Comes the Dawn

A dear friend shared this with me many years ago... I never knew that even after all these years... it would still bring me comfort when I find myself troubled.....

Comes the Dawn

After a while, you learn the subtle differences between holding a hand and changing a soul. You learn that love doesn't mean security, and you begin to understand that kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't promises. YOu begin to accept your defeats with your head held high, and your eyes wide open with the grace of a woman, or man, and not the grief of a child. You learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much. So you paint your own garden, and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. You learn that you really can endure, that you really are strong and you really do have worth.

-Unknown

Life isn't always what we plan... It's been an interesting year... More updates to come!

Long OVER DUE.... UPDATE!!!

I have no idea who if anyone is still reading my blog... I always say i'm going to do better and then look... a whole year has gone buy and I haven't really posted much! Last year I had many adventures! I got to travel to new places as well as some familiar places... Below I'm including pictures and small captions of what I've been up to this past year! I'll start with none other than April! For those that are still reading... enjoy!

April

Spring Break was the first week in April and I was excited to get out of town! Some friends from school and I decided to head down to Southern California to pay Shamu and Mickey a little visit! We had a lot of fun!!! While we were there, we made it to the beach, and the San Diego temple! It was so much fun!

San Diego Temple -We got to do a session! The BEACH! It was a little chilly but it was so It was so beautiful! much fun!

Sea World!

DISNEYLAND!!!!

At the end of the month, my friend Alan told me he was thinking about going to Yellowstone for the day. Since I'd never been and always wanted to go, I asked if he'd like some company! He explained it'd be a crazy itinerary but if I was up for it I was welcome to come a long. Alan picked me up around 5am in Brigham City and we were on our way! The weather held just right for us! It was a beautiful day! We started at the upper falls. I didn't mind since I love waterfalls! We didn't see too many people up there! We ended the day at the gysers. Old Faithful went off shortly after pulling into the parking lot! We sat and ate our lunch as we watched Old Faithful. When we finished we walked around to see the geysers. We stopped to watch Grotto go off... we soon found it was a nice little place to take a little nap! It was so nice and peaceful there!!! It was so beautiful there! We went to grand geyser many times... Just waiting for it to go off... It soon came time for us to start heading home.... As we drove away, I noticed grand going off... so we pulled over and watched! Yellowstone is so beautiful! I can't wait to go again!

JUNE

In June, my friend McCall needed to take a class in Vancouver, Washington. Since I was just finishing school, I offered to drive out with her! I've never been to Washington but I'd always wanted to go!!! She would me in class all day and I worked on school stuff and even went exploring! The drive itself was simply breath taking once we got to the Cascades! We even passed a beautiful waterfall I told McCall we had to stop at on our way back! While in Washington, I was able to see an old mission companion, roommate and my mission friend Hawks! It was a great trip. I took one day and drove to Seattle! It was 3 hours from where we were staying. That was a long NIGHT!!! I left Seattle around mid night to head back to Vancouver. I had contacted my good friend Nick to see if he'd be on call incase I had car trouble. I also texted Alan to see how he was able to stay awake after our long drive to Yellowstone. I don't know how he did it... I was so tired! I drank a Dr. Pepper and a Mountain Dew.... I cranked the sterio and rocked out as I drove back to our hotel! I pulled in around 3am and crashed! I was up at 7ish to take McCall and her friends to class and then came home and went back to sleep!

We went into Portland to explore and find the Temple! It was beautiful!

Fort Vancouver was fun to explore! One day I took a book and found a nice place to read!

I got to see Aubrey. We were roommates at Glenwood in Logan! I had no idea she was here till I got here! CRAZY!

We found this yummy place to eat in Vancouver. Ok so my friends didn't like it so much however, it reminded me of being in Jerusalem! The food brought back some great memories! Especially the Pita! I ate there twice!

Seattle was so pretty! Hawks took me all over! I don't remember walking so much! It was great! I even was able to take a ferry ride... we say jelly fish along the ferry... It was pretty cool! I had me some yummy clam chowder too!

Pikes place was really fun to explore!

Before leaveing, McCall wanted to explore some.. seeing as how she was stuck in class most of the trip! We had fun and even went into this cute little place for a short readers theater...

They say you need to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince charming... he wasn't here... The other picture is of me and Tanner! She drove all the way down to see me! We went for breakfast! It was good seeing her again!

