Random Things I'm Thankful For...

I'm Thankful for....
-The plan of Happiness
-My Mom
-Karalee(sis)
-Kyle (bro)
-Kalena (baby sis)
-Dylan (baby bro)
-extended family
-The love and example my Grandmother was to me!
-Friends (every single one of them)
-Books
-Music (can always find something to fit my mood)
-Sales (I love shopping, and they let me do it more often)
-Hugs ( they are good, whatever mood your in)
-cookies (I absolutely love them)
-The seasons (reminds me that things change, and that its ok)
-cool breeze (peaceful)
and for so many things that I can't think of at the moment!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!

almost 30.....

Thats right Im almost 30! I have learned a few things and yet.....there are things I have not experienced yet. Lets weigh these things out:

WHAT I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED
1- I am not yet married :(
2- Labor Pains(not to upset about this one)
3- Living on my own (to come in VERY near future)
4- Career that I really love AND pays the bills (thinking this is a myth)
5- A Blissful vacation (I know this is very sad)

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED
1-I have a loving Heavenly Father!
2-Family is Eternal (so make the best of it ;) )
3-The Book of Mormon is TRUE
4Waiting for whats right is way better then settling for what might be right.
5-Believing in what you do for a living makes it easier to do.
6-When there is a rough day, there is always tomorrow :)
7-A smiling child is proof enough that God lives ( i really do think this)
8-I like sweets waaaayyy toooo much ( working on it)
9- No matter how old I am I will always be my moms' princess (this makes me smile)
10-Prayer works!
11-Faith can move mountains!
12-Crying it out usually is a good thing
13- Time heals lots of things.
14-Real friendships know no distance.
15- Patience is a gift that you have to earn :/
16-Sometimes bad things happen, but good things happen sometimes too.
17-Overall Life is Good!

Free Agency

Agency is a gift that is taken for granted on a daily basis. Some of us fool ourselves in thinking that since we have agency it doesn't matter what choices we make. This is a false assumption. The choices we make does not only affect and effect the consequences that will befall us as individuals, but also those around us presently, and others in the future. It is a domino effect, and when not handled responsibly can have unhappy endings. The saying goes "we reap what we sow" if we plant bad seeds the outcome will be rotten tomatoes. If we don't' nurture the seeds that we plant, our garden can be over run with weeds, choking anything good and ripe, before it had a chance. We also need to remember that as we have agency so does everyone else. And though it hurts to see those we love, make wrong choices over and over again...that is their right to do so. So...in conclusion to my thought...there is another phrase that we have heard one time or another; "Let it begin with me". Let us all be responsible for how we use our agency, the more responsible we are the better our life gardens will be.

Counting your Blessings!!

It has been a long time since I last blogged. I was going through some stuff that was not inspiring me to write positve entries, and I want this to be a positive piece of me, so I witheld for a bit.

Now..life is life because of the positives balanced by the negatives. We all have negative moments, happenings, and thoughts at times, it is what we take away from the experience and how we respond that determines who we are. One thing that I have been taught to do (not that Im an expert, it usually takes me effort) is to Count My Blessings. In church we sing a hymn that bears this title. My favorite verse is as follows "When upon lifes billows you are tempest tossed, When you feel discouraged thinking all is lost, count your many blessings angels will attend help, support and comfort give you til your journeys end". (I may have butchered the last line, when Im singing on my own these are the words that I use lol). This rings true to me, when I take time to think about the blessings, my positives, it changes my perspective on the whole day. Like today for instance, I hit no traffic coming home from work, I found frames that I like that my insurance covers, I was able to share my appreciation for Edgar Allen Poe helping my brother with homework, and ....you get the point. Sometimes we have to really search for them on those really tough days, but if you try you will find it, they are there, those little blessings, those tender mercies, are there every day. Let us all take time to think about them, and show grattitude to the One that allows such things to take place.

Miracles

some people don't believe in miracles, only coincidence. i know without a doubt that miracles do happen, and have recently been able to witness one personally. i have been able to experience the tender mercy of a loving heavenly father, who is all wise and knowing. i have experienced the blessing of comfort and peace from an undescribable hardship. i also have witnessed a mighty change in someone's heart, who is very near and dear to me. it was nothing short of a miracle, and will be something i remember forever. it has strenghtend my testiomony in prayer, fasting, and the power of the priesthood, in a time when i needed it the most. it has been a lesson of submitting my will to that of the Lords'. not a easy lesson to learn, but a powerful one. i am grateful for the people that my Heavenly Father has put in my path to help carry the load when it gets heavy. i came accross a quote by Mother Teresa today: "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much". it made me chuckle just a bit, i know that we can all feel like that at times, but we really can do whatever comes our way with the Lord's help, it has been promised to us.

