Counting My Blessings #6 - September

I am grateful for the month of September. The weather is so nice, the air is so clean, and I get so excited about autumn. I love the leaves changing into bright colors, and the smells of autumn make me so happy.

Today I was able to go outside and study my scriptures, and it made me feel so recharged.

September really is a great month!

The State Fair

To start off here is a little background to the situation...Richard is one of my good friends from Utah State University, and he graduated in industrial hygiene (for more information on what in the world an industrial hygienist is go here).  Ruth worked with me as a social service worker.  Ruth's husband, Kyle, graduated from USU as an industrial hygienist.  Are you starting to see the connection?  So, Kyle and Richard know each other pretty well.  It sure is a small world.

We decided that it would be fun to go on a triple date with all of us.  We went to the State Fair on September 13, 2008.  Ruth, Kyle, Bret and I met up earlier in the afternoon, and then Richard and his date joined us a little later.

We didn't get any pictures of Richard, but here is a giant cow.

Ruth and Kyle by the ginormous cow.

A sculpture made completely out of butter.

Exciting Treat

One of the contracted providers gave lolly pops

to all the caseworkers along with information about the services they provide.

It was my favorite lolly pop I have ever had. I liked it so much I used my phone to take a picture of me eating it (aren't camera phones great!).

In this pictures my eyebrows are cut off, and it makes me looks so different. As I was up loading the picture my husband asked who was in the picture. It is interesting how much my appearance is altered by my missing eyebrows. I think I look a little like a cartoon character.

Counting My Blessings #5 - Mountains

I am so grateful for the mountains. Their majesty and beauty make me think and feel of the power and goodness of God. The mountains are amazing because you can go and just enjoy being there, or you can go and do so many fun activites. I think it is so fun to go hiking, biking, rock climbing, camping, and exploring.

In the summer of 2005 I was a counelor for the Girl Scouts of Utah, andn I loved spending the whole summer in the mountains. I loved having to hike everywhere, having new flowers bloom each week and constantly breathing fresh pine air.

I am so happy that I live where the moutains surround me.

Counting My Blessings #4 - The Atonement

I am a little late on my weekly blessing counts. It has been a crazy weekend, but here it goes…

I am grateful for the Atonement of Christ. The more I apply it to my life and ponder the depth and scope of it, the more I am completely amazed. Christ paid for all sins, large and small. And he can heal all. It may take time, work, and prayer, but we can all be healed through Christ.

The atonement also makes easier for me to forgive others trespasses because he already paid for the harm they did, just as he paid for my sins.

The atonement is amazing not only because it makes a way for us to return to our Heavenly Father, but it can lead to so much peace and happiness in this life.

Mosiah 4:6 I say unto you, if ye have come to a ^aknowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the ^batonementwhich has been prepared from the ^cfoundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his ^dtrust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—

Counting My Blessings #3 - Health

I am so thankful for my health. It is go wonderful to run and ride bikes and to just feel good. Yep, being health sure is great.

This weekend has been filled with animals. On Friday I went to Tracy Aviary with one of my good friends growing up, Jessica Anderson. Then on Saturday I went with my family to Hogle Zoo.

Flamingos are such amazing birds. They are so interesting to watch. Here are some that are at the Tracy Aviary.

There were baby cranes that were only a two days old. They look like ducklings, but they'll grow up to look like their mom.

Here is a picture of my brother trying on a penguin hat at Hogle Zoo.

I really like taking pictures with people posing with Zoo animals. Here's Bret with a big ol' snake.

I was able to talk to one of my friends that I acquired while a Girl Scout Counselor at Camp Cloud Rim before we got to the zoo. She has been on a mission for the last year and a half. As we were talking she mentioned that she was at Hogel Zoo. I started laughing and tolder that I was planning on going that day to the zoo with my family. We were able to meet up for a few minutes at the zoo, and it was nice. And a little ironic because she is from central Utah and going to Utah State University so she is not in Salt Lake that often. It was good to see her and her family.

Here I am next to a sloth. Here is a sloth

hanging out above us in the tropical area section. We were walking by and looked and it was just hanging out in the tree. The sloths reminded me not to be lazy, and so I thought I would add this scripture.

Alma 37:46
O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us.

Giraffes are one of my favorite animals. They are so fun to watch. They are so tall and have those handy long necks. Plus, there eyelashes are incredible.

Here is my Mom and Kylie posing by an acorn. Kylie likes my mom to tell her stories about the two of them being mice or squirrels and gathering acorns and cotton to make their houses in the trees.

Elephants are my Dad's favorite animal, so how can I help but to be partial to them. I like this one because he has grass all over him.

Here I am just hanging out with my sister in a random boat that was to the side of the path.

Here is a white alligator at the zoo. He is very interesting to look at. There are only 10 white alligators in the world.

Here I am posing with The Ghost of the Bayou (as Hogle Zoo calls him), and the way the glass reflected it makes Bret look a little ghostly himself.