1) It was a beautiful warm and sunny day today which meant that I could wear one of my skirts today to Devotional without freezing to death! :)

2) I did not completely bomb my science test that I was pretty sure I was going to fail after I was 5 minutes into taking it. Instead I got a 76% which is not great (it being by far the lowest test score I have gotten this semester) but it is most definitely not failing!

3) I was able to lay down and read a good book today, something I enjoy immensely

4) I got to work on my second coming power point today ( I finally had sometime) and it is coming along beautifully. I can't wait until it is complete enough to show to my religion professor. For those of you who are unaware, my religion prof. Bro. Allison puts together amazing powerpoints that have hundreds of hours of research put into them but under the advice of Elder Bednar when he taught with him, he will only give them to students if the students first collect their own research and quotes on the topic. Since I think that is a marvelous idea anyway I am happy to do this....I just have to find the time! :)

5) My science teacher did not care that I was running a minute or two late when I arrived at class today! :) Lucky for me!

First Five

1) An assignment that I was stressed over because I didn't have time to complete it to the best of my abilities got cancelled.

2) I was reminded about the 5 page paper two weeks before it is due rather than 2 days

3) I was able to receive lots of input from my teacher about my design process in class today

4) I had a nice long chat with Annie and Mom today and got promised that I would receive pictures of Annie's huge art project. Super excited! I can't wait to see them! Way to go Annie!

5) I was able to complete my religion homework before the deadline, without having to lose any sleep and the talk my teacher, Bro. Allison, had us read was absolutely beautiful. It was called The Healing Power of Forgiveness by James E. Faust and I recommend you all read it

All good things

We talked today in Math class about statistics. My teacher, Bro. Saunders, mentioned an experiment that greatly intrigued me. He told us about an experiment where there were three groups. Group1 was told to write 5 things that happened that day every night. These things could be good or bad. Group 2 was told to write 5 good things that happened that day to them every night. Group 3 was told to write 5 bad things that happened to them every night. All three groups were also told to record their happiness level on a scale of 1-10. Group 1 always stayed around the same happiness level. Group 3 got lower and lower in their levels while Group 2's levels climbed. What we focus on has a great affect on our daily lives. I am going to make it a goal to write 5 good things that have happened that day every night and I invite you to join me. I would love to hear about your experience. Love T-Ray

Lord's tender Mercies

I am in awe of how many tender mercies the Lord showers me with when I bother to stop and pay attention! I have made it a goal to notice them these last few weeks and have been overwhelmed with gratitude for all the Lord is doing for me. Last week He even blessed me with a whole chocolate cake out of no where! I was at the Library to do a group homework assignment when I noticed two people holding a cake debating wether to throw it away or not. The girl who had made it didn't want it. I jumped at this. "Don't throw it away! If you really don't want it I am more than willing to take it off your hands." I thought I was saying this somewhat jokingly but before I knew it I had a giant chocolate cake! I am so blessed! Today I am feeling particularly blessed by friends. One friend gave me a ride to the grocery store. Something that I rather desperately needed...I was down to potatoes...with no butter or milk...just potatoes. Another friend noticed me leaving for a class meeting in the wind and rain and offered me a ride! I was particularly grateful for this because not only was it cold and wet outside but I was running late! I love how the Lord watches over me and blesses me in all aspects of my life. Tonight he gave me the opportunity to serve others. I was looking at the paintings in the BYUI Center when a guy walked up and asked if I was there to clean. I answered somewhat confused that no I was not. He asked if I wanted to clean. I think I might have given him a look that questioned his sanity but only asked if they needed me to clean. He answered in the affirmative and gave me directions on who to talk to to sign up but added that I didn't have to if I didn't want to. So....I went and found the person and signed up to clean. I actually had a lot of fun and was blessed even more by cookies and punch served afterwards. I never look free food in the mouth! :)

Yellow Death

So I was babysitting for the Neil's the other day and was in charge of making the dinner. What was for dinner? Why Macaroni and Cheese of course. So the kids are all served and happily sitting down with their dinners when Nathan looks over and sees that I don't have any. "Aren't you going to have some?" he asks. And what do I respond without thinking. "oh no, I don't eat yellow death." I say. His eyes get big and he asks "why do you call it yellow death?" Oh crap. Did I say that. umm. "Because my family calls it that." There avoided the problem right? WRONG! "why do they call it that?" he asks. "Umm well, because its not very healthy." I explain. His eyes get bigger as he looks at the macaroni and then at me "It's not?" he asks in a shocked voice. "ummm.....no not really" I answer, I mean I can't lie to the boy right? "Why not?" comes the next question. "Umm. well because its bad for your cholestrol and it clogs your arteries and stuff like that" Right just use big words and the problem will go away. "oh" he says. There is a pause for a little while and then..."I don't think I want this any more" he says pushing the Macaroni away his face worried. Shoot. "Oh no. Nate it's okay. You are young and healthy. It's not that bad for you!" I say. He looks at me then at teh Macaroni. "OK" he says slowly. Luckly that was the end of it. They all ended up eating their macaroni. I just hope that the next time Sister Neil pulls out the Macaroni she doesn't get drowned in cries of "Not 'yellow death!'"

Can I take your order?

So the other day on the way to Family Home Evening with the YSA Kristi and I decided to stop by Mcdonalds because we hadn't had dinner yet. So we pull into the drive through and the guy tells us he can take our order whenever we are ready. Due to the delimea of trying to find anything on the menu that has even that slightest chance of not giving us a heartattack(good luck by the way not possible) we tell him it is going to be a minute. We then of course take a few minutes to decide what to order. When we are finally ready I turn to the speaker...okay we're ready...no answer...umm, hello?...no answer...slightly louder, hello?....no answer...finally both Kristi and I shout HELLO? This is what we then here in reply SHUTUP I can hear you! I told you to just order when you were ready!...umm what? Kristi and I turn to each other with incredulus looks, then I decide to explain our need to shout (huge mistake).. "okay well we said hello two or three times before and you didn't answer so we shouted." "I TOLD you to just order when you were ready!" AT this point I am very incredulus and ready to go at it with this guy but Kristi pipes up from the back "Traci just don't I am hungry and I want my food" I turn to the speaker the guy is still trying to argue with me and tell me that I should have just ordered "ok, you know what whatever heres our order...so I gave him me order and moved onto the window. Mean while Kristi and I need to confirm that this really just happened. Kristi: did he just tell you to shutup Traci: umm. yeah I think he did. He opens the window glaring at me jerks the card from me and then gives it back never removing his glare from me. We drive to the next window and at this point really can't resist just laughing our heads off. I mean really what ever happened to customer service or the customer is always right. Needless to say we checked our food really good for anything unwanted.

Struggle

Encircled about by unyielding arms
bound in a cold and iron grasp
abandon hope, its death has come
giving myself over to darkness and despair

Then penetrating the dim bleak depths
and loosening sins strangling hold
His love finds me and wraps me in light
Hope everlasting now shines from within