Sometimes you just have to Laugh

I have been finishing a final about mind/body/spirit health today. The topics discussed included Marriage, divorce, unhappy marriage, benefits of Altruism, social connectedness, forgiveness and humor/laughter. I read in this book something that really struck me. It deals with forgiveness.

"Steps to Living a life of Forgiveness"

- Begin by letting go of your unforgiving stance.

- Admit that the events and feelings you are struggling with really happened.

- Admit that the past cannot be undone. After all, there is really no hope for a better yesterday.

- Recognize that you no longer need to depend on others, including your parents, for approval. When you realize your independence, you assume your rightful power, and you learn to be who you want to be regardless of the actions of others.

- Don't expect others to respond to your efforts to forgive.

- Release any unrealistic expectations of yourself.

- Accept others for who they are rather than who you want them to be.

- Be flexible about rules of conduct for yourself and others.

- Talk about issues as they come up.

As I reflect on my life in the last semester, I think that this was the ultimate lesson I was supposed to learn. It has been a really tough semester. I have made tough decisions, been pulled and stretched in every direction, and have learned a lot about growing up. I have had a lot of disappointments, hardships, and trials. But I have had a lot of blessings. I hope that I'll look back on this semester one day and realize why things happened the way they have happened for me. I feel like often times the hardest part about moving on, is learning how to forgive. Forgive for what could have been that wasn't, or how you feel life could have been, but it wasn't. I love the third bullet of this list, "Recognize that you no longer need to depend on others, including your parents, for approval. When you realize your independence, you assume your rightful power, and you learn to be who you want to be regardless of the actions of others." What a great lesson for me to learn. I recognize now that I am much too dependent on others for encouragement, and approval. It makes me sad to think that I had to learn this late in college life. Could have been helpful before.

As I see it though, it is so much better to just accept, move on, and try to find the joy in the journey. Sometimes, you just have to laugh and realize, it will one day be joyus to me because of the lessons learned through that trial. I pray I will be able to take the perspectives learned from this class, Mind/Body/Spirit health into my daily life.

Good luck to us all with Finals, and the holiday season fast approaching us!!!

To my mama!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

This post is for my mama! She is another year older today. And she really is just getting more and more wise. Oh how I love this lady!!!!!! She is my best friend and I am so grateful to have come to this family. If we picked our families in heaven, I am so glad I picked her and my Dad. I hope that everything was perfect on your birthday mom! Thanks for being my best friend and my best example. Keep up your hard work! I am so proud of you.

Nov. 4th and 5th

Friday I was grateful for being busy at work because it helped me to get through the long almost 9 hour work day. I was also grateful for my volleyball game, which was super fun, and helped to fix the small back pain that I was having this week.

Today, I am grateful for my slippers! They are keeping my little toesies warm while I do my homework in our starting to get freezing house. (the walls aren't insulated... ;( ). I am also grateful for old friends and new friends who help me to feel like a child inside when I need it. :)

November for Thankfulness

My sister Danielle is doing this on her blog, so I thought I would do it too. For my posterity, I would love them to know the things I am grateful for in my life up to this point. Each day I will post something I am grateful for, and a story or picture (or both!) that goes along with that.

Today, I am grateful for long hair. Yes, random, but for a good portion of my life, I have had shorter hair. The longest it was in high school was about to my clavicle. I always thought that this was an ideal length for my hair, but the last few years I have had longer hair, and I love it! I think that the longer look is good on me. Maybe when I get married and do all that jazz, I'll join the club and cut my hair. But for now, I am so grateful for long hair!

- It makes my face look thinner? (at least I think so?)

- I only have to wash it every 2-4 days. (don't judge me)

- I can put it up in a pony tail!

- My natural curl looks so much better

- I can do a lot with it!

- I can dye it! - love to do this. too much. Darn it being so expensive.

Yep. Love my hur.

Ah.... November

We did it!!! We made it through October, and with only a few scratches. I almost loved it even. This year I could not get over the beauty of the trees or the colors that I have been surrounded by. Unfortunately, all of the photos I have taken on my phone the last month, got erased when I got the update. :( However, Hannah took this of me as we were playing in the leaves a few Sundays ago.... Kind of a taste of fall with all the leaves.

