Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Another trailer for the movie being released July 2009.

http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/harrypotterandthehalf-bloodprince/

Gratitude - Day 27

1. I am grateful I had a successful shopping day. I don't really care to go shopping for myself. Unfortunately I have a pair of church shoes that squeak every time I walk (4 years old), a pair of brown shoes that are falling apart (5 years old), and most of my clothes would be tossed if Stacy and Clinton showed up at my house (okay...not really). The point is I needed to go shopping, but I don't like searching for the perfect outfit, I dislike having to wear five or six layers, I refuse to spend full price knowing if I am patient I can get an item on sale, I find it pointless to buy something that is ruined with a camisole underneath, etc., etc., etc. So I was really excited yesterday when I found things I actually liked, that were on sale, and didn't require me to layer for modesty sake. Such a nice feeling!

2. I am grateful for Trader Joe's Candy Cane Joe-Joe's. I indulged myself while living in Phoenix. Last year my aunt brought two boxes from Oregon. Most of the year, I don't miss Trader Joe's, but at Christmas time my heart gives a sigh knowing I'm missing out on one of the good things in life. I bought Oreo's Candy Cane variety, but was sadly disappointed. Next year, I will pre-order my boxes of Joe-Joe's from you who live near Trader's Joe.

3. I am grateful for Google Reader. With so many friends out there with blogs, it is so nice to visit one page that updates all of you for me. Thanks for sharing your blogs with me and thanks to Google Reader for keeping them all organized.

Gratitude - Day 26

1. I am grateful for Thanksgiving. Every year all of my mom's family gathers together, and we spend the day eating, playing games, and enjoying one another's company. A crowd of 30 is average but we usually range around 40-50 people! I love spending time with my aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings.

2. I am grateful for the majesty of the mountains.

3. I am grateful I didn't even think about homework on Thanksgiving.

Gratitude - Day 25

1. I am grateful for home. I love driving onto my parents' street and pulling into the driveway. So many memories flood my mind including playing night games, sleeping in the field, sledding behind 4-wheelers, and being creative with friends. But what I love even more is walking into our home because I always feel at peace. Nothing compares with coming home.

2. I am grateful for my parents' advice. Whenever I was traveling, my dad always would say, "Don't hit any deer. Pull over if you get tired. It's better to arrive late then get in an accident." And so forth. As I was driving home yesterday, I realized I was fighting sleep. I only had 25 minutes left and could have pushed through. But, the memory of my dad's advice hit me. I pulled into a gas station parking lot, slept for 20 minutes, and continued on my way with no harm done.

3. I am grateful for pictures. My parents' home is loaded with family pictures. I love walking around seeing how we have all changed. My parents also proudly display pictures of their grandchildren. Each one of them knows they are important because Grandma and Papa have their pictures and they, the kids, get excited finding where theirs is located. You can tell family is important to my parents just by stepping into the house and looking around.

Gratitude - Day 24

1. I am grateful I enjoy driving. I have been and will be traveling back and forth between home and Salt Lake many times this week. As long as traffic isn't bad, I find driving cathartic. Some of my favorite memories are the road trips I have taken: Vegas with Annette a couple of times - food was the sole purpose for one of those, Arizona with Annette - Fiesta Bowl, driving to Sacramento - blip.blip.blip.blip.blip.etc, and others. Good times!

2. I am grateful that I am still in bed at 9am on a weekday. Don't think I'm too lazy. I woke up at 7:30am. I have just been playing old school Nintendo on my computer, catching up on emails, and not doing homework.

3. I am grateful for lunch plans with friends. With my life being so busy, it is nice to take a break, eat good food, and talk with people I care about. Yesterday, my friend Chloe and I had lunch. She sits behind me in all my classes but we rarely have time to just be us. I have lunch plans with another friend today and am looking forward to more good food and conversation.

Gratitude - Day 23

1. I am grateful for the ability to choose. Agency truly is a gift.

2. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn about other people. I am constantly amazed at how the experiences of others teach me understanding, perspective, and kindness.

3. I am grateful for my family. Anytime someone in the family needs help, everyone rallies to the cause. When my nephew began having grand-maul seizures, the family immediately began a fast for my nephew and his family. When my sister unexpectedly had twins, my siblings immediately began emailing one another discussing ways we could help. They support and strengthen me, and I love them!

NY Times Quote of the Day

"I agree with the residents that they should not be rousted out of bed by a professional gym instructor at 6 in the morning saying, ‘One, two, three, four!’"

