Thanks

Whew whew! It's November, the month to cultivate gratitude, which is good for me because I sure am a crusty, stressed out soul these days with a lot to be grateful for and a funny way of showing it sometimes.

This is a post about gratitude, because there can never be enough posts about good things in life.

I am at a point in my life where I am very busy and/or lacking time management skills. Last time this happened, I realized I needed to cut something out of my daily routine to make time for everything else. I decided to give up eating real food and lived off of Costco chocolate weight loss shakes (the packaging said they were packed with vitamins and stuff!!). It was effective but terrible. I had more time in my day, but far less fat on my bones and swing in my step. This time around, I have given up on some other things (yoga, reading, creativity in general outside of work, cleaning out my fridge *shudder*, cooking/grocery shopping/being anti-freezer meals, etc.), but I am trying my hardest not to give into the temptation of the chocolate Costco shakes. They are so tasty, but not exactly what you'd call a balanced diet.

Despite all my first world problems, I am grateful to be a busy stress-case. It means that I have a job, a church calling, a husband, a family, friends, a place to call home, things in my home to tidy, a kitchen in my home to clean, food to eat that messes up my kitchen, and a warm bed to sleep in.

I am thankful for my job. It gives my day purpose, gets me up in the morning, and keeps my mind sharp. It has taught me the reality of cutthroat business, yet allows me a creative space to work with colors and textures and oh-so-delightful movements of fashion within the wedding industry. I work with some of the happiest and hopeful customers on this earth. Helping brides and grooms plan their weddings reminds me each day of how happy my wedding day was and how grateful I am that it was such a special day for me and Richard. Our family and friends really put on the greatest party for us and I love the memories I have of that day. Costco's chocolate cake. Jonny singing "Business time." Wendy's drive thru. Best day ever. I hope the couples I work with can experience the same satisfaction as they look back on their own wedding day.

My church calling, the assignment given to me by my local church leaders, has been challenging in so many unexpected ways. It has also started to change me, hopefully all for the better. I have been assigned as the president of the young women's organization in our ward. As a 27-year-old with no kids and hardly any experience in regards to teenagers (besides the fact that I still act like one most of the time), I have felt beyond overwhelmed. I feel more like a teenager than an adult most days, and man, I can really relate to those 13 year old girls, but fulfilling the role of "leader" "adult leader" has not come naturally. I feel the weight of this calling all the time. I understand that God has entrusted me to look over these girls, to love them like He does, to be an example of Christlike love, to provide them a safe place, and to create experiences through which they can learn to recognize and rely of the Spirit and develop a testimony of the Gospel. While this responsibility often overwhelms me to tears, I am grateful for it, because it allows me ample opportunities to rely on the Lord and his atonement for support, strength, guidance, and inspiration. It requires me to humble myself, recognize my weaknesses, and stand back in amazement as I see little miracles unfold. Just as I learned on my mission, this is truly His work, and I am just an instrument.

I am forever thankful for my Richard. I am so glad he is upbeat and hardworking and cute. So glad he gets me midnight snacks when I should be sleeping instead of eating. So glad he happily programs on his computer as I blog on mine. So glad he picked me to be his forever time girl.

OK, that's it for today. More gratitude coming your way later-gator.