thnx again

Round 2. Since it's November and you know, gratitude.

I'm grateful for.... 

Priesthood blessings. And having a dad that is always worthy and more than willing to give me one. 

Wise parents that will give me sound advice and that want to help me.

Having parents that tell me they love me often. I've realized how rare it is in families to hug each other and say 'I love you' everyday. 

(Wow, this has turned out to be a parents post. So I guess I'll keep it up!)

Family Night. We had it every single Monday growing up and it brought our family closer.  Because of it I knew my parents had a testimony, I knew my siblings had testimonies, I grew a testimony, and we all strengthened each other's testimonies.

My selfless mother. She has proven that serving others brings happiness. She is doing things for neighbors almost daily. She does things for my family daily. And she is very happy.

I really have such great parents.

thnx

I am thankful for...
(warning: mushy post. compared to my usual, at least)

progression.
..in anything.
i love the feeling when i'm working towards a goal or when i
accomplish something i've been working towards. I don't like feeling stuck or
like I'm not moving forward.

music.
what would i do without it?
nothing, i think.
writing and playing music is such a huge part of me and i feel so fulfilled
when i write something or learn something new. 

sisters.
they're who i go to for advice or just to cry to.
they're always there for me.

the temple.
i've been going a lot more often this fall and i've noticed that i have a
much larger desire to
serve more, pray more, read my scriptures more, and i'm just happier.

hugs.
they're just the best.

the northwest revisited: part 4

On the last day, we woke up and went to Carol's Corner Cafe with Betty for breakfast. When I lived up there, Betty would take me to breakfast or lunch there most weeks. We'd get fries and creamy chicken noodle soup and a massive pancake. We got all that for breakfast and more. And it was delightful. We got mint hot chocolate at McSteven's and also biscuits and gravy hot chocolate. We stopped by Multnomah Falls on the way out. What a treat!

Miss you already, Northwest. 

kloveyoubye.

the northwest revisited: part 3

On day three we drove up to Seattle. Well, ish. We drove up to Bremerton and drove on into the ferry and took an hour ferry ride right into Seattle. It was gorgeous. Pine trees lined the Puget Sound and then you could see the city get bigger and bigger as we got closer. I loved it. 

We pulled into the city and took a great ride on the Great Wheel, went to get some candy at the gum wall, took a ghost tour, went to Pike's Market, and just explored the city.

On our drive back to the 'Couv there was rain like you wouldn't believe. I was scared out of my britches, but I still managed to keep drifting off. Worst copilot eeever. Lizzie and Jake were totally out in the back seat. Luckily Brian drove us back with ease and we didn't die.

the northwest revisited: part 2

On our second day we went to the Oregon Coast. We went to the lighthouse at Cape Meares and had a little tour. WE GOT TO GO IN THE LIGHTHOUSE. What a dream come true. It was blistering hot up in that thur lighthouse, but the view was stellar.

We went to Oceanside and walked around on the beach for a while. The whole trip I had my phone in my back pocket and my camera bag around my neck. But for the beach I decided to ditch them both and just take my camera around my neck. Lucky I did, because that would have been yet another piece of my technology swallowed up by a body of water. Because, you see, Lizzie and I were just walking around, taking pictures, and Jake was climbing a log pole while Brian took pictures on the GoPro. The waves would come up on the beach and maybe touch our toes.

 

AND THEN. 

This gargantuan wave thrust itself upon the shore; hurling itself at everyone and everything in it's path. Lizzie has fast reflexes and booked it outta there. I saw the wave but didn't think it would be too much of a nuisance. But oh, how wrong I was. It hit my legs hard and I almost fell as I was running away. All I could do was just plant my feet there and try not to get knocked down. Unfortunately, it did knock me down pretty quickly. I had my fancy camera in my right hand. When the wave finally toppled me over I landed on my left hand (which later became extremely swollen, like a ripe tomato, but not red like a ripe tomato. More like purple like a plum). Just wanted to be descriptive in case you don't know your color wheel well. And, what do you know? I sprained my thumb.

Anyway, the water swirled around me and swept me up the beach. My first thought was, 'Oh my gosh, I'm wearing clothes and they're soaked now,' but after that all I could think about was saving my dear camera. Jake and Brian were back by the pole, both of them got pretty drenched, including their phones. (Luckily their phones made it). All they could see was my head and my camera above the water. Finally the wave slowly went back down and I felt some arms behind me help me up. Those arms belonged to this really cute guy (pictured below). It's like those stories where the girl is drowning and the cute lifeguard saves her life. Except on the extreme level that would be a ten and my story would be a two. And also he wasn't a lifeguard. And also I wasn't drowning. But still. There are similarities.

