Thanksgiving Week

I wish every week was like this past week I just had! It was definitely a much needed break from the stress of school and I loved getting to spend time with the fam!

Monday: Both Landon and I had school and then right at 3 we left to go pick up his dad and brother from the airport! We were SOOO happy they could come from Texas to be with us! We ran a few errands, then came home and I made homemade fettucine alfredo (my FAVORITE) and then we played some games and got them settled in.

Tuesday: I had school and then we went to Tucannos! (did I mention that I wish EVERY week could be like this week!!!) Then we came home to prepare for "The Biggest Blizzard in History"....LAME SAUCE

Wednesday: Landon and I celebrated our one year anniversary! I can't believe we aren't newlyweds anymore! Time definitely flies when you're having fun! We had a lazy morning, and then we watched the video I made with pictures/video/music from our wedding day and also looked at a scrapbook I made with pictures of our first year. It was really fun to look back on our special day :) Then we took a drive to the Draper temple, saw HP 7, made each other our favorite meals, and then headed off to the Crater at Homestead Resort (it's this hotspring in a cave... way cool!!) Also, Landon's other brother Tanner drove up from L.A. and surprised us! We were SO excited to see him!!!







Thursday: Thanksgiving! We played some games, stuffed our faces, played Beatles Rockband, ate some more, and had so much fun with both my family and Landon's family! It was actually so nice being able to see both families on a holiday (which never happens since they live in two different states!)

Friday: We hit the slopes and spent all day snowboarding! So much fun!!!

Saturday: We ate lunch at Five Guys, bought Landon's motorcyle, had dinner at Olive Garden, then went to Temple Square to see the lights!

Sunday: Put up all of our Christmas decorations and said bye to our Richins family :(

Mine and Landon's very first Christmas tree :)

We definitely had a fun filled week and it was VERY hard to go back to reality on Monday... but only two more weeks until Christmas break! YAY!

Motorcycle

Landon's been wanting one for awhile now and I just love to see this boy happy...so even though I'm scared to death of motorcycles I let him get one. I guess I'm now a biker babe! :)

One Year.

Happy One Year Anniversary Landon Dean!! I can honestly say it has been the best year of my life. I've heard a lot of people say the first year is the hardest, and if that's the case then I guess we have A LOT to look forward to :)

I'm not saying we've had a "perfect" year, that would just be lying. But, being married to Landon really is the best thing that has ever happened to me and the best decision I ever made! Through this first year, we have really learned how to communicate with each other. How to rely on each other. How to say sorry and always make-up before going to bed. We also learned that no matter what happens in life, no matter how bad, we can make it through because we have each other, and that is really all we need.

One year down, ETERNITY to go :)

Day 24/Day 25

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!! I'm combining the last two days into one, because yesterday we were celebrating and I didn't have time to blog :)

Through this whole experience of recognizing something I'm grateful for everyday, I have learned a very valuable lesson. One that isn't going to end just because I'm done with these gratitude posts... Having an attitude of gratitude allows me to recognize God's hand in everything and also helps me to realize how blessed I truly am! I have been in such a happy mood lately, and I think it's because my focus has been on the GOOD things I have and not on the other daily trials and worries that sometimes becomes my focus.

I think it's a GREAT idea to have a gratitude journal and write down the little things that make you so blessed. That way, when you are going through a rocky patch, you can whip out your gratitude journal and remember those things that truly make you happy in life.

So for my final day, I'm going to list a few things that didn't really make it into my other posts (there are just WAY too many)

• warm blankets, warm socks, and hot chocolate on a cold day
• the sun that rises every day :)
• my college experience (roommates, football games, dances, new friends)
• missionaries! (especially my very own Sister Christensen and soon to be Sister Buma!! AND the missionaries that helped bring the gospel to my parents.)
• my puppies
• opportunities to go camping/hiking in our BEAUTIFUL state
• sunny days
• my cell phone
• my husband's singing voice that makes me MELT
• General Conference
• my ability to cook and bake
• SURPRISES (like Landon's brother Tanner that came from California and surprised us yesterday and my sister Emma that flew in from NYC a few weeks ago to surprise us!)
• my closet full of clothes
• snowy days
• my passion for children and taking care of them (hopefully that will help me when I become a momma)
• good movies
• experiences that have challenged me and taken me WAY out of my comfort zone, because that is when I learned the most
• The power of prayer and personal revelation
• good books
• fluffy clouds! :)
• Landon Dean Richins! I know my first post was about him, but I wanted to include him one more time because he is the thing I am most grateful for, other than the gospel (which, they both go hand in hand). He is literally my SUNSHINE. Even after a year of marriage, my heart still skips a beat when I see him and my whole face lights up! He is my best friend and has taught me so much! He isn't afraid to say exactly how he is feeling, which to me is true honesty. He stands up for what he believes in. He stands up for ME. He believes in me and sometimes makes me do hard things because he knows I CAN. He is SO smart and works so hard for his family. He loves with his WHOLE heart and even though he may not seem like it, he is a SOFTY! He loves kids and wants to be a dad SO much (especially to a little girl! ahhh melt my heart!) He follows his dreams and his passions. He has a strong testimony of the gospel and honors his priesthood. He strives to be better every day and sets goals. He is HILARIOUS and makes me laugh all day everyday. He makes me want to be better. I don't wanna get too mushy on the blog, but I cannot express how grateful I am for this boy! He is my EVERYTHING! I love you sweetheart.

