Be Happy

Today, in church, there was a comment made by a woman who I have come to admire so much. She said something like this: "Want what you have...be happy with what you've got."

It got me thinking...the Lord is in control. I may not be married or have a family. I may not have a Mater's degree or travel the world. I may not be the most popular or have the finest things. But, I know what I do have. And for those things, I am grateful. If I am not happy or grateful for what I have now, why should I think (or deserve) to be blessed with what the Lord has in store for me?

Today, I pose a new challenge to me (and few readers :) to always be happy with what we have. I am going to make the most of the situations I find myself in and be grateful for all things, large and small, that make life enjoyable. And by doing so, I know I'll find that the Lord has not forgotten me but has blessed me more than I can comprehend.

Ms. Jonna's Pumpkin Chip Cupcakes

I'd like to thank my mom for finding the recipe. I'd also like to thank my family for not eating them before the contest.

Today was our YSA ward's annual Thanksgiving Dinner! Yay! You know, it is the simple things in life that make YSA life not that bad :)

I entered the 54th Ward Bake-Off. For three weeks I had no clue of what to make, but yesterday...it came to me!

My entry: Pumpkin Chip Cupcakes

My place: Third!

My Prize: A Butter Spreader

I am all about simple and this was simpler than I thought it'd be. Here is the recipe except I didn't add walnuts and I added mini chocolate chips on top.

My mom said I look "pretty dang proud" in this photo.

And how could I not be? I (surprisingly) won one of the highest honors a young single adult could win at a Thanksgiving Bake-Off! Well, I guess the first place won measuring cups...but still...it made my night!

Disney Memories

In my recent (and rare) moments of pastime, I am enjoying memories of Disney. However, these memories are not my own. I find total joy in the joy and delight of others' experiences with Disneyland. Recently, DisneyParks came up with the new "Memories" campaign. Genius.

Here is the first ad I saw for this campaign. I got teary eyed watching it for the first time as I reflected on my own memories.

I have been thoroughly enjoying this new Disney website. If you have time, check it out. It is so wonderful.

(My favorite thing on this site is to search "surprise" under Videos. So cool to see other people's joy!)

Say what you will, but I love Disney for the magic, the happy, and the family memories.

Wishing Spools & Christmas Trees

I wanted to make this craft I found online. So, today, my siblings and I made it after Stake Conference. But, in order to properly display and take photos of the final product, we needed a Christmas tree background. So, naturally, we decided to put up our Christmas tree. (Now, before you start getting worked up about Christmas before Thanksgiving, hear me out...)

First of all, Thanksgiving and Christmas go hand in hand. It is Thanksgiving that helps to ring in the Christmas season and it all just rolls into one. You can't have Christmas without Thanksgiving and you can't have Thanksgiving without Christmas. We didn't forget about Thanksgiving. We LOVE Thanksgiving! But, we also love Christmas. To me, Thanksgiving and Christmas are one big season to enjoy. So, why not enjoy them together? :)

Second of all, we are not going to decorate this tree until after Thanksgiving anyway. Until then, it is just a regular (fake) tree that beautifies our living room.

Here come the photos (beware, there is a lot!).

Hank decided to help. He made these directions last year.

Our tree in parts.

An Arizona Christmas tree. Only a stick and some leaves. We were joking that if we left it like that Santa would bring enough gifts to fill the bottom of the tree.

We decided that an ugly, wimpy tree wasn't worth the risk. So, we kept going.

I wanted to be in this picture too...

Little by little it rose!

All done!!

Next, I needed photos of the wishing spools for the blog. After all, that was the whole point wasn't it?? Actually, I just tricked them into helping me since I wanted a decent background. They had no idea the photos were coming up.

And all I've got to say is...poor Jeri.

Apparently, wishing spools on a tree in an ill-lit room with Jonna's camera was a difficult task.

So, I took pictures of Jeri taking pictures just to show everyone how dedicated Jeri is to her photography.

I must say, it was amusing to watch.

Addie was a bit uncomfortable about the situation.

But, thanks to Jeri's undying dedication to photography, we have a few non-blurry(ish) photos to post of our wishing spools. And, for the record, the blurry ones are mine...

Here is Addie's spool

Can you tell which one is A.J.'s, Jeri's, or Carla's?

Don't cheat and look at Jeri's name tag!

And, here is mine.

Not that impressive, but it was fun to do! And, since we had a long afternoon following Stake Conference, it was a fun family activity.

By the way, Hank will have one made for him too :)

If We Didn't Laugh, We'd Surely Cry!

If you have ever seen the movie He's Just Not That Into You, then you will be familiar with this clip. Being dumped is never fun, but this clip makes it SO funny! Instead of asking who can relate with this clip, I ask...who can't relate with this clip! (I am not trying to be insensitive, but seriously...can't we laugh about something during the dumping process??) It has been one of my all-time favorite clips from the movie. I just watched this movie the other day and I felt like sharing this today.

And, by the way, this is by sheer coincidence that I blog about this today ;) I've been wanting to share this funny moment with you for a while...promise!

If it doesn't work you may have to try this link! It is worth it, I promise!

