...Sacrifice et le Petit Prince

 I know, I know. I'm slacking in this whole blogging business, but life has become super crazy and very hard in a lot of different ways, so I've kind of had my mind occupied.  However, some fun and awesome things have happened that I want to share. Even though I should be taking this time to study for the 6 tests I have to take by Wednesday....

First off, Bridget is in a photography class, and for her final she had to pick a theme for her pictures. She chose "adults doing kid things" to show that we don't grow up completely. But then while she and I were taking some pictures, she got some good candid shots, so she decided to combine the two. So, one weekend, she recruited some friends (Ariel, Darren, Ryan, and I) to do some kid things while she took pictures. We went to the local park and played on the playground, blew bubbles, had a squirt-gun fight, did hopscotch, and even ate a cake with our hands. It was a good time. Check it out!

Blowing bubbles with hard double bubble is harder than it sounds...

Ahh! Blowback! (10 points to whomever can name that movie)

Bubble Shark!

Darren was the last one to survive on Lava Monster

Darren snuck off to refill the squirt guns and came back for a surprise attack

Ryan was really into that cake....

So those are just a few of the pics we took. It was a blast and a half! Then after that Darren, Ryan, Hannah and I all went to Final Cut and then watched Midnight in Paris because I got credit for it as a cultural activity in French. Score! It was an evening well-spent. A good way to unwind before we all became completely over-wound with finals. 

Then we had the last three days of classes, which is always awesome, and then finals! Yay finals...? This semester, I not only have a final for each of my 5 classes, but I also have two tests I need to take to become officially certified/licensed to spray pesticides! Though if anyone is thinking of asking me to spray their yard with some heavy duty stuff, please don't ask. Haha I'm still working on being able to get the calculations right for how much to use, and we wouldn't want to spray too much, now would we?   Anyways...so classes ended on Wednesday. That night, Bridget, Heather, Darren, Ariel and I went to a University Choral choir concert for our friends Catherine and Hannah. It was actually really good! And they did a French song, which makes it that much more awesome!

Then came Thursday. When I got home from work, we headed out to a ropes course with our roommies from last year: Rachel, Amanda, Catherine, Ariel, Bridget, and I. And our friend Jared tagged along to make our group 7.  It was so much fun! Heather works there, and she did all of this for us without being payed, so a special shout-out to her saying thanks again for being so awesome and letting us have such a fun time there with you!  First we did a zip line, which was my favorite thing. Then we all swung in this giant swing- it's crazy! Your group members pull you up really high using a rope, then you let go whenever you're ready, but your first swing is backwards! Such a rush! It's like being on a roller coaster!  Then you can do fun things while you're swinging, like flips and such.  

Catherine, ready to go!

Ariel on the zip line

Bridget clinging for life on the zip line....

Heather. A beast.

Catherine getting ready for the swing.

The team, ready to go!

Getting ready to pull!

After the swing.

Okay, so this next one needs a little of explaining. For the last 'course' there was this tall tree trunk with stakes in it to climb, and a small platform attached to the top.  Our goal, climb the tree. Stand on top of the platform. Jump off the platform and try to grab the bar that was hanging from another line which seemed like forever away. Oh yeah, and the tree was not completely secure-it wobbled. So you have to keep your balance pretty well too.  Climbing was easy. Trying to stand up on that platform wasn't scary, but maybe a little challenging. The hardest part, at least for me, was to actually jump off, because that bar seemed so freaking far away! But I did it. We all did it! Jared was the only one to actually grab the bar with both hands and hang on, but we all climbed and we all jumped. We are awesome, it's true.

Rachel, all ready to climb!

Bridget ready to go next

Catherine-no fear.

Me on top, ready to jump.

It was way fun, and totally worth the $6! Especially since we all got to do it together! After, we all went to the Creamery for some delicious milkshakes and a good chat. 

Next was Friday, obvi.  I studied, then went to work. After work, I headed out to our Final Ward Social at an elementary school. It was a 90s themed field day! Woot woot! I didn't get there till about 90 min after it started because I had been at work, but it was still fun. I finished watching a game of kickball that was going on, then Bridget and I dominated in a three-legged race. That's pretty much why I came: to show how we are invincible when it comes to stuff like that. =)  Some people called it cheating; I prefer to call it as using my resources. I can't help it if she's my other half and we can practically do things as one person. Just how it works.  So that was fun.

