Because being thankful is MOST important.

I am sitting on my bed with lots of blankets and Christmas pandora music is playing and it's Friday night, my four day weekend is in front of me and life is beautiful. The Christmas lights are twinkling behind me and life is calm in this moment. You know, life is hard, but there is beauty in it all.

It's funny because this quarter has just been tough in general and life can be really frustrating. It seems like as soon as one challenge is conquered, another one is front of me again. It's like a never ending line.

But at the same time there is a lot of Joy. 

Joy in the babies I babysit. Joy in the friends that I have. Joy in a cozy bedroom with cozy blankets. And at the end of the day even when it feels like everything is falling a part, that joy is more important. 

Tonight, I told myself I needed to write about all of the things that I am thankful for. And first and foremost, even if I complain about this sometimes, I am thankful for my PERSEVERANCE. Because without it, I wouldn't be able to conquer anything. 

Specifically though, I have been thinking about my classes and friends at school and I sure am thankful for all the love in my life. 

It's the little moments and everyday activities at school that bring me the most joy. Like my useless sense of direction and Katie taking me home. And when she reminds me that chickens and babies and fun is so much more important than test scores. When I find old quotes of Kelsey's great encouragement and reminding me that math is only one of so many classes we take over a lifetime. Sitting in the uu with Alissa and being so content just knowing she's always there when I need her. Screaming at 7am and seeing Evan for the first time of the quarter. Life talks with Ryan. Knowing that "my whole world" is in math 300. Ryan's persistence that he's "my whole world." 

Because there's so much to be thankful for.   

Pretending to "eat" the babies on Thursday mornings at Grace. Putting babies in a front carrier and "doing the dishes" pretending I'm a mom. Dreaming about my future children. Giggling with Katie about how the whole world is married, engaged, or pregnant. All my sweaters and sweatshirts smelling like "baby." Checking the mail after school. Running at the gym. Conquering push ups and sit ups. Telling myself to run one more mile. 

Because life is beautiful that way. 

Going to Denny's at 11pm with Amanda. (She'll kill me for revealing this). Having long talks with Amanda about everything. Thinking back to all of our lunch, dinner, breakfast, snack, drink, and everything in between dates we have had over the past three years. All of our life talks. How much I adore and love her. How much she truly understands. How she gets me and knows me so well. 

Late night talks with Paige. Snuggling in each others' beds. Giggling. And more giggling. And more giggling. Sharing sweatshirts. When I am looking for something to wear and I raid her closet. Or my favorite, when I see her at school and I am wearing her clothes. When she packs weekend away bags for both of us and knows exactly what I need. When she brings me coffee in bed. When she kisses the top of my head before she leaves and calls me "pookie." (Sorry McKenna) And when I come home after a bad day and crawl into my bed and she puts every blanket and quilt over me and tucks me in just right. And knows at that moment that's all I need. 

Because God places the people in out life we need the most during times we need them the most. 

When Kelsey and I plan hair stroking dates. (Lauren you're missing out!) When I have classes with strictly lib studs. When we all know each other in class and someone says something funny and five minutes later I'm still laughing. When Alyssa use to have to tell me to sit down in Education 310. When Natalie was so scared of dissections in anatomy. Evan and Natalie sandwiches on plant bio field trips. When Evan saved me from falling off a mountain. When Paige and I got "arts integration" on our homework! (beginning of a beautiful friendship). The fireplace in the common room in Poly Canyon. When Missy use to braid my hair as we walked to class. Cold hiking mornings. Rainy days. Buns on top of my head. Walks with Emily. Night walks with Paige. 

And Thrifty's birthday cake ice cream. 

Because I adore people. And I LOVE my life. And I LOVE the people in my life. That's what's important. 

Chickens and babies and fun. Chickens and babies and fun. 

Whittie