Counting My Many Blessings

I could write to fill pages and pages full of things that I am grateful for and why. I just got back to Macalester after an amazing Thanksgiving weekend at home. This time of year is all about recognizing the things in your life that you are thankful for, and while I know there are SO many things I could say, I will narrow it down a little for the sake of not having a fifty page post. :)

I AM THANKFUL.

 For my FAMILY. They are always there for me, they always make me laugh, they always encourage me to follow my dreams. Always.

To be surrounded by people that I love, who love me and care about me and always let me know it. Family, friends, neighbors, leaders. I love them ALL. I am one lucky girl, don't ever think that a day goes by where I don't realize this!

The GOSPEL. I cannot describe to anyone just how much this has meant to me. General conference, church, temple, and especially the scriptures. When life gets crazy, and you get caught up in storms, we can return to the foundation which we have built. "..A foundation whereon if men build, they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12) I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true. Being a part of it gives me comfort every single day.

 AMAZING friends:)

I somehow managed to find the most incredible people possible and decided that it'd be nice to keep them around. These amazing people are my friends. They do so much for me and keep me sane. I seriously don't know what I'd do without them!!

I have come to the conclusion that you don't realize how much you have until you move to Minnesota and suddenly everything is 1500 miles away! The nice thing is that these things will always be here. Good friends, amazing people to care about you, the gospel, and especially family. I may be growing up, but it isn't really all that scary knowing how much support I have.

THANK goodness for the blessings in our lives!

There are so many things around us that we take for granted, maybe we could all take a minute to slow down and think about everything that we have. The list is virtually endless.

Give THANKS every day, and you'll find happiness always. Happy Thanksgiving! :)

Till We Meet Again

People are constantly coming and going from our lives. Sometimes, people can step in for just a little, and leave a huge imprint on our lives. Been there? Yeah, me too. His name is Jackson. I took him to Morp this year and amidst the answer cube, glow sticks, and awkward pictures, we had such a good time!

What resulted was a fantastic friendship! It feels like just yesterday we were drinking slurpees and talking about how crazy it was that we'd be graduating high school in about a month.. and suddenly, we were graduated.

And then summer came! : )

We spent the entire summer having adventures and doing random and crazy things together. Here is the crazy thing.. I almost didn't ask him to Morp!

Hands down, favorite summer of all time. Jackson is crazy, funny, loud, and super outgoing. I on the other hand? Not so much any of the above. Jackson always convinced me to do crazy things, and I loved every minute that we spent together!

I was so sad to see the summer end, and our adventures along with them. Now I am in Minnesota, and just yesterday, Jackson left for the MTC. In a little bit, he will be serving his mission in Boston. I am so grateful for all the time I got to spend with him and the adventures that we had! He is absolutely an amazing guy and will be an awesome missionary. Good luck in all you do Jackson! I believe you will do amazing things in your life! : )

As Rocks In A River

I once had a lesson in seminary about trials. Our teacher talked of Joseph Smith and how, even though he endured many hard times and was persecuted nearly his entire life, he continued to put his trust in God and do His will. In D&C 127, he states "And as for the perils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me.. to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth.." He knew that with God's help, he would always overcome, and for this reason almost welcomed trials, knowing they shaped and refined him.

Every person goes through trials. Some are large, seemingly earth-shattering. Some are small. But it is through these trials that we learn about ourselves and grow into better people. As my seminary teacher explained, we are like rocks in a river.
Have you ever felt a river rock? The time it has spent being thrown to and fro in the water and tumbling across other rocks has filed away all the rough edges, leaving it smooth to the touch. Sometimes, it seems as though we just keep getting thrown around, from one trial to the next. I think that many people, once they pass through a hardship, would look back on the discouraging time as one of learning, and though it was hard, are grateful for the lessons that came. Though it is hard to remember, we are all like rocks in a river. Every little bump that we hit along the way is only smoothing out our rough edges, and ultimately shaping us for the better. And one day, we will look back and be grateful for the bumpy ride.

Whatever Is- Is Best

I found this poem just the other day and it really hit me. I think the reason that I like it so much is that I really can relate. I am at a point in my life where sometimes I just sit back and wonder why- why things happen the way they do, why the people I meet are in my life. I often find myself worrying, worrying, worrying. I worry about the future, I worry about the present. I worry about my current friends and sometimes about past friends, and even occasionally, about people that I haven't even met yet. I worry that somehow as I go throughout college that I will do something to screw up my entire future. I worry about my career path and my major and who I am going to marry. And then some days, I realize that worrying gets me absolutely nowhere! You either can do something about your problems or you can't. The things that you have no control over will happen anyways, no use worrying about it.. and as for those things that you do have control over, well stop stressing and start doing something about it! It is poems like these that I return to again and again as I remind myself that things always happen for a reason. Everything works out in the end, and whatever is- is best.

Whatever Is- Is Best

I know as my life grows older,
And mine eyes have clearer sight,
That under each rank of wrong, somewhere
There lies the root of right;
That each sorrow has its purpose,
By the sorrowing oft unguessed,
But as sure as the sun brings morning,
Whatever is – is best.

I know that each sinful action,
As sure as the night brings shade,
Is somewhere, sometime punished,
Though the hour be long delayed.
I know that the soul is sided
Sometimes by the heart’s unrest,
And to grow means often to suffer –
But whatever is – is best.

I know there are no errors
In the great Eternal plan,
And all things work together
For the final good of man.
And I know as my soul speeds onward,
In its grand Eternal quest,
I shall say as I look back earthward,
Whatever is – is best.


Ella Wheeler Wilcox