the best fall ever...

WOW!!  It is October 1^st and I am so excited.  Fall is upon us and I couldn’t be happier.  Please, do not get me wrong. I absolutely love summer but there is something about hoodies, quilts, hot chocolate, the cool crisp mornings, and definitely cuddling up with a great book that completely warms the heart.  As I have thought a lot about the endorphins that have completely consumed my heart and body, I decided that I wanted to create a list (I am all about list making) to have the most incredible fall ever.  I want to create amazing memories and keep these endorphins alive and growing!!  Aw…let this beautiful season begin…

 

My ultimate guide for the best fall ever...

1.  Make apple cider
2. Visit a corn maze
3. Play backyard football
4. Roast marshmallows
5. Go hiking
6. Read outside
7. Bake Rice Krispies treat
8. Make a “thankful for” list
9. Have a popcorn movie day
10. Go pumpkin picking
11. Eat corn on the cob
12. Try a new pumpkin recipe
13. Make a granola/trail mix
14. DIY a front door wreath
15. Make pumpkin bread
16. Visit a farm
17. Drive through the mountains
18. Go horseback riding
19. Paint or carve pumpkins
20. Create a  Halloween costume
21. Go on a hay ride
22. Create a leaf craft
23. Make caramel apples
24. Have a picnic in the park
25. Rake leaves
26. Make candy apples
27. Learn the history of Thanksgiving
28. Have a fall photo shoot
29. Make a breakfast casserole
30. Update fire alarms
31. Make a scarf
32. Eat candy corn
33. Bake a pie
34. Watch a football game
35. Go on a bike ride
36. Make sugar cookies
37. Visit a corn maze
38. Go through Summer clothes
39. Watch the Sunset
40. Hike the “Y”
41. Make a pumpkin smoothie
42. Have a game night
43. Make a quilt
44. Decorate house for fall
45. Go on a nature hike
46. Do a random act of kindness
47. Burn some candles
48. Make chili
49. Watch a fall movie
50. Watch a sunrise
51. Try a new flavor of hot chocolate
52. Go window shopping
53. Dry apples
54. Make a new Thanksgiving dish
55. Jump in a pile of leaves
56. Make a bouquet out of sunflowers
57. Buy a new notebook
58. Borrow a book from the library
59. Visit a Farmers Market
60. Go on an early morning walk
61. Start Christmas shopping
62. Read a mystery novel
63. Go star gazing
64. Make apple cupcakes
65. Make a pumpkin craft
66. Create a “gratitude” scrapbook page
67. Play in the rain
68. Learn how to make bread
69. Have a pedicure
70. Make homemade ice cream
71. BBQ
72. Watch a sunrise

I am grateful for an email that challenges me to reflect...

Day 26: I am grateful for an email from a sister missionary that gave us the following challenge, "Thanksgiving is coming up and I encourage us all to write down ALL the things we are grateful for. Dedicate a journal entry to it." I accepted that challenge and dedicated a journal entry to it. I have so much to be grateful for in my life. My heart is full!!!! ❤ ‪#‎gratitude2015‬ ‪#‎gratefultobealive‬ ‪#‎agratefulheartisahappyheart‬ ‪#‎siostrakuchar‬ ‪#‎happythankgiving

I love my bff!!

I love my sweet little bff. She brings so much fun and laughter in my life. She is one of the most compassionate 8 year old little girls that I have ever met. She loves and cares for everyone. I ❤ you Brylie!! ‪#‎gratefultobealive‬ ‪#‎lovethisgirl

I am grateful for this friend...

Day 25: I am grateful for this amazing friend. She wakes up EARLY to be my buddy at the gym and accommodates my crazy schedule to do my hair. I love her laughter and her zest for life. She is just amazingly crazy and I adore her. Love you friend. ❤ ‪#‎gratitude2015‬ ‪#‎agratefulheartisahappyheart‬ ‪#‎wokeupbrightandearlytodomyhair‬ ‪#‎workoutbuddy‬ ‪#‎amazingfriend‬ ‪#‎crazycosmetologist

I am grateful for my calling.

