{i'm lame, but grateful}

I am so lame because I am just writing my thank you notes for my wedding...SIX months later! We honestly have not had time until now- thank you Christmas break.

As I have been writing these little notes, I can't put into words how truly grateful I am to each and every person that had a part in our wedding- whether it was a gift, a helping hand, or just being there to support us (or all three!). I am truly grateful for so many wonderful people in my life who give us so much support and love.

Thank you, thank you!!

I hope to return the favor one day.

{time}

On Thanksgiving day (which was fabulous, by the way) we went around the room and all had the opportunity to say one thing we were grateful for. I know that this is a tradition in most families, but for some reason we have never quite done it that way. When it came to my uncle, he said that he was grateful for time.

I have been thinking about that a lot lately. I am, too, very grateful for time. Time to spend with Jake. Time to spend with family. Time to make mistakes, and time to fix them. Time is precious and it is a gift. I need to make sure to use time in the best way this holiday season- spending it with those I love!

PS- I also wanted to share what my mom wrote in the Draper Elementary PTA newsletter this month (because she is the PTA President!):

"December is such a wonderful month. I think

one of the reasons it is so magical is because

people take time off work and school to

celebrate the holidays together as families. It

is a time of giving and serving others, as well

as, the people we love. It’s been said that,

“Love is spelled T-I-M-E.” Time is something that cannot be bought or

sold, but its value is immeasurable. As we celebrate Hanukkah,

Christmas, Kwanzaa or any other holiday this season, I hope that you will

enjoy the time you spend with your family. This is the best way to show

your love for them. So enjoy your children, love your children, and

spend time with them while they are home from school for the Holidays.

You won’t regret it. Your children will remember the love they feel from

you, much more than any present you can buy."

Thanks for those sweet words momma! (Isn't she great?!)

{words of King Benjamin}

Last night Jake and I were reading Mosiah Chapter 2 out of The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. As we were reading the words of King Benjamin, we came across verses 20-22. It says:

20 I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another-

21 I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye many live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another- I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.

22 And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if you keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.

Aren't those beautiful words? The three (actually four) things that stick out to me the most are:

1. We need to give thanks and praise God with our whole souls.
2. God "has caused that [we] should rejoice". God's purpose is to make us happy. Everything he has given us is to give us joy.
3. Each day He lends us breath and let's us live according to our own will. (The key is to now align our will with His.)
4. If we keep His commandments, He promises we will prosper and be blessed.

I am grateful for King Benjamin's words and the insight the scriptures can give us.

{the man}

Everyone knows this will not be the last post about Jake, because I am grateful for him every single day.

But today, I 'm grateful that he can make me laugh. Laugh a lot.

A few examples:

Work it, babe.

Love the pink apron.

(I am also grateful he does the dishes!)

How could this not make you smile?

He's perfect for me.

{in-laws}

When I first met Jake I knew that he had to come from an incredible family. And I was right.

We had the chance to have Thanksgiving dinner with Jake's family last night because we will be spending Thanksgiving with my family this year. I couldn't help but look around the table and realize how grateful I am to be married into such a wonderful family; and how much I love each and every one of them. I have always been told that once you get married, you also marry the family- and I couldn't be more lucky to now be a part of the Morley Clan.

To the Morleys: Thank you for welcoming me so lovingly and taking me in as one of your own. I'm so blessed to be a part of your family!

{boogie shoes}

Today I'm grateful for this song, because it just makes me happy. And it makes me want to dance! (Hopefully Jake is ready for that.)

Happy Friday!

{the 234}

This is the place where I met some of my best friends, and strengthened existing best friendships. We laughed a lot, cried a lot, and had dance parties- and oh boy, they were crazy dance parties. This is also the place where Jake proposed to me.

I think I grew up a lot during the two years that I lived in "the 234" and I know I would have never made it without these beautiful women. Thanks for the wonderful memories! I will always be grateful for the 234.

{accounting}

Ok, before any of you think I'm a total nerd, let me explain.

There a lot of reasons I am grateful for accounting, and here are a few:

1. Going through the accounting program has taught me that I can do hard things. It doesn't come easy to me, and I have to work really hard to just be average, but I have learned so much. It has taught me life lessons that are priceless.

2. It is one reason that brought Jake and I together. Early on in our friendship, it was one of the things that we had in common. Of course, after we got to know each other better, we just seemed to fit perfectly with each other. But talking about accounting was kind of our "ice breaker." (Ok, I'm not helping my defense about not being a nerd...)

3. Accounting has led me to meet so many incredible people. My peers and teachers have amazing caliber, and they have all made me become a better person.

4. There are so many opportunities in accounting. One of the main reasons I chose to study in this field is because I know I can work from home so I can raise cute babies. And that's definitely on my priority list.

So, although accounting has consumed my life for the last year and half, and will continue to do so probably for the rest of my life (considering that I married an accountant), today I am grateful for accounting.

PS- Did anyone catch the title of my blog? There's a lot more to account for than just numbers!

{gratitude}

I have been wanting to start a blog for a while, but I struggled to think of what to blog about. I sit in awe at the number of inspirational blogs out there and wonder if I could have an impact- just the slightest impact that could make someone's day better.

I have so many thoughts streaming through my head each day that I never write down- but I know it is important to write them down. After a lot of thinking and trying to get my creative juices to work (which does not happen often), I decided to make a gratitude blog. This will not only allow me to keep somewhat of a journal, but also allow me to share a little bit about my life, loves, and beliefs.

The President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints once said:

"This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help.

We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues." (Thomas S. Monson, "An Attitude of Gratitude," Ensign, May 1992, 54)

Today I am grateful for life.