Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving, a day of remembering things that you are grateful for. However, this Thanksgiving was a little different; I tried focusing on the giving. In the morning, my siblings and I worked on tying quilts together for children at the Children's Justice Center--it's a place where children who are being abused or aren't safe at home go. It felt good to finish up those quilts so that a child would have something that could comfort them.

Later on in the day, my family and I made Acorn Cookies--it isn't as gross as it sounds! They were Nutter Butter bite size cookies with Hershey Kisses attached to them. It was such a delicious treat! I've always been a fan of peanut butter with chocolate!

My Mom, Dad, sisters, Ben, and I then played Phase 10. Boy, that was fun! For the first time in my life, I finished all 10 phases!!! I was slightly proud of myself! Anna, Dad, and I also played air hockey. I first played against Dad and I beat him! He was winning, but I came up behind him in the end and took the win! Then Anna and I played against each other and she won! We then went and played foosball together . . . Dad beat/destroyed the two of us! So, we're all winners!!! Stephen and Nini came over for the day as well! I love my brother and his beautiful wife!!! They are so much fun to be around! =D

One of my favorite parts about Thanksgiving is our "I am thankful for . . ." Wall. We put up a big piece of paper and, throughout the day, write down things that we are grateful for. There were a couple of funny ones! One of them said "Indoor plumbing"; naturally, since I LOVE quoting Disney movies, I put in parenthesis "It's gonna be big!". Another one said the names of all of us, then off to the side, it also said Harry Potter! I guess he's part of the family now! =D

All in all, it was a terrific day with the fam!!!

I love my family!!!!! =D

"I Am a Child of God"

There are some weeks when you just need a Sunday; that was me this week. I was struggling in silly ways, primarily lack of sleep. When I'm tired, I get into this mood where I doubt who I am. I'm not sure why that is, but that's what happens. I've dedicated this entire fall semester to figuring out who I am and who my Father in Heaven knows I'm capable of becoming. There are quite a few things that I will never forget. One of them is that I am a child of God--because of this small statement, I have learned so much about myself. Because I am His child, I have the capability to become as He is! I don't think I fully understood what that meant (nor do I think I will ever be able to in this life). But I think I understand it a little more now. You see, God went through the same things that I have. He was once in my position (I know, my brain doesn't fully comprehend that either, but it's true nonetheless). Not only that, but He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for me.

Yesterday in church, the atonement was a topic of choice. In Alma 7:11-12, it talks about how Christ suffered our "pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind . . . he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of the people." And He did all of this so that "he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." The word "succor" means "to run to". I absolutely love that! He doesn't just take His time to come and help me when I ask; He runs to me! It helped me to learn that I am not alone in this world. This week, I had a lot of those days where I felt very alone. It was slightly frustrating, because I knew I wasn't alone. As I sat in Relief Society and re-read these words in Alma, I felt as if I was being hugged! As President Uchtdorf said in the Relief Society broadcast this past October: "You are not alone."

Not only that, but I realized some things about myself that I need to repent of. Not for "bad things" like lying, cheating on a test, or anything like that. But for things like not reaching out to people or letting others reach out to me; letting down those "protective walls" to an extent so that I can let others know who I am and vice versa. It was truly an amazing sabbath! I went to BYU's devotional on Tuesday where President Thomas S. Monson spoke. He shared a quote from Disney's The Lion King. The quote he shared went like this: "You are more than what you've become. Remember who you are." I remember that I am a child of God, and therefore have the capability to become more than what I currently am. I will put my faith in the Lord and continue on my journey to find out what I can become. =D