Friends!!!

So this last Sunday I went to the singles ward in Champaign and after returning home dad told me that brother Newman had asked him to ask me to speak on the following Sunday and I could choose any topic. Last night brother Newman called to confirm that I would be speaking, told me 10-15mins and also said that he would like me to talk about something from school and relate it to the gospel...ummm ok! (By this point I had made a tentative decision on my topic, so I was like for real! haha) Anyway I have decided to talk about friends, why we need them and how they can help us in our life (tied in with unity and the importance of it).
This is Ryan and Marianne. They are two of the most amazing people I have met! Sure they look normal but these are my friends here in Illinois. Had I not attended the singles ward I would still be lonely and bored and would be counting down the days until going back to school! But now I don't want to leave and it's coming way too fast. They have made my summer memorable and happy. It's the best summer that I remember ever having! They have been a HUGE blessing in my life and I'm very grateful for them being here for me!

This is Katie and Pama! They have been my friends for years on end and have and will always be there for me. Our friendship is forever and no matter what the problem or what the stress load they are able to help me get rid of some of that stress so that I can continue with my homework, work, or whatever frustrating situation it may be! They have been awesome awesome friends and I miss them soo much! Words cannot describe the relationships I have with them :)





This is Ako, Erin and Tandy. Not really the best picture, but it works! Erin and Tandy were my roommates for my first two semesters. They were awesome (Ako is awesome too, but I don't know her as well, she's going on a mission soon, I'll miss her, but she'll do GREAT!) Erin was alway there to lend an ear or to make me laugh. We shared a room and I'm glad she was my first roommate! She's awesome!! Tandy is absolutely crazy and wonderful! She was always there to make things fun, put a smile on my face or to scare the crud out of me! haha. She's been a great friend to me and I miss her soo much!

These people I have talked about have had such a huge impact on my life throughout the years. Some are very recent, others I've known since I was 12, some I've known for a year. No matter how long they have been around they have helped me in someway or another! They are awesome people and have a great future ahead of them! These are only a few of the friends who have helped me in the past, there are more and there is family. So long story short friends have and always will be very important to me, I am grateful for them and I love them soo much!

oops..I'm slacking!

Alright, so it's been awhile, probably too long! I'm still trying to stay positive although it's proving difficult lately..so here's what I'm thankful for!

I am so very grateful to belong to the only true church on the face of the Earth. I'm grateful for Joseph Smith and his sacrifices along with the sacrifices of his family that helped bring the restoration of the gospel to this earth. I love the gospel with all my heart. I'm grateful for the Book of Mormon and the comfort it can bring to us. I'm also grateful to be alive and to have the opportunity to live and prove myself worthy to live with our Heavenly Father again. I love Him and His way of showing us He loves us. I love that the gospel is so central on the family, and I'm glad that I can live with my family forever and ever! I love them so much, and I love my friends, both new and old, they make my life 100x better! They put smiles on my face even in the hardest of times! You guys are all awesome!

So there is my optimistic thankful post for now..Keep a smile on your face! God loves you and will carry you through everything if you will take the first few steps and exercise faith! Have a great week :D <3

