Thankful, Day 28-30

I've decided to do a few more thankful posts to finish out November.

Thankful, Day 30

President Monson.

Today in church, as our bishop got up to close the meeting, he spoke "randomly and freely" (he said) about the importance of believing in the fact that President Monson's is our prophet--right now. And that his counsel for us and the direction he has given us is true, will not change, and that he is a constant force in our lives. I suddenly felt thankful to know that.

To know that I will never be led astray, ever.

I'm thankful for that knowledge. I feel it in my heart that President Monson is our prophet. It's been a rough change for me--not that I didn't believe he was supposed to be our prophet, but I became so attached to President Hinckley. I remember right where I was when I received an assurance that President Monson is our prophet--I was sitting on my couch watching this past conference and President Monson was giving his "Joy in the Journey" talk--and conference was closing. Right after the conference had ended, a special came on that was to highlight the life of President Monson. I cried as I listened. I felt the assurance and testimony I needed to know that he is our prophet.

I'm so thankful for him.

Thankful, Day 29

Being thankful.

I've loved having a purposeful blogging session every day this month, and it's almost sad that the month is over. Thinking about something that I am thankful for every day has made me realize how blessed I really am in my life. I'm thankful that every single day I am now encouraged to get up and think deeply about the blessings I have.

Being more thankful has made me aware of how much I really do have.

Thankful, Day 28

The holiday season.

I put up my tree today. I suddenly realized how quick 2008 has gone. And then I realized, too, that I sure waste a lot of time forgetting to love and serve others throughout the year. I think, too, how quick I am to forget to make room for the Savior in my "inn" when December 25th passes and we move onto a new year.

Suddenly it's December once again, and I am wondering what I should do more of to make room for the Savior in my life.

I only hope that as I have become more thankful for things throughout the month of November, that I can become more thankful for HIM throughout the month of December.

Now, what am I going to post daily throughout this new month during this holiday season? I think I have an idea...

Thankful, Day 24-27

I'm off of work this whole week...so you would think I would be blogging every second, doing my thesis every other second, and accomplishing all of the projects I wanted to do with any spare second...

But, no.

Sometimes things don't go as you planned...here's catch up...

Thankful, Day 27

Thanksgiving Day

What a great day...I feel like I am most thankful for this chance to blog thankful thoughts in preparation for Thanksgiving Day...it's prepared me in a way, much more than ever, to really dig deep and think about what I am truly grateful for.

I love being with family and loving my little nieces and nephews. They are sooo cute, and I always feel loved by them...especially with lots of hugs ;)

Thankful, Day 26

New starts

My life has been full of new starts.

My first job-Sounds Easy Video/Pizza.

Being on sports teams in high school.

Ricks College.

China to teach English.

A mission to Taiwan.

BYU.

My first teaching job and buying a condo.

Graduate school at BYU once again.

A new job location and a new grade level.

A new home.

Every new start brought new feelings, new experiences, new trainings about life, new friends, and a love of life. I'm so grateful, for all of them. They've brought joy to every part of my life.

Thank you, Heavenly Father!

Thankful, Day 25

The Temple

It's been a while since I have been in the temple. I'm going to go in the next two weeks to see my nephew get married, and I can't wait.

To be honest, the temple reminds me of being on my mission. I didn't have to worry about anything when I was there...only teaching the gospel.

That's exactly how I feel when I am in the temple...only when I am in there, the only thing I worry about and think about and focus on... is learning the gospel.

I love it, so much.

Can't wait to go.

Thankful, Day 24

My health.

It's not great right now, but it used to be. I used to workout like crazy, and was in great shape.

Not so much now.

But the thing I AM thankful for, is that I have a healthy 'spark' in me...a desire to always want to be doing better at what I am for my health. To be eating better than I am, and to be in better shape than I am.

I don't know how long this spark will stay with me, but I sure hope it always does...and that the spark that's there right now turns into a flame and I can get some of this weight off!!!

Thankful, Day 21-23

Wow. I'm behind, once again.

Thankful, Day 23

The medication I've been on has almost found itself completely out of my system. Today, I didn't have the "niggies" at all in church! Funny thing, our family gave"Restless Leg Syndrome" this little nickname millions of years ago...I think we were the ones that invented this disease that plagues hundreds of thousands of people now. For as long as I can remember, we have always had...the niggies.

Don't quite know where the nickname came from....but it totally fits!

Throughout the whole of church today, I found myself keeping my legs completely still...and it was so noticeable that I frequently just stopped and thought about it, waiting for the niggies to start...but they didn't. Maybe the meds I've been taking for so long made them worse!

