Mocktail 2007

My list of "things I'm looking forward to" is shrinking, and one activity I have removed is "Mocktail 2007". Last night was the 2nd Annual Mocktail Party and it was a blast! The party was held at the Lone Peak Pavillion in Sandy. Sandra, Steph & Ali threw a fabulous party! There was dancing, a chocolate fountain & cheese fountain with finger foods, and excellent "Mocktail" drinks. My favorite was the Lime Rickey. I had 3 of them! Anyway, I had a really good time, surrounded by lots of friends and others who were there to have fun. I even made some new friends! As I compare last year's Mocktail to last night, I see a handful of differences that are worth mentioning here. First, the fact that I made new friends last night is huge! Last year I stuck by Mariah as if we were joined at the hip. But last night I talked to so many different people and danced more than I expected (And when I say danced, I mean I was on the dance floor when music was being played. I really can't dance at all). Several guys asked me to dance and I even asked a guy to dance (twice). I participated in a few of the group dances (the Chicken Dance, the Electric Slide...) which is totally out of my comfort zone, but I had fun. This year I bought my dress in August. It was on clearance at JC Penny for $24.97, normally $200! Steph picked it out and I think she did a great job. Last year, I wore the skirt I wore at Travis & Brooke's wedding. It worked, but it wasn't my favorite outfit. This year I had Staci do my hair in an up-do. I'm happy that my hair is long enough to do it up! And probably the biggest difference of all is that I've lost a lot of weight since last year. See for yourself!

It's hard for me to post this picture! But I love seeing the progress I've made over the last year. I don't think I look like the same person, and I know I definitely don't feel like the same person. I can't wait for next year's party!

A Million Ways to Save the World

In the October issue of "O Magazine" (Oprah's magazine), there was an article titled "A Million Ways to Save the World". Author Edwidge Danticat shared her idea for ways to save the world.

"I would teach every child...that the future is as infinite as their dreams, and when they don't quite reach it, they are not failing but rehearsing. And I would tell them that when their heart is broken, it heals back stronger with each tear."

We need more people like her in the world! If everyone had that attitude, kids would grow up so confident and happy. I guess the best place for it to start is with me!

I'm Vanilla

Melynda had this quiz on her website that tells you what kind of ice cream you are. So, I took it and here are the results:

http://www.the-n.com/games/quiz_main.php?id=3243

You're as popular and relaxing as vanilla ice cream. You go with the flow, and get along with all sorts of people. You appreciate peace and simplicity, so you sometimes find crowds and loud noises overwhelming. You are a chilled-out, calming influence on the people in your life, and your friends appreciate how supportive and flexible you are.


Hmmmmm...interesting!

Life's Lessons

I'm amazed at the way the Lord teaches me lessons. Sometimes I learn through experiences I never want to go through again. Sometimes it's through a testimony, a talk, or lesson at church. Sometimes it's through music, a movie, or a book. But sometimes it's through an experience I will always be grateful for and would love to go through again. Those experiences are rare but powerful. Here's what I've learned over the last few weeks because of an amazing experience:

• I have not set my expectations too high and I do not have to settle for just any guy out there. I now know there are guys out there who meet and exceed my expectations. They're just really hard to find!
• I am beautiful & amazing. I know others can see that, but I have finally learned to see it in myself. I now recognize my self-worth.
• My weakness can be a strength, but only with the Lord's help. He is so willing to help me but only on the condition that I exercise my faith and act as He needs me to.
• It's important to tell someone how you feel when you recognize something good in them. Share a compliment even if you don't know how it will be received. I've also learned that I feel good giving compliments and trying to build someone up.

I am almost overwhelmed that I learned so much in such a short time, and all because of one person. My life has changed only for the better because I was told I'm beautiful. Not just once, but every day (sometimes several times a day). There was something about the way it was said that made me believe it. The compliments were always honest and genuine. Being treated that way was something I thought only happened in fairy tales.

Gavin, if you read this, thank you. Thank you for helping me learn so much. I know you are a blessing in my life and I will be forever grateful for you. Thank you for living your life in a way that the Lord was able to use you to bless my life. Thank you for treating me better than I've ever been treated. For the last few weeks, I've felt like a queen. I don't think I stopped smiling. Everything I have learned from you has made me a better person. You were the right person at the right time to help me see what I haven't seen before. Thank you for telling me I'm beautiful. I believe you...and I know it.

Who Am I?

