Grattitude... a day late

But really, it's never too late for gratitude, right?  Here is my post-Thanksgiving addition.

* I finished my research paper for my Intro to Music Research class.  The paper was 17 pages long, and the bibliography was 13 pages long.  Needless to say, I've been working HARD!  I turned it in at 11:00 am. on Wednesday and practically skipped away from class.  I was so excited.  It was like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.  

* I had a fabulous Thanksgiving meal at Anna Laura's parents house.  It was my first Thanksgiving away from my family, and I'm so grateful for the Artz-Iffland family and their hospitality.  It was fun to see that families, no matter how different they look from my own,  all have quirks and traditions and no matter what... LOVE.  

* I am thankful that time is constantly ticking on.  Some things may seem like they are SO FAR AWAY, but the cool thing is that every second that goes by is another second closer to those things.  And that makes me more grateful for the time I have BETWEEN now and those things.  I need to make the most of the time I have and be grateful for it.  To everything there is a season.  

* I also had a second Thanksgiving at my Branch President's house after Anna Laura's house... cranberry-apple-walnut pie??  Yes please.  The missionaries were there.  I LOVE being around missionaries.  I love the Johnson's house.  And the Johnsons.  And my friends there.

* I'm thankful for my FAMILY!!  I got to talk to them on the phone last night after a day of eating.  No other people on the planet are as good at making me feel loved and wanted as they are.  Maybe Nathan is as good at those things too.  Wouldn't it have been fun to talk to HIM last night??  One more month, and then I CAN!!  Eek!  :) :) :) 

* Man, life is great.  I seriously have so much to be grateful for.  I love my education, my town, my friends, my family, my house, my guinea pig, my happiness.  I LOVE how Christmas is preceded by Thanksgiving.  What a better way to start the season of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ than to ponder on and be grateful for all the things that he has given us.  

I'm coming back to SLC in 13 days.  "I'll be home for Christmas.... You can count on me!"  

Joy and Peace

I recommend this holiday album to all my friends...

as a lover of music

as a lover of cello

as a lover of Yo Yo Ma

(and his friends)

as a lover of jazz

as a lover of uniqueness

as a lover of peace and joy

and a lover of Christmas!

I saw it at target and thought how cliche it would be for me to jump at the opportunity to buy it.  So I left it on the display.  But by the time I reached the checkout, I talked myself into it.  Now it has been in my car CD player all week bringing me peace and joy where ever I go!  Give it a listen!  I think you'll like it!

Blast from the T-ville Past!

Tagged by Nikki!  All about THS!

This is my senior picture at THS

1. DID YOU DATE SOMEONE FROM YOUR SCHOOL? In high school I didn't really "date" anyone.  I went on different dates with different people, all from my high school.  But no serious boyfriend.  Spring of senior year I guess I started to date Nathan, and he went to T-ville too.  

2.WHAT KIND OF CAR DID YOU DRIVE? A grey mini van.  It was pimp.

3. DID YOU PASS YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE TEST YOUR FIRST TRY? Just barely!  I probably shouldn't have.  I admit, careful driving is something I'm really not good at.  

4. WERE YOU A PARTY ANIMAL? Not at all.

5. WERE YOU CONSIDERED A FLIRT? Not so much.  I liked flirting, but I was kinda shy and probably sucked at it.  Thank heavens that Nathan was so easy to flirt with!

6. WERE YOU IN BAND, ORCHESTRA, OR CHOIR? Orchestra for life, and then concert choir my senior year.  Yay for learning second soprano skillz.  

7. WERE YOU A NERD? Yeah, I guesso.  I was in the National Honors Society and played the cello and got awards like student of the month and geeky things like that.  

8. WERE YOU ON ANY VARSITY TEAMS? I was a varsity cheerleader.  lol.  That's still funny for me to think about sometimes.  But I became close with my 3 best friends in the world because of it.  

9. DID YOU EVER GET SUSPENDED/EXPELLED? Nope.

10. CAN YOU STILL SING THE FIGHT SONG? Heck yes I can!  We had to sing it many many times at every game I ever cheered at, so I think it's permanently lodged into my brain. W-A-Double R-I-O-R-S!!

11. WHO WERE YOUR FAVORITE TEACHERS? Mrs. T, Doc, Mrs. Parrish's english class

12. WHERE DID YOU SIT FOR LUNCH? Either by the cheerleader lockers or out to lunch somewhere like sconecutter or iceburg.  

13. WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL'S FULL NAME? Taylorsville High School

14. WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL'S MASCOT AND COLORS? Warriors.  Blue, Gold and White!

15. DID YOU GO TO HOMECOMING AND WITH WHO? Jr. year I went with David Brought, an old friend who was in town for the weekend. Sr. year with someone I don't remember... man, must have been a memorable date, yikes!  And the year after graduation I went with Nathan.

16. IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND DO IT AGAIN WOULD YOU? I would have not done cheer senior year.  Not. At. All.  

17. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT GRADUATION? Nathan and I tried our best to plan to sit by each other but somehow we got into two different lines and I had to sit by some random kid I didn't even know.  And then I remember taking a billion pictures.

18. WHERE DID YOU GO SENIOR SKIP DAY? I don't think we had that. Lame.

19. WERE YOU IN ANY CLUBS? I was in Megan Gregory's club about women being awesome and having all sorts of rights.  And Schooley's club for carnivores, which is funny cause I'm a vegetarian now.  And the Harry Potter Club.  And the French Club.  Probably more.  Clubs were kind of a big deal at T-ville.  

20. HAVE YOU GAINED SOME WEIGHT SINCE THEN? I did gain weight after high school.  But I have lost most of it since then.  I went through a little fat phase.  lol.  

21. WHO WAS YOUR PROM DATE? Nathan Matthew Morris.  It was our first date!

22. ARE YOU PLANNING ON GOING TO YOUR 10 YEAR REUNION? Meh.  We'll see.  I still keep in touch with the people I care about, so I wouldn't be devastated if I missed it.  

23. DID YOU HAVE A JOB IN HIGH SCHOOL? Yes, I coached the cello section of a youth chamber orchestra once a week.  Funnest job ever.  

Now I taggggg..... Any other THS Warrior out there!!

Happy??

Two starkly different conversations happened tonight with two drastically different friends... practically back to back. The topic of both conversations= happiness.  The two perspectives on this topic=  radically different.  And this has spurred some blog-worthy thoughts in the past few hours- Let me throw 'em atcha and see what you come up with.

1- What makes you happy?

2- When you're unhappy, what do you change?

3- How does religion affect your happiness?

4- Do you think you have control over your own happiness?

Lately, I've been learning a lot about what makes me happy when things get tough, and I'm down with telling ya all about it.  But right now I want to know what YOU think.  I would LOVE any and every comment you've got!

In the mean time, here are some happy pictures from a wonderful weekend...

Snow in my front yard!

One countdown tower filled up!

Egg nog, whip cream, almond milk and cinnamon!

Good friends, good conversations, good drinks on an almost winter night!

The List

Here is this weeks list of gratitude:

1. I am SO glad to finally be finished with the first draft of my research paper!! It's the longest paper I've ever written, and the most involved research I've ever done, and it has been an overwhelming and daunting task.  Now that I've cranked out the first draft, all that's left is editing!  I feel like there might be light at the end of this hideous 'Intro to Music Research' tunnel.  

2. I was grateful for the opportunity to perform at the stake fireside tonight.  It was the first time that many of my Michigan friends have heard me play cello, and it was lots of fun.  It's because of nights like these that I do what I do.  :) I love cello!

3.  I'm grateful for all the bundling and layering skillz that I learned while living in frigid Logan Utah.  Michigan suddenly got REALLY REALLY cold this week!  I fear I'm going to need these skills plus more to make it through the winter here!

4. I am grateful for PetSmart's veterinary service that is free within the first two weeks of purchasing a pet from them.  Unfortunately my sweet Gloria has contracted an upper respiratory infection, so she's hanging out at PetSmart receiving antibiotics and extra love from the vet crew until she's well enough to live with me again.  I miss her.

5. I'm infinitely grateful to the WMU computer help desk for taking my hard drive, that was proclaimed unreadable by the micro-computer lab, and salvaging every single one of my precious files.  Including my music, my pictures, Nathan's mission pictures, my programs, and my research project.  Ten billion sighs of relief!

It's been a crazy week.  I'm grateful for the weekend!!  It's about time!

Gloria!!

...Introducing...

GLORIA!!

My new baby guinea pig!

Today I am thankful for Nathan for inspiring me to buy a pet, for Brianna for helping me choose which one, and for Gloria for being herself.  

Grateful- Election Edition

For these things I am thankful:

I voted for the first time and became part of history.

We are a democracy.

We elected a president who inspires hope

 tolerance

 unity

and change.

If America unites, we can make a difference!

I am proud.

I am excited!

I am inspired.

I am thankful.