An Attitude of Gratitude

So many thoughts today.
Most of them are spiritual and I was going to apologize
for such a spiritual post, but I shouldn't have to.
It is who I am...
and I am grateful.

Grateful for life.
This life is so precious. The time we have here is short and much shorter for some than others. A dear friend's husband passed away Saturday morning just before he was to baptize his little girl. They had finalized the adoption of their 3 girls just on Thursday. I am still in shock and can only imagine what she and her family are going through. But the gospel can bring much peace, comfort and love in such a trying time. I know, as well as they do, that they will see their beloved father and husband again one day.
Life is just so, so precious.

Grateful for faith.
Mine has been tried greatly this weekend. And I am so grateful. I have prayed, fasted, attended the temple, and prayed some more. I am totally relying on the Lord and the answers he has provided me. I'm still a little nervous about the decision but I know that whatever happens will be right. I am happy that I recognized the Lord speaking to me and I am acting on that.
Faith Not Fear...

Grateful for the temple.
Fez and I had a wonderful time at the temple Saturday night. It was perfect. It always is. I wish I could spend every day there. It was also the first time I didn't make any mistakes :) I love the closeness I feel from the Savior and our Heavenly Father as well as the love for all those around me. It is just so pure.

Grateful for my talents.
Dancing comes first to my mind and that makes me happy. I love performing and pushing my abilities. It can be such a great release. Therapeutic at times. I have had numerous experiences and opportunities because of dance and I can only call me blessed. I am who I am today because of that talent and those that have been in my life because of it.
I know I have other talents that are not as apparent. I love discovering them and hope that I am doing what is necessary to develop and strengthen them.

Grateful for Fez.
He is my support and strength. I love that we share the same faith and constantly look for ways to deepen our knowledge and strengthen our foundation. We have much to learn from each other still but he is always willing and trusting. He has stuck by me and been a support through the past month especially as we have faced trials, mostly financial (stupid economy...). I love him dearly and can't imagine my life without him in it.

Photo on my Mind

This past weekend we went to Las Vegas with my family (more on that later). On Saturday Fez and I took a drive to Hoover Dam to see the bridge.
(WOW. It's huge. And scary. I might have to
close my eyes the first five times I go across it.)
While there Fez asked me where the "jumping picture" was taken at. I had completely forgotten about "the jumping picture" until he said that.

Let me explain...
In 2008 I had the wonderful opportunity to be a Building Counselor for EFY. I was part of an amazing team and we were all friends instantly. During the summer we only had 2 weeks off. One week we each did something with our families. The second week off we took an EFY family road trip to Vegas. Spending practically every waking second with these people all summer you'd think we'd be sick of each other. Nope. The trip was glorious.

We saw many sites, shopped, made a banner of the weeks plans, laughed a lot, ate a lot and loved every mintue. At the Hoover Dam there was a bench just calling for a jumping picture to be taken. And thus became "the jumping picture".

This picture makes me happy in so many ways.

Photo on my Mind

I've thought of doing this a while ago and

just never did it.

Then decided, why not?

Because it will take commitment and a tiny bit of work.

How lazy can I be?

Each week I will post a picture that I love.

That I've been thinking about.

That means something to me.

That is funny.

That Fez took with his mad skills.

That has just been on my mind.

I hope to keep this up.

It could be fun.

Give me something to really do on this here blog.

Maybe I'll post more interesting things

by doing this as well... We'll see.

So for this week I am going to start with one my most favorite photos Fez has taken. I loved it from the instant I saw it. I love the tiny bit of grass at the bottom, the leaves in the window and the not so perfect colors and condition of the building. He printed and framed it for me for my birthday and I love it.

And now here it is for your viewing pleasure.

Enjoy :)

One Tough Chick

Fez has been wanting to go on a backpacking trip for some time and since we have packs and all the supplies to go with it it was just calling us. Fez's cousin Eric wanted to go to Ryder Lake again so the dates were set and plans were made.

Honestly, I wasn't entirely looking forward to it. I mean, I like hiking and the mountains and such, but with a 30 pound pack on your back for 8 miles? Yikes. But I decided to be supportive and just go for it.

Ryder Lake is in the Uintahs and with 8 miles ahead of me I tried to get in the zone. I tell you what though, I have NEVER had anything try me so hard physically, mentally, and spiritually as did the hike up to the lake. I was tired by mile 3, my knees were killing me by mile 3.5, and I just wanted to sit on a rock and cry by mile 4. I even considered sitting on that rock and waiting for them to pick me up on their hike home 2 days later.

