Red means stop

I had a beautifully composed post all ready to go last night when blogger decided to be dramatic and stop working. So here ya go.

(#177) Visiting teaching is one of those things that has really grown on me over the years. I use to dread doing it and would wait until the last possible minute at the end of the month. Now at this point in my life it is something I really enjoy. Tonight Emily and I took one of our girls out for a birthday treat. It was so much fun and not once did I think "Thank goodness I can check this off my list". The girls I visit teach become my friends and it is great to be able to spend time with them and be around when they need something. The Lord definitely knew what he was doing when he gave us this program.

Today I was thankful that I (#178) did not get in a car accident. On my way home this truck almost ran a red light. Had he not stopped he would have crashed right into me as I was passing through the intersection. I am very grateful for whatever brought him to his senses and made him slam on his brakes. Another disaster avoided, thank goodness.

Minty Floss

My last trip to the dentist landed me with two cavities, the culprit was my lack of flossing over the years. Since those fillings I have taken up a strict flossing regiment. I am thankful for (#176) floss and the cavity fighting powers it has. Switching to the glide floss has also made a difference in my dental care, much more enjoyable than the other kind.

Sorry you feel blank inside

I really like getting (#175) thank you cards from other people expressing their thanks to me. Becca sent me one in the mail and it was quite the little surprise today. No one really sends thank you notes anymore, but I think it is a fun and simple way to say thanks. Plus it is always fun for me to get mail that isn't some sort of bill. Thanks Becca!

Yeah Bishop!

I am very thankful for (#174) good bishops. Today one of my old bishops was released and so I went with many other old 106ers to pay my respects. A good bishop can make a huge difference in your life, especially a singles ward bishop. I always felt known and loved as an individual by Bishop Albrecht. The callings he gave me helped me to grow into the person I am now. I realize that the Lord is the one who calls us, but the bishop had the faith to give me the call and know that I wouldn't screw things up. He was also there to help and encourage when I didn't always know what I was doing. A huge thanks to all the bishops who dedicate so much time and energy to their calling. It makes a big difference to the ward and the lives of its members.

Watch your fingers

Thanks to Habitat for Humanity I got to use a table saw, drill, and nail gun today! I think I may have missed my calling in life as a builder/contractor. I am really grateful for (#173) service opportunities. I don't do them nearly enough. It is such a good chance to look outside yourself and try to do something for others. You always walk away from service feeling good, and it is just another reminder of how blessed I am. Today we worked on a house that had been completely gutted. It looked like such a sad place, it made me thankful for the wonderful life and living conditions that I have. I am very thankful for the ability to give service and hope that I can give more in the future.

I do

I really like watching (#172) Say Yes to the Dress: Big Bliss. I realize that paints me as the typical pathetic single girl watching shows about marriage, but I could really care less. This is a fun show. First of all, it shows that any size can be beautiful especially on her wedding day. Second, it keeps me very motivated to never have to be on Big Bliss. It keeps me going to the gym.

About a year ago I made a pack with my friends Emily and Sarah that we would never be on Big Bliss. We would also be responsible for letting the other girls know if they were getting close to that point.We chant and motivate the others to keep it fit. It's a great support system and as I said, the show is just enjoyable. Check it out for some good wedding fun.

Saved once again

I am thankful for (#171) overdraft protection. Sadly I may have had to use it in the last month. I don't really like having to use it, but it's nice to have it there in case of emergencies.

Confessions

So last night I may have been really bored and surfing around on Netflix. I may have found Power Rangers The Movie, and........ I may have actually watched it. There is something about (#169) childhood movies and memorabilia that is so enjoyable. The 90s hair and clothes, the witty catch phrases, and the awesome stunts were fantastic. It was every bit as cheesy as I remember and it was so fun to watch.

Today I went to Seven Peaks for FREE! Thanks to my (#170) Pass of all Passes. For the next 12 months I get unlimited Seven Peaks, mini golf, laser tag, and go karts. It was the best purchase ever and I will be getting tons of fun from this.

Whose your daddy?

In my haste to catch up with my thankfulness yesterday I forgot that I should probably be writing about my dad since it was Father's Day. But I think it works out better this way. My (#168) Dad is so awesome that he deserves a post all to himself.