Then on Saturday I was studying ALL morning for my French final that afternoon. I think it went pretty well. Hopefully it'll help to raise my grade, because I could use that. I mean, I certainly learned a lot in that class, and I really enjoy French, but the grading system does NOT show an accurate determination of what you know. Oh well.  As long as I pass right...? Which I will.

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Now for Sunday. The most important day of the week. Oh my goodness! I just realized I did not post anything for Easter!! Happy Easter everyone! Easter is my favorite holiday. It didn't used to be, but the more I have learned, grown, matured, and expanded my knowledge of the Atonement, crucifixion, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, it has become such an important and necessary part of my life that I just can't help but love the Easter season more than anything.

Anyway, please enjoy this beautiful hymn in the background while you read, if you so desire.

Church today was exactly what I needed. Though I was able to have some fun on a few days, the last few weeks have been some of the most difficult, challenging, testing, and straight-up hardest weeks I have had in quite a while, for many reasons, most of which are completely unrelated to school.   And having 7 tests to add on top of that for the next three days doesn't really help either. So I've been feeling a bit run-down and overwhelmed to say the least, while struggling with these internal battles and feelings of inadequacy and self-esteem. Anyways...not my point. Today's topic in sacrament meeting was sacrifice. Which is ironic, this being finals week, and it being the same topic that my French teacher talked to us about on the last day of class. While the word sacrifice can be derived from Latin, it can also be derived from French: sacré and faire, which literally means 'to make scared'.  To me, sacrificing can be seen as sanctifying, making something sacred to you. In the talks today, it was mentioned that we can make sacrifices in temporal things, such as time and money, in relationships, as well as to sacrifice our will, and an interesting point was brought up in relation to that. The speaker that mentioned those three types of sacrifice, which was actually Heather, mentioned a quote from an Apostle (I don't remember who) along the lines of our will being the hardest thing for us to sacrifice, because it really is the only thing that is OURS to sacrifice; everything else we have that we 'sacrifice' has already been given to us by our Father in Heaven. Everything we have is from Him, but our own will, that is something that we personally get to choose as to whether or not we will give up for Him.  There were many other good points made in the talks, but I don't want to write a novel here. And it was a point like that one that made me realize that I have not been sacrificing all that I have for the Lord like I should. While my relationship with my Father in Heaven has developed into something strong and impenetrable, there are still many things within my life that I should be doing to show my love for Him that I have not been as good at doing. There are much better things I could do with my time and resources to help in building His kingdom, to strengthen those around me and to serve, and to build up my own testimony as well. These talks were just an eye opener for me and helped me to realize some things I want to become better at and things I want to change. Plus, I really feel like making the sacrifice in my time and resources to serve those around me and do what the Lord would have me do will help me in the other aspects of my life and will help to relieve the burdens I'm bearing, and to provide comfort and guidance in the struggles that are starting me right in the face. Some people look at sacrifice as a burden. I see it as a privilege. Our Lord Jesus Christ has sacrificed everything for us; He is the ultimate sacrifice. If we truly love Him for what He did for each of us, why wouldn't we want to sacrifice what we have, even what He has given us, to show Him how truly grateful we are? It is a blessing and a privilege to be able to sacrifice for our Lord and Savior, and it is something that I feel we all need to have softened heart towards, including myself.  

Now it's story time! In French when Mlle Hendry was talking to us about sacrifice, she spent some time reading parts of this:

The Little Prince. We didn't read all of it, and I haven't had the chance to read it all myself yet, but basically there's this boy from another planet who falls in love with a rose. Then he comes to earth and sees that there are so many roses, and is sad to think that his rose is no longer special because there are so many. Then he becomes friends with a fox, who he tames and becomes friends with. But then he must go back to his planet. This is the conversation between the boy and the fox before he leaves:

So the little prince tamed the fox. And when the hour of his departure drew near--

"Ah," said the fox, "I shall cry."

"It is your own fault," said the little prince. "I never wished you any sort of harm; but you wanted me to tame you..."

"Yes, that is so," said the fox.