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." ~Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles," 1992 (commonly misattributed to Nelson Mandela, 1994 inauguration speech)

Gavin shared this with me the other night. He heard it while watching "Akeelah and the Bee" and loved it so much he wrote it down. I'm so glad he shared it with me. I can see how it applies to me and him. He let his light shine and gave me permission to do the same. Read my post "Life's Lessons" and you'll see how it applies to both of us.

Family Photo Shoot

On Saturday we walked around Gardner Village. Meghan & Steven wanted to get a picture for their Christmas card and we ended up taking lots of fun pictures. It was a beautiful day and we had a good time looking through the shops and just spending time together.

We Finished It!

So here's the finished product! Too bad we actually finished it the same night I complained that it would never get done (11/13)! So, here's a run down of the materials (it's impressive, I know): siding: Tootsie Rolls; roof: Skittles; red, white & green end: Cadbury chocolate balls; brick end: Hershey's Miniatures; candy canes: Starburst Strawberry (yum!). Gavin made the frosting and it is so amazingly strong! This house will stand through the holidays for sure. It's too cute not to keep it as a Christmas decoration!

Thanksgiving with the Family

Here are a ton of pictures from Thanksgiving! I had a full house--Meghan & Steven arrived on Tuesday afternoon and Jeremy came in on Wednesday. On Thanksgiving, Amanda, James, and Tyler & Jenn came over to spend dinner with us. It was a Fenn Family Fiesta!

Me and the turkey heart. I laughed the whole time I was getting the insides out!
The finished product!
Lots and lots of broth

Steven & Meghan helped so much!And Bo carved the turkey!

L-R: Jeremy, Jenn, Tyler, Meghan, Steven, Amanda and James. It was a tight squeeze! Lots of good food (I'm still eating it)
Amanda was in charge of dessert and she done good! Pumpkin & Key Lime Cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory! Yum!Everything was SO good! I was a little nervous that the turkey wouldn't turn out, but it was pretty good for my first one. The dressing was delicious, and Meg made yummy mashed potatoes. Okay, so it was all good and I can't wait to cook another meal like it!

A work in progress

I feel like this gingerbread house is a lot like the road construction on 106th...it's never going to get finished! Just kidding! Gavin & I started making this gingerbread house on Friday night after our date to the Festival of Gingerbread Houses at Thanksgiving Point. We got the walls up and the roof on, held together with Gavin's amazing frosting-glue. On Saturday we got the roof decorated, although the frosting started to drip and we lost part of the red & orange skittles. The siding is done (not in this picture) with tootsie rolls and it looks so cute! We have intentions of finishing the decorations, but who knows when it will happen!

We laugh a lot when we're together. And smile too. Maybe that's why the gingerbread house isn't done!

Simple Joys

A common exclamation at home in Benson is, "Sunrise alert!" or "Sunset alert!" And I'll be honest, Arizona does have beautiful sunrises & sunsets. But this morning I think I saw the most beautiful sunrise ever. I had to call 3 different phones to get in touch with mom and dad but when I did, it was so fun to say, "Sunrise alert!" I was so happy as I drove to work, watching the clouds & sky & mountains and talking to my parents. A simple joy...but it made me smile all day!

I love apples. Granny Smith are my favorite. But I don't like to eat apples unless they are already cut up. I was getting my lunch ready this morning and couldn't find the apple slicer. I had a small panic attack! Amy told me it was in the dishwasher and she'd had it at work for a while. I was happy to know I didn't have to cut my apple with a knife, or worse yet, eat it whole. As I ate my cut up apple at work, I sent Amy a text and told her how happy I was to eat my cut up apple! Another simple joy.

I got a cute text today from a really cute boy. Part of it said, "When do I get to see you again?" How adorable is that? (Gavin, I know you'll read this, so just know your text was another simple joy!) I love finding simple things that make life so happy!

I'm a slacker, as always

Every day I think of updating my blog, even if I don't have anything profound or exciting to share. It's obvious all I do is think about it! I am going to update it this next week and hopefully keep it up-to-date for at least 2 weeks. It's my goal. Maybe I can do it for the whole month of November. Anyway, I just got back from Disneyland so I have fun things to share. The pictures are all on Val's camera so I'll have to wait for her to share. We had a great time! We also had a Fenn Family dinner on Tuesday before Marcus went to the MTC. I'll update soon!