Hope you laughed as much as I did! Hey, if we don't laugh we'll cry...right?

My Favorite Things Part 3

Ok, ok, by now, you are probably tired of my long lists of favorites. Sorry! But, here is my list for this year. For being a tough year, I have been very blessed. (Remember Oprah's "Favorite Things" episode? Too bad I'm not rich like her, I'd probably give Disneyland trips to the whole audience. So, apologies by blog audience. I cannot give you a trip to Disneyland...plus, I mentioned that already in my first list at number five). Anyway, enjoy!

Here is what I am posting for 2010...

1. Relief Society
2. Visiting Teaching
3. Crafts
4. Hot Glue
5. Club 33 and those who appreciate it
6. Missions
7. Letters from Missionaries (Hank & Ciara)
8. Whittier, for allowing me to come back!
9. Kathy, for being a great friend
10. Distractions (the good ones)
11. Having a wireless mouse
12. General Conference
13. Those who re-taught me how to sew
14. Finally, having a hobby
15. Blogs
16. Postcards from friends that remind you of old memories
17. Joann’s
18. Post-Its
19. Clearance Sales
20. Reflections of Christ Music
21. Working body joints (like ankles and wrists)
22. Office supplies
23. Having different colored flip flops
24. The Joseph Smith Translation
25. Testimony meetings that move you deep down inside
26. Bath & Body Works lip gloss (yummy!)
27. Planners
28. Swatting a fly on your first swing of the swatter
29. Holidays/breaks from school & work
30. Registering for classes at ASU for the last time!
31. Playing “Guess-the-Song”
32. MarioKart (yes…I am the best)
33. Finishing homework ahead of time
34. The smell of Joann’s & Michael’s
35. Yodipity (and other places like it)
36. Power naps, and finding time to take them
37. Prep time
38. Getting into bed after a long, busy day…whew…got through it!
39. My day-by-day Disney calendar
40. The Apprentice
41. Listening to past talks by our General Authorities (when they were a tad younger :)
42. Green Eggs & Ham (especially when my dad reads it)
43. LOST
44. Living in Arizona. The heat is so comforting.
45. Watching friends and family embrace and love the Gospel.
46. Joshua 1:9
47. People, like Maria, who say the right thing when others around you doubt
48. Playing (what little I know) on the piano
49. Home videos
50. Second, third, fourth, and fifth chances (and sometimes more)

You did great! Thanks for sticking through it. And, thanks for letting me post so much. Things just seem better when I vocalize (or publicize) my gratitude. I have much to be grateful for.

My Favorite Things Part 2

Here is the second list of "Favorites." I posted this in 2009. Again, you do NOT have to read them all. I am just trying to keep them all in one spot. But, I am going to post a new list of favorites this year.

Here is what I wrote in 2009...

Last year, I made a list of things that were my "favorite." Or things that I am most grateful for. I made it to 60 last year, and mentioned that I might make it to 100 soon. I have finished that list to 100. So, listed below are my favorite things #61-100. Everything that I listed last year can be found in my other note.

Again, you don't have to read them all. This is mostly for me. However, I do challenge you all to create a list for yourself. You don't have to post it if you don't want to because these things can be personal too.

I apologize that I mention a lot of Disneyland. I did this in my last note too. I could probably make a list of 100 of my favorite Disneyland things. Just look at my Disney note and you'll know.

Here they are!

61. Red hair (Thanks NaElle!)

62. “And When October Goes…” by Barry Manilow (A tradition on our family to listen to that song after every Halloween)

63. My laptop

64. Pink (the color)

65. Chapstick-the smell good sparkly kind that I don’t get very often because I’m cheap

66. Hoppin’ Music-the kind that you play while you are getting ready for something really fun!

67. My body pillow

68. The moon! I love the moon!

69. The clouds! I LOVE clouds!

70. Crossing the Arizona/California state line

71. Emails from Lucy in China

72. A clean room (like REALLY clean. After hours of cleaning out, under, and between)

73. My kindergarten class photos (they grow so fast!)

74. Buy the card game. It’s a Jackson classic.

75. The hymn “There is Sunshine in My Soul.” I even love the Singles Ward Soundtrack version.

76. Getting into bed after you’ve just cleaned the sheets and falling asleep to the smell of clean laundry

77. In N Out Animal style French fries

78. CES Firesides

79. New purses

80. I Love Lucy

81. Cooking w/ an apron. I feel so domestic!

82. Going to the temple inside and out

83. On the way to Payson the 87 goes up some hills and then opens up to a valley just before you drive down the other side of the hills. I like that part.

