Thankful

This past Thursday was a special day for my family and (hopefully) everyone else celebrating Thanksgiving. I had a huge feast with my parents and two of my four siblings. The grand dining room table was covered in some of my favorite foods: turkey, rolls with a lot of butter, mashed potatoes, and cooked carrots. It was probably one of the greatest meals in history.

The day before, Dad, my sister Meredith, and I packed up to drive to Salt Lake for the annual dinner my grandmother holds every year for my father's side of the family. There has not been one year where I haven't gone to the dinner. I am always so used to walking into Grandma's mansion and seeing the kids' table in the living room and the adults' table in the dining room. There are name tags set up in front of every platter, each individually written for every person in the family.

The three of us were very excited to once again go to the dinner, for we all were anxious to see our family after a few months, but as we went farther down the highway, we began to go slower and slower until we were driving only 30 miles per hour. The icy roads had slowed everyone down; Dad groaned in frustration. It wasn't until we were two hours into the trip that we realized we wouldn't make it until 8:00. So we pulled into a small town called Wendell, grabbed some lunch, and turned around. Though we were disappointed we wouldn't get to experience the gourmet meal Grandma always prepared, we also knew it wasn't worth it to drive seven hours to Salt Lake and then come back home the next day.

Thanksgiving day was even better now that we were home. This was my first year not being in Utah. We ate a meal that was identical to Grandma's, made by my lovely mother. It was even better since we had Tanner and Mom with us for the special occasion. We ate until we felt sick and had a Scrabble tournament (we are the masters at that game, let me tell you). Then we went to a movie called The Next Three Days. Russell Crowe is the main character, and he plays a father whose wife is accused of murder and is put in prison innocently. He has to risk his whole life to free her from lifelong captivity. It's an intense show; I strongly recommend it.

Now back to the point of the post, shall we?

I have so many things to be thankful for. If I was asked to name everything, it would take days to finish off the list. Literally, I don't think I could be any happier than I am now. To prove it, I'll post some of my gratitude list on here.

I Am Thankful For...

• the Internet
• slippers
• lazy days
• the sun
• Snuggies
• a body built to play basketball
• my chance to come to Earth
• shoes
• my family
• older siblings
• wise parents
• guidance
• jackets
• snow on the ground
• Christmas
• TV
• breaks from school
• teachers
• a personality of my own
• this blog
• capability of choosing right from wrong
• Nike
• my bedroom
• water
• Pepsi
• the challenges in life
• my height
• friends (and lots of them!)
• bikes
• laughter
• little kids
• swings on a playground
• the moon
• Meegan- if you hadn't come to Parker's rescue, he'd be desperate for love by now!
• music
• orthodontists (no matter how much pain they put you through)
• life lessons
• the world
• Cooper
• the mall
• hardwood floors to slide on
• hickey bobbing in the winter
• the church
• an older sister
• three football-playing brothers
• time
• cruise control
• school (no matter how boring it is)
• junk food
• movies
• the night time
• BYU
• loyal neighbors 

I have so much more, but I think I should stop now before I can't stop writing. I just think that I should take more advantage of what I have instead of wasting my time wishing for things other people have. I have so much to live for; why should I use all of my time here fretting about boys and drama and all the other time-wasting things? I ask myself this question all the time, but I don't have an answer for it.

Honestly, I really don't think I ever will have an answer.

♥ Abigail ♥

P.S. My birthday is on Saturday!

P.P.S. Happy late birthday to Parker! 26 years already?!

On Harry Potter

I was lucky enough to witness this movie on Saturday afternoon. My family, deciding that it was time we all see a movie together, was amazed by how much the actors have grown up. Just seven or so years ago the first Harry Potter came out, and they were such young kids around my age. Now, they've all (definitely) gone through their puberty and are looking more like adults. 

Like many, I was disappointed that they put the movie into two parts instead of one. I am too impatient to wait until summer 2011 to find out what happens to Harry once and for all. The end of the first part leaves you wondering what is to occur, and that just made me even angrier. I don't think I can make it six months without drawing conclusions. I am hoping that there is a twist to the end, like, "It looks like Harry is doomed until Voldemort trips over a rock and dies." But that is not possible. Voldemort isn't that clumsy, is he? Besides, that would ruin the whole story.

