New Look!

My sister-in law, Sam, redid my blog for me. Isn't is cute? I really like owls, don't ask why, but I think they are really cute! I found a scrapbook paper online that had owls on it. Sam took the piece of paper re-sized the owls and made them different colors. She then made a header for me and a signature for the bottom of my posts. I really like the design and am very thankful for Sam. She is so talented! Sam graduates in April with a degree in Digital Media. If you would like to contact her, her information is on the sidebar of this blog!

Thanksgiving 1

I want to write about some more things that I am thankful for. It is kind of late and normally I would be asleep by this time. But I went to the temple tonight with my ward and we were late. Now that I am home, I am not really tired. So I thought I would listen to Wicked and write on my blog. And since Thanksgiving is next week I will write about more things I am thankful for!

1. Music

As many of you know I love music. One of my favorite callings in the church was Music Chorister/ Choir director. I loved this calling. Church music brings a great spirit into any meeting or gathering. I love to sing in big groups, small groups and most of all in the shower. Not just church music but I am a lover of musicals. A couple years ago, my mom and I went to Les Miserables. I loved every minute of the show. My mood can be changed in an instant by music!

2. Homemade Bread

I will never forget my Grandmother's bread. It was so tasty. She would make it for me a lot when I went away to college. A piece of bread with strawberry jam is so comforting. A couple of weeks ago one of my really good friends made me homemade bread and strawberry jam. It was amazing! Then tonight after the temple we went to the first counselor in the bishopric's house. His wife made bread and hummus for us. She even sent us home with part of the loaf. I LOVE BREAD but only if it is homemade!

3. Children

I may not have any of my own but I have had the great privilege of having children surround me throughout my life. Whether at my mom's school, with my family, on my mission, or at my own school I love to have children around me. The keep me innocent, pure, happy, and tied to reality. I love children!

Marley and I

Ronnie, a little boy that always called me Mr. Comte on my mission!

Caitlyn, a little girl that I taught on my mission

My King!

4. Phones, Email, Facebook, Blog, Snail Mail

All these things help me to stay in contact with all the people that I love so much! I'm grateful to have these tools to help me keep up with those that make the most difference in my life!

5. My anteater!

While on my mission, my companions and I were trying to eliminate Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANT). We always were hoping that we could find a stuffed anteater to help us remember to get rid of the negative and think positively. The last day we were all together my companion found a stuffed animal anteater at the post office. It now sits on my desk and reminds me to be happy!

6. My Liahona

On my mission, a wonderful woman and her husband made me a Liahona. She made it out of a Christmas ornament. It is filled with scriptures on slips of paper. It is so cute and it reminds me of some of my favorite scriptures! When I am feeling lost or lonely or happy, any emotion actually, I just pull out my Liahona and read!

7. Trials
I was just thinking of some of my trials and what I have learned from them. I hope that I can learn from all of my trials. It is also a goal of mine to stop complaining about them so much and remember to find the silver lining in the dark clouds of life.

Tender Mercies of the Lord

When I decided to move to Provo, I really prayed and pondered about staying in the Payson ward or coming into a Provo ward. The Payson ward is wonderful. I love the bishop and his counselors so much! I know almost everyone in the ward and most of them are my really good friends. I loved my callings and felt needed in the ward. My answer when I prayed was to come into my Provo ward. I knew this was the right decision for me all along. I have learned throughout my life, that when I get comfortable something needs to change. I remember having a conversation with one of my companions and telling her I didn't feel comfortable in missionary work. She said that was good because once we start to feel comfortable we become lackadaisical. She mentioned that we weren't meant to be comfortable. Being comfortable means that we are not really progressing. So I knew that I needed to come to a Provo ward to experience new things. I knew it would be hard but that eventually I would like it here as well. It has been hard and I have been rethinking the decision lately. Mostly it is hard because I haven't put my foot forward and meet very many people. I know that I need to put myself out there but I am scared of being rejected. Anyways, today I got to church and was sitting by myself. The thought came across my mind to just leave after sacrament and not come back. But I was good and stayed because I go to church for the spirit not because of others. I was feeling so lonely but pushed myself to talk to people and meet a new person. All day the thought of going back to Payson has run through my mind. Tonight when I got home, there were two notes at my door. My ward started doing love notes today. I knew I wouldn't get any because I only now about two people. I was shocked to see those notes. The one was from an anonymous person but it was beautiful. The other was from one of my friends in the ward. Her name is Stacey. Stacey and I meet along time ago when I worked for the equipment room on campus. She was on the track team and I did her laundry. Stacey then became Sister Slight as we served together as missionaries. Sister Slight served in the Temple Square mission but for her time out of Salt Lake, she served in Tampa. We were in neighboring areas and got to see each other a few times! Now we are in the same ward. I am pretty sure we are suppose to be friends! She wrote me the other note. I cried as I read it. From this note I have decided to stay in this ward. It gave me encouragement to go on. Life is hard, but I can do hard things. The Lord wants me here and I am trying to learn as I go. Everyday He gives me tender mercies to let me know He is there. Tonight the tender mercy was found in two little love notes that mean the world to me!