Anyhow, I'm thankful that I had at least one day where I didn't feel the creepy crawlies in my legs, and could focus :)

Thankful, Day 22

Going from a singles ward to a family ward has been quite rough. I don't know quite how to explain it, other than I sort of feel alone in a way. Today I found a single friend in Relief Society...and, she didn't ignore me...and I didn't ignore her...we talked.

It was nice.

I'm thankful that for a few minutes she made my space in this ward bearable...thanks, Terri!

Thankful, Day 21

Twilight. Went to see it, loved it.

So I'm not saying I'm thankful for Twilight, but I was reminded of when I read the book...and that instead of watching t.v., I read a book for a few nights...so seeing the movie reminded me that I need to read more...a lot more.

I love reading. And I think I forget sometimes how much I really do. I am not the kind of person who likes the Twilight type of a book...fiction is hard for me. I want something REAL. But I did like it, just for the fact that it made me use my mind instead of just letting my mind be entertained by t.v.

Anyways, the real reason I'm thankful is because some of my most favorite books have been true stories...about REAL topics...hurtful things, happy things, sad things,...interesting things...I just love REALNESS, and I'm thankful for authors who write about real topics, even though it may be hard and painful to do.

Thankful, Day 20

I think I've found my shoesoulmate.

Lately I have had a really, really hard time with my feet. Gaining weight and bunyans is an evil combination and I just have felt like I've been through the wringer with my feet the last few weeks! I have purchased a few pair of shoes so that I can rotate the soreness...

I found these babies at Tradehome shoes today. Of course I always pay pricey for the shoes I buy, seeing as I am on my feet all day...I just need good ones.

I'm so thankful to have finally found a shoetype that puts up with my daily wear, tear, and bunyan pain.

Ouch! I think I'm ready for surgery on these babies!

Thankful, Day 19

I'm so thankful, for my most favorite hymn.."Abide with me; 'Tis Eventide" (#165). It has given, and continues to give, the greatest peace when I need it.

Some time ago, in the midst of preparing a Relief Society lesson, I was watching the movie, "The Other Side of Heaven". I had forgotten how much a certain clip had touched my heart before, and as the clip approached, I put down my lesson and proceeded to watch..and just feel. It did it again..it touched me again.

Since watching the clip that day, this song has become my most favorite of the hymns. I've watched it several times and still feel immensely comforted in the same way I did that day.

So this is a really ghetto video I just made, but I searched and searched for this clip online, but to no avail. The hymn mixed with the experience in this clip, I think, is amazing...and I'm thankful for the reminder that I had of this today.

I have another thing to be grateful for when it comes to the hymns. My Chinese missionary hymnbook is my most favorite souvenier of the mission. It is soft, flimsy, and so worn out that you cannot even see the title on the front cover. Each time I open and flip through it, smells densely embedded in each of the pages brings back swarms of sweet, comforting memories of people, experiences, and deep emotions.

A while ago, while teaching at the MTC, we were sitting in a meeting where the missionaries get to practice teaching their discussions to volunteer investigators. While singing the opening hymn, sharing my souvenier hymnbook with the chinese volunteer next to me, she leaned over and said, "Sister Thomas...I need a hymnbook...can I have yours?"

Gulp.

I have to admit, I said "No"...but I gave my "favorite souvenier" excuse...I hope she wasn't offended.

I just couldn't part with it. :)

Thankful, Day 18

I am so motivated weekly by this show. I think it's amazing the amount of weight these people lose in a matter of weeks.

The weight loss isn't the only thing that impresses me....it's the inner strength they seem to gain-knowing they can work out for hours a day, or kick butt on the bike for a minute straight.

I've got 60 lbs to lose, and I'll admit...some of these people on the show are passing me up. But the fact of the matter is, I can't watch this show without giving myself my own little "Jillian" speech-with a desire to get going on this weight loss.

I'm thankful for people that motivate me to be better than I am...sometimes it's all that keeps me going!

Thankful, Day 14-17

I'm so behind.

I'm up for the night...hopefully not the whole night, but working on getting a draft of my thesis finished for review. This is a needed break!!

Day 14: Journals

For some reason, I've been pulling out my old journals this past week...and just have been opening up to random pages. This is a picture of one of my missionary journals. I cut off all of the stamps from letters I received from friends and family around the country...it's become quite a keepsake for me.

