Well I thought I would post another pic of me and Jared since the last one I was able to post was from my phone and looks a little interesting. I got to hang out w him again like old times this past weekend, while he was down for thanksgiving. We went to dinner, went shopping and then I gave him a 2 hr massage...yes he was able to cash in on his BFF status! It was good practice cause I need to get used to massaging guys w muscles...its a little harder to get good pressure on them. I really do miss having him around, but even w him far away we stay close.

I managed to pass another final this week. Im proud of myself for doing so well in school...I've said it before but its such a difference when you like what you're studying. Next week we get to go to another cadaver lab. This time we get to look at muscles since thats what we have started learning about. Man there are so many muscles in the body...pretty soon I'll know the names to all of them. It is fun to be w people and be able to drop all these anatomy names...makes me feel so smart! ;) Then the week after next we are in our finals week, finishing up my first quarter! Crazy that I only have 5 months left. I'm a little nervous about some of the finals I have that week though....including Anatomy....so much to know. Just gotta keep up my good streak!

Thanksgiving!

I normally dont end up spending Thanksgiving w my family, w the distance and all. So I usually spend it w a friend and their family. But this year I did get to spend it w my Wilson relatives. I road w my Aunt and Uncle up to Logan to spend the day at my Grandpa and Grandma Wilsons house. Everyone was there except my family and a few cousins. It was fun because I hadnt spent a Thanksgiving w them since I was little and we had them at our house every year. We spent the day chatting and eating yummy food... gotta love the food during the holidays!

Being Thanksgiving and all..it has been a good time to sit and reflect on what I'm grateful for in life. I realize that I dont sit and ponder on this often enough. So I thought I would compile a small list (in no particular order)...

1. My family...relatives and all. Even w all the times my family can be so frustrating, I love them. They really have helped in different ways to shape who I am today. They continue to teach me lessons and support me through the ups and downs life brings.

2. Friends...I honestly consider so many of my closest friends to be like family. Way too many ways to count how my friends have helped me. You all continue to be great examples in the way you live your lives. Its so great to know that I have so many people supporting me and who are always there, when I need them. I feel so blessed to have so many amazing people in my life!

3. The Gospel...even though it isn't always easy to follow all the right steps to living the gospel, it sure it worth it when we do. I don't really want to know where I would be if I didnt have the path of the gospel to follow. The best part is that we dont have to be perfect...it allows us to fall, but then continue to pick ourselves back up and keep on going. Having the big picture makes it possible to keep ourselves going.

4. My Health...having worked at a hospital for the past year, I have seen many, many people w various health problems. It has made me realize how blessed I am to not have to deal w the pains and aches that so many other people have to deal w.

5. Food...man...its so good! I love to eat! Imagine what it would be like if all food was just bland...how boring would that be!

6. School...Never thought I would say this, but I am...I'm grateful for school! It has been so awesome to finally be excited about learning! Loving it and being totally interested in what Im learning makes such a huge difference!

7. Music...honestly, imagine if we didnt have the awesome sounds of music! I think it totally fills in some of the emptiness of life...you know...the backround emptiness. Gotta love listening to your favorite tunes!

8. The sun...I should probably add warm weather to this! Since it has officially hit the freakin freezing temp zone here....I am even so much more grateful for the warmth of the sun. Just being able to feel it on your skin...oh I love that! I miss summer!

9. Dancing...I don't know why, but there has always been something about shakin my booty that I just love! It feels good to get out on a dance floor w some good music and just let loose...just let everything go and dance. I really do love dancing like I dont care who is watching!

10. Sleeping in... recently I went from too much time on my hands....to not nearly as much. I dont get to sleep in as often now...so when I do..oh it feels so good! I have always loved sleeping in...not too late though!

11. Traveling...I absolutely love to get away and see new places. I think it is so fun and exciting! Its awesome how different the world is and how beautiful it is. There are so many places yet to be visited by me!

12. Cellphones...really...what did we do wout them. I know sometimes they can be a pain...but if you know how to turn them off at the right times and not worry about your calls...they really are a huge convenience most of the time.

13. Movies and Books...its so exciting that we have different ways we can experience other stories in life. We can read them and watch them and for small moments in time get taken away to another life. Its great that we have the imaginations we do.

