Thankful Thursday: Promptings from God and the power to make our own choices

For four months I have planned on studying abroad this coming spring semester in Spain.  While I have been excited to go, I have also been ignoring doubts about whether or not I should.  This week I have been blessed by counsel by family who have helped me recognize promptings that God had been sending me, but that I had been all-to-willing to ignore.

I laughed out loud when I opened this because I had been ignoring doubts I'd been feeling for some time.  Note to my sister, "some time"--this was not the only one.  ;)

Ignoring my fortune cookie, last Friday I submitted my application to study abroad.  Two nights ago my dad told me my grandpa had asked him, about me, the following:

1) What am I going to do with my life and 2) Why was I going to Spain?

Thankful Thursday: Of Tea, Time, and Minions--Acts of Love

Tonight I am grateful for simple acts of love.  My sister Drue and I have lived in our new college dorm room together for four days now. It is the first time in over 15 years we have shared a room.  Bless her soul, right now she is boiling some water for the "Throat Tamer Tea" we bought last night for my cold.  I am grateful I no longer live in my beloved solitary "hobbit hole", but with someone who is so thoughtful, cheerful and kind.

On Sunday my aunt gave me an incredible foot zone even though her family had to dash up to our ranch, and my uncle went and picked a luscious green melon for me to bring up to school.  After he came back in, he told me one of my favorite stories of how while in Hong Kong, his mom called him to tell him my brother and I had been born.  My heart filled with love and appreciation for this family that is literally my "other family", another mother, father, and siblings to me.  Monday morning another aunt and my cousins changed their schedule on minute's notice in order to help me feel better.  I am grateful to live close to those who mean the world to me.

What Matters Most: This video clip is a beautiful reminder to take time to show our love to those we love.