I have never talked myself into taking just one more step... I have also never pleaded so much with Heavenly Father to ease some of the physical burden, help me have the mental capacity to keep pushing, and trying to be grateful for every little flower, tree, or small rock I got to see or step around. It was very, very trying... and tiring.

Toward the end there is a 1/4 mile steeeeep hill that seems impossbile to hike because you are already exhausted and above 10,000 feet. I took it on slow and steady and I am proud to say that I was the first one up the hill! That's right... Girls rule and Boys drool... Ok not really but I was just proud of myself for conquering it! For conquering the whole hike really!

Once there I was glad to have made it because it is just beautiful. The lake was super smooth, the reflection of the mountains around were spectacular, and the crisp mountain air... I just love camping. The next day it poured on us for like 4 or 5 hours so we sat in our tent and read my Book of Mormon (see previous post about being WAY behind. Still behind, but I did read the whole book of Mosiah). We finally saw the sun come out for a bit and got to enjoy a little fire before going to bed.

I was nervous about the hike down with how bad my knee was holding up. I loaded up the Ibuprofen and told myself at least we were going home. The hike down wasn't nearly as bad as going up. The medicine helped and knowing what to expect as well.

I've wondered if I would go backpacking again and thought either almost any other trip won't be as bad because it won't be 16 miles or that just did me in and I will never go again. Right now i have to say it's the latter, but i'm sure it will change in a year or two.

"Now entering the wilderness" sign at mile 2.

Taking a rest around mile 3.5
at a cute little creek.

Yes, I know I don't have make up on.
About the one and only time you'll see me
without it in a picture on my blog.
It's not a pretty sight...

Ryder Lake.
Gorgeous.

This rock was shaped out
as the perfect seat!



Through this experience I have learned these things:
* Always take a knee band and lots of meds
* Heavenly Father heard my plea and
helped make my burden light
* It's cool to drink water straight from
a rock spring from the earth
* Don't bring as much snack food
* I am One. Tough. Chick.

Behind

Lately I have realized that I am behind in a few things:

#1 Blogging
I have really slacked since coming home from our trip.
At least I got that done.
We have been camping, had a few birthdays,
International Days, job search, etc.
All of which I would love to tell you all about but now you
will just receive a brief readers digest version.
Not as fun.

#2 Job hunt
Everyone is looking for a job.
I have officially been out of work since April.
Granted, I was doing an internship that took
a lot of my time, especially as of late.
But I think I leaned on that excuse a little
more than I should have.
If you know of anything, please share.

#3 Scripture reading
I guess I always feel a little behind in this.
At stake conference Elder Tate challenged us to
read the Book of Mormon 3 times,
each time looking for something specific.
I have done this before and looked forward to it again.

Then tour happened.
We had such good intentions...
So we decided to resume the goal for August.

Then International Days happened.
I believe I am now almost 150 pages behind schedule.
Yikes.
I really don't want to have to start the goal over AGAIN,
but 150 pages behind half way through?
I might as well be at the beginning.

#4 Living space
We moved into my parents house the end of May.
Our house is just as messy as the day we moved in.
It has its good days, but mostly bad.
It's been so long now that I'm just getting used to the mess.
Bad news.

I don't want to get into the habit of keeping it this way.
I love seeing pictures and shows of beautiful living spaces
and dream of what we might live in some day.
It's hard to do that when you have boxes and 'stuff'
everywhere at your feet.

Sigh.

One day I'll catch up.

Right?

International Days

First off...

Camping was AWESOME.

A little post will be coming soon.

Secondly...

I have a crazy week coming.

Starting in about 20 minutes.

Actually it started last week but whatever.

INTERNATIONAL DAYS

is in South Jordan this week!

Do you get the Deseret News?

If so please take a look on the front page of the Life section.

You WILL see my happy face, in a Clog America costume,

from a performance in Turkey.

The photo was taken by my amazing husband.

If you do not receive the Des News

here is a link...

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700054832/Sharing-heritage-International-Days-celebration-is-Aug10-14-in-South-Jordan.html

Need an activity or two to attend this week?

Here is a link to our schedule of events

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700054834/International-Days-schedule.html

I am SUPER excited to see Czech Republic,

China, Nepal, and Korea perform.

Oh, and of course Clog America.

See you this week some time!

Camping

Finally.

We have yet to go camping this summer.

Until tomorrow.

Hallelujah.

Lake Hebgen... here we come!