This was a super fun community festival that happened the week before Thanksgiving. Basically, very talented people decorate beautiful trees and sell them. The profits from the ticket sales, food sales and the trees, go to help people with disabilities. Here are some of my favorite trees:
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A cool ladder/lantern tree. So rustic, so fabulous.
Sorry, my camera decided to have a case of the visual diarrheas that day. This is one of my favorite red and green trees.
Love, love, love this gorgeous tree!!
This garland was so sparkly, wish you could see that!
What is this called? A sprig? Anyway, I love it!
Best tree topper, ever!
This white tree is so pretty!
There is so much going on here that it blows my mind.
I'm crazy about the whole "cranberries in decorations" craze this year. Love this guy!
Heidi and Melissa graciously invited us to come with them!
All four of us.
They had this super cute Santa's workshop display too.
I love all of these trees! So gorgeous!!
These letters are half silver, half sheet music! So creative!!
More of the Santa's desk/workshop display. Those are bags full of letters for him.
The naughty and nice list.
This was so much fun! It was great to see all the talents in our community. Each individual/group who decorated their trees did SUCH a great job! All of the trees were beautiful and amazing. The performing groups that they had were just awesome and it was an all around good time! I'm so glad that Heidi and Melissa invited us to come with them! Hope you all are having a great holiday season so far!
I am SO excited to be doing this in 2014! The opportunity to examine my life and really see the blessings that I have is such a great opportunity. I am hoping to write what I'm thankful for daily in this post and just publish it on Thanksgiving day (just like last year).
1. November 1, 2014
Today, I am thankful for prayer. Our life has been pretty hectic and it seemed like we were barely scraping by. We have been praying constantly for me to be able to find a job. I was able to get two interviews last week!! I know that was truly a blessing from Heavenly Father, and it just makes me realize that He really does listen to our prayers.
2. November 2,2014
As I was listening to testimonies in Sacrament Meeting, it made me realize how thankful I am for the Gospel. It is true no matter where you are. It can be applied to any situation and bring peace. I'm so thankful for my personal testimony and the people who have helped me build and strengthen it.
3. November 3, 2014
Job searching is super hard. (I think this has been mentioned one-two billion times on this blog previously). I hate it. A lot. I especially hate rejection and today I'm thankful for supportive cheerleaders who help me get back up after a crushing defeat. Family, friends, you know who you are. Thank you so much for your help!
4. November 4, 2014
Today, I'm thankful for the right to vote! It is so amazing that we as the people have a say in who leads our government. I was able to exercise my right as an American to elect leaders today and it feels pretty awesome! I am so grateful to live in a free country.
5. November 5, 2014
It's fall (hey, I heard that duh in your mind) and the best thing about fall is pumpkin spice! Today I am so grateful for pumpkin spice. It makes everything better. The combination of spices is just amazing. Love, love, love it!!
6. November 6, 2014
Today, I'm grateful for the knowledge that God is in charge. Sometimes things don't go the way we plan them and that is super hard. (That is such an understatement!) But, I feel comforted in knowing that Heavenly Father has a plan for me and all I have to do is keep the commandments etc. On Sunday, our lesson was about accountability. The teacher read this quote: If I do my duty, according to my understanding of the requirements that the Lord has made of me, then I ought to have a conscience void of offense. I ought to have satisfaction in my soul that I have simply done my duty as I understand it, and I will accept the consequences. With me, it is a matter between me and the Lord; so it is with every one of us.
-Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith, (2013), 286–96
What a freeing thought! All I have to do is what the Lord requires of me! A weight was lifted off my shoulders as I realized this. I am so thankful for that!
7. November 7, 2014
Sometimes you have to see what you're NOT thankful for to realize what you are thankful for. Today I came to the conclusion that although health insurance is constantly a thorn in my side, I'm thankful to live in a country where I can choose my healthcare (sometimes).
8. November 8, 2014
I believe we have successfully established the fact that I'm a cat lady. You guessed it, I'm thankful for my cat today. He has been such a blessing in our lives. He is can be a pain sometimes, but he is also sweet (very rarely).
9. November 9, 2014
Today, I'm thankful for the concept of unconditional love. This is especially present among our family members. No matter what I do, I know that my family will always love me. It is such a reassuring feeling for me. You can't really find that (except maybe with a few special kind friends that you consider family) anywhere else in the world. I am so thankful for that!