14. Massages...I have always loved a good massage, but man do I ever appreciate them now! There are so many benefits of massage, but they do feel..oh so good!

15. The ablility to be who I want and do what I want. I am so grateful to have been given a life that allows me to really go in whatever direction I want. I have been blessed w a life that doesnt give me too many restrictions financially, physically etc. Almost anything really is possible!

Well thats my rough list of things that have come to mind lately. I hope all of you have had a great Turkey Day weekend as well!

Crazy busy!

Well its been another busy week! School and work is definitely keeping me busy busy...its funny how different my life is now. I went from having lots of time on my hands to having not enough time, but its been good for me. We got our massage tables on Monday...finally! They are so nice and now I can practice massaging people and feel like a real professional. I'm so excited to have it! We started our Advanced Massage class too...so great! We are learning how to go deeper and use different tools like our elbows, forearms, knuckles and fists. Definitely adds to a great massage.
This last weekend I made my way down south the good old St George. Man do I miss that weather! It was about 80 for the weekend...totally perfect! I spent my time hanging w Marc. We went to Mesquite friday night and had some fun! Then saturday I let him and Jason just work on their house, which looks amazing! They decided to refinish the cabinets and tile the counter tops. I got to see the carpet all in too. They have done such a good job....pretty impressive. So while they were busy workin I visited my friend Connie who I hadn't talked to since I moved. Then Marc and I just hung out and played video games all night. It was a chill night but was actually really fun! Sorry for kickin your trash at Mario Kart! haha! It was really good to see him again and spend time w him.
Not sure what I'll be up to this weekend but hopefully something fun! Sorry I haven't taken any pics lately. I forgot my camera last weekend. I'll try to take some new pics soon!

Aahh the weekend!

Well I made it through the week! This week was so busy and exhausting, Im so glad its over! I started my new job on Monday. I am working at Primary Children's Hospital as a Physician chart specialist, which is pretty much a fancy name for a chart filer. I work in the medical records dept and well...my job sucks and is so boring! Ha! I took the job to get in the door and now my goal is to get into the ER again, doing registration like I was in St George. We will see how it goes. On top of starting work, I finished 2 of my classes and took 2 finals today. They were in First Aid and Massage Basics. We had a written exam and then a hands on demo in both. I passed both of them w high A's! Whoo hoo....Im off to a great start!
The coolest thing I did this week was go to Cadaver Lab up at the U of U for my Anatomy class. I wasnt sure how I was going to handle it and I was a bit nervous. But once we started I totally surprised myself....I was the one in my group that wanted to touch everything. We looked at bones, a knee joint, the leg from the knee down, a section of the torso, and a section of the thigh. Yes some things were definitely gross, but overall it was crazy interesting to me. Not that I want to do it all the time, but to be able to see exactly what Im learning about is cool. Man do I keep surprising myself these days! Haha!
We already started a new class which is Movement and we start Advanced Massage on Monday. I love Movement! It is totally along the lines of what I want to do. We learn how to realign the structure of the body to help it function better and relieve pain. It is so interesting!
Im ready for a relaxing weekend and then it starts all over again!

Unanswered Prayers

Most people I'm close w know that I have had some certain struggles for the last little while. Mostly just frustrated w the way my life was going and not understanding why things weren't happening the way I wanted them to. While listening to some good ol' country tunes with a friend one night, I came across a song that really hit me for the first time. Those of you who like country probably know it....

"Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers, Remember when you're talking to the man upstairs, That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care. Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers. " Lyrics by Garth Brooks

Hearing the song and especially the lyrics of the chorus made me think about all the nights I had pleaded w the Lord to please let certain things happen and then crying myself to sleep over why it couldn't be how I wanted it to be. But I realize that there must be a reason things haven't worked out exactly how I want them to. It really reminded me that its not always what I want or when I want things in life that are best for me. I truly do believe that he has a plan for my life and its obviously a bit different than the one I would like to choose some days, but in the end I know its the plan that is best for me and will bring me the most happiness in the end. Just imagine if he gave us everything we ask for...so I am grateful for unanswered prayers!