Nauvoo

Nauvoo was just amazing! Within minutes of arriving in Nauvoo I recognized the spirit that was present throughout the area. People were cheerful, kind, willing to help. Everything seemed peaceful, and for the most part the weather cooperated. I was fortunate enough to be able to see the pageant. It was such a thought-provoking and remindful play! I felt as if I could actually imagine the pioneers draining and settling the land, building their homes, the temple, the gospel and each other. It's amazing how united the saints were in their purpose and in helping each other with all their problems and building each others faith. This visit to Nauvoo also helped me appreciate more fully the technology we have today. Our houses are built with insulation, heating and air conditioning. We don't need a summer kitchen to keep the heat out! We don't have to find ways to keep perishable foods cool, whether in a cellar or in the bottom of a well! Also, vehicles! From Nauvoo to Carthage it is roughly 30-40 miles. Now a days that is nothing, it's less than an hours drive! Then, it would have been days of traveling. Poor Emma, sending her husband to Carthage and asking if he would be returning only to be answered by silence. He was days away from her! Then, once there the only form of communication was letters! The postal service was unreliable, the time to get from one place to another was so much longer than it is today! We are so blessed with phones, email, texting, reliable postal serivce (for the most part)! It's so amazing everything we have. I love the spirit of Nauvoo, I love the feeling of sacrifice that is there. I join with President Hinckley in saying that EVERYONE should visit Nauvoo at least once in their lives. I'm grateful to live so close to have the opportunity to visit. I'm grateful for my own ancestors that sacrificed everything, including their lives, for the gospel of Jesus Christ. In summary of my experience: I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true gospel and that Joseph Smith was a prophet sent by God to restore the fulness of the gospel to the Earth. Joseph truly saw Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ, and I know that there is a prophet on the Earth today who recieves revelation from our Heavenly Father. I'm grateful for the testimony I have and for my family and the experiences which we shared this last week :)

The good life!

Well, I guess it's my turn! I've been so busy with finals and everything that I didn't even realize that this was already up and running. Good job Adrianna!!! Way to be on the ball! Thank you for the posts! It's good to know that good things are happening all around us.
I am very grateful for a lot of things, and I know I can't possibly list them all here. First of all, I'm grateful that the Lord is looking out for me. About a month ago, I received a pretty bad head injury, and it has taken awhile to fully recover. I am SO grateful for all of the blessings I've seen in my life from that experience! I'm grateful for the people that took care of me at the hospital. I'm grateful that it wasn't any worse that it was! I'm grateful that somehow I've been able to pay for the overwhelming amount of Doctor and Denists bills I've received from this injury. Somehow everything haw worked out, and I'm so grateful that the Lord allows me these opportunities to more fully see his hand working in my life!
I'm also grateful that I only have two more finals left to take!!! YAY!! I'm grateful that I'll be able to spend time with my family this weekend! And, I have to say that I'm gratful that the semester is over so that I'll be able to see Adrianna soon! Wahoo!!!

Everything seems to fall into place...

I have been struggling a lot lately. When people, in general, struggle, I think we have a harder time seeing and knowing how richly we are blessed. I thought I would do my first post on this blog listing the things that I am grateful for.

Lately, I am V.E.R.Y grateful to my wonderful and loving grandmother. I wasn't sure how I was going to buy my laptop, fix my car and buy dorm room stuff. My grandma paid about $600 or so for my laptop, and than bought my dorm room stuff AND THAN BOUGHT ME A NEW CAR! I am grateful to get in my car and not have to worry about whether it will break down or not. I do not have to worry about how loud it is or how hot or cold it is outside. I can just get into my 2006 Kia Optima and go. It is great. I am grateful :)

I am grateful that my brother is serving a mission and serving the Lord.

I am grateful that my sister stayed worthy and got married in the temple. What an example and blessing she is to all those around her. I am also grateful that she is in the Relief Society Presidency.

I am grateful that my brother in law works so hard to provide for his family. I am grateful that he was sealed to my sister and my precious niece.

I am thankful for all the giggles that Bug gives. I love that kid :)

I am grateful for my mom and how much she has put up with these last few years. I am grateful for her sacrifices and everything she has given up, and everything she has done for me.

So, even though I am really struggling right now- I can find many, many things to be grateful for. :)

Blessings!

I am creating this blog to help me in my goal to become a more positive and optimistic person! I will post blogs at least once a week listing things I am thankful for and the blessings I have received! There will be NO bad news or complaining! If you feel so inclined you may leave comments of blessings you have received or something you are thankful for! So for my first post:

I am GRATEFUL for:

• My job
• My family
• Home
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Friends
• Air Conditioning
• Cars

My Wonderful Family :)