Gratitude Sunday

Where has the time gone?

It feels like forever since I wrote anything on here...and my posts tell me it's been a couple months since I wrote last. 

I've had the occasional blog post written in my head, but never got on the actually blog to write it.

I could have started this year off with a recap of my 2012, or what my goals for the year are, 

but I never got around to writing those either.

Some how I find it perfect that today is when I wrote again.

There is never enough gratitude to be expressed.

and with that being said, here's some things I am grateful for at the moment:

- Changes

- My calling with the Primary kids at church

- My time with the girls I babysat, which came to an end this past Thursday

- The home I have

- My family

- Work

- Clean water

- Downsizing

- Getting to start my teaching course soon

- Almost being 22

- Feeling like I am moving in the right direction

- Fun texts to and from my brother and sister in law

- Free feeds and the company that comes with it! (It's always appreciated)

- Music for every mood

- My lil bro getting his mission call (England London South Mission!)

- Good walks and chats

- New friends

- Holidays

and so much more...

Gratitude Sunday

I've been a little slack with my Gratitude Sunday posts of late unfortunately, so I thought it about time

I do one. I've kinda missed recapping the things I'm grateful for in my life.

My SIL's sister brought up a quote which said something like

"What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you thanked God for today?"

Pure brilliance right there if you ask me!

So here goes...I'm thankful for:

- All the extra work the past week and a bit has brought (despite my very tired body)

- Beautiful days to wake up to

- Friends moving into my ward

- My new calling in Primary with the children at church, because despite how tiring they can be, they are totally worth it :D

- a new netball season starting up again this week

- a few new goals I've set for myself

- Being on the way to saving a set amount by the end of the year

- An awesome fireside tonight

- Promptings to do things

- 2 full MnM dispenser for when I need a little chocolate hit

- My brand new overlocker machine :D and at a bargain price!!

- Having a quick catch up with the parentals before they went away

- Dinner dates with friends

- A new month of daily photo challenges to complete

- The wonderful discover of sandwich thins...they're perfect for me

- My home and safety while so many in other parts of the world have lost so much

There is always something to be grateful for! So what are you grateful for at the moment?

Gratitude Sunday

Today I want to share with you about the one decision I made today that left me grateful for the rest of the day.

Last night I went to a friend's birthday party and ended up chatting to a couple of friends into the very early hours of this morning. I'm talking 4:30am people!

The birds were chirping as I drove home to go to sleep.... -_-

I eventually got to sleep around 5am and woke up at various times throughout the morning.

As it got closer and closer to the time I was REALLY needing to get up to be able to make it to church on time, I thought "I really just don't want to go today. It won't matter if I miss one week."

That thought, was very unlike me. I actually quite enjoy going to church. It is my reboot for the week.

It was at this very moment, that I thought "No, I need to go, despite how tired I am."

So I dragged myself out of bed.

*Turning point*

Once I arrived at church, I instantly felt the spirit and had one of the most amazing Sunday's I have had in a very long time. 

If I'm completely honest, I've been struggling a lot lately. But there was just so much that was said today that I needed to hear. 

I enjoyed 3 hours of spiritual bliss.

And then I stayed around to go to the CES fireside.

WELL! I have no adequate words for just how amazing it was and how I was touched. 

So add another hour to that spiritual bliss!

My favourite quote from the Elder Holland's talk was:

via

I am so grateful that I was able to make the decision to get up and go to church, instead of staying in bed to sleep...I wouldn't have had as amazing a day as I did without it.

Gratitude Sunday

I've been thinking a lot about gratitude lately.

I find when I stop and think about things, I realise just how grateful I am to be where I am in my life.

It's nice to occasionally just stop and think about everything that you have right now,

in this very moment. 