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Day 24: I am grateful for my calling I the church. I LOVE my young women. They truly are beautiful daughters of God. Aw... I LOVE all of the young women that have been in my life. They truly are a blessing and fill my heart with so much happiness. They have taught me what is important in life. They have taught me to turn to our Heavenly Father and seek His guidance. I am so grateful for their incredible examples. I AM TRULY BLESSED. ❤ ‪#‎gratitude2015‬ ‪#‎agratefulheartisahappyheart‬ ‪#‎my‬❤isfull ‪#‎myyoungwomenarethebest

I am grateful for Missionary Mondays.

Day 23: I am grateful for Missionary Mondays. ❤ Every Monday, I absolutely love clicking on my inbox and seeing the emails as they populate on my screen. Aw...isn't technology amazing? It is so fun to read emails that are generated in Poland, the Philippines, Korea, Virginia , Arizona, New England and the list goes on and on. These sweet missionaries are sacrificing their time and energy to serve the Lord. I love reading about their adventures and watching their powerful testimonies grow stronger and stronger. I am so proud of each one of them. They truly are a blessing in my life and a wonderful example. ‪#‎gratitude2015‬ ‪#‎agratefulheartisahappyheart‬ ‪#‎missionarymondays

I am grateful for these women...

Day 22: I am grateful for these beautiful ladies that are in my life. I have the privilege of serving with them and learning from them. They are spiritual giants with incredible hearts. They go the extra mile with everything they do and would basically do anything for anyone. Their testimonies are strong and immovable. Aw...their examples of faith, charity and hope are indescribable. I am truly blessed to have them in my life. I absolutely love them. ❤ ‪#‎gratitude2015‬ ‪#‎agratefulheartisahappyheart‬ ‪#‎youngwomenleaders

I am grateful for two amazing guys...

Day 21:  I am grateful for an amazing dad and an incredible brother that are truly talented. My dad cut and my brother & I assembled 24 frames for an upcoming young women activity. I am so grateful for the time and energy that they spent on helping create something special for some young women that I love dearly!!! Aw...I am so grateful them. Thanks Dad and Shad. ❤ ‪#‎gratitude2015‬ ‪#‎agratefulheartisahappyheart‬ ‪#‎family

I am grateful for playlists, earphones and bottled watter.

Day 20: I am grateful for playlists, earphones and bottled water. It is too early to be awake. OK...let's do this!!! ‪#‎morningworkout‬ ‪#‎gratitude2015‬ ‪#‎gratefultobealive‬ ‪#‎agratefulheartisahappyheart‬
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I am grateful for these moments...

Day 19: Do you ever have those moments when a little black rain cloud is hovering overhead making you feel that you should be doing more but by the end of the day, time has ran out and there is still so much to do and you just feel like you have completely failed? I have those moments more than I want to admit.

Tonight, after checking a few things off my "to do" list, I realized that there was so much to do...visit this person, write a note to that person, call this person, drop YW stuff off to this person, finish this project, clean this and that, and list goes on and on and feelings of failure become stronger and stronger...Then, a tender mercy happens. My phone chirps and I look over at it. I read the message that has been sent and tears fill my eyes and my heart. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THESE MOMENTS....these moments where I realize that maybe I am not failing and what I am doing might be enough. I am grateful for these moments where the Spirit touches my heart and I feel peace. I am truly blessed to receive such a beautiful note tonight. Truly blessed. ‪#‎gratitude2015‬ ‪#‎agratefulheartisahappyheart‬ ‪#‎ilovemycalling‬ ‪#‎iamtrulyblessed‬ ‪#‎iamsoproudofkenzie

I am grateful for sleep.

