Grateful

My post this week is entitled "Grateful." You may be thinking, "Hmm, cliche," or maybe you're sick of hearing "lists of gratitude." If these thoughts just went through your mind, then this isn't the post for you. I am bursting with gratitude, and I'm going to share it.

I love this time of year. For me, it brings back memories of every year since I can remember. Family, food, fun, food, fiesta, food... Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas, but I honestly believe that Thanksgiving is one of the few holidays that hasn't been completely commercialized. We don't spend a month worrying about what presents we will buy, or making lists about what we want, or making sure that we don't leave anyone out. Instead, we simply spend a day (or a weekend - I am excited to see my sister!) with our loved ones. We forget about those mile-long lists of wants, and spend one, just one day in humility as we consider all we have. We aren't concerned about missing someone on our list, but missing someone in our prayers. I am grateful that we have 1 out of 365 days that can humble us that much.

It's frightening to me to start a list of all of the things I'm grateful for because I don't think I'll ever stop typing and eventually you'll get sick of reading. I did write a list, but to spare you a headache from words I will just tell you that it was a few pages long... If you don't believe me, you can ask to see it! I got really bored in class on the last day before the break... haha.

Most of all I'm grateful for my family and for being a part of something so wonderful. I'm grateful for my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am grateful for all the little things that I have that make my life worth living, and I am grateful for YOU!

Whatever is... is best.

I had the wonderful opportunity to serve under two amazing mission presidents. I learned a lot from both of them. I loved having two different presidents. They were both so unique and really lead us through their personal testimonies. It's amazing to me how people can be so spiritual, yet we all have our own different way of portraying it. It's interesting to see how people show their testimonies. President Ellsworth was a spiritual giant (literally giant because he's like 6'8" or something like that). I used to have a hard time seeing the big picture. I used to get caught up in the "why and how." I became so enveloped in planning whatever I was going to do next by trying to change what was currently happening. I needed answers. We went to a zone conference and something that President Ellsworth said has really stuck with me. He said, "Whatever is, is best." He then repeated it about a hundred times just to cement it in my head, I guess.

I respond well to little 'catch-phrases' so I spent the next few days thinking about that. To this day, if I find myself questioning "why?," this phrase still pops in my head. I have made a lot of changes in the past few months. I've spent so much time worrying and hoping that I had made the right decisions. To worry is hereditary in my family. I think we're really good at it! Some days are better than others, but as a general rule, I have learned that life is so much better when we stop worrying about everything and accept that live is what it is!

I have always liked President Monson's quote:

"The past is behind,
learn from it.
The Future is ahead,
prepare for it.
The present is here,
LIVE IT!"

As I looked into it a little more, I found this poem written by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. President Ellsworth may have been quoting this, however I am not sure.

I know as my life grows older,
And mine eyes have clearer sight,
That under each rank of wrong, somewhere
There lies the root of right;
That each sorrow has its purpose,
By the sorrowing oft unguessed;
But as sure as the sun brings morning,
Whatever is - is best.

I know that each sinful action,
As sure as the night brings shade,
Is somewhere, sometime punished,
Though the hour be long delayed.
I know that the soul is sided
Sometimes by the heart's unrest,
And to grow mean often to suffer -
But whatever is - is best.

I know there are no errors
In the great Eternal plan,
And all things work together
For the final good of man.
And I know as my soul speeds onward,
In its grand Eternal quest,
I shall say as I look back earthward,
Whatever is - is best.

I've thought a lot about this in the past few weeks. Sometimes we think we know what is best for ourselves and we try to take the reins and speed ahead. I think God must get a good laugh in when we do that and make complete fools of ourselves. I know I'm not the best at just letting things happen, but it's something I am constantly working on. I know, as the poem says, that there isn't a flaw in the eternal plan. There are times in life where it is hard to see that big picture though. I learn more and more every day that the place for me to be part of that plan is right here, in the present and I plan to live every moment of it.

Just to reemphasize!

In case any of you had forgotten......

Look what I found in New York!!

The ONLY reason I did not buy this piece of heaven was because I didn't want to carry it around all day. Doesn't this picture just make you happy?

I heart Reese's.

DETOUR

Sometimes to get where we want to go, life takes us on a little detour.

New York City for fall break? Yes! Cheap stand-by tickets? Yes! A few days of amazing friends and lots of good times? Absolutely!

When one of my mission companions, Brian, and I decided to take a trip for fall break, we were way stoked! We had everything all planned out. He would get the hook-up for inexpensive plane tickets, I would get us an awesome place to stay, and we would have the time of our lives in the Big Apple. We decided to fly stand-by seeing as it is really cheap. Ok, mom, you have given me enough crap for not paying attention to what "stand-by" means. Got it.


The night before we were supposed to leave, Brian
calls and informs me that it will be impossible to leave from Salt Lake City. My reaction- bummer! no trip! However, there was an alternate option... drive to Las Vegas, and catch any of the flights from there. 24 hours later, we were packed up and on our way to the Vegas. It all makes perfect sense, of course, we want to go from Salt Lake City to New York City, so drive to Vegas... Ok, I am guilty of thinking those little construction detours were bad. Try a 7 hour detour, each way.

Well, we got to the airport in the Vegas super early on Thursday morning and waited. I thought we would have a good chance getting on the first flight, I was wrong. The second flight definitely looked better! Nope, no luck. When the third flight was finally taking off, there was one seat left. Brian was then on his way to NYC while I did homework in Vegas. Luckily, my prayers were answered and I was on the next flight out three hours later. We landed at 1:00 am in New York City and luckily Michael and Siri didn't kill us for arriving at their house so stinkin' late! Sorry guys...

Of course we slept in the next morning and then it was off to the big city! It wasn't until we got into Manhattan that I found out that Brian had never actually been there before. So all day Friday was spent doing touristy stuff. We met up with Kait and Heidi and had a great time touring one of the greatest cities on the earth.




That night was awesome! We met Michael and Siri for dinner at a really good Italian restaurant and to see In The Heights with Jordin Sparks! Michael got a sweet deal from his work and we sat on the 4th row. I swear Jordin winked right at me. Sad tale though, we waited outside the door on the road for Jordin to come out. I just knew that if she saw me, I would get a kiss. Unfortunately, we didn't see her. But I still did get a kiss! Kind of...


Saturday was AWESOME! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIRI! We slept in (again), lost the Wicked lotto,



went to central park and played in row boats (my personal favorite),












went to Serendipity
(my other personal favorite),


















then we tried the Wicked lotto again (yet another favorite). However, there was something different about this lottery! 2 people from our group actually won! (my very favorite part). Michael and Sarah both won 1st and 2nd row tickets to that night's show! Michael and Siri gave us their tickets and Brian, Sarah, Heidi, and I were able to go and see Wicked that night! The second row was 100% incredible and a perfect way to end our last night of the journey.







Thank you Michael and Siri for letting us stay with you! We had an awesome time! Also, thanks to Siri for the awesome pictures!