reflections of gratitude.

wow! it's already the month of november: the month of one of my favorite holidays and also the month of our baby boy's due date. 

time seriously flies, people.

in the spirit of thanksgiving, i have been doing a bit of reflecting. reflecting about all of my many blessings. my heart is overflowing with gratitude, and i can't help but pour it out into a blog post. 

what am i thankful for?

• first and most important, my wonderful husband. (bring on the waterworks!)

seriously, i have no idea where i would be without him. i'm sad every time he leaves for work, and i get butterflies every time i hear his keys jingle outside our door knowing he is home. he is my best friend, my rock, my absolute everything. he is handsome to the eye, and loving to the core. he is hardworking, spiritual and always looking for ways to serve me. i'm so thankful to my Heavenly Father for john, and for my knowledge that through our marriage in the temple, we will be together forever.

• being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

i was born and raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. i know with every fiber of my being that my Heavenly Father lives and is mindful of me. i know that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ bore all of our sins upon the cross, and through the Atonement and process of repentance, i can be forgiven of my sins, and return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again. i am so thankful for this knowledge in my life.

if you have any questions concerning The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, never hesitate to ask! i'd love to answer them. you may also visit lds.org for any questions that you may have.

• my family. 

i am the second oldest of six children. four girls and two boys. my siblings are beautiful people, and they make me smile every single day. they are going to be the best aunts and uncles.

corynn.

hannah.

sharlee.

britton.

caden.

as hard as it is to be the only sibling away from home, it makes our reunions so much sweeter. 

at the head of our family are my mother and father who work tirelessly for our comfort. they have sacrificed so much in their lives to get where they are today, and without them, i would be completely lost. my mother says that i was her hardest child to raise, and i know that i was. i was the reason my parents had to build a chain-link fence around our house, and i also sported a bright pink harness and leash on the daily. i will never be able to repay my parents for everything they've given me, taught me and raised me to be. my parents and siblings are the best people on this planet, and i will do anything to protect them.

• food. seriously, i L-O-V-E food. 

there isn't much that i don't like (seafood, grapefruit, mustard), and i'm thankful for that. i love being an adventurous eater, exploring different cultures through food, and being willing to try weird and obscure things. it keeps life interesting. some of my favorite things to eat are whole wheat bread, pomegranates, kiwis, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, spicy chicken curry with rice, chicago deep dish pizza, pad thai, tortas, navajo tacos, horchata, mashed potatoes, applesauce, sweet potatoes, and the list goes on and on. food blesses my life because it brings me constant energy and nourishment, keeping me healthy and strong as i live my life. 

• the gift of music. 

my love for music was born when i auditioned for choir my freshman year in high school. from that day forward, i knew that i wanted music to be a part of my everyday life. i majored in vocal performance in college, met my husband while singing in the BYU-Hawaii Concert Choir, and am now participating in the DePaul Community Chorus while living here in Chicago. i'm thankful for the gift of music for it has brought me joy beyond words.

• and last, but certainly not least...my special boy.

the day that our son comes into the world is very near, and we cannot wait.

i invite and challenge you all to take a moment each day, and think of at least one thing that you are thankful for. if it brings joy into your life, acknowledge it. in this life, we must have joy in the journey. giving thanks and showing gratitude for the things you have been blessed with will bring you monumental joy.

happy november!