I am grateful...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! I had a wonderful day with my family. It was the first Thanksgiving with my family since I have been married! It was very nice to spend this holiday with them again. I had ALOT of good food(cheese ball, my mom's stuffing, chocolate cream pie, Mark's salsa, my sister's yummy mashed potatoes, OREO TRUFFLES, etc.)!!! I am extremely full now! I am looking forward to another yummy Thanksgiving at Mark's parents on Sunday.
I just wanted to make a list of some of the things I am grateful for, because honestly I am grateful for a numerous amount of things and cannot list them all!

1. My Husband. I cannot explain in words the love and gratitude I have for my husband. When I was in seminary we were learning about Moroni and we read the scripture Alma 48:17 which reads, "Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men." I told everyone that I was going to marry a man just like that, just like Moroni. I am very proud to say that I did exactly that! I love my husband more than anything and he is truly a man of faith and charity. He loves the Lord and he loves me more than I have ever been loved by anyone.

2. My Family. I love them and I am very blessed to have such an amazing family! I have truly been blessed with goodly parents. I felt unexplainable joy as a knelt at the alter with my parents and was sealed with them for eternity. I am grateful for that sealing power. I am grateful for the knowledge that families can be together forever. What a comfort this knowledge brings to my life! My in-laws are just as wonderful as my family, well they are MY family. I love them with all my heart and I am truly grateful for all they have done for Mark and me!

3. The Gospel. Oh my! Everything about the gospel I am grateful for. I cannot imagine my life without the gospel (well actually I can and it would be an awful life). I joy in studying the scriptures and the words of the prophets. I love knowing that I have a Father in Heaven who loves me and hears and answers my prayers. I am so very grateful for the Atonement and the miracle of forgiveness. I love my Savior and I truly would be forever lost without Him (we all would be). I am grateful for the knowledge of eternal families and eternal life. This life is not all; we will live forever!

4. My Dear Friends. A big reason for me being where I am now is because of the wonderful example and strength of my friends. All my life I have been blessed with good friends who were a strength to me, who helped me do what is right, and helped me to want to be a better person. During this holiday season and everyday really I think of my dear friend, Amanda Thomas. She passed away on April 10, 2007 and that day on I have felt a little piece of goodness gone from the world. She was my dear friend and she is a HUGE part of who I am today. I miss her but I am blessed with little moments everyday that remind me that she is still living. I am forever grateful for her and I am grateful to know that I will see her again.

5. My Achilles. He is my cat and he has been a blessing in my life. I LOVE cats and for some reason every time I see one I just automatically smile and get really happy. I am certain that this is just a little tender mercy from the Lord to show me that He loves me and wants me to be happy. Achilles brings me that happiness. He is a very loving cat. Whenever I am crying he is seriously there in my lap licking the tears away...it is quite cute actually and I am grateful for it!

6. Dancing. Of course you all know I am grateful for this! Dance brings me joy and I am grateful for this talent that my Father has given me. I am grateful that I can nourish my talent by learning more and more every week. It truly has brought joy and peace to my life. Some weeks I am so tired from work and life is sometimes just hard but when I dance my cares are pushed away and I am just purely happy! I LOVE dance!