First Snow

I know it's only October, but the snow is here! Late Saturday night it was coming down pretty hard, and this is what I woke up to Sunday morning. Isn't it beautiful?! In addition to the snow, it was a great Sabbath day.We had a regional conference and President Hinckley presided. He gave an awesome talk on four cornerstones to a good marriage. "Don't be afraid" was the theme of President Packer's talk. There were several other talks and the common theme seemed to be strengthening families against the evils of the world. I feel blessed that we had this conference in addition to General Conference a few weeks ago. Hearing from the Prophet & other leaders is a blessing I try not to take for granted.

It's A Girl!

Trish just let me know she's having a girl and she's due at the end of March! Yay!!

Alone at home with nothing to do

It's almost 9 o'clock and I just got home from Chris's house. He got a new car and just finished painting his room. That's all of the excitement I've had this evening. I have no idea where my roommates are and I'm bored to death. I should have stayed at Chris's longer. Oh well. So, here I am, looking through everyone's blogs, trying to keep myself entertained. Marie had a fun quiz on her blog, so I took it. It's called "What Gender is Your Brain?" I took it and here are my results:

Your Brain is 80% Female, 20% Male
Your brain leans female. You think with your heart, not your head. Sweet and considerate, you are a giver, but you're tough enough not to let anyone take advantage of you!

These results bring a smile to my face. You can take it too if you're bored like me. http://www.blogthings.com/whatgenderisyourbrainquiz/

The Ultimate "Amy" Moment

Last week I went on a date. Hard to believe, but so true! My friend Michael gave my number to his friend Kyle and we talked on the phone for a bit. He asked me out for last Wednesday and I agreed to go, although I had no idea who this guy was. He picked me up a little after 6 and we went to dinner at Johnny Carino's at Jordan Landing. There we met up with Kyle's coworker and her husband who live in West Jordan. Dinner was tasty and entertaining, and we decided to go roller skating after. When we got to the skating rink, we found it was closed so we went with plan B, which was bowling. I thought it would be fun and harmless, but I thought wrong. We got to the bowling alley and started setting up for the game. I was wearing some dressy shoes, so I had on trouser socks, which are thin and almost like nylons. I didn't take this into consideration when I got my shoes, so the size that normally fits was actually a little too big. I figured it was no big deal and got myself ready to bowl. I was the last to bowl the first frame, so all eyes were on me to see how good I really was. I knew I was horrible but figured we'd all get a good laugh...and that we did. I walked toward the lane and started to throw my ball. I stopped where I thought I should and started to release the ball. My shoes stopped but my feet slid in the shoes and my body kept moving forward. The ball went flying into the next lane, and I started to really lose my balance. I put my left foot down to try to keep myself from falling, but I was too far into the lane and I was on the waxy, slippery surface. I had no control over my left foot but figured I had control over my right foot. So, somehow, I spun around and was facing Kyle and the other couple. I was frantically searching for the regular ground, but had already slipped too far onto the slippery surface and couldn't avoid falling. My right foot hit the ground and I lost all control. My legs went up behind me and as I began to fall, I said (rather loudly), "Oh, here I go!" My elbows hit the ground first, then my hips and finally my knees. I was laying on the lane, face down, spread-eagle. Oh my goodness, how that hurt! Of course, all of this happened in a few seconds, but I felt like an eternity passed as I looked up at Kyle and everyone else in the bowling alley who was staring at me! I was about 2 feet down the lane, so I had to scoot myself off by doing an army-type crawl. There was no way I was going to try to stand up again! When I finally got up, Kyle came running towards me, laughing but sincerely asking if I was okay. I was laughing hysterically, mainly to keep from crying, and made my way to the chairs. All I could say was, "I need different shoes!" I explained what happened, which caused more laughter, and Kyle got me a smaller pair of shoes. I couldn't finish that frame, but I won the game! I beat everyone in our group and that was a proud moment for me. All throughout the night we laughed about my fall. I still laugh when I think about it! Someday, when we're watching the YouTube videos of our lives, we'll all enjoy this video of my first date with Kyle! (Many people have wondered if that fall was on the security videos at the bowling alley. It's possible it will end up on YouTube sometime soon!!) Thankfully, I am recovering and the bruises are starting to go away. My elbows are pretty beat up, I have a bruise on my right hip, and my left knee was swollen but is now just bruised. I have been known to take a few falls in my life, but this one takes them all!

