A Grain of Gratitude Day 1

You know those moments where you have an epiphany. I mean, you're not even expecting to get any magical revelation or wisdom about your life, and all of a sudden, boom! New idea.

Well tonight, after finishing my homework and surfing around on the internet, I was struck with the thought: am I recording carefully enough all of the times the Lord evidences His tender mercies in my life? How do I capture the beautiful moments of my everyday life? How do I show my gratitude? And then...an idea.

So I'm trying a new experiment. For the next three days- Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I will record everything that happens to me, and the things that I am most grateful for. I will also photograph my adventure and then post my results. I'm very excited to spend my entire weekend analyzing the beauty in my life!

So tomorrow, I'm breaking out the camera and my pen and pad of paper to stop and notice the moments that mean the most. Here's to an adventure! Who knows...one that could change my life! (:

To start off, here are three experiences that I'm SO grateful for in the past week:

1. I GOT A JOB! Through a series of miraculous events, I will be working as a Resident Assistant in Heritage Halls this Spring and Summer. Two days after I got laid off from my current job, I got a much better job- the one I'd really been wanting. I am SO excited to work with so many wonderful freshmen girls this Spring/Summer- to be able to talk with them, to get to know them, and help them grow. I'm a little scared to have such a huge responsibility with the little training that I'll receive, but am SO excited for this new adventure in my life!

2. I GOT TO GO TO GENERAL CONFERENCE! Through another series of miraculous events, my best friends and I were able to get tickets to General Conference. Both the Sunday morning...and Sunday afternoon sessions. I got to hear the prophet speak. I got to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing. I was filled with the spirit. And I had the opportunity to do it with the people I love dearly. This was truly an experience I will NEVER forget, and I am SO grateful that we have so many pictures to preserve the beautiful memories <3

Reunited with President and Sister Smith and Jessica Wilkin from my home stake. SO good to be reconnected with Toledo, OH!

Sitting in the Conference Center!

Joseph and I in front of the Christus.

My best friends.
From left to right: Jesse Pothoof, my workout buddy and roommate next Fall!
Alicia Boyd: my current roommate!
Sharae Vance: another one of my roommates next Fall, my newsletter co-editor, and the girl I will be traveling to China with next January.
Joseph Lawrence: my best friend.

Love these girls! "Friends are the flowers that never fade"

adorable candid. We're walking in the right direction. Toward the House of God.

3. Wednesday morning I went to the BYU Bookstore to buy a New Testament for my New Testament class this Spring. And then the Spirit prompted me to walk downstairs to look at the artwork section. Even though I thought this was crazy, I wandered down to the first floor of the Bookstore to look at the prints. And I found it. My favorite Gospel print that I'd only seen once before in my life on a website two years ago. I had searched for it in the BYU Bookstore before, Seagull Book, and at Desert Book, but to no avail. And there it was. One print. Waiting for me.

This picture pretty much sums up everything I want to be. A woman of courage and faith. A mother. A woman who has the strength to face all odds even though she has NO idea how she is going to get through the next hour. Day. Month.

Of One Heart: Emma on the Ice
by Liz Lemon Swindle

Oh, and I found another precious print for just $.50. Jesus Christ truly does extend His arms of mercy and love to us at all times, if we only reach out to take them.

A Child's Prayer
by Jay Bryant Ward

SO very excited to begin my new experiment: A Grain of Gratitude.