One of my new favorite waterfalls! I loved this place and we were only able to spend about 20 minutes here! I was totally bummed! I hope to come back on day and explore! There was so much more to see! I really was totally bummed about having to leave... One day... I will return!

The drive home was so pretty! I loved it... well... while we were in the Cascades anyway! It was simply breath taking!

I'll post more very soon I promise... stay tuned for my 3 week road trip I took this summer... it was great!!!!

I know I know... it's been... FOREVER! I need to update my blog in the worst way... Ever since January, I've taken some great adventures... with the full intention of posting them up... yet here it is a new year and I haven't posted a thing! So here is my attempt to share my many adventures this year! If there is anyone out there still reading... I hope you enjoy!

I'll start with March:

Back in January, my friend McCall showed me pictures of this frozen waterfall. I really wanted to go and check it out! So who do you call when you're up for an adventure but are not quite sure where it's located... I called my friend Alan... I showed him pictures after a hockey game we attended back in January... We finally found some time to check it out! We went with the intention of Snow Shoeing... however, the snow had melted enough to just wear our boots...

It was a beautiful evening!!! I left work early and we met up in Ogden.

It was a beautiful hike! I had so much fun! It was a little slippery in some places, however, it was totally worth it!

The waterfall was still a little frozen. But it was beautiful. If we had waited any longer, we wouldn't have had any ice at all...

We had a lot of fun trying to take self portraits... This is just one of the many self portraits we took. We'll just say that some turned out better than others...

Bring it 2010

As we begin the year 2010... I want to share a little poem I'm hoping to use as my motto this year. Now disclaimer. I did not write it and I don't know who did, however, they were truly on to something! So, without further delay...

Risk

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair
To try is to risk failure...
But risk must be taken, because life's greatest hazard is to risk nothing.
One may avoid suffering and sorrow, but cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love or live.
Only the person that risks is free....

-Unknown

I love this because I know I need to take more risks in my life... Sometimes I feel like I already do, however, I'm timid if I do actually risk... I think we all can take a little more risk in life if we truly want to learn and grow... We are all here to learn and grow... we can't do that till we take some risks.... Even if it means getting hurt or rejected...

Where did Summer go???

I would like to know what happened to summer??? It seems to have come and gone without even lingering! Now I am back in school! Moving to a traditional school year it exciting and also a little scary! I got used to my breaks and looked forward to them. The other problem is... I didn't get much of a summer! I have been able to stay very busy! Although I taught through June, I did have some fun playing... Here are just a few of my fun adventures!

First, I've already blogged about it but my summer adventures started with Nauvoo with the Moores! They are so FANTASTIC! The week after Nauvoo, I had the wonderful experience to go to Moab to go White Water Rafting for the FIRST TIME! It was all for a good cause. I attended Rafting for the cure! It was a BLAST! We are going next year too if anyone wants to come!!! We did lose a couple of our friends through one rapid... I was not among them! We all had a great time! I look forward to next year!!!


Here is the gang!
We ALL survived!!! I can't wait till next year!

The week school got out... my friends came to town!!! Matt entered the MTC on July 8th! It was great to get the gang together! Here I am with the not only the Moores, but my dear companions I got to work with! I spent ALL my time with them! We went to Temple Square, saw the Joseph Smith movie... and did many many many things! It was very hard to say good bye...



After saying good bye to the Moores, I headed straight to Logan for a teaching conference... It didn't come without its perks! The bad news was I missed the first day of the conference. I was under the impression it started on Wednesday when in fact, it started on Tuesday! OOPS! The good news is... it opened up some extra time to see more friends and do a little hiking!
This is me at the trail head of Naomi Peak. It was quite a hike! I loved it! It was SO beautiful! It was my first time! Camilla (an old roommate) and I took of around 10am and were gone almost ALL day! It was great!

Look at that view!

Camilla and I
Lets be honest... No trip to Logan is complete without a visit to MY waterfall! Sunday afternoon after church, I took off to my favorite place in Logan! MY waterfall! It is so relaxing here! There is a rock near by where I like to sit, feel the waterfall mist and relax or write in my journal. It may not seem like much to some people, however, it is my favorite place. It's so beautiful and peaceful here!

There have been many other adventures this summer... More to come and soon... I promise! Any chance I have to be in nature I will take it! We truly live in such a beautiful place! It's so easy to take it for granted sometimes... Until next time! Enjoy the pictures! I know I DO!