Bobby Shriver, a councilman in Santa Monica, Calif., where a scenic median in a wealthy neighborhood is attracting crowds of exercise enthusiasts.

Gratitude - Day 22

1. I am grateful for sleep. The past four days I have averaged 10 hours of sleep a night. I am finally starting to feel better.

2. I am grateful for December birthdays. They make the Christmas season even better.

3. I am grateful I have a two day school week. I need a vacation.

Gratitude - Day 21

1. I am grateful for being forced to slow down.

2. I am grateful for those who help me.

3. I am grateful for blankets. I love wrapping myself in a blanket and putting on a good movie or reading a good book.

Gratitude - Day 20

1. I am grateful for books. Harry Potter transports you into a world where the unexpected is always happening. When I read those books, I become an unnamed character experiencing the same adventures as Ron, Hermione, and Harry. My favorite book is The Blue Castle. Nothing compares to sitting on the porch of Lake Mistawis watching the sunset and being (to use an LM Montgomery phrase) deliciously happy. I love reading! However, some people feel the need to translate books into movies and they fail miserably at the attempt. Some things are better left to my imagination. Movies rarely do any book justice.

2. I am grateful for good movies. Annette and I label movies as DVD worthy, opening night, full price, matinee, dollar, and redbox. Some movies are fantastic on the big screen - Batman Begins, Bourne series, Star Wars, etc. Fun entertainment value. Others are barely worth the dollar theatre. I don't need to mention those because we all have our lists. The best movies though are the ones worth buying. Some of my favorites movies are the action-packed thriller, the Disney cutsie fairytale, and the historical epic. But what really captures my attention are movies that get you to rethink your current perspective. These include A Time to Kill (edited), Dead Poets Society, Glory, The Pianist (edited), and Wall-E. I am grateful for quality movies that don't insult my intelligence.

3. I am grateful for a listening ear when I need to vent, flesh out my thoughts, or just have "big people" time. That last phrase came when I was a first year teacher. After work, I usually went and visited my friends Rob and Bryan. When I came over they would laugh and say, "Thamina, do you need big people time?" I am grateful for all those who take the time to listen to me.

Gratitude - Day 19

After rereading the threads of gratitude, I realized so much of my life is hidden in the things I am grateful for. Sharing the story behind the posts may help those of you find answers in your lives, just as I found mine.

1. I am grateful for faith. My friend Mel has been an example of faith to me. Her life has been completely turned upside down this year and yet she still exercises her faith in the eternal plan of the gospel. In Alma 32, we learn the fundamentals of faith. One line from this chapter reads "faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." My notes in my scriptures read "Learning by faith requires bending of whole soul" and "Faith is the moving cause of all action in each of us." My faith has been tested the past few months and I feel my soul has been bended, twisted, tied, and beaten. It has been hard to move forward feeling so weighed down. But the Lord has sent His angels to me this week. They have buoyed me up, strengthened my resolve, and restored my faith.

2. I am grateful for revelation. One thought that has consumed me is what I want to be when I grow up. To be honest, all my life I have hoped to have a family. That hasn't changed, but the possibility of needing to work, even though I am a wife and mother, is quite real. I came to MBA school with a specific emphasis in mind. Three weeks into the program I felt that direction was not in my best interest. I could complete the work in an HR program but I would not find the fulfillment I was seeking. I have been counseled to gain an education, to study hard, and to seek those things that would be a benefit to my future family. When I switched to marketing, I felt that was the course of action I was to pursue. However, the opposition I have encountered has been fierce. Overwhelming. Paralyzing. Fear of failure has been my biggest foe. Unfortunately, that fear has permeated all aspects of my life. I often feel like a guppy swimming in a lake of piranhas. Intense prayer, pondering, and studying has not manifested any insights until recently. First, I have the skills necessary to succeed as long as I am involving the Lord in my decisions. Second, I love education! Working in a business role in the private school sector excites me. Where is this all going to bring me? Not a clue, but I have faith that the Lord will continue to guide me and reveal to me what he would have me do.

3. I am grateful for eternal perspective. Through tender mercies of the Lord, I was reminded about the real purpose in life. I encountered people who I don't normally see and they felt inspired to share their personal thoughts with me. My questions the past three months are "How can I do this?", "Am I good enough?", "What am I even doing in the MBA program?". What I learned from these individuals is all these things shall give thee experience. My cousin pointed out to me that in MBA school we all sacrifice something: spirituality, social life, physical activity, family, grades, etc. I am performing average in MBA school, which is not what I wanted when I first entered the program. Gratefully my cousin, who knows me well, pointed out that I am sacrificing high grades for something more important: developing personal relationships. In the eternal scheme of life, my grades don't matter. My interactions with people do. So I am embracing this new perspective and leaving my worries in the hands of the Lord. I can do this. I am in the program because there are experiences here that will help me fulfill my eternal role, and I know the Lord will help me every step of the way.

