I'm Thankful For...

I am thankful for:
*family
*friends
*my membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
*my Savior
*the free country I live in
*my college education and degrees
*my talents and abilities
*fall weather
*my health
*time to do the things I love

I'm thankful for Thanksgiving break

I am so thankful that Thanksgiving break is nearly upon us. I started a long-term substitute teaching assignment last Wednesday and I already need a break. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to finally have a reason to get up and get going in the morning. I really enjoy being in a classroom as well. However, I am super ready for a break. I am teaching English this go round and it's harder than I expected. It's different from what I am used to and sometimes I feel like I'm back doing my student teaching. I'll get through and maybe even get the hang of it. But in the meantime, I give thanks for weekends and holiday breaks!

Christmas Music

It's happened! KLGN is now officially "The Christmas Station". I'm not sure when the transition took place but it had to have been over the weekend because I'm pretty sure I listened to the regular programming on Friday. I'm excited about the temporary transformation though. The station starting changing over to all Christmas, all the time while I was in high school. My friend Heather and I thought it was the greatest thing since slicecd bread. Well maybe not really, but it was up there on our list of pretty cool things.
I love Christmas music. I started listening to it this year prior to Halloween. It was just one CD (Harry Connick Jr.) and mostly because I saw him on Rachel Ray and wanted to listen to him but the quickest access I had was a Christmas CD. I restrained myself though, and only listened to the CD a couple of times before Halloween. Then, last week I got out a Christmas mix CD I have and listened to it nonstop for a couple of days. Now, I've got the Christmas station plus a couple dozen Christmas albums. I usually try to mix it with regular music until after Thanksgiving when I'll make the total switch. Christmas is only here once a year and there is so much music to listen to that it's a shame to restrict it to 25 days of the year.

1984=Probably one of the weirdest books I've ever read

I love to read. I've always loved to read. I didn't have much time to read for pleasure during college but since I've graduated, I've tried to make up for it by being a voracious consumer of books. On my last excursion to the library, I happened to walk through the "O" section and saw George Orwell's 1984. I decided I'd take it home and see what it was all about. I started it last week and finished it today. It took me some time to read as I was in the middle of two other books that I was trying to finish as well. Let me just say that it is not on my list of the greatest books I've ever read. Though it started out pretty good, by the middle I was ready to throw it against the wall. I guess I am not a fan of George Orwell. I should have taken the fact that I never finished Down and Out in Paris and London by him as a clue not to pick up another book of his. Oh well, I've finished it, and now I can say that I've read it and can also use words like "Orwelian" as Michelle pointed out last night. I did learn two things from the book however: 1. Communism and anything that resembles it is terribly evil and 2. George Orwell liked to use big words that I'm pretty sure no one has used since 1950.

I am not an ugly duckling, but rather a beautiful SWAN

I had a great weekend. Friday I finally got a sub job. I filled in for one of my old history teachers at Logan High. I even got to teach a little. On friday night I attended a regional YSA activity. It was alright. I'm just glad I got to see some great people before the Michelle's and I split and went to Village Inn. Saturday was our traditional family chili dinner. Yumm-O!!! I loved it.
But the best day of all was Sunday, and it wasn't the fact that I played the organ in church or taught Sunday School that made it the best. It was November 1st, a day I'd been looking forward to for a long time. You ask why? I'll tell you--President Uchtdorf was the speaker at the CES Fireside. His words were exactly what I need to hear.
For a long, long time, I've been struggling with life. Although I have moments of happiness, I've recognized that I am not really happy. I don't like the fact that I am unhappy, but have been at a loss as to what I should do. Finally, I think things might have clicked on Sunday night. I finally had "ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart to understand." It was the talk that I needed to hear in order to put my life back together. And I am happy to report that I have made some small accomplishments, even in the day and a half or so since his talk.
After the fireside, we spent a few minutes talking as a ward, about what struck us. One comment that particulary hit me talked about how sixty or so years ago, our country was at war with Germany, and now, a German-born man is in the 1st Presidency of the Church. That comment made me reflect on just how the gospel can change us into who we are truly supposed to be. It erases petty differences and bonds us together as divine children of God.
I am so grateful to have the gospel in my life simply because of the enabling power to change that it brings. Though I am far from where I thought I'd be at 24 years old, I know that I am getting back on track and am thankful for the knowledge that I have that such change is possible.

Blah, blah, blah

Someday I will have a more interesting life about which I can blog. In the meantime, I continue to read books, watch old JAG episodes and complete the occasional sewing project. Go me!

Time Flies When You're Doin' Nothing

I can't believe that October is upon us. I am excited however about the change in seasons. I love fall! It's a perfect time to wear sweaters, sip hot chocolate or hot apple cider, and walk through the beautiful leaves.
This past month was pretty uneventful. I spent most of it on the couch at home reading and watching re-runs of CSI. That is definitely NOT how I saw myself spending my first September as a college graduate.
Towards the end of the month, things started to look up though. My brother Jared came up from Texas and we spent the time hunting, attending the USU Homecoming parade, and just hanging out. It was great to have him here. I miss them and wish he and his family didn't live so far away.
Saturday the 26th of September was the General Relief Society Meeting. Since I'm the secretary to the Stake R.S. Presidency I got to help host a dinner before we watched the broadcast. It was a crazy, hectic day but turned out beautifully.
This past weekend was General Conference. It was a great weekend. I love General Conference and it gave me a much-needed spiritual boost.
Oh, and I can't forget my adventures last Friday (the 2nd) with my mom, Aunt Sandra, and Aunt Ann. We hit Ikea, Hip and Humble, Paradise Cafe, The Pan Store (I can't remember the real name), Tai Pan Trading, and Maddox. It was a whirlwind of a day but a blast none the less.