Blessed

Today I feel blessed. :) Very blessed.

In church we talked about trials, and about blessings. One girl said something that made me really think about my life. She said that when we have a bad day it is simply because we are focusing on all of the negative things that happen that day. When our day starts off with getting a bad grade on a test, or walking to school in the rain we then focus on all the negative things that happen after that. We feel like the world is out to get us. The hard thing to do is to focus on all of the many ways that we are blessed.

I have been trying to focus on my blessings these last couple of weeks, and I truly feel... Blessed. I can’t think of any other way to put it. It is like all of the sudden I am recognizing all of the many ways that Heavenly Father has blessed my life. 

I live in Hawaii. 
I go to an amazing University. 
I have the wonderful opportunity to attend college to further my education. 
I have a wonderful family who supports me no matter what. 
I may have allergies, but I am not confined to my house. I can still do things, and have friends, and I can still eat good food. 
I have legs, and with them I can walk to school each day. 
I live on the beach. 
I have amazing friends. 
I get to learn and grow through their experiences. 
I am fairly healthy, and even when I am sick I am not bed-ridden, or confined to a hospital. 
I am not poor.
I have food to eat, and I don't starve.
I have never been on my death bed. 
I have never been homeless.
I have a computer and a phone.
I can speak, and hear, and smell, and taste, and feel.
I get to talk to my wonderful family every Sunday.
I get to go to church and learn about My Savior every Sunday.
I can read.
I can pray to my Father in Heaven.
I can receive answers to my prayers. 

I could go on and on about all of the blessings in my life, and I am so grateful for them. 

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I know that my Father in Heaven loves me. I know that Christ died for me, and that through the power of his atonement, I can return to live with my Father in Heaven again someday. I am so grateful for all of my many blessings, and for the joy that the gospel brings me. :) 

The next time you are feeling down, write down all of the things you are grateful for, and all of the many ways that Heavenly Father blesses you. I promise it will make you feel so much better. :)

Southern Belle in Paradise

I know... I am WAY behind. Forgive me?

I guess some things never change. I am still awful when it comes to blogging. You see, the problem is that my life is really just so exciting that I have so much to share, and no time to share it! Oh, who am I kidding. My life? Yeah. Least exciting thing ever. Well, unless you count death by food allergies exciting. In that case, my life should be a movie. Haha. Not really.

Let's see. Where did I leave off? OH MY GOODNESS! I never blogged about the rest of April? What am I doing with my life! I understand if you don't ever forgive me. I deserve it. I mean, after all it is already August! Whoooops...

Okay, well let's start with April then. For easter Nicole, her friend, and I dyed Easter Eggs. :)

I spent the end of the semester living in the library. And then once we were done with school Diana, Nicole, Kayla, and I headed to Waikiki for some relaxing time before splitting up and heading back home for the summer.

We stayed in an awesome hotel (thanks dad) and were just a few minutes from the beach. We got there on Saturday evening and went for a walk along the strip. That night we watched Pearl Harbor, to help prepare us for our next day. :) Okay. That's a lie. We really just wanted to watch it, and we decided that watching it the night before we went to Pearl Harbor was the perfect idea. :) Then, of course on Sunday we went to Pearl Harbor.

*most all of the Pearl Harbor pictures were taken by Nicole*

Kayla and I getting ready for our day at Pearl Harbor

Kayla and Diana on the bus

Me and Nicole

Nicole

Me

Kayla

On Monday we went to the beach and took pictures. :) Aka. Nicole took pictures.  She really is the greatest photographer. 

This is the International Market Place, right outside our hotel, and all that stood between us and the strip. And the beach. :)

This was a really cool guy. :)

I got sand all over my leg, and if you have ever been to the beach, you know it NEVER comes off.

Eventually Kayla and Diana joined us. :) They are so funny.

While we were taking pictures we saw this sweet old couple. :) 

We are basically the BEST models you will ever meet. :) Haha.

Me jumping into Kayla's picture. :)

Cousins. :)

So much fun. :)

Nicole left on Tuesday afternoon, so then it was just Diana, Kayla and I. That morning we went to the beach (for Nicole's last hurrah). Wikiki Beach was CROWDED! Nothing like the north shore. Not to mention there was construction going on too.

The sand was not very nice either. It made me miss Laie.  

After Nicole left, Kayla, Diana and I went Parasailing. :) 

That night Diana, Kayla and I went and got henna tattoos. :)

And then the next day I headed off to the airport, and hung out with Nicole (she ended up not getting a seat on that flight, so she had to wait until the next day, since she was flying standby) until my flight. :) We went and had birthday ice cream. :) And basically partied in the airport. :) We really just did puzzles for hours. Haha.

I promise to post some more about the rest of my summer soon, but now I have to get ready for a YSA barbeque. :)

Southern Belle in Paradise