MBA School

Gas Prices

I am interrupting my daily gratitude blog with my excitement over gas prices. I filled my car for $1.81/gallon last night. I haven't done that in years! Made me so happy! Even though that same station dropped $0.02 overnight, it was so nice not to be stressed about filling up my car.

Gratitude - Day 18

1. I am grateful for my MBA family and the support I receive from them as I try to swim the waters of the program. Just when I am about ready to drown, one of them comes along, pulls me up, and begins swimming beside me. Last night one of my MBA family shared 2 Nephi 2:2: he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain. Then he gave this insight, "The lord is waiting and ready to help, but sometimes he gives us challenges for our gain." I love my MBA family.

2. I am grateful for visits from Nettie. We have so much fun together and her timing is perfect!

3. I am grateful for the strength I see in others. My friend Mel is one of my favorite people. She teaches me so much through her example. I have seen her endure many trials and times of adversity. Her sister died tragically in May and now her mom has been diagnosed with cancer. With all that is happening around her, she still finds hope in the gospel. Thank-you for sharing your hope with me. “Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.” (Mosiah 4:9)

Gratitude - Day 17

1. I am grateful for my friend Chloe. Yesterday she told me I was one of her favorite people. That made my day! I needed to hear the positive things she said.

2. I am grateful for those who make me laugh. I took some time out from studying yesterday and enjoyed myself with some MBA friends in the lounge. Laughter makes everything better, even procrastinated homework.

3. I am grateful for the night sky. The stars were amazing last night.

Gratitude - Day 16

1. I am grateful for the Wall Street Journal's daily quotes. Usually these are taken out of context or connect to a random memory of mine which makes them quite humorous. Here is today's quote: "You fill out a job application and you can’t write ‘long-range reconnaissance and sniper skills.’"
Here is the context: Andrew Spurlock, an Army infantryman who was disabled in the Iraq war, on his search for a job that paid better than delivering pizzas.

2. I am grateful when I can escape technology. Yesterday my phone died and my computer was unable to connect to the internet (okay it was actually turned off, but I really was away from an internet connection for a while). Well, I was completely exhausted! So, I crawled into bed knowing I would not be disturbed. When I woke up, my voice mail was full and I had a bunch of emails that were waiting for me. But, for a brief moment, I had escaped the demands of technology.

3. I am grateful for my twin niece and nephew. I had such a fun time juggling the two, bouncing one with my leg while cradling the other. Just when I had one calmed down the other started squawking so I would re-adjust their positions. Very time consuming and emotionally draining, but I had such a good time hanging out with the little ones.

Gratitude - Day 15

1. I am grateful for siblings who give me perspective when I feel out of my element.

2. I am grateful for the opportunity to make new friends and the joy that brings into my life.

3. I am grateful for memorable quotes. One of my favorites right now comes from Randy Pausch: Brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. The brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want something badly enough.

Gratitude - Day 14

1. I am grateful for goodly parents who taught me the ways of righteousness.

2. I am grateful for hard work and the rewards that come.

3. I am grateful for talents and those who are willing to share theirs.

Gratitude - Day 13

1. I am grateful for friends who like to disrupt me during class. Yesterday, my friend started a video chat with me. Both of us were in the middle of class, but the hilarity of the situation made my day better. As for video chat, it already has a warm place in my heart because it connects me to those I don't always get to see personally.

2. I am grateful I can laugh with MBA friends. My 1st year girlfriends and I went out to eat and had a great time laughing about our experiences and failures thus far. Many of us feel inadequate and under qualified to be in the program but the unity created last night will help carry us through together.

3. I am grateful for the ability to "try-again". When my sister Lucille disciplines her son, he goes to time-out until he is ready to try again. Sometimes it takes a while before he calms down enough for that to happen. But then, you hear this innocent voice saying, "Mommy, I try again?" I am grateful that in our relationships with friends and family we don't get just one try. Those that are most important to us, allow us to "try again" knowing we are all constantly learning and growing.

Gratitude - Day 12

1. I am grateful for the temple which brings peace and understanding in an uncertain world.

2. I am grateful for the ability to feel a range of emotions. I have heard people describe their lives as numb. Though I may feel the bitter, I also experience the sweet joy that at times is indescribable.

3. I am grateful for the forgiveness of others.