count your many blessings

I want to apologize. When I started this blog, my intent was only to write about frivolous things to make you laugh. And here is yet another fairly serious post. I just want to write a little bit about my blessings - specifically the people blessings I have in my life. After this, I promise I'll get back to frivolity.

First of all, of course, is my great family. I have wonderful parents who have taught me so much about how to live and how to love. And even though my dad is gone, I know he still loves me and is looking after me. And my mom is just great - so much strength! She is charity personified. I hope I'm ever so slowly getting to be more like her. I have three wonderful sisters who take me for who I am. They give me good advice and put up with all my craziness. And a great brother who looks after me like all big brothers should. I've really enjoyed living here in Columbus with him. And then there's my extended family. I'm really lucky to have great aunts and uncles and cousins who I can be friends with and who are just so much fun to be around.

I have some great friends too. I was having a rough day this week, so I called up my old buddy, Kreston because I knew he would tell me that I'm amazing and wonderful and even if it's not really true, it's nice knowing I can always hear that from him. It made me miss our old nights of sitting on his front step talking about anything and everything going on in our lives while I would weave things out of grass and promise that I really am giving up swearing this time and secretly wish for his creepy cat to die. (Side note: now that my secret wish has come true, I kind of feel bad for the "cat".) Life moves on and sometimes we move to Ohio, but it's nice to still have those old friends - Kreston and Erin and Kacey and Anne and Stacey and Caryn and Rebecca. (And many more that I'm not naming, but you know who you are.) They are the blessings of my time in Utah and it means a lot to me that we're still friends and I can still talk to them about seriously anything. It meant the world to me that Erin and Kacey showed up at my father's burial. And that they always tell me they can hop on the next flight and be here or meet me where ever I want, and to know that they actually mean it.

I have wonderful friends here in Ohio too. There's Erin who was my first friend here and who still sticks by me. And Stephen who dropped everything and came over the other night just because I wanted someone to talk to even though he had a big test the next day. And Lauren who is just a nice supportive roommate. (side note: I always seem to luck out in the roommate department; I haven't had many weirdo roommates. Which leads me to believe that I must be the weirdo roommate in most situations.) And Kate who is always thinking of me and how to help me and make me laugh. And Jacob who is just a good example of trying to do what's right. And everyone else in the ward who just thinks of little things to do and say to me, like sending a post card just to let me know you're thinking of me. It helps me so much.

I feel like I don't deserve to have such wonderful friends. I'm such a homebody - I just stay home and don't ever ask anyone to do anything with me. I don't feel like I am as good of a friend to you as you are to me, but I am grateful for all of you, even if I didn't specifically mention you. I take so much more than I give; I know that, but I just want you to know that I'm really grateful for you. (side note: I'm not saying this so that you'll comment saying that I really am I good friend. I know I could do so much better.)

So, thanks to all of you who have stuck with me, even though I am so very hard on you sometimes. You make my life so much the better!