Enjoying Fall

Last Sunday I went for a drive with Sandra & Chris. We went up through Butterfield Canyon and it was absolutely beautiful! I'm enjoying autumn and love living in a state where there is a distinct difference in all four seasons. Here are some pictures from our adventure.

Fun Night Out

On Friday night I went to dinner with Valerie, Shannon & Annie. We decided to go to Salt Lake for Mexican food at The Red Iguana. After an hour wait, we were finally seated and enjoyed a delicious meal. I had a pork enchilada with a mango salsa and it was divine! After dinner we went to see "The Waitress" at the dollar theater in Sugarhouse. It was a fun night not only because I was with fun friends, but because we ventured out of South Jordan! I'm having fun making more friends and love the way each of my friends influences my life for good. Stay tuned for more posts of fun times with friends!

Brooke & Travis's Visit to Utah

At the beginning of September, Travis & Brooke came up to Utah for a long overdue visit. They kept a very busy agenda but managed to spend quite a bit of time with me. I picked them up from the airport on Thursday (Sept. 6th) and we spent the evening together. We ate at Chili's and drove around South Jordan so I could show them the city I live in. We drove up to see the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple, which is just about 2 minutes from my house. On Friday, we went up to Salt Lake to visit Temple Square. Travis had never been through the conference center, so we took a tour and then visited the Tabernacle. After that, we went up to Park City, intending to visit the outlet stores and then go walk through downtown Park City. After almost 4 hours of shopping, we were exhausted and decided to just go home.

Me, Travis & Brooke on top of the conference center

Brooke & Me inside the conference center

They spent most of the day Saturday visiting Brooke's friend in Provo, and then they drove up to Ogden for a wedding reception & get together with some of Travis's mission buddies. (If you want to know the details, you can read it on their blog). I had to work on Monday, so Brooke & Trav came down to go to lunch with me & spend a little more time with me. I drove them to the airport that evening and sadly said goodbye. I had so much fun with them here. I haven't had an opportunity to spend time with them since they got married (besides Meghan & Steven's wedding) so this was quality time with them. I enjoyed getting to know Brooke more and I'm so grateful she's family. I love my family--all of them! It's hard living far away from everyone but it has been fun having them come visit me throughout this year. Me & My Trav saying goodbye at the airport

My First MLS Game

Last Wednesday I attended my first Major League Soccer game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake! I went with Valerie, Shannon & Derek and we had so much fun! We went to dinner at Chili's (my favorite) then went to the game. We got tickets through Comcast and they were really good seats up in the 'tower'. We sat up where the suites are and had access to good food and treats. I didn't know anything about soccer, but thanks to Derek I learned a lot and actually got really into the game! We played the LA Galaxy and it was a sold out game because Beckham was supposed to be there. Too bad he's injured so he didn't even show up! Oh well, it was still a lot of fun. I'd love to go again (even if REAL is the 2nd worse team in the MLS)!

Autumn Days

Spring and Summer are my two favorite seasons. I love the crisp blue skies of spring, and the often very hot days of summer. Sunshine makes me smile (and tan!). Spring is my favorite because it means winter is over and won't come back for a long time. Summer is so completely opposite of winter and that's another reason I love it. But then there are days like today when I can't deny that fall is also a beautiful season. Yesterday I got out my pumpkin spice candle and the house smells so good. I found a few fall decorations and displayed them in the living room. And now here I am, sitting on the couch with all of the windows and doors open, just enjoying a beautiful evening. A very little breeze is blowing, and the air is cool enough that I can feel fall in it. School is in session, football season has started, and soon some good TV shows will begin a new season. I have set a goal to enjoy autumn this year. I LOATHE winter, especially in Utah, so I've promised myself I won't dwell on the fact that it's just around the corner. Maybe I'll enjoy winter this year with all of my "positive thinking". And maybe, just maybe, I'll have a special someone to enjoy it with. That would definitely make it all better...but I can't take this too far...

Happy Birthday Travis!

