Gratitude

Do you know how many people would know if I skipped out on blogging for one day?

***JOURNAL: March 4, 2004
          I'm grateful for this journal and I'm glad I'm writing again.  It allows me to see progression in myself.  It acts as a compilation of thoughts, quotes, ideas and letters.  It is my space to think out loud which is necessary for me because I don't talk to very many people about that things that are bothering me.  I've found I'm grateful for a lot of things.  Rain, of course (whoo-hoo we're expecting another storm!)  I'm grateful for the branch.  Funny though, because I never wanted to go to the branch.  I had already belonged to the singles ward in Oregon and wanted to be in a home ward over my breaks.  I'm grateful for all the opportunities I've had to serve in the branch.  I'm beginning to see how everything in my life fits together.  I would never had made it to the University of Oregon if I had stayed at Nanakuli High.  Kamehameha allowed an environment that would help me to grow in ways not possible anywhere else.  I know it was not meant for me to go to any BYU campus, not that I wanted to either.  I went to a BYU open house one year in high school, the speaker got up and said, "Church college is not for everyone.  Just because you are a member of this church does not mean you need to attend BYU."  I said, amen and was ready to leave.  I thought Oregon fit me much better.  I needed to be in a place that allowed me to make my own decisions, without so many straight out restrictions.  A place where people din't know me yet.  Somewhere that I could be myself without expectations.  Overall, Oregon was a good experience for me.  I met some great people and there are some memories I know I'll never forget.  Leaving school early was necessary.  I can see how I've grown in ways I never thought possible.  I've collected traits, quirks, habits, and other stuff from the different places that I've been and the different people I've met.  These are things I can keep with me forever.  Long after I grow out of t-shirts and pens run out of ink.  I'm grateful for all the things the Lord has provided for me - especially the people he has allowed me to meet.  I feel I have reached a mini-climactic point in "The Book of Ari's Life."  It's that point where you can see how everything you've read form the beginning is falling into place.  You can see why certain decisions had to be made and why particular roads had to be taken.  You can guess at what this should all resolve to, but you read on to find out how it all works out.

8 November 2012

It has been a marathon kind of day today.  And in all things today, I am grateful for my husband.  Especially on days like to day, I'm grateful I said yes and was temple ready when he was.  Preach My Gospel talks about how the Lord is preparing us to meet specific people and preparing them to me us.  I believe that was the case with Nake'u and me.  He is everything I asked Heavenly Father to give me in an eternal companion and so much more.  I love you, Nake'u Smith.  Thank you for all you've done to make today easier than it would've been to take our two babies, and infant client to two doctors appointments where we were in each doctor's office for over an hour. Then cooking yummy get-better soup for all of us sicky-faces.  "You're the best" doesn't even begin to describe.