thanksgiving

this year for thanksgiving i decided to write down a list of twenty things that i am thankful for because i have been blessed enough to experience twenty thanksgivings in my lifetime. so here goes nothing...

1. my savior Jesus Christ. because of His love and infinite atonement i am able to return to my Heavenly Father and to become a God like him.

2. my family, both immediate and extended. i am so grateful for their love and support in everything i do. they are always there to fall back on and to help me through any trial i may face.

3. prayer. i am so grateful to be able to communicate with my Father in Heaven who loves me and knows me better than i know myself.

4. cody. i am truly blessed to have his love and support in my life. he builds my self confidence by reminding me that i am a daughter of God and that He loves me. he is always here to talk to and to support me.

5. music. music can change how i am feeling or just reflect it. it reminds me of wonderful memories and keeps me going when life gets hard.

6. friends. my friends have made me who i am today. by loving me, supporting me, encouraging me to change, and even by leaving me they have made me so much stronger, closer to God and a better person than i ever could have dreamed of being without them.

7. dylan's letters. when i get the mail and theres a letter from him my whole day gets better. i love hearing about his missionary experiences! they make me so much more excited about having my own.

8. the chance to serve a mission. my Father and Brother have done so much for me and i am so grateful to be able to repay them even just a little bit. i am also grateful for the chance to grow and become a better person.

9. technology. the communication and opportunities we have at our fingertips are unbelievable! our lives are so comfortable and connected because of how many things technology has given us.

10. cade. i am so thankful for his advice, friendship, and love in my life. Even 3,000 miles away in the dominican republic he still knows exactly what to say to brighten my day. other than my family i dont think anyone has had such a profound impact on my life as he had. i would not be the person i am today without him. i would not be as strong, faithful or confident as i am today if we had not met. he has changed my life forever and i will NEVER forget him.

11. the priesthood. i am so grateful to have a small taste of God's power here on earth. it is such a great thing to have the blessings, ordinances, and covenants that come through priesthood.

12. patriarchal blessings. to have the guidance and hope that this provides is beyond comparison. i love being able to see a small portion of the blessings my Father has in store for me.

13. laughter, smiles, and joy. i love seeing people's faces full of joy. there is nothing like laughing until you cry! and nothing can make you more attractive than a smile.

14. asl, deaf culture, and a deaf mom. i have been incredibly blessed to be a coda. to have a whole other world opened up to me has changed my life dramatically! i have learned things that i never could have any other way. the job opportunities are also an incredible blessing.

15. my job at subway and my subway friends. these people have changed my life! i couldnt ask for better co-workers! they make me want to be a better person.

16. the wardies. i am grateful to have had such a tight group of friends through what would have been the hardest years of my life, but because of them were some of the easiest.

17. ashlynn. if there could only be one reason for my knowledge that i am a daughter of God it would be her. she built my confidence and knowledge in who i am more than words can tell. when i am with her i am who i was meant to be. i will forever be grateful for her love, support, and friendship. she is a woman like none other and i aspire to be just like her.

18. my education. i am grateful to have gone to the schools i went to and to have gained the education i did. i will forever be grateful to the teachers who pushed me to work harder and to be better. to start chasing my dreams and to never stop!

19. LACROSSE! i would not be here if it was not for this sport and the people i met throught it. i will be forever grateful for my teammates and coaches. especially liechty, kathy, and beef. they are great women who have had such impacts on my life and who have been true friends.

20. books. i am grateful for the adventures, the knowledge, and the drive to become better that i have gotten from reading. the places a book can take you to are endless! the adventure, the imagination, the mystery, and the love you experience are unparallelled!


Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.  -Oprah Winfrey