1. I am grateful for birds. The cute little ones that have sing-song voices.
2. I am grateful for scones. And a lovely cup of herbal tea to go with them on a cold morning. Best. Breakfast. Ever.
3. I am grateful for opera. Don't judge. It makes me happy :) I'm also grateful that I get to see Turandot tonight, which is the last opera I have left on my opera bucket list!
4. I am grateful for Italian.
5. I am grateful for the new online journal/study notebook I discovered on lds.org For some reason I've become obsessed with it, it makes my daily scripture study so much more fun.
6. I am grateful for the book Jesus the Christ. I'm starting to read it again, since I have the time, and I love it. It always helps to strengthen my testimony of the Savior and all that He has done for us.
7. I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and that because of what He suffered, we can return to live with Him and our Heavenly Father again. I am grateful that the Atonement can heal us, can cleanse us, and can make right all that is wrong or unfair in our lives. Christ is literally the Prince of Peace and only through Him can we find salvation, peace and all the happiness there is to be had.
8. I am grateful for board games and for friends who also like board games.
9. I am grateful for my mommy, who is always there to chat with, even when I don't need anything special.
10. I am grateful that I was able to go to the dentist before my insurance coverage ended, and that I didn't have any cavities! Unfortunately, I still have to go in for 2 fillings, since the new dentist didn't like the way the old dentist did them, and I suppose I should be grateful for that because it will prevent future cavities....
Friday, February 18, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Grateful Tree Episode 3
1. I am so grateful for the Oakland Temple! It is such a special place and I am so grateful for the peace and happiness I feel when I go there. It is literally the house of God!
2. I am grateful for all of the really really really old people that go to the temple, because they are ADORABLE!!! And it shows their love and devotion to the Lord that even when they are so old they can hardly move more than a little shuffle at a time, they are still so overjoyed to be at the temple.
3. I am grateful for flowers. Especially the great variety of flowers that exist on the earth, in all of their shapes and colors.
4. I am grateful for all food that is not grapefruit jelly.
5. I am grateful for the job interview that I had this week and that it went really well!
6. I am grateful that I found a fun book in my bookshelf that I had bought a year ago and had never gotten around to reading, and now I actually have time to dive into it!
7. I am grateful for fun letters/packages that arrive in the mail! :)
8. I am grateful I got my taxes done.
9. I am grateful for the random airport worker in Texas that picked up my hitchhiking brother and didn't kill him.
10. I am grateful for Mario Kart.
2. I am grateful for all of the really really really old people that go to the temple, because they are ADORABLE!!! And it shows their love and devotion to the Lord that even when they are so old they can hardly move more than a little shuffle at a time, they are still so overjoyed to be at the temple.
3. I am grateful for flowers. Especially the great variety of flowers that exist on the earth, in all of their shapes and colors.
4. I am grateful for all food that is not grapefruit jelly.
5. I am grateful for the job interview that I had this week and that it went really well!
6. I am grateful that I found a fun book in my bookshelf that I had bought a year ago and had never gotten around to reading, and now I actually have time to dive into it!
7. I am grateful for fun letters/packages that arrive in the mail! :)
8. I am grateful I got my taxes done.
9. I am grateful for the random airport worker in Texas that picked up my hitchhiking brother and didn't kill him.
10. I am grateful for Mario Kart.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Grateful Tree Episode 2
1. Once again I am grateful for President Eyring and a fantastic talk that he gave. This one is from last General Conference and is called Serve with the Spirit. There is one part in particular where he shares a great story about when his dad was in the hospital and President Kimball, who was then the prophet, came to visit him. It was a fabulous story and if you haven't read it I'm not going to tell you what happens so that you are forced to read it for yourself ;) I also decided to experiment and tried the same thing this week with a few co-workers, and had some wonderful, sweet spiritual experiences.