10. November 10, 2014
Okay, here comes a little thankful-ception: I'm grateful for this opportunity to examine my blessings and see how many things I've been given. That song really is correct:
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; ev'ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
I have been feeling very stressed and under a lot of pressure lately, but when I sit down to do this post, everything changes. I realize how many things the Lord has given me and my heart grows full. I am so thankful for the opportunity to do this post and read others' posts on assorted social media/blogs.
11. November 11, 2014
Today I am truly thankful for the people who fought for our freedoms. This country would not be what it is without those people's sacrifices. And continuing sacrifices. Thank you.
12. November 12, 2014
Cameron's work has been VERY stressful lately as they are moving into a new building. But, it just made me see how much of a blessing this job has been. It has been a steady source of employment but it has also given Cameron lots of opportunities to grow. They are always encouraging him to improve and stretch his knowledge. We really were guided to that job opportunity by the Spirit. Heavenly Father truly knows what is best for us and will take us to that point if we listen.
13. November 13, 2014 Being far away from your family is hard. REALLY HARD! Naturally, I have realize that absence does make the heart grow fonder. It also makes me realize how much my siblings mean to me. They are the best friends a girl could ask for! They are always so supportive and frankly, hilarious. (BTW: I am very lucky to have a few sweet sisters close, but that will be covered in another post). Jeremy, Miranda, Kitty and Jonathan, I sure do miss you guys! You are the best!!
14. November 14, 2014 So thankful for music today. It makes such a profound difference in the atmosphere of our home. I love the concept of a song being a prayer. I have such a strong testimony of that! There is this one hymn that I sing whenever I feel anxious/nervous. It relieves the stress every single time! It has truly made a difference in my life.
15, November 15, 2014 After being away from parents awhile, it becomes apparent (hehe) that I owe so much to them! If not for their teachings, I would be up the creek. I am so thankful for their patience and unconditional love.
16. November 16, 2014 Today, I'm thankful for my love of reading. It has brought so much joy into my life! I have learned so much from reading books, and I would not have had these experiences without a love of books. If you have any good book recommendations please leave them in the comments!
17. November 17, 2014
This blog has been such a wonderful thing in my life. I just wanted to say thank you to my dedicated readers! You guys are my motivation to write about my life! Thank you so much for your kind comments, they make this whole thing worth it. I am so grateful for you guys!
18. November 18, 2014
Black Friday. These two words can send different members of my family/extended family into very different conversations. Some hate it, others love it. I find myself in the latter category. Beforehand, I love to look at the ads, plan what gifts to get for friends/family and dream about the possibilities! The actual day brings loooooooong waits, excitement, the first non-guilty listening of Christmas music and amazing deals! Now, does that mean other people who would prefer skip Black Friday are bad? No, of course not. People are allowed to have their own opinions! So, what am I grateful for? I am thankful to be part of several families that value each person's opinion instead of instantly putting it down as silly/stupid.
19. November 19, 2014
Ah, crafting. It is either my best friend, or my most evil nemesis. I am so thankful that crafting is something that I'm able to do (even if it's not done very well) because it is so enjoyable for me. My big project is this ornament exchange that I've been working on for the past few months. I have had nothing but trouble with these ornaments I'm trying to make. But, I have learned a TON from the experience as well, so I suppose that's the part to be grateful for.
20. November 20, 2014
As this year draws to a close, it makes me reflect upon my goals that I set last year. One of my goals was to try to write more blog posts, which I successfully did! I am so looking forward to 2015!
21. November 21, 2014
Today, Kitty's adoption into my family is legally complete! She is now officially an Alder! I am so grateful for her and how much she has changed our family. She became part of our family long before the piece of paper was signed though. I can't believe that they started this whole process a year ago!
22. November 22, 2014 This is going to sound really lame, but nonetheless, I am thankful for Pandora! It has introduced me to a whole new range of music and saves me the time of making an awesome playlist. It's always good to try new things, right?
23. November 23, 2014 I am so thankful for the peace that the scriptures bring into my life. Each time I read the Book of Mormon, I am guided to a new meaning/nuance. These new meanings tend to be something that I needed to hear. It is so amazing to me! This book that was written many, many years ago and is still applicable today! And each time you read it, you glean something new. How awesome is that?
