20 more days 123-141

It has already been 20 days since I have last posted. SO here I go with 20 more things I have been very grateful for and feel like have been tender mercies in my life.

123. I made the flight to New York and have a good time.
124. I had a good meeting about my thesis paper that I have been so overwhelmed on. She helped calm my troubled mind about it all.
125. General Conference. Enough said (LOVE ELDER EYRING!!)
126. I had the energy to spend a lot of time on my talk for Easter Sunday
127. I felt very calm and think I did a fine job on my talk
128. Gary's tender heart and being so understanding of my downfalls
128. I have basically finished a class already!  Less to worry about.
129. The Brunsons came down to visit and we had a great time. They make me feel so good. I wish I felt like this with my own family. I can't even explain the difference. I want to figure out what it is about them that makes me feel so good and then see if I can somehow implement it more in my family. Its so nice-and would be a GOOD change for how I feel typically around my family currently.
130. Gary has had a new found sense of motivation to workout and plans to join the air guard. This makes me very excited as I have been worrying about what we will do with insurance for when I get prego. I don't know if we would be able to get medicade and without it we would financially be in big trouble.
131. Although we are a little more financially strapped Gary still finds the value in spending on my sake. (this is a hard concept to explain. I have a very difficult time spending money on me. I just don't feel most things are worth it. Whenever I ask if I can buy... without finishing the sentence he says yes. OR do you care if I go to new york with jerilyn this week. Sure go ahead! He makes me feel like no money in the world matters but my happiness does. -not that he accounts me spending money means happiness... Like I said it's a hard concept to explain. I just LOve this kid!))
132. God has been very aware of our prayers. It has amazed me actually. Same with Gary. We say little prayers and BAM answered, blessed, and us in awe. God is very aware of us.
133. I am so glad my mission president taught us about the power of covenants with God. I did one last month and am also doing one this month. It brings a new found testimony and excitement as I fully believe God will keep his part if I do mine. This month I committed to go to all of church all month if he will help Gary and I be motivated to eat healthier and work out.
134. We have been able to have visitors. Our absence of going up to slc hasn't seemed so bad because we have had so many visitors.
135. Lately I have been working alone. I am LLOVVING THISS. I don't mind working with people but I especially love working alone. (mostly I would rather not work with one person, but i do like best alone. I don't feel like judgement is being passed if I am alone.)
136. I am so happy this is my LAST semester and I only have 2 full weeks of classes and then finals week and then I am absolutely DONE! WAHOO!
137. I continue to feel closer and closer to Gary. I love him more than I can ever explain. I can't imagine being even more in love with him, if there is such a thing. I am sure there is and I am excited to grow deeper and deeper in love. I know the meaning will change too throughout time. How did I get such a guy for ETERNITY! I'm sure God had something to do with it!
138. Gary has learned how to woo me. I feel special, loved, and though at times could be cheesy it gets me everytime. It makes me feel good no matter how cheesy it is.
139. I am so glad I had a really good teacher to help me with my thesis. Even though its been very difficult, stressing, hardest paper I have ever written she has helped me step by step through every process to make the paper a better one.
140. Michelle is becoming a better friend. I have been wanting to be closer to her for some time. I have looked up to her and thought she was just such a nice girl. -Gary thinks very highly of her too and I have been wanting to be friends with her and rick. I just didn't know how. Finally it started and now its growing. I love friends and I love close friends. I feel this is going to be one of those! SHe is great. Everyone else should be jealous.
141. I got a calling. Most people might not like this one. I just have been such a disconnect with our ward, with church that I feel like this calling will help me jump right in and integrate me the way I usually like to me. I am the compassionate service and welfare committee personage. I am not quite sure what it all en-tells but I am excited to put forth a lot of effort.

THere you have it. Back up to date.

