“A grownup is a child with layers on.” - Woody Harrelson

So yesterday one of my great friends turned 18. Some call her Keturah, K. Small, or Dactyl but she is more like a sister to me. Everyone thinks we look alike and that we are sisters. At first we thought it was kind of weird, but now we really like it. We just think, "Ya we practically are sisters."

So my sister turned 18 and we just spent the night together, playing cards, eating brownies (and forcing her to finish hers), watching sports and just enjoying the company of the group. It is times like this that make me really think about the simple things in life that I enjoy. So I am going to say some of the few things that I am truly thankful for. Some are weirder than others but here they are:

• 1. Family. They are my everything. All my fondest memories revolve around them. I miss them so much. Some people would be surprised about how homesick I really am. I wish I could just go home and live there again. You can ask anyone, family is my first priority and I will always put them first.
• 2. Technology. With out this I would not be able to call my parents every day. I would be SO sad (and yes, I do call every day).
• 3. The Gospel. It truly brings peace and happiness to whomever seeks it out. I just want to share the joy I find in the Gospel with everyone I meet and just let the world enjoy the blessings that I do. Some may think it is an impossible feat, but I am going to try and share the Gospel with whomever I can.
• 4.Missionaries. My mom was converted by some wonderful missionaries and I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them. My mom, dad, brother and sister have all served a mission and I hope to soon add to that list. I want to help make eternal families and pay it forward like my mom did.
• 5. Vegetables. Last night I had grilled zucchini and crook-neck squash. It was delicious. I miss having as much vegetables as I used to at home.
• 6. Sunny Days. Being from Las Vegas, that is on of the things that I truly miss. I live for sun. I feel like I am at my best when the sun in out and shining.
• 7. Disney Kid Movies. They are so happy and cute. I love happy endings and I love being able to watch movies that I know will be appropriate.
• 8. Friends. This seems far down on my list but I was honestly just trying to think of how I could adequately express my love for my friends. I would not be the person that I am today without all those that have come into my life and shaped me into the person that I am today. Though I have some friends back home, on missions, at other colleges or at BYU, they all influence me and continue to influence me wherever they may be.
• 9. Music. My family speaks, lives and breathes music. What music I listen to honestly determines my mood. I have this secret obsession with classical music. I love listening to hymns played on a piano, cello, violin, whatever I can get. Those songs calm me down and help me be the person that I need to. My current favorite is "Redeemer" by Paul Cardell. It seriously brings the Spirit so strongly that I often cry while listening to it.
• 10. My cello. Though I don't have it with me, I soon should. I miss being able to play it and to be able to relieve stress through it. Some don't even know that I play the cello but it is one of my passions and I have missed it dearly.
• 11. Running. This is a new like for me. I used to hate it but after 2 knee surgeries I realized how I had taken it for granted. I am still working on being able to run and I can't wait until I am back in shape.
• 12. My knee. It doesn't always work the best at times but I am thankful that I have one.
• 13. College. College is my life. I love learning (even though trying to keep up my grades stresses me out to no extent). I am so interested in all that I am learning and I realize what a blessing it is that I can go to school. So many people don't have the same opportunity I do.
• 14. Trials. This is such a hard thing to be thankful for but looking back on all that I have gone through, I am thankful that God put me through what He knew I needed so that I could become what He wanted me to become. One of my favorite talks of all times come from this idea. Hugh B. Brown's "Current Bush" talk. And since I love it so much, here is a link to it: http://lds.org/new-era/1973/01/the-currant-bush?lang=eng
• 15. Christ. He is not by any means at the bottom of my list, but is at the top. He is not by any means a simple thing to be grateful for. He is my everything. When I feel the world is falling apart, I can talk to Him and know that He is listening and has empathy for me. He knows what I am going through. He gave His life for me that I can repent and return home to my Heavenly Father again. He is my Savior, Redeemer, my All. For anybody that is struggling, Seek Him. For anybody that needs help, Seek Him. For anybody that needs a friend or needs to be comforted, Seek Him. He is always there, just waiting for us to ask for His help.

I am so grateful for so many things and I am truly blessed. I am so blessed that I have SO many things to be grateful for. I hope that I can use them the way that Heavenly Father wants me to.

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving."- W.T. Purkiser