I could go on and on.... but I should save some for my gratitude journal :)

Here's a little Mormon Message based off the talk "Living in Thanksgiving Daily" by Joseph Wirthlin (I would TOTALLY recommend reading it with your family this Thanksgiving, or just watching this short clip!) Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!

Day 23

I know these posts lately have been kind of short lately, but it's just because I'm really busy! But these gratitude posts are mainly for me anyway, so oh well!

Today I am grateful for pictures/videos/blogs/journals. I have the worst memory in the WORLD but it's amazing how looking at a picture will suddenly bring back a flood of detail and memory of that day. I was looking through wedding pictures the other day and it just made me cry. Looking at the pictures just made me feel like I was back to that perfect day. Or reading through journal entries back in fourth grade and feeling like I'm 10 years old again, even though before reading my journal I completely forgot about what happened. I just love all these ways to SAVE my memories, because my brain isn't really good at it :)

I really hope my future kids appreciate all the pictures I take, because I know I would be willing to pay ANYTHING to see pictures of my parents dating, their wedding (I've only seen one picture), or even them as newlyweds. I also would pay millions to see love notes they wrote to each other or pictures of when they first got engaged. These are the things that are PRICELESS, and I really need to be better at recording these memories for myself and my future posterity! :)

Here's a few pictures of some of my most favorite MEMORIES! So glad I got them on camera!

Classic Friday night in high school... just garbage bagging :)

Paint dance at USU

ENGAGED!!!!!!

First date :)

Sky diving in Hawaii

Coming out of the temple as husband and wife :) PAPARAZZI!

Having my dad sing The Beatles at my wedding meant the WORLD to me :)

SO happy :)

getting a little CRAZY on our drive to Cali :)

Midnight Taco Bell runs, of course. Every night.

Being in HSM3 and MEETING ZAC EFRON!!!!!!!

Girls Camp!

Being silly with my big sis and becoming best friends :)

And of course, Choir Tour!

I could've put a million more pictures but you get the point haha. Now, off to bed and then celebrating our ONE YEAR anniversary tomorrow! Goodnight! :)

Day 22

This is going to be short and sweet because I haven't had any time today to blog and it's now time for bed :)

Today I am thankful for the basic necessities in life that I think we all take for granted. I'm grateful for a warm bed. I'm grateful for three meals a day. I'm grateful for clothes, shoes, and socks. I'm grateful for a car and a roof over my head. I'm grateful for electricity.

I really don't think I could've handled being born at any other time than now. I don't know how pioneers traveled thousands of miles on foot in the snow and I freak out having to walk for 5 minutes in the snow! I really take so many of these basic things for granted, but I really am so grateful to have so many things that may seem like "basics" to me, but are luxuries to people in other countries, or even in this country! I'm so blessed.

Day 21

Today I am grateful the gospel in my life. Words cannot express how blessed I feel to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I feel so blessed to have a knowledge of The Plan of Salvation. I know that every day I am preparing to live one day forever with my Heavenly Father and with my family. There is nothing more sacred to me than this knowledge. This gospel provides me with so much peace, joy, hope, and comfort. I can't imagine how dark and dreary and lost I would feel without it. I am grateful for a prophet, to guide and direct this church with revelation directly from God. I am grateful for the temple, so I can be with the ones I love forever. I am grateful for the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon. They are truly the words of God and have offered me with direction, purpose, and light in my life. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of Jesus Christ and of His atonement. I know that He died so that I can live. Not only did he suffer for all of my sins, but he bore EVERY pain, EVERY sickness, EVERY heartache, EVERY sorrow. He did this because He loves me and so He can know how to help me when I have reached my lowest low. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who always listens to and answers my prayers. Who helps me when I feel like I can't go any further. Who provides me with EVERY good thing I have in my life. I am so grateful that no matter how many times I mess up or fall astray, He will always love me. I am so grateful that He provided a way for us to return and repent when we do mess up. I know that Heavenly Father truly loves each of us, as if there were only one of us. Oh how grateful I am for my knowledge and faith in Heavenly Father and this gospel.

Day 20

I am so grateful for the holiday season! Thanksgiving is in less than a week, and then its only a month until Christmas. This is my absolute FAVORITE time of the year and I'm just so excited. The holidays mean:

• Tons of good food/treats
• Spending time with family
• Family coming from out of town (I can't wait to meet my neices Layla and Audrey!!!)
• Feelings of gratitude
• Charity and kindness
• Hot chocolate
• Christmas music/lights/movies
• SNOW! (I only like snow before Christmas...it totally sets the mood!)
• Everyone is so cheery and happy
• Traditions
• Surprises!

I could go ON and ON! But this is definitely the most wonderful time of the year! I'm so grateful for the Holidays!!! :)

My very first Christmas with my Landon :)

Sisters with matching PJs from Santa :)

one of my favorite pictures of little Evie!

My brothers! The crowns on our heads are from our Christmas morning "crackers"

(A British tradition from my parents!)

My cute nieces!

My Marbear

Utah State 2007 "family" Christmas picture. Had to include this classic :)

My Emma

My mom and I doing a Christmas cracker