I have been so closely watched over and blessed in 2014. I want to share some of the beautiful tender mercies and blessings the Lord has shared with me this year:
My mom has a sign hanging in one of the entrances of my parent's house that says "Remember: to the rest of the world, we're a nice, normal family". I am grateful for my nice, normal and "secretly" dysfunctional family. I am grateful for my "goodly parents"; for their examples, for their wisdom and advice and for their consistent love expressed to my sisters and I. I am grateful for Melina and her passion for life! As we speak, we're planning a trip to Hawaii for 2015 and while it is giving me grey hairs now, I'm hoping that'll all clear up once I'm drinking a pina colada in Maui :) In September, Miss Sarah Esther Berning smiled her way into each of our hearts. Being an auntie is a blessing I thank the Lord for each day. I love my sweet Jacob and Sarah and love their good parents, Mark and Elise. I am overjoyed that their family will be moving back to Draper in December. Once Elise moves back to Utah, we will all be within 30 minutes of each other. I am grateful to have extended family close by. My life has been so positively changed year after year from spending time with them. I am grateful that families can be together forever. I am grateful for the assurance of knowing that even when we don't like each other, we still love each other.
My friends are individuals I thank Heavenly Father for each day because I firmly believe they were gift wrapped and sent priority mail from Heaven, just for me. I am grateful for my "Orem Family". I am grateful for all the times Taylor and Landon have let me fall asleep on their couch - if I'm good, Landon will even put a blanket over me :) I'm grateful for Sunday dinners when Landon cooks yummy steaks on the grill for each of his "3 wives" and for all the times Tay and I have exchanged "the look" when C and Lando start chatting politics. I am grateful for Caroline who seems to understand me better than most and is one of the few who can sincerely put a smile back on my face when I've had a rough day. I can't wait to go to San Francisco with her next week. Though she's far away now, I'm grateful Hailey has found her sweetheart and can be with him as he's serving our country in the Marines. Hailey, I miss you, but know you are certainly not forgotten and you are someone to be grateful for every day. I am fortunate enough to work with not only coworkers, but friends as well. Aubrie is my dear "work-wife" and how much I love that girl! I'm so grateful for our chats each day. I'm grateful for Ali and for all those times she's stayed late after work to talk to me. She is a strength I hope to be one day.
After the Katy Perry concert with Caroline. Such a good show!
Ali and I spent our lunch break buying the new Taylor Swift album at Target
When I graduated from Brigham Young University in April, I did not realize I was entering what would become a difficult few months of what I like to call "Megan's mid-20's life crisis". Where was I going to work? How will I support myself? Do I stay in Provo? Do I move back to Salt Lake? My "plan" clearly stated I would be married by now. Aren't I supposed to have a partner to help me make all these decisions?? Suddenly I am a real adult?! AH! My sweet mother and friends heard all these thoughts and more repeatedly and what great sports they were. It did not occur to me right away that the Lord was shaping my path for something much bigger than I could ever expect. After spending the evening with my Aunt Sara and Uncle Jim, I asked Sara if she could help me get a job at Jamberry Nails, a company she was working for from home. Jamberry was simply to be a temporary job for the summer while I worked on my applications for teaching Art History in the fall. So beginning in May, I began to work 12-9 in their Shipping Department. Let's me be honest here for a minute: there were a lot of crying fits in those first few weeks. I was a college graduate working in the Shipping Department?! What the hell am I doing here (pardon my French)?? Silly me, thinking the Lord didn't have a plan in store. By July, I had transferred departments and was working within Customer Support with some phenomenal people and getting a real sense for what the company was all about. In September, I applied for one of two supervisor positions available. Much to my delight, I was offered the job. Now in November, I'm busy as a Customer Support Supervisor, helping to create a busy department with some of the best individuals out there. Jamberry has been by far the biggest unexpected tender mercy of 2014, but oh, how grateful I am for that company in Lindon, Utah. I enjoy my job and I enjoy the people and atmosphere I work in each day even more. What was supposed to be my "temporary summer job" has now turned into my life (let's be honest here, my life pretty much consists of Jamberry) and I'm not planning on walking away anytime soon.
As previously mentioned, in April I graduated from Brigham Young University with my Bachelor's Degree in Art History and Curatorial Studies. As those who work with me can attest, I am very proud of this accomplishment. I was blessed with tremendous teachers, peers and experiences that have continued to shape my life. I am grateful to have traveled throughout Europe a couple years ago and the experiences learned that still impact me today. I am grateful for art and the messages conveyed in the stroke of a brush.
In October, my best friend Taylor asked if I would be interested in moving into her apartment, as she and Landon were getting a bigger home. The apartment is part of a four-plex in Orem and just the right size for me: 2 bedrooms, bathroom/laundry room, kitchen and front room. After much prayer, I took Taylor up on her offer. It was a struggle to make the decision to move back to Utah County. As most could tell you, I am not a fan. However, I've learned through so many experiences this year that the Lord truly has a plan for me and when the Spirit is prompting me to go, it's probably for a good reason. Admittedly, it's been a blast to go furniture shopping, pick out my own curtains and book shelves and arrange my kitchen and bathroom the way I like. A few nights ago, I sat on my new couches, looked around and thought "wow - I made it".
*Pictures to come later. It still needs a few touches before it's camera ready :)
Since I was a little girl, I wanted to "grow up". Now that I have, I catch myself wishing I could go back to the days of playing house on Saturday afternoons with my childhood best friend, Zoe. Still, I'm grateful for this stage of life. I'm grateful to be here. I have a job I love so much, where so many have neither. My family is near to me, while so many live far away from their loved ones. I have tremendous friends who care about me, while others have none. I may be sick a lot of the time, but I can generally function (most of the time), where I know so many cannot. I have a house I can call a home, where I can feel safe and comfortable, where so many have much less. Above all, I have the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a relationship with my Heavenly Father. I know I am His daughter and I am not forgotten or ignored. I am grateful for His son, Jesus Christ. I am grateful He came to earth to live a perfect life and perform mighty miracles. I'm grateful He willingly died for me. Without such a selfless act, I would never stand a chance of kneeling before Him again. I am grateful for tender mercies. I know these blessings are real and poured upon each of us every day, whether we recognize them or not.
I wouldn't be writing honestly if I didn't put in some of the more superficial things that I will openly admit to being enormously grateful for:
I am grateful for pancakes, strawberries and Nutella on Saturday mornings, followed by hot showers with no where else to go.
I am grateful for Netflix and the excellent way it allows me to unwind. Mindless Entertainment is such a blessing! Go Pretty Little Liars and Law and Order: SVU!
I am grateful for Pier One, RC Willey and IKEA who each helped turn my new house into a new home.
I am grateful for IBC Root Beer on my hard days, for Sprite on my sick days and for Dr. Pepper any day.
I am grateful for modern technology that lets me communicate with anyone; even, and perhaps most especially those who live too far away.
I am grateful for my comfy bed that I collapse in each night and for my Pandora stations I fall asleep to.
I am grateful for Pinterest. Period.
I am grateful for my Criquet, which is turning all my college memories into lovely scrapbooks.
I am grateful for Excedrin, without which I could not hope to function throughout the day. On that note, I am also grateful for Advil, Tylenol, and Tums.
I am grateful for the holiday season that has now officially started. Christmas is my most favoriteist, FAVORITEIST time of year. Bring on the snow, lights, "Grinch" and presents.
Happy Thanksgiving to all! May we all find something to be grateful for today.
Loves!
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