Attitude of Gratitude

Last year, I wrote a post of 30 things that I was grateful for at the time. I've decided to do this every year, because we all need to be more grateful for the things we have. Here are the 30 things I'm grateful for this year.

1. That I have two jobs. It is a marvelous blessing that I was able to get both of my old jobs back when I came home from school, and it is a blessing that I will be able to work at these two jobs for the next four months.
2. To live at home. While doing chores is annoying, it is totally worth it if that means no rent and no food costs. And being around my family all the time is awesome. :)
3. My singles ward. I don’t think I’ve mentioned it on this blog before (if I have, I apologize), but I absolutely LOVE my ward. My bishop is one of the best bishops I’ve ever had. He’s kind, loving, and he genuinely cares for every member of my ward. And then the people in my ward are simply amazing. I’ve been attending for four months, and I still have yet to find a person who won’t be friends with someone simply because they don’t wear the right clothes, have the right hairstyle, drive the right car, etc. This is definitely a great thing to be experiencing, seeing as how the ward I grew up in was very materialistic.
4. Still grateful for tithing, as it makes my tuition costs lower than standard universities, which means that’s less I have to worry about saving up for. And less worrying for Kelsi = a happy Kelsi. :)
5. My laptop, (or, as I occasionally call it, “Lappy”. I cannot take credit for that name, however. That belongs to Heidi Stromberg and her family.) which I use every day for basically nothing these days. However, it was a huge help for school. :)
6. My own room. While I was just fine with sharing a room with someone else for the past year of my life, having my own room, even for only eight months, is amazing. That is all. However, I do need to work on keeping it clean as if I was living with someone else…
7. My iPod. Without it, my driving job would be VERY boring (I don’t enjoy listening to the radio, except to discover new songs). Along with my iPod, I’m grateful for all the apps I am able to have in the palm of my hand, such as Gospel Library, Words with Friends, Solitaire, Sudoku, and Angry Birds. (I’m addicted. It’s a problem.)
8. My phone. It is now my main form of communication with people, since I deactivated my Facebook account. (BTW, I’m one month strong!) So far, its being a good little phone and not freezing, randomly turning off, or randomly restarting itself (that really has happened before).
9. My fancy schmancy new Canon Rebel T3 (His name is Sheldon. There will be a post about him…eventually). I was able to explore it this past Thanksgiving weekend, and while there is TONS I still have to learn about it (and photography in general), I can already tell this is a great investment.
10. All of the friends I made up in Rexburg. Nancy, Chris, Evan, Chad, Bryce, Sienna, Megan, Hahna, Kristin, Kristen, Kelsi, Fiona, Emily, Ron, and the Schmalle family. You all have changed my life in some way or another while I was up in Rexburg, and I will be forever grateful. I miss you all terribly, and can’t wait to catch up when I get back to Rexburg!
11. My scriptures. I don’t read them as often as I should, but I love reading them, and re-reading the stories I grew up with.
12. The temple. Those buildings are the best places on earth. So many great things take place in there, and I am looking forward to the day when I can be sealed for time and all eternity to my husband. I’m grateful that I now have four temples within a literal 20-minute radius of my house, instead of just one. I make a strong effort to go with my ward every month, and sometime before I go back up to Rexburg I want to go with my brother and my sister (and maybe convince my dad to tag along).
13. Speaking of my dad…after taking a pay-cut at work, he started looking for another job. On Monday, he made the announcement that he had accepted a job offer. Mid December, he will begin working at Fetzer Wood (they did the woodwork in the Conference Center and do the woodwork in temples) as their Controller for their Retail Division. We are all so grateful to everyone who has fasted and prayed for us, and we are most especially thankful to our Heavenly Father for this huge blessing. It will be difficult for my family to adjust to not having him next door anymore, but we feel that this will be a good thing for the family. We are grateful to The Valley Journals for keeping him employed for the past ten years and for giving job opportunities to practically our whole family.
14. The Purple Beast (aka the minivan I call my car). It puts up with me and my putting 2000 miles a month on it (thank you, driving job). However, it is starting to show signs of age (its 12 years old), and I am hoping and praying that it will be able to last me through April. After that, it can die. Just last through the first week of April, Beastie.
15. All the friends I am slowly (but surely) making here in Riverton. The lame thing about moving home is everyone from high school is either at their respective schools or on their mission. I’m looking forward to making more friends during my stay here.
16. My family. They make my day better because they are all so great. Even though I don’t really get to spend a lot of time with them due to work, the times I do get to spend with them are special. I sure will miss them when I go back to Rexburg.