I had a tough weekend last weekend. Some disappointments mixed with pretty intense feelings of loneliness and missing my parents pretty bad. However, I believe it is when we are most humbled that we receive the most direction.

Friday was the hard day, but then Saturday night things started to look up. We had the adult session of stake conference and I went with my roommate and two fairly attractive men in our ward. It was just a half-hour, but the topics were basically speaking to my soul. The second counselor in the relief society presidency talked about looking up, and the importance of doing that as we move forward with our lives. The 2nd counselor in the stake presidency talked about relationships, and how the men need to get on with dating girls... which they do ;) But even more than that, the spirit of the meeting touched me greatly. I just felt so strongly that my Father in Heaven was acutely aware of my needs, no matter how small and insignificant I felt they were. I gained a testimony that Heavenly Father almost always answers prayers through sending us experiences or people that help us to learn, grow, be stretched, and strengthened.

I know without a doubt that I could not have made it so positively through this weekend, or throughout my life, without my mother. She is amazing, and I love her unconditionally. I may have had some mishaps in other relationships in my life this last week, but I believe it strengthened my relationship I have with my mama, even though she seems to be so physically far away. After the conference, I went on a date that was so refreshing! He is a friend of mine from high school, but we talked about art and music and I just felt so happy to have that small blessing. Then sunday we had the general session of stake conference and that was also wonderful! My good friend Ali who just got her mission call, spoke, along with each member of the stake presidency. It was amazing. The rest of the day was full of socializing and enjoying my ward. I know that I was meant to be in this ward, in this house, with my roommates and the bishopbric that we have etc. How blessed I feel!

Our father in heaven answers our prayers, he is acutely aware of all of us, and of all of our needs, wether big or small. I love this gospel, my Savior, and my family. May we all go forward in faith, not fearing the future, or the past.

So...Life...

First of all. I miss these guys. I have been missing them a lot lately. Historically, October has been one of the hardest months of my life. I'd say, every year, this is when I have my brakedowns, when I just want to run away and cry, and just go to San Diego. I am seriously contemplating it. For lots of reasons. ;). Yesterday I talked to my dad, and man, he is just so wise. I find myself just really missing him, especially after I hang up the phone with him. They are doing amazing though!

I think back on my summer often, and just long for those amazing experiences again, and wonder... Why am I not still there?? I am currently in midterms, I have 2 more this week and one next week. I also have some silly personal stuff to take care of, and, I just have no motivation!!!

However, I have some awesome stuff going on, that I am very grateful for. First of all, my sweet sweet mom got me a pass to 24 hour fitness this summer, which I activated the second day I was back at school, and that place is my home away from home!!! I just love the gym. Lately I have really loved going to the classes that they hold at the gym. Some of my health friends have passes, as does my roommate Whitney and her fiance, so I get to see people that I know and like while I am in these classes. Mostly right now I am obsessed with yoga, and am so grateful that I get to go to these yoga classes! It is such a great time to reflect and just be grateful for the opportunity to breath, relax, and strengthen my body. I recommend it!!

The other thing is that I am in this Dinner group with like 15 people in it, so we get dinner made for us monday through thursday, with us having to make dinner just 3 days the whole semester! I can usually only go like 2 times a week, but still! to not have to worry about dinner is awesome.

Okay and the third little thing I have loved is my super comfy and cozy room and bed! Man, it is like sleeping on butter he he! I also have loved that I can sleep through the night, get enough sleep to be productive in the day, and don't have too many stressors that are out of my control in my life. I love that conference is on the internet, so i can listen to it before I go to bed, and while I get ready in the mornings. I love that my parents are mission presidents and are so good to me. I love that my siblings don't live too far away for me to escape to on the weekends when I feel like not socializing with provo people. I love that I can always get on my knees to pray and be comforted. I love that I go to a school where people have similar values to mine. I love that I am coaching already. I love that I get the chance to date and get to know people (even though these chances are very few and far between these days he he). I love that I have a healthy body. I love that I get to constantly improve, and that I have chosen a career that helps me to be better, while I get to help others be better. It is so awesome. I know that I have been lead to this place in my life, and I am grateful.

I am also grateful that these kids are all home and my buddies. I missed them all while they were away!!!!! Mike came home 3 weeks ago and completed the missing men. Now we just need Jenn back and of course I need Brandi back. All will be well! (Except Allie and McKell are leaving soon for their missions... Darn it... ;))

Don't worry, that's just me and my buddy Kylie in front of the Louvre, only one of my top 10 favorite places in the world.

