Blessed

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought I'd share this piece of writing I came across.

BLESSED

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who won't survive the week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 20 million people around the world.

If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.

If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish some place, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.

You are so blessed in ways you may never even know.
By Stephen Eardley,
(http://www.healthe-livingnews.com/articles/blessings.html)

Priceless

[No words needed.]

Thankful Thoughts

In the mist of my extreme busyness this week (in trying to get everything done before I head home for the break), I thought I'd share some thankful thoughts I've had on my mind.

*Receiving a phonecall out of the blue from a recent convert of mine from the mission. As we talked she mentioned the fact that she was going visiting teaching the next day. Knowing that my recent converts are active or atleast still connected to the church makes me happy. I love hearing from them!

*Connections. I have recently made several connections- so and so knows someone else I know, etc. (If that makes sense). Heavenly Father never ceases to amaze me. On this campus of thousands of students, and in this church full of 13 million + members, I keep running into people and meeting people who know other people I know. It is a small and simple thing that witnesses to me that God is in our lives.

*Tonight are clean checks at our apartment complex. That means my apartment will be clean for atleast one day....!

*I worked really hard last week and completed six photo assignments for the Scroll and other campus organizations. I actually had a really hard time with the fact that I was getting all of these assignments and I had so much on my plate already. But, the Scroll came out today and it was satisfying to see my work in there. Also, I won an award (a candy bar) in my class today for my hard work.

*Finally, we here at BYU-Idaho get a whole week off for Thanksgiving. BYU-Provo doesn't even get that! I am heading back to Utah this Friday evening. It should be a fun, relaxing time with family.

Lately

Well, my friends, it's already November. Time sure does fly! That seems to be main lesson of my year- time just flies by. Seriously, sometimes it is mind boggling how fast this year has gone for me. I have been home for ten months now! How in the world is that possible?!

I just finished mid-terms, and am glad those are out of the way. However, I've still got a lot going on every week. I am keeping busy with school, homework, ushering at devotionals, Scroll photography, and my calling as 1st counselor in the Relief Society presidency. (Believe me, each one of those things keeps me VERY busy!)

Last night I watched the C.E.S. Fireside, given by President Uchtdorf. He was really funny last night! It was great! The fireside was really good, exactly what I needed to hear. He talked about a few questions Y.S.A's in the church have. He also talked a lot about our divine worth. He told the story of the ugly duckling. He said "we need to stop wondering if we are defective."

I am getting really excited about Thanksgiving! Miracles of all miracles, we get a WHOLE week off school! Yeah! I am really looking forward to meeting Benson, my new nephew, for the first time. He is already two months old. :( I really wish I could be closer to all my nieces and nephews and see them all the time. Anyway, Benson is going to be blessed down in Utah, so that will be nice. I also look forward to spending time with Traci, Gary, and cute little Anna- of course. It will be a nice little break.

Well, not much to report. Really, I've just been doing school lately. That is my life. I am off-track winter semester and will probably end up at home again. I need to save money. I have enough money for housing or to take some online classes winter semester- not both. There are pros and cons to both decisions. But, I think it'll be best for me to avoid Rexburg's bitter winter, and take online classes while at home for a semester. Plans could change at any moment, but that's what's on the agenda for now. We will see.

So, that's my life as of now!

P.S. You can't really tell in the picture, but my hair is getting longer! I've decided I like it better longer rather than shorter, so I am growing it out.