Today I am thankful for writing. Writing has been a creative outlet for me for years. I remember writing stories when I was in the 1st grade and loving how imaginative I could be. How it was possible for me to write whatever I needed to say. It gives the inner me a voice, that sometimes can’t come out in any other way. Writing connects me with who I really am. I have started and abandoned a million novels, from the age of about 10 on. One day I’ll finish one. I have written a million poems and songs that will never see the light of day, and this little blog contains some of the most precious memories. I am so glad that when I’m afraid or sad or extra happy, I get this itch in my fingers and I need to write. It’s something that really and truly just makes me happy.

Guys. I have been STINKING at this gratitude daily thing! So here’s the catch up and the intention to be better.

Thankful Day Ten: CANDLES. Especially in the fall and winter. Man I love it when our apartment smells delicious and festive and cozy.

Thankful Day Eleven: Latter-day prophets. There are so many things that we could be afraid of today, but I am so happy to know that I can be guided and advised by my Heavenly Father, through prophets. The words they give us are so important for our day and I just couldn’t be more grateful for them!

Thankful Day Twelve: I am thankful for musicals. Randy and I were lucky enough to participate in theater in high school, and the things that I learned there about myself have impacted my life! Not to mention I fell in love with my future husband there. But really, the people, the music, the backstage feels, the rawness of performing, all of it was perfect. And I am so lucky it’s a part of my story.

Thankful Day Thirteen: Dance. Oh my heavens I am so thankful for dance. I don’t know who I would be if my wonderful mom didn’t start me in ballet at 2 years old. I had teachers who made such a huge impact on me, made friends there that are still my close friends today, and the principles of grace and elegance that it taught me have stayed with me. I miss the hours in the studio and the excitement of being backstage, and I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything. I think my memories of ballet are some of my most vivid. I felt so alive.

I am so lucky to have so many talented friends who are pursuing their dreams! From bloggers, vloggers, videographers, photographers, web designers and more, I have a group of creative friends who are taking charge and accomplishing great things. One of them is Lyndee! Lyndee just created a princess party company, and it’s a hit already. I remember going to a birthday party and Cinderella was there, and it was out of this world amazing! I had so much fun meeting her and it’s a birthday party I won’t forget!

So check out this guest post from her:

This is a darling video that Lindsey Hurst Films did for a Addie’s 3rd birthday party, we also offer professional videography for your party if you’d like to rewatch this fun memory!”

So all my mama friends out there, go check out Dreamy Princess Parties and give our little one the best birthday party ever!

Thankful Day Eight:

Today I am thankful for the privilege I have to live in this country. When I think about my ancestors who came here from Lebanon, and how much they sacrificed for the American dream, I am humbled. I’m not going to get overly political because there’s been enough of that. All I’m going to say is that we have so, so, so much to be grateful for. Let’s be kind. Let’s say “enough” to the name calling, to making each other feel horrible for what we believe or think. As President Obama so eloquently said, “We’re all on the same team.” We are Americans first.

Thankful Day Nine:

Today I am thankful for entertainment! Last night Randy and I went to see Dr. Strange and it was fantastic! I love that we can go see movies, watch our favorite shows, listen to music and read excellent books so easily. There’s no reason for me to ever say that I’m bored, and I’m really grateful for that.

This weekend was another busy one, but so fun!

Friday we got to go to Chinese Karaoke with our friends. Danny and Dee both speak Mandarin and have lived in China, so we let them order for us! We got dishes and dishes and dishes of delicious food, sang goofy songs, and just had the best time together.

Saturday we were so productive! We hit all the grocery stores and other stores we needed to, had some lunch, I did my friend Sarrie’s makeup and hair for her engagements (which I can’t WAIT to see!) and then we went to dinner with Courtney and Tommy, which is always a blast. We finished out the night going to see the new episodes of Meet the Mormons at the JSMB. They were so incredibly and we left so touched and uplifted.

Sunday we went to church and then of course, went to Kaysville for family time! It was so much fun to hang out, plan the holidays, and just have the best time with our families.

I was horrible and didn’t get like any pictures from the weekend, so just observe how cute my family is!

I’m the queen of being behind!