Writing, for me, is food for the soul! It does something when I write out my thoughts, rather than just speak them. It has a healing effect!!

Maybe that's why I love it so much.

Day 15: My job

2007-2008 school year

Today at work I observed one of the teachers that I mentor at my school (A 1st grade class). I love watching little kids...I love just observing them. This little girl with amazingly huge beautiful blue eyes and lusciously long eyelashes came to the back table where I was sitting. She picked up one of the math equation cards to work on, and instead of just picking up a random card, I could hear under her little breath as she pointed at them, "Eenie meenie, minee moe, catch a tiger by the toe...". I couldn't help but smile.

Friday I was outside doing 'bus duty' and had a constant smile across my face as parents dropped their kids off...Here are some things between parent and child that I saw/heard/noticed all in the same morning--a 20 minute span of time...

"Hey! You forgot to give me a kiss!"

"I just love my dad so much" (a student says this to me after he says bye to his dad)

"Don't forget, mommy loves you"

"I can't wait to see you when you get home!"

I love my job.

Day 16: Phrases from blessings

"Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing--yea, even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth and corruptibleness to the extent thereof" (D&C 19:38)

As I have been looking through some past journals this week, I have come upon serveral entries where I recorded snipets from priesthood blessings that I have received. It's a good thing that I write those thoughts down...they tend to bring comfort at times when I need them.

One particular phrase caught my attention: "All these things are promised to you...SO LIVE FOR IT"

I needed a remembrance of that tonight...I'm so thankful for those sweet phrases that have been told to me by God.

Day 17: A best friend

Over the years I have had many, many close friends....they have truly helped me throughout each moment of my life. I love confiding in people I trust, and creating a bond that I know, will last forever. I'm so thankful for my best friend, who knows me, who loves me, who has been right by my side through every experience: every success, every failure, every tender moment, everything...thank you, Lori.

I'm so grateful...for everything...but it's nice to be specific daily this month :)

Thankful, Day 13

I'm behind on my thankful days...and I feel it! I have loved pondering every day what I'm thankful for...and really thinking deeply about it. I read a short but revealing sentence today while looking through the last few days of my missionary journal.

"I have had so many learning experiences here... heart openers."

Not a day goes by that I don't feel thankful for my mission to Taiwan. I remember being in the MTC and hearing Elder Jeffrey R. Holland say to us,

"Go to give. Give all that you can. Don't leave anything at the tape. Come home on a stretcher!"

I didn't understand at the time what that truly meant. But as I read through some of the trying days I had written about, I realized how much my mission was a "heart opener". I thank my Heavenly Father for every heart experience He gave me there.

It's made me a better person.

Forever.

Thankful-Day 12

This past weekend, while I was in St. George, I had the chance to visit my Grandma Mildred Thomas. It has been a while since I had the chance to see her. She has been through a lot in the last few months...so much I didn't even realize.

Grandma has breast cancer.

She just finished 30 days of radiation treatments.

I just honor and love her. Every time we visit her, she always recalls events from the past-fun times that we had together, spiritual experiences that she has had, memories she hasn't forgotten. I don't think I've ever realized how good of a memory Grandma has.

I'm so grateful to call her Grandma.

My Dad and Uncle Noble gave her a blessing before we left. I felt inside an increased testimony because as the blessing was finished, with tears in her eyes (as she always has), she said,

"Thank you, Danny for that beautiful blessing. Now I'll be well."

Grandma has always had great faith. I'm so thankful for her example in my life. I read something the other day that reminded me of her...

President Joseph F. Smith, speaking of Heber C. Kimball, says,

"I was greatly impressed and moved by Heber C. Kimball's manner of praying in his family. I have never heard any other man pray as he did. He did not speak the the Lord as one afar off, but as if conversing with him face to face. Time and again I have been so impressed with the idea of the actual presence of God, while he was conversing with him in prayer, that I could not refrain from looking up to see if he were actually present and visible".

That's how my Grandma is...completely.

Thankful-Day 11

I was reading the scriptures tonight, and just felt an overwhelming gratefulness of the knowledge that I have that there is TRUTH in the scriptures...and that I never have to doubt when I read. I know that I can always turn to them for truth from God...

...straight answers from Him.

Although I've never doubted the truthfulness in the scriptures, it's taken me a while to really trust that if I just commit to read them, I will obtain answers....

peace...

comfort.

I'm thankful, for the scriptures. They fill a void in my life that nothing else can!