101-122

Everyday I am just so full of gratitude. I am so blessed, so many wonderful things happen daily that I can't even express how much I love life. I use to write a lot more poems than I do now... which is a good thing mostly because it means my life is better. I use to write dark, depressive, and all my feelings of sorrow.
I remember in one of my poems I talked about if life will ever be different. If it will ever be good. that people always say that life gets better, but they had said it for far to long for me to believe. But I guess believing it doesn't mean it can't still happen. Because it happened to me.
I never thought my life would be this good, I never knew my life could be this good. Although I still have my ups and downs but my life is 360 degree different than it used to be. Maybe its  good thing that I went through what I did in order to love life as much as I do know.
Anyways, on to the last 22 days of tender mercies, grateful things that have happened and blessings.

101- I didn't know how Gary and I were going to make it to Las Vegas Airport without spending a bundle with our few different options. The night before Glen and Janae found us a FREE ride down. WONDERFUL!
102- We all made it on standby to San Fran
103- The 12 hour airplane ride to china wasn't as difficult as Gary or I both thought.
104- A very nice man in China helped us find Annies- A restaurant we were trying to find.
105- Although the time difference often had me awake at 3 or 4 in the morning I still had the energy to go on all day tours and have  great time.
106- We had an amazing hotel to stay in- probably the nicest I have ever been in. This is something Gary was nervous about because we just set up this trip that everything was already set with whatever ChinaSpree gave us.
107- The hotel had a free breakfast that was the best free breakfast I have ever had. It was a buffet with many things, cereal, juices, omelets, fried eggs, boiled eggs, french toast, pancakes, waffles, yogurt, breads, other pastries, some asian things I sometimes liked and sometimes didn't. They also had some funky things there for breakfast: salad, wings-cooked differently(some good, some not) and of course Oreo's.
108- I had the energy and motivation to go all the way with Lisa, Rhett, Darren and Gary to the top of the highest point at the great wall. It as so worth it and amazing.
109- Even though Flying back home from san fran didn't look good we all made it to our homes that night.
110- After a 24 hour trip home to St george I slept for the longest I have ever slept (other than being a baby) -12 full hours!
111- I have remembered odd assignments even over spring break that was due and got them all done before they were late.
112- I have Mags to help out in this hard and time consuming class
113- Gary has been very complimentary of me and it makes me feel very good
114- Financially even though things have been tighter than normal we have been able to still have everything work out! (Tithing works)
115- Gary has gotten excited about having a baby! We are getting closer to the time and I have continually gotten more comforted about having a child and my ability.
116- Although Grandpa Brunson had passed I was able to make it up there and my classes were very understanding.
117- I had a big part of my thesis due the week of grandpa's passing. I emailed my teacher and she said not to worry about it and we will focus more next week.

118-We didn't run out of gas when we kept riding on it on empty
119-I have been able to work alone the past 2 shifts- I absolutely love this. I am so much more of a single worker over groups. Its been good since I have been stressed lately and it brings calmness to my craziness.
120- The green lights helped me get to class on time! (and a few times to work)
121- In china I was able to get a few things for myself when usually I have more of a difficult time spending money on me
122- At the silk market for the 3rd or 4th time not planning on looking at all we ended up finding the coat gary really liked that we tried to re-find the previous time there for a long time and couldn;t. SO gary actually got something that he really wanted as well.

#23 finished up to #100

I just saw I missed #23.

#23- I feel so blessed to have the brunsons in my life. they have dramatically altered and changed me for the better. I can't thank God enough for them! They are my family.!

WHEW I DID IT! I am officially caught up. Its interesting it didn't take me real long to think of things at all (I truly am blessed) but it took FOREVER to type. Maybe I will remember this everytime I am slacking on typing things out.

Love my life! Life is good, grand and gorgeous.

#23-100

Although I have dropped off the face of the earth doesn't mean God hasn't been blessing us. I am going to try and do better with these tender mercies, but I know I will miss a few days. I am going to try and at least write them down daily. But seeing I am going to san fran and china and other things like that I don't think internet access every night is plausible. I am going to write the 77 tender mercies I haven't gotten to yet. A lot of these might just be things I feel blessed with and that I am grateful for.

24. Got everything worked out for our new home.

25. Had friends help us move in

26. Got almost everything packed up before school started

27. the beginning of school wasn't as hectic as it can be sometimes so we could unpack our home.