Lately I have been grateful for:

- Having a fair bit of work between my jobs, which helps me to be both pay for things and save for travel and other fun things I want to do

- Time with my family. No matter how brief it is, seeing them is worth the 6 hours round trip of driving

- The sunshine; it always lifts my mood

- Friends

- New ideas and inspiration

- Music

- Feeling the spirit

- The knowledge that I can be with my family forever, especially those who have moved on already

- The innocence of children

- One very happy, smiling little girl who I got to hold today

- Seeing others happy

- The ability to let go off some pain that I've been holding on to 

- Being alive

- The possibilities that the future can hold

What are you grateful for at the moment?

Gratitude Sunday

It's been a couple weeks since I did one of these...so here goes.

Over the last month I have been grateful for:

- Having my little bro come and visit...a couple of times

- Building relationships with friends

- Having sunshine to break up the dreary winter weather

- New shoes...and the deals I got buying them

- Going old school and playing different boardgames with people

- Free weekly rentals from the video store

- SLEEP! Apparently we are best friends now

- Getting to watch bits of the olympics....some seriously amazing athletes out there!

- Reading stories of people doing the right thing and standing up for 

- A random late night chat with Dad while he has been in the United States

- Any extra work I can get

- Good hair days...they seriously just make it all better

- Chocolate

- Fresh water...seriously loving it at the moment

- My new phone

- Skype...THE BEST THING EVER!

- Mexican food...apparently I'm obsessed with it at the moment

- Getting in the Aussie spirit

- Tips that help me save just that little bit extra towards Europe

and finally

- New and exciting things in general

What are you grateful for at the moment?

Gratitude Sunday

This week I am grateful for:

- Fast breakers and firesides

- Honesty

- Seeing my sister, niece and nephew for a little bit

- My ice-cream 'date' with Maz before she left for Japan! Jealous... 

- Dinner and random hang outs with Janelle

- Laughter

- Goals for improvement

- Fun games with the YSA

- Having good work colleagues

- Water

- Seeing Lewie G...the post mission version

- Positivity

- Motivation

- Awesome lessons at church

- Time...it is both my friend and enemy

- Renewing my love for Bones...the tv show

Gratitude Sunday

This week I'm grateful for:

- Getting assignments in

- Spending time with friends

- Earning good marks

- People helping me out with their talents

- A sweet thoughtful person

- Future possibilities

- Having time to myself

- Inspirational stories

- Reminders of why I want to do what I want to do

- Little children

- Photos

- Learning, both in the classroom and in life

Gratitude Sunday

This week I am grateful for:

- Tender mercies

- Having a crappy day turn into a good one

- Getting to catch up with the SALS gals

- Enjoying the Harry Potter series for the first time

- A nice and uplifting Relief Society dinner

- Lunch with my mum, sister and niece

- Sleep

- New things to think about

- Being able to enjoy my own company

- Getting sick to remind me to look after myself

- Fasting and Prayer

- New things to consider

Update

Reality Check Time!

So last month I had two goals...and I completed them both! YAY!

- I didn't check my stats all month

- I go to 60 followers...well 62 and then someone left the bandwagon...so we sit at 61 for now

But this month I must aim higher...with 4 goals

March Goals:

- Get to 65 followers

- Guest Post x2

- Get to 35 'likes' on the Facebook page

- Get 1,600 pageviews

I want to help this blog and myself move forward so I have been setting goals all over the place. 

It is definitely keeping me accountable and making me try more.

You may have also noticed that I am now taking button swaps. Take a look at the 'Swap' tab up the top and get in contact if you're interested. There are still a few spots for the rest of this month if you're interested. 

I have also created a new e-mail account for this blog which is:

lisas.life.blog(at)gmail(dot)com

Over the next little while there will also be a few more changes.

Make and Change are definitely part of my life this year. 

And if you made it to the end of this post I would like to thank you for all of the support I have received for this little slice of the internet I call my own. 

I am putting together a giveaway for the near future to thank those who have stood by me.