And. Everything about this picture makes me happy. We even had a bomb.com meal after taking this picture. Man, I love Florence. Can I please go back? Anyone with me?

Alex Boye and the last few weeks

This man. He is da bomb. On Sunday I was able to go to a fireside where Alex Boye was the main event. He told us his conversion story, and helped us to understand that we need to ALWAYS be standing in holy places and look to the Lord in everything we do. His style of public speaking was so fun! He made us laugh with his jokes and his facial expressions, and he definitely helped me to understand that "white mormons" are a little too reserved. He enjoyed and loves the gospel so much, and he didn't hesitate to show it. When he sang he just had so much great energy and he sings with his heart.

I have had some crazy few weeks. I don't know how people do it all in college. It is just an overwhelming time of life. My job is changing how we do things a lot and it is causing us all to work a little more than any of us are really comfortable doing. I am trying to decide if I want to start coaching at UVU or not, I feel as if I could do it for a few hours every other day... It just seems crazy to take on more things when I am trying to simplify my life. I have been able to hang out and go on dates with some really good friends who I just missed so much while they were on their missions. I feel like I can be part of things now, and I am just so grateful for the life that I have.

I don't have much to say beyond this. Life is good! I am learning a lot and trying to stay up with assignments etc. in school, work, and life. I am so grateful for my testimony of the gospel, and for the power that is held in the words of the lord and our prophets. I CAN'T WAIT for conference this weekend. It is getting me through the craziness of life.

It's that time of year

Our cute and comfortable bedroom

Shady ish bathroom...

Very much shady downstairs where we do our laundry. I am scared to do down there...

Our kitchen... I love the cabnents

Our living room. I really like it here. It is cozy and quiet, and the UGLY couches are actually quite comfortable. Anyone know a good/ cheap place to buy couch covers?

ScHOOL. Again. And Work, again. Oh man, it has been so hard for me to get back into the mode! After a summer of so many wonderful opportunities and experiences, it has been hard for me to transition into studying for school and even sometimes attending class. It's only been 2 weeks!!! But I know it will all come back. The scheduling, the stress, staying up late to write papers I didn't remember I had due tomorrow till 11:00pm. the night before... and so much more.

So far, I like most things about my senior year. I have just education classes and health classes minus one class for my senior english class (and let me tell you, my professor is SO boring). I like that the people in my classes are basically the same from class to class, so I have friends in there and we feel comfortable doing group projects together etc. I like that I have a gym membership again so that I can go to my own little oaisis every day and have that hour or so to escape. I love this little house that we live in. It is so cute!! There are some things about it that freak me out like our shower and the small basement where our dryer is (pretty sure animals live down there...), and not having a dishwasher, but other than that it is perfect. It is quiet, open, inviting, and so far, so homey. I am happy to be back with my roommates, and living in a ward that is AWESOME. So far the best ward ever. And I got the best calling ever... I am a Relief Society teacher.

God has blessed me so much. And I am so grateful to him. It's that time of year for school and life to begin again... Bring it on.

The end of BYU Lacrosse

Well. I finally did it. I finally decided not to play lacrosse. After three years of many downs and a few ups, I decided that this my senior year, I would just be a faithful fan. I am so busy working 25 or so hours a week, 16 credit hours, and having hopes of a social life. ;) This decision wasn't easy for me to make, but I know that it was right.

Hard stuff:

Leaving the team that I have grown to love.

Knowing that I won't be a member of a college team anymore... Just a normal student ;)

Disappointing people... possibly.

Not traveling to go and play a sport that I love.

Just knowing that I am done... It is surreal. But nice?

Good stuff:

I have time to do well in school, stay ahead of my assignments, and keep up a normal stress level...

I have time to have a social life, something that many (even past boyfriends) can tell you I never had time for before.

I can coach full time with no interruptions.

I don't have to worry about whether or not I will play in a game, or start in a game.

No more fundraising!!!!!

The opportunity to really train for a race (like a marathon) and attend the gym classes that I want to like Yoga, Cycling, and Body Pump.

Having my weekends free to go and see mom and dad in San Diego.

