Giving Thanks

There is a lot to be thankful for. Thanksgiving is a special holiday to take time and think about who we are surrounded by and what we have. I feel so privileged to know such incredible people who have inspired and helped lift me.

First of all, I have an incredible family. We have held through tough times this year while facing a lot of changes. Changes will always happen, but we have kept our faith through the knowledge that families can be together and that in the end we have each other. My family has supported me throughout the hard times and offered encouragement when school and life in general has had its bumps in the road.

I'm grateful for the many friends I see each day and for the laughs shared, encouragement given, and their kindness. I have incredible roommates and am sad to see half of them leave. I have also been sad to see that many of my friends will be leaving on missions, but it helps me appreciate them even more when they are around. This leads to my gratitude has increased for how quickly the gospel is spreading. I have friends who help give pick-me-ups when we're all stuck in the math lab as well as friends who offer encouragement when I have been studying for a while and falling asleep at work while doing so. I have friends who are incredible examples in all that they do, and I am so grateful for them!

I am sooo thankful for good health. The days where I'm not able to breathe as easily help me appreciate the days where I fully can. The times where I can't eat as much because I ate the wrong things help me be even more thankful for the times I can eat more. Honestly, I feel a little too dramatic sometimes. I'll be wondering why I have a 90% PFT instead of a 96% or so, and I will see a post by a CFer that will be along the lines of "My PFTs went from a 50 to an 80-(something)!!! I am so blessed!!" Then I feel guilty, and remember that God has helped me all along. Yesterday was my clinic visit, and my oxygen level dropped a little and my PFTs stayed at a 91 FEV1, but I couldn't complain because it felt so good to be healthy! I feel so blessed to be able to hit the road to run several miles at a time with hardly any stops and go to the gym about every day to lift weights and take exercise classes.

Nothing beats reaching the top of a hill like this during a run and seeing such a sight :)

I am grateful to be a member of this church. I know I talk about my religion a lot, but it's because it helps me every. single day. and I never take it for granted. I am thankful to know that Christ knows how we feel at all times--every joy, pain, sadness, grief..every emotion because he suffered for each of us and knows us personally. I'm thankful to know that through this gospel, we can always come closer to knowing feeling pure joy by coming closer to our Heavenly Father, and that he is always there. He cares for and loves us for who we are, including our emotions, well-being, the activities we participate in, our interests, and so much more because we are his sons and daughters. I'm glad to know that this gospel brings people together to serve one another and lift each other up, for the leaders we have who help us, the sources we have to learn of believers who faced trials and kept their faith, and for the blessings that come if we do what's right. I'm thankful for the power of prayer to bring peace, comfort, and direction at all times.

There are many other things I'm thankful for, which include:

-Surrounding nature, as it helps me see how God's hand is in all things and that he provided such an earth because he loves us.
-A superb education and job.
-Food/Chick-Fil-A/ice cream
-Youtube videos that make me laugh nonstop uncontrollably
-Music
-Movies/Disney
-everything vintage
-technology
-sleep
-my hair straightener
and more

Thank you for being who you are, and many of you reading this have shaped my life in many positive ways. Thanks for everything!

So, the question is, what are you thankful for?