101 Small and Simple Things: An Introduction

I know this quote has absolutely nothing to do with my post, but I like it and think it's awesome and think that you should think so too. 

My favorite scripture of late has been Alma 37:6-7, "By small and simple things, great things come to pass..." I have come to love this scripture because, over the past year, I have learned that it is through recognizing the small and simple things that we find happiness. Each small and simple good thing is a manifestation of God's love for us. It truly is how He does the majority of His work.

We are happy when we recognize the small and simple things because they help us realize that God is invested in us to the extent that He even takes the time to care to the seemingly insignificant details in our lives. He wants us to know that He loves us, and so He shows us in millions of tiny ways. We just have to open our eyes to see them.

I've decided that I want to keep track of these small and simple things on my blog. 101 of them, to be exact.

Why 101? Because that's how many dalmatians there were and because everyone always picks 101 and I felt like giving into social pressure at the time I wrote this post. Don't judge me.

Do I have a date that I'm planning on having all these 101 posts done by? Nope. To be honest, I'll be surprised if I make it up to 25. I'm horrible at keeping journal-writing oriented goals.

Do I write these things on my blog because I think I'm awesome and that everyone should be like me? While I am pretty awesome, I don't really think everyone should be like me. You are ten billion times more awesome as yourself than as me, so please be yourself.

Then why do I write things on my blog? Because typing things is faster than handwriting them and because the egoist in me does hope a little bit that just maybe something I say can help someone else be happy or thankful for the small and simple things in their life. There. I admitted it.

So really, I don't even care if you read what I write? Pretty much. Most the time, more than anything, it's a way for me to dump all my emotional build-up out into the online vortex of anything and everything worth and not worth reading.

And what do I think about the fact that you've taken the time to read all the way down to the bottom of this post? First, I must say that you must be really bored. Please, get away from the computer, and go and do something fun. It's a three day weekend, for heavens sake. I'm sure there's someone doing something somewhere that you could go and join. Do. It. Second, you must be a pretty awesome friend. No one else would read to the bottom of this post. Thank you.

That's pretty much it in a not so very small nutshell. More to come later (hopefully maybe?)

Over and out.

Letters

Dear Kristin, You are one of the reasons why I know that Heavenly Father is looking out for me. Thank you for looking out for me and for always being willing to talk and for getting it all and for laughing with me about the drudgery and drama of life and for everything else. You are such an amazing person and an irreplaceable friend. Thank you.

Letters

Dear Rachel, Thank you so much for running and talking with me last night. I'm so glad we're best friends for life. You're definitely a keeper.

Dear Christopher, You never cease to entertain our apartment. Thanks for the laughs.

Dear Audrey, I'm so happy that you get to stay in our apartment for reals! Now we can continue having conversations about things that make life awkward and family and school and work and life. Awesome.

Dear Amelia and Spencer, You guys are pretty much awesome. I like it when you hang around our apartment and have fun with us!

Dear Brad, Thanks for talking to me the other day about covenants and for going running with me this morning and for making me laugh so hard while we ran. You are such a funny guy, but an even better friend. Keep being awesome.

Dear Emily, It's official. I like living with you. Let's keep doing this, okay? Sweet!

Dear Sean and Alex, It was so fun to see you both yesterday to go and eat yummy Zuppas and to talk about life. Alex--I'm excited to have fun with you this semester. Sean--you are going to be a super awesome/amazing missionary. Thank you for being an amazing example of an amazingly faithful man. I want to marry someone as good and kind as you some day. Yea for awesome families!

Dear Any, You have no idea how happy I was when I found out that we're going to be in the same World Religions class. I have been so worried about that class, but now I'm excited! I hope you can put up with my craziness. I'll try to be mild. At least you're friends with the Pisters. That means you should already be used to crazy. That makes me feel better.

Dear Brady, I'm already missing you. I have an awesome idea. What if you just get a tent and live out in the north court? I'll even let you use my kitchen every once and a while. That way, you can still stay here and play with us all the time. I really like this idea. You in?

Dear Hannah, I loved, loved, loved going to get milkshakes and talking with you last night. You are so cool! I'm sad that you're not living in the apartment complex anymore, but I'm glad that your new place is so nice. I love you!

Dear Mom and Dad and Jessica and Abby and Kate, Thank you for always being willing to sit and talk to me on the phone. Talking to you guys on the phone is the best. We should do it more often.

Dear Kristin, The past several days you have heard me rattle off about my life and not complained about it at all. Thanks for being such an amazing coworker.

Dear School, I can't believe you start next week. Help?

Dear Heavenly Father, Thanks for loving me so, so much. I love you too.

Thoughtlits

Today I am determined to be an agent. Today I am determined to be proactive. Today I am determined to become a better person. Today I am determined to be decisive. Today I am determined to help and love and serve. Today I am determined to do good. Today I am determined to be active. Today I am determined to go to bed a better person than I was when I woke up. Today I am determined to work hard and play hard. Today I am determined to be awake. Today I am determined to uplift others. Today I am determined to use my life for good. Today is a good day. Here. I. Come.

Letters

Sitting at the top!

Dear Emily, Hiking the Y with you yesterday afternoon was the best. Thanks for being patient with me when I stopped a kagillion times to fix my shoes or take a breather. I promise I'm not usually that slow moving up the mountain. This morning I even ran up part of it without stopping. Yesterday I was just tired, or at least, that's my excuse. Either way, spending that time with you was so much fun. I love how I can be my complete, normal self when I'm around you. Let's hang out again sometime soon.