"But now you are going to cry!" said the little prince.

"Yes, that is so," said the fox.

"Then it has done you no good at all!"

"It has done me good," said the fox, "because of the color of the wheat fields." And then he added:

"Go and look again at the roses. You will understand now that yours is unique in all the world. Then come back to say goodbye to me, and I will make you a present of a secret."

 ***

The little prince went away, to look again at the roses.

"You are not at all like my rose," he said. "As yet you are nothing. No one has tamed you, and you have tamed no one. You are like my fox when I first knew him. He was only a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But I have made him my friend, and now he is unique in all the world."

And the roses were very much embarassed.

"You are beautiful, but you are empty," he went on. "One could not die for you. To be sure, an ordinary passerby would think that my rose looked just like you-- the rose that belongs to me. But in herself alone she is more important than all the hundreds of you other roses: because it is she that I have watered; because it is she that I have put under the glass globe; because it is she that I have sheltered behind the screen; because it is for her that I have killed the caterpillars (except the two or three that we saved to become butterflies); because it is she that I have listened to, when she grumbled, or boasted, or ever sometimes when she said nothing. Because she is my rose.

***

And he went back to meet the fox.

"Goodbye," he said.

"Goodbye," said the fox. "And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

"What is essential is invisible to the eye," the little prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember.

"It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important."

"It is the time I have wasted for my rose--" said the little prince, so that he would be sure to remember.

"Men have forgotten this truth," said the fox. "But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose..."

"I am responsible for my rose," the little prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember.

   

I think this story is so cute, and I can't wait to read the whole thing. The English translation isn't as good, but it's not bad. Referring to sacrifice, Mlle Hendry mentioned the second section I attached here: if we take the time to care for the things that are important to us, to really sacrifice our time, skills and resources to building it and making it grow, just like le petit prince did for his rose, that one thing we sacrificed for will become so precious to us it will not be anything ordinary to us. It will be unique in all the world. And it's the same with Jesus Christ. He sacrificed everything for us; He suffered for each one of us individually and personally, because we are His brothers and sisters. Because He loves us. 

I also like the secret the fox tell to le petit prince: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.  I think that is so true. The mysteries of God are not made manifest to the world, but we must seek them out within our hearts, personally with Him.  And, I believe, it is only with our hearts that we are able to make those decisions that are best for us, that we are able to see what we can do for others, that we can really come to be in tune with the Holy Spirit and what God has in store for us. Those things that are essential are invisible to the eye. What things do you consider essential in life? For me, these are a few things I find essential: love at home, faith in Jesus Christ, a broken heart and contrite spirit, service (which if done with the right intention will not be visible to the eye of those you serve), love for your fellow man, happiness, knowledge and understanding, and so much more! Take a moment today to reflect on what you find essential in this life, and see if you are doing what you need to to make have those actually be a part of your life. Take a moment to see if there is anything you can do in your day to day life that might be a sacrifice to you, but one that would help to show that you love God, or even that you're grateful to be here on Earth, to experience mortal life, and to have received the blessings we've all been given. 

Okay, I don't want to make this post any longer because it's already pretty ridiculous. Enjoy your Sabbath, everyone. And to those other students out there- good luck with finals when they  come your way, and may the odds be ever in your favor.  I'm sorry I just couldn't resist, I set myself up for that one! =)

...Pictures and Priorities

Here I am. Sitting in my room. Contemplating how to spend my time because I'm already done with my homework, not feeling like really doing anything. Drinking apple beer. Listening to great music. And, oh yeah, freezing!   For the last two weeks, it has been simply B-E-A-UTIFUL!  It was sunny, blue skies, warm (between mid 50's and high 60's), flowers blooming...it was Spring! Or so we all thought. I guess Utah just wanted to torture us and give us a taste of the good and happy life, only to laugh in our faces and pile on the snow and cold on Sunday.  Unfortunately, our thermostat had been on "cold" during those last two weeks, and was at least on "off" Saturday night as it rained and snowed, but by the time we got back from church on Sunday, our apartment was so freakin cold! And it still is-our at least our room. It's probably a good 5 degree difference between our room and the rest of the apartment. Not quite sure why. All I know is that I hate being cold....