I'm sorry to anyone out there who thought they had the best dad in the world, you are mistaken. Mine takes the cake. My dad lives up to everything a father should be, one who provides, presides, and protects his family. Being the father of such a large family cannot be easy. There is a lot of pressure and stress to take care of everyone and I know that this has not been an easy task. Many men would have given up and walked away, but I never had to worry about that. I know my dad will always be around when I need him.

I am so grateful to have my dad. I love him so much and know how blessed our family is to have him in our lives.

Friends for dinner

This has been a whirlwind of a weekend! Lindsay got married, plus my sister Becca and my BFF Elizabeth came to stay with me this week. Needless to say there has been much to be thankful about.

(#164) Reunions-Lindsay's reception turned into a giant BYU 106 ward reunion. Aside from my bridesmaid duties of course, I spent the whole night reconnecting with friends and catching up on their lives. I get such joy out of talking to them and thinking about the awesome times we had. The 106 ward was a very special time and place in my life and I am so grateful I was able to be a part of it.

(#165) Photo booths- There was a photo booth at the reception and we got to take unlimited pictures. Plus there were props provided with made for barrels of fun. Who doesn't love to dress up like a fool and make funny faces? Such a good idea, I would definitely recommend it to those planning a reception.

(#166) Toilet paper- A lot of people used my bathroom this week. With all that business going on I didn't realize how low the paper supply had become. I ran out, luckily I was not sitting and therefor didn't find myself stranded. Angela was nice enough to give me a roll to hold me over until I can get to the store. I am very happy to live in the age of TP and not be forced to use some type of foliage.

(#167) Friends-Saying this makes me sounds like the lonely kid who only has one friend that they are sooooo grateful for. But this weekend has really made me thankful for my friends (and for the record I have more than one). They add a richness and dimension to your life that cannot be found anywhere else. I am grateful to have friends that I can keep in touch with. Friends that are still there even when they are physically gone. I love friends that you can see after months and years of being apart and pick up right where you left off. Friends are the best and I love them!

Sister Act

(#163) Sisterly bonding is so great. In the past few months I have had all my sisters come to stay with me for a bit and it has been loads of fun. There is something about sisters that is really comforting. It's like having a friend that has to love you no matter how weird you may be. You are literally friends forever and that is a very reassuring feeling. We are all very different from  one another, but that is what makes the relationships so fun and interesting. I love all my sisters and are very very grateful for them.

Salsa!

I went to my first (#161) Zumba class last night and it was awesome. First of all, I did not look like a complete idiot trying to follow along, so that is a big plus. Second, it turned out to be a really good work-out and I am excited to go again. It's nice to exercise, but also get your groove on at the same time.

Today was my day off so I made a trip to the (#162) car wash. It was about time since there were still the remains of several bird droppings on my car. I love it when things get clean and I don't have to do anything. Sitting in the car while your cruising through the car wash is really quite entertaining. You have soap splattering, water spraying, and wind blowing everywhere. I couldn't see anything for a while but it was cool to be completely sealed off and isolated in the car. I may have to make a trip there again soon.

Welcome back

(#160) Homecomings. Not the mission variety, although those are great too. I am thankful to have my roommate Angela back from South America. It's really fun to catch up with someone when they get back and hear about their exciting news. Then it's awesome to relay the boring time you had to them. I am glad that she had fun, but it's good to have our apartment back to normal.

Cheesecake

(#159) Cheesecake. I know that many of the things I have listed here happen to be of the food variety, but this one really sits on top. I love cheesecake. It is probably my favorite thing to eat in the entire world. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack time, any time really is perfect for cheesecake. Tonight for Lindsay's bachelorette party we went to the Cheesecake Factory and it was divine. The food it ok, but the desserts are amazing. My item of choice tonight was a chocolate coconut cream cheesecake and it did not disappoint. Just thinking about it makes me hungry all over again. I just love cheesecake and am so grateful for whoever invented this tasty tasty treat.

Ready or not, here I come

I don't ever lose things, but I happen to misplace them a lot. That is why I am super thankful for (#158) finding the misplaced items in my life. My camera has been MIA for a few months now. I don't often get the urge to take pictures, but on those rare occasions I haven't been able to find the dang thing. Well, today I was rummaging through a random drawer and at the very bottom I found it! Now I can actually document my life. I am very grateful to have it back, and that I was able to relocate it again.

