Thanksgiving Dinner

Yesterday I drove to my brother's house so I could spend Thanksgiving with them. I walked in after driving five hours in rain, and the girls ran up and hugged me even before I was able to set any of my bags down. I got to play with them for a little bit, but I also have finals next week, so I am spending lots of time working on one of my three 20 page papers. However, besides just working, I have played with the girls. We all went to see Tangled today after we ate Thanksgiving. (The newest Disney movie about Rapunzel. It was really cute.) Then we decorated Whitney and Connie's Christmas tree. I love that many of my siblings have carried on the tradition started by my parents to add one ornament for each child every year. It makes opening up the ornaments so much fun. We finished off the evening eating pumpkin and apple pie, and reading Christmas stories. The girls are now all in bed, and I am going to be working on my paper for a while longer tonight.

Giving Thanks

I am thankful that I have wonderful parents, that have set an amazing example for me to follow.
I am thankful for the opportunity I have to be in school. It is an opportunity that not everyone gets, and not everyone appreciates.
I am thankful for the gifts of the spirit that Heavenly Father has blessed me with. I am even more thankful for the opportunity I have to use them, and the opportunity I have to seek additional gifts.
I am thankful for prayer. I don't know what I would do if I wasn't able to communicated with Heavenly Father on a frequent basis. I am thankful for the knowledge I have that he hears me, knows my heart, and answers me with answers that are even better than what I ask for.
I am thankful for the opportunity I have to learn from others, especially those that are different from me. I'm getting that quite a bit here in Chicago, and I'm coming to love more and to understand more.
I am thankful for the promptings of the Holy Ghost. These comfort, protect, guide, and especially help me to be an instrument in the Lord's hands. I'm thankful that you were examples of listening to and following the promptings of the spirit and taught me to follow the spirit while I was little.
I am thankful for the covenants I have made in the temple. I am thankful that the Chicago temple is close enough that I can attend the temple often. I am thankful for the peace that is found inside, for the joy that comes from serving, and for the ability I have to come a little closer to my Heavenly Father.
I am thankful for the knowledge I have that lets me see past the things of the world, and hold fast to the things of the gospel. Without that foundation, it would be easy to be enticed by the things of the world. I am thankful that I know I am on the right path, and I know how to return to the path when I falter.
I am thankful for my knowledge that I am a child of God. I love you both so much, and that helps me understand my relationship with my Heavenly Father so much more.
I am thankful for the scriptures, for the truths contained therein. I am thankful for the prophets through the ages that have taught us truth. I am thankful that the gospel was restored through the prophet, Joseph Smith, and that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet on the earth today.
I am thankful for my patriarchal blessing that promises me blessings beyond measure. I know as I live righteously, those promises will be fulfilled.
I am thankful for the many opportunities I have to invite others to come unto Christ. I am thankful that Heavenly Father allows me to do some of his work here on earth.
I am thankful for the opportunity I have to be a teacher, especially a teacher of children. I find such joy doing this. I miss it right now, but I know that I am where I am supposed to be.
I am so thankful for our family. I am thankful for my brothers and sisters and how they will drop whatever they are doing to help me when I need help. I wouldn't be able to do what I am doing without their help.
I am thankful for my nieces and and nephews. Right now I am at Whitney and Connie's house and Aralia, Adelyne, and Eleanor are so full of love.
I am thankful for my rainboots. Two days ago it rained hard all day, and there was standing water probably nine inches deep as I walked from the train back home. (The gutters were clogged with all the leaves). My feet stayed dry all day, and I could even splash in the puddles and not be worried.
I am thankful that I have a washer and dryer in my apartment. I don't know when I would find time to do laundry otherwise.
I am thankful that after I finish writing three 20 page papers, (in two weeks) I get to fly home to Utah to spend Christmas with our family there.
I'm thankful that my parents are serving a mission in the Philippines. What a great thing for our whole family.

The blessings of family

I just wanted to say how grateful this time getting my masters has made me for my family. They have been my constant support system from far away. I call my sisters all the time to edit my papers, for advice in research, all sorts of things. I called my brother when I had no idea how to do my research stats assignment. I honestly don't know how I would get through school with out them, and none of them are here with me. I have the best family ever.
This week I took a little break from school on Thursday night/Friday morning and went with Lori, my roommate, and several other people from our branch to see Harry Potter. (My roommate Elizabeth was supposed to go too, but she has been so sick all week that going for a midnight showing was not the best idea. The theater we went to is ingenious. We had reserved seats, just like if we were going to a Broadway show, so we didn't have to be there hours early to get good seats. I think it is so interesting that even though I re-read Harry Potter right before I moved to Chicago, and knew exactly what was going to happen, I still jumped in parts.
Today we had the missionaries over for dinner. I had invited my visiting teaching companion and one of the girls we visit teach over, which was good because you have to have at least three females to be able to feed the missionaries, and Elizabeth was still sick today.
The next two weeks are going to be crazy. I have three 20+ page papers due, and I am driving to my brother's this week for Thanksgiving. Somehow it will all get accomplished though. I just remember that Heavenly Father has it all in control.

Monteverdi'sVespers

Tonight I am performing Monteverdi's Vespers written in 1610 with Chapel Choir and the Baroque Music Ensemble. It's been a bigger time commitment than I expected,but a good experience too. This is a picture of the Alice Millar Chapel on Northwestern's campus where we performed tonight.
I've been super crazy with school. I only have two more weeks until Thanksgiving, then one week of school after that, and then the second week of December is finals. It's a big push to the end of this quarter.