For Good

For those that don't know, I have become infatuated with the musical Wicked. I have heard of it in the past but have never really gotten into it. This last summer though, mom and I heard the music and fell in love. We were at music camp in Evanston. My aunt has run this camp for many years and when I was a young teenager my brothers and I went for many years. We went only for a few days this year to help my cousin Michele. Our neighbors went this year, so we wanted to see them perform as well. While we were there we heard many performances of songs from Wicked. I have been listening to the music ever since and am dying to go to New York to see it on Broadway. The cool thing is if I go to New York, not only can I go see Wicked but I would get to see one of my favorite cousins, Michele!!!!
This last week I have probably listened to the song For Good from Wicked ten times. It is my favorite I think. I have been thinking about all the people that have changed my life for good. I want to say thank you for all those that have left footprints on my heart. I would name you all if I could but one it would take up pages and pages of text and second, because I might forget someone and I would hate for that person to think they don't matter. I have been extremely blessed to be surrounded throughout my life by some of the most amazing people. THANK YOU all so much for all that have touched my life. It brings tears to my eyes to think of you. For all the smiles and all the tears I am ever grateful to you!
P.S I am so proud of myself for embedding this video into my blog!

Update Time!

For all who are wondering, my forehead is healing nicely. I got my stitches out and now have little strips over the wound. The nurse that took them out says that I won't have much of a scar. It is still very itchy at times and my black eye is still not totally gone. I can not jump around very much or spin but I am back to pretty regular functioning.
As you know, it is the month of Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for many things. My sister-in-law has a wonderful blog and is writing something she is thankful for each and every day this month. I thought I would do the same but I don't want to steal her idea. So I will just post once in awhile and depending on the day will post how many things I am thankful for. (By the way my sister-in-law is working on a new layout for my blog. That's why it looks so plain right now!) These things are in no particular order but all of them are very near and dear to my heart.

1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ
There are so many things that fall under this heading. The temple, the sacrament, the covenants that we make with our Heavenly Father, knowing the truth, having a prophet, paying tithing, having a ward family, Relief Society, knowing who I really am, love, joy, peace, awesome religion classes, and sooooooooo much more. I love the church! I am grateful to have been born and raised in the church because it is the only true church on the earth!

2. My Wonderful Family
Once again there are so many things that I am thankful for in this category as well. My family is amazing. I have great brothers. I have very talented sister-in-laws and a very cute niece and a great nephew. (or should I say King) My mother is amazing and helps me everyday to just make it through and my dad is always there when I need him. Always! I love my family very much!

3. Brigham Young University
Even though I feel that it will be my udder destruction, I am so very grateful for school. I have been accepted into the elementary education program here at BYU and will start next semester. I am grateful for BYU because I LOVE starting class, not just religion courses, with a prayer. I love the atmosphere that comes from students you are striving to live the honor code. I love my professors and all those that I associate with on campus.

4. My Cousin and her Girls
I love Heidi, Kirstee and Makadee. They always make me so happy. Heidi is really fun to talk to and we could and can talk for hours on end when we have the time. Heidi is so gracious to let me be a part of her children's lifes. Kirstee turned eight this last weekend. Her and her cousin were baptized on Saturday morning. I was asked to give the closing prayer. I choked up in the prayer because the spirit was strong. Kirstee is a beautiful girl and always makes me laugh. Makadee is so cute and is very sweet most of the time. She always want me around and that makes me so happy.

5. Apartment
I love my apartment. I got a really good deal on a really nice little place in Provo. I have my own room. I have great roommates. I could walk to campus but it is getting a little cold. I live two blocks away from one of my best friends and her little family. The ward is great here as well. The bishop asked my name once and has never asked again because he remembered it!

6. Job
I have written about my job earlier on my blog, but I want to reiterate a few things. First is my wonderful boss/second father. Brad is always making sure I am okay even if it has nothing to do with work. He cares about my schooling and about my personal life. He was so sad when I injured myself. Everyone at work for that matter was worried about me. I love to deliver mail because I get to talk to a lot of people. I have made so many good friends through my job!

7. Beautiful Earth

I love when the leafs change colors. This picture was taken by Ryan or Sam when they went on a picnic a couple weeks ago. Aren't the mountains something? I love this earth and it is so beautiful to behold!

8. Friends

I don't know who took this photo but they need a little help with cropping! I love this picture though because it is with one of my best friends Heather. Heather and I were friends when we were in Junior High. She moved away after about 2 years of being my neighbor and I was so heartbroken. We stayed in contact over the years but it wasn't very good contact. We would maybe talk to each other once a year. I got to go to her wedding but hadn't heard much from her since then. She heard through the grape vine that I was going on a mission. We went to lunch the week before I left for the MTC. She said she would write but so does everyone. I had been out about 2 months when she wrote to tell me she was pregnant. She wrote several more times. I am so thankful for her because she was a true friend to me when I got home. When I was so lonely and no one was around, she was. She holds a dear spot in my heart. I am so happy because she is pregnant with baby #2.

9. Planner
Oh, how I love to plan!!! This is defiantly a product of my mission. I learned how to really plan when I was in Florida and haven't stopped planning. I know this is strange but I have a RM planner. I try and plan each day out. It is amazing how much better my days are if I plan it out!

10. Talents and Abilities
I am so grateful for the talents and abilities that God has given to me. I love to be crafty. Last weekend I made a tutu for Kirstee's Birthday. It made me crazy because I didn't have much time to do it. But it was worth it and much more to see Kirstee's smile when she put it on. She didn't want to take it off, not even for bedtime. I also love children and feel that God has given me a great ability to work with them. I also feel that I have a pretty good mind. I can remember names for the most part and have good recall memory!