Yes, for me, this is the end of playing... But it is not at all the end of Lacrosse. This sport runs in my blood now, and I hope it will be a part of me always. I will coach each year, and try and throw around with friends as much as I can. I will be a fan of Lacrosse and sports forever. So it is the end of my personal era, but in so many ways, I know that it is the beginning of so much more.

I am sad. But relieved.

3 week mission

Validia y Jose Manuel. Mi Dos Favouritas Hijos

I was lucky enough to serve a full time, 3 week mission. I was set apart and everything! It was one of the best experiences of my life. It helped to dissapate all of my fears of going on a mission, and helped me to realize, even more, that you can get along with anyone, and that it will only be for your good. I feel like that has been a lot of what this summer has been like for me. I have been able to learn about (and even be basically submersed in) 4 different cultures. Italian, English (it is a different culture, believe me...), French, and Spanish. It has all been so eye opening and incredible. I got called to be a Mormon Battalion sister at the Mormon Battalion Historic Site so we got to meet people from around the world (as far as Israel and as close to come as Sandy UT) and also I was paired up with an AMAZING spanish speaking sister, in a very spanish area (just 3 exits from the boarder of CA and Mexico). What a great adventure this summer has been for me. I am sad to see it ending all too soon. I just have about 1 week left! 

Las Tres Missionares 

I am so grateful that I got this opportunity. I am grateful that I can pray to my father in heaven in two languages, and I am grateful for the humbling experence that this mission has been. What a great cause we are involved in. This work is infinite, and we need to take it to the people we are surrounded by. Never be shy to share the message of the gospel with a friend. They can benifit more from your short disscusions with them about christ, than anything else you could ever talk with them about. I know that Jesus is my Savior. I know that he lived and died for me, and for you. We have the opportunity and ability to return again to live with him and all our loved ones because of his Atonement. We would all be lost without the message of Jesus Christ, both his earthly ministry, and the eternities to come. I know that the book of mormon is true. I know that it contains the message of the restored gospel, and of Jesus Christ. I know that it is THE thing that will help us to strengthen our faith, build up our hope, and bring us comfort in this life, and the life to come. I can't explain the powerful feelings of the spirit I have felt as I have testified of the truthfulness of this book both in the Battalion and in my proselyteing (sp?). I know that it is true, i know that god lives and loves us and that he wants us to be happy. He sent us faimilies and a prophet for that exact reason, and we need to take as much advantage of these blessings as possible. I love my Savior, and I am SOO grateful that I chose to serve (even though it is mini) this mission.

And we're 3 weeks in

Here are just a few pictures about what I've been up to the last few weeks here in San Diego. My brother Paul, his wife Danielle, and their kids Paul Z., Ben, and Ruby were with us for a few days and we were able to go to Sea World, the Beach, Balboa park, and all that stuff I blogged about earlier. Then a few days later Kim and her family plus Kyle's wife Ashley came for a night and we got to go to the beach again and just enjoy a pretty Sunday with them. It was too short a visit for us all. Katie went back with them, and so it has just been me and the parents for about 2 weeks. It seems a little weird in ways, time seems to be going by very slowly, but it is a very pleasant kind of slowly. I have had so much time to just think and relax, completely different from what my study abroad was, yet still as much of an adventure, and as much of a 'need' for me this summer. I have been so blessed! I love my life. Okay so the pictures.

This is my favorite spot in our home here... It is just the most comfy chair, and it's under an awning type thing, so it stays cool, but I can look out at the beautiful atmosphere... Ah. Best place in the world to me right now.

This of course is the San Diego Temple!!! I went and did baptisms there with...

Anna! My close and longest time friend Anna came home from her mission to Italy while I was in Europe. She was in California for a month spending time with her family here, and took out 2 days of her time to spend with me in SD! We had the best time, and it was soooo good to catch up with her, and to just have a chat with a returned missionary best friend. Oh I missed her, and I am glad that soon we will be able to hang out in Provo and have more good times! The SD temple is beautiful... I love it. It looks almost fake on the outside... like something from a painting.

After the temple we went to Torrey Pines state park and "hiked" around while Anna listened to me talk about the Study Abroad... lucky for me (and probably not for her...) She had been to all the places I went to, and also lived in Italy for a year and a half on her mission, so we got a really good chance to break town my experience, and it was so fun to think about. The hiking trails end at this awesome beach, and we just sat here and chatted for hours about life. Am I super spoiled??? Yes. The answer is yes.

