Thanksgivin'

As a "warning" to what I am about to say...I am in no way un-thankful for the sacrifice the pilgrims gave for us to have what we have.

So, I believe that Thanksgiving is overrated, unless, there is extended family to celebrate with. If you are like my family, nomads essentially, we are thousands of miles away from any family, and therefore, had a very lonely thanksgiving. The last few years, my family hasn't even made a thanksgiving dinner. They've gone to a local church for their Thanksgiving dinner. This year our ward had a thanksgivinng dinner at our church, but it just wasn't special.

I think that we shouldn't need a special day for giving thanks. If you have family nearby, great, count your blessings and gather together for a special dinner. But if not, don't feel bad that this holiday just isn't your favorite.

I am pretty sure that, unless my husband just LOVES thanksgiving, we are just going to have a nice day off work, do nothing, and then go to a restaurant for dinner.

Just sayin'.

Officially Recommended...

Today, I've been officially recommended for missionary service by both my branch president and my stake president. It feels so incredible. I seriously cannot stop smiling.

I know I've said this over and over, but I know that what this church teaches is true.

There is such a thing as a prophet here on this earth and his name is Thomas S Monson. I truly believe that President Monson receives counsel from our Heavenly Father for us to hear in this latter day. I believe that the Book of Mormon was written for these days. The stories in this sacred book were written for our use, not for those people who lived with Nephi or Moroni. I know this, and I want you to know this too.

If you have questions about my religion or about the happiness I've attained because of it, please ask.

Forklifts and Cop Cars

What do forklifts and cops have in common? They both have flashing lights that FREAK me out!!!

I have been pulled over way too many times. Most of the time for stupid reasons, and one time for a legitimate reason. Whatever. Anyways, somehow I've gotten away with zero tickets. Thank goodness. But, anytime I see a cop car with flashing lights behind me I freak out. My heart starts pounding and my hands start shaking. Its kind of ridiculous.

Like one time, I was driving to work and I look in my rearview mirror and I see flashing lights so I pull over and hope that they aren't coming for me. But the car behind me just kept on driving. So I turn and look behind me and I notice that the cop has ALREADY pulled someone over. I felt pretty much like an idiot.

So, I drive the forklift at my work and am a go between between converting and shipping. I take the finished product from the floor back to the warehouse. Anyways, my forklift has a flashing light on the back and I cannot count the amount of times I've noticed a flashing light and freaked out that I was getting pulled over, only to realize that I'm at work, in the warehouse, on my forklift, BY MYSELF.

Silly,, I know.

I'm going on a mission.

So, a few weeks ago, a historical announcement was made which changed the face of missionary work all over the world. Women can go on their missions at 19. TWO whole years earlier than was previously allowed. Wow. Mind Blown.

Really, though. I have been considering, and then planning on going on a mission for the last year. But I am only 19. And I still had two more years to wait before I could go on a mission. So, I decided to travel, work, and then go on a mission. Then I decided to just work and go on a mission. Then I decided to go back to school and then go on a mission. Whatever my current plan was, I was always going to go on a mission. In two years. But whatever my plan was at that moment, I never was fully satisfied. I had been saving money, something I had never done before and I had just sent my beautiful best friend on her mission to Arizona. And then the announcement was made. I seriously felt giddy.

So, I started wondering and searching and praying for whether or not I should go. I asked family for advice, and I consulted my patriarchial blessing. Weeks later I had not gotten a resounding yes or no. So, I wrote to by beautiful best friend and asked for her advice. I received her letter yesterday and it basically gave me words of encouragement and told me she thought I already had gotten my answer. I think I've gotten it too. Money saved. 19 years old. Considering it for a year. Patriarchial blessing. Feelings. Everything pointed to yes.

So, I'm going on a mission. A real, honest to goodness, 18 month mission. Now. I have started my papers and am hoping to maybe get a call by the end of December. What? Crazy. I know.

