Attitude of Gratitude Challenge

It's that time of year again. Every November, (for a couple years) my sister would post the Attitude of Gratitude Challenge. Basic gist: for everyday in November, you post three things you are grateful for. One of them has to be a person, and you can't repeat things. So here goes:

November 1:
1. Nice Lisa at Learning Express
2. Good tennis shoes
3. my phone

November 2:
1. One of my managers, Chris, for helping me deal with a ridiculous return (50 bottles of paint. 50.)
2. Reeses pieces
3. That A.C. Moore gives you lots of breaks (some of which are paid)

November 3:
1. Fast Sunday
2. Leah, for making the singles ward awesome
3. Time to write emails to missionaries

November 4:
1. That I have 2 jobs
2. The lady who decorated the cake and left it for the A.C. Moore employees to eat
3. My mom, for waiting up for me every night


This video is an awesome video to get you in the attitude of gratitude mode. (Gotta love the Mormon messages!).

I hope they call me on a mission

I got my mission call on Friday!! I'm going to...

MINNEAPOLIS MINNESOTA

I have so much to be grateful for. I got my mission call, and so I know what I'm doing with my life for the next 18 months. I was able to open with my family (with the help of Skype and speaker phone), who have been so supportive. I also have the support of my friends (both members and non-members), shown through hugs, emails, and facebook (can I just say, without bragging, that I got about 70-some likes and 50-some comments on my facebook status. Holy cow, do I even have that many friends??). I'm so grateful that I have had the opportunity to go to UNC for the past three and a half years.

And I am grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and that I can tell the people of Minnesota about Him. I know that that is where I am supposed to be, that someone there needs me.

Now I'd better go get me some thermal underwear....

Yesterday was my last Thursday of class. Today is my last Friday of class. As Mom would say, I'm doing my happy dance. It's kind of like this:

Final Countdown

Mom said that I should post on my blog my countdown. So here it is:

20 days until graduation

7 days of class left in my undergraduate career

4 final exams (which includes 3 more essays)

2 research papers

and a partridge in a pear tree.

All I can say is thank goodness, as I chant these numbers to myself over and over. Another countdown is the countdown until I get my mission call, but of course I don't know exactly when that will come. I'm hoping for two weeks. My dad says seven weeks. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

I was looking on Pinterest, and saw some ideas of writing a letter to a baby that is coming. And with the wait that my sister's baby has been presenting, I thought writing a letter to her might be nice. So here goes:

Dear Zoey (or C.J., as your grandpa will call you until you demand that that is not your name),

I am so excited for you to come. I just can't wait to hold you and blow raspberries on your stomach and talk baby talk. Every time I see someone with a baby, I think "Oh, that could be Carla soon!!"

I hope you don't mind all of the attention. I'm sure you'll love it for the most part (until you get to that awkward phase. But no worries, you'll grow out of that too, and we'll still love you all through it).

I just know that you are going to be a smart little cookie (especially with your parents), and a cute little cookie too. Trust me, your wardrobe is more full than mine. And hopefully your aunt Emily and I can get you on the liberal arts side, rather than physics side (yuck, math and science are gross! Books are good!).

You are so lucky, you are going to be born a Carolina girl! I know you may hate dressing up in the Carolina cheerleading outfits on game days, but trust me, you'll be adorable, and you want some adorable pictures of you to counter the bathtub pictures of you. Just always remember: Duke stinks (don't worry, I'll be teaching you that phrase early on).

So much love is just waiting for you, baby girl, so can you make an appearance now? I think your mom and dad and grandma and grandpa (not to mention all your aunts and uncles) are about to pop with anticipation. (And really, do you want to hear stories for years and years and years afterward about how late you were? No, I didn't think so).

C.J., I mean Zoey, I love you lots, and can't wait to hold you,

Love,

(your favorite aunt :D),

Jamie

It's November! Can you believe it?! Once again, it is time for the Attitude of Gratitude challenge. For those of you new to the game, each day for the month of November, you have to list three things you are grateful for. You can't repeat things. (I think there was another rule, but I can't remember..something about naming people in your list). Anyways, here's my list so far:

11/1

-that I have a job

-my professor's technology problems that just kind of make me chuckle (you think he would figure it out, but nope, every single day he has a problem and has to call IT)

-hulu.com

11/2

-blogs

-my good health (yay for not have tuberculosis!)

-being able to get things done

11/3

-Buns (oh man, their goat cheese burger. Amazing)

-the big screen Mac computers the library has

-Brandon, for providing entertainment at work

11/4

-supportive roommates

-Modern Family

-cheese

11/5

-funny books (a Romeo and Juliet counting book (which said "5 friends: Tybalt, Mercutio, Nurse, Friar Lawrence, and Paris". Bahaha), and the sequel to Wee Free Men ("Crivens!"))

-that even though it was a pain to close my checking account (seriously, the woman gave me death glares), at least I have money to withdraw

-hot chocolate

11/6

-my amazing ward, and their support

-Scott's excitement for me to go on a mission (possibly to where he served, but in order not to jinx it, I'm not going to name that place)

-the scriptures

As the end of my undergraduate career comes closer and closer (which is a little scary), a lot of people have started asking me what's the plan afterwards.

Well, I want to go on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

The funny thing is, most people's follow-up question isn't why I want to go. Usually they ask where I want to go (answer: I'd be happy anywhere...but there are a couple places that might be a little more cool than other places).

But I want to answer that first question. Why do I want to go on a mission? I mean, it's not required. It is going to be the hardest two years of my life. I will be rejected. I will have doors slammed in my face (most likely). I will face blisters, long hours, sickness, companions that I don't love as much as others, bad weather, and any number of other conditions that are unfavorable. I will have heartache when those I teach choose not to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I may lead people to baptism only to have them fall away later.

Not only will I go through all of this while on my mission, but I will miss out on some prime years of my life (that's what your early twenties are supposed to be, right?). I'll miss out on friends getting married, babies being born. I'll miss out on my Tar Heels winning another National Championship (oh, yeah, it's gonna happen). The world won't stop spinning because I'm gone.

So. Why do I want to go on a mission?

Because I have felt the joy the gospel brings. I have seen the joy the gospel brings to others. I have seen the changes it has brought in my own life, as well as others.

Because I know that I am a child of God, and I want others to know that too. I know that Christ is my Savior, and I want others to know that too. I know that the Book of Mormon can bring people closer to their Heavenly Father and Christ, that it can help bring the influence of the Holy Ghost.

Because I want to spread the love the gospel brings. That's what the gospel is about, really. God's love for us (so He sent His Son, so that we may return to live with Him), our love for him (which we can show when we choose to follow Him), and our love for each other (which we can show by helping each other return to Him).

Because the Lord is truly bringing forth a "marvelous work", and I can be a part of it (D&C 4).

Because I know that a mission can help me become the person I want to become. It will serve as a North Star for the rest of my life (if I allow it to).

Yes, it will be hard. But if I get to touch at least one person's life (even if it's just my own), I think it will be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.