Thanks For The Memories

Lovelies

Happy late Thanksgiving :)

I have sooo much to be thankful for.

Especially each and every single one of you.

My followers and readers.

You.

I am thankful for you.

You inspire me and this Inspiration Nation is for you.

There aren't words to describe how much room you fill in my heart. 

I think about all of you even if I don't know each of you.

I appreciate your love for me and taking the time to read what I write even if it's insignificant.

Thank you.

I am always always always here for you.

The question on everyone's mind on Thanksgiving is what are you thankful for?

My answer is a question: what aren't I thankful for?

Okay, obviously I'm not grateful, and I dislike, bad things such as war, hate, crime, indifference, pain, intolerance, suffering, etc, but in a way I am thankful for it all.

Everything.

Life.

Love.

The world.

The stars.

The universe.

Most of all our dear Heavenly Father who created it all who gave this to us and our savior Jesus Christ's atonement and example of love for all.

Without dark there would be no light.

Without suffering there would be no compassion.

Without the bad, we wouldn't know or appreciate the good.

Our Savior is the best example of all that I love, the good stuff, and pure selflessness because He is perfect and made it possible in this life for all of our suffering, hardships, sadness, and trials to be overcome. 

He gave his life to save us.

Everything happens for a reason.

All is and will be well.

I know it's cliche and I say it all the time, but it's cliche for a reason and it's true.

Life may seem unfair at times and downright impossible, but it's just an illusion. All the wrongs will be made right in the end.

Our trials help us grow, bring us together, realize we need each other, help us love and appreciate life, everyone, everything.

They make us stronger and turn us into our best selves if we do our parts, stay strong, have faith, patience, help others, and never give up but just keep pushing through with all it takes and holding on.

We will all get our happily ever after and for this I am thankful and grateful for everything... not just today but everyday with all of me.

(I know not everyone has the same religious beliefs as I do. I do not apologize for expressing my views and beliefs on my blog so freely. I speak what I know to be true. I do however respect and appreciate and love all of my readers who feel differently or have different beliefs. I am thankful for the freedom we have to be able to express our views and beliefs and practice them, this is yet another blessing.)

Continuing on...

Family is most important... you can't spell fam(ily) without ily-I Love You. I have the most amazing friends and family that I love with all of my heart and am blessed beyond the slightest comprehension to have in my life. I would give everything and do anything for them.

I love that Thanksgiving brings families and all of us together. 

Thank you lovelies.

What did you do for Thanksgiving?!

I'd love to hear about it :)

Here are some pre-Thanksgiving (Thanksgiving-Eve) pictures Imma share with you!

Me & the lovely Paige. 

Friends help friends bake Thankgiving dinner haha.

Paige & I helped my mom make the most amazing pumpkin pies ever.

Charley and Paige

Betty Crocker/housewife (my amazing mom) baking some of our Thanksgiving dinner.

Of course the boys just watched and goofed off while the girls did all the work... typical haha

My stepbrother Colton, stepdad, and stepbro Tanner.

 Okay I chopped this celery for the stuffing. I know it's random to put a picture of it but there's a story to tell.

So I got a little cocky chopping that and wanted to be all kitchen top chef baker girl and tried to chop it WAY fast like the pros do... yeah I almost cut off my finger haha. Anyways I hate celery. I think it tastes like a Christmas tree... NO I have not ever ate or tasted a Christmas tree, I just think it takes like a Christmas tree smells if that makes any sense whatsoever.

Paige cut the onions and diced them. Poor girl! She was crying so hard because of the onions. Her eyes were red and she was temporarily blinded. What a great friend to help and get battle wounds from making Thanksgiving dinner with me. 

 Aw presh... mom & stepdad

Haha silly me showing off my new outfit (thanks mom!)

Destiny vs Fate (Everything Happens for a Reason)

I've always wondered the difference between fate and destiny...

The dictionary defines them as...

*DESTINY- 1. The inevitable or necessary fate to which a particular person or think is destined.

2. A predetermined course of events considered as something beyond human power or control.

3. The power or agency thought to predetermine events.

Destiny brought them together.

*FATE- 1. a) The supposed force, principle, or power that predetermines events.

b) The inevitable events predestined by this force.

2. A final result or consequence, an outcome.

Fate keeps on happening.

The quotes & opinions of some on destiny/fate

"There's no use to rush fate because the best things in life are worth the wait."

"If you believe in fate, fight for it."

"You can't fight fate."

"When two people are meant to be together, they will be together. It's fate."

"There is fate, but it only takes you so far, because once you're there it's up to you to make it happen."

"I believe that two people are connected at the heart, and it doesn't matter what you do, or who you are or where you live; there are no boundaries or barriers if two people are destined to be together."

"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves."

"Destiny is not something to be desired and not to be avoided: a mystery not contrary to reason, for it implies that the world, and the course of human history, have meaning."

"Destiny is something we've invented because we can't stand the fact that everything that happens is accidental."

"Everything happens for a reason."

"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you can appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."

"Fate leads the willing and drags along the unwilling."

"They were seeking out the treasures of their destiny, without actually wanting to live out their destiny."

"Anything that happens once does not necessarily happen again, everything that happens twice is likely to happen for the third time as well."

"Fate is just a helping hand from God while our destiny lies in us."

"Fate is the changeable future while destiny is the inevitable."

"Being destined is not leaving it all in fate. It's all about how you exert much effort proving that the two of you are really rightfully meant to be together."

"Some people meet the way the sky meets the earth--inevitably, and there is no stopping or holding back their love. It exists in a finished world, beyond the reach of common sense."

The way I see it is destiny is real-er than anything. A force that can cross oceans, fly, time travel, is invisible, has superpowers, bring two people who are meant to be together no matter what. I feel like God made everyone a soul mate who holds the other half of our hearts, and we won't be complete until we are together. I believe destiny and love are interlinked and the most powerful, magical forces we are blessed with.

However, I think once you are brought together, you have to work at it everyday to stay together. Fate can be good or bad, helpful or hurtful. Sometimes it will try to tear you apart as will forces that are less powerful but ever present. The best things in life don't come free. What's worthwhile is never easy but ALWAYS worth it, and if you truly love each other and stay together as one, always putting the other first unconditionally doing what is right and with God's help, you can make it through hell and back. You can be together forever. If you are meant to be, nothing can break or tears you apart unless you let it.

TRUE LOVE LASTS FOR ETERNITY <3