Thanksgiving again

Yet another year. I have grown to love this part of the holidays. The plain truth is that I have so very much to be grateful for that when I sit down and actually catalog it out I am always amazed. This year I went with a friend to his house. It is always better to be with a family, and this family was a lot of fun. We played games, I watch the Dallas Cowboys loose again, I made a few new friends, and ate just enough to be almost stuffed. All in all a great year. It was probably the first and last Thanksgiving I will spend here, so I'm glad it was good. After dinner we played games with just his family and that was fun too. Then I amazed myself with the ability to drive up the south hill without killing anyone, injuring myself, or wrecking my car. A success all around. And now, for the list, as always, in absolutely no order at all--just what comes to my head.

1- The gospel
2- The atonement of my Savior Jesus Christ which makes everything possible and life worth living
3- my family, even when they are far away
4- Dark chocolate raisinettes, a favorite treat
5- Good friends who keep me happy and optimistic
6- hope for the life of my dreams
7- the opportunity to get an education in a field I love
8- the human body--God did such an amazing job!
9- blue jeans--I love love love wearing them
10-being able to run a marathon last summer
11-my new house. It is so fun!
12-the temple
13-the prophet
14-the New Testament--I've spent a lot of time studying it recently and it has some amazing truths
15-laughing
16-my research job that makes it so I don't have to donate plasma
17-the color purple
18-the Book of Mormon
19-the way my parents brought me up--the things they taught me in word, example, and behavior
20-agency
21-that I served a mission in Korea
22-my curly hair that makes it so I don't have to spend very long fixing it in the mornings
23-automatic washing machines. I hate handwashing things!
24-hot chocolate for cold weather
25-boots for snow
26-heaters for the winter, AC for the summer
27-that I am from Texas--one of the greatest places on the planet
28-chocolate--especially brownies
29-my computer
30-Juliet
31-the piano
32-the guitar
33-good music
34-mediocre music
35-pizza
36-the Elders Quorum who helped us move our house in almost no time at all
37-Regional activities and dances--I love those guys!
38-three square meals a day. I hate going hungry!
39-enough to always get by plus plenty extra
40-four of the most amazing sisters anyone could ever ask for. More like permanent best friends.
41-A little brother doing an amazing job on his mission. I love that guy!
42-Tex. He's actually pretty cool for a dog.
43-lotion
44-Hippo who I still cuddle with to go to sleep.
45-fuzzy socks
46-amazing roommates
47-an uber fun class
48-the ability to choose optimism
49-the way my face feels when I smile super big
50-the way Christmas lights glow under a slight snow covering
51-the internet. Who ever would have predicted this kind of technology?
52-Living in America--land of the free
53-the ability to see, speak, learn, grow, taste, smell, feel, and be
54-John Mayer. His voice makes me melt a little bit
55-the doctrine of eternal families
56-forgiveness that comes with the atonement
57-standards that keep me out of trouble
58-church leaders who support and look out for me
59-beef. Sorry cows, but it's true.
60-cold cereal-staple of the collegiate diet
61-Books for reading--especially the Gurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society!
62-numbers and math and things that make sense
63-honest, good, kind people that I meet all the time
64-colors. Wouldn't the world be boring in black and white?
65-my testimony and the strength it gives me
66-the hymns of the church
67-inspiration, even when I don't understand it
68-the no that I wish was a yes, even if I am a little bitter over it still
69-my patriarchal blessing, even the parts I don't understand yet
70-the priesthood in my life
71-raisins. In everything. Always.
72-phones for calling people, especially my family.
73-words. I love them. Especially Korean ones.
74-HIMYM
75-prayer. It really is amazing how every time I really pray I can feel the things I need to feel for whatever is going on. Our God truly is a great God.

So I guess that'll do it for this year. I have no idea why I am blessed so. Nothing I did, I can ensure you. I am a happy girl. Most of my dreams are slowly taking form, and that is an especially exciting thing. The problems in life tend to work themselves out and the good things tend to stay. I am so grateful for the abundant blessings--more than I could ever name--and the plethora of opportunities I have to enjoy them. What an amazing world this is!

Crying

The itching in the corner that makes your eyeball sting
the pinching just behind your nose that crying seems to bring.

You give a soggy smile, snot congealing on your face
glad that no one is around to witness your disgrace

And I know you know it’s dumb; this private water show.
Salty solutions flow away and tears make problems grow.

But now and then a good hard cry can help you sleep at night.
Though flooding all your makeup off is not a pretty sight.

So hold on till you’re alone then untie your dread and fears.
The world may shine out clear tomorrow if you wash tonight with tears.

Just a little blurb--mostly a procrastination tactic to delay a little longer the studying I should be doing. Haha I'm nothing if not predictable. I have gained a bit of a new appreciation for VERY OCCASIONAL crying though of late, though that's bound to disappear soon.