I also know that this gospel is true. I know we have true teachings from God himself, and I know God loves us. Each of us. Me and you. I know there is a plan out there for me, and I also know it is up to me to follow it or not. I know I am happier when I am following His commandments and I know you can be too. I know family is the most important thing in this life and in the next life. I know I want to be with them forever. I know there is a next life and a loving Heavenly Father and caring big brother, Jesus Christ waiting for us with open arms, ready to say "you made it. Welcome home". I look forward to hearing that. I hope that if you do not know these things that you are willing to find out for yourself. It is important.

November: The Thankful Month

I'm a little late to jump on the bandwagon, but I'm jumping nonetheless. No month should be solely for giving thanks, just to forget the rest of the months, but this month the focus is especially on giving thanks, just because of the holiday it houses: Thanksgiving. I will write something I am thankful for for every day of the month that's passed so far.

1: I am thankful for my education. I've had the opportunity to graduate high school and get some college experience under my belt and it has made me grow up so much!

2: Im thankful for my religion. I've had my fair share of doubts and questions, but when it all comes down to the wire, I know there is a God in Heaven who cares for me. I know there is such a thing as angels and Heaven and a big brother of mine named Jesus Christ.

3: I am thankful for my mother. She puts up with so much from me and she still sticks around.

4: I am thankful for my father. He always knows what to say to make me feel better and he always makes some time for me no matter how busy he is.

5: I'm thankful for my job. It sucks sometimes, but there are a lot of good things to balance out the bad. Like the good money, job security, and days off.

6: I am thankful for friends. I've gone through lots and lots of friends in my life and very few have stuck. Those who have are pretty darn special. Especially when I have such awful friend skills.

7: I'm so thankful for missionaries. My family wouldn't be what it is today if it werent for those missionaries who helped guide my dad to the church.. My best friend is on a mission and is doing so great. I am grateful for the good examples the missionaries that I know are.

8: I am thankful for my house and my money. I'm not rich but I'm definitely not poor either. I have never needed anything and I have plenty of room to run around. Some people aren't anywhere near so fortunate.

9: I'm thankful for dreams. I said earlier that I didn't have any dreams or goals that are mine but I realize now that I do. I dream of traveling the world and I dream of making a difference, whether it be in someone else's life or in the way the world is. I look forward to doing that.

10: I'm grateful for authors who have imaginations. I love to pick up a good book and just get away for a while and if there weren't any people willing to write good books, I wouldn't have anything to read.

11: I'm grateful for those who are fighting for this country, for our veterans. Sometimes I'm not sure what they are fighting for, but if they know and they are willing to do it, then kudos to them. I'm just not that strong.

12: I'm grateful for technology. The ability to mindlessly escape to facebook or hulu are so great. Cell phones also help keep us safe and give a security blanket that I use constantly.

Tys and Teag

My brothers and sister and pretty phenomenal. Here are some pictures of our adventures the last two days:

Leaf fight!

These faces of theirs while they are throwing leaves in the air are great! We were walking to the park last night and found a couple of leaf piles. It was just too much to resist. I'm not sure whoever raked those leaves were too appreciative though :)

About 30 seconds after waking up.

I LOVE THIS PICTURE!

He thought Trev's Alg 1 textbook was pretty cool.

She did her own makeup. Can you tell?

Happy Birthday to me!

As my birthday loomed closer I determined that I didn't desire anything for my birthday. I was content with what I had and I wasn't really looking forward to my birthday. I knew I had very few friends who would care, just because I'm pretty lousy at being a good friend, and I had to work ALL WEEKEND. I had braced myself for an okay day.

I came home friday, the 9th, after work to some yummy calzones and a decorated house. It was a nice surprise "party". My mom bought me my favorite cake from Wegmans, the one the Deans introduced me to on my 16th birthday. My sister regifted me a singing dog she got for Christmas last year and my dad gave me a basket full of the stuff needed to make chocolate chip cookies. For like 3 batches. Complete with vanilla, flour, sugar, and even eggs and butter. It really was an ingenious gift. And then my mom said she was going to save my gift from her for Christmas. I was not happy with that but I let it go and decided not to make a big deal of that. 

