Rough Day....

You know those days when you wake up...not wanting to get out of bed and then you try to come up with some reason/excuse to not go to work.  Yeah today has been one of those days! I'm just out of my groove!

Sterling also come home with some horrid news!  He's on call for thanksgiving!! NO! I do NOT DO NOT want to stay in Salmon by ourselves for thanksgiving! We where going to go to Sters house.....see family...play games....EAT orange rolls...cut down a tree and enjoy our time off work! Now we get to stay home all weekend!

I also had no energy for my zumba class which is super lame if I'm lame.  Oh, and in our house a bomb went off.

I sat down tonight to eat my dinner...which of course was oatmeal since I refused to make din din and my ears brought me so much EXCITEMENT!  I heard my most favorite creative song on a tv show!  When I sold my old computer, I didn't get my music.  I had this one song that I would listen to over and over.  I never knew what it was called because I got it from my friend Leslie. It's called "Nara" by E.S. Posthumus.

I love how music can motivate you and just play to your emotions. When I listen to this song, I feel like I'm on an adventure..like rowing a boat down the river in the middle of Africa. It just always makes me want to take on the world.  It doesn't have any words but I just love the notes!

Another song that speaks to me is from  pride and prejudice (Liz on top of the world by Aidan Broadbridge).  When I was in school I had a study play list and these two songs where played like 10 times a day.

It was a tough day but finding that song just made my day! Plus, I have the best SUGAR ever!!

Look them up.....sorry I have no idea how to link them! They are worth the effort even though they are different.....some may dislike but I heart them!

Love One Another

This last weekend I took 23  high school students on a Natural Helpers retreat.  Natural Helpers is a program that has been around for years in high schools. Students are chosen by their peers because other students go to them for help.

At the retreat students learned how to enhance their natural helping skills...they also learned how to be better people. They learned kindness towards others. We took a mix of kids from different groups. Kids that thought they knew each other but really had no idea who their peers where. They shared stories...shared about special people in their lives....they cried....they bonded and learned how to make their school a better place. It was amazing to see these kids open up.  I just loved everything about this program.

The students also learned about gossiping and going out of their way to be kind to others. I never thought I was going to get a lesson too but of course I did since I'm so far from being perfect.  I learned that I really need to work on not gossiping which I have been working on. I still have lots of room for improvement but I learned something interesting this weekend. When I hear people gossiping I just listen... don't comment and change the subject. The trainer taught us that listening is still partaking in the gossip and that we need to stop it before it happens. He's so right!! I need to not let it happen at all!

I also learned that I need to be more kind and giving to others. I just don't go out of my way enough for others. I remember in college I did nice things for my roommates and friends all the time. I would write them a note or make them a treat...just surprise them with something small and leave it for them to find. It always made me feel so good inside. I did it for Sterling all the time when we were dating. I can't even remember the last time I did something like that.  It always made my heart smile and I miss that feeling.  I have thought in my head about people that I want to do that for but I never go through with it. I'm going to do it now.  I need to listen to those sweet whisperings from the spirit.  I need to be his hand reaching out to others.  I need to be a better example to others.

I have just been thinking about things I need to work on.  I went to the Relief Society Conference last night and I haven't been in years?! That's horrible I know!!! I'm looking forward to conference and truly listening.  I love hearing from the apostles and I love getting pumped up to do better.

I love being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I love that I know that Jesus Christ lives and that I can talk to him everyday.  I love that I can feel his love around me each day.  I love knowing that I will be with my husband forever and that there is no end to my family!  I love the warm fuzzy feelings I get when I feel the spirit.  I love the little things in life that make me smile.

This video made my heart melt and shows how amazing kindness is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naqX9iYE0V0&feature=relmfu

Hiking BEASTS 2!

Hike number 2! We did a 26 mile loop hike in 2 days! Wow is YES! By the end of the first day we both thought about  just dropping in the middle of the trail and not moving for HOURS!

 We did get lost and at one point we where climbing on the side of the mountain but we made it to our destination!  We saw over 20 lakes on our hike.....climbed over 6 passes and hiked up to 13,000 ft?! (i think)

Yes thanks Sterling for all the pictures of me BY MYSELF! He refused to let me take pictures of him! He claimed he likes pictures with me in them instead of him! Little stinker!

We hiked down this crazy steep mountain pass! The little dot in the picture is me coming down! It was so steep!

On the drive home we stopped at Red Fish Lake in Standley! It was so PRETTY! We put our feet in the water and felt super refreshed.  We then went to the gas station. I was so HUNGRY!  I was such a fat kid ...I got yummy gas station nachos with that delis yellow cheese and chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich! DO NOT JUDGE ME!   Ster also joined me in the fat kid club.....he got chips, juice and mountain dew!  Worth every bite!

Hiking BEASTS!

WE LOVE BACKPACK TRIPS!  Nothing better than the Hubs...the pup..fresh air....fresh spring water....mountains.....lakes.....scones and fishies! We hiked a 20 mile loop in 2 days! Our little feetsies hurt but the pain was worth the escape in the wilderness. 

Our new tent! Sterling is obsessed!

Prettiest camp site!

 Favorite memory of the trip:  We went fishing in the above. Ster caught a few fishies but they where pretty small so we let them go.  I too caught a little fishy so we let him go too.  As I went to throw the cast out again I saw something small still on the hook. YES, it was the poor little fishes EYE! The fish still fell off in the water so we didn't realize that I caught the fish but the eye and not the month.  Well like a second later the fish came to shore and was swimming in circles. He couldn't see and was so confused! It was the saddest thing I have ever seen! I felt so bad for the FISH! We caught him and had to put him out of his misery.

