Gratitude Bloggin'

               Let's talk about gratitude for a second shall we? I feel like it is something that is so easily overlooked and forgotten that it's to a point of inexcusable I will be the first to admit, I am sometimes awful at looking around and counting my blessings, but sometimes life is real good about reminding you not to take what you have for granted. It doesn't matter how or why gratitude gets brought to our attention, it just matters that we acknowledge it. So, here I am, about to acknowledge some things and people I have been especially grateful for lately.

               It wouldn't be right to start off without first mentioning how grateful I am for my family. My mom, dad, siblings, nieces and nephews, grandparents, aunts and uncles, just FAMILY. How often do we walk past our mom or pesky little sibling and not even think twice about how much they contribute to our lives? I know I don't tell my mom and dad enough how much I am grateful for them. I have everything because of my family and I really love them a lot. Family is a special gift from a loving Father in Heaven that we take for granted every single day. I think my good friend put it best when he suggested you take your mom (or any other family member for that matter) by the shoulders, look them in the eyes and tell them "I cherish you." and mean it. DO IT.

               I am so grateful for my body. Don't make that weird. Since being momentarily crippled, I have just found this absolute love for my limbs, especially my legs. How lucky are we that we wake up every single morning, roll out of bed, and are able to walk. It's just miraculous! And how on earth do our feet support us? Like have you ever really thought about it? Golly gee its amazing.

               I am grateful for the gospel. I could go on and on for probably hours about how it has blessed my life and why I should be grateful for it but I will leave it at this: I am grateful for the truth in my life. How beautiful it is.

               EDUCATION! Summer just began, I know. SO it probably makes me sound like a total noob to say how grateful I am for education but for real life guys. How lucky are we to live in a country where education is right at our fingertips? SO lucky. Think about it, then google how it is in other countries, then we will talk about it. CAUSE IT'S SO AWESOME TO BE AMERICAN OK?

               WHICH brings me to the next point of gratitude. AMERICA. Holy cow, land of the free home of the brave! But something I think we forget is that freedom surely is not free. In fact, just call up my big brother Josh, my dad, or my grandpa and they will tell you exactly that. Do me a favor friends, and next time you see somebody in uniform, tell them thank you. It means the world to them and it will do wonders in your life. They sacrifice so much, as do their families, so you taking the few seconds to thank them for their service won't hurt you even a bit. So even if you do nothing else, please do that.

               I am so grateful for laughter, and the ability to make people laugh. Laughter is seriously my favorite sound, feeling, experience, gift, so on and so forth...ever. It is so beautiful how laughter can bring people together. Laughter is just great.

               I am grateful for babies. Need I say more?

               I am grateful for my friends....I think more than you guys know. I am grateful for you. The constant love and support I receive from my friends is just mind boggling. I won't lie, I am getting pretty good at being a pretty bad friend at times, but those who are my true friends haven't abandoned me once. How incredible is that? And to you ladies, Maddy, Kenzie, Jade, Kels, Ray, Taylor, Alex and Claire...thank you especially to you girls. What on earth would I do without my best friends? I love you guys with all my heart, thank you for being there for me even when I sometimes didn't quite deserve it. You guys are amazing, beautiful people and I am so blessed to not only know you, but proudly say you are the closest friends I have. I am who I am today because of you girls. Thank you :)

               So maybe tonight, or whenever you are reading this, I can inspire you to think of at least one thing you are grateful for, whether it is for warm water or even something as silly as your iphone, just remember to be grateful. Every single day is a gift so let's try as a group of people, to not take it for granted. :) Sure do love you. Thanks for being my friend....and reading my blog :)