28. I absolutely love my new home. I am IN love. Its a good feeling and I love being home.

29. Jerilyn and my relationship is so strong. I feel like we are so close and I LOVE IT!

30. I am getting a better relationship with Jerilyn's brothers. Rick especially who is highly respected and looked up to.

31. Michelle and I are becoming good friends, they have had us over quite a few times and it makes me feel so good. They brighten my night no matter what we do.

32. found a french book at the library to give to Brittany. It is 100 years old (literally) and it was a perfect gifT!!!!.

33. Mike gave gary his laptop... it is really nice. Crazy kid-well it was a great benefit for us and its been put to VERY good use.

34. St George is a godsend. I am falling more and more in love with my husband and I get to be with him at all times, and I can be obsessed because no one else is around to take him away. Thanks Heavenly Father for guiding us here.

35. I have been focusing on prayer lately and I have had home teachers come and talk about it and I read another story about it and I feel like it is helping me remember and feel the spirit about how true the principle of prayer is.

36. The weather in St george is amazing. I can't believe it some days. I hope I can deal with SLC when I go back some day.

37. Gary's security he brings to me at night. I use to have the hardest time falling asleep. I think it was because of my past and I didn't feel secure. Now it doesn't take me too long when Gary is there. SECURITY!

38. My mom. She has been helping to furnish the new home. Although she is part owner in the home I am grateful she is willing to put the money in it that we don't have so we can enjoy it while we are here.

39. My dad's hugs. I can just feel the sincerity and love in my dad's hugs

40. my health. I have been walking to school and absolutely love that I can walk, run, and be healthy and mobile.

41. my vehicle. Although it is old and not the best I have been blessed with how well it works and no problems.

42. Gary's truck had a problem and we found out all it was-was the battery... and there was a guarantee still on it so it went from 105 to 60 dollars. SWEET!

43. Gary being a handy man. He fixed his car so we didn't have to pay any labor.

44. Financially... I don't know how else to describe it but God has blessed us so much this way. I am amazed at what we have been able to accomplish with so little. PAY YOUR TITHING and live frugally and GOD will bless you!

45. The first day of putting a sign out for our condo to be put up for rent we got a phone call and instantly had renters!

46. I got hired on at Academic Advising which I love

47. Liz a co-worker stands up to shane a lot and has a few times for me to him. Makes me happy someone does.

48. At work I called a lady who I needed to send some people to. I was making sure it was to her and she said yep- so I sent them. within the hour I got the kindest phone call from her saying that I did a wonderful job and did it exactly right. It was my first compliment on the job-and probably ever since. (they aren't complimentary at this department)

49. Rick Palmer is always whistling, happy, and outgoing at work-coming in and out. It always cheers me up

50. I have been keeping up with my homework this semester. I don't get too far behind and often get ahead. I have been needing this kind of motivation

51. I am allowed to do homework at work! BLESSING!! I have lots of down time I can do it. I've needed this job long ago.

52. We live closer to the college now. I love the walk and convenience.

53. Gary surprised me with a new cute backpack he found at the DI.

54. God sure guided us with finding furnishings for our house almost everything at the DI or other thrift stores.

55. We have been hanging out with Christie and Brian lately. Its been such a blessing to have them around. Its fun. good food and adorable children

56. Friends came down this weekend and they bought Gary and I breakfast. It brightened our entire day.

57. we went to Lyn's market to get parade of homes tickets. with a few background stories we ended up being given two tickets! (saved us $27.11) BOOYA

58. Glen and Janae feed us dinner every sunday. It feels so good not to have to cook this day. It is one of my favorite days party due to this.

59. Jerilyn bought me a ticket to go to Brad Paisley with her. It was so thoughtful and made me feel special.

60. My family came down for almost an entire week. They helped buy some food (that was specifically for us) and cleaned as they went and we had lots of fun.

61. Theresa our Real Estate lady gave us a dixie direct book. This was GREAT! we have used it multiple times.

62. because of the dixie direct book we took dylan and austin to get happy meals and all of us miniture golfed all for $4.50. (if you can't tell we like deals, and are very conscious of money. GOD BLESSES US ABUNDANTLY AS WE DO THIS!)