2. Which brings me to #2, because I am SO SO SO grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost in my life. (For those of you not familiar with what this is, here is a link that will explain what the Gift of the Holy Ghost is: Bible Dictionary--Holy Ghost). I am so grateful for the peace and comfort that comes from the Holy Ghost. I am grateful for it's guidance in my life. It is honestly the best gift that my Father in Heaven has given me!
3. I am grateful for my brother Taylor and all of the amazingly wonderful things he is doing with his life right now! He literally is one of my biggest heroes!
4. I am grateful for my wonderful home and visiting teachers who all responded immediately as soon as they heard I lost my job. They are so amazing and I'm so grateful for how willing they are to help with anything!
5. I am also so grateful for all of my wonderful friends, no matter what part of the country (or world) that they might be in right now.
6. I am grateful for gelato, especially the mixture of bacio and pistachio. Yuuuuummmmm!!
7. I am grateful for the latest Chuck episode, and that the evil Russian mafia bad guy was finally taken care of and that Casey was in fact not killed by suffocation or Morgan killed by deadly lasers and I am very very happy that Chuck and Sarah are FINALLY officially engaged! And I am grateful for Jeffster and all of their amazing awkwardness....oh Jeffster...
8. I am grateful for the sun, and how happy it makes me feel. I am especially grateful for how vibrant all the colors are under the sun, like how green the grass is, or how blue the sky is.
9. I am grateful for the BEAUTIFUL sunrise I got to see twice on my drive to work this last week. It almost made getting up at 5:30am work it!
10. I am so extremely grateful for the knowledge that I have that God is in charge, and that even when I can't see His big plan, I know that He has one and that he will take care of me and keep me in His hands through all of my trials. I'm so grateful that I know with every single fiber of my being that I am a child of God and that He knows me personally and loves me so very much!
2. Which brings me to #2, because I am SO SO SO grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost in my life. (For those of you not familiar with what this is, here is a link that will explain what the Gift of the Holy Ghost is: Bible Dictionary--Holy Ghost). I am so grateful for the peace and comfort that comes from the Holy Ghost. I am grateful for it's guidance in my life. It is honestly the best gift that my Father in Heaven has given me!
3. I am grateful for my brother Taylor and all of the amazingly wonderful things he is doing with his life right now! He literally is one of my biggest heroes!
4. I am grateful for my wonderful home and visiting teachers who all responded immediately as soon as they heard I lost my job. They are so amazing and I'm so grateful for how willing they are to help with anything!
5. I am also so grateful for all of my wonderful friends, no matter what part of the country (or world) that they might be in right now.
6. I am grateful for gelato, especially the mixture of bacio and pistachio. Yuuuuummmmm!!
7. I am grateful for the latest Chuck episode, and that the evil Russian mafia bad guy was finally taken care of and that Casey was in fact not killed by suffocation or Morgan killed by deadly lasers and I am very very happy that Chuck and Sarah are FINALLY officially engaged! And I am grateful for Jeffster and all of their amazing awkwardness....oh Jeffster...
8. I am grateful for the sun, and how happy it makes me feel. I am especially grateful for how vibrant all the colors are under the sun, like how green the grass is, or how blue the sky is.
9. I am grateful for the BEAUTIFUL sunrise I got to see twice on my drive to work this last week. It almost made getting up at 5:30am work it!
10. I am so extremely grateful for the knowledge that I have that God is in charge, and that even when I can't see His big plan, I know that He has one and that he will take care of me and keep me in His hands through all of my trials. I'm so grateful that I know with every single fiber of my being that I am a child of God and that He knows me personally and loves me so very much!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Grateful Tree Episode 1
So recently I made a goal to be more grateful in my life, and this goal reminded me of some friends who used to have a "Grateful Tree". They made it out of construction paper and hung it on their wall, and every time they found something to be grateful for they would trace their hand on paper and write what they were grateful for and taped it to the tree on the wall. So, I'm not going to tape a big tree to my wall, but I decided that once a week I would write down 10ish things that I was grateful for in that week. So here goes:
1. I am EXTREMELY grateful for a living prophet of God on the Earth today. My ward had stake conference today, and we had a live broadcast from Salt Lake City, and President Eyring spoke about the importance of following the prophet, and it made me so grateful to realize the great blessing of having a living prophet on Earth. I am SO grateful for our prophet, Thomas Monson.
