Camping Away the Summer

Camping was a huge highlight of my summer. We camped up the Uintas, up diamond fork, lake powell and in yellowstone. I bought a skeeter beeter hammock which is so nice to sleep in. I love to camp and had so much fun with my friends.

Camping with Zach was fun because he was always prepared for anything and always had his guitar with him. He makes a mean breakfast too.

Camping with my big group of friends is always a riot. I am always one of the only ones who is willing to sleep outside of a tent. lol

Summer isn't summer without camping :)

Lake Powell...worth the drive

Lake Powell was a blast. It was a quick, fun, crazy, hot trip! Dwight had a boat and people brough wake boards and we had tubes and rode on Craigs wave runner. We camped out on the rocks out on the lake and had a riot. There was a very diverse group there which made it a lot of fun and very interesting.

Me, Kimber, Ashley, Seth and Joel drove down to Lake Powell through the night. I was driving 20 miles an hour at times... I was exhausted. We got there in time to join everyone all day friday and then we didn't leave for home until Sat night. It was adventure after adventure and we made memories that will last forever! It was so much!

Zachary

WHo would have thought that me getting Swine FLu would have brough me and Zach back together again. For those who don't know Zach, I will quickly tell you our story.

The first time I met Zach was while I was on my mission and he had just got home from his mission and he was always helping the missionaries out. So, we became friends out in VA. When I got home from my mission Zach moved out to Utah. I ran into him at rock the block, he got my phone number, and we went out quite a few times. I really liked him but I was also going on dates with other guys and one other one in particular. It ended up coming down to Zach and this other guy and I picked the other guy. Zach and I remained friends but distant friends. We spoke occasionally and even went on a date at the beginning of the year before I started dating Adam.

When I got the swine flu he offered to make me waffles to help me get better....I ended up refusing and by that night I had been admitted to the hospital. Around two or three a.m. I woke up to zach next to me with a stuffed animal and bouquets of flowers...all different kinds. He was dressed from head to toe in protective wear...even a mask...the nurses made him! He came and visted me often in the hospital and even when I got out. In fact my first release day he kidnaped me and took me to a hot pot in southern utah.....

We went camping, for night motorcycle rides, to the llama fest...you name it we did it. It was so much that he was so into adventure and being outdoors....I eventually really crushed on him and the time we were spending together but in the end....we were both too stubborn and went our seperate ways. I miss him.

Swine Flu

I can't believe that I went to Mexico, I worked for a month and a half at the MTC and I didn't get the Swine Flu but eventually that all caught up to me. I was admitted to the hospital and then once out I was put in isolation. I was out of it for two weeks straight. My parents took such good care of me and nursed me back to health. Zach was a huge supporter too. I really needed him....I just didn't realize it at the time.
I got a lot of reading done, did my homework and slept a lot. It was nice also to relax with my parents and watch movies.
The swine flu was the worst pain I think that I have ever experienced but I am glad that I pulled through it. There were times throughout my hospital stay that I was in so much pain that I just wanted to give up! I am grateful for the support and love I felt and for all those who prayed for me.

Mexico Sun

This was my first time in another country...well that I had to use my passport. I loved every single minute of it! I did so many things! We stayed in a Pent House Suite, we soaked up the sun, I parasailed, went horse-back riding, went on boat cruise out to see the seals, went riding on a banana tube, saw cliff divers, went shopping, played volleyball....we did everything! It was so packed of so much fun! It was just what I needed.

I had completely broken up with Wes a few days before I went so I hadn't slept for a long time and my heart was in pieces. So the Mexico sun, adrenaline activities, and the Latin boys all gave me things to smile about. It was just what I needed to start my healing process.

It was me and Erin Rider, Jennifer Fletcher and Stacey Knight. What a great group of girls to spend a week with in Mexico!

SOFTBALL..... wasn't so soft on my body this year

Softball was definately a highlight for me this Spring and Summer. I love it so much! It's too bad that it does not love me as much this year. lol

This year I tore my quad, sliced open my leg and jammed my thumb so bad that it has been over a month and it is still jammed! It was all worth it though

I had a fun team! I didn't know anyone on my team before this year and I loved playing with them all. We were a really good team and I hated when we lost during the tournaments.

This picture is after my last game in the tournament. We lost. The girls came to watch me and we all went and got Sonic afterwards.

Nearer my God to thee

My current Elders that I am teaching are Heaven sent!
This poor Elders have been through so much though. One of the Elders in my district has a type of influenza A.... they are worried about the swine flue and so that Elder has been in quarantine and all the other elders are on preventitive medicine. Plus I tore my quad and missed their first three days in the MTC. When I came back to work they treated me like a princess whenever I had to go up and down the three flights of stairs.... they are all such sweethearts. To top it all off one day we were role playing teaching to meet needs and they taught me as myself. They asked me some questions about my personal life and I informed them that I had just broken up with my boyfriend....they said that they had noticed a difference in me when they first come into the room but the more I talk about the gospel the more excited I get and by the end of class I seem back to normal again. That broke my heart and I have tried extra hard to not let my personal life be reflected at all through my teaching or my personality while I am at work.
So, today as I was praying for the strength to be ready with excitement and focus and broke down bawling as I begged Heavenly Father to hold me today. I don't understand everything that is happening right now in my life, but it is not like me to let ANYTHING hold me back at work. I begged for forgiveness for being distracted and by the time the Elders came in I was ready and truly felt God holding me up!
The day was a spiritually packed day for us. We went to the RC and my Elder bore powerful testimony- testimony that I greatly benefitted from hearing. When class was done my Elders said that they had a surprise for me. SO, I followed them over to the main building. They took me into a room and told me to sit down as they all stood in front of me. One of the Elders said that he had felt close to God while he has been in my class and whether or not I could feel it in my lessons they wanted me to feel it now. Then one of the Elders started playing an incredible rendition of Nearer my God to Thee on the piano and then one by one my Elders joined in singing. This is their farewell song that they will be singing before they leave the MTC.
I was so touched that I sat and bawled. The poor missionaries didn't know what to do. I was super embarressed for crying so hard- but it was exactly what I needed to hear and their genuine compassion touched me to the core! As I finally faced them I saw tears in their eyes and without thinking I stood and walked over to them and started testifying...testifying about how close to God we can be and how good it feels etc. It was an experience that brough us all closer to each other and to God. I needed it desperately.
I had planned to go to the temple all week this week. However school work, depression and whatever else kept me from doing so. After my time with the Elders I felt a surge go through my body! I headed straight up to the temple- regardless of what day it was and if I might see Wes there- I went anyway!
While I was in the temple I felt so loved, accepted and calmed. The sisters were so sweet. I had worked that shift with many of them before, back when I was a temple worker and I felt so at home. I truly felt nearer to my God and felt that he knew me, and that he would help me through whatever trials I may be facing and have yet to face.
I am so grateful for his hand in my life. I see evidence of it daily!