Museums (with food)

There was an exciting event tonight that involved the collaboration of four local history and natural history museums. At each location, people were free to explore and have some food. I was so impressed my the vast collection the campus has and the facilities they store these collections in. The event was very organized and well done. I am grateful for these museums, for the things they display, the things they teach, and for the people who make it all possible. Next to libraries, museums are my favorite places to go to expand my curiosity of and wonder for the worlds God's hands have made.

Soup Mix

I was asked to cook a main dish for a gathering this evening. I am grateful I had a good, quality, chicken wild rice soup mix. I was able to make the soup quickly, and my culinary contribution was completely consumed by the conclusion of the event (Alliteration Alert! I adore alliteration.). I am glad everything worked out so well.

Helping Students Practice English

I am very grateful for the opportunity I have to meet with international students and help them improve their English. I did that for nearly two hours tonight, and I had so much fun! It was a pleasure and a delightful challenge to try to explain meanings of words, as well as differences between two similar words. The conversations I had with the students were very enlightening. I learned so much about my own language and about the experience of learning English from a Korean's point of view. I will probably do that again. I left the classroom feeling a great deal of gratitude for the fascinating complexity of English, and of language in general, as well as this unique experience I had with language acquisition.

A Successful A Cappella Rehearsal

I direct an a cappella group on campus, and we had a wonderful first rehearsal! It wasn't entirely organized at first, but we made great progress in learning the music. Plus, it was a lot of fun for me, and it seemed many other people were enjoying themselves as well. I am grateful for a successful a cappella rehearsal, as well as the awesome people that came for that rehearsal.

Ice Skating

I haven't gone ice skating in years. I knew I would have a hard time with it at first, but by the end of the hour I was skating rather smoothly and confidently. I had so much fun skating with good friends. I am also very grateful for the successful progress I made in my skating abilities.

Hope in Christ

Church services were so wonderful today. I am so glad I attended church today because I received impressions of hope and optimism after a couple of rough days. I appreciated the messages and lessons given, and as I listened and participated in them I felt happier and more hopeful. I felt a greater desire and determination to keep my head up and look around for someone who needs my help. I am grateful for hope centered in Christ. In The Book of Mormon it says, "And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold, I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise" (Moroni 7:41, page 524).

Orange Juice

Simply put, I think orange juice tastes great. Plus, the vitamin C is good for a mild cold.

The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik

I am grateful for a wonderful and beautiful short play called The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer. It is an original story about a man who explores the ocean to look for a way to save humanity from the rising oceans, while he comes to terms with the loss of a loved one. The animation, puppetry, music, and acting were all superb. Above all, the show was poignant and endearing. It was an inspiring show. I am grateful for that particular play, mainly because it was a good, thoughtful, lovely piece of theater.

Family/Apartment Prayer

I believe an important habit of a good, faithful family is regular family prayer. I have been blessed to have parents that encourage that habit. In my current situation, in which I live with roommates in an apartment, I express my gratitude for apartment prayer. It's not as consistent because there is always someone out and about while we have apartment prayer. But, it is a blessing to be able to take a few minutes to pray together with friends and/or family, whatever the situation may be. Individual, sincere prayer brings an individual closer to God. When a family/apartment says a sincere prayer together, they become closer to God and closer to each other.

Microphones

This evening, I had a good time performing my harmonica/beatbox/echo-voice talent as part of a talent competition on campus. I am very grateful for microphones because, under the control of an experienced sound technician, they make you sound so good. The amplification and the way all the levels of the sound works together are, to me, like magic.

Silly Roommates

Today, I am grateful that my roommates make me laugh. They are all good gentlemen who are serious and focused when they need to be. Then when the day is over and we are all relaxing in our apartment, we have good conversations and good laughs. In those moments, I am grateful for their silliness. It's not too much, but enough to make the day more enjoyable.

Lasagna

Like Garfield the cat (from Jim Davis' comic strip), I am grateful for lasagna. Unlike Garfield, I am expressing gratitude on a Monday (I don't hate Mondays like he does). Anyway, I had some delicious lasagna for dinner tonight, and I am grateful for it.

The Articles of Faith

The Articles of Faith were written by Joseph Smith Jr. in 1942 when a journalist asked him to summarize the essential beliefs of "the Mormons", or the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. These thirteen articles are found in the link below:

 https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng

 I am grateful for The Articles of Faith because they provide a convenient and concise description of what I believe. During my two-year missionary service, I was often prepared with little pass-along cards that had these articles on them. I would give one of these cards to someone who wanted to know the basic beliefs I held. In this way, I followed an admonition made by Peter: "Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you"-1 Peter 3:15.

Family History Resources

I am very blessed to have a lot of resources around me by way of pursuing family history research. This is something I've become more interested in during the past year, and that is why I've decided to take a class on family history. This class is helping me to discover more possibilities and resources in regards to this fascinating subject. Moreover, as I learn more about my ancestors from previously-done research and my own findings here and there, my love and appreciation for my ancestors and for my current family grows. I am grateful for the family history resources available to me at school, at church, and at home.