2. I am grateful that my mom and sister were able to come visit me for a few days! I love my family so so so so very much!!!
3. I am grateful for my fun co-workers which make going to work bearable :)
4. I am grateful for the rain today. Even though I love the sun, rain is so dramatic and mysterious and it is exciting to have once in a while.
5. I am grateful for my space heater, which makes my room so nice and toasty on said rainy day, making it the perfect place to snuggle up in a blanket with a delightful book.
6. I am grateful that I was able to finally make progress on my new year's resolution of getting back to my pre-car accident workout at the gym. Not quite there yet, but getting better!
7. I am grateful for the Psych preview, which is all I have to tide me over until summer.
8. I am grateful for General Conference talks, which is what I have been using lately in my morning studies. Again, hooray for the words of a living prophet and apostles!
9. I am grateful for Downton Abbey, a new British TV show I just discovered that is fantastic.
10. I am grateful for ginger snaps. Yum :)
1. I am EXTREMELY grateful for a living prophet of God on the Earth today. My ward had stake conference today, and we had a live broadcast from Salt Lake City, and President Eyring spoke about the importance of following the prophet, and it made me so grateful to realize the great blessing of having a living prophet on Earth. I am SO grateful for our prophet, Thomas Monson.
2. I am grateful that my mom and sister were able to come visit me for a few days! I love my family so so so so very much!!!
3. I am grateful for my fun co-workers which make going to work bearable :)
4. I am grateful for the rain today. Even though I love the sun, rain is so dramatic and mysterious and it is exciting to have once in a while.
5. I am grateful for my space heater, which makes my room so nice and toasty on said rainy day, making it the perfect place to snuggle up in a blanket with a delightful book.
6. I am grateful that I was able to finally make progress on my new year's resolution of getting back to my pre-car accident workout at the gym. Not quite there yet, but getting better!
7. I am grateful for the Psych preview, which is all I have to tide me over until summer.
8. I am grateful for General Conference talks, which is what I have been using lately in my morning studies. Again, hooray for the words of a living prophet and apostles!
9. I am grateful for Downton Abbey, a new British TV show I just discovered that is fantastic.
10. I am grateful for ginger snaps. Yum :)
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Best Mommy Ever!
It turns out I have the best mommy ever. I got in the mail today a package with 12 Days of Christmas gifts for all the days until the 23rd when I'll be home! She also sent me a nativity set to put out along with my Christmas tree, so now I finally have some decorations here in my room in California :) Seriously, it was the best package ever!!!!!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
10 Ways To Know You Live In A Hick Town In The Middle Of Nowhwere
This post is inspired by a conversation I had a week ago with a couple of co-workers. We were talking about how we were all from small towns and were wondering which of us lived in the most podunk town. I don’t think we ever came to a conclusion, but upon further reflection I feel like I should win that award, because not only do I come from a hick town, but it is also in the middle of nowhere. My co-workers live in towns that are remote, but within an hour can get to somewhere a little more civilized, whereas I have to travel about 3 hours before hitting a “big” city. And so here it is, my ode to living in Central Oregon, 10 ways to know that you live in a hick town in the middle of nowhere:
#10—You give directions like turn at the pine tree.
#9—Names are ever so descriptive, like Alfalfa, where everyone who lives there grows alfalfa. Or Bend, so named because that’s where the river bends. Or Crooked River.
#8—In 150 miles from the border of California to my home town I passed more national forests, state parks, lakes, volcanoes, lava caves and mountains than I did towns. By like a factor of 20. At least.
#7—Have you ever heard of Oregon Institute of Technology? Me neither. But they exist. And clearly they don’t get many students, since they still haven’t invented technology akin to a snow plow, since I drove 150 miles on pure snow, on a sunny day.
