Thanks for apps.

I’m thankful for my phone for a million reasons, not the least of which are the little surprises I find on my camera roll.

Constant availability of email and social media is a double-edged sword, of course, since, although I can be super-productive by using these tools, I also have a hard time staying in the moment.

Speaking of productivity: the calendar I share with Matt, my lists in Evernote, the Google Drive files I share with friends and peers for various volunteer things, the multiple alarms I use in the Clock app to help me remember to do things like give Theo his meds and make the kids take out the trash: all lifesavers.

Using iMessage and FaceTime with my family, Marco Polo with my friends, WhatsApp with my international peeps: all amazing.

iMovie, Splice, 1SecondEveryDay, YouDoodle and Chatbooks are fun and speak to my love of documenting.

LDS Tools helps me with Primary. LDS Library lets me listen to the scriptures, which is my favorite way to “read” them.

Goodreads, Libby, Kindle, and Find it VA (my public library catalog app) keep me reading and sharing books.

The Podcast app and Spotify keep me entertained on long car rides.

Clue tells me when I can blame my mood on PMS.

Amazon, Zappos, and eBay are good at taking my money.

YNAB is my favorite way to keep track of the money we’re earning and spending, although Mint and my bank and credit card apps help too.

I pay bills, order pizza, park my car, book vacations, all through these little apps that know way too much about me, but that’s the price I’ve paid to make my life so convenient. Despite whatever dystopian future might await, with all our data out there jumping from server to server, I’m thankful for it all. (For now, anyway...)