Filled to overflowing

I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS PICTURE. And the beautiful ladies in it with me. Of course, there are many more individuals in this world I would love to have in a picture with that much happiness, but this is the one I have today, so it's the current favorite. I want to explain why I love these girls so much...don't feel badly if you're not in this picture, though. Trust me - if we're friends, I could write just as much about how much I love you as I have written about these beauties around me. :)

To Sarah, who is this incredible ray of happiness. I don't think anybody else makes me laugh by doing the chicken walk, and her laugh just makes me happy. :) She is kind and beautiful and good, and more than once has left just a little note that helped carry me through. I just love her. She's incredibly talented in more ways than I could hope to list...photography, cooking, best host everrrr, and did I mention the chicken walk yet? Did I? She thinks of others in ways I sometimes don't even consider, and she's always looking out for people. She has a heart of light and goodness, and I love my Sarah. :)

To Alaina who has been the longest-time best friend and...who I never would have made it through adolescence without. ;) I love her with all my heart, and she has been there through some of my life's darkest times. I literally count Alaina as a light in my life. I'm so grateful I got to live with her for that whole year before she met the perfect man for her and became someone's wife. That is one LUCKY man, but he knows it, so I think that's why I think she's one LUCKY woman, too. I love it when people truly find their other half. So even though it has changed somewhat since she became a married woman, I forever count her as a tender mercy of my life. Alaina has the incredible ability to strengthen others. That's not just because she's a personal trainer, folks. She was making me stronger long before that ever came along. :) She's beautiful inside and out, and I have yet to meet someone who matches her incredible ability to carry people through to the beauty of life, if they'll let her. :) I selfishly want to see her ALL THE TIME but try to give her husband time to see his wife. Just let it be known I wish for nothing more than a walk around our hometown neighborhood, past the Phippen's house, and a little side-stop past the high school soccer field. Ah, memory lane. :)

Then there's my Aubs. :) This girl and I have been through thick and thin together. The past three years being her roommate have been fabulous in every way. She is truly a sister to me, and I truly miss her all the time. But seeing her and Jason date for all that time, and finally get married...the story just couldn't have been any better. They are examples to me of the rewards of truly being committed to your love for someone else no matter what life decides to throw your direction. I never have to worry what Aubs will think about any problem, opinion, frustration or question I might be having. I love her for her open heart and her willingness to love and keep going. She has been a serious strength to me. LOVE HER.

Angela, oh Angela. :) I use your full name because I know you love it. :) This girl is HILARIOUS. She is STRONG. She's SO good, and I want more than anything to be friends with her forever and ever because I want to see those little mini-Angela's running around growing up with the coolest best mom ever. Angela stands up like CRAZY for people she loves. There is a serious FIRE inside that girl that I doubt anyone or anything could ever extinguish. We love books and big words and Ryan Reynolds and she could beat me up in two seconds, except I never ever want to fight her because I love her. (And because she'd win. But that's beside the point...)

Kaley will tell you like it IS. She gets straight to the heart of the matter, and doesn't waste any time doing it. She is strong and immovable in all the right ways. I love Kaley because she knows exactly who she is, and she keeps going forward no matter what. She is honest and good and SO beautiful. I have yet to meet her equal, but I'm pretty sure he's something like Captain Moroni. Just throwin' that out there. Inside all that strength, she's a real softy with a heart of pure gold, and I love her for it. :) This girl is rock solid, and I can't say enough good about her.

Aubrey Shuler. Here is the kindest, most giving, most loving person I quite possibly have ever met. She thinks of EVERYONE, and tirelessly so. I think she is a literal embodiment of charity...I have seen her in action, and I have been so blessed as to have experienced her giving heart in my own life. Here is another woman I would definitely term as a tender mercy in my life. From the moment I met her two years ago, I have been struck by her goodness and love for others. She will give and give and give and ask for nothing in return, but in my opinion, deserves the crowning jewel of them all. I am so excited to see the fantastic things ahead for this girl.

People and the gospel are the two greatest blessings of my LIFE. A few days ago, I managed to grab one of those rare moments when you can just...THINK...and reflect on life. You know those moments? Yeah. Those ones. Anyway, in those few precious minutes, I started to stack up all the things I was grateful for...

...and I came to the conclusion that, most of us, most of the time...have NO IDEA how good we have it.

Even when we think we're grateful and happy and just bursting at the seams with joy...we STILL don't get how blessed we are. And then...inevitably, there comes the balance of life when things seem unbearable. But I've come to slowly see that even in those times that seem so dark and heavy...we're somehow still being blessed beyond belief, but we just aren't used to seeing it. But if we could, I think what we saw would blow our minds with blessings. :)

I guess that's my way of saying my life is overflowing with blessings. But it's not just today, and it wasn't just yesterday...it has always been, it is today, and it ALWAYS WILL BE...overflowing with blessings.

I'm so grateful for the people who remind me my glass isn't just half-full. :) I only wish I could make a list without leaving people I love dearly out. Because that little picture and list above is really only scratching the surface... :)