On a happier note, during the beautiful weather we had, Bridget, Heather and I decided to go take some pictures together one sunny Sunday evening.  Take a look!

Bridget and Heather both took their cameras, so naturally I became the bag-holder/model...

So that was a fun time, but it was a little colder than it was back in Provo, so we made it quick.  Other than that I haven't done much else. This last week was way relaxed in terms of what was actually required to do... On Thursday I went to a French cultural activity with Ariel and that was fun. Friday I didn't do much of anything- I watched Nacho Libre while making dinner and that was just fantastic. Sometimes I simply forget how great that movie is, and how it reminds me of Karch. =) On Saturday, believe it or not, I actually worked out and did laundry! Woot woot! Then Bridget and I took our cousin Jessica out for lunch and that was a blast! She's-a gettin' married!! 

We felt really lame for missing her birthday and not celebrating her engagement yet, so we took her out to celebrate, and to spend some time with her before she's completely taken away. =)  Plus she got into the El. Ed program! Yay!  It was so great to be able to spend time with her- I always forget how simply crazy we are together and how much I freaking love that family! 

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On a different note, my friend Ryan gave a good spiritual thought at our Family Home Evening yesterday and I just thought I'd share a few comments on the topic. His spiritual thought was on priorities, which is something I think everyone could always be reminded of every now and then. He read from the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 6:24 - "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannont serve God and mammon."  I think, especially in today's world and busy lifestyle that surrounds all of us, we try to do everything at once, not really putting our best effort into one thing.  I think that, with having so many things to do, it can be so easy to become distracted from what really matters in life: specifically family and God. I am guilty just as much as anyone of not taking the time to really put my priorities in the right order, which can really makes things difficult sometimes. But I firmly believe that if we make the time to put the important things first everyday, that we will be helped along the way in completing everything else we need to do. I've had times in my life where I put God first 100% and it was amazing to see the blessings in my life and how He helped me to find the time and ability to not only get everything done, but in a timely manner, and done with the accuracy I would have liked. But of course, it's only natural as human beings to fall back in our priorities after we have received so many blessings, almost as if we expect them to come just as easily no matter what. Granted He will always bless us, but it is so important to take time just for Him every day-to talk to Him, to read His words, to feel His Spirit, and to do what He has asked of you, to draw closer to Him.  I just personally believe that we will find so much more joy and happiness and beauty in this life if we make the time for what is important, and take time to reevaluate our priorities every now and then.  And this doesn't always have to relate to religion, but just in general, with everything you do, make sure your priorities are straight to where you can really make the most of this life and take advantage of the time you have with the people around you and those you love. 

...Family, Frisbees, Facebook, and Friends

Okay, so I feel like it's been forever since I posted. Probably because it has....but that's besides the point! The point is, a lot has happened since I last posted- good time it's sharing time! =)

So a couple weeks after I was in St. George for MLK weekend, we went back for little Ella's baby blessing. It was nice to have most of our family there Margeaux and Steven we missed you guys and to see some of Brady's family I hadn't seen in a while. It was a nice, quick vacation, but the blessing was worth it. This little baby girl is the most precious thing ever! I got to hold her during sacrament meeting after the blessing, and as I was holding her, I was reminded of something my Book of Mormon teacher said in regards to babies. Throughout the semester, he told us many times that if we have the chance to hold a baby, to do it. And while holding that baby, just look into their face and their eyes, and just see the purity in them.  He said that it is when he holds a baby that he feels the closest to heaven because these little beings are just so perfect, and pure, and the veil is still so thin with them, and you can just see heaven in their eyes. So while I was holding Ella, that thought came to my mind, and then we started singing "I Stand All Amazed" and got to the second verse: "I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine, To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine. That he should extend his great love unto such as I, Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify. Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me, Enough to die for me. Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!" And we sat there singing, I had to stop and just sit there, because I started to cry, because it really hit me as we were singing that verse, and I was looking at this beautiful little baby girl: I truly am amazed at the love Jesus offers me, for the sacrifice He offered for me, that He extends His miraculous love to someone like me, a proud, sinful and rebellious mortal being, as we all are, as we are not perfect. But in that moment, I truly was able to feel the love of my Savior in one of the most amazing ways and with such power that I could not deny that He is the living  Christ, He loves me, personally, He is aware of me, and He is always here to help me. And as I sat there looking at Ella, I began to feel so close to my Savior, almost as if He were there with me. Which I would not be surprised if He was there during that blessing because not only was it a beautiful blessing, but it was done through the power of God and His priesthood, and it was the blessing of one of His sisters that I'm sure He wouldn't want to miss. =)  Anyway, look at how beautiful this little baby is!

