Gratitude

Wow. It has been a very long, yet fast as I look back, week. Lately days take forever to go by, but weeks, just fly right on by. 7 weeks from now, I'll be officially in college. Weird. Anyways.

This week was filled with some of the biggest struggles in all my 18 years. I hadn't received a letter in 5 weeks, almost 6. Which, for those of you that don't have a missionary, is a big deal. And downright hard. All week I was thinking about how selfish the Canadian postal workers were when they went on strike. But, how selfish was I to want a letter so badly. But enough about that, its over ;)

1. One thing I'm not grateful for, is Satan. But at the same time, I am. He makes me realize the good things, by throwing bad things at me. It has never been truer that you can't have good without bad. Which leads me to the second one.
2. I'm so extremely grateful for all the hard things that I've been through. Each one has taught me a valuable life lesson, through my Heavenly Father. It may not seem hard to you, but it has been for me. Being away from my best friend for these 6 months, has been one of the hardest challenges of my little life. But, we'll get to him in a different post, yes, he gets his own.
3. My Heavenly Father. (ps, this list is in no particular order, cuz otherwise He would be at the top) I was talking to a great friend this past week, and she said a few things that really hit me. One thing she always asks when I'm having a hard time, is if I have prayed recently. And it was then that I had remembered I had been praying way more than the usual twice a day. I didn't realize that I had been. And then she went on to tell me that I just needed to continue doing all the right things and that everything would be alright, in his time. She told me that I needed to continue to trust in Him. To REALLY trust in Him. I hadn't quite thought about it. She said, "But sometimes, doing all the right things can help but it won't fix everything. Unless you let the Atonement do it's work and help you get through.... The Atonement's not just for sinners anymore. It's for pains and infirmities and sickness and exhaustion." I've always been taught this, and knew to some extent that it was true. But not until this week. This past week, I discovered just how real it is and how it truly works. I prayed harder, longer, and more thoughtfully than I ever have. I communicated better than ever before with my Father in Heaven. I learned that My Heavenly Father loves me, and is mindful of me. He wants me, and you, to be happy. That is what the Plan of Salvation is all about. I am grateful that I was sent to this Earth to go through these trials so that I can become like Him. He is the most amazing Father to all of us, and wants everything for us.
4. I am so grateful for the Atonement, and for The Savior for being willing to atone for my sins and sorrows. I cannot even express with words how this makes me feel. He knows how I feel when I am at my deepest despair, and my greatest joy. He is my elder brother, and absolute best friend.
5. I am grateful for the most amazing family I could ever ask for. They are absolutely, totally, and completely perfect for me. I couldn't ask for greater parents. They are so understanding, and so willing to help me out when I need it. My mom is amazing. She is everything I want to be in a mother, and I hope I can be as great as her.
6. I am so grateful for the best friends a girl could ask for. They listen to me complain and they still love me. They try to make me happy, and are successful for the most part. They give me the best advice, and are willing to help me out. And. They are always there for me.
7. I am grateful for the freedom I have in this beautiful country. It means the world to me. I am grateful for all the brave soldiers who have given their lives so that I can live mine the way that I want. With religious freedom. And so many other things I take for granted daily.
8. I am grateful for missionaries. Who are willing to give up two years of their life, for other people to be able to have the faith and religion that I have. So that they can find and have the true happiness that I have found.
9. And finally. I am grateful for a special boy who is serving a mission, but, he will come in a later post. Shorter, but all about him :)

Sorry for this stinkin long post. It just had to be said :)