Thankful-Day 10

I sat down tonight to write this post, and thought it would be easy to be thankful, seeing as I do have many things to be thankful for. But it took me a while...and out of all the things that went across my mind, one of them stood out pretty thick...today I am thankful to have my own place. I'm thankful that my job allows me financially the chance to live here, to especially be away from the world enough that when I want to come home to silence, it's here. And that's where I'm at and what I'm enjoying right now...and it's nice. :)

Thankful-Day 9

I am so thankful for family today. I just returned from a way fun vacation in St. George with my family, and then spent the night at my sister Shari's house and laughed my head off for hours! Every single Sunday I get a text from either my niece Channy, Rachel, Ashley, or my sister Shari saying, "You comin' over today?" It makes me feel loved, accepted, and needed....and I love that. My sisters and brothers are always inviting me to come over and see my nieces and nephews sports events, school events, church events, etc....thank you, you guys!

Here is a picture of my sister Shari's family when we did a little photo shoot a while ago with my friend Shannon. The funny thing is that I was behind Shannon the whole time trying to get them to laugh, and this picture turned out hilarious! Chandler and Ashley were laughing so hard, and it made me laugh even harder! I love my family :)

Thankful-Day 8

This morning my mom and my sister Joni and I went swimming. I was watching the cutest little girl debate on whether or not she should get in the hot tub. She kept dipping her feet in, and crying when her sister tried to pull her in. I suddenly had a flood of memories of all of the little kids I have known and loved in my life...specifically my nieces and nephews. Of course, this post only has a FEW pictures of a FEW of them (I have 33! And the oldest is married and expecting one of his own!) These pictures of course were taken many many years ago as they were small babies (I guess I need to update my pictures folder!)

I have so many memories of tending them when they were this small. Coming from a large family with 8 siblings, and being the youngest girl, I was often priveledged to watch them and take care of them-sometimes just for a few minutes, a few hours, over weekends, and sometimes just at family events/parties where I held them and played with them. I still do that...and I love it. I am so thankful for my nieces and nephews....I love them with all of my heart...all of them! I can't wait to someday have some of my own little ones.

Aren't these just sweet faces?

Thankful-Day 7

Yesterday was my last day of taking Effexor-a medication for depression/anxiety. I've included my thoughts of coming off of this med in several posts, but since I'm posting my thankfulness every day--this definately is a tops. I've been on this med for several years...Let me just give the top ten reasons why I'm coming off of it, and what it has been like for me.

1. I have felt completely "blah" for a while. The doctor said it's because my nerve endings are shot, and it definately means it's time to come off of it.

2. Whenever I miss taking it, (which, by the way you can't miss it for more than 2 days) because I forgot, or, I ran out of money to buy a new prescription, my brain makes this "crinkling" sound off and on that in time soon gives me major migraine headaches.

3. When I miss taking it, I have major weird psycho dreams, which also makes me more tired in the day because the night was filled with 49 million dreams that made me toss and turn!!

4. When I miss taking it, I feel like I am not on the earth...like I'm not in my body. Does that even make sense?

5. I'm sick of relying on meds to help me...when, it really isn't doing the job it should.

6. I've gained too much weight from being on it...can I blame meds for that? :)

7. I shake and have the "niggies" more when I'm on it.

8. I feel like a zombie on it...I don't feel like I'm myself-I've been withdrawn since I've been on it, and have felt like I 'tune out' of everything.

9. Since the doctor has been weening me off 37.5 mg at a time, I have started to feel the spirit more each week. I feel like I can pay attention in church, I can set goals more and work for them--and I don't give up after a day of doing them. I seem to feel like a real person again....does that even make sense? It's like the meds have taken over my life, and I am now reclaiming it once again..as MY life.

10. I will be $150 richer each month. :)

I am thankful for this day....and I hope that I can make it on my own without the meds. I already feel like I am a new person. :)

8 things

I was tagged a while ago...and I have found myself addicted to blogging for the past few days. This did take me a bit of time, but it was really fun to think about all of this!