#6—I once saw a postcard that had a picture of an old dude in a cowboy hat glaring at a UFO. The caption said “Must be those darn Californians again”. It’s a pretty universal view.
#5—The #1 most coveted job in high school is working at the ghetto bowling alley. Only the really cool popular people can get that job. The rest have to work at gas stations. High school jobs often become life careers as well. Unless you’re lucky enough to get hired by Wal-Mart after graduation.
#4—The most happening time of the day is Happy Hour at the fast food burger joint Sonic, followed by the social outing of the day at Wal-Mart.
#3—Our county fair is mostly like any other fair, with all the rides and carnival games, but there’s also a bazillion barns full of every kind of livestock imaginable. And let’s not forget the ginormous rodeo that’s going on all days of the fair. And pretty much the only musicians that come to our county fair are country singers. Unless you count Weird Al.
#2—On Thanksgiving morning me and my mom had to run to the grocery store to pick up some last minute supplies. And so we went in pajamas, hair not done, no make-up, no shower, no bra. All that was missing was the slippers, but there was a foot of snow outside, so that wasn’t going to happen. The best part, everyone else in the grocery store was dressed EXACTLY the same.
#1—Chainsaw Creations. I’ve never been inside this store, but every time I drive by it makes me want to laugh. There are literally giant wooden totem pole-like bears, or any other kind of animal you could want. All made from chainsaws. Really???
#10—You give directions like turn at the pine tree.
#9—Names are ever so descriptive, like Alfalfa, where everyone who lives there grows alfalfa. Or Bend, so named because that’s where the river bends. Or Crooked River.
#8—In 150 miles from the border of California to my home town I passed more national forests, state parks, lakes, volcanoes, lava caves and mountains than I did towns. By like a factor of 20. At least.
#7—Have you ever heard of Oregon Institute of Technology? Me neither. But they exist. And clearly they don’t get many students, since they still haven’t invented technology akin to a snow plow, since I drove 150 miles on pure snow, on a sunny day.
#6—I once saw a postcard that had a picture of an old dude in a cowboy hat glaring at a UFO. The caption said “Must be those darn Californians again”. It’s a pretty universal view.
#5—The #1 most coveted job in high school is working at the ghetto bowling alley. Only the really cool popular people can get that job. The rest have to work at gas stations. High school jobs often become life careers as well. Unless you’re lucky enough to get hired by Wal-Mart after graduation.
#4—The most happening time of the day is Happy Hour at the fast food burger joint Sonic, followed by the social outing of the day at Wal-Mart.
#3—Our county fair is mostly like any other fair, with all the rides and carnival games, but there’s also a bazillion barns full of every kind of livestock imaginable. And let’s not forget the ginormous rodeo that’s going on all days of the fair. And pretty much the only musicians that come to our county fair are country singers. Unless you count Weird Al.
#2—On Thanksgiving morning me and my mom had to run to the grocery store to pick up some last minute supplies. And so we went in pajamas, hair not done, no make-up, no shower, no bra. All that was missing was the slippers, but there was a foot of snow outside, so that wasn’t going to happen. The best part, everyone else in the grocery store was dressed EXACTLY the same.
#1—Chainsaw Creations. I’ve never been inside this store, but every time I drive by it makes me want to laugh. There are literally giant wooden totem pole-like bears, or any other kind of animal you could want. All made from chainsaws. Really???
Sunday, November 28, 2010
The Goose is Getting Fat
Christmas is coming!! I love Christmas so so so much, and one of the MANY reasons that I love it is because of all the wonderful traditions that my family has. Here are some of my favorites:
Decorate on Thanksgiving
Every year after we have our Thanksgiving meal, we decorate our house for Christmas. We put up the tree, bust out the Christmas music and drink egg nog for the first time! Nothing gets me more excited for Christmas than getting out all of our fun decorations that have so many amazing memories attached to them!
