Countdown of Gratitude Part 3

This is my last post of the countdown but there are still SO MANY things I have not touched on. But here are a few more things I am super grateful for in the last 20 years....

Sister-in-Laws: I loved growing up with my four brothers, but it is definitely nice to have some girls in my life. Both my immediate and extended family is really scarce in the girl department. So I was super happy in the last two years to have two sister-in-laws added to my family! They both bring new and great things to the Skidmore family and it has been so great to get to know them and to actually have sisters!

Jet- She joined our family in November 2008 and I remember hitting it off with her from the very beginning. The first night I met her when she came to meet our family Brad, Jet, and I all stayed up late talking together and I remember thinking that I was so glad to find I was not losing Brad to someone at all, but instead gaining a new sister. I have had the chance to live with Brad and Jet for a month on two separate occasions and I have many good memories of those times. Jet and I can talk for hours about all kinds of things. I still enjoy being able to talk to her on a regular basis while I am in a different state and I miss her, Brad, and Hyrum a lot!



Kristen- She joined our family in August 2009 and I got a second sister! I remember the first time I met Kristen as well when our family came up to Provo to visit and she was very easy to talk to and get to know. And then later in the year when she came down to New Mexico with Greg for my high school graduation and other family events I remember thinking how well she fit in to our family and that no one seemed to be acting any differently with her there. Kristen is a lot of fun with a great sense of humor and is also very kind and good at reaching out to people around her. I really miss having her and Greg here in Provo and getting to visit them whenever I want!

FRIENDS: It has really struck me this summer and school year how many amazing friends I have been blessed with. Friendship is such a beautiful gift that can be found in any circumstances and I have been so blessed to have found friends in so many different contexts and that I have always had people with whom to laugh, swap stories, make memories, and really care about and be cared for. I could say so much about each of them, but for now I will just have to share a piece of it through pictures:

Countdown of Gratitude Part 2

Some more things I am grateful for in the last twenty years of my life...

Happiness- What would life be like without laughter, smiles, and those perfect happy moments? I can't even imagine. I am so grateful for the happiness of those around me, the people and things that make me happy, a heartwarming smile, and laughter... lots and lots of laughter! I have written school papers, church talks, blog posts and more about the value of happiness and the role that it can play in your life and I am sure there will be many more. There is nothing greater in life than happiness and those things that cause it.




-A GOOD CHILDHOOD- Looking back on my years of happiness and innocence growing up and having heard about the experiences of so many others that was not like mine, I have seen how truly blessed I have been. Everything was not perfect of course but I was definitely provided with a safe and loving environment that helped me develop and learn effectively. I was able to begin life's journeys and face new trials without the burdening down of damaging childhood experiences. Most of this is due to my parents and there is a lot I could say just about them, but I wrote about parenting in my blog a couple months ago so for now I will just say that I am extremely grateful for the environment that my parents raised in and for the example and guidance that they have offered me.

~Beauty~
"Some people in this world have stopped looking for beauty, then wonder why their lives are so ugly. Don't be like them. The ability to appreciate beauty is of God. Especially in one another. Look for beauty in everyone you meet and you'll find it. Everyone carries divinity with them. And everyone we meet has something to impart."
-from The Walk by Richard Paul Evans

There has been so much beauty in my life through so many different aspects and I would feel ungrateful not to recognize it. I love the idea that this quote presents because there really is beauty in everything and everyone. There are the miracles of nature all around and the beauty in the smiles and spirits of everyone we encounter. Just a few of the innumerable beautiful things in my life...

Countdown of Gratitude Part 1

I have been thinking a lot lately about how blessed I am and how many things have 'gone right' for me(which is really easy to forget when a couple things go wrong). And with my birthday in less than a week I have been reflecting a lot on the last two decades(yes, I have been alive that long now-crazy!) and the many blessings that have scattered throughout. I have SO MUCH to be grateful for, and so over this week before my birthday I want to give focus to some of the many things that have made my life the great one that it is...

*My Brothers*
Yes I did always long for a sister growing up, but I never would have replaced any of my amazing brothers. I had a lot of fun and good times growing up with them and over the last couple years I have gotten even closer to all of them. As I moved out to college and went through more life experiences I grew in my relationship with my older brothers in many ways. I love each one of them so much and treasure my relationship and interactions with each of them.

-Wes- there is always a guarantee of a good time and lots of laughs with Wes! We really stretched our imagination with the many games we played as a kid. Who else would build huge Lego towns/Hogwarts, play restaurant when we wanted lunch, play with both Barbies and Star Wars action figures, build forts, and be so closely matched to me in Harry Potter Scene-it that a wrestling match was added to the end of intense game? And he can still be counted on for many laughs and competition in ANY sport.




JEFF.... Ever since he got back from his mission over a year ago I have been able to get to know Jeff and grow in our relationship more than ever before. The last two school years we have lived in the same apartment complex and it is awesome to have him so close by. We have a ton of laughs and some heart to hearts too. It is fun to have some of the same friends and be able to do many different things together. We have found that we can be complimentary in several ways... he helps me with homework I don't understand and gives me rides and I help him figure out people and relationships and cook for him. I can and have learned a lot from his example and greatly enjoy all the time we have spent together.



~Greg~ Growing up we were the two black sheep of the family together. We have always had more in common than everyone else in the family. Greg has also had a special talent to make me laugh and I have many memories of laughing at the things he has said. He is definitely one of the funniest people I know. But he is also extremely kind and wise. I enjoy the serious conversations I have had with Greg and he has a lot of wisdom and insight. It was great to have him living so close by when I moved out to college and to get to know him on a new level. I have a lot of friends that are surprised to learn that I talk to my brothers about boys and about personal things because they cannot do the same with their brothers, but Greg is a great example of this. He is always one of the first people I tell about guys or about other important things in my life. I have loved seeing him go through the process of marrying Kristen and starting a life with her. He is great and I am so grateful for all he has done!



BRAD-- Brad is someone that I have always been close to and has always been one of my best friends. I can talk to him for hours about anything and I have especially loved the deep conversations we get in to. I feel like he brings out the best in me and he is always interested in what I have to say. He is unceasingly supportive and always there for me. Whether we were living just a couple minutes from each other or in different states, we have always been able to maintain our close relationship. I saw him through the process of finding someone to marry and I am so happy to see him with the beautiful family he now has.

That's all for tonight... more to come soon!