A Thankful Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Many of my friends and family have been posting something they are grateful for as each day in November passes. Well, I have been posting something I am grateful for each day on this blog post! I really liked the idea of taking time each day to write a little bit about something I may take for granted that I am blessed to have in my life.

I am thankful....

for the Gospel in my life. I love that my close friends and family share my same beliefs so I never have to be in uncomfortable situations. I know for a fact that the gospel is what brings me happiness. I am so glad that I have been raised in the church and know what I know.

for my wonderful and supportive parents! I am definitely where I am today because of them. They have given me the support I need to live on my own and be a grown-up! I know they love me and would do anything for me if I needed them to. I am such a lucky girl!

for the warm weather we have been having these past couple of weeks. I know that next week is suppose to get cold and most likely snow, so I'm soaking in the sunshine while it's still out!

that I have a couple of awesome roommates! They are such fun girls that make me laugh. I'm grateful we are all LDS and share the same standards and can be there for one another whenever the time comes.

for my best friend and missionary, Elder Geoffrey Whetstone! I am thankful he is safe and doing what he loves: serving the Lord. I can already see how much he has changed in a year. He loves the people of Brazil and strives so hard to bring them true happiness with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is also the most obedient missionary ever and knows that by being obedient now, blessings will come later. He is the best example for me as well as his friends and family. I am so happy that he writes me diligently and never fails to make me feel special through his letters. It's crazy how he can still make me smile even though he is so far away. He is just the best!

to be working at Deseret News. I love the environment and people I work with. I am grateful for how much I have learned in such a short amount of time. I know what I am learning here will help me with the future opportunities I am given. It will be sad to leave when the time comes. Everything happens for a reason, and the crazy story of how I even got this internship is proof of that!

for music, especially uplifting music. I love that on Sundays, I can go on my LDS station on Pandora and have good thought and be mentally prepared before church even begins. Even though there is a lot of negative music on the radio, at least we have other music to cover it up with so we can avoid the negativity!

for the gifts and talents I have been given. They make me unique and able to be the person I was meant to be. I need to start exercising some talents I know I have been given more so I don't completely lose them!

for little children. Even though I don't have any of my own, I adore my family and friend's kids. They are such a joy! Their little laughs and the way they do certain things are not only entertaining, but they make me happy. They also remind me of how precious life is and to enjoy the moments we are in more than dwelling on the future and how things "could" be. Oh how I love them!

(never thought I would say this) for the snowstorm we had last night and that will continue throughout the weekend. It was nice to watch the snow fall from my window and turn the outside into a winter wonderland. Snow is so pretty! I still am not nor ever will be thankful for the cold weather... sorry!

that only being in my new single's ward a month, I already have a church calling! I am the Relief Society Chorister. I pick out the hymns we sing each Sunday and also make sure we have a pianist until an official pianist is called. Today was my first Sunday conducting, since last Sunday I was coming home from my sister's wedding. I have always liked to conduct, I don't know why but it's fun for me. I enjoyed finding hymns that went along with the lesson and standing to see all the lovely sister's singing. This is the perfect calling for me!

that I am so frugal. It is rare for me to buy something for myself, such as clothes or jewelry, when I don't feel I need it. I spend money on food, bills and other necessities, and that's it! Even though I feel I have a good amount in my savings account, I can't bare to take any money out of it. I want to save up and use that money in the future when I need it most. Today I went out on a limb and went "dress shopping," not a normal thing for me to do. But I felt the need to get a couple of wintery dresses for work, since the two dresses I do have are more summery because they are covered in flowers and bright colors. So I went to a Dress Barn that was only a few miles from my apartment. They had some cute dresses, perfect for the winter time. The ones I really liked were around $60 bucks. I would be crazy to spend $60 on a dress! So I went to the clearance rack to see if I would have any luck there. And to my surprise, a dress that I once was so close to buying last July but didn't because it was $50 was 60% off! I found another dress I really liked as well that was originally $50 but was 60% off. So instead of paying $100 for two dresses, I only paid $34! This story just proves how frugal I am. I'm thankful I was able to get two dresses for less than the normal price of one!

for convenient transportation. I am spoiled taking the TRAX to and from work everyday and save on having to pay for gas money. The day I have to drive to my next job will be a very sad day! I also love when I am able to fly home in an hour an a half compared to driving for a good 12 hours. Me and road trips will never be friends.

for bottled water, specifically Arrowhead 100% Mountain Spring Water. It has been hard for me not to drink from the tap like I do back home, since the water here gives me a bad aftertaste in my mouth. But I have found that with bottled water, it's easier to keep track of how much I drink. You're suppose to drink 8 cups a day, which equals around 4 water bottles. I've only been drinking 3, but it is way more than I use to drink! Plus, it's the only think I drink. I don't know when the last time I had pop was. I had some juice a couple weeks ago. But I take two water bottles with me everyday to work and make sure to drink both of them, then I drink another when I get home. I hope to get to drinking 4 bottles a day eventually!

that I am more independent. I have started paying my own bills and becoming more responsible. It's a little scary but it's great knowing I am able to support myself. I am gaining more confidence as each day passes, which I am also thankful for!

that I have been given the gift of being a good cook. I can't recall many recipes I've screwed up, and if I  have I realize right away what it was that I did. I love cooking and am never afraid to try new recipes because I know I will be able to cook it right the first time. My future husband is going to be so spoiled with all the yummy food I'm going to make him :)

for being able to serve others. I love when I am able to help someone else out. It makes me so happy knowing I'm making someone else happy! Tonight I made banana bread for the girls I visit teach. Pretty great!

for such great friends. Even though I live far away from most of them, it's great to get a call or text to know they are thinking of me! I am glad to be able to hang out with some of my friends that go to BYU. We have had a lot of fun weekends and are bound to have more as the months pass!

to be able to pay tithing. I know I receive blessings when I pay my tithing. It's a great feeling to know I am giving back to my church and Savior, who has given me everything that I currently have.

for temples. I just got my temple recommend renewed since it expired last month, and I have a goal to go to all the temples near me (Salt Lake, Jordan River, Oquirrh, Draper, Mount Timpanogos, Bountiful,  Provo) while I have the chance. I know I will regret it if I don't! I love temples and I am grateful for what they stand for. They make me want to be the best I can be so I can have an eternal family someday. I also have to say I am thankful for my new bishop and his wife. They have made me feel so welcome and remembered my name and where I was from within the first month of me being there! I have already gone over for a visit to their home to pick up my temple recommend. They are just the best and also one of the cutest older couples I have ever met!

that I get to spend Thanksgiving at my cousin Brianne's house with her family and friends! This is my first Thanksgiving that I'm not spending with my own family, but I am Thankful I have plenty of cousins who live near me so I still can be around family whenever I need to be.

I am so blessed! I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! Be safe and eat lots!