Attitude of Gratitude:Friends

It's that time of year again, and today I am feeling thankful for friends. Whether I've known them since birth, or only known them for a few months. Whether they are from St. George, or the other end of the world. Whether I've spent countless hours with them, or maybe only a week, whatever, wherever, and whoever they might be, I'm glad to have or have had them in my life. Each friend brings a different element to the table and makes my life much, much sweeter. So my dear friends, thanks for being my friend!

{I know this picture is blurry but I love it, flawed and all}

Attitude of Gratitude: Nonka

A few weeks ago my aunt Melinda dropped off a bunch of old pictures, notes, scrapbooks etc. that belonged to my grandma a for my mom to be in charge of. They've been sitting out on the table since then and today I had a chance to go through them. They brought back so many memories and reminded me how much I love and miss her. I know everyone has flaws but I honestly can not think of a single bad quality to go along with this woman. She died when I was thirteen but she still remains in my life. I still think about her, and she's the kind of person I want to be. Full of charity, love, beauty, kindness, creativity and talent. Even as a little girl I thought she was beautiful, and she never seemed old to me.

 I'll always remember our family trips to Ogden to see her. I remember when we would visit she would always wake up really early to make endless french toast, and at night she would make spaghetti. I don't think I'll ever find spaghetti or french toast as good as hers. All the time me and the cousins spent playing in her bedroom wont be forgotten. I loved when we would all crowd onto her big bed that was impossible to get out of once you sunk into it. I always thought it was such a treat when we would go to her house because she would watch Shirley Temple, The Secret Garden, and Telletubes with us. There was something about being in her presence that just left me feeling good. In one of cards someone wrote:

" Without your directions regarding the ways and art of love where would this family be?"

I don't think I could have said it better. She brought us all together. It's because of her my family has the relationship we have. I guess what I'm saying is I'm grateful for the blessing that my grandma was in my life, and I'm even more grateful knowing that I'll get to see her again. Love you Nonka!

{This was our song for Grandma, and I think it was perfect}


Grandma A Rainbow

WHAT DO YOU GIVE TO THE LADY
WHO HAS GIVEN ALL HER LIFE
AND LOVE TO YOU?
WHAT DO YOU GIVE
TO THE REASON YOU`RE LIVIN`?
I COULD WINDOWSHOP THE WORLD
BEFORE I`M THROUGH.


GRANDMA, A RAINBOW,
GRANDMA, A SUNRISE,
GRANDMA, THE MOON TO WEAR.
THAT`S NOT GOOD ENOUGH,
NO, NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
NOT FOR GRANDMA
GRANDMA, A PALACE.
DIAMONDS LIKE DOORKNOBS.
MOUNTAINS OF GOLD TO SPARE.
THAT`S NOT RICH ENOUGH,
NOT HALF RICH ENOUGH,
NOT FOR GRANDMA.
MAMA, A LIFETIME,
CROWDED WITH LAUGHTER,
THAT`S NOT LONG ENOUGH,
NOT HALF LONG ENOUGH.

WHAT CAN I GIVE YOU
THAT I CAN GIVE YOU?
WHAT WILL YOUR PRESENT BE?
GRANDMA YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL.
ALWAYS YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL.
THAT`S THE GRANDMA
I`LL ALWAYS SEE,
THAT`S FOR GRANDMAWITH LOVE FROM ME.

Attitude of Gratitude: New Ward

I never thought I would say this but I'm starting to like my ward. Maybe it's because I'm actually starting to go to the activities and I'm kind of making new friends. Or maybe it's just because I find myself getting into awkward situations that make me lol. Literally. Well anywhoosies on Sunday It was stake conference and our ward decided to be cool and make us lunch so we didn't have to drive all back to Santa Clara. That meant spending two additional hours at the Institute building before the relief society session. Well during that little lunch break me and Bekah made friends with some new people in our ward. I found out that one of them works at three in the morning at Grandma Toblers. I thought that was pretty hilarious, but when I found out what time he goes to bed I about died. 6:30 P.M.!!! hahahah. If you're not laughing right now you should be be.

 Also one of the kids who volunteers at the Temple met a man who's dad was born in 1873. I thought he said that he was born in 1873. I freaked out! Than about 5 minutes later I realized that wasn't possible and I misunderstood. Kind of a dissapointment.

For FHE on Monday I decided I should probably go since I'm on the council. I really didn't want to because we were learing how to Salsa dance with another ward and I didn't feel like going through the situation of finding a partner and so on. Well don't worry they did that whole two circle thing where the guys are on the outside the girls are on the middle. There were more guys than girls so guess who had to pretend to be a guy and dance with girls all night. ME! It was waaaay more uncomfortbale than it sounds. I promise. But it made me laugh, and my partners felt just as weird about it as I did. Thankfully a girl switched because she felt bad for me. Ha. and too think I was worried about finding a partner.

Do you know what else I like? Sitting in the computer lab and seeing a girl from highschool walk in holding her new boyfriends hand. Awwh love :) 

Attitude of Gratitude: Job

I'm grateful for my job because we make movies, tell stories, play with each others hair and they think I'm some kind of rockstar. These little girls begged me to sing to them last night, and I'm not kidding when I say I'm not much of a singer, at all. They also fought over who got to play with my hair. I really can't leave that house in a bad mood. Heres a short clip from the movie we made on my phone last night. Way high quality. 

Attitude of Gratitude: Good Health

        I'm pretty sure I'm copying everyone I know by doing this but it's fine guys. I give myself permission.

    
        I keep thinking about how grateful I am that I've always had good health, and for the most part my family has too. Around this time last year we found out my dad had colon cancer. It gave us all a good scare and it just didn't seem like something that could happen to him. Up until that point I took for grant having a healthy, able body and seeing my tough dad in so much pain made me realize how fast things can change.
       I was so grateful that all of my family came down the day after we found out, my aunt and cousin even took off school. I think that just being around each other lifted all of our spirits, and we had a nice time squishing onto that hospital room, and I think that our relationships were strengthened because of this. During the two weeks my parents were at the hospital I realized how much I loved/missed having them around. I'm pretty sure I would tell my friends every single day how much I wanted them to come home, but my sweet mom didn't want to leave my dad. It was getting closer to Thanksgiving and I was feeling nervous that he wouldn't be released in time, luckily he was but he didn't feel good enough to make the trip up to Ogden for our traditional Thanksgiving. He also didn't want us to stay home either so we left him, it made us feel so bad so when he walked into my aunts house on Thanksgiving it was such a happy surprise! I think that was one of my best Thanksgivings yet. Just like all the other years I had so much to be grateful for but that year things were shown to me a little more clearly.
       It could have been worse, and I truly believe that the ward fast and all of the prayers my dad and family received played a big part in how everything worked out. It's comforting to know that when things are larger than us we can turn to God for help. It's also cool to see people you hardly know help out when they know it's needed. It's a year later and my dad has remodeled his store, opened up a new cafe, and today he's at the ranch. Who would have thought one year later he'd be back to working just as hard as before. Hopefully I can keep this memory in my heart and take advantage of my health everyday.

And that is why I'm grateful for good health.