63. I have lost 10-12 pounds since summer (although this doesn't sound a lot for such a long period. I am SO grateful I have at least gotten that far.)

64. I know this sounds funny but blogs. I have been inspired, and filled with compassion, love and understanding with different blogs I read.

65. Jerilyn wrote the sweetest tribute to me!

66. I found a $5 on the ground walking to my car! WAHOO

67. my grandpa died and my teacher over the thesis has been so understanding and willing to work with me.

68. I love our new ward. It is a lot smaller and though I don't know it very well I don't feel like there are as many clicks and I feel more comfortable.

69. Our home teacher came and helped us move a big couch upstairs because I was too much of a weakling to do it with Gary.

70. Lisa bought me some new shoes!

71. It was flattering to get asked out. Made me feel better about myself than I had felt.

72. Gary and I go on walks occasionally. This last time we walked right to the temple. we have good bonding time here. I am so grateful for them.

73. We are only blocks away from the temple. A great reminder of what our life is about.

74. For valentines day Gary fixed my watch, bracelet and bought stuff for strawberry shortcake. YUM! Aw!!

75. I found great deals for clothes for my new job.

76. My mom came in town after all our boxes were in our new house and she helped us move them in.

77. We are able to go to China with the other 9 people planning on going.

78. All our teachers are working with us to miss a full week of classes so we can go to china.

79. I got to sit and have lunch with Melissa in provo. She always brightens my day. Its great to see her.

80. I found someone who had these 4 books i needed for ONE class and he sold them to me for $20 total!

81. The stories of my in-laws have inspired me. Getting in a car accident 2ce once totaling an expensive vehicle and being poverty stricken as it is told us about their tender mercies through it all instead of the downside

82. I love getting letters from Brittany. I was able to get a simple package and quotes for her done for christmas (a little late christmas but hey it works.)

83. Our king size bed is wonderful. Sometimes all I want to do is snuggle Gary but when I need my space I have it.

84. I got to go to lunch with lisa. Although our lives are very different we are true sisters. We all have our struggles but I am so grateful for my life right now.

85. One day when I was at Rick Jr.'s house we had FHE. It was spiritual and reminds me why I believe in this church. Its a good reminder as I have many reminders of opposite.

86. I'm grateful for God's mercy. I haven't been the best in various aspects. I am trying. starting to rekindle the fire within and I just can feel the excitement and help that He has for me.

87. One day I was feeling down at my sisters. Before bed Sadie has everyone sing to her/tell stories. I am usually first and this day I wasn't. I wondered why. When I went up she said, "do you know why i asked you last? because your my favoritest!" AW best night of my life. sweet sadie at 4 and 1/2

88. Gary can be so patient with me when I get grouchy. He is just the best HUSBAND EVER!

89. I have never felt more happy in my life as I do now. I get to remind myself this often.

90. Gary and I don't have insurance. And though we have had minor things we haven't ever had to spend a dime on medical things. WONDERFUL!

91. For Christmas we got some very good practical things we needed.

92. I read the book called the seventeen second miracle. INSPIRATIONAL!

93. Grateful for goals and that it is something we strive for in our faith. God knows what he's talking about. It is something that strengthens your character.

94. Gary slowly by slowly is more motivated to do spiritual things. YAY (which helps me)

95. Even though I think we spend too much time watching TV sometimes but I am so glad that at times I can just sit and relax to a good cupcake wars, chopped, lingo, health shows, or other various shoes that are fun.

96. Grateful our townhouse has cable.

97. Gary was able to find a really really nice pair of sketchers shoes for his dad. The kind he likes, in his size and looked brand new. Fit perfectly. (we love the DI)

98.Our home teachers. I just liked them. They really showed interest and it makes me feel like I know more people at church and the activities.

99. Magnum is in 2 classes of mine. Its been a huge blessing as we help each other out a lot throughout this semester.

100. LAst and best of all. Church. When Gary and I got married we went inactive quite fast and for a long time. Although church can be difficult at times, I am grateful for the time I spend there. It does bring me closer to God and that is what my life is dedicated to!