So that was a fun weekend. After I got back, I got a package ready to send off to my dear Karch in Brazil.  I'm not gonna lie, it was a pretty sweet package- at least in my opinion. But I guess he will be the ultimate judge of it. haha  These are just a few of the contents:

                       - Old Spice Deodorant (which he asked for)

                       - Jelly Belly's, his favorite candy

                       - Skittles and Lifesaver mints

                       - Socks, toothpaste, and a toothbrush (essentials everyone could always use more of)

                       - pictures and letters

                       - and more!  =)

I love sending packages! And who doesn't love getting them?! They're just so exciting and always bring so much joy to the recipient; at least in my experience. And he still writes me letters, the least I could do is send a package every now and then, right? =)   Sure do miss that boy, but he's been out for almost 5 months now, and that is just super exciting!

So then came the weekend. Friday night was a tri-ward Valentine's Dance in our Stake High Councilman's private airplane hanger! It's pretty freaking sweet in there! So this is Heather and I, all ready to go. =)

Look at us rockin' that plaid! =)

The next day I made a spontaneous decision. Lately, I have been getting so sick of my super-duper long thick hair. And I thought it would be fun to go back to how it was senior year and just grow it out again- so I wanted it to look like this

Still looks cute, right? So, on a Saturday, I decided to just do it. I chopped my hair. And I took this picture in to show the hair dresser, but I feel like she cute it just a liiiitle bit shorter, and it went from this...

to this...

And I have to curl it every day because if I straighten it, I look like I'm 12. I also look exactly like my sister Megan, but I also look like I'm 12, and I don't really want to walk around campus looking so young. haha  I didn't like it at first, but it's been growing on me a little - I guess I just needed to get used to the drastic change.

So then on Tuesday was Valentine's Day. That night I went to a concert with a friend, and when I got back, my roommates were finishing up their "breakfast for dinner" party they had, and on the table were 4 valentine's from our dear friend Catherine. And inside each of these valentine's was a tattoo! So we put them on and took some pictures.

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So, on a completely different note, there's this BYU thing that has just gone viral. You might have heard of it or seen it on the news because it made local Utah news, and the girl it's about had an interview with Fox news. But, in case you don't know what's going on, let me give you the run-down.

This girl posted on facebook her outfit that she wore on Valentine's day, to be cute. Well, for someone, it maybe wasn't as cute as she wanted it to be. During the day while she was studying, a guy approached her and gave her a note. She thought it was cute and thought it would be some sort of love note, being Valentine's day. Nope. This is what is said.