17. My best friend, Nancy. We were roommates during winter semester, and even though I didn’t get to see her a lot, it was still great to live with her. We haven’t really seen each other since she got married (because both of us moved away), but we talk almost every day, and that’s good enough for me! A couple of weeks ago, I was able to go up to Idaho Falls and visit her for a day, and that was grand.
18. The Harry Potter books and movies. As mentioned in my previous post, I’m a nerd. More specifically, I’m a Harry Potter nerd. I love the books, and I love the movies. Before I bought all of the movies, the “ABC Family Harry Potter Weekend Event” was the best weekend ever, in my opinion. However, now I can watch all the movies whenever I want.
19. My family’s garden. Let me make one thing clear: I hate gardening with a fiery passion. But, I’m grateful that my parents decided to make one, because now we are able to eat corn, carrots, peas, green beans, etc instead of having to buy them. It’s a lot of hard work, taking care of a garden. Many an hour was spent at that garden during the summers, weeding, watering, and harvesting. Unfortunately, the property that our garden is on is being sold for commercial property, so this past year was our last year at that location. However, I’m confident that my parents will figure things out before next spring so we will be able to continue gardening.
20. The gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is quite possibly one of the greatest things in my life. Things I love about it: A) President Thomas S. Monson. He has to be one of the cutest old men ever. His opening remarks at the most recent conference was great. (Hello!) B) My Patriarchal Blessing. It is such a great guidance tool to me. Most of the “earthly” things have yet to happen (to my knowledge…), but I know that they will eventually occur and that they will be what is best for me. C) The knowledge we have about the Atonement. I love knowing that whenever I sin (everyone sins; no one is perfect), I can go through the repentance process, and be able to return to live with my Heavenly Father and Mother, and with Jesus Christ once more.
21. My newspaper advisor, Ms. April Squires. She has changed my life so much by giving me the opportunity to serve on the newspaper staff at Riverton High, for without that experience I would have never figured out that my true passion is editing. However, she has changed my life once more. Recently she suggested I should minor in Journalism (“you’re an ace reporter”, she says). After giving it a lot of thought, I have decided to do a cluster (sort of like half a minor) in Journalism, with the other cluster being in Photography. We’ll see how this works out. As for right now, that’s the plan.
22. My clothes. I basically stay in my pajamas all day because my work doesn’t really require me to interact with anyone (except for the occasional checking up on complaints or requests), but for when I do need to dress up, I’m grateful for the clothes that I have to do so. I’m also grateful for my coat to keep me warm, even though it isn’t all that necessary this “winter” in Utah.
23. Food. It is delicious. Especially in this holiday season. That is all.
24. The Christmas Lights at Temple Square. I have yet to see them this year, but believe me when I say I will find a way to see them. They are so gorgeous, and it is a great way to bring in the Christmas season. Whoever hasn’t seen them, make it a goal to see them at least once in your life. It is great.
25. My journal. This past year I’ve written in my journal every day. At the end of this year, I want to go back and look at everything that I’ve gone through this year. However, I don’t think I’ll be doing another “write in it every day” thing any time soon. Too many times I have forgotten to do so and get way behind. Maybe this next year I’ll do one per week, and write a paragraph about each day. I don’t know. All I know is I’m grateful that I’ll be able to look back on my life.
26. The technology we have access to. Internet, apps, cell phones (that basically do everything these days), etc. If the world’s population today was catapulted back into time (say the early 1900’s), I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t be able to survive. Which is a sad thing. But true.
27. My music. I basically listen to all kinds of music, except Screamo. Music is my escape from the world. I love listening to it while working, and I love singing along to it in my car (which is the only time people will find me singing, except for in church).
28. Still grateful for the creators of Glee and Bones, and for the creators of New Girl and The Office. Favorite TV shows right now. They provide such great entertainment…even if I do have to wait a week to watch them (I’m still cursing Fox Broadcasting Company for doing that…however, I’m looking into getting a Hulu Plus account, which would let me watch them the day after again).
29. To be alive. I don’t think I’ll ever understand why I was sent here at this exact point in time, but hopefully one day (perhaps in Heaven) I’ll learn. I’m grateful for everything that I have experienced in this life, for it has made me who I am today.
30. And finally, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He has done so much for me in my 19 years of life. He has been there for me when literally no one else was. He has given me comfort during times of hardship. Also, my Heavenly Father. He also was there for me when I needed comfort and a friend. He continues to be one of my best friends, and I love my relationship with him, and can only hope I can make it stronger. 