I think I am in the middle of one of those celebrity crushes again. Daniel Radcliffe has turned out to be a surprisingly attractive hunk, and you can't help but drool over him, even with the glasses he wears in the movie and how he always seems to get dirty right after he showers. Are your feelings the same for me, Mr. Potter? 

I cannot wait for the next episode to come out in summer 2011. Until then...

♥ Abigail ♥

P.S. Happy (almost) Thanksgiving!

P.P.S. My birthday is in less than two weeks! WAHOO!

A Day to Remember: A Tribute

On Tuesday morning all of Eagle Middle School gathered in the main gymnasium with excited chatter. It had been a long morning filled with assignments and learning, and this assembly put all that stress out of our minds. Mrs. Walling's 3rd period class (science) sat in the top row of the purple bleachers. We talked amongst ourselves until Mr. Nelson, our principal, cleared his throat and commenced the program. At that moment everyone settled down.

After Mr. Nelson thanked everyone for coming in his very noticeable lisp of a voice, he let the assembly begin. We recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and then the band played the national anthem. Afterwards two men in those Scottish skirts (kilts, right?) came marching in playing the bagpipes. When they left they got a standing ovation, started by my friend and me. Who doesn't love men in skirts?

The boys' choir and the 7th grade girls choir sang "Grand Old Flag" together. Then the 8th grade girls choir, who took up all the space on the risers, sang a well-known piece, but I do not remember the name. The orchestra then came in and played a song called "Something Hoedown". I have a really bad memory, so I can't recall any of these songs.

Swing Dance, the team I had tried out for but failed miserably, performed as well. They did practically the exact same moves we learned when we were trying out, except better. After yet another standing ovation, Mrs. Spiers, the lady who put the whole program together, let fellow students come to the microphone and recognize a relative serving in the war. That was a quiet time. It wasn't until at least ten seconds after everyone had come up to recognize someone that the first cheer was heard. Again, everyone stood up.

Then came the most important part of the whole event: honoring the veterans who came in from Veteran Homes to be in the program. Mrs. Spiers introduced each and every one of them. There were several men in wheelchairs, others hardly able to move, others with terrible hearing abilities, and some who were all scratched up from their time in the war. Battle wounds, as we call them.

I didn't realize it then, but when I came home from school that day I began thinking about the soldiers. What would it have been like to fight in World War II? I wonder how hard training was for them. If I'd served in the war, would I be dead right now? Then that got me thinking about the people who had died serving our country. It made me feel lucky to be in such a great country. There's no other place I would rather be than the USA.

Thank you, soldiers, for making me realize that there is more to war than guns and blood and goriness. You have really shown me what it is like to sacrifice your life for something you love.

I love the USA.

♥ Abigail ♥

My Little Brother

Meet Cooper.

He's my four-legged buddy who is always there when I come home.

He gives me company when I am alone.

He's very good at making sure he marks his territory when we go on walks.

He never barks.

He loves people (and jumping on them).

He would do anything to get attention.

He's a quick learner; in fact, I taught him "shake" in three tries.

He likes to sleep.

He came from the Humane Society (or as I like to call it, the nasty pound).

He's single, lady pooches. ;)

But most importantly, he's my best friend.

Even though he can't respond, I tell him everything.

He is always there for me when I am in a bad mood.

He'll love me no matter what.

(Oh wow, I'm crying now.)

On Thursday, October 28th, Cooper turned four years old.

In my terms, he's one third done with his life.

Every day he grows older.

Every day I find a loose gray hair hanging around his fur.

Every day he grows a little bigger.

It makes me sad knowing he will live only to a minimum of 12 years old.

I feel bad not giving him all the attention I could.

Instead I stare at this computer screen when I could be throwing the ball with my dog.

My best friend.

The best thing I could ever have in my growing years.

We're going through this life together.

One step at a time.

