Jump for joy, another semester complete!

So even though I have had some classes/days drag on slowly, and I thought they would never end, the semester is already coming to an end! I'm not quite sure where time has gone because it seems like I was just walking into my first week of classes yesterday.
This past semester has taught me a lot as I endured various things or met some influential people. My classes have been challenging, but rewarding nonetheless. One of my favorites was my religion class, where we studied the Doctrine and Covenants. One point that seemed to be emphasized throughout the class was the fact that Joseph Smith was learning as he was teaching. I found this very interesting and applicable to me as I am trying to absorb as much information as possible while I am studying here in college. In every class we are taught to question the text and information, form our own hypotheses, or try to gain deeper meaning out of it. I realize now that Joseph Smith had some of the same quests. If he had a question about something he was translating, he would ask, and try to gain a deeper meaning and understanding of it. It is through this that we have been able to receive the fulness of the gospel. Not only are we told through our scriptures and prophet today what principles and things should be done, but also HOW to do them. I think this is part of what makes the Book of Mormon so incredible. I am so grateful for this gospel and for the opportunity I have had pray and to ask my own questions about it and receive my own answers. I am blessed to have this truth in my life.

Thanksgiving

So this year we did Thanksgiving a little bit differently. Usually its the homemade rolls, the turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and one VERY stuffed stomach afterwards. This year however we spent it in Hawaii (which was awesome!). Though this meant none of those typical foods on the dinner table. Instead, we did a good second choice of Hamburgers on the grill near the beach.

It was amazing, but it also kind of made me miss the typical foods and traditions. Despite this, Thanksgiving isn't about eating all kinds of good food, but its about recognizing all the many things that we have been blessed with and that we are grateful for. As I sat on the beach watching the sun go down, I couldn't help but realize just how blessed I truly was!!! I am healthy, I go to a great school, I have family and friends who love me, and I have the knowledge of the true gospel which provides me guidance in my life.

I have been given so much but I think often times I fail to express gratitude for some of the smaller things in my life because they seem to go unseen, or I fail to express appreciation of my trials and all that they have/are teaching me. Countless times I have been carried through my trials or even carried through my daily tasks. I may have nights where I go to bed completely exhausted and not thinking I would be getting enough sleep to keep functioning the next day, but then I wake up with the energy to accomplish the tasks before me.

D&C 46:32
"And ye must give thanks unto God in the Spirit for whatsoever bessing ye are blessed with."

So for this month, I am grateful for the missing ceiling in our apartment that we had for 3 weeks. Because of it, I learned patience. I grew closer to my roommates as we continually just sat and laughed because there was nothing we could do. I became grateful that we live in a place where the ceiling isn't supposed to leak, because I know there are many around the world who have no ceiling at all, or who's ceiling is never capable of keeping all of the rain out. I'm thankful for warm beds, that allow me a peaceful sleep. I'm thankful for clean running water, so I can shower and feel clean rather than using the dirty water that may be caught on our roof (or through it!). I'm thankful for comfortable family rooms that give us a place to relax, study, grow, and interact.
The list could go on forever...