Reading.

Reading is one of my favorite things to do.

I know. I'm a nerd. Whatever.

I love to read (which is why I'm going to be a book editor one day). I will read anything that I find interesting. In order for the book itself to sound interesting, the synopsis on the back has to grab my attention. If I don't find it interesting, I won't read it. End of story.

Anyway. In January, I decided I was going to read the Harry Potter books again. I hadn't read the whole series in years, but I had read the seventh (and final) novel in the series a couple of years back. And I just needed something to read, as the cheesy Mormon love stories I had been reading in the campus bookstore (at the time) were getting boring. So, I started reading it. I got a couple of chapters in...and that was it.

I didn't pick up the book until August-ish. I started reading a chapter here and there, but never really made any true progress (as I was working a lot more than I am now).

On the 13th of this month, I FINALLY finished "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" while waiting to go to a luncheon for a friend of mine. Immediately afterwards, I began reading "Chamber of Secrets".

I would read a chapter in the morning before work, and a chapter at night after work. I would read it while eating breakfast. I would read it when I was bored and had nothing else to do. I took it with me to work to read when there wasn't anything to do (although I don't think I actually got the opportunity to read it).

I hadn't picked it up for a couple of days, as things at work were getting hectic since deadlines were pushed up due to the holiday. So, I decided to take it with me to my grandma's house to read when I got bored. I brought "Prisoner of Azkaban" along since I was so close to finishing "Chamber of Secrets".

I didn't read it on the drive (which I couldn't really do since it was mostly dark and I was nauseous practically the entire six-hour trip up there), and we got to my grandma's house at 11 and we all immediately went to sleep.

I didn't read it on Thursday because it was Thanksgiving and that is the time that you spend with family (especially family that you haven't seen for ages). Plus I was getting familiar with my new camera (trust me, there will be a post about that soon).

This morning, I picked it up, noticed I only had a few chapters left to go (I believe it was five or something like that) and decided to finish it since there was nothing going on.

At around 8 in the morning (my family likes to get up early and talk loud), I finished "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets". I read it in two weeks, which had been the third fastest I had ever read a Harry Potter book (place numbers one and two were held by "Deathly Hallows" with 27 hours and three days).

I took a break from reading for a bit, ate some breakfast, played with my camera, etc. Then I picked up "Prisoner of Azkaban" and began reading it. And I could not PUT. IT. DOWN. Except for when it was time to eat, my eyes needed a break, and I myself just needed a break.

I literally read it all day. Starting at around nine in the morning.

And finishing it at 11 at night.

Yep.

I read "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" in less than 24 hours.

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner! "Prisoner of Azkaban" now holds the number one spot for "fastest reading time of a Harry Potter book" (for me. I'm sure there's an even bigger nerd out there who's read the entire series in a day). I for one don't think that will change anytime soon, because this week has provided me the most free time since the last week of July, which was the week before I started working two jobs.

It also won't change any time soon because once I get back from this Thanksgiving trip, I go back to working every day (except Christmas and Sundays) until I go back to school in April, and then I'll have school AND work to worry about for the next four (or so) years of my life.

Those are tears of joy falling from my face. And my sarcasm hand is raised.

Anyway. I love reading. And it is oh so evident by the fact that I finished a 434 1/2-page book in a 14-hour time span, and I didn't even read for 14 hours straight, I took multiple breaks.

I wish I had brought "Goblet of Fire" with me, because now I have no idea what I'm going to do for the next one-and-a-half days of this trip.

Except somehow manage to get past level 3-2 of Angry Birds.

I love this team. That is all.

They need to stop.

These crazy people just announced their TWENTIETH child on the Today show. TWENTY. Why do they feel the need to have that many children? They keep saying "we'll take as many as the Lord sends us." Whatever. I'm convinced TLC paid them to get to at least 20--after that, they can do whatever they want.

It is not acceptable to be having kids while YOUR KIDS are having kids. That's just gross.

You'd think they would have run out of J names by now...all of their kids have J names. And I think their eldest son is taking after them; both of his kids' names start with an M.

They need to stop. There are other people who want children. I had kind of hoped that, since their last child was born super early (like, three months early), they would have taken that as a "sign from the Lord" telling them to stop. Apparently not.

I want to live here.

These designs seem to be the houses that are being built nowadays in Utah. And I LOVE THEM! As you can see in the first and last pics, they pair darker colors with white borders (which makes the colors pop), and I like it a lot. They also do lighter colors (as seen in the middle pic), and it still looks amazing. I drove by a bunch of these designs while working today, and I was so tempted to take pictures of them to post on here...but I only had my phone, so they wouldn't have turned out so great. Perhaps next month when I drive by them again?

I made this on Wednesday.

I can't take credit for the pictures. They come from the blog I found this recipe at.

Anyway. I stumbled upon the above picture of these brownies a while back and wished I was able to make them. I stumbled upon the pics again on Wednesday, and became determined to make them.

A simple search of "chocolate chip cookie oreo brownie" on Google led me to the blog with the recipe (which turned out to be the blog that had the pics I originally found! Hooray!)