I felt so bad for the fish so I insisted that we eat him even though he was super SMALL! I couldn't let that little fish die in vain! He was pretty tasty and my guilt went away when with just one bite! Yes, he was that good!! Thanks little fish!

Best weekend of the summer with my SUGAR!

The WORLD of blogging...

I just spent like the last 3 hours of my life blog stocking....

I love blogging and I love reading..learning...seeing....dreaming....imagining when I read all these blogs!

I love blogging but I also find myself thinking less about my talents....my blessing....my life and worry about what others have that I don't have.  I love reading my friends and family's blogs.....I find joy in their joy and sadness when they are hurting. 

I'm more referring to the blogs that are a business. I know most of them do it and truly mean well.  Most of them truly are just about their lives.  It just makes me think....why is there life so interesting? Why do people get sucked into reading about their life everyday? It's just like reality TV...why are we so fascinated with others lives?

I'm so one of those people who is fascinated with other peoples lives. I just don't get it!!! WHY?!

We all have our own amazing lives. We all have those moments where we think we can't go on and than there's that moment when you think life just can't get any BETTER!

I have made a goal to stop looking at people's lives and wishing that I had what they have.  I'm so sick of wishing to have more money....wishing that we lived somewhere else.....wishing for a different job..wishing for a baby....wishing for new material things and talents that others have!!!

My life is AMAZING! I have my health...my family and the best hubby ever! Yay for our great lives!

Crazy FUN

Since school has been out and I have had the summer off...... everyday has been PLAY TIME!

-I have been to church in my home ward like twice this summer....kinda sad! Church is hard in other wards! I can't focus!

-in the month of July I have been home a total of 10 days

-my life when I am home is work work work

- Since summer we have had so much family time!! Yippy!

In July I went on a sister trip with my sister in-laws! Love them!! They are the best! We went on a road trip to California.  We stayed in Carlsbad which is about 30 mins from San Diego on the coast. We stayed with a family that Jess knew.  They are empty nesters.  They where amazingly nice and sweet!

Day 1-Las Vegas! We walked around Vegas for a few hours...it was so HOT! We finished our drive and took a tip in the pool when we got to the family's house we stayed at.

The Bellagio had hydrangeas everywhere!  I loved it!

Day 2- Shopping .....and BEACH DAY! Ah I love the beach! Its so peaceful.....ah I just feel like the beach warms my soul....if that makes sense?! Its a wonderful place.....I LOVE THE OCEAN!

Day 3-Disneyland! It was a fun day filled with lost of princeses, sugar, sun and rides! It was a fun day but I think I have had my fill of Disneyland for like the next 10 years! So many people and so many lines!

I love Tangled! I can't help it!

Day 4- I started the morning off with a run to the beach! Oh I wish I could do that run everyday! The air smelled amazing and there's nothing like have the beach as your destination!   Beach Day and Surfing! Yes, I got to go surfing for the first time and yes, I GOT UP! I loved it even though it goes by way to fast!  I can't wait until I can go again someday! Mike was the dad of the family we stayed with.   He's a surfer dude and taught us his skills.  After surfing he and his wife took us to dinner.  They where so fun to talk too! They are such a fun couple and I loved staying with them.  We felt so welcome in their house! I hope one day I can return the favor when I'm a empty nester and have some girls road trip it to my house!

Day 5-DRIVING DRIVING and more DRIVING! It was still a fun filled day with lots of fun convo's!

Thanks KATIE for taking me!! I had so much fun with my sisters!!! Great memories! More pictures to come. Katie has all the cute pictures!  More updates on summer to come.

Chaffin (SNOW) Lake

Attempt 2 at backpacking in the summer where the SNOW NEVER melts!

Two weeks ago we drove up to Montana.  It was so so warm and sunny.   In the valley it was like 90 degrees.  The forest was so pretty and so alive compared to the first hike we went on this year.  It was so green.  I loved it!  We hiked the along the river/creek.  I love the sound of water....so relaxing! 

About 5 miles into the hike you had to cross the river.  The river was super high from all the snow melt.  We had to hike off the trail to find a safe place to cross.  Once we crossed the creek we stepped into SNOW! YES, it was like 80 degrees but we reached the snow line at about 7,000 ft.  No fun!  No trail and lots of snow in tenny shoes!  Along our snow hike we did come across a beautiful waterfall that was coming down every way possible.  It was one of the prettiest waterfalls we have ever seen.  

 

We finally reached the lake thinking oh the snow will be more melted since it gets direct sunlight....WRONG!  The lake was still frozen on the out shirts.  We walked around the entire like before we found a HUGH rock to camp on.  My spirits where pretty low and I was praying like crazy that we would find a place to stay. I was just so burnt out from hiking in all the snow and water.  I wanted to get dry and restore my energy plus I fell like a billion times in the snow.  It was either super slushy/slick or you just fell though to your knee.  Not fun.  The rock was our moment of glory!

We set up camp..got fire wood...made dinner and checked out the 2nd lake above us.  After dinner we made scones!  Yes, in the middle of the woods we made scones with maple frosting.  I buy rhodes rolls and make the frosting before we leave.  It has become a tradition that we make scones when we car camp or go on a night trip.  Its just so yummy! We had so much fun and I'm so happy that we found that rock! It saved our trip.  I love spending time with my sugar in nature.  We have so much fun together.  It's one of our most favorite things to do together!  Yeah for summer and snow!

This is the lake we camped at.....you can see our little orange tent in the background

July or December?

This is the upper lake....half frozen.  I guess there is one more lake after this one but we couldn't see it with all the snow.

Yeah for weekend fun getaway with my best friend!