Feeling Blessed

I feel very blessed today.

I got all the way moved into my room... which feels like nothing short of a miracle if you ask me.

I got to teach this morning and have my girls do SO well.

I got to find notes and pictures from people that I love while I was unpacking things.

Last and definitely not least I got to skype with my family for FHE all the way across the country...

I promise we were more excited than we all look...

Things putting a smile on my face...

-- Starting lacrosse again
-- Having awesome lacrosse practices
-- Being the good kind of sore
-- Talking to my fam on the phone
-- Taking the best classes possible
-- Being on top of my homework
-- Feeling good about decisions
-- Good talks with great friends
-- One of my girls giving me a big hug after class
-- Watching my girls understand concepts I've taught
-- Seeing their faces light up when they finally get it after trying all day
-- Cleaning out my e-mail inbox (who knew this would feel so good?)
-- Eating better
-- Making new friends in class and at church
-- Space heaters and heated blankets
-- Carmel hot chocolate
-- Good music
-- Recognizing my blessings
-- Trips to the temple (even if my hair freezes on the way back to my car)
-- Seeing this little one and getting him to giggle

Where's the Pause Button?

I have a million things on my to-do list right now.

I have a million things I want to be doing besides that list.

And somehow through all the busyness of these things I have had this incredible feeling the past few days. This feeling that life is so incredibly good that I just want to hit pause and stay in that moment. I know this isn't possible, and I know that it probably wouldn't be as good as I'd expect, but I'm loving every second of things right now.

It hit me really hard driving back from work the other day: I have an amazing job working with amazing girls, I get to spend hours a week with some of my best friends playing my favorite sport in the world, even though my classes are hard they're so interesting and are making me better at things I love to do, I love my family more than I can express with words and just got to spend three weeks with them, I love my apartment, I love my ward, and even despite the freezing cold the snow is really pretty and I have a heater that works wonderfully (and delicious hot chocolate).

Now this doesn't begin to cover all of the blessings I have in my life but I am seriously so lucky and so blessed to be where I am and loving it so much. I'm so grateful for the moments when I get to stop and smell the roses and appreciate everything I have going on.

That time I face-planted on the beach...

... and other adventures in Puerto Rico:

This year my dad decided that he wanted us to escape the cold for a few days and so we decided to go to Puerto Rico! Obviously I was in full support. Here's a quick recap of our trip:

While in Puerto Rico I decided I wanted to try authentic food as often as I could... now most of you should know that this could be a struggle for me. After our first night there I was convinced I had made a very good decision.

Super good.

We were lucky enough to go ziplining. It was SO much fun. I got told at every break to, "Stop braking so hard..." to which I replied with an awkward laugh. My siblings also thought it was hysterical. We all had a blast though and really liked the oversized gloves and helmets we wore.

The next day we decided to go to the beach. The boys convinced me to go in the water, but I probably should have stuck with my gut decision, because my face ended up looking like this:

Long story short I got thrown by a wave face-first into the sand. I came up with a bruised eyebrow, scraped forehead and cheek, and a bloody lip, gasping for air. If you want a more detailed story I'm sure my sister would love to share it with you. She thinks it's hysterical and we've spent lots of days laughing about it and people's reactions to it. 

We also went to Old San Juan. I LOVED the little town. All of the buildings were painted fun colors and there were so many cool little shops and restaurants along the cobblestone streets. My favorite restaurant (named for the breakfast I ordered) was La Mallorca - delicious.

 Old San Juan also has a really cool fort in it. 

Some of the people that got locked in the dungeon drew these really cool pictures on the walls that they've since preserved:

The next day we went fishing in one of the local lakes. Everyone was really good at it. Justin and Joshua caught catfish (and eachothers lines), Julia and dad caught peacock bass and red devils, and Annette and I got jaguar bass. I was surprised by how pretty the fish were. I also managed to make it through the day without touching a single fish - successful day in my book.

Our last dinner was my favorite food of the whole week. It was so, so good. We finished with a dessert made of cream cheese stuffed crepes, topped with cinnamon-sugar and frosting with ice cream. It was the perfect way to end the trip.

I had such a blast and couldn't have asked for better people to spend it with! Now I just have to figure out how to survive the -6 degree weather in Provo right now...

Starting 2013.

One of my good friends, Nicole mentioned that she reads this devotional address every new year. Thanks to her suggestion I did the same thing today and I'm so glad I did. Here are some of my favorite thoughts shared by Elder Holland:

"God doesn’t care nearly as much about where you have been as He does about where you are and, with His help, where you are willing to go... This is an important matter to consider at the start of a new year—and every day ought to be the start of a new year and a new life. Such is the wonder of faith and repentance and the miracle of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

"Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there."

Good luck with your New Year's Resolutions and all of your endeavors this year.