I made them before work, cooked them while I was at work (had Mom take them out of the oven for me), and ate them as dessert after work.

I want all seven of you regular readers to know how to make these, so here you go!

Things you will need:

• Chocolate chip cookie dough (store bought or handmade, whichever you want). 
• Brownie mix (again, store bought or handmade).
• Oreos (Double Stuf, regular, your favorite flavor, etc.)
• 9x13 pan
• Wax paper (optional)
• Cooking spray (not optional)
• Oven that has been preheated to 350 degrees

1. Make chocolate chip cookie dough. This time I just bought pre-made dough at the store because it was easier. And who doesn't love an easier life?

2. Make brownie batter. You are more than welcome to use a secret family recipe, but again with the easier life thing: just use a box.

3. Line your 9x13 pan with wax paper. According to the creator of the blog, this is optional, but it makes it easier in getting the brownies out. In my one-time attempt, it wasn't. Wax paper was stuck to the bottom and sides of my brownies. Next time I make them I will try it without the wax paper. After you line your pan (or not), spray with cooking spray. I know you will want to do this if you don't use wax paper, because it most definitely will be a lot harder to get the brownies out if you don't.

4. Spread your chocolate chip cookie dough along the bottom of the pan.

5. Place Oreos on top of cookie dough (as shown above).

6. Pour brownie batter over Oreos. I'm an idiot when it comes to baking (and a lot of other times too) and poured the brownie batter before I put the Oreos in. If this happens to you, do not panic! You can simply push the Oreos until it hits the cookie dough, and then spread the brownie batter over the Oreos. I recommend just following the instructions. Its easier.

7. Put into the 350 degree oven for 45-55 minutes.

8. Enjoy that deliciousness. The lady put a scoop of ice cream on top of her double stack of brownies. I never did, but everyone knows vanilla ice cream is the perfect accessory to brownies. So y'all should try it. :)

Enjoy!

I don't know where my mind comes up with this stuff.

Last night, I had one of the weirdest dreams I've ever had. And I'm going to tell you about it. (To the best of my ability, because it is already slipping away.)

I had moved to a new apartment with my old roommates Kristen and Kristin. I had just gotten everything unpacked (ish) when I remembered that I wanted to share a room with Kristen. So we switched everything around so that it would be possible.

When we were done, we came out of our room to find all of our roommates watching TV. They were all crying. I couldn't figure out why--I had thought they were just watching a movie. I asked them why they were crying, and they told me to shut up. Rude. Then I got a better look at what they were watching on TV. There had been multiple plane crashes in our city (for some reason we were living in Manhattan), and they were watching another plane slowly head towards another building. Now that I'm awake, I have no idea how the plane was slowly heading for another building, because that isn't possible. Oh well.

Turns out that building was our new apartment building! Yay! We felt the plane enter the building. The plane didn't explode upon entry into the building. Weird. There were lots of rumbles and unsteadiness. It felt like we were in an earthquake. When all the shaking was over, we (my roommates and I and friends who happened to be in the apartment) thought the worst was over.

Nope. Since the plane had entered our building a few floors beneath us, we were the ones that felt the top part of the apartment building slowly fall to the left. I'm trying to think of a better way to explain this. If I had a scanner (I actually do, its just not set up and I'm too lazy to do so), I could draw it out and insert it as an image. Oh well. Anyway. Instead of the whole building falling straight down (like the Twin Towers), the part above where the plane entered separated itself from the building and fell to the ground. That's the best description I can give you.

I guess this was happening in the winter time, because the next thing I remember is walking amongst the millions of that town trying to find my way to somewhere to get food and trying to find my way back to Utah. I remember being freezing, since I didn't have a coat, and winters on the east coast are terrible. My friend and I walked and walked and walked until we finally found a taxi that was working (and was actually open). Unfortunately (this isn't possible, but it happened, so I shall write it) it was a taxi van...that was being pulled by a bicyclist. So, we weren't going very fast. Eventually the guy kicked us off (I don't know why) and we were back to walking.

The next thing I remember is running into my cousin Ryan (who leaves on his mission today, I think), and he joined us on our trek to wherever it was we were going. After walking for a long time, we happened upon a McDonald's kiosk that was hidden inside a building. I ordered my usual (double quarter pounder combo). They gave me their pancakes. I was hungry, it was a hot meal, so I didn't care. Besides, McDonald's pancakes are pretty good.

After eating those we walked in the snow for a long time. Eventually, the snow melted and it was sunny once more. We walked into a building, and ended up being in the same room as some high and mighty business person my cousin had been trying to find. They chatted for a bit, and somehow this dude had a private jet or something and said we could use it to get home.

Then I woke up.

Interesting, right? This is the first truly bizarre dream I've had in a while. And I can honestly say I'm not really looking forward to having more.