Today is Travis's 23rd birthday! He seems so much older than that...probably because he's married. I still remember when mom and dad told me & Josh that we would have a new baby in our family. We were at our house in Colton and that's really all I remember. But I know I was excited to have a new baby. I was in kindergarten when he was born, and my class took a field trip to my house to see him and watch my mom give him a bath. He was a cute baby and I loved having him around. As he grew older, he got the nickname of "Hopper" because of the way he would bounce when we held him. That name stuck and some people still call him that! One of our favorite family videos is when Mickey (Jeremy) & Travis were outside playing with the shovel, and Jeremy says, "Hey Hopper! Hops! Hey!" Hopper threw the "shobel in da dickers" and Mickey was mad at him. It's the CUTEST video ever! While Hopper & Mickey weren't exactly angels, I still smile when I remember them as kids. Travis and I have a special bond, and I think that came from the years I wanted to kill him when I had to babysit him. As we both grew up, we grew closer and found we actually liked each other. He's become one of my best friends and I love the friendship we have now. I'm so glad I was able to spend time with him & Brooke while they were in Utah. It's times like this, when I know my whole family is together celebrating, that I wish I lived closer to them. But, I don't, so I all I can do is wish my Trav a happy birthday from Utah! I love you my nov!

I need more time!

I've had a several discussions over the past few days about time. It seems we all complain at one time or another about the lack of time in a day. Brooke said she wishes life would slow down for a bit. Kendra loves to talk about how life goes by faster the older she gets. My friend's dad said today to enjoy life one day at a time or it passes you by. Dad says if we had more time in a day, we'd still complain about not having enough time! At times I do wish life was simple, like when we were kids. All we worried about was not having enough time to play outside while the sun was out. Recess was never long enough, and summer was way too short for my liking. I'm feeling overwhelmed because I have so much I need to get done, yet the day goes by so fast I rarely get anything on my "to-do" list accomplished. I've decided there are a few things I can do without to allow myself more time each day:

1. Don't get ready in the morning: no shower, no make up, no hair, no ironing, no making my bed, no packing my lunch. Just get up and go!
2. Avoid using the bathroom 1000 times a day. Okay, I really don't go often, but think of how much time I could save not going at all!
3. Never sleep. This one hurts me to say, but really, think of all I can get done in the 5-8 hours I sleep every night!

I know it's impossible to eliminate any of these steps from my life! I just need to evaluate my priorities...if I even have any...and start focusing on the things I consider important and get them done. If anyone has any advice, please share it...if you have any time!

Eclipse

August 7th was a day I was very excited for. Eclipse was being released and I planned on having it at midnight. I even had it on my "things I'm looking forward to" list. Well, August 7th came and I didn't have Eclipse. In fact, I just got it on Friday. What kind of fan am I? I'm disappointed in myself, as I know several of my friends are. I have been so busy preparing talks & lessons and working, and I knew I couldn't give the time needed to read. So, I decided this weekend I'd lose myself in Eclipse, and that's exactly what I did. I read almost all day Saturday and late into the night. Sunday I read for only a few hours, then finished this morning by the pool.

Eclipse was just as good as Twilight and helped me like New Moon even more. I am so excited that it opened paths for a fourth book. Let the countdown begin for whatever Stephenie Meyer is working on next!

Jane Austen Heroine

What a fun, girly website! http://www.strangegirl.com/austenquiz takes the Jane Austen fans through a series of questions to determine which heroine you are. I'll be honest, I've taken the quiz 3 times, and twice I was a different character. But Elinor Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility was the character I was twice, so I'm posting her. The first was Jane Bennett of Pride & Prejudice and that made me happy! She's my favorite heroine, but I know it's a stretch for me to think of myself as being as compassionate and lovely as she is. So, I'll deal with being Elinor and try to improve on being more like Jane.

"You are Elinor Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are practical, circumspect, and discreet. Though you are tremendously sensible and allow your head to rule, you have a deep, emotional side that few people often see."

Do you agree?

Josh Groban Concert

I love Josh Groban. That really says it all, but for entertainment's sake, I'll tell you why! I was introduced to the vocal dazzlings of Josh Groban about 4 years ago by my friend Amber. I immediately fell in love with his voice and my love for him, his voice, and his songs only grows as I continue to listen to him. On Tuesday night, Amanda, Sandra, & I went to his concert at the Delta Center (okay, I know the name changed but I don't like the new name). We rode TRAX up to SLC, ate dinner, and then joined the billions (minus a few) of people who showed up for the concert. I really couldn't believe how many people were there. And we all got a pleasant surprise when we got there and found out this concert was being recorded as the DVD for this tour! I think everyone was even more excited and louder once we knew this. Anyway, he opened with "You Are Loved" which is one of my very favorites and is a special song to me. He performed every song (I think) from his new album Awake and also did my very favorite, "Remember When It Rained" from the Closer CD. He did 3 encores, which were spectacular! The first was "Canto Alla Vita"(another favorite), followed by "You Raise Me Up", and the last was a new song so I have no idea what the name of it is. But I'm excited for it to be released, whenever that is. In the meantime, I'm very content with the CDs he does have out. Rumor has it he's releasing a Christmas album sometime soon! I can't wait!