Now, I don't really have anything to say against the girl, but I do want to get my opinion out there about the note. Too many people are criticizing this young man for the note he wrote, saying that he is a jerk or a coward, some have even commented calling him a pervert and sexually needy. And to mock him even more, there was a picture posted on facebook that contained three pictures: the first of the girl saying "what you think you look like", the second with an Amish woman covered all the way to the neck, wrists, and ankles saying "what the world thinks you look like", and the third of what looks like a SI swimsuit picture or something that could be from Victoria's Secret saying "What the self righteous boy at BYU thinks you look like"
I find that simply repulsive. Disgusting. And completely inappropriate. I don't have any comments for the girl and her outfit except that she signed the Honor Code when coming to BYU and to just keep it in mind. I don't know how "off" her outfit was or how it affected this young man, but it obviously did in some way. And I admire him for actually saying something. I have seen so many people on campus this semester who really should evaluate what they're wearing and how it corresponds with the Honor Code they signed and what is generally considered appropriate here on campus. And even if her outfit was just borderline or something, I don't know how it affected him, I don't know his side of the story, but I admire that he did something that I'm sure so many young men are afraid to do. And not only that, but with how he wrote his note, I think he did it in the most respectful way possible. If he had said it to her face, that probably would have been embarrassing for her. And in his note, he did not even directly attack her in any way, and he did not address specifically what affected him; all he asked was that she consider what she is wearing and how she dresses each day.
My roommates and I have had many discussions on this because we are all behind this young man, and find it completely repulsive what other students have said about him, and especially that so many people have been posting such a scandalous and inappropriate picture. Even if you do not agree with what he did, it is NOT okay to post something like that publicly, especially as a BYU student! That does not give the impression that we stand up for what we believe to be right, or that we treasure our bodies as temples and find pride in modesty and being respectful in how we present the bodies our Father has given us. I find it disgusting that people have posted such a vulgar picture - it is a form of pornography, and that is not okay. Who knows how that could affect a young man or a young woman who sees that? Even if you did not agree with what the young man said, that is not okay. All he did was stand up for something he believed to be right, and he did it in the most respectful way to save embarrassment to both him and the girl. 
And something my roommates and I all agree on is that, while we support this young man and find the criticism unnecessary and rude and even inappropriate at times, we like being able to see who is posting these comments because it shows us that those boys who are justifying this young woman, criticizing and mocking this young man who stood up for something, and those who are posting and liking the inappropriate photo on facebook, are the boys for us to stay away from. It shows that these boys justify this young woman, if her outfit truly was inappropriate, and find immodesty okay, even if it's on the border. The boys like that give us the impression that their expectation for modesty and what is appropriate has lowered, that they find it acceptable to not only post, but to look at, or laugh at the inappropriate pictures posted, that they find it acceptable to mock someone who has chosen to stand up for something he believed to be right, and that they seem to take the popular stand against the young man to 'fit in' and to give the impression that they do not choose to not be of the world because it is 'against the norm' or something. Again, I do not know if the young woman's outfit truly was inappropriate, but it made this young man feel uncomfortable. Even if it would not do the same for you, I find it sad and embarrassing to be in a place where I would expect a more respectful response towards this young man and his desire to do what's right- not in a self-righteous way, but in a way just to maybe make her aware - where instead the majority of students seem to be criticizing what we've been taught - to stand up for what we believe to be right.
I do, however, have one comment for the young woman. While the note may not have been something you were expecting, and even if you did not agree with what he said, I do not think the note should have been published for the world to see. I don't care if you disagree with him and talk about it with your roommates or family, but I find it completely unnecessary that it was posted online. To me, that shows that you might have actually felt guilty about what you were wearing and that it actually did have a negative affect on someone, and that you are seeking justification. Whether or not that be true, I do not know. But that is what it shows to me, and it also shows to me that you did not find respect enough to keep it to yourself, rather than making it into something so public and probably embarrassing this young man more than he could have embarrassed you. 

Everyone has their own opinions on what has been going on, but having seen so many people fight against this young man, I wanted to express my opinion and show that I respect this young man for standing up for something he believed to be right, against something that made him uncomfortable, whether or not she truly was immodest.

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Anyways.....  haha back to the exciting stuff.  Thursday night Bridget, Heather, Catherine and I planned a trip to St. George for Saturday. We had originally been invited to join some friend who were going to Moab, but plans fell through because of the cold weather, so we decided to go to St. George instead, since it's always nice there! There ended up being a group of 12, and it was a blast! We drove down Friday night, and got to St. George around 9. There was another car that left about an hour after we did that we were waiting to arrive, so until then, we played frisbee up where the old airport used to be and that was fun...until I got hit in the face by the frisbee. haha  Right in the eye. I've got a bruise, under the surface, from the middle of my nose, all the way up, along my whole eyebrow, and even down a little around the side of my eye. It's pretty gnarly but it's been giving me a headache all day. 

Friday night, the girls crashed at my sisters house thanks again so so much for letting us stay with you guys and the boys found their own accommodations- whether it was sleeping in the apartment of a friend of a friend or in their car. haha  

Saturday was awesome. We all had breakfast together and I got some pictures taken of Megan's yard for my landscape design project for class. Then we all headed out to the boulders to start the day. 

Morning yoga after the run

It was pretty bright outside.

