The End

Today is December 31, 2011......... I made it!!!! An entire year has passed which is mind boggling to think about. So much has happened and there are so many things to be grateful for. I wanted to think of something really good for my last blog post. But the only thing I can think of is that I am grateful for (#365) life. I realize that sounds cheesy, or like I am trying to sound really thoughtful or profound, but who cares. I am very thankful for life in general. This blog is evidence of everything I have been given so it's hard to feel anything other than gratefulness for my amazing life. I am thankful for the people in my life, the faith that guides me, and for the person I am. When bad days come around I know I can look back on this blog and remember that there are so many things to be grateful for.

President Monson's quote at the bottom of this page says that to live with gratitude always in our hearts is to touch heaven. I feel like I have touched a bit heaven this year and I really hope to carry that throughout the rest of my life. I am very excited for 2012 and the new opportunities and experiences it will bring. Happy New Year!!

I see the finish line

Blogging my thankfulness has been an awesome experience this year, but I am so thankful to (#364) be almost done. Don't get me wrong, I have learned a lot and really come to realize how blessed I am. Every day I am blessed with so many things and it is always nice to remember them. But having to write a blog post about it every single day has gotten a little old. I will be grateful to have some time away from the blogging world before I start up again.

The way you make me feel

Have I been thankful for  hair already? At this point it's so hard to keep track, but I am going to risk repeating myself by saying yet again that I am so thankful I have (#361) hair. I would really hate to be bald. Preston is always asking me if he can shave my head, but I just don't feel like that would be a good look for me. I am especially thankful for my hair. It is one part of my appearance that I honestly say I like. True, in it's natural state it looks more like a lion's mane, but with some heat, hair products, and plenty of patience, it comes out looking ok.

This is a strange one, but I am thankful for (#362) Michael Jackson. I ignore all the weird stuff about him and just focus on what he was, the King of Pop. His music makes me smile and I love watching his old music videos. There will always be a special place in my heart for the Man in the Mirror.

As a Christmas present to myself I bought a heavy duty, salon style (#363) nail file. This things is amazing, you could use it to shave a pencil down to a stub if you wanted to. As a therapist I am constantly filing my nails down and it's nice to have a file that gets the job done.

Oh brother

This happened yesterday, but I am still super thankful for it. I am grateful for the annual (#360) Christmas phone call with missionaries. As a family we got to skype with Spencer and it was so much fun. Being the Schwab boy that he is, he answered our call wearing a loin cloth and started explaining that this was how they did their tracting every day in South Africa. Oh what brothers I have. Once he was fully dressed however we had great converstation for over an hour and a half. He got to tell us stories and hear about everything going on at home. The best part is that we actually got to see him. I'm really thankful for his mission president and the senior missionary couple that made the whole thing possible.

I stand all amazed

Today is Christmas Day!! Honestly there are so many things to be thankful for on a day like today. But if I had to pick one, it would have to be the reason Christmas really means anything. I am so thankful for (#359) the Atonement, and for Jesus Christ who was willing to sacrifice Himself to make it all possible. Nothing else really means anything if we don't have this. The atonement is what gives me peace about the next life, I know that regardless of how often I mess up I can make things right again so that I can qualify for eternal life. I am so grateful to have someone who loves me enough to go through that type of suffering, just to make sure that I can be with Him and my family some day. I love the Savrior and I am so thankful for His gift to me. I couldn't ask for anything greater.

O Holy Night

I love my families (#357) Christmas traditions. Sometimes it doesn't really feel like Christmas until we start doing these things. We make gingerbread houses, eat Papa Johns pizza, and watch A Christmas story. Every year we do these same things, and it just makes me happy. Traditions are wonderful because it's something you can count on every year.

It is now Christmas Eve, and I think the thing that I am most grateful for in my life is celebrated tonight. I am thankful that (#358) my Savior Jesus Christ was born. His birth takes up only a few verses in the bible, but the impact that His life has on me and everyone else on earth will be never ending. I am so grateful that He was born, that He lived the life that He did. I am thankful for Christ's example and for the endless love that He gives me. I love Him so much and know that I need to do much better at making Him the center of my life. I am thankful on this night that we get to celebrate Him coming into the world.

All my bags are packed

I am grateful to have a (#356) suitcase. Traveling would be quite the event if I had to shove everything into paper sacks or plastic bags, plus I would look pretty trashy. My luggage may not be the best, but it lets me travel around without losing everything I own.