B.D.C.

for months i have been getting phone calls from a special someone (or shall i say someones?) i like to call UBS. yes, that's right. united blood services. about a year ago i had the opportunity to donate blood at the institute building and because of my dear institute teacher who was only alive because of blood transfusions i eagerly volunteered. little did i know that i would have the universal blood type of O negative and come to find that UBS would hunt me down like they were ravenous wild wolves..(so if you need blood--let me know..ha)!

anyways, today i finally volunteered to donate again. i even got a cool shirt. hello Blood Donor Club!! who would have thought they would have blood donor club shirts..let's get real guys..i met some very nice people there who donate regularly and it made me realize that no matter how bad needles freak me out (not to mention they are a billion times thicker than normal needles), i need to do something to give back to the community. to love my neighbor. to serve others. to help save lives.

i was very touched to see so many people in one little room to come and donate anything they could. between those who just donated blood or those who donated platelets/plasma, etc. i was touched. i cannot express how much it meant to me to see those who were donating for the cause of saving lives, especially those who were donating platelets for cancer patients. cancer has always been something that has struck close to home. growing up i had one of the greatest best friends lose his dad from lung cancer only later to lose his mother from the same cancer. my grandpa has been fighting cancer for years and i can't help but get emotional each time i see him try to put on a smile to mask the pain. i feel blessed and loved. i thank Heavenly Father for each day i get to spend with him because i know others have not been as lucky. i KNOW without a doubt that Heavenly Father puts trials in our lives so not only that we can grow from the experiences but that we may also KNOW what we are capable of. He sent us others to be answers to our prayers--our friends, family, and even those we may not know right now help us to survive physically, spiritually, and emotionally. so, for this thanksgiving i will continue to be grateful for those who are willing to donate the little things to others in life because indeed, those are the things that truly matter.