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.

Clean and clear and under control

I don't mean to start sounding like one of those t.v. infomercials, but I love my (#355) Proactiv face products! For the past year it has been doing a pretty good job keeping my face looking nice and clear. This is very helpful because even at 26 my skin can't seem to decide whether I am going through puberty or not. It's nice to have something that can give me the confidence to walk around without covering up my face. Thank you Proactiv, with or without all your celebrity endorsements, I think you're pretty great.

You should try to be perfect, like me

I was thinking about the lesson I taught on Sunday and it got me thinking, I am very grateful for (#354) exaltation. I am grateful that there is something after this life, that I don't just stop existing. I am thankful for the chance to become like my Father in Heaven and for the life that waits for me. Thinking that far into the future hurts my brain, but I am thankful to know that it is possible if I can do my part.

Texas Roadhouse

I am super grateful to the (#353) surprise visitor we got at work today. A random worker from Texas Roadhouse brought us an entire box of rolls, all for free. I think they were trying to solicit business. I wasn't even expecting this little treat and it made me so happy. I love little things like that that make your day better.

Teacher teach me

The best part of any lesson is when you sit down and realize that you are all done teaching. Today was my first lesson as a relief society instructor, and I am so thankful (#352) to be done with this lesson. It was nice having to study and learn more about the topic we covered, but I am so thankful to be done. Now I can be at peace for a few more weeks before it nerves start all over again.

Do the Coco-motion with me

Tonight I am oh so thankful for my (#351) Coco-motion machine. I got for a Christmas present a few years ago and it is wonderful. All you have to do is pour the milk and hot chocolate mix together and it is whipped to heated perfection in just a few minutes. Some people have commented that it is just as easy to pop a mug into the microwave. This may be true, but the Coco-motion makes it nice and frothy on top, which we all know is the key to an excellent cup of hot chocolate.

Ho Ho Ho

Today (#346) one of my regular clients brought me a Christmas present! It was so sweet. She got me the Satin hands set from Mary Kay. That was just the nicest thing ever, my hands are always so dry and this will really help. I am grateful for people who appreciate what I do and say thank you with cool gifts.

(#347)Christmas movies are wonderful. Nothing gets me excited for Christmas like popping in ELF or The Santa Claus. They really bring out the holiday spirit and are just so quotable, something I always appreciate.

I am really thankful for my (#348) make-up. (Have I already said that?) I don't always enjoy putting it on, but it's nice to have something to cover up your face and make you look better.

(#349) Candy Canes are so awesome. Peppermint is one of the best flavors ever and candy canes are a perfect excuse to OD on this wonderful flavor.

I really love and am thankful for (#350) nativity scenes. They are a small reminder of the miraculous reason we celebrate Christmas. There are so many versions, but each ones reminds me of Christ and what he came here to do.

Viva Las Vegas

I got to spend the weekend in Vegas with one of my BFF's so of course there wasn't time to blog. But along the way I found many things to be grateful for. Here they are.

I am first and foremost thankful that (#339) my car did not die on my road trip. It was a 10 hour drive round trip and my biggest fear was that I would wind up on the side of the road stranded because my car decided to pick that exact moment to have a hissy fit.

I am also very grateful that  there was (#340) no snow this weekend. I love snow around the holidays, but I was grateful for the sun this weekend. It made driving easier.

(#341) BFF's are wonderful. I have a few of them and they just make life better. I am grateful that even once we move away from each other, it is still possible to meet up and talk like we have never been apart. That is a real friend.

I am very thankful to live in an area where there is (#342) not an abundance of pornography every where. Porn is every where in Vegas, anywhere you look you can see it. I am glad to live in an area where I don't have to shield my eyes every time I walk outside.

(#343) M&M World. It is just the happiest place ever. I think I could have justified buying almost anything that had the peanut M&M on it. I don't know why but I just like that guy. How great to have an entire store dedicated to him and his friends.

I am really grateful for (#344) the queen size bed at the motel. It made me realize how nice big beds can be. It was also very welcoming after a long Saturday of walking up and down the Las Vegas strip.

(#345) Elizabeth's camera is very nice, and it did a great job recording our awesome times this weekend. I am thankful for people who take pictures and then let me steal them.

O Christmas tree

I love the (#338) little Christmas tree my mother loans me every year. Sure it's fake, but it still give the apartment that holiday feel. I hated having to wait until I got home to enjoy a Christmas tree and feel that it was really Christmas time. Now I can enjoy it all month long and that makes it so much better.                                                      

Great kicks

I am really grateful for my (#337) tennis shoes. They are the only thing that keep my feet from hurting after a long day at work.

Defroster the snow man

Right now I am very thankful to have a (#336) defroster that works. The windows are frosty every morning and this makes it much easier to get driving quickly. Let's hope those stay functioning all winter long!

Best two years

Have I been thankful for (#335) missionaries this year? Well if I have already they get another shout-out. I am grateful for missionaries. I am thankful they give up two years of their lives to bless others. My brother is being molded into a great man because of his mission. My dad is a convert to the church, thanks to missionaries and his grandpa who was a member-missionary. So much good is done by them and I am very grateful.

Silent night

Tonight I was once again able to go to the (#334) Christmas Devotional up on Temple Square. I love seeing the lights up in Salt Lake. It really makes me feel like it's Christmas time. I also love listening to the First Presidency talk about Christmas and how we can keep the spirit of Christ with us throughout the month of December. It was an excellent way to kick off the Christmas holiday.

Why is the elephant white?

We had our work Christmas party tonight and I came away with an awesome white elephant gift. My new (#333) ginormous Barbie Pez dispenser is really creepy and really cool. I love these type of gift exchanges where you come away with the most random things. The Justin Bieber singing toothbrush that I bought also went over well so it was a great evening.

Fortune cookies

I am really grateful for (#332) Fongs Chinese restaurant that is right across the street from my work. It allowed me to have a decent lunch today after I dropped my amazing Thai food leftovers on the floor. Ugh I was so sad in that moment, and very hungry. But thanks to Fongs I was still able to eat lunch, it even had a little Asian flair to it. Thanks Fongs.

Once upon a December

I am thankful for (#331) December. It's such a happy month.The snow is just starting to come and so it is welcomed. Christmas music is rampant, every store is filled with delicious holiday treats, and I know that dieting at this time is pointless so I don't even try. Oh what a wonderful month.