I have made it this far into the week.../.

Well it is Wednesday...and I have to say that this has been a good week thus far. Work has not been as stressful as I anticipated, I think I might just be getting use to it. I have been pretty mellow, and have been able to be active (gym, tennis, even a daring jog) every day so far, which has been a great way to enjoy the beautiful weather. I am continuing to watch my dessert intake, (challenging), but have seen good results.

Sorry no MEE thoughts today, I have been reading Pride and Prejudice (I read it every year) the past couple nights and will get back to MEE as soon as Mr. Darcy says those words all of us girls long to hear "You have bewitched me body and soul". (something like that). Anyway I will let you get back to your evening. Stay tuned for more MEE soon.

Balance

Hi!!! so it is a BEAUTIFUL Monday, it has made work all the nicer since I was out and about on the job.

Here is the thought of the day given by MEE. Balance. She starts out by asking you to imagine a scale and on the one side stack up all your frustrations. I tried this exercise, and the stack was HIGH! Lets see, my lack of patience, work, the fact that I am STILL single, the frustration with myself for not being able to overcome flaws, oh the list goes on...and on. But here is the kicker she then asks you to put the Savior on the other side. And honestly no matter how hard I tried, I could not alter the image of the Savior making everything balance. As MEE reminds us He "reaches our reaching" and where we lack, after our most devoted sincere efforts, He makes up the rest. The Savior knows all of our frustrations, all of our pain, as well as what behaviors we need to change, and what areas we need to improve in, not only does He know it, he has experienced it first hand. The beauty is He also knows our hearts, our intentions, and all of our wonderful talents and strengths. If we allow Christ to work in out lives, truly accept his role as the Savior, we become whole, his love and mercy completes us. Gives us the ability to change, and the strength to start over, if need be. I am so thankful for my Savior, I have needed his forgiveness and love more times than a little, and know that through HIm and by Him I can be a little better each day.

As MEE asks....What are your thoughts?

Random Thoughts

I have found a short purpose for my blog. A friend from church today, let me borrow this book titled MEE Thinks by Mary Ellen Edmunds. Basically it is random thoughts from an every day person and she starts off each thought with "I was thinking?" What I plan to do is to think with her, and respond to her thoughts with my own.

Today's thought is how Mary began describing her home, for a event called Parade of Homes, which usually discusses the architecture of the homes in her area. She points out the things that makes her house a home, the peach tree in her yard, the little things she has hanging around to remind her of her relationship with the Savior, friends, and her family. I found this interesting, since the dust accumulation (Im the only one that cleans out of five of us), is a pet peeve of mine. So I started to think of the things that make the house I live in a home. This includes the corner in the living room where our very worn out artificial Christams trees stands aglow every Christmas. It includes the photos on the mantel, it includes my bedroom that serves as my sactuary from time to time, and among other things, it includes those that I somehow love unconditionally. And since I do not dust, sweep or mop on Sundays, I will take a deep breath and allow these thoughts to get me through the "messiness" of today.

So in the words of MEE (Mary Ellen Edmunds).....What do you think?

Few of my Quirks

So, this post is going to be about random things that help make me who I am. So just so you know I am being very real in this and would appreciate it if you took it seriously. (haha, yeah right). Now for a couple of things that Im addicted to: (listed in no specific order). Just a way to let you in to knowing the one and only Naomi:

• Chocolate (no matter the kind)
• Target (this poses a problem sometimes)
• Cookies (its seriously like kryptonite for me)
• Diet Coke (yes I know)
• Facebook (it sometimes puts a cramp in my day)
• This Blog (has potential, I feel it)

Just the Beginning

OK, so yes I am blogging today. I decided that why not? I first gave the arguement that I would never find the time,but with the amount of time I spend on Facebook, I surely could jot some thoughts down. So where do I begin....well how about just today. I woke up around 8:00 which sucks because Im on Furlough and did not need to be up. Read some of the Nanny Diaries, the book that I am reading now, this makes it the fourth time. Decided to go to the Gym where I am happy to report that in two months I have lost 5lbs and 11 inches. And while working out on the stepper decided that i wanted to start a blog. which I am doing as the brownies that I am making for my sisters b-day or cooling. So what can we expect from this....not sure yet, i have thoughts on sharing the lessons learned day to day, insight that I get along the way, inspiring moments and lets not froget updates on my conquest for love and eternal blissful happiness. So Enjoy if you read.