week one of thankful november

Thursday, November 1, 2012: today i am so grateful for drake. living with someone is not always easy, and i know i can be a little crazy sometimes. i am grateful for his level-headedness and his ability to see the real facts unmasked from my emotional uproars. i am grateful for how he does so much just to make me happy, even if he sacrifices the things he'd rather be doing. i am grateful that he is easy to work with and fun to be around. he makes every day a reminder of what life is really about. i am grateful for how he can somehow get me to stop worrying every second about things that don't need addressed yet. he truly is a match made in heaven for me, and i will forever be grateful for that. 

Friday, November 2, 2012: today i am grateful for fridays. a day off work, and the start to a weekend. i only have classes until 11 on fridays this semester and then i am free to head home and relax all by myself until drake disrupts the peace (haha, jk).... it usually is a day to go home and get caught up on laundry and dishes. but i am also grateful for a day to be able to do those things because sometimes the week can get so hectic and those things get ignored. like this past week. 

Saturday, November 3: today i am so very grateful for drake (i know, i know, i already did him on the first day.... but he deserves another day, you'll see) BECAUSE i worked a 7 hour shift today and as i walked out the door, i casually mentioned that he should straighten up a little bit while he was cooped up all day at home. i didn't expect much. it really wasn't that bad so it wouldn't take much. but holy WOW! when i got home it was spotless! literally! the dishes put away, the counter wiped down, the coffee table's decorations put together neatly, the bed MADE folks, the clothes put away or in the dirty clothes, and the dresser top that has become my catch-all for homeless items was organized and cleared off. i walked in the door and was in awe. this doesn't happen much, but i guess maybe i don't ask for it much either. then, another thing to be grateful for: our Just Dance game on our wii. we spent the night laughing and giggling at each other dancing together. it was a fun workout. tonight i'm just really grateful for our happy life. 

Sunday, November 4, 2012: today i am grateful for the gospel and the opportunity to go to church every sunday to refill and recharge. i continuously learn more truths about the gospel and see the applications in my own life. for example, i honestly really do notice a real difference in my grouchiness level when drake and i read and pray together for bed. when we do, i go to bed feeling happy and fulfilled. when we don't, sometimes i get a little needy, cranky, and frustrated with pretty much anything drake does. just a little thing, but it's an example of how those little things are what this gospel is about. i love the happiness that comes from choosing the right and following Christ. i am grateful for the knowledge i have and the peace and contentment in my life.
Monday, November 5, 2012: i am always so grateful for my family. i'm grateful for the close relationship with my parents and for the loving trust they exercise in their children. i'm grateful for my open relationship with my mom where i know i can go to her and talk to her about anything. i am grateful for my sisters and how we all love each other and get along so well. i am grateful for bailey's sweet spirit and how she has taken care of me on more than one occasion. i love how she is so creative and works so hard. i love jessica's attitude and loyalty. if she loves you, she will stand up and fight for you, no matter the situation. i love her sass and spunk, but also how she balances out with a sweet and tender heart. i love how much love she gives to those she cares about. i love josey's fun and spunk. where did she come from? her three oldest sisters were as girly as they came... and she's quite the opposite. i will never forget when she asked me, "would a tomboy eat this macaroni and cheese?" because she was heart-set on being a tomboy. i love how much she looks up to her sisters and how that is a motivation for me to be better always. i love coleman. i just can't find the right words to express my love for that boy. he is sweet and crazy and a miniature Matt for sure. the last time we were home, we went to the park to play football- drake, josey, cole, and me- and cole was so concerned that i didn't feel bad or like i wasn't doing well. he high-fived and congratulated me all night with his cute little "good job, sierra!" his smile and laughter lights up my world and my heart just can't get enough of that sweet and extremely talented boy.

tuesday, november 6, 2012: today i am grateful for the washer and dryer in our apartment. of all household chores, my favorite is laundry. i get to sit on the couch, surrounded by hot clothes from the dryer, and watch tv while i perform this "chore." perfect. also, it smells sooo good! so i'm grateful that i don't have to own 30 pairs of underwear because i refuse to carry my clothes to a mat then pay to clean them when i can just coast for as long as possible until i go home where it's free. i can simply do what needs done when it needs it. i can do separate whites, colors, and towels. i can dry them until they're completely dry, not just half way because i'm too cheap to add more quarters. it's a luxury i once took for granted, but never again will i forget how amazing it is!
wednesday, november 7, 2012: today i am grateful for the amazing country i live in. i know that i am extremely blessed to have been born in the United States of America. i am grateful for my rights and and privileges. i am also grateful for my knowledge the gospel gives me for how blessed this land is, and the faith i have that it is always being watched over by my loving Heavenly Father. today, this quote from Harold B. Lee brought great peace to my mind:

Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail.

This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the new Jerusalem. This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all other nations in all the world. This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple. This is the favored land in all the world. Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won’t fail. I have faith in America; you and I must have faith in America, if we understand the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are living in a day when we must pay heed to these challenges.

I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. This is the favored land. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through.