"I Am Loved"

It is a common thing in our family to "regift" free things that we don't really want. For Christmas one year, I opened a beautifully wrapped present that was about the size of a jewelry box and found... a silver dove-shaped paper weight. Yep, a paper weight that my dad got at work. So when I came home from school the other day and saw this heart ornament on my desk, I thought nothing of it. Later on, I asked my mom where this heart ornament came from. I was right, it came in a small package from a jewelry store in promotion of the holiday season sales they are having.

The longer it sat around my room though, the more I have thought about it. As I have, I realized that I really am so blessed! I am not sure why I ended up so lucky, but I am! I have family all around me! I have the best brothers and a happy-go-lucky sister. I have parents that are always there to help! And I have the best extended family ever! Over the past week of holidays, I realized how much I love spending time with family! I also have the greatest friends - ones that are always there when you need them and never there when you don't. ;) Not to mention, I am so privileged to know that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me more than anyone else! And His Son, Jesus Christ understands me perfectly and wants me to be happy! What a great thing to know and understand! I have so many wonderful people in my life, and I couldn't be happier!

So, thanks mom! Thanks for helping me realize how much I am loved! Who would have thought a free "regift" could help me realize so much! :)

Go Suns!!

Being the only person in my family to have never played basketball, I have seen a lot of basketball in my life. Whether it is a professional NBA team or a 4 year-old city league, I have spent many hours watching basketball games. There is just something about a little league basketball game that I love. Comments usually include, "no, the OTHER hoop" or "wait, he is not on your team." They are hilarious to watch!! Then 10 year-old basketball teams look more like soccer. Nobody really can make it, they just run back and forth over and over. Then they hit teens and it gets highly competitive, which gives the game a football feel - who knew tackling was legal! And then there is college which is fast-paced and exciting!

But, the very best basketball watching is with good seats at an NBA game!

I am so lucky to have had the chance to do this! When you watch these guys on TV, you don't really see what the game is all about. When you stand up next to these guys, you find they are HUGE and they are FAST and they are LOUD, and when they are running in your direction, you wonder if you are going to live to see the final score! :) I still can't get over their shoe size - it's unreal! Recently, I was able to go to a pre-season Suns game with a few friends. These are some pictures that my friend McKenzie Mortensen took while we were there!