On Saturday, I woke up at 6 for work and was secretly hoping for breakfast. No such luck. Then at work I kept my phone with me all day and was hoping for atleast a happy birthday text from my parents. No such luck. I was kind of devastated. I just wanted to cry. I had one coworker remember that it was my birthday and I got a whispered 'happy birthday' from him. My supervisor completely forgot and I know I mentioned it to him atleast 3 times. It was just an awful day. And then about 6 my mom texted me and gave me 2 choices for my birthday dinner., which was really unexpected, but neither of which were really great. I picked the better of the two with the hopes of a free birthday dessert. We got to the restaurant and 2 of my siblings were not there. Ok fine. I decided to try something new and ordered nachos. They were awful. Really awful. I ate about 10 chips total. Then the waitress came and asked if we needed anything else, said the didn't do anything for birthdays, and then felt bad and decided to 'hook me up". She came back with the biggest, best piece of chocolate cake I've ever had. It was SO GOOD! 

Then at home I broke down and freaked out about people not caring about my birthday. I was a brat. I tried really hard not to do that, but it just all built up and came out. Then my brother came down with my present from my mom and just  said 'mom says happy birthday'. My present was a beautiful watch with changeable watchbands. It is so perfect! I LOVE IT. 

On Sunday I got off work at 1, instead of at 7, and we had my birthday dinner. I chose hamburgers with cheese and caramelized onions and cheesy beans made with velveeta. My mom also made homemade mac and cheese. Dinner was so good! 

So, basically, the day before and the day after my birthday were really, really great. The day of was pretty awful, except for the cake and the watch. I've just decided that I need to start now and get prepared that birthdays aren't a big deal anymore. I'm in my 20's and if anyone remembers anymore I'll be lucky. If I get a present, it'll be a huge deal. But just in case I'm not mentally prepared for my 21st birthday, just be ready. 

I'll probably me a monster on my actual birthday day. 

HALLOWEEN

I know it's a little late. I CANNOT believe it is 1/3 of the way through November. Um, what? Anyways, Halloween this year was just a blur. It was really weird.

I didn't have any plans for halloween this year. I was going to go to our ward trunk or treat but they canceled it because of Frankenstorm, the storm of the century, or whatever you want to call it. And... I had to work the night shift, from 7 pm on the 31st to 7 am on the 1st. So I couldn't go to any of the Halloween activities at my siblings school because I was sleeping. I did go out trick or treating with my little brother about 530 that night, but there was NO ONE OUT! So my brother and I have claimed the status of first trick or treaters in 2012. It was just so odd. But as we made our way up the street, in the daylight, trick or treaters started following our lead and coming out of their houses after we had gone to them. By 630 the whole neighborhood was out in full force.

I didn't dress up this year, but I haven't for quite a few years now, so that was no surprise. But my brother and sister had about 29 different Halloween costumes this year. For actual Halloween night my brother was a death eater from Harry Potter and my sister was Ginny Weasley, Harry Potter's wife. (without the red hair). Everyone thought my brother's costume was pretty freaky and no one could quite tell who my sister was. Everyone thought she was Harry Potter and she wasn't very pleased with that. Both of their costumes were complete with unsharpened pencils acting as their wands.

My 5 year old brother was absolutely hilarious this year with Halloween. We went to about 15 houses up and down our street and then we stopped by our house to warm up. And I asked my brother, tys, if he wanted to go to more houses. He said no. I was shocked. I know that when I was his age, I went to every house possible and got all the candy I could. So tys hung out around our house and answered the door and handed out candy for about 5 minutes. And then he got tired of that and put the bowl on the porch. And then he decided to sit on the porch with the bowl. And then we turned the light off and saved the candy for the rescheduled trunk or treat for Nov 2.

This year, Halloween was weird.