Number 32

My last post was #32 which happens to be the number of posts I have had for the last three years! The first year I had this blog, half way through I left on my mission. The next year I was on my mission. And then the next I just wasn't motivated! But this year I feel that I have been very motivated. What has motivated me? I found out that I can make a book out of this blog! I really love the thought of making my blog into a book. There are so many times that I say that I need a picture of this for my blog! I love my blog, even though I am pretty much the only one that reads it! I love reading it and looking back on my memories! Here's to 32 more wonderful posts!

HERE and NOW

A couple weeks ago I went to my mission reunion. Marie was nice enough to come along. I really didn't want to go but then one of my companions talked me into it. I don't really know why I didn't want to go. Anyways, this year they started the reunion with a devotional given by the Mission President and his wife. I felt as though I was at zone conference again. President Colton asked us "Where are you and what time is it." On the mission he used to ask this question. I forgot about this and answer that I was in a church building and that it was 6:45. But others remembered and answered "Here and Now." Where are you- HERE! What time is it-NOW! What a powerful message in such simply questions!
Today it hit me, once again, to be grateful for the here and now! Never again will I get the opportunity to be here. There will never be another time like now. Even though there are so many things I want to do in the future and so places I want to go someday, for now I am content with the here and now! I wanted to write this post to remind my self of the great things that are happening in the here and now. So here I go, things I am thankful for in the HERE and NOW:

• Roommates that I really like
• Being single which means I can nab Kirstee and Makadee and do pretty much anything, watch Marley most of the time when I am needed, go to the Singles Ward, become more prepared for being a wife and mother, go to school, and so many other great things that might be different when I am married
• Going to school; it challenges my brain everyday
• Crying for joy- for awesome sunrises and beautiful skies when the sunsets
• Crying from pain- I am learning so much about myself, my family, and how to be a better contributor to society
• Time at work to type on my blog
• Time at work to struggle with my math homework
• Sugar cookies that an awesome family made for Marie last night
• The Fall season
• The beautiful color of the leaves
• The smell of mail in our little mail room
• The opportunity to be going into the elementary schools next week
• My awesome boss that is letting me work around my CRAZY schedule
• Great Pandora stations that play my favorite music
• Hunter wearing his "King of the Sandcastle" shirt on his first day of Kindergarten in AZ
• Texting my good friends to keep up to date on what is happening in their lives
• Making a cute costume for my mom for Halloween
• For those that can look behind my smile and see the sadness in my eyes and then wrapping their arms around me
• Being able to Skype Michele and Anna May (she is even cute when she cries!)
• For sleeping at night
• My mom that helps give me great ideas for my many lesson plans that are due
• The girls and boy in my program that encourage me to go on
• My teacher, that taught Todd in 5th grade, that always has a smile on her face
• Cell phones that go off (this means we get treats in our class)
• Marley singing the turtle song in Sacrament meeting last Sunday
• Rain boots, scarfs, mittens, and a new coat! Thanks Dad!
• Yogurtland on Mondays (Pumpkin Pie is the greatest)

The list could go on and on and on, but I think I will stop with this for today! My life is truly blessed! I love the HERE and NOW. I want to start living more for today. I want to remember to be happy where I stand. I want to stop worrying about the future and the past, and start living more in the present!
This is just a fun picture of Marley. I want to savor every moment I get with her because I know that one day I won't get to see her as often as I do now! She loves the Sunday comics. She will pull the paper open on the floor and "read" them. She will point to a comic and laugh. Her laughter is followed by "So funny, Jody." Or something like that. She knows she is suppose to laugh and so she does! How cute can she get?

Life is Beautiful!

For a long time I have wanted to see this movie. Marie came home the other night with a stack of movies and this was one of them. I am not going to lie, it was late and I was tired. When I saw that this movie was almost two hours long, I didn't necessarily watch it then. But Marie said I would love it. I grabbed a box of tissues and some blankets and we started the movie. It took us three nights to finish it all but it was a wonderful three days of bliss. I think this has become my favorite movie. What a wonderful message for when times are hard. What an amazing example of how to live when it is simply hard to breathe. If you haven't seen this movie, check it out today!
The main character in this movie was such an amazing person. Guido always looked on the bright side of things. He believed, even during the horror of his time, that the world could be good. And he did it all for his son. I am crying as I type this! It was a beautiful movie and it changed my life.
(Source: http://blog.badmotorfinger.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/life.jpg)