Day 18: I am grateful for sleep. I do not get a lot of it but when I do sleep...I am grateful for it. I have a difficult time turning off my thoughts to fall into a deep sleep. I guess, there are too many file folders that are opened and ready to be explored. ‪#‎gratitude2015‬ ‪#‎agratefulheartisahappyheart‬ ‪#‎sleep

I am grateful for the atonement.

Day 17: I am grateful for a testimony of the Atonement. This past week, I had the opportunity to help my niece write her farewell talk on missionary work and the atonement. It was so much fun to sit with her, share quotes, thoughts, experiences and most of all, my testimony. ❤ ‪#‎gratitude2015‬ ‪#‎agratefulheartisahappyheart‬ ‪#‎missionarywork

Soon to be Sister Gren...

In less than 24 hours, this darling niece of mine will enter the Provo MTC to begin her full-time service as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The people in Ohio are lucky to have her for the next 18 months. Love you Kaylie!!❤ You are going to be an amazing missionary.

I am grateful for my space heater...

Day 16: I am grateful for my space heater that resides under my desk. It's definitely one of those simple pleasures in my life right now. It keeps me from freezing too death. For some reason, I cannot stay warm. Ugh...It seems like I am freezing All of the time. ‪#‎gratitude2015‬ ‪#‎agratefulheartisahappyheart‬ ‪#‎simplepleasures‬ ‪#‎idontlikethecold

I am grateful for the sound of rain.

Day 15: I am grateful for the sound of rain. I have been sitting by my window listening to the pitter patter of raindrops. Aw...I love it! It is so peaceful. ‪#‎gratitude2015‬ ‪#‎agratefulheartisahappyheart‬ ‪#‎iloverain‬ ‪#‎pitterpatter

I am grateful for lightbulbs.

Day 14: I am grateful for lightbulbs.  I am not fond of the dark so when I enter a room, the lights are immediately turned on. If it was economical, I would have every light in my house on ALL of the time. I will admit that I do have a light that stays on all of the time... in my bedroom. One might say it is a night light but to me...it is comfort. So.. yes, I am grateful for lightbulbs.  ‪#‎gratitude2015‬ ‪#‎agratefulheartisahappyheart‬ ‪#‎lightbulbs

happy...

Day 13: I am grateful that I am a happy person (most of the time). Of course, there are times when life brings obstacles, trials and challenges that can bring the little black rain cloud to appear but through those moments, I TRY to find the positive in it and move forward. I know that I am not perfect at it but I am trying! ‪#‎gratitude2015‬ ‪#‎agratefulheartisahappyheart

I am grateful for the change of seasons.

Day 12: I am grateful for the change of seasons. I love when one season ends and another begins. To me, it is refreshing and exciting. It is a way to start all over and begin again. Refreshed and renewed. Ending a chapter in life and starting a new one.

This tree is in my parent's front yard. I have always loved watching it change from season to season. This morning, as I pulled into my parent's driveway, I was mesmerized at the great abundance of leaves falling from it's branches. Fall is ending and winter is beginning. I am so grateful for the changing of seasons. 🌳 ‪#‎gratitude2015‬ ‪#‎changeofseasons‬ ‪#‎agratefulheartisahappyheart

~Michelle

I love making cards!!

I love creating cards especially when I create them with my amazing friends!! ‪#‎ctmh

I am grateful for promptings from the Spirit.

Day 11: I am grateful for promptings from the Spirit. I try my hardest to act on each prompting that I receive. Most of the time these promptings take me out of my comfortable way of life and thinking but with the peacefulness of the Spirit, I am able to be an instrument for our Lord. Last night, in the middle of the night, I received a powerful whisper from the Spirit that woke me up from a deep sleep. I won't go into details but I am VERY grateful for that whisper. My heart is full and I am grateful. Promptings are powerful for our own being but for those that are in need. ‪#‎gratitude2015‬ ‪#‎agratefulheartisahappyheart‬ ‪#‎my‬❤isfull

~Michelle