So, I kinda miss MY family.

I really love my husband's side. They're so awesome and kind and fun and generous and... Just downright AWESOME. I have the greatest in-laws ever, to be completely honest.

But this Thanksgiving, I really missed my family. When I hugged my little sister, it made me wish that she wasn't the only sibling I would be hugging this year. But, alas, it is quite expensive driving to Arizona. I miss it... A lot. Especially right now. I wish I could walk outside without needing to wear snow boots. I wish I could still picnic. I didn't think that being in actual winter climate would be so bad, but... Yeah. Just not my cup of cocoa.

I really miss my mom. And my dad. Being far away AND recently married is totally stinky. Why? Because not only am I a 12 hour drive from my parents, but I have no money to make that drive. We're barely living paycheck-to-paycheck as is.

But Thanksgiving was really good this year, overall. We had so much fun with Bryan's family and with our friends. I was really sad when Kylie had to leave on Friday instead of staying the whole weekend, but that's okay. I got over it.

Time to just be THANKFUL :)

I thought I would start of this Thanksgiving week by expressing open gratitude

I'm grateful for:

• My life
• My cute hubby
• My family
• My friends
• My bed
• My zebra print bedspread :)
• My homemade bows (that I want to make more of)
• My bathroom
• My new curling iron
• My job
• My books
• Stay-at-home date night
• Seeing movies with my friends
• Having totally awesome girlfriends
• The temple
• My calling
• My visiting teaching companion
• My visiting teach-ee's
• The Ensign
• President Thomas S. Monson
• The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
• My bishop and his wife :)
• My baptismal covenants
• The opportunity to worship freely
• Prayer
• Fasting
• Scripture study
• Music
• Goals
• Treats
• Make-shift meals that end up being really tasty
• Communication by email and facebook (it's dumb, I know, but I am grateful for it)
• What I believe to be true: God lives, Jesus is the Christ and the Savior of the world. His atonement makes it possible for all things such as eternal families, forgiveness, the priesthood, and so many other things that come through Him. The Holy Ghost resides with us, in our worthiness, and guides us to do what is right. I love my Father in Heaven. Lately I have seen his hand in my life and realized that he knows me by name.
  

That's just a small list, but I think that's all I can put into words right now.

Bedtime...

It's hard to be happy today.

My high school dance coach had a little girl. Her name was Savanna. She was so beautiful and was 7 months old. Now she's gone. I wish I could hug Tabby. I wish I could be with her right now.

It's times like these that I wish I could cry out my testimony to everyone that I love, but it's times like these when it's scary for me. So, I'm saying now that I know that God lives and he loves ALL his children. I know that those children who leave this life before the age of accountability are sent straight to His side to be in His comfort until their parents come in righteousness to raise them. I know that families can be forever through the atonement of Jesus Christ and through the sealing power of the temple.

I need to do some venting...

Okay, so it's not ANGRY venting. I just need to openly talk about how I feel....

So, my boss (the owner of the store I work at) is kind of crazy. Well, he's like a good person, just not the best boss in the world. As in, he curses at us, gets mad easily ( like REALLY easily ) and I just feel like he doesn't express himself very well.
Anyway, so I get guilt tripped REALLY easily. Like, if you tell me that you didn't like the sandwich I made you for lunch that day, I'll feel bad about it for like three days. No joke. I'm serious.
So, my boss called our store three times today and I was involved in some way or other with all those calls and he cursed TO me (not at me, but TO me) twice in one sentence. Yeah. Sometimes I wish I could tell him that I don't appreciate his cursing, but he's kinda scary. So, continuing, he called two more times upset, and then he sent me a kinda angry email. It was only one line, but as I read it, I could hear him saying it and that didn't help at all.
So, the reason why I need to vent is because I hate crying over how my boss treats me. And the thing is, I know he doesn't realize how all of us feel about it because all of us just put a face on in front of him and then when he leaves, we all basically break down in whatever way we do. Personally, I end up crying and ranting to my husband. It's never good. And then I have nightmares about it. Dead serious. Nightmares. About work. never good.
I just pray everyday that God will touch my boss's life that way he can have some peace and have a good head when things go wrong. I literally pray for him BY NAME. I'm just glad that God answers my prayers. But it's still hard on those days when my boss doesn't let the spirit touch him and he just... GOES. :(
Sad day.

I've picked my try-out piece!!!

So, I've decided to try out for music scholarships at UVU and BYU to help my chances at getting accepted to either school and I've picked a classical piece to perform!

This version is a duet, but in the solo I would just sing all of it by myself (obviously! it's a SOLO.)

Anyway, I give you "Time To Say Goodbye" composed by Quarantotto/Sartori, performed by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp7rZEKClk4&feature=related

Mailbag to begin the "Thankful" season :)

Dear hubby,
Thank you for writing me cute little love notes! I love you.
Love, wifey

Dear Work,
Thanks for giving me so many hours this next week. Although I'm very tired, I'm glad that I'm staying busy.
Love, me

Dear Fall,
Thanks for coming back after those couple of days of snow. I missed you. You know that you're my favorite time of year, right? Just so beautiful... :)
Love, Me

Dear God,
Thanks for making me feel better all the time.
Love, Your daughter

Dear Puffs Extra Strong Tissues,
Thank you for being on sale at Wal-Mart so I could partake in your comforting goodness. You have surely soothed my running nose :)
Much love, me

Dear Car,
Don't give up! We'll be fixing you soon! You've done so good!
Love, Bryan and Kelsey

Dear Piano,
This whole me-not-playing thing is going to be stopping soon because of that whole audition thing I've got going on in the winter. I'm coming back soon.
Love, me

Dear Bed,
Make room! I'm coming in!
Love, me