Me and Catherine

Heather, Bryce, Amanda, Catherine

Heather's Jumping Picture

Inside the Crack

Brad, Bryce, Bethany, Tessa, Amanda, Matt

The awesome guy who took our group photo-he took that himself. =)

Amanda, Casey, Catherine, Me, Bridget, Brad, Bryce, Tessa, Anna, Heather, Matt, Bethany

 After we played around on the boulders for a while, we went back to the house, grabbed the rest of our stuff and headed out. We stopped at In-N-Out for lunch since some people didn't pack stuff to make sandwiches or anything. Then we headed out to Zion's National Park!  Our plan was to do Angel's Landing- which we did. It was pretty icy at the chain part for the last half-mile, so about half of us just stopped there, hung out for a while, then went back down. A few went up a ways on the chains but came up, and only Matt went all the way to the top. Even though we all started and ended at random times, we had a blast! It was such a beautiful hike and it was simply fun. I would suggest Zion's for anybody looking for something to do in Southern Utah.

View from the trail

The swithbacks

Bridget and I at the end of the paved section, start of the chains. Looking down from that tree = straight drop to bottom!

Catherine and Heather

We stopped for Mexican food after- Sunday (today) was Amanda's birthday, so they sang for her! =)

And that was our weekend! We drove back Saturday night and got back around 11:30pm and everything went smoothly and was just a blast! 

On the way back, we were trying to create stimulating conversation to keep us alive and awake, which wasn't hard, and so Heather asked the following question:  Who do you admire the most, besides someone in your family? There was one person that just came right to my mind when she asked that question, maybe because I had been texting him during the ride, but still I greatly admire him. I also got to skype with him earlier in the week and we just talked and talked for about two hours straight. haha Who is he?   

This is my dear friend Shaun. =)  We're buddies. He's one of my best friends. We have quite an interesting history haha but we are good good friends. He's in the Army. He's a firefighter. I am amazed at what this kid does and who he is. Not only did he make it through boot camp, but he loves what he does. He's full time Army, but volunteers at a civilian fire department as well, which means that he will go 72 hours straight working between his civilian and military posts sometimes. He's also a student now, taking two 5-hour long classes. Being a firefighter, he's also a paramedic, and he loves helping people. He tells me some of the calls he goes on and the experiences he has, and listening to his stories, you can tell that he really is so passionate about what He does, and he does all he possibly can to help those who need it. I admire and appreciate his choice to serve our country and those around him- it is a great comfort to know that there are people like him serving our nation and people, people who truly love and care for those they serve and who are passionate about what they do. 

Not only that, but he's probably one of the funniest people I know! =) We always have a great time together, can just talk and talk about anything and everything, and can just be our ridiculous silly crazy selves with each other. He's also one of those people who's got every reason to be confident in himself and his abilities, simply because he's one of those people who can do anything he puts his mind to. He also has one of those personalities where he doesn't complain very much. Which is impressive, because if I were in his place I would probably have a LOT to complain about! haha He tells me things and sometimes I start complaining for him, but he's just like "Eh, it happens" or "Comes with the job" or something similar to that. He might not know it, but I greatly admire that he is able to do that-and that he seems to have quite a bit of patience with the things he has to deal with and put up with there. 

Then, he goes and does stuff like this...

 

And says stuff like "Say what you will, I won't back down and I sure won't deny it" That's the Book of Mormon he's reading. Serious? Did you really just get better? =)   He once told me parts of his conversion story, since I was not able to be home during any of it or was able to be a part of it. I simply admire him for where he's come from and where he's going - that itself is amazing.  This young man probably has one of the strongest and most powerful testimonies I have heard in a long while, and I know I'm not the only one who is impressed by his strength in the gospel and in his faith. He does not care what others think about him being Mormon. He strives in faithfulness and takes opportunities to share his beliefs with others. This kid is just amazing. It's as simple as that. I think everybody should want to be his friend, simply because he's one of the best type of friends you could have. It's been awesome to still have him around to talk to so often with all of my other friends gone, with Karch gone in Brazil, and with Natalie in Jerusalem.  But even besides that, I'm just grateful that we've been able to create a friendship like the one we have now - comfortable, genuine, just all around awesome and fun. Please come visit me sometime in lame-old Provo Shaun. =)