When I Really Ought to be Studying...

I have so much to be thankful for.

When I was little, as my mom told my fiancé today, I was that kid that got picked on, even by younger kids. I was shy, slow, short, you name it. I was the one without candy after the Easter egg hunt, or piñata, last one picked for sports teams at recess, and I was pretty sensitive, so this all hurt.

I've had a lot of experiences where people that I looked up to or wanted to be loved by didn't appreciate me for who I was even though I tried really hard to be their friend, serve them, uplift and comfort them, but it frequently seemed that I was the only one working at the relationship.

I don't feel like that little kid with the empty Easter basket anymore.

Cameron is amazing, and he loves me and cares about me. If you don't believe me, read this. There are so many reasons that I love him, but today I am especially grateful because he lifts me up. He picked me. He tells and shows me every moment how appreciated and loved I am, and am never allowed to forget who I am: a daughter of our Father in Heaven with worth and potential. I have never felt more valued, because although I have always been loved and supported by my family, this is coming from a man that had no prior connection or obligation to me. Yet he loves me. He treats me like a queen and puts my happiness and well being above his own.

I could not be more grateful for this wonderful, wonderful man. I am so excited to marry him! :)

40 days to go ;)

Pay It Forward

There is so much ickiness and unkindness in the world. Quite honestly, I don't like election time because the majority of commercials, facebook statuses, and advertisements are calling someone else mean names and attacking them as a person instead of just stating differences in opinion. There are countless examples of disrespect, especially pertaining to religion, which really saddens me. This country was founded on principles of religious freedom and religious ideals. Can't we respect those who think differently than us? Can't we see that we are all children of God, and no matter how different we are, or how wrong something they have done is, we ought to love them and set an example?

So, this week, I'm asking everyone to "pay it forward." Anytime someone holds the door for you, tells you that you look nice today, even smiles at you, try to do something for someone else! Just do your best to make someone else smile. And guess what? You don't have to stop as soon as you've done it once. Even if no one seems to be doing anything nice for you today, you can start the cycle. And remember this: God loves you, and every blessing in your life, even life itself, comes from him. So you always have something to pay forward.

Imagine what a lovely place the world would be if everyone tried to do this! Let's all try today to make the world a little brighter. I would LOVE it if you shared your experiences with all of us in the comments below. Thanks for participating in this experiment with me!