Thankful Day Four:
Today I am thankful for music. So many wonderful things in my life are connected to music. It uplifts, inspires, comforts, and so many other things. I feel so lucky that Heavenly Father created a world for us where music is abundant, varying, and beautiful.

Thankful Day Five:
Today I am thankful for technology. Without it, so many things about our lives would be different. I love connecting with my niece thousands of miles away, being able to get encouragement from my husband during the day, my entire job revolves around technology, and I am so thankful for it.

Thankful Day Six:
I am thankful that I have a job. I know so many people are searching, wishing, and praying they will get the chance to work. I am so lucky to work in a place where I feel good about my work, where the people are kind, the work is honest and good and helpful, and that is so close to my home so I can have a positive balance in my life.

Thankful Day Seven:
Today I am thankful for family. I have the best family a person could ask for. They are always so kind. My family, and extended family, have had some rough months. With sicknesses, surgeries, emotional and mental struggles, stress and worry, it could have beaten us down. But my family is always there for each other, and they are always there for me. I love knowing I can call my mom and dad day or night with questions, that my brother and his wife and my cute niece will FaceTime to brighten the hardest days, that my sister and brother in law take time to spend with our family and make it fun, that my sister is always there to text me or laugh with me. That my aunts and uncles and cousins and my grandparents are full of love for me, and show me regularly. And I can’t even talk about Randy because that’s got to be an entire post in itself. But really, I am so blessed. And I am so blessed with amazing in-laws and an entire second family who make me feel so loved.

It’s a good life.

Today, I am grateful for FOOD. I’m a little bit food obsessed, and it’s great that my husband is too. We enjoyed tacos and salsa yesterday, Japanese cha-han today, pasta is on deck for lunch tomorrow, I just love cooking and baking and going to delicious restaurants! It’s all so wonderful and delicious! I think we’re really lucky to live in a world where we get to eat three meals a day and really have the ability to make our food taste so wonderful!

Today, I’m grateful for the feeling I get when I walk in my front door. When we first moved to our apartment, I wasn’t sure it would ever feel like home. But now that feeling that I get when I walk in the door is indescribable. It’s not just my tiny one bedroom apartment, it’s home. Randy and I work hard to invite the Spirit into our home, and knowing that this is our own little slice of heaven makes it everything I could ever want. I love my big walk in closet, the heated floors, the sink that leaks, the low light that we fix with lots of candles, everything. Our neighbors, our ward, all of it. It’s the first thing that was ever really ours. And I couldn’t be happier with the home it has become.

I started a new job last week! What in the world! DrivingSales is really fun, I’m trying to learn the ropes and figure out how to be a full-blown manager!

This weekend was busy busy busy! Friday we went to Randy’s aunt’s house and had dinner/carved pumpkins with his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. There you see Lars! It was so much fun to spend time with the family! Then we went to an Asian Tea Bar with Danny and Alexon and got delicious smoothies and curry popcorn chicken. We love spending time with our friends.

Saturday we slept in, and then went shopping (our favorite thing to do! We’re the worst haha) Then we realized my mom and sister were SO close at a lacrosse tournament! So we went and watched my sister play, then went to the Chocolate with them. It was a blast! That night we watched Cafe Society (which was really good! Sad ending, but really great!)

Sunday we taught our class, then went to see family in the evening which was wonderful as usual!

Monday was Halloween! Randy and I were Kimmy Schmidt and her boyfriend/friend Dong. We have LOVED doing couples costumes! After both of us worked, we went back down to Kaysville so we could pass out candy! Our apartment complex doesn’t have kids so it was so fun to see all the costumes!

AND it is NOVEMBER. Which means it’s GRATITUDE MONTH! Gratitude post coming right now:)

Gratitude Post One

Today, I’m thankful for my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I can’t even imagine what my life would look like, or how much of a wreck I would be without them. I am so blessed to know that I have a Father in Heaven and an older brother who love me, and who will do anything to help me be better, be happier. I lean on them so much, and that’s a good thing. There aren’t enough words really. Just so much gratitude that because of them, I can always have hope. Things of this world don’t have to mean everything, the hard things will pass, and life is beautiful.