Thanks, thanks a lot

Today (#157) Emily and Micah brought me some delicious yogurt from Red Mango to help me get over my crappy work day. Isn't that the nicest thing ever? I love it when people are so thoughtful and try to cheer you up. It really did work because the raspberry cheesecake yogurt they brought me was amazing. I spent 6 hours at work and didn't have one massage, meaning I didn't make any money. Needless to say I was not in the best mood when I walked in the door. Thanks to good friends who make coming home much more enjoyable.

Reunited and it feels so good

Lindsay and I ran into some old friends today and it was awesome! (#156) Catching up with friends is so much fun. I for one love talking about the old days and reminiscing with people. I think it is another really good way to think about all the things you have been blessed with. These particular friends came from a period in my life that was really enjoyable. I haven't changed all that much, but I could feel some of my past self coming out while talking to them and it was great. I need to try and pull that out more. I am grateful to have fun moments like this in my life.

No diving

The (#155) swimming pool is open for the summer! It is so nice to be living a few feet away from the pool. Not many kids are there so the splashing is limited. I love laying out by the pool and floating around for a bit. It's the perfect topping to a lazy day. I am thankful to have one so close to me. Bring on the sunburns.

Scrub scrub scrub

I have a super (#154) clean apartment today! Mondays I am on-call so there isn't much to do other than sit around the apartment. That usually leads me to some type of cleaning binge. But today was Emily's first day of summer break and so she joined the cleaning party. Our apartment is so clean right now, you could eat off almost any surface, almost. The best development in cleaning came from my shower. Sadly it has been a while since the old shower has had a good scrub, but it looks so amazing now. Is there anything better than showering in a newly scrubbed shower? I am so grateful to have a clean place to live, and people who help me keep it that way.

Is it the 31st already?

I had (#153) home teachers over for the first time in 10 months. I didn't realize how much I had missed having them come over. We don't need very much help in our apartment. We are all pretty independent and live our own lives. But it's really nice to know we can call on them if we need them. It's like having that security net. You don't use it very often, but it helps to know it's there. I am very thankful to have home teachers again and to know that they care about our apartment.

Move it

(#153) Tetris is the best game ever. It has become a recent addiction in our apartment. We all seem to be pretty evenly matched and so it makes for some really competitive fun. Plus,  with all the spacial placement type stuff we are building brain power as we play. Gaming that makes you smarter, who thought that was possible?

Working 9-5

I am thankful that I have a (#152) job. I'm not always the biggest fan of where I work. I love being a massage therapist, but working for a spa is not really the ideal situation for me. There are things that I really wish would be different and some days I come home feeling very, very tired. Still, I know that I am very lucky to have a job. These days jobs are hard to find. Although it's not a barrel of laughs every day I am so grateful to have a way to provide for myself. This job allows me to be independent and to enjoy my life. I am very thankful for that.

Smell my breath

(#151) Mints are a lifesaver, especially the ones that actually say lifesaver on them. I have always been a big fan of the mint family. They keep my breath fresh and clean and taste really good. Plus, they are really good at waking you up should you find yourself getting drousey in the car or in a massage. Add mint to chocolate and you have the best flavor combination ever. Thank you mints for not allowing me to offend people as I speak.

Ow my tummy

(#149) Eyebrows-Yesterday I got my eyebrows waxed for the first time. It was actually quite fun. Sure it stings a little bit, but having the hair pulled feels strangely good. But I did get a little nervous right before she ripped the wax off. What if she pulled off an entire eyebrow? I would have to draw it on like my grandma. Plus, anytime there was rain, dirt, or sweat running down my face it would go right into my eye. I am so thankful to still have two good looking, and functioning eyebrows.

(#150) Feeling healthy-Right now I have a major stomach ache. I feel like there is a large balloon inside of me. This makes me think about all the moments in my life where I don't feel like crap. I never really appreciate those moments until they are gone. I am thankful to be a relatively healthy person and that I don't normally feel sick. I am hoping to feel that gratefulness and healthiness very soon.