Tis the Season To Be...........

Thankful
For the Gospel and how it influences my life
For the wonderful, loving people in my life
For my good health
For my cute puppies
For my prayers being answered when they are supposed to be answered
For being able to provide for myself
Jolly
Because it's almost Christmas
Because I am almost all done with my shopping
Because work is finally fun again
Because there are lots of fun things coming up that I get to do
Because I can listen to Christmas music....officially
Because Madagascar 2 was so stinkin funny
Stressed
Because I start meet season in TWO WEEKS!!!!!
Because it is going to snow soon and I HATE HATE HATE to drive in the snow
Because I have to have 24 kids ready to compete in TWO WEEKS!!!!!
Because I have to get up extra early because it takes me extra time to get to work because of the snow
Grateful
That I can go to the Temple whenever I want
That I have someone to go to the Temple with every week
That I have been adopted into a family that loves me just the way I am
That I live in a wonderful neighborhood
That Ryan hung the Christmas lights this year
That Trish loves to cook and I assume that she will make yummy holiday treats
That I still have TWO WEEKS until meet season!!!!!
Giving
To people who need it....no matter what it may be
To the people who mean alot to you
The best of yourself

Realizing what we have

This past Tuesday my sweet friend Julie Nawrot had a seizure while driving and hit a tree head on, killing her instantly. She was on her way home from a doctors appointment when it happened. She leaves behind her husband Jeff and her two sweet children Siera and Cooper. I have know Julie for about 11 years and will miss her dearly. She was so full of life and by far the loudest person I know. She was the friend who would do anything for anyone. I got to spend many fun times with Julie over the years and have so many crazy memories. I can still hear her saying MISS WENDY! You always knew when she entered a room.

Having had a lot of loss in my life, I know too well how hard it is to lose someone you love. My heart aches for her family. It seems that over the past few weeks I have had numerous chances to see past my trials and to find blessings. I have realized how much I am loved and how much I love others. I have seen the light of Christ shine through so many people in so many different ways. I have seen the importance of service and how it feels to be served and to serve. How often do we forget what we have? Do we get so caught up in the little things that we forget about what is really important? Do the people we love know how much we love them? What if today was our last day on earth. Would we be ok with how we were leaving things? I am not sure if I would be. I need to be more forgiving of the people who have hurt me. I need to tell the people that I love, that I love them more often than I do. I need to put more effort into my callings and my job. I need to read my scriptures more and I need to pray more. I need to not put off things that need to be done because I might not have a chance because tomorrow I could be gone.

I am comforted in knowing that Julie is in a good place. I know she is up in heaven just making everyone laugh there pants off! My life is better because I knew her.