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Apparently November is the month to list things you are thankful for and do it on facebook for everyone to see. I'm not really about that and according to my journal, (that I seem to only write in once a year) i write things i'm thankful for in that year. Although today I wanted to recognize and write down things that I am thankful for.

Missionaries: my little brother especially. His example and growing testimony and knowledge of the gospel never cease to amaze me. He is one of my best friends and hero, but shh don't tell him.
Teechology: Receiving weekly emails from my bro and reading letters on blogs from my best friend Kim who is in the MTC preparing to go to France.
Music: Something about music I just love, one thing being that it somehow speaks to you in a way, or expresses the things you cant. At different times in life and various moods certain songs can in some way make everything seem just a little bit better.
Testimonies: Mine, and those of others. My own testimony has become the anchor in my life. When things are tough, my testimony helps get me through it... and when my own is lacking others testimonies strengthen mine and help get me through. With that, the Book of Mormon.
Trials: struggles, whatever you want to call them. (I know it sounds weird and why would I be thankful for something terrible like that, usually in the moment i'm not) but its a learning opportunity. As hard as it is to go through at the time and no matter how much it 'sucked' at that time period... and believe me sometimes it a long time period... I come out having grown and learned something that was clearly what i needed at that time.
FRIENDS: "They come in all shapes and sizes." Right now two friends i have are these 2 year olds...

and then these two amazing women..

Something about having someone so excited to see you, no matter when the last time you saw them was, is awesome!
They have become some of my best friends and helped me through more than they know. Talking or just listening, taking me places just because and just hanging out, i'm grateful for it all and they are amazing!
Family: Clearly i'm thankful for my family and as much as they drive me crazy sometimes, i wouldn't trade them for the world.

Like i said, they may drive me crazy, but everyone needs a little crazy. But they also make me want to be the best that I can be and they push me to do so. 

I realized in talking to a friend today a few things; life's short and you can't waste your time being unhappy. It's too short to be living someone else's dreams, do what you want to do because you want to do it. "Laugh when you can, apologize when you should and let go of what you can't change. Play hard, forgive quickly, take chances, give everything and have no regrets. Life is too short to be anything but happy." What i learned today is, be thankful for the things that you do have each day and work at understanding life's little messes and curve balls along the way. 

Summer Happenings

Our trip to boston and our nice specs. Ali was obviously loving life, incase you can't tell. 

Finally had family pictures done before Big Al left. 

Lizzy (21)

Alex (19)

Ali (16)

Megs (10)

Family trip to the temple for Alex

Last beach trip of the summer and this is what washed up on shore after Irene... gross!

Atch's two favorite girls...

And the cut Lucy gave him

and his other two favorite people

My cute bro getting ready to head to the MTC

and finally there, so proud of him!

Girls Camp year 10

Its kind of a pretty place, no wonder i keep going back... year after year for 10 years straight!

my crazy LITEs, they did a great job all year!

when there was a moment of free time, crazy competitions like this occurred. 

even the LITE show ended up working out despite the rain etc. 

and i got to spend time with my best friends! it was a great week and i cant wait til next year!

Words Can't Describe

This past weekend I went with my roommates and friend Ben to my family's house for the weekend and we did an all night cancer walk... it was a really neat experience but try walking all night around a track with no sleep, its very difficult. Words can't describe how brave and strong people who fight cancer are.

Words can't describe how much I'll miss these kiddos when I'm in Jersey, they get so big every time I leave.

she loves this kid and clung to him all weekend.

She said he was her favorite cousin, no they are not related. 

The matching thing wasn't on purpose, i was wearing it first but all of us were wearing tie-dye for the cancer walk. 

This is an emergency tower they have all around campus. However this one is out of service, so it doesnt do anything for you. Hence the note someone left on it: 

Say a Prayer & KEEP RUNNING!!! Don't TRIP!

Words cant describe how excited I am for sunday!! I just finished my last class, I have two finals tomorrow and then head to Utah on friday, i will be home sunday!!

Words also can't describe how excited I am to see these people:

SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!!! :) :) :) 

UPdate - Almost Summer!

First update news: countdowns!

1. 12 days til JERSEY!!
2. 9 actual school days, of that 3 are final testing days. Lets just say with all the projects and tests in the next 9 days i'm going to be stressing.

As far as finals go i have 2 in one day that i know of. Thursday the 21st i have a child development final from 3:45-5:15pm then i have a math final from 5:30-7:00pm. Yes i think the school is slowly trying to kill me. 

My family foundations project is almost done, my family was a big help and I'm excited to show them the finished project!

Latest Adventures: 

My old, current/future & new roommates at the ward races.

Making tie-dye. I forgot how addicting it is, we tie-dyed everything including our currents, that one was an accident. 

Our tie-dyed friendship shirts, sounds lame i know but they're sweet. 

Our yellowstone trip. 

I pushed Ben in a geyser. 

Its so pretty there, yeah I'm standing on snow in a t-shirt and shorts. I'd be okay if snow was always like that and not below 0.

Fourth of July, river in Idaho Falls.

Waiting for fireworks to start. 

My favorite picture from the roommate pictures we took. Yes we are crazy, and there's not a normal picture of us all just smiling. 

 Basically, I love my friends and Idaho for the most part but I'm excited to come home!!

I Love My Family!!

For my family foundations class this semester, instead of a normal final we have to do an end of the semester project. The project has to be something that we would want to share with our future families, something that we want to remember or that will teach us something in the future. (I'll add pictures when I'm finished with it.)

I decided that I thought it would be cool to have my family write out their testimonies and create a little book of all of them with their pictures. Im going to draw a picture of the temple and include The Family: A Proclamation to the World, something we've been studying and had to memorize in class. As I sat down to write my own testimony our i realized it was a lot harder than I thought, that seemed to be the general consensus with the family.

As I read through the testimonies, mine was strengthened so much in the time I spent preparing this project. I'm so blessed to have each member of my family. They are the best people I have in my life and have helped me grow physically and spiritually. They have helped me get to where I am today and I'm so blessed to have them for eternity. I love them and am so thankful for all that they do for me. I love them and can't wait to be home and spend 5 & 1/2 months with them before I come back to school for my senior year... yikes!