We stopped along the way home to use the bathroom. A massive pile of sand spilled out of my pants onto the bathroom floor. I got a tissue and tried to sweep it all up, but I couldn't. There was just too much sand. So, sorry guys who work there. I left a beach in your bathroom. Actually, you're welcome.

the northwest revisited: part 1

I've been dying to go back to the northwest from the second I stepped foot outta thur. So for like, 8 months. A few weeks ago, it finally happened and it was pretty fantastic. I got so excited when were driving along the Columbia River Gorge, even though it was 2 in the morn and dark as dark. But man, you could still see that tree line against the night sky from the pine trees and I love that. A lot.

Brian, Jake, Lizzie, and I left for the long stretch of driving Friday evening. We stopped at Jake's mom's house for some dinny din din and drove all night like a boss, except there were four bosses. We arrived in Vancouver at roughly 4:00 am. We dropped in at Betty's house and took a few hours to snooze. After catching those zzz's I hopped in the shower and it was ice cold. The heat was off and gosh dern it, I couldn't remember how to turn it on! But no matter, we all showered in it anyways (not together). We went to Killer Burger with Gordon and Betty, themselves! and got peanut butter burgers. Everyone was skeptical but after trying them they were totally into them. 

We drove on over a bunch of bridges to the Saturday Market in Portland. We feasted our eyes on the strangest people; a knife thrower, a hipster, two men doing some weird martial arts, bums...

We found the Cullen's house and some old guy was sitting on a chair reading by one of the massive windows. He probably hated us. Daggum nosy kids!

We went to a park and walked up this trail amongst the trees for a few miles, which was rather scenic. And then all we wanted to do was eat and sleep. So, we did, okay?

spiders.

I have arachnophobia I think. I hate spiders just as much as your average girl. I won't scream if I see one. I will shiver a little and maybe get a little squirmy. Every night I get into bed, search under and over my covers and look all around the walls and ceilings to check for spiders. Usually there are none in sight. Now, what caused this paranoia you may wonder? Many experiences.

Once in high school, I was reading scriptures in bed when I saw a movement in my peripherals. I looked to the pillow next to me and there was a spider intruding on my sleep premises! I quickly turned to my right to grab a tissue. I turned back to the spider, prepared to kill, but it was gone! IT WAS GONE. I tore my sheets apart trying to find it, but alas, it was too clever for me. I slept on my bare bed with a quilt that night. Def not in my covers. Ever since then, pre-bedtime spider checking is a normal routine in my life.

One time in college, when Lizzie was my roommate, I had a dream in the middle of the night (Imagine that!). In that dream, a spider was on his string lowering down from the ceiling, about to make my face his landing post. I woke up and shrieked and jumped out of bed, heading for the light switch. Lizzie woke up and thought I was getting kidnapped. Once the light was on I came to my senses. I told her about my dream and apologized for my outburst. Then we examined my bed, just in case. Lo and behold there was a spider on the side of my bed. For realz. We freaked out. That was the day I learned of my sixth sense.

The following summer, Lizzie and I were in a new house. I had an identical dream, freaked out, ran to the light switch, turned on the light, then realized that I was now in reality. There was no actual spider this time. Just a creepy crawly nightmare. That was the day I learned that I maybe don't actually have a sixth sense. Dern it.

This summer, 5 out of 7 mornings I would get in the shower (clarification: I showered 7 of 7 days) and there would be a spider, just waiting to wash up. Unfortunately for him, he couldn't handle the swift speed of the water streams, or the immense quantity of water spewing out. So, down the drain he would go. Luckily, my dad got some sprayage and there are no more spiders in my shower, or anywhere. I can step into the shower with no more worries of spider guts on my feet.

But, pre-bedtime spider checking is still a nightly ritual. And post spider nightmare checking is a monthly tradition.

half of a marathon

i completed half of a marathon a few weeks ago. that's 13.1 miles, if you didn't know. i never thought i'd make it that far. but, i did! obviously. katie and i ran it. not together though, because katie beat me by like 25 minutes. after one mile she said, "see ya!" and took off. it's okay though, because i just kept going. it was like the tortoise and the hare. except the hare totally won, but the tortoise still finished. and it was actually fun! running down big cottonwood in the mornin. the last few miles got a bit treacherous, especially the last little bit to the finish line. i couldn't keep running! i had to stop! but i couldn't! there were too many bystanders! so i ran my little heart out and finished with a whopping time of 2 hours and 17 minutes!

lindsay, mom, dad, and a cute boy were waiting for us at the finish line.

after the big run i grabbed some powerade and pizza and got a nice little massage.