So thank you :D

Gratitude Sunday

This week I am grateful for:

- Making the time to study my scriptures every day

- Realising how I react to certain situations and what I should do next time

- Being able to fast

- The beautiful weather and enjoying it in the Huon

- Getting to see my little bro, who came down for the cricket

- Moments to capture

- Lots of work...because it shall fund my holiday, not because it means I miss out on spending time with friends :'(

- Sleep...I haven't been getting a lot lately so I treasure what I do :D

- An awesome fireside tonight after the fast breaker...thought provoking

- Potential

- An EPIC Jenga match with my bros & Jess

- The Hunger Games Series...for hours of enjoyment! and the cause of most of my lack of sleep

Gratitude Sunday Series Guest Blogger: Catherine Newman

Hey Everyone,

Welcome to another Gratitude Sunday. This week I am happy to have Catherine over on my blog.

She is a gorgeous girl and I love her blog. She manages to find the most amazing quotes and is usually just what I need at the time.

But I'll let her introduce herself, here's Catherine.

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First off, I want to say how grateful I am for the opportunity to do a guest post for Lisa! I think she started popping up on my blog back in January and she has honestly made my day with her posts on her blog or her comments on my posts. It has always been so nice for me to know that there is this darling someone Down Under who cares about what I write and what I’m doing in life. She truly has so much charity and she is so genuine. Thank you SO much for the opportunity to blog here today, Lisa!

Things I am grateful for...

My family. I have been blessed with an incredible family who loves me. We love to go on drives, cook, watch movies and sports, and laugh until we cry. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without my family. They are my ultimate support and I am so glad we can be together forever.

Photographer from here

My friends.  I have been blessed with great friends who care about me and support me through the trials I face. We also have a great time and most of the time, we just hysterically laugh about everything and nothing.

My job and my major. I am grateful for the opportunities I have to work and go to school. I am so very blessed to have a job that will work around my school schedule. I love my school and my major—Speech Pathology. Every day I go to school, I get so excited about what I’m learning and I thoroughly enjoy my classes. Nerdy? Probably. But I honestly am so grateful I found something that fits me so perfectly. I can’t wait for the day that I can work and bless people with the things I’ve learned to hopefully give them the opportunity to express themselves and speak more clearly.

My faith. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Being a member of this church grounds me and I know with a surety that Jesus Christ is our Savior and made it possible for us to repent and return to Him someday. I know that God lives and loves each of us. I know that The Book of Mormon is true. I know that we have living prophets here on Earth today that are inspired and I know that Joseph Smith restored this true church to the Earth today. I am thankful for this testimony I have and the strength I have gained from my faith. {To find out more, go here}

And all of the little things in life like my car and the miracle of when you finally find a place to park on campus, my zebra Snuggie, watching episodes of “Psych”, Fall and everything about this glorious season, anything from Bath and Body Works, iTunes, emails and texts from friends, high heels, rain, Temples, ballpoint pens, my dog, mountains, basketball, Mexican food, Rocky Road ice cream, toothbrushes, Just Dance Wii games, Hugo Boss Orange Perfume, Audrey Hepburn anything, green arrows at stoplights, good deals on anything, and the list could go on and on...and on.... 

It is so important to me to find things each day to be grateful for and I know that having a grateful attitude turns what you have into enough! 

Thank you!

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Thanks Catherine for sharing what you are grateful for with the rest of us.

This week I am grateful for:

- Changes...Japan has been good for me

- Chances

- Friends

- Mistakes in Japanese...that I am starting to recognise and fix

- Progress

- Small blessings all over the place

Gratitude Sunday

This week I am grateful for:

- Getting to go 'shopping' as part of study time

- Everything Christmas related starting to come out! 

- Curry rice...three times this week alone

- Snowman shaped donuts :D

- Arcade games and photo booth fun

- Free hugs from strangers

- Finding Milo!

- Funny English tags

- New food...the good and bad

- Getting to ride a ferris wheel! :D 

- Managing to find church and getting there on time 

- Cute kids

- This wonderful opportunity to be in Japan

- Having a lesson on just what I needed.