The next day we did Zumba wii (so much fun ps) and took off for some more SD fun. 1st on the agenda, Harry Potter 7.2. Oh, I loved it. It was so fun to see it, sad to see it end, and yet fulfilling all at the same time. The end of my adolescents, but the cool thing is that the books and movies will be there for my kids to watch and read, and I bet you they love them. After that we did some great shopping, and went to Seaport Village, a naval coastline town type thing... very touristy, but we had a good time. We went into a shop called "sinfulicious"... it was a make your own sent type of store, it was fun, but we just thought the name was super funny. We ended our adventures at a great Mexican restaurant called "Casa de Pico" where they play live Mexican music, and the food was delish. Thanks for the fun time Anna!

Most of my days are spent reading, helping out the parents, and just enjoying being here. The missionaries are so fun to be around, and I am learning a lot from their example. This is a picture of this lake called Lake Murray. It is the safest place I've found to run, and it is beautiful! It is about 6 miles around the lake, and there are always people around walking or riding their bikes. I am falling in love with San Diego. I may never want to come back...

In a week I'll be trying my hand at missionary work. I have been asked to be a companion to one of the sisters for 3 weeks, and I am excited for the opportunity!!! It will be a neat experience.

Also just a shout out to my mom for our fun day yesterday, and her kindness. Love you ma.

The next adventure... San Diego

This is the back yard (okay like 1/8th of it). The house my parents moved into for the summer is so beautiful! The location is great, it is on this really large mountain with a lot of greenery (as you can tell) You can see some of the city from their back windows, and can see the lights of Tiajana at night. It is really going to be a great place for them to be these next three years, and I am excited about it! 

Dad is already feeling pretty overwhelmed about this job. So is mom, but you can just see on his face that he was grateful for a little time to spend with his kids and grandkids at Sea World. We were able to go on Tuesday to Sea World and it was so much fun! I love seeing the dolphins, whales, and otter shows, along with all the other fun animals and park rides. It is a really fun place to take children, and adults, of all ages because there is always something fun to do! We had a good time. 

On the fourth of July we were able to spend the day with Paul and Danielle and their kids at Balboa Park... we rented a bike that had 6 seats (the name is escaping me...) and took it around the park to explore it. There is so much to do there! It most famously is where the Zoo is located, but it also has a natural history museum, a space museum, a lot of small arts and crafts shops, and the largest organ in the city! It is a fun place to picnic and just spend the day walking around a beautiful place. After that we went to Fashion Valley mall, the most high end mall I have been to, but it was really fun to see stores like Bloomingdales, Tiffany and Co, True Religion, Barney's, Anthropologie, Nordstroms, H & M etc. all in the same mall. We spent the night with the senior couples out at the military base by the coast. We had a barbeque and enjoyed the fireworks over the peer. It was a great fourth of July! We are so lucky to live in America. I feel that way more now than I ever did before after having spent so much time out of the country. We are so blessed to have the clean air laws that we do, to be able to spend our time together with our families so close, to be able to have all of the freedoms we do, and the ability to become very successful through hard work. Freedom is an amazing thing, and I am so grateful to all of the service men out there who through the ages have made the country of the United States of America a possibility. I am so grateful, and blessed, to be able to spend the rest of my summer in San Diego serving my parents, and serving the Lord. Their call has already become such a blessing to all of us, and I am positive that they will do well with it. Keep up with the mission here at
   californiasandiegomission.blogspot.com

Paris, France

PARIS = My most surprisingly favorite city.

I loved Paris because we got to spend so much time there. We spent 18 of the 35 days of our trip in Paris. It was amazing to be able to just feel like I knew Paris. I have been surprised since I've been home how many shows and movies have a scene in Paris or a reference to Paris, and a lot of the times it is not the Paris that I know! They are lying to you. So beware, and just try and go yourself k? ;)

First day at Notre Dame... Jen look really happy to be there ;)

We got to go to the French Open while we were there! We saw some doubles matches and one singles match that were all pretty awesome! I wish I could have seen some true masters like Raphael Nadal or Roger Federer

Chartres... Oh a dream come true! Look at that amazing view

The blue of these stained glass windows are not able to be redone. It is quite the sight to see.