Four!

I got the idea to post this on my blog from Kendra, but I've received this "getting-to-know-me" questionnaire in a ton of emails. Some of this information might be a repeat from those emails but some of it isn't! Read on!

Four jobs I've had:
1. Safeway Pharmacy
2. Home Depot
3. The Brain Garden (don't ask)
4. American Crafts

Four places I've lived:
1. Colton, CA
2. Benson, AZ
3. Seattle, WA
4. South Jordan, UT

Four TV shows I like to watch:
1. Friends
2. CSI - Las Vegas
3. Almost anything on TLC
4. The Office

Four places I've been on vacation:
1. France
2. England
3. Scotland
4. Jackson Hole, WY (doesn't sound as good as Europe, but still love it!)

Four places I'd rather be right now:
1. Arizona
2. Somewhere outside the US
3. On a cruise
4. Asleep

Four places I like to shop:
1. If you know me at all, you know I don't really like to shop!
2. But sometimes I like to shop at Old Navy
3. Sometimes Trade Secret (hair stuff)
4. Occasionally Barnes & Noble

Wo unto the hypocrite!

I've been looking through several different blogs that haven't been updated in a LONG time. I thought, "I really wish people would update their blogs! They have to have something going on that is worth blogging." Then, I sheepishly realized I hadn't updated in a while either. So, to avoid being a hypocrite, I am not going to comment on the "old" blogs and I will update mine in the next few days. Kendra actually gave me a few ideas for new posts so I'm going to work on them and get them posted!

Fun In Jackson Hole, Wyoming

While Meghan & Steven were out & about in Southern California, I was up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming! It was a great weekend to travel! Our ward planned a campout/rafting trip and what fun we had! Most everyone left last Thursday morning and my roommate Amy & I headed up later that night (us responsible adults had other obligations that kept us back). We were eager to get up there to join our friends, but sadly took a wrong turn and drove many miles in the wrong direction. We should have arrived around 12:30am but instead arrived at 2:30am. Besides being tired, I had no complaints about getting lost. Before we left, Steph made a few (15) CDs for us to listen to on our road trip. We were highly entertained by the random songs, a few of which include: Nellie the Elephant (in honor of Chris & Joe), Sexy Back (Joe), The Chicken Dance, and The Tribute. We laughed at the random songs but loved having such a wide variety of tunes. Anyway, when we finally arrived we quietly climbed into bed in a tent with 7 other girls. How on earth did we fit 9 girls in one tent? Oh my goodness, we were SO cozy! I slept on a queen air mattress that was turned sideways with 2 other girls. Lucky for me, Frances & Ellie are both half my size so there was plenty of room. The only struggle was my height, but I guess it was better for me to sleep on the sideways mattress than for my roommate Amy who is over 6' tall! I slept rather well and even enjoyed some extra sleep the next morning after everyone else left for the first run down the Snake River. I opted to sleep & relax and then go on the second run later in the afternoon. I'll admit, I was a bit nervous at first! However, that fear diminished quickly when 2 other girls on our raft freaked out and drove me crazy! I laughed so much and loved every drop of water I was soaked with. We engaged in several water fights with other rafts, and we were splashed by a few rapids. That night we all went into Jackson Hole for dinner at the Bar J Chuckwagon. What a blast! Dinner was pretty good but the entertainment was fabulous! You can read all about it on their website http://www.barjchuckwagon.com/. The picture below shows the Bar J Ranch, and believe it or not, it really was that pretty while we were in Jackson. It's beautiful country up there.Saturday we made 2 more runs down the river and I again joined the afternoon group. I needed some good R&R and Saturday morning was the perfect time for that. The weather was absolutely beautiful and the campground was relatively quiet. The second run down the river was so much more fun than the first, and one of the reasons was because we had a smaller boat with fewer people. I even paddled the whole second run and I was feeling it for several days after the trip. At church on Sunday we were all so sore! I felt like I'd been riding a horse for 2 days, and sitting on a piano bench did not feel good at all! Anyway, the trip home was fun as we caravaned with a few other cars. It was nice to get home & finally shower after 2 days of camping and only being rinsed off by river water. I'm hooked on rafting and can't wait to go again.

