This Thanksgiving I'm thankful for:

Just a few things that make me happy:

1. My dog :)
2. Christmas music
3. Popcorn
4. Getting random thoughtful texts :)
5. My sisters (aka my best friends)
6. Pandora - especially my Hunter Hayes and Joshua Radin stations. Perfection.
7. The little twerp named Thomas :)
8. Cookie Dough
9. Making exact change
10. Holding sleeping babies
11. My Canadian brother-in-law
12. Making hair mustaches. Don't judge me.
13. My boss, Miss Jacque, and the kids in the daycare.
14. Disney movies
15. Family Home Evening
16. The color purple
17. To Make You Feel My Love by Jon Peter Lewis.

And. . yeah. Happy Tuesday :)

In other news....

{no, this post is not about Kevin and thermal underwear. thank heavens.}

Stella is officially bumpered!! Not gonna lie, I kinda miss being able to recognize her easily in the parking lot. But I'll take a bumper over a few minutes of searching any day.

Kate leaves for the MTC tomorrow. What?? Where the heck did those eight weeks go? She gave an AWESOME farewell address on Sunday. She's going to be an incredible missionary.
Also, a little scary fact for ya: in the last two months, 5 -yes, I said FIVE- missionaries have been hit by cars in her mission {Texas McAllen, Spanish speaking}. Two of them died. Yes, we're worried as heck, but if that's where the Lord needs her, that's where she'll be!

I donated blood for the first time on Friday! And I didn't even pass out!! Plus I got a really cool t-shirt and snacks :) Thank heavens Steph is HOSA president and was there to hold my hand :)
Apparently my family thinks I'm bad at giving hugs. Rude.
It's partially because of this picture:

and partially because last night I accidentally shouldered Trav in the throat and elbowed Andrew in the nose while trying to hug them.
Okay. So there might be more truth to that statement than I'm willing to admit.

The best part of my sisters coming home? Puppy piles and group naps :)
Thanks Bailey {Lucy's roommate} for being willing to Dilley up and snuggle.
{pic from last thanksgiving. boy was that comfortable}
also. listen to this song and don't smile. I dare you.

Sometimes....

You have a really rough day. Like REALLY rough.

But then you read the beautiful, inspired words of a hymn and it all seems somehow okay.

Lean On My Ample Arm {LDS Hymns, #120}

Lean on my ample arm,

O thou depressed!

And I will bid the storm

Cease in thy breast.

Whate'er thy lot may be

On life's complaining sea,

If thou wilt come to me

Thou shalt have rest.

Lift up thy tearful eyes,

Sad heart, to me;

I am the sacrifice

Offered for thee.

In me thy pain shall cease,

In me is thy release,

In me thou shalt have peace

Eternally.

So yeah.

It's not going to be easy.

But I'll get through this :)

Three things. . .

I'm grateful for:
my incredible family
my awesome friends
the gospel


I love:
getting enough sleep
seminary morningsides with Elder C. Scott Grow
Ingrid Michaelson and Mindy Gledhill


I find pointless:
computer technology with Coach Boog
making your bed (I'm just going to get back into it in a few hours. . .
locking my car doors (it's a pain to unlock them all, and trust me Mom, NO ONE is going to steal this car.)

I'm looking forward to:
state 4a football semi-finals (go braves!)
sleepover in my brand new bedroom with my girls!!
11-11-11 (that wish better come true)


I need to do:
start my Dante imitation for AP Lit
apply to BYU
write letters to my missionaries!


I wish I had:
time and money to go shopping in New York and fill my new closet :)
healthier hair (these split ends are REALLY out of hand)
bad eyesight so I could wear these glasses:

www.bonlook.com. adorable, right?

Happy Tuesday :)

Because I'm a slacker and never ever blog

A few Top Things that happened that I haven't gotten around to mentioning:

#1 Awkwardly Fantastic Thing - Halloween Dance with Derek Marsden {yeah, I know. What is it with me and asking sophomores?} We went as "Christmas" and I had a blast. Thanks Derek!

#1 Bitter Sweet Thing - Dallas {one of my best friends and the most genuine person I have EVER met} left for the MTC on Wednesday. I'm so excited for all he's going to do, but I'll miss that kid more than I can say. He's going to be one incredible missionary :)

#1 Choral Thing - First choir concert of the year! We're not exactly the incredible choir we were last year, but we'll get there :) And afterwards, I went on an awkward date-type thing to Pace's with KevKev {not really.....but really} and kicked Tyler and Kendall's butts at Halloween Bingo {we won't mention the Lego Harry Potter board game}.

#1 Terrifying Thing - Halloween means scary things. . .such as junior high choir concerts. 'Nuff said. {also terrifying: this picture. It has "archives" written all over it}

#1 Brave Thing - Football games have been a party and a half! Even though it's getting WAAY too cold to be outside. I must really want to support Hayden Call {#70} or something. . .

#1 Splendid Thing - I really have the best friends in the whole world :) Wouldn't trade these girls for anything

#1 Frustrating Thing - My phone is completely spastic and decided a few weeks ago that it would be a good idea to send texts to people they weren't intended for. A few of the weirdest:

"But then how would you kill me. . . .?"

"I'm just trying to flirt with you, nbd."

"Ew. I don't want to date you. . . "

". . . You know me too well."

All perfectly normal in context of my conversations, but a little sketchy if you get them out of the blue. So if you get something strange, you've been warned.

#1 Spooky Thing - Spent Halloween at Tyler Jean's marathon watching The Twilight Zone {doo-doo-doo-doo} A great night spent with my best friends :)