praise god from whom all blessings flow

Last week in church was a little unconventional. Since it was the week of Thanksgiving, our branch president asked a bunch of people to come up and share what they were thankful for, but in their native language. We had people come up and talk in Tagalog (Philippines), Tamil (Sri Lanka), Vietnamese, Mandarin, and Italian. And that wasn't even all of the people from different countries in our branch! It was really neat. I don't know why, but I especially liked the testimony of the sister who spoke in Mandarin. Obviously, I couldn't understand the words she was saying, but as tears rolled down my cheeks I understood the spirit of what she was saying.

Because of ballroom, I've had the chance to go to church all over the US and a few countries in Europe. I'm always struck by how it's more or less the same everywhere you go. It's the same doctrine, and we're all just trying to do our best to be like Jesus. I think that's really powerful, and this week, I'm really thankful to belong to that kind of an organization.

thankfulness

I'm a day late, but this year, I'm really grateful for this guy, for the fact that he asked me to marry him, and for the fact that we can be together forever.

housewarming

My apartment's been getting some fixing up lately...mostly due to Janessa and Noelle's presence. Yay for awesome roomies! :)

Our couch is no longer hideous plaid! It's now bermuda blue! Note the adorable IKEA pillow.


No more ugly blue, awkwardly shaped chairs! Now they're sleek black!


The beyond amazing kitchen shelving unit that I want to steal when I change apartments (just kidding, I'll buy my own). Aren't the hooks hanging our pots just adorable?


Meet Bridget (as suggested by Josh), my latest experiment in gardening (ha). Photography credit also goes to Josh.


Many thanks to Jill and Garrett for new mixing bowls! I swear I've used them everyday for the past week. They are fabulously colored AND they have lids. Seriously, what more could you want?

I'm hoping to pick up a coat rack, three shelf bookcase, and a giant bulletin board in the next little while. I love new house related things. :)

Two days after Thanksgiving...

...I am thankful for:
friends
who will go on random Border's runs with me whether or not it's actually open
who will stay up until 3 AM watching movies because we can't stop talking to each other
who will indulge me in my weird movie obsessions..."Amelie"...what more can I say?
family
who lets me sleep until 1 (disgusting, I know. I've since repented.)
who will go to Maestro's for crepes and gelato (and will pay for it!)
who takes me shopping at 11:30 PM at Walmart so I don't go back to my apartment sans yogurt and other necessities
a boyfriend
who texts/calls me even when he's half way across the country
who buys me ridiculous cute outfits at Savers....ha
who bids forever on Coldplay tickets, only to be outbid at the last second :( It's the thought that counts :)
random stuff
getting paid to do what I love (yeah chemistry in any of its forms!), good books, good food, good movies, good music, having survived the college application process (my sister's in the middle of it...helped her with one of her essays ALL morning long), the gospel (really, this deserves a post all on its own), being. in. a. physics. class. (maybe if I say it, the physics gods will smile upon me and then eventually it'll be true), curly hair, cute boots, harvest peach yogurt, Coldplay albums for 99 cents (LoVe Amazon.com), getting paid, having a car for the weekend, computers with working CD burners, Border's coupons, Costa Vida punch cards, little sisters and a mom who clean, free laundry!!!

I love my life. I know I complain a lot of this blog, but you know what, that's what blogs are for...at least in my opinion.
C'est belle la vie. That's all I have to say about that.