And so much more!! I really have so many things to be grateful for and need to take more time to be grateful for it.

Gratitude Sunday Series Guest Blogger: Mandy Voisin

This week I'd love to introduce you all to Mandy!

She is one seriously beautiful and talented girl.

I first fell in love with her blog when I read the story of how she and Kevin (her hubby) met.

Part 1, 2 & 3

GO read it now! :D

Here's Mandy:

Things I am grateful for:

1. Waking up to my husband's messy hair and smiling face every morning.

2. Living in a country where we can worship any way we choose.

3. Literature. The good kind.

4. My body that allows me to move and experience life on this earth.

5. Homemade popcorn every night - it's a ritual.

6. My education. Nothing has ever made me feel so fulfilled. 

7. Seasons that add variety. 

8. Nature and all of the beauty that accompanies it.

9. Poetry.

10. Sisters

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Isn't Mandy just awesome and sweet?!

Thanks for guest posting! :D

Some things I am grateful for this week:

- Getting my ipod back safely...serious blessing!

- Little comforts

- Skyping with Kat

- Extra work

- Being alive

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Also a special mention today to all those affected by the 9/11 attacks of 2001. Today, 10 years later so many are still affected. I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have that families can be together forever and that those who lost love ones can be with them again.

My thoughts go out to those affected by September 11, 2001.

Gratitude Sunday

Firstly Happy Father's Day!! :D Especially my own dad, aka Papa Smurf and my Heavenly Father.

This week I am grateful for:

- Skype sessions with my family, even if my niece does crack it because she's sick and my brother does weird things.

- Dancing sessions in the lounge room to random songs

- Cookies!! Taste so good, but so bad for you 

- The spider on the wall above the shower not crawling down!

- Spring! 

- Jess and my new tradition of toasting seasons :D

- Getting to celebrate Nelly's birthday

- Taking a trip around Hobart on a double decker bus and realising I have so much to explore right here

- Starting a Christmas project for a family member

- Getting extra work, such a blessing!

- The primary kids...they are too cute!! Well most of the time :P

- Sleep! I am forever grateful for that!

- Reminders

- Opportunities to face my fears, like getting 5 mins notice to teach a lesson in YSA sunday school

- A very nice e-mail from a friend and follower...you know who you are :D

- LIFE! :D

Gratitude Sunday

This week I am grateful for:

- Being able to prepare and give a talk in Sacrament today

- Being home with my family...for like less than 2 days...but worth it!

- The freedom I enjoy in this wonderful country

- Pumpkin soup and roast lamb for dinner! YUM!

- Driving safely home

- Getting cuddles from my nephew...so much bigger now!

- Sleep...when I get it

- Sparkler photos...and not dying in the freezing cold mountain

- Getting a random nights work last night and making much needed money

- laughing sessions with my family

- my niece 'helping' to do everything this afternoon and night

- random adventures with Janelle and Jacinta

The Holocaust

Such a terrible time in the world's history.

Today while driving home, listening to the radio I heard an account of a man that survived the holocaust.

It was so sad to listen to this man's sad life. He lost all of his family members, most of which he saw get killed.

How someone can live through all of these events and then spend his life telling people about it is beyond me. He is a very brave and strong man.

Recently I read the book, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne.

Although written from a child's perspective, you pick up on little meanings through it that hint to more. I loved the movie! and the book wasn't a let down either!

I'm glad that this little boy was innocent enough to not let the actions of his father affect his opinion of someone else.

If only we could have all been like that. It is sad that Hitler is remembered more than the people that he killed. Millions and millions of people that needlessly died.

So sad.

I am so blessed to live in the country and time that I do.

Dear...

Dear Followers,

You are amazing! Seriously!!

I am so grateful that you take the time to read my very random thoughts :D

Welcome to those that have started following recently!

Dear Boy,

I really like you...but it's hard to tell you or try to make it more obvious that I do. I am very self conscious and find it hard to put myself out there...