Study Groups

I am grateful to be part of a weekly study group for my French class. It is a blessing to be able to meet with some of my classmates to review the material we learned in class during the week.

Daily Walks to and from Campus

Every school day I walk about a mile from my apartment to campus, then another mile back to my apartment after my classes are over for the day. Sometimes I'm in a hurry. More often than not, I try to relax a little more and enjoy the walk. Some great ideas have come to me during these quiet walks, especially in the evening. I am grateful for my daily walks.

Toothpaste

I am grateful for what toothpaste can do for our teeth. It is amazing what blessings we have because of centuries of medical knowledge and experience.

Opprotunities in the A Cappella Club

Today I am grateful for the opportunity I have to serve as an officer in a fun club. It is very fulfilling to be a part of a successful club activity, like the club auditions we had tonight. It was great to meet people and welcome them. I am glad I am able to serve as an officer for a fun club that is all about great music and a fabulous circle of fellow student-performers/music enthusiasts.

John Williams

Today I am grateful for John Williams, the film composer. The first time I truly felt the desire to write great music was during an orchestra concert that featured the well-known music of John Williams. His music was among the first to inspire me to be a composer. Since then, I have come to admire many other composers, but I will always be grateful for the inspiration and influence John Williams brought to me through his great film music.

Ecclesiastical Leaders

Today I am grateful for the service given by local church leaders. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, they are called bishops. I have been blessed to serve and attend church meetings under the leadership of a number of great bishops over the years, including my current bishop. They certainly have a lot to do for a lot of people, but I know they receive the help and blessing of God as they serve in their calling.

Planners

I am a person who likes to plan and organize my time, so I am very grateful for planners. In a way, a planner is like the Pensieve in the Harry Potter books. The Pensieve is a shallow basin in which people can store memories to look at later. Albus Dumbledore once talked to Harry Potter about the trouble he saves in storing memories there so he won't have to store everything in his head (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Ch. 30.)

In my planner, I record events, notes, to-do items, and goals so they are all in one place for me to review when I want to. An added bonus is that I don't have to keep all that information in my head because it is recorded elsewhere. Journals and diaries are the same way. It's neat how much "magic" we "muggles" unconsciously use.

The Viola

I attended a lovely viola recital tonight, I am grateful for the second-highest of the string instruments: the viola. I really appreciate the rich sound as well as the musical and emotional range of a viola. Along with that, I have good friends who are violists, including my sister. So here's to the viola and the great people who play them. :)

Usage Dictionaries

Since I am taking more editing classes for my minor, I am recognizing the value of usage dictionaries in answering usage questions (for example, should I use "between the trees" or "among the trees"?). I still have much to learn, but it is so helpful to know some of the best, reliable sources I can go to for help in the field of editing.

A Temple Close By

Today I am grateful to currently live within a mile of an LDS temple. For me, the temple is a place that stands apart from the everyday cares and concerns of daily life. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to go to the temple to worship God, and ponder the role He has in my life. I probably won't ever live so close to a temple if and when I leave town after graduation, so I express gratidute for the opportunity I have to attend the temple so often.

Music in the Library

There is a place in the library on campus where classical music is played in the background while people study. I am grateful for that area because I am a person who enjoys some music during study time. I appreciate the fact that this library has an area like that, and I am grateful for it.

Twelve Drummers Druming: Orchestral Percussion Instruments

I have a special appreciation for drums and all kinds of percussion instruments, but most of all I love the sound of orchestral percussion. Those kettle drums, the bass drum, the cymbals, the marimbas, the chimes, and the vast assortment of instruments you can find in an orchestra concert that get banged on. I really like the occasional flair they provide, and the wonderful effects they can have if employed well by a good composer.

Eleven Pipers Piping: Bagpipes

I don't think there is anything quite like the sound of bagpipes playing in a wide open space. I've been fortunate to travel to Scotland once, where I heard some good Scottish bagpipes. I've also encountered a few bagpipers here in America. Every time I hear bagpipes, it brightens my day. There is something joyful and proud in that sound.

Ten Lords A-Leaping: Enthusiasm

I am grateful for positive enthusiasm. When someone is excited and enthusiastic about a certain cause, goal, or task, and puts good energy and vigor toward it, that is a blessing.

Nine Ladies Dancing: Social Dance

I am grateful for many kinds of dance, but today I'm thinking of the kind of dance that includes waltz, foxtrot, cha-cha, and swing. For me, dancing is a great way to meet people and to literally "step" out of my comfort zone. I especially love how the music and the dance together move me and inspire me. I've taken a few classes on social dance, and I've had embarrassing experiences and uplifting experiences with it. I am grateful for social dance.

Eight Maids A-Milking: Milk

The main reason I am grateful for milk is the way it works with cereal. I usually have cereal and milk for breakfast. I am also grateful for milk because, like eggs, it is so versatile. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, milk is used in so many ways.

Seven Swans A-Swimming: Lakes

Minnesota is riddled with lakes all over the place. There are surprisingly many things you can do with a lake. So many, in fact, that people have lake cabins for weekends. Like many other people from Minnesota, I have a few memories of boating, swimming, and generally hanging out on a calm lake beach. I am grateful for lakes.