Another Year Come and Gone

Thanksgiving of 2010 I decided I wanted to start keeping a thankful journal. Everyday for a year I would write down something I was thankful for that day and write a little reason why. It was going all dandy until a couple times I forgot to take my journal with me on little trips. So instead of continuing it in my journal I would post it on my blog so that I would have time to write about it in my journal later. Of course I would have a computer with me just about anywhere I would be so this seemed like a great idea...until I stopped catching up in my journal and it just became a huge thankful list on the side of my blog.

I've decided to transfer my thanksgiving list to a new blog fully dedicated to my gratitude to my Heavenly Father for all of the amAzing things that He has spoiled me with- some good, some bad, but mostly remarkable. I can't tell you the overwhelming feeling of love that I feel from Him each day when I take one second to think of something that brightened my day, strengthened me through out the day, or just reminded me of what I have to be thankful for. So here is the beginning of my full-of-thanks blog; gratitude I feel from the depths of my soul (might sound cheesy, but I am so totally serious) and with all of my heart. My intro to you. Here is Thanksgiving...


Welp, I had good intentions in starting a thankful journal/blog last year at this time. Haha, didn't really work out how I had planned exactly... So change in plans... Blog in the moment I'm "thankful" and then I won't get so behind ;)

12/29/2010: Journals

I'm grateful that I have kept a journal through out most of my life. Reading through them reminds me of good times, hard times that I was able to make it through, and I get insight on the kind of person I was, am and am becoming. I'm able to learn through my past successes, and my past non so successes, haha. I am grateful for journals!

12/28/2010: Chocolate Oranges

OOOOH YUMMM! You know it's around the holidays when these puppies appear. Not only are they a great Christmas tradition, but they are a great gift to my taste buds. I am thankful for these yummy buggars because they make me happy :)

12/27/2010: Massages

I'm thankful for massages... that pretty much explains itself.

12/26/2010: Family Home Videos

I'm so grateful for Family Home Videos. They are a great source to show how awesome my life is and what a wonderful childhood I've had. They always lift me up and remind me of who I really I am.

12/25/2010: Christmas

I love everything about Christmas; the celebration of the birth of Baby Jesus, the family gatherings and traditions, The smells of pine and cinnamon, the decorations and tree, the hot cocoa and chocolate covered pretzels, the giving and receiving... Dude. The service and the feeling of believing. The fairytales and stories, the magic of it all. Everything about Christmas is wonderful. The music and snow, getting cozy in blankets and or by the fire. It is as they say, "The most wonderful time of the year!"

12/24/10: Patriarchal Blessings

I'm so grateful for patriarchal blessings. Today as a family we had a special little meeting and discussed the significance of spiritual gifts that we've been given. We shared a little about our personal blessings with each other. This was neat because I was truly able to see my family members through my Heavenly Father's and my Savior's eyes for a moment as I heard of their blessings and gifts.

I'm also grateful for patriarchal blessings because I believe this is where my testimony of Priesthood Power was strengthened. I always believed in the power of the priesthood, but when receiving my blessing I felt the spirit testify to me as I felt it so strongly and I received the knowledge of the power of the priesthood. This was a great experience for me.

Another reason I'm grateful for patriarchal blessings is because it's a little piece of direct and straight out revelation for me personally. I feel loved, blessed, and watched over as I read the words to my blessing. In a world so crazy it's always nice to know that you have a place and a purpose and my blessing always helps to remind me of this.

12/23/10: Sisters

We celebrated Aunt Angie's birthday today. Usually when one of the "older generations" celebrate their birthdays they have lunch and a movie or something with that same generation and their mother. haha, this time we had an all girls in both generations celebration. It was so fun. We went and saw the movie Tangled, which is absolutely adorable. It's a good thing I'm not a toddler right now or I'd be obsessed. Oh who am I kidding? Me and disney princesses, haha, no age limit here (though there probly should be). After the movie we went to Costa Vida for lunch. This experience with all the girls gave me a stronger appreciation for sisters. They are our best friends. Friends constantly come in and out of your life, but sisters are always there. It's important to make and keep these strong, special, and sacred relationships with them. My sister and I like to quote that saying to each other, the one that goes, "Sisters by chance, friends by choice." I love my sister, and I love my mom's sisters. Today I'm extra grateful for sisters.

12/22/10: Cousins

Today was the Howells' family Christmas party. OMG I LOVE MY FAMILY. I'm so grateful for my cousins and the relationships that I have with them. They are some of my best friends. I'm not just talking about first cousins here, I'm talking about first, first once removed, and second. Haha, what beautiful people they all are inside and out. So to my cousins, thanks for playing such huge roles in my life. You are loved.

12/21/10: Lunch

Lunch. Mmm. Probly the best meal of the day.

12/20/11: Adventures

I'm thankful for adventures! Today Jake, Dad and I set out for a rabbit hunt only to fid us on an old road. We stopped at Promitory Point Historical Sights and then followed a dirt road out to Spiral Jetty where we explored. It was so much fun!