84. Doing Christmas break puzzles with my family

85. Seeing one of my kindergarteners outside of school and the bewilderment on their face.

86. Sense & Sensibility

87. Finding Hidden Mickeys at Disneyland

88. Rosa’s Mexican Grill

89. Panda Express

90. Flying in an airplane and looking out the window at the clouds and earth

91. Realizing that change can be great!

92. Ice skating (recently discovered in past weeks!)

93. Old photos that people post on Facebook

94. Playing Hearts on the computer

95. The completion of another semester

96. New children’s books

97. Fresh, crisp, bright days

98. When prayers are answered/knowing that they will be answered

99. My testimony of the Gospel.

100. That I can find 100 things to be grateful for and still have more in mind.

My Favorite Things Part 1

Please excuse this post if you've read it already or if you've seen it too many times now. I posted this on Facebook two years ago. I debated over it, but I have decided to put them all on my blog so that I can keep them all in one spot. So, sorry about the LONG list. You do not have to read all of these. However, I am going to add a third part this year. A brand new list of Favorites.

Here is what I wrote in 2008...

Being November, and thinking about what I am grateful for, I decided to make a list of my favorite things. Of these, I am very grateful! They help me to find joy in the journey! These are in NO particular order. Just some things that have come to my mind. As time goes on, I believe I will add more.Who knows, maybe make it to 100.

Two of my favorite things in one photo.

My family and Disneyland!

No pressure to read ALL of them, but I challenge YOU to think of things that are your favorite, and post it in a note!

1. The Gospel
2. Christmas Music
4. The smell of Crayola Crayons, and ONLY Crayola Crayons.
5. Disneyland!!
6. Google
10. Harry Potter (love it more than Twilight...sorry!)
11. Betsy Brannon Green books
12. The feeling of being dressed up...like I do THAT very often...
13. Christmas Eve
14. The smell of new cars
15. The smell of shoes stores, esp Payless
16. The temple lights
17. Summer nights
18. The Office!
19. My dad's singing voice
20. Singing Disney songs with Carla
21. Mornings that feel like Saturday
22. My room cleaning routine
23. Thunderstorms
24. Going to Fry's with my dad
25. A family chat after dinner
27. Sunday comics
28. My "reality" shows: American Idol, Amazing Race, Deal or No Deal, etc
29. Cookie Dough
30. Getting asked on a date (with someone you LIKE...rare for me :)
31. Getting emails from far away friends.
32. O Holy Night
33. Pictures
34. Thanksgiving movies
35. Bottled Purified water. I love Aquafina. No else does, but I love it
36. Toe Socks and Filp Flops
37. The story of Ammon. I love Ammon's story in the Book of Mormon, and also Lamoni's Father's story. How he said he would give up all his sins to know God.
38. Leisurely Class time
39. New Yearbooks
40. The smell of coffee
41. Flying
42. Roller Coasters.
43. Fast Trains
44. Looking at high objects or buildings
45. Licking cheeto cheese and BBQ wings sauce off my fingers. Ha Ha
45. Havasuapi
46. Car rides to California
47. My scar
48. Hot chocolate
49. My dad's hand
50. Trick or Treating
51. Pedicures
52. Our stake
53. Girls Camp
54. Teaching
55. Driving Alone and singing in the car
56. Pigtails
57. Clean Carpet
58. Card Game nights
59. Arizona sunsets
60. Disney Movies!!

Wow, I'm impressed, you've made it all the way through my list! If you start one I'll totally read about your favorite things!

Fabric Pumpkins

I found a super cute craft on Rachael's blog. I wanted to try it out and this is what I created! Disclaimer: My pumpkins are not as cute as Rachael's! Hopefully, next time, I will have better ribbon and sticks to use. But, still, they are alright for a late-night craft on a Friday, I guess.

(And, thanks to the sister-in-law who inspired these! I don't know who you are, but thanks!)

Here is what it looked like before I started:

I forgot about the newspaper part, but I wrapped it in a plastic bag. (I just know that a liquid spill is inevitable.)

Like I said, my ribbon was a problem. Too thin, too thick, too bright, too dark, etc. So, it wasn't even worthy of taking a picture of. Let's skip to the end, shall we?

Here they are!

Like I said, not cute like Rachael's...

(and if you need reminding here you go :)

But, I love 'em!

When October Goes...

It is Halloween again! When I was in high school, I remember going to a big Mountain View vs. Westwood game on Halloween. On the way home, my dad played a song by Barry Manilow. "When October Goes" has since become a Jackson family tradition. We listen to it every Halloween after everyone is home from their festivities.

You can listen to the song here, but if not, you can read these lyrics:

And when October goes

The snow begins to fly

Above the smokey roofs

I watch the planes go by

The children running home

Beneath a twilight sky

Oh, for the fun of them

When I was one of them

And when October goes

The same old dream appears

And you are in my arms

To share the happy years

I turn my head away

To hide the helpless tears

Oh how I hate to see October go

I should be over it now I know

It doesn't matter much

How old I grow

I hate to see October go

When I was in China, my dad called me and after I answered I heard this song being played. It was so special to me that my dad timed the call so that my Halloween would be ending, even though theirs was just beginning.

I am just beginning to understand the lyrics to this song, but I know that with each year I live I will appreciate them more and more.

Here is a Halloween a long time ago, when I was in kindergarten. Ciara and Hank are pictured too.

Time goes on. And here I am this Halloween with my mom.

And here I am with my dad.

I hope you've had a great Halloween! I am excited to enjoy the rest of the holidays approaching. I am also anxious to see what the rest of my future holds.