Gratitude

Any word possible can describe this past week for me.  It all started last Tuesday, the 23rd.  I knew I was going home around 5pm so I went to work in the morning before the class I had at noon.  At work, my boss was so nervous for me to fly home.  There was a big blizzard coming in, and flights may be delayed or cancelled.  She was right to be nervous.  I fly non-revenue, so if there's not a seat available for me, I get bumped to the next flight.  Well, the storm came in when I was at the airport.  Many flights were delayed and cancelled.  I was at the SLC Airport for 12 hours.  It was a very long day but I spent it with my friend Caitlin Mason.  She was trying to get to Cedar and her flight was cancelled until the following morning. She spent at least 17 hours at the airport.  I was able to get on a flight to St. George that left around 3am and arrived in STG around 4:30am.  My luggage was lost and I was so tired and I couldn't do anything about it until later in the morning.  I finally got my luggage Wednesday afternoon.  I hate being tired because it's a waste of a day.  BUT I was super happy that I was able to come down in the first place.  The week got so much better.  Especially when my cousins and other family members were there.  We went bowling a couple times [I got 3rd place both times :) ], we went to Krave [frozen yogurt], ate lots of food, watched movies and baseball and football [GO UTES!!!!!!  We won by one, 17-16, by blocking a fieldgoal!!]. On Saturday night after the game, I had to prepare a talk for Sacrament Meeting in my parents ward.  Guess what it was on, Gratitude of course!  I was so suppose to talk for 7 minutes, I prepared my talk for 5 minutes, but talked for 15.  It was kind of ridiculous of me.  I felt way bad because Sunday School was super short because of it.  My mom switched my flight from 5pm to 2:53pm because I had a better chance of making that flight.  Well, I didn't make it.  I would for sure make the flight from Cedar City to Salt Lake, however, so we made arrangements for me to catch a ride up there.  The ride fell through because of awful weather, so I felt stranded again.  Luckily I was still in my own home with other options.  Then I realized, Caitlin was flying from Cedar and she was in LaVerkin when I told her I didn't have a ride up.  I was blessed to catch a ride up there with her family.  It should have taken 45 minutes to get to Cedar, it took about 80 minutes.  Once we made it to the airport, we found out the flight was delayed.  Then we found out it was cancelled altogether.  We ended up watching Moulin Rouge and having a sleepover at her house.  It was fun.  After many phone calls and text exchanges, my mom and I decided it would be best for me to try and make an overbooked flight to Salt Lake Monday morning, if I didn't make it, I would take the shuttle.  Unfortunately the flight and shuttle were to depart Cedar City within five minutes of each other.  I decided to go to the airport anyways and just see, and then take the shuttle.  Monday morning I got a text from my mom at 7am saying the shuttle service was not going to run because of the poor road conditions.  I was so discouraged, but at least I could stay at the airport the whole time to see if I'd make the 9am flight, and if not, I'd get on the 6pm flight.  By no small miracle, there was three extra seats on the plane, and I was the third standby listed.  I was soo relieved that I got on the 9am flight.  I was back in my little house by noon.  Overall, Thanksgiving was a huge success.  I'm definitely not going to try to fly if a big snowstorm is rolling in, I will drive to beat it.  I have so much to be thankful for, I am so blessed.  I often feel I don't deserve everything I have, but I'm grateful for it all anyways! 

Rivalry Week

This week is Rivalry Week between BYU and U of U.  Competitions between the two schools consist of food drives and blood drives and I don't know what else.  I don't know how it's all going to go down, but it does seem pretty intense.  Haters are so ready for this weekend and I just want the U to win the last football game of the season.  Especially after the sad homegame against TCU.  Just like my brother says, "I like BYU, I just like the U better!" This week U fans are suppose to wear NO BLUE.  That is kinda difficult for me, especially since I love the color blue.  I guess it's a GREAT thing that my family pictures this weekend consist of  the color scheme of red, black, gray and white.  Just kidding, but seriously though.  It will be an interesting week to say the least.

More than Picture Perfect

Today I watched the sunrise.  It was beautiful, the sky was full of  blue and pinks, then oranges, then yellows.  I should have taken a picture but everyone knows no camera, no matter how great or expensive it is, can do it justice.  There's something peaceful and renewing about watching a sunrise, and I was quite happy and ready for today's plans.  I know my wonderful outlook may have something to do with what's happening this weekend and next week, but still, I was energized and ready to conquer my world.  I love sunrises and sunsets, but for different reasons.  Wake up early to watch a sunrise, you won't regret it.  (Unless of course, it's not a pretty sunrise. But that hardly ever happens.)

Dreaming...

... OF THIS.

Only three more days.  Cannot wait.  It's hard to believe the girl I grew up with is getting married on Saturday.  But I've waited for this day for more than two years, just like her.  I'm so grateful that I get to go home for almost three days this week and five days next week for Thanksgiving.  I wish I didn't have to come back up for a few days but I guess school, work and church callings are important too.  To all my family and friends in St. George, SEE YOU SO SOON! :)

Awesome pictures to come soon.  Some events have taken place that I have neglected to blog about and post pictures of, like ice skating and visits from Chip. And the wedding this weekend, of course. 

In the meantime, I get to go referee some stake volleyball.

odds and ends

I decided I'm not very proactive when it comes to blogging unless I'm trying to avoid something.  In this case, it's putting clothes away and writing a paper for a class.  November may just kill me,  I cannot wait until I'm finished with this semester on December 15th.  The first half just flew by and I didn't have much going on... Everything has been piled into November.  However, I'm extremely grateful that Thanksgiving is this month.  I'm also happy that I'm going home three times this month. :)  St. George is the Best!! 
Halloween was pretty good this year. I decided to be a zombie because my friend Camille and I talked about going to Thriller (which we did, it basically ripped our hearts out because we both miss dancing and performing so much. BUT it was worth it) and I thought it would be fun to make that costume.  Here am I as a ZOMBIE!  I received so many weird looks and it took a little bit for people to recognize me.



This week is the Utah - TCU game.  I'm excited, it's gonna be so intense!  ESPN is even hosting their GameDay at Rice-Eccles, which will be sweet.  Baby bring on the WEEKEND! :)