consider it.

"Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life." - Ezra Taft Benson.

Which reminds me of this:

Thanksgiving marks the time when we begin to focus on presents and gifts and decorations and carolers and snowmen and twinkle lights and hot chocolate and treats and stories.

However, it also kicks off the start of the season of giving.

Maybe there are a few gifts that we can give that might leave a more lasting impression than any temporal, store-bought, bow-topped gift under the tree.

think about it.

about TIME. sheesh.

I did it. For real this time. I took a whopper of an ANATOMICAL test at the infamous and awful testing center, known loathingly as Heber. AND I came away with a solid 92% on the multiple choice with a "fantastic!" written next to my number on the score screen.

Can I just say I've been waiting for a moment like this for 4 years? I've gotten good grades like this before, but not on a test for my major. Just on little side tests like ethics, and judaism, and d&c, and english. but never on a test for a major class. BOOOOOOOYAH.

I'm pretty peacock proud right now. Except I have yet another test (for my major, yet again) tomorrow before I can claim my freedom for the holiday weekend.

Time to get off my proud pedestal and back to the old grind. I just wanted to document this moment for posterity's sake (and my sanity's - for when finals roll around and I feel utterly stupid again). And I thought this picture was strangely appropriate:

RSVP please.

I'm taking a break from anatomy and I thought I would share this gem with you. Written in the margin of my anatomy notebook was this: "Everybody is invited to think."

And you are. So please do.

Think about stuff. Think about your family. Think about the words you say. Think about the things you do. Think about your attitude. Think about your blessings in life. Think about the opportunities of life. Think about love. Think about beauty. Think about nature. Think about all the wonderful things in life. Think about the answers we have to life's great questions. (If you're still thinking about them, go here.)

But please. Start thinking. And appreciating.

what are YOU thankful for?

What I am thankful for today:
1. for the Church. and the Atonement.

2. for real salt lake winning the mls cup. for being the underdogs and for fighting their way to the top.

3. for friends to be nervous and scream and celebrate with when we do win.

4. for delicious food to fuel frenzied enthusiasm.

5. for being able to find the hilarity in having a dating seminar during sunday school instead of a lesson

6. for vacation days and short school days

7. for a cozy bed that is warm and snuggly.

8. for gchat. and skype.

9. for hopes and dreams and plans and wishes and goals.

10. for people with whom i can share all the hopes and dreams and plans and wishes and goals

"Happiness cannot be travelled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude." Deni Waitley

This one hits home.

Does this resonate with anyone else?

Because it sure struck a chord with me.

Oh happy day.

I bought Christmas presents today!! It was thrilling. And, I thought about posting a picture of the things I got just because I think they are pretty rad. BUT you will just have to wait the 37 days until Christmas to find out.

And I am excited to see this tree:

Oh, the memories of Christmas caroling in NYC. And the bitter bitter cold wind. I don't miss that part.

I love candid photos.

Found this little gem. Isn't it precious how the love just ooooozes off the page?

Personally, I think it would be a lot cuter if the lady on the left wasn't staring at C and J.

Oh well. you get what you get and you don't get upset. :)

'Tis the season, I suppose.

It is almost Thanksgiving. And I'm starting to think I need to start taking a healthy dose of gratitude every day. Sometimes being a grump is so strangely satisfying that it is hard to get out of the slump.

I should be grateful I have at least one exam every week because it gives me more points to help my grade (theoretically speaking).

I should be grateful for the long hours at work despite the slowness because it means a bigger paycheck with less stress.

I should be grateful for my education because it is almost over and I am starting to get the feeling I might actually miss it.

I should be grateful for my busy days because it means I am actually doing something with my time (and hopefully those things are worthwhile)

I should be grateful for the time I get to spend with friends because very soon we will all be doing different things with our lives and going in different directions.

I should be grateful for planes that can fly me home for Christmas because it means I do not have to take a 176 hour train ride or 5 day bus ride.

I should be grateful for this blog because it gives me SOME PLACE TO RAMBLE on about things and not waste someone else's time by making them listen to me.

I am grateful for family and soon-to-be-family.

I am grateful for winter. Because it makes springtime even better.

I am grateful for photographers who can capture the incredible beauty of the world we live in. And make us realize how precious the little moments are.

I am grateful for twinkly lights, pumpkin rolls and hot chocolate. Because being happy inside makes you happy on the outside and then the happiness spreads like warmth.

I am grateful for professors who tell you everything they are asking about on their exams. Because it is nice to know that they aren't trying to kill you and that they want you to do well.

I am grateful for fashion. And the pops of color that have been carried over from summer. And ruffles. For some reason, I really like the femininity they create.

I am grateful for the Honor Code. For the ways it helps us be better.

I am grateful for weekdays. They make the weekends so much better.

I am grateful for bloggers who are willing to share their creativity and imagination with the world.

I am grateful for emails from across the world. Because somehow reading someone's words brings them that much closer. Even when they are really FAR AWAY.

I am grateful for my best friend.

And, I am grateful for hope. Because sometimes things get overwhelming. And that is okay. Because I can handle it. At least, that's what I keep telling myself. Maybe if I keep repeating it, one day I will believe it.

I guess that's enough gratitude for the day. I apologize if you made it to the end of this post. I think I needed to write this more than anyone else needs to read it.

Maybe next time I will just make a thankfulness tree like this one:

I'm having writer's block. So you get pictures instead...

I want this dress:

I've been staring at it longingly since the beginning of May. Too bad I don't have $4000 just laying around that I can spend on a dress I will only wear once.

sunshine and stormy clouds.

Some days are like rainbows and puffy clouds - filled with imagination and adventure and beauty and hope. But sometimes there are dark grey ominous clouds that bring in the storms that make the day seem bleak and sad. And so these thunderstorms have a bit of a reputation that makes them most unwelcome, unpleasant and rejected. I guess I kinda learned today that sometimes stormy clouds like this aren't as terrible as they seem. They bring the rain that washes all the dirt and gloom away. And then the world is beautiful again.

And so amidst days with sunshine and days with storms, I would just like to say I am grateful for ending stormy nights on a good note. And for the beauty that comes afterwards.