Dear Jim, You were such a kind, nice man. Emily and I didn't even know you, yet when we ran into you at the bottom of the mountain you stood and talked to us for at least 15 minutes, talking about wrestling and trucking and Utah and your kids. Best wishes to you, Sir!

Dear UVU Wrestling Team, Hiking past you while we were going down the Y and you were running up it was...kinda' interesting. Next time, would you consider wearing something along with you tiny spandex shorts? Awesome.

SOme of the old FHE family at Josh's BBQ. Good times, good times.

Dear Josh Duncan, Thank you so much for inviting us to your going-away BBQ on Thursday night. It's the first time I've been to Rock Canyon Park, even though I've run past it a million times. The food was good, rolling down the hill was fun, but seeing you one last time before you leave for grad school was the best of it all. Thank you for being the best adopted FHE brother in the world!

This is what Costco's frozen yogurt will do to you. Maybe we should be more careful next time we order  from their food court.

Dear Rachel Munyan, Going to Costco to get huge cups of frozen yogurt and then going to Rock Canyon Park to eat it and talk and have fun was a blast. Emily and I both love you (and that was the first time Emily's ever even met you!) I hope you have the best time ever with your sister today, and that you and I get to go have fun again sometime soon. I really like you.

Dear Audrey Pister, I really, really, really like talking and cooking and watching movies and laughing and being with you. You are pretty much awesome. Even if things don't work out and you're not our roommate in the fall, I hope you will drop by to say hi often. We all think you are really cool.

Dear Graduations, I don't know if I'm going to enjoy my own graduation very much after having to help put on so many others for work. Oh well?

Dear Alma, The words of counsel that you gave your sons in Alma 36-42 are some of my favorite in the whole Book of Mormon. Thank you.

Dear Sarah Porter, Thanks for talking the other night. It's good to have you back home for a bit.

Dear Stephen, I'm so excited for you to be here at CP next week. It's going to be so much fun!

Letters

This man is the awesomest Dad I have ever had. He is my superhero, and I love him!

Dear Dad and Mom, You take time to come all the way down here to drop Emily off for school and then you treat me by buying me all this super awesome stuff that I've been dying to buy for my apartment for such a very long time and then you go and take us out for yummy treats multiple times and on top of that all you guys are just two of the most awesome people I know in the world. Conclusion: I love you two so stinkin' much! Thanks for being the best parent Heavenly Father could have ever given me.

Dear Lydia, I'm so happy that you could come down with my parents and Emily to spend the weekend with us so that you could check-out BYU. First off, let me say that I'm super impressed that you made it to the age of 17 without having ever set foot into Utah. Sorry we helped you break your record. Secondly, I apologize that we're so boring. Hopefully, you had SOME fun. Thirdly, let me just say that you are really, really awesome. Last night before bed you spent a significant time reading your scriptures and praying and writing in your journal. You are an amazing example of a righteous women who knows that she's a daughter of God. Thank you for being who you are. Keep it up.

Don't you wish you were there too?!

Yes--it's GONE! His hair is GONE!!!

Markie and I! This amazing girl drew awesome pictures while we were at the concert. She is such an amazing artist, and an even more amazing friend!

Heather, Kim, and I at the concert! These two girls are AWE. SOME.

Dear Rooftop Concert Friends, Thanks for sharing blankets and otter pops and for playing games and talking. It was fun.

Dear Jeremy, I'm so glad that you walked home with Emily, Lydia, and I after the rooftop concert. Even though you shaved your head bald, I still really enjoyed having the time to talk with you. I miss you. Lots. Thanks for being an amazing friend and example. You really are one of the brothers I never had. Thanks for filling that hole.

Dear Riley, Thanks for talking on Saturday night. It's so good to know that there are people who love and support me and are willing to listen to me ramble on about my life for an hour and still stay interested and offer words of advice. You are a very good man, and I'm glad to have you in my life. Let's stay friends, okay?

The ward at break the fast!

Dear Ward Activities Committee, You guys are so super awesome for putting together everything for today's break the fast. The food was amazing, but you guys are amazinger. Thanks for dedicating so much time and effort towards your calling. Keep being amazinger.

I can't wait to get to know these two amazing people more!

Dear Bro. and Sis. Anderson, We are so happy and excited and glad to have you be a part of our ward as Bro. Anderson serves as the second counselor in the bishopric. You two are so sweet and I already love both of you!

Dear Bishop, I cannot tell you how much I love, respect, appreciate, and look up to you. Thank you for all you do to serve the members of our ward. I'm so glad that I know you. You make me smile.

Dear Relief Society Sisters, Having the opportunity to serve you is one of the best blessings in my life. I'm humbled beyond description because of the opportunity I have to work with such amazing, spiritual, wise, strong, awesome women. You all inspire me with your testimonies and examples. I love you girls.

Dear Women Who Have Gone Before, Thank you for your faith and strength and testimonies and sacrifices. I aspire to be as great as all of you one day. I'm so blessed and grateful to be a part of the heritage you have left behind for us. I will not let you down.

Dear Emily, I am the luckiest sister in the world to get to live with you for this next year while we're at college. I love how normal and right it feels to have you here with me. You are one of the most amazing people I know. Keep being the amazing, righteous, beautiful, strong, smart, loving, kind daughter of God that you are, and I will try my best to keep away the boys!

Dear Heavenly Father, You know it all already, but thank you.