I think you might like me too but it's kinda hard to tell.

If you could be more obvious or make a move that would be fantastic!

Dear Darcey,

You are the cutest little niece. I can't believe how many times you told me that you miss me.

It melted my heart and made me miss you sooo much more.

Dear Eric,

Could you just slow down the growing already! I can't see you very often because I live 3.5 hours away and you just seem to be getting bigger really quickly. Aunty Lisa wants to see at least some of your firsts :D

Dear Family,

You are my world. I love you so much I can't even tell you enough. You have supported and loved me through many circumstances. I wish I could see you more.

Just know that I think of you often.

Dear Life,

Thanks for being a better lately. I appreciate the boost (knock wood).

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for everything. I wouldn't have or be anything without you.

Dear Body,

Sorry that I don't treat you as well as I should. I am really glad you haven't given up on me yet. I am trying to improve and take better care of you

Gratitude Sunday...the late edition

Sorry this is a little late...I have had a jam packed weekend...more on that is another post...

This week I am grateful for:

- My niece telling me like 10 times in one conversation that she misses me

- Fun walks along 7 mile beach with friends...and Winston (that dog LOVED it)

- Planning of futures activities at Kat's house

- Picking up my brother from the airport and unexpectedly getting Kripy Kremes!!

- Spending almost the entire day with Nelly :D

- Funny random posters in Banjo's

- Sorting out arguments

- Late nights playing on the playground in an attempt to not grow up

- Eating a Bubble O Bill for the first time in YEARS!!

- Getting to play around in the snow :D

- Surviving the climb up the mountain...not fit by any means, but I got there

- Hashbrowns for lunch

- Having food on a Sunday and being able to cook and bake for myself

- Knowledge of The Plan of Salvation (corny video but a basic outline)

- chatting with my girls

and so many more!

It has truly been a great week for me.

I have been more happy lately and am really enjoying it.

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Also don't forget that you can be a guest blogger on the Gratitude Sunday Series!!

Just click the button to find out how and e-mail the details :D

Gratitude Sunday

Firstly, as a follow up to yesterday...

Kat and I didn't have cool dreams...in fact I can't even remember if I did dream. Sad news really. I was looking forward to crazy dreams. we're thinking about trying it again...but with more cheese!

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Anyway...

This week I'm grateful for:

- Friend's that suggest and try out random things with me

- a really fun road trip with 3 other awesome friends...ahh the memories

- Being able to see Nathan off onto his mission

- Being alive and having a body

- Chewing gum...it's ok until you get some real food

- Roast dinner at Jess' parents...with yorkshire puddings!! YUM!

- Being able to get what sleep I can while I've been sick

- The opportunity to learn about my family history and get a unit towards my bachelor

- Somewhat of a plan for the next couple years

- New Understandings

- Great discussions at church

- Warmth

- My Mum and Sister driving an hour to give me some family history stuff and only really seeing me for like 10mins (they're the best!!)

- My cute niece talking to me on the phone...and showing me the tv on the iphone, even though my phone doesn't have video calls...at least she tried! ha ha

Random Ramblings

Sometimes I get on here sure of what I'm going to write...and then I get Blogger Brain (i.e forget what I wanted to talk about). I blame it on the cold weather right now... I really need to invest in an electric blanket!

So be grateful people who are enjoying summer right now...I wish I were you. I am really cold but SUPER thankful for what warmth I do have.

Lately I've been trying to redesign my blog. I didn't like the look it had but I am seriously computer dumb! I am reading up on how to change things I want to but if you have any tips they'd be greatly appreciated!

Sooo I'm not sure where I was going to go with this but it is going to end here...

I am SOOOO excited to be going home for a good solid few days to enjoy time with my family. We are going out on Dad's boat on Saturday if the weather is nice to us and I get to see my nephew blessed on Sunday at church. My family is everything to me and I can't wait to be all together for the weekend :D

I can not wait to see this little man again!