I can finally check that off my dear bucket list. But of course I'll do it again. I think.

(Sorry, these picz are kinda blurry due to phone camera lack of quality)

BYO(insert item here)

You know when you get invited to a BBQ and you're like, "Sweet! Free food and fun!" Then you see these four little letters: BYOM (Bring Your Own Meat). And then you say, "Oh, um, nvm."

Or when you get invited to a game night or movie night and they say BYOS (Bring Your Own Snacks). It's like, sheesh, what are you even providing for me?! A location. That's it. A location. You're planning a party, but everyone else is providing their own everything. You're just taking credit for the party. You might as well say BYOM (Bring Your Own Movie).

Imagine this...

Cute boy: "Hey, what are you doing this weekend? Would you like to go on a date?"
Excited girl: "Why, yes I would!"
Cute boy: "Okay great! It's BYOD! See you thurrr!"

I personally believe that, if you're going to plan a party, you should actually provide the party. 
If you're going to plan a BBQ, you should provide the BBQ. Not just the grill.
If you're going to plan a movie night, you should provide the movie and the snacks.

But I've been known to have some pretty crazy opinions on things.

favs of the week

1 american dream by mkto
2 jamming with lizzie
3 crisp air
4 cuddling
5 jeggings
6 making candy grams
7 late night talks with lin when i'm feeling down (she is very wise)
8 taking polaroids
9 using my dslr camera (i finally kind of know how)
10 gettin ret for races

turns out.

So remember George? Well, turns out he doesn't mind weird people like myself. In fact, turns out he likes them. Also, turns out his name is really Brian. But I'm sure he wouldn't mind being called George. 

On Friday we went to Ensign Peak to watch the sunset. We hiked the treacherous trail to the top. 15 whole minutes of hiking! There were tons of little kids and families at the top learning all about how pioneers came to that spot long ago and then Utah became a thing.

As it got darker, the kids started leaving. Then there were couples everywhere just waiting for it to get dark so they could start making out. We decided to be hipsters and go against the mainstream, so we left. Once it got dark, all the city lights were on and I loved it. You can see the whole daggum valley! Pictures were hard to get due to low shutter speed making it blurry. But don't worry, I got some good pictures of the sunset.

And also a hottie hottie (see below on left).

So anyways.

laketh powelleth.

this week i got to go to the loverly lake powell. the actual happiest place on earth, contrary to disneyland's claims. this is year three of spending time with that lake and i would like to make it four next year. actually, i'd like to make it four this year but, no can do. anyway, i made some big milestones this year at powell. 

first of all, i cleared the dang wake on the dang wakeboard finally. 

second, i started gettin a rooster tail goin. hollerrrr. 

third, look mom! no hands!

we climbed some rocks.

did some tubage and bottled it up in our minds to save for winter.

now, i feel the need to explain the goggles. while they are not a killer fashion statement, they make tubing 10x more enjoyable as you don't have to worry about getting water in your eyes. they create a whole new tubing experience that didn't exist before. you can lay on your belly on the tube and actually see everything that goes on around you, all from the simple addition of gogs.
#goggles4lyphe

we also jumped off large rocks. look at lindsay's feet. They are ret to go.
(i realize that this photo isn't actual proof that we jumped, but you have my word that jumping off that huge 7 foot rock happened).

we sat in the boat in the shade of the rocks for some time, eating pringles and an array of junk food.

my brother and his wife tried to be cute. and, i guess they were depending on your style.

dad and me pretended to be on titanic.

after saying goodbye to the lake, we went to antelope canyon with all the navajo's.

sorry this picture kind of reaks, due to the different sun splotches and lack of flash usage due to rules saying no flash. also, i don't know how to use my new camera yet soo.

we rode on seats in the bed of the truck and pretty much bounced 1-2 feet in the air whenever we hit a small rock or bump. it was like an amusement park ride and a tour with navajo's all in one. a two-fer! two fer one! what a steal!

this is my brother.

 and this is antelope canyon. prits neat.

lake pal was great with my powells.
and i think i liked it enough to maybe even do it again next year.
...lemme ask my dad.