.

Oh how I love BYU!

(I took this picture outside my apartment the other day. Provo is beautiful, even when it rains in June)