Ode to Warmth

Most of my childhood I spent as a frozen popsicle. I was never warm enough. I slept in the coldest room in the house and just getting out of the bed in the morning was a real trial. I'd have to run into the bathroom when I heard the heater kick on and sit on top of the heater until I got warm enough to change into my clothes. I remember the joy of my first electric blanket, my first space heater, and the fireplace that came with the family room we built on when I was 10 years old. To this day, I still love that fireplace and sitting near it when it's roaring with life is one of my favorite things to do.

Every time I take a hot bath (daily), I always wind up supremely grateful for that simple gift. I turn on the tap, and magically warm water fills my tub. It is my one time of day when I can be completely enveloped in warmth and I yearn for it like some people crave food or drugs. As a matter of fact, the cold winter months in Utah are so hard on me, I do the following to keep warm:

Regular Tanning... RUVA beds are the best because I can sit in them the longest without getting scorched and at the end of my session, I'm completely toasty and warm.
Long Drives... with the heater on full blast. No one can stand the temperatures of my car when I get in one of these must be warm moods so I must be alone.
Hot Baths... the staple of any cold person's diet. And yes, my baths are steaming hot.
Electric Blankets... a heavenly gift. My sister suggested the other day that I get a warmer that sports as a mattress pad. I quickly shot it down expressing my need to be completely enveloped in heat. Warming my backside is not enough. Hmm... maybe I should get a mattress pad... then I can warm my backside and use the electric blanket to warm the rest of me.
Space Heaters... how I love them. The one in my bedroom is on whenever I'm spending long hours at the computer or getting ready to go to bed. If I get into bed even slightly cold, I end up freezing to death most of the night.

Thanksgiving

I'm posting this a day early. I still don't have a digital camera (look for me to get one around Christmas time) and then I'll be a real blogger.

Because this is a time for gratitude, I guess it's only natural that I'm feeling grateful for the gifts in my life. This year, I've been able to purchase a great condo that I love to decorate. I've also been blessed with the ability to go to school and get an education. I'm currently pursuing a masters in Instructional Technology and although its the hardest thing I've ever done, I genuinely love the things I'm learning and can't wait to start applying my skills in the real world. I'm grateful for my job as a job coach trainer that I can honestly say I love and that there are never enough hours in the day to do the job justice.

But most importantly, at this time of year, I'm grateful for my family. Having gone through a period in my life when I didn't want to be around them and didn't appreciate them for who they were, what a blessing it is that my Heavenly Father helped me to see and appreciate them. I prefer spending time with my family over any other activity. I was blessed to live with Amber, Kamal, & Krish for one year before buying my condo, and it was great for me to witness the family unit in action 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are a tremendous example to me of service, sacrifice, and family unity. I love rejoicing in our triumps and sorrowing in our tragedies. I get to spend the day with all of them tomorrow and I can't wait!