8 t.v. shows I watch

1. Biggest loser
2. Law & Order SVU
3. American Idol
4. King of Queens
5. Extreme Home Makeover
6. General Conference & CES Firesides
7. Oprah
8. Ellen

8 restaurants

1. Bajio
2. Cafe Rio
3. PF Changs
4. Pei Wei
5. Olive Garden
6. Brick Oven
7. Tucanos
8. Mimi's Cafe

8 things that happened yesterday

1. I did 6 cardio workouts in between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.-to keep myself awake in between breaks of writing another thesis draft
2. I went to bed at 5:30 a.m. and woke up at 6:30 a.m. (Yes, one hour folks)
3. I woke up to my alarm and heard the announcer on KBULL saying "Don't even think about pushing your snooze button today!"
4. I pondered Obama's win
5. I helped unstick a zipper on one of my student's sweaters that I worked on for an hour while I was teaching
6. My best friend saved my stressful day by helping me get caught up at work
7. I planned 2 days worth of sub plans in a short hour
8. I arrived in a way awesome condo in St. George for a 4 day weekend

8 things I look forward to

1. Being in the temple
2. Finding a husband
3. Raising children
4. Loving my own little family
5. Being debt free
6. Losing 50 lbs
7. Reading the scriptures and gaining new insights
8. Watching President Monson and learning through this new prophet of ours

8 things on my wish list

1. A husband--or even just a boyfriend for now :0
2. That my thesis was done and defended
3. Graduation-April 2009
4. For Colleen to win Biggest Loser
5. Going to the Ellen Show
6. That all my clothes fit me that are in my closet
7. A plane ride to a new country
8. Hawaii

8 words or phrases I say all the time

1. I have the niggies!
2. I have 49 fat rolls!
3. You are kidding...
4. Turbo Jam
5. I need some tan pants
6. My feet are killing me
7. Voices off!
8. I'll wait...when you're ready...

8 people I tag

1. Lori x8

Thankful, Day 6

This weekend, my mom & dad, and sister Joni and I came for a 4 day trip to St. George. My mom and dad have a time share here, and it is awesome! It is equipped with everything, and we feel like we are just staying in a nice house! So much better than Grandma's trailer, and even a nice hotel! I know I have said this several times in my posts, but I've been weening myself off of my medication (effexor), and I feel like a new person every day! The weather here just seems to make me feel even better and better! Tomorrow is my very last day on this med!!!!! We have been blogging and just relaxing---and I needed this break! We are now headed off to go shopping for the day:) I'm so thankful to have a mini get away!!!!

Thankful, Day 5

Prioritizing is a good thing. This weekend, I put work and school on hold to take a vacation....and that was a HUGE priority...a needed one. This was a conversation I had with one of my students when I told him I would be gone for two days on a vacation:

"Hey...I didn't think teachers could miss school".

"Who says?"

"Well, because teachers have to be here to teach us".

"That is what wonderful substitutes are for" :)

I love my job...I really do. In fact, I think for a first time in 7 years teaching, I can say that this is the best behaved class I've ever had (Knock on wood) How important it is...to make yourself a priority. And today, I'm thankful for my ability to do that. Coming off meds I think is allowing me to see the importance of this.

Thankful, Day 4

I read something tonight in the Bible that just sort of popped out of nowhere...you know how that happens sometimes when you need it the most? I've thought a lot about being single still at 32. Sometimes, I believe "he" will come into my life, sometimes I doubt it more than anything I know. Tonight, this phrase jumped at me...Hebrews 10: 37 "For yet a little while, and he that shall come, will come, and will not tarry". Now I know that this certain scripture was referring to something totally different in Hebrews...but tonight, I felt it was just for me. I'm thankful, for the Bible today.

Thankful, Days 1-3

I just wanted to respond to an invite from my sister about being more thankful during the month of November. I was thinking about this the other day...the fact that this time of year I always try to be more thankful...and then I remember that I should be thankful all year round...not just in November. Maybe that's why we have this month-so we can remember to thank more throughout the year. So, this is a random thankful thought, but today...I'm thankful to be almost medication free. I've been coming off of meds that I've been on for a few years now, and it's like I am a completely new person...I can feel again. I've had thankful thoughts all day long because of it. It feels good, really really good.

Some randomness...but pretty entertaining :)

A few weekends ago, some of my good friends from my graduate program got together to attend our friend Liz's wedding reception. It by far was one of the most interesting receptions we had been to...fun, but so out of the ordinary! It was actually nice to see something done a little different.

SO we showed up in dresses....and everyone else was wearing jeans and football/college shirts-sweatshirts. And so, we felt a tad out of place...The random dancing on the 'football field' in the middle of the floor was way fun to watch. Seriously, this girl and her mom (Liz's husbands family) were way good dancers!

The best part about the whole night was that we got to see one another--and it has been WAY too long! We got to vent about our frustrations with our Theses...and re-motivated each other to buck up and get to work! I'm so glad I wasn't the only one who has been struggling to get done..thanks, guys, and CONGRATS, Liz! Woo Hoo!!!