Thanksgiving

It was just thanksgiving and this weekend has given me time to think of things that I am grateful for:

1. Family. They're my best friends through everything, even when they just drive me crazy. Without them I wouldn't be here. I truly love them.
2. Kade Cook. Let's face it, he's one of the best things that ever happened to me, and I love the boy. He made me grow in more ways than one and I miss him, but I wouldn't trade ANY of our experiences for anything.
3. My bed and my blankets. I love to cuddle, and as of recently, these became my only cuddle buddies. And who doesn't love coming home to their very own bed?
4. My cat. Even though he kinda drives me crazy, I still love him. He makes me happy when he comes to me and wants to be petted. Silly, but still(:
5. Fantabulous roommates. How blessed am I to have been randomly put with 5 other girls, and yet we ended up being the best of friends? They've been there for me through preddy much everything, and I couldn't have asked for better girls to live with.
6. The internet. It makes homework easier and lets me connect with my friends that are all around the world. Without this shnazzy invention, I would lose contact with so many people I love.
7. My friends. Sure I always joke that I have no friends (which is partly true(; haha) but I really have been blessed with some dear girl friends. No matter how long it's been since we last talked, I know that we'll always be able to pick up like we never missed a beat, and that's important.
8. Missionaries. I know too many to even count in countries all over the world. Hearing from them helps me keep my mind focus on the end goal which is eternal life with our Heavenly Father. They each tell me about miracles that seem small, and yet they are huge in the way that they testify of the truth of this gospel. How grateful I am for those who preach God's word.
9. My calling. Sure, it stresses me out each week I teach because I feel so young and inadequate, but then I teach and I love the feeling I have. It can be stressful, but I learn so much. It makes me grow, and why should I be selfish with the knowledge I have?
10. BYU-I. Most of the rumors may be true, and yet there is a whole other side to the university. The fact that the spirit is ever present is not advertised as much as it should be.
11. Seasons. It might seems silly, but how do people not have snow at Christmas or sunshine on the fourth of July? What about the person who has never seen leaves turn in the fall? These simple phenomenons leave me breathless and I love the four seasons.
12. Babies. Holding baby Warren made me realize how sweet and innocent babies really are. They truly are close to the veil. When they 'zone out' and 'can't focus on anything' I'm sure they're looking at the angel standing behind us. They truly are a little piece of heaven we get to hold.
13. Idaho. The best place on earth. With open fields and forests galore, who doesn't love Idaho? It's safe and fairly peaceful, with natural beauty draped across it's land. I love Idaho.
14. Holidays. They're little things, and yet the reason we all love them is because they bring people together. People from all walks of life, wherever they're from, join together and for once political and social things don't matter. On the fourth of July, everyone is proud to be an American. They're the few times a year when our country decides to be banded together.
15. Failing. If I never failed in my life, I never would have learned anything. Failures keep a person humble and on their toes. They keep us moving in the right direction.
16. Music. Those songs that seems to speak to your soul: Jason Aldean: See you when I see you; Eden's Edge: Christ Alone; Josh Turner: anything and everything he sings; Tim McGraw: My best friend; Glee: Lucky; just to name a few.
17. A job. Sure, I work in custodial and people give me the look that reads "ooh that sucks, I'm sorry' but to those people I want to tell them that their perception sucks. I have one of the best jobs ever. My hours are great, I work in a beautiful building, and I'm learning so much. Everything I'm learning to do I will definitely be using through my entire life. Not to mention, I work with some of the best people in the world.
18. Little letters. Those notes someone slipped into my locker sophomore year? Ya, I still read those. The silly letters given to me across the years, the little pick me ups or 'how you doin?'s I kept them all, and I read them when I'm done. How wonderful to know that people look out for each other.
19. Smiles. How dreary would life be with smiles? Smiling makes a person truly beautiful.
20. Tears. They're cleansing and healing. They are not a sign of weakness...they're just a different way of looking into a person's soul and what they're feeling.
21. No letters or emails. They teach patience and redefine the gravity of the situation. It puts me back in my place; this isn't about me being supported, but about me supporting him. It's a good reminder.
22. Memories. Whether they are physical or mental, memories often serve as therapy and a reminder of happy times and blessings we can often times overlook.
23. Health. It's one of the things that we don't seem to fully appreciate until we don't have it anymore. Taking care of ourselves is important. These bodies are a gift, after all.
24. The temple. Not only are they physically beautiful, but they provide so many beautiful spiritual opportunities. The temple is how I am sealed to my family and how I will be sealed to my future family. I can't wait till I am able to see the rest of the blessings the temple offers.
25. Dance. What a miracle in my life. It is the stress reliever and self worth builder of my life. I believe that God puts activities on this earth for us each to find so we can, in turn, find a part of ourselves.
26. Priest Lake. My favorite place on earth. I love this place with all of my heart and give it a lot of credit as to why my family is as close as it is. Two weeks of nothing but family sounds painful, but there it is not. I love that lake and I can not wait till I am able to share it with my own family.
27. Flowers. Silly yes, but they are so meaningful. We give flowers on Valentines Day, at weddings and funerals. They are so symbolic, and yet they are so common place and little. They are often overlooked. I love flowers because of their small and simple beauty, much like the people we love dearly - seemingly common, and yet they have their moments that are so special.
28. Change. This can be painful, and much of the time is unwanted, and yet, it is one of the few things anyone can count on in life. Without change, we would never do anything. Thank heavens for change!
29. The moon. And stars. And sunrises. And sunsets. We see them over the course of every 24 hours, and yet they awe me each time I see them. They represent the beginning and end of each day, of opportunities. They connect us with people around the world because they are universal. They're beautiful phenomenons.
30. Christ. It is through Christ that we have this life that we can live. Through Christ, Heavenly Father was able to give us the atonement - they best gift I could ever ask for. I love him.

-Bree