These are the windows at St. Denis... This was an awesome place to have for my 21st birthday in France!

And so was this! I went to Disneyland after... It was awesome! I got to go there twice for FREE because of some awesome friends I made who worked for Disney in the last year.

THE LOUVRE!! This is awesome awesome place. It is like heaven for art history people... and I am now officially art history people. what an amazing experience to admire all of these masters of art. I hope y'all get inspired by this blog and decide to learn more about art stuffs... Cuz it is awesome.

This is one of my favorites at the Louvre! It is by Thorson, and he is someone I didn't know before this experience at the louvre, which is one of my favorite things about the experience in Europe was that I was surprised all the time by artists that I didn't know anything about. My top four surprise artists that I now LOVE = Berthe Morisot (fascinating story you should look it up. She's da bomb.), Gustave Callibot, Camille Claudelle (also look up her story) and Thorson.

This is a place called "Sacre Coure" it is located in one of the most beautiful places in all of Paris, Monmartre, which is basically this lush green hillside where all the artists of impressionism lived and hung out. Pretty awesome stuff. (Artists such as Van Gogh, Serat, Renoir, Monet... etc.)

This is a photo of mine taken from St. Chapelle, the most BEAUTIFUL and exquisite colored windows in all of France. You have to go through a ton of security to get inside, but it is pretty sweet.

Van Gogh's grave. We took a day trip up to his house slash town of Avernes and Monet's house at Geverny. Some of the most beautiful places in all the world Really. I keep saying that, but it is true of all these places!

The fields where Van Gogh killed himself... and painted his last painting of "crows in the field".

Geverny. BEAUTIFUL... Monet really painted impressions (or moments) of what he saw.

This of course is the Arch De Triumph... We went on a walk around town one night then ate the most delicious dinner! We went to this stake place that brought you salad, asked you how you like your meat cooked, then brought it two you 2 times and that was it! 25 Euros later (aka super expensive) and we were happy campers. Most delicious meal I ate in France.

The cool thing about being an art history student in France is that you get to go to historical places for free just by flashing your little art history student card in people's faces. It was so fun to climb up the towers of Notre Dame, especially since it didn't cost us 5 Euro. ;) Isn't the view pretty?? And high? It was fun to feel like Quazi Motto up there he he.

This was on one of our last nights in Paris. Jen, Me, and Kylie decided it would be cool to walk the streets of Paris together at night instead of riding the subway home. We walked about 3 or 4 miles, but it ended up being one of the coolest things I did in Paris. It was a beautiful night, and I was with really good company in these girls. (two of my favorites!). This day was a free day, and we spent it doing random things like going to the biggest (and most creepy) grave yards in France, then we got Indian food, and walked very leisurely and down the streets of Paris and the Champs d'lessee. Awesome night! I love Paris!

Our last Saturday of the trip we went to Versailles. Isn't it huge looking? And that is just 1/3 of the front of the Place. Louis the XIV was a crazy man who spent so so so much money to build this place for himself. Wish I had some of that dough right now seeing as I spent it all in Euro land and on my car which died right while I was gone... ;).

The Gardens at Versailles were so beautiful!!! They went on for miles and miles and we got to explore them for hours. It was one of the highlights of the trip for me, along with canoeing on the lake in the gardens there. We were laughing so hard and just had a good time. This is Haddy, Kylie, Diana, and I on the lake! If you ever go to Versailles, please please do this and go to Mari Antoinette's house/village. It was the most quaint and exciting thing! It looks just like the land of Bell from Beauty and the Beast. Seriously, they got their inspiration from this place. It was AWESOME!!!!

After Versailles we wanted to see the Eiffel tower light up at night... So we did! Isn't it pretty?

Our last day in Paris we did a lot of shopping, went to the Pompedue (sp?) and then had crepes and a boat ride as a big group. It was really fun to reminisce together and just spend the last few moments in Paris on a boat, on the lake, seeing all the things we really did fall in love with while we were there.

I am SOOOOOOOOO infinitely grateful for this opportunity I had to go to Europe and have my dreams come true. I will remember it forever with fondness. My parents and family are so great to have supported me and let me enjoy so much this opportunity even though craziness was happening at home. I am the luckiest girl in the world! I now get to go with my parents for two months and serve the missionaries of San Diego. I am one lucky, and blessed, and grateful girl.