12 days of Christmas
This is my absolute favorite tradition. Starting the 13th of December, we start the 12 Days of Christmas. As a family we open a present each night, celebrating Christmas. The present we open usually is something like a new Christmas CD, or a new decoration, or a pair of Christmas socks for each of us, or new ornaments for the tree, or a Christmas movie, or something crafty like a gingerbread house kit. Then, on the 12th Day of Christmas, Christmas Eve, our present for that night is a new pair of pajamas to wear to bed that night! This tradition is by far the most fun!
Mom’s Christmas “Play”
This tradition started when I was really little of me and my brother re-enacting the Christmas story for my mom on Christmas Eve. As we’ve gotten older and my sister came along, it’s progressed a little into something of an annual creative desperate last minute production, which has produced such classics as last year’s Youtube video, a puppet show, a children’s picture book, and home videos including the “Hogwart’s Christmas special” with guest star ‘Donny Osmond’, “The 3 Wise Men” starring my sister as all 3 wise men, and “Best of Christmas Scenes” featuring our most illustrious celebrity guest yet, Hickberry herself (and in the words of that legendary persona, “huh, that’s a gud’n”).
Christmas Cookies
Every year I have 5 specific Christmas cookies that I must bake, and must give away (special bonus if they’re given away by ring’n’running). I always make wreath rice krispy treats, chocolate mint snaps, peppermint bark, chocolate chip cookies with Christmas M&M’s as the chips and sugar cookies with colored frosting and Christmas sprinkles!
Those are just a few of our annual traditions, but really I could go on forever describing things like Grandpa’s chocolate advent calendars, the Garfield Christmas movie and the Muppet Christmas Carol, camping out together on Christmas Eve, our special Christmas breakfast of tea rolls and soufflé, dinner of tree shaped pizzas, caroling with friends, etc, etc. Yep, Christmas is definitely the best time of the year in my family!!
Decorate on Thanksgiving
Every year after we have our Thanksgiving meal, we decorate our house for Christmas. We put up the tree, bust out the Christmas music and drink egg nog for the first time! Nothing gets me more excited for Christmas than getting out all of our fun decorations that have so many amazing memories attached to them!
12 days of Christmas
This is my absolute favorite tradition. Starting the 13th of December, we start the 12 Days of Christmas. As a family we open a present each night, celebrating Christmas. The present we open usually is something like a new Christmas CD, or a new decoration, or a pair of Christmas socks for each of us, or new ornaments for the tree, or a Christmas movie, or something crafty like a gingerbread house kit. Then, on the 12th Day of Christmas, Christmas Eve, our present for that night is a new pair of pajamas to wear to bed that night! This tradition is by far the most fun!
Mom’s Christmas “Play”
This tradition started when I was really little of me and my brother re-enacting the Christmas story for my mom on Christmas Eve. As we’ve gotten older and my sister came along, it’s progressed a little into something of an annual creative desperate last minute production, which has produced such classics as last year’s Youtube video, a puppet show, a children’s picture book, and home videos including the “Hogwart’s Christmas special” with guest star ‘Donny Osmond’, “The 3 Wise Men” starring my sister as all 3 wise men, and “Best of Christmas Scenes” featuring our most illustrious celebrity guest yet, Hickberry herself (and in the words of that legendary persona, “huh, that’s a gud’n”).
Christmas Cookies
Every year I have 5 specific Christmas cookies that I must bake, and must give away (special bonus if they’re given away by ring’n’running). I always make wreath rice krispy treats, chocolate mint snaps, peppermint bark, chocolate chip cookies with Christmas M&M’s as the chips and sugar cookies with colored frosting and Christmas sprinkles!
Those are just a few of our annual traditions, but really I could go on forever describing things like Grandpa’s chocolate advent calendars, the Garfield Christmas movie and the Muppet Christmas Carol, camping out together on Christmas Eve, our special Christmas breakfast of tea rolls and soufflé, dinner of tree shaped pizzas, caroling with friends, etc, etc. Yep, Christmas is definitely the best time of the year in my family!!
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