Thanksgiving Day

"Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love."

- President Thomas S. Monson

Growing up has it's perks. One of which is gaining an understanding of the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

This year I've been very thankful for my family. My grandpa's been going through a lot of health problems, and it's really opened my eyes to how grateful and appreciative I need to be of all of my relatives.

I was fortunate enough to be able to spend Thanksgiving with my dad's side of the family in Salt Lake. It was great to see all of them.

My cousin Josh leaves for his mission in just a little over a month, but this was the last time I'll see him before he leaves.

It was also great to spend time at my grandparent's house with them today.

I looked through my grandma's millions of scrapbooks (which I love) and just enjoyed their company. I realize that these visits are beginning to be numbered and I soak it up every time.

In addition to my family, I'm incredibly grateful for the Gospel in my life. Because of it I know that I'll be able to be with my family for time and all eternity. There's nothing that could make me more grateful than that.

"My sincere, heartfelt prayer is that we may in our individual lives reflect that marvelous virtue of gratitude. May it permeate our very souls, now and evermore."

-President Thomas S. Monson

At church on Sunday a man gave a talk about a guy he knew that said he had nothing to be thankful for. After minutes of prodding and thinking, he finally decided he was thankful for his wife, but nothing else.

It's sad that that's such a commonplace mentality these days.

If you just take pause and look around, there are so many things to be grateful for. More than we realize.

I urge you all you read an incredible talk found here.

It puts all of the above into words better than I ever could.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving :)

Thanksgiving Break

The last week before my nearly week and a half long Thanksgiving Break was torture.

I'm not lying when I say I spent nearly every waking second on the go - whether it was class, homework, or work, I was busy to the point that I'd forget to eat lunch or dinner.

To top it off, I got an average of about five hours of sleep every night.

Needless to say, this Thanksgiving Break couldn't have been more welcomed :)

Haley and I were Utah-bound Thursday afternoon. We left early because her sister Kelsey's wedding was on Friday.

The wedding and luncheon on Friday were amazing.

Kelsey and Greg were married and sealed for time and all eternity in the Bountiful, Utah Temple on Friday afternoon. She looked beyond gorgeous. After the sealing, there was a luncheon for family and close friends.

Kelsey and Greg couldn't be more perfect for each other, and it was apparent at the luncheon. It's rare that you see two people so in love with one another.

The reception was held on Saturday evening. It was, yet again, absolutely stunning. Everything was perfect - the photos, the video, the cheesecake, and the bride and groom themselves.

The whole weekend was definitely a success and I'm very glad I was fortunate enough to be invited to spend it with the Adams family.

(Haley and her sister Kelsey)

After the wedding and the weekend, Haley and I FINALLY went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. It was amazing, as expected :)

The rest of my time spent at their house was filled with Haley and I just being Haley and I.

For example, we built a fort...

We both decided that growing up is overrated and we both miss our childhoods.

Oh to be six again.

It's been a perfect week, and I'm so glad that I still have four more days until it's back to classes and work.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow!

What are you thankful for?

Snow in November

Welcome to Idaho, where it's completely normal for it to snow in October.

Luckily, this year it waited until November.

Don't get me wrong, I'm one of the few students in this college town that absolutely adores the snow :)

It started snowing early last week and hasn't stopped since.

I love it!

(This was shortly after 5:00 on the first day it started snowing. By the end of the night we had about four inches)

I spent eight years of my life in Minnesota and Chicago, which means that I grew up with insane amounts of snow. Living in Washington for the past five years has almost been torture because of the lack of snow.

So, to all of you haters, here's a piece of advice:

The Power of Positive Thinking. For real. You can't change it, and it's here to stay, so just be happy about it :)

So next time you're walking to class at 7:30 in the morning and you can't feel your face, hands, or toes, aren't you really in the Bahamas soaking up the sun?

:)

An inside look...

...at a typical conversation between Haley, Turner and I.

First of all you need to know a few things...

1. We weren't aware that Emily was typing up our conversation. She had an assignment from her crazy english teacher to eavesdrop on a conversation and record it

2. None of us found this conversation funny, whatsoever, while we were having it. I don't think any of us laughed once (well, maybe at Turner's story about the spaghetti...)

3. Haley and I died of laughter when Emily showed this to us

So, enjoy...

Turner: It’s not working.

Haley: Oh I know what you did.

Turner: You’re taking the same class and yours is way harder than mine.

Melissa: It’s so ridiculous. When I came back someone was making steak.

T: Wait, when were you coming up the stairs?

M: Yea, I want some milk real bad.

T: I just bought some the other day.

M: So, tomorrow is Wednesday it feels like Monday.

T: I tried go over the valley and suddenly “BAM” it seemed like an ocean of lights.

M:This is not filling me up.

T: I can grill a wholesome meal, we should do it.

H: we were practicing for mutual one night and it was lame.

M: Jessica thought your handwriting was really nice.

T: it’s hard .

M: that’s easy oh my gosh, try writing my name in cursive.

H: it has a weird “I”.

T: haha I know.

M: I’m so hungry.

H: you have noodles.

M: I don’t know what to eat them with.

H: I have some left over Alfredo sauce.

M: are noodles still good after a week? Turner?

T: yea they're still good.

M: do noodles go bad?

T: yea, we had some in a Tupper ware and when we took it out it was a brick, no joke.

H: dump it all in man.

T: she just called you a man.

M: yea I know. Hahaha.

H: I love writing Emily’s name in cursive.

T: hers is all up and down like ne ne er ne nah.

M: you know what I actually ate for dinner?

H: what?

M: peanut butter and honey sandwich.

T: you are weird.

M: I can’t go the gym so I better stop eating.

H: Give me the rest of your noodles.

M: I feel like it’s 5:15 in the morning.

H: I don’t like writing “Chandia”.

T: “Chandia,” I was creeped out last night because of the movie, and I thought that the guy would grab me when I was on the stairs.

The End

I discovered from this that I say the most random things, at the most random times, in the middle of a conversation.

We also all discovered that anyone listening in on our conversations must get, really, really, confused.

That was definitely the highlight of my week :)

Hello November :)

Halloween was fun, but I am so glad that it's November.

The Halloween festivities began last Monday with our Ward Halloween party. I didn't have all of my costume yet (my mom had to ship the rest...) so Kelli and I, by accident, ended up going as twins :)

(Haley, me, Kelli, Jessica and Emily)

Fast forward to Friday. Emily and I made some absolutely delicious fun-fetti cookies which were devoured by the next evening. Later, Emily, Kelli, Kelli's sister and I all went to a Halloween dance party. It was actually a really fun night :)

(Kelli's sister Hailey as Kat Von D, Kelli as a ballerina, me going 80's, Emily as a banana)

Saturday night we attempted to go to another dance party, but because of an outrageous cover charge, we ended up back at our apartment. I think it was meant to be, because I had been dying to watch Hocus Pocus, and it started right when we got back at eleven. Hocus Pocus is hands-down the best halloween movie in the world, and it basically made my weekend.

In other news, I basically love my roommates to death. Saturday night four of us went out to dinner at Bajio's and had an amazing time :) I couldn't have picked better girls to live with!

Yesterday was also a really amazing Fast Sunday. (Minus having to take Haley to the ER because of an allergic reaction she had...)

So, in short, I had a fabulous Halloween weekend :)

(Me and Emiwee, whom I love oh so much!)

Happy November! :)

3 weeks and 3 days until Thanksgiving!