12/19/10: Home

I'm thankful for home. I drove home to Hooper from Orem listening to Christmas music the whole way. It made me so excited to be home for the holiday. I love being home. I love having a home. I'm so grateful for home.

12/18/10: Basketball

I'm thankful for basketball. Tonight Jaicee and I scrame our lungs out cheering for our men's basketball team playing against USU. Basketball has always been a huge part of my life. Even though I'm not playing it right now for college, I've had so many great experiences because of the sport!

12/16/10: Christmas Break

Christmas Break. Finals are done and now I can fully enjoy the holiday season! Thank you my dear Christmas Break! <3

12/17/10: My Testimony

I'm so grateful for my testimony. In a world so deceiving with Satan so influential, I'm grateful to know that I'm on the Lord's side and to know that He has already won the battle of good and evil.

12/15/10: Movies

I'm thankful for movies. A good movie always makes me happy.

12/14/10: Hot Chocolate

Today I'm grateful for hot chocolate.

It is so warm and deliciously soothing!

Not only is it pure goodness, but it

makes cold winter days bearable.

I kind of love it!

12/13/10: Ice Cream

Today (and everyday) I'm thankful for ice cream! Jaicee's brother took us to iceberg tonight and bought us shakes! Caramel Pecan Please! mmmm yum!

12/12/10: Missionaries

missionaries. 'nough said.

12/11/10: Wholesome Humor

Wholesome humor- specifically the TV show PSYCH! :)

12/10/10: Christmas Trees

Christmas trees! They make me so happy. They bring back so many good memories from my growing up: Decorating, Christmas time, Christmas Eve, Christmas Tree Jubilee, home, family time! All the good stuff. I love that we have one here with my roommates! It makes everything so much more jolly!

12/09/10: Good Friends

I'm thankful for good friends. It's important to have people you can laugh with and have a good time with, and I have these people in my life.

12/08/10: Wolverine Wednesday

I'm thankful for Wolverine Wednesday! Not only is it a great social time, but I always spin the wheel and get great prizes. Like seriously. Go Wolverines!! :)

12/07/10: Mountains

They're breathtaking. They make me feel safe, protected, confident, happy, and at home.

12/06/10: My Nephew

Today is my nephew Gage's fifth birthday. I am so grateful for him. My time with him is always limited, but it is oh so treasured.

12/05/10: The First Presidency

I'm so thankful for the First Presidency. Their strength and witness is astounding. I truly love them and I know that they were called of God.

12/04/10: Memories

I'm so grateful for memories. It was my Uncle Ken's funeral today and I'm grateful for the memories I have with him and that I can actually remember them. We also sat around and I listened to memories from my dad's childhood as he shared with his siblings. Memories are a way to hold onto the things we don't ever want to forget.

12/03/10: Car

My grandparents are super awesome! To add to their awesomeness they lent me their car for me to drive during college. Holy life saver. I'm able to be so much more independent and been able to get so much more done and been able to go so many more places because of this car! THANK YOU!

12/02/10: Compliments

I'm thankful for compliments. Today this kid in my art class said that my project was his favorite one and that he "like" wanted it on his wall in his room. It seriously made my day. Critiques are hard for me. Presenting your piece alongside everyone else's awesome work is frightening- especially when you're not completely confident in your artistic ability. This compliment helped to boost my confidence.

12/01/10: Boys

Ya can't live with 'em, butcha can't live without 'em. Most the time though, they're nice, fun to be around, and pretty drama free. They keep it real.

11/30/10: Facebook

Today I'm thankful for Facebook. It's an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends. Not to mention- I got a really nice message from a thoughtful person today.

11/29/10: Exercise

Today I am grateful for exercise! It was my first day back to training at Dave's today from a long break. It felt so good to get my body going again. Thank goodness for a body that can lift, run, jump, and do all that exercising stuff. I love feeling strong and having that feeling of getting into shape. Thank you exercise.

11/28/10: Roommates

I'm so grateful for good

roommates! Jaicee Kuresa got

home a few minutes after

I had woken up and surprised

me with waffles and hot

chocolate for breakfast

when I got out of the shower.

I'm so glad we're Mates! ;)

11/27/10: The Plan of Salvation

I'm thankful for The Plan of Salvation! Though we part with our loved ones here on Earth, through The Plan of salvation we can be with them again- we just need to live worthy to do so.

11/26/10: Temple work

I'm thankful for temple work. People who have passed on have an opportunity to receive ordinances and blessings that they didn't get on Earth. Whenever I go I try to imagine the individuals that I am doing the work for. I get so excited thinking of the excitement that they are probably feeling on the other side of the veil when their work is done. Love, love, love it :)

11/25/10: Family

I am thankful for my Family. Oh my goodness. Where do I even start? They are my hope, my strength, my love. Through thick and thin they'll have my back, and I'll have theirs. I don't even have any words to describe how grateful I am for them. We've had hard times and we've have good times. They are my best friends. It comforts me to know that I am sealed to them for all of eternity. I love my Family.