Things I am thankful for...

It's so sad to me that as a nation, we need a day set aside to remember what we are thankful for! I used to say I didnt need a holiday to remind me to show thanks, but lately, as life gets crazier and chaotic, I too, have fallen into the trap of using Thanksgiving as THE day to show my thanks. Oh well...at least people know I am thankful for them right?!? Not only am I thankful for people, but I am thankful for THINGS! I have learned to appreciate the little things, technology, hot water, shoes, clothes, blankets, laughter, etc. This year I have also learned to appreciate and be thankful for trials--life is full of them so I figured might as well show appreciation for them and learn from them! Most importantly though, I am thankful for the following people in my lives!

First and foremost, I am thankful for these CRAZY, DYSFUNCTIONAL, INSANE people...

My family is so important to me...especially my sisters. I am thankful my family stands behind me 100% no matter what I do. They constantly tell me how much they love me and are proud of me. My sisters and I have the strongest most amazing bond! They are truly beautiful women who make my life so fun! My brothers (including the inlaws) are like my body guards! Whenever soemthing is wrong, they go up in full protection mode and will do anything to protect me! My nephews and niece are precious in everyway! I so so thankful I can watch them grow and learn to see the simple things in a new light--through their eyes! My family is pretty amazing...we are big and crazy and seriously so dysfunctional, but at least there is NEVER a dull moment in our lives!!!!

The next thing I am thankful for are Best Friends...
Tara is my rock! She helps me in sooo many different aspects. I have learned to appreciate the gospel and be a better person because of her. She has given me strength to overcome so many obstacles and trials in my life. She is always there to smack some sense into me when I am being stupid! She puts up with slowness! I am thankful we can find sooo much humor and joy in the LITTLE thing. Who would have thought playing a duet on the piano would be SOOOO funny?!? Or that sliding down the stairs would entertain us for so long?!?

Heather is my other Bestie who I am continually thankful for!!!

I would have NEVER made it through the college years without this bestie! Heather is the first person I text when something has gone wrong and I am so grateful she is always just a text away! I am glad we can go out to dinner and just talk for hours on end...until they start cleaning and telling us they are closing! We never have an awkward dull moment and I am so thankful for the example she is to me! I am glad I went to BYU-Idaho because I met Heather! I am so thankful that 4 1/2 years ago we decided to hang out and become besties! I know whenever I need ANYTHING Heather is just a phone call away and will do anything she can to help!!! I look forward to many more years of silliness together...including being in a nursing home causing chaos like we do so well! :)

Finally I am thankful for Friends/Roomies

These girls have been inspiration to me in so many ways! From being examples in word and deed to being some of the best partners in crime, I am so thankful for them! We have had a great year full of trips, adventures, tears, and laughs, and I have enjoyed every single one of them! My roomies have truly become some of my closest friends who make me laugh every single day! I am thankful for the jokes we share and our crazy stories! I love coming "home" and hearing about everyones adventures. Thank you girls for being there for me while my dad had his heart surgery, for being there through Ryan drama, and for being there to simply make me laugh and smile!!! I am going to miss you girls so much after graduation but I know we will be hanging out sooo much more outside of school!!!

Finally, I am thankful for all of you who are taking the time out of your day to read this! If I didnt mention you by name, I am sorry, but I hope you know you are special to me and have made an impact in my life in one way or another.

StReSsEd

You know those days when everything seems to just go wrong?!? Well welcome to my world! Only its not just a day that seems to go wrong, its been an entire month! Ever since my dads open heart surgery, things have just gone from bad to worse in my life!!! I am at the breaking point! I keep telling people I am being tested in EVERYWAY possible because its my last semester and they (evil forces out there in this world haha) are trying to get me to drop out! Little do they know I am way too stubborn to just give in! But let me just inform you on some of the DRAMA in my life!

*Dad has open heart surgery (originally triple bypass, turned into quadruple)

* I decide to get sick...still sick and dont worry its been 3 1/2 weeks

* A certain family member has some SERIOUS issues to face with their spouse...most likely leading to an end marriage...crossing our fingers it works out that way (is that bad?!?)

* Roommates from HELL...I swear no other girls have been nearly this bad

*Professor decides not to help me out with missing work...have to go to Dean who clears it (thank the Lord)

*Get an eviction notice from my managers

*Have to meet with head of housing department and my managers

*Boyfriend drama!!! (to end or not to end...that is the question)

*Friends mom dies

*plans fell through and am stuck in Rexburg for Thanksgiving

*Dad cant come to Graduation

*Dad back in hopsital...rushed there via ambulance last night (Friday the 13th...go freakn figure)

*Get in a car accident...horrible bruise still on my leg and still hurts

* FREAKN SNOWING AND STICKING!!!

* Relief Society President on my A$$ for never going...maybe if she wasnt so creepy and annoying we would actually go...HAHA

*Have I mentioned I am still sick!??

*Phone completely breaks day before I can upgrade for a new one...Verizon refuses to move my upgrade a day...therefore I am phoneless till Monday when it comes

Seriousy the list just keeps going! Its insane how horrible this month has been!!! I just want to pull my hair out, go to sleep, and wake up when everything is okay in my life again! Sadly, I dont think things will ever go back to the way they used to be!!! And if thats the case, LORD HELP ME!!!

October...

Happy Holidays!!! HAHA...its officially after Halloween so now I can say that right?!? Well even if people say no, I am gonna say it anyway! My graduation countdown continues and now it is at 46 days!!! I am so excited for my entire family to be in Idaho for the big day! It will be a blast for sure! :) This past month was full of fun times, sad times, surprise times, and really hard times, but the good news is each trial made me a stronger person! My dad had to have a quadruple bypass on the 23rd of October so Manda and I packed up the boys and ourselves in 30 minutes and headed home to California! I got pulled over for going 20 over the speed limit, and worked my magic to get out of it! Manda got pulled over about an hour later for going 6 over and still got out of the ticket! The police LOVED us that night for some reason! It was a LONG drive home, but luckily the boys were great and slept the entire time because it was the middle of the night. It was nice to be home with my family and lend my support--even though my dad was not happy we were all around because he was in so much pain and in tears the whole time. Psycho and I started to talk again after 5 years and in fact, I believe I can now call him Garrett again! Its sad and kinda twisted how such huge events occur to change some peoples hearts. I was able to go to a pumpkin patch with all the grandkids to keep our minds busy one day after the surgery and it was really hot but really fun. October also brought about a lovely trip to Utah that went south BAD!!! We were so excited to have a fun time but it ended up being horrible...for me at least! We got in a 4 car pile up, my leg is in horrible pain as is my left arm and head, but no major damage to anyone, we went to the Michael Jackson movie which was a lot of fun, we went to a Black and White party which was a joke, and Ryan flipped out on me more times than NOT! But in the end, it was nice to be around friends and away from the stresses of school. October was a very long month although looking back now, it seems as though the time just keeps flying! I cant believe Thanksgiving break is in 18 days and then school is over forever for me in less than 2 months! CRAZY!!! I just hope the rest of the time in Idaho is filled with some great memories...good or bad, one thing is for sure, they are all life changing memories!!!