24. November 24, 2014 I have been working on this ornament exchange for several months now. It has been a LOT of work, but it helped me to realize a few things about myself. It really made me see how strong of a person I can be. I am so thankful for this experience!
25. November 25, 2014 Our car suddenly started to have some major issues and we had to take it in to the mechanic. I am so grateful for them! They always do such a great job, and they are very trustworthy too. Also, I am thankful for our car! It has been such a reliable and sturdy car for our many travels throughout the land. We are very fortunate that it came our way.
26. November 26, 2014
My Mom is here!!! I am so grateful that she could come and visit! We had so much fun together. It was so amazing to have her here and be able to spend some time with her.
27. November 27, 2014
Wow, I can't believe this is over already! Today, I am thankful for the great food that we partook of at Cameron's parent's home. It was super delicious! It has been such a fun month of realizing how many blessings I have! I am looking forward to Christmas, but I'm also sad to see November go. Thanks so much for reading all the way to the bottom! Hope you have a great week! Love, Courtney
Pottermore is a website where (among other things) J.K. Rowling posts extra stories/information about characters from the Harry Potter series. Here are some of the most interesting things I learned from exploring this site. There is a link in each paragraph that leads to the location of the information by J.K. Rowling. (By the way, most of these links probably won't work unless you have a Pottermore account...sorry.) If you don't like Harry Potter or you haven't read the books/don't want spoilers, please feel free to skip this post!
1. Professor McGonagall was married but her husband died.
2. Gilderoy Lockheart was sorted into Ravenclaw House, but almost went into Slytherin. (!!!!!) The reason that Dumbledor invited him to teach as Hogwarts was so he could be exposed as a fraud.
3. Every day at the Diagon Alley in Universal Orlando Resort there is a performance by Celestina Warbeck. Listen to a recording of that here.
4. Petunia did not allow Lilly to be a bridesmaid at her wedding reception. Also, a hilarious back story of the relationship between Vernon and James.
5. The weird/gross fact that wizards did not use a bathroom/outhouse until after the 18th century. They would just wave their wands to remove the...yeah you get it. She also addresses how the chamber of secrets was still accessible after the plumbing was installed in Hogwarts (Slytherin's direct descendant fixed the entrance).
6. Hogwarts headmasters had to spend quality time with their portraits in order for them to pass their knowledge on to future headmasters. They would update them about their life and teach them nuggets of wisdom. Normal portraits could only carry on conversations and would not know much about the personal life of the subject they were painted from.
7. Albus Dumbledore allowed a pack of wolves that were the offspring of two werewolves live in the Forbidden Forest. (They were conceived under a full moon while the werewolves were in wolf form.) They are exactly like normal wolves, except that they are abnormally smart. (The birth of these type of cubs has only happened twice).
8. Finally, finally, finally the time-turner conundrum is solved! The reason that Harry couldn't just go back in time and fix everything was because time travel can only go back 5 hours in the wizarding world without disastrous consequences.
9. A lot more details about Lupin's life, including why he was attacked by Fenir Greyback. His Patronus is a wolf, which I suppose should have been obvious to me but wasn't. Also, his lycanthropy (werewolfism) was a metaphor for deadly blood-borne conditions such as HIV and AIDS that have a stigma attached.
10. Why Hedwig was able to find Harry no matter where he was. There is a trace on wizard names that allows owls to locate them. If you don't want to receive mail, you have to use a repelling spell.
11. A complete history of all the Ministers of Magic. Also, Kingsley Shacklebolt was the MoM after the Harry Potter books. (That may have been in the books, but I don't remember.)
12. Dolores Umbridge is from the Slytherin House (!!!!!!!!!) This explains so much! She was convicted of imprisonment, torture and death after the books were over. She was based on a teacher that Rowling had in the past. The horrifying quill that she used on Harry was of her own making.
13. Azkaban was still used as a prison but the dementors no longer linger there as guards. Instead, they use Aurors.
It has been a fair amount of time since I read these books, so this may be old news to all of you. If that's the case, I apologize! The Pottermore website is really cool, but kind of time-consuming. Save yourself a lot of time and only bother with the moments that actually have new writing in them! (These sections are marked with a little red quill.)
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