Through all the tough times, a dog and a girl have each other's backs.

He may only be a dog,

but he has feelings too.

Probably just as many as a human does.

People take dogs for granted.

In my perspective, dogs are anyone's best friend.

They don't care if you're rich or poor...

Dirty or spotless...

Homeless or owner of a mansion...

Ugly or beautiful...

All they care about is that you're there with them.

Which is why I would do anything for my dog.

Even if it meant sacrificing something.

And that's a lot to ask for, considering he's just a dog.

So, happy birthday, my King of All Cutie Pies.

You've got a bright future ahead of you.

♥ Abigail ♥

Life As it Is

Me yesterday (10/19/10)

Me with my frizzy hair today (10/20/10)

October has been filled with lots of excitement and lots of surprises, but since my busy schedule got in the way I was unable to tell of these adventures. Tonight, at 8:44 PM, is my chance. So I'm going to take a deep breath, get my fingers ready for typing, and here I go.

Remember when I told you about Swing Dance? Well, we had the tryouts over a week ago. For a long, putrid week Mrs. Spiers put together a routine, one that we were all required to do. Both my partner, Grant, and I understood it, but we just didn't coordinate well. Our steps were off, one of us would usually mess up on a certain part, and we both had a lot of work to do. We cleaned it up two days before the tryout, practicing constantly, but when Mrs. Spiers asked us to add our own moves, our creativity just didn't come out. We decided to just stick with the same pattern and repeat it over and over, even if by the end of the song we were drenched in sweat. 

It was Wednesday after school, just minutes before the tryouts would begin, that I realized, "What am I doing, trying to ask a 7th grader I barely even talk with to dance with me?" But it was too late now. It was our turn. We walked on stage with three other couples and got in position. My legs were shaking and my teeth were chattering. This was the moment when all the practice was to pay off, but I didn't feel confident up there. Should I have felt that way?

"Rockin' Robin", the song we'd been practicing with for what seemed an everlasting week, blared out of the speakers, full volume. I felt that I had good rhythm, stepping exactly on the right beat. I messed up, however, on an easy move. I could tell the judges were not pleased.

While everyone else out there was doing flips and kicks and twirls and crazy impressive moves, Grant and I just went along, repeating the same choreography that Mrs. Spiers had taught us. I was dripping with sweat, though I tried not to show it. I was relieved when the song ended and the judges had recorded the scores. It was done and over with, and that was all that mattered to me.

The next morning the list of people who had made the cut was hanging out of the front doors leading to the gymnasium. I didn't expect to make it, for I knew I'd done terrible in the tryouts, no matter how many compliments I got from the others. And guess what? My inference was true. I didn't make it. Hurrah. I reported the news to Grant, who didn't seem very disappointed, either. We just went along like it was no big deal. We had been rejected, but that was fine with me. It is how it is.

School lags on, and the lessons get more challenging. There is a test or quiz at least once a week, and the discipline is getting harsher. Tardies are unacceptable with the teachers, being this far into the school year. In fact, the first quarter ends next week. I am both excited and unhappy. I should at least try to enjoy it; I have no choice if I want to skip school or not. Seven and a half more months and we're out for another two months! Can't wait...

Tanner is recovering quickly. Today he even threw the ball thirty yards. There is no pain in his arm, but he can feel the pin that was inserted in his collar bone during the surgery. It must be disturbing to him, but he is used to it. In the next two games he may be playing again!

My beautiful mother's birthday is on Friday. She turns...oh, why does that matter? I can't wait to celebrate the birth of the woman who gave birth to ME. She is the cheese to my macaroni, the Ramen to my Top, the shine to my sun. I love her always and forever.

For Halloween I plan to be a neon freak. I'm going to dress up in all neon and wear lots of glow sticks so that when it gets dark, I'll be very noticeable from far away. Just another example of rocket science from Abby Mangum.

The first Hoop Dreams practice is in the beginning of November. I am so excited, I'm almost losing it.

Life is good...

...but then again, I have a World Civ. quiz tomorrow.

♥  Abigail ♥