A Challenge or a Privilege?

I had an "a-ha!" moment during sacrament meeting and I've been thinking about it ever since. Testimony meeting started a little slow. Chris gave me the "you need to get up there" look and I laughed. I asked him why he thought I needed to get up there. He jokingly said, "Someone needs to hear it. You should get up there." I laughed again and we joked back & forth about it for a few minutes. Then, in the midst of another lull, I grinned at him and got out of my seat and walked to the stand. I realized that sharing my testimony should not be a challenge! It is a privilege to share my testimony! I fumbled my way through it, but felt good about what I was sharing. Needless to say, Chris was surprised when I actually got up there. I was too! When I sat down, I remembered a part from my patriarchal blessing that mentions this very thing. Because I have a testimony, and because of my lineage, I have a lifelong responsibility to share my testimony, and in so doing I will bless others. Although it started as a joke, I feel Heavenly Father was using Chris to teach me something I needed to learn. I love "a-ha!" moments!

Time With Mom & Dad

Last week my parents came to Utah to visit me! This was the first time they've been up here since I moved here 4 years ago. They drove up to Southern Utah & spent a few days with some friends, then came up to spend 6 wonderful days with me. Sadly I had to work during the day, but we had fun evenings together. We went out to eat, we made meals at home, played games, and hung out with friends. My mom & I saw the new movie "Hairspray" on Thursday (my dad watched "Evan Almighty"...he wasn't too interested in "Hairspray" although I truly believe he would love it!). On Friday we went up to Ogden to see the temple and to enjoy a roadtrip to places my parents had never seen but heard a lot about. We stopped in Layton for lunch, then drove through Bountiful (by the temple too) and into Salt Lake. We walked through Memory Grove, which was relaxing after being in the car all afternoon. On our way home we visited with my mission president & his wife, Alonzo & Stephanie Hinckley. I was happy to have them meet my parents. I was happy my parents met so many of my friends while they were up here. They finally got to see my life on a daily basis: my home, my work, my friends, and the beautiful state I live in. I miss them but cherish the time we spent together.

I'm going to be an aunt...again!

Josh & Trish called this morning to let me know that Trish is pregnant! We were just joking about it the other day and Trish said they've been talking about it but thought they'd wait till later in the year. Well, guess what?! It is later in the year! Braden (booga-booga) is going to have a sister...or a brother...we'll see! Congratulations Josh & Trish!

"Oh Thank Oz"

I love Chicago! I'm here this week for work, but last night we had some free time to play before the work began today. My boss Wayne took us to dinner at Reza's (http://www.rezasrestaurant.com/home.asp) which is a Middle-Eastern Cuisine restaurant. It's a tradition to eat there each summer when we come here because Wayne loves it so much. I'll be honest, I love it too and I've been craving it for 2 years. Mandy and I shared a plate of Chengeh (Filet Mignon shish kabob) and loved every bite of it. The appetizer is divine--goat cheese, pita bread, vegetable soup with good spices, and radishes! Interesting combination, yes, but so good! So, after dinner we went to the Ford Center for the Performing Arts and watched the Broadway musical "Wicked". It was so amazing!! I have been listening to the soundtrack for over a year and haven't had an opportunity to see the performance. Wayne loves it, so he bought us tickets and they were really good seats. The story is related to "The Wizard of Oz"; in fact, it's almost like a prequel to the movie. The two main characters are Glinda (the good witch) and Elphaba (the wicked witch of the west), and the story tells how they became witches and friends. The music is phenomenal, and the humor is clean. Here are some of my favorite lines from the play:
**Someone is teasing Elphaba: "It seems the artichoke is steamed!"
**"Why can't you teach us history instead of dwelling on the past?" --Glinda (she's a blonde)
**"There's no place like home!" --Elphaba
**"Oh thank Oz!" --Glinda
**Fiyero: "You're so beautiful."
Elphaba: "You don't have to lie."
Fiyero: "It's not lying. It's looking at things in a different way."
Anyway, I absolutely loved the play, if that isn't obvious! I will definitely see it again...hopefully soon!

My Birthday Week

July 8, 1979, 3:30am: I was born on my parents 1st anniversary! July 3-8, 2007: I celebrated my 28th birthday! I have amazing friends who made this birthday a real celebration. We started celebrating on Tuesday and the fun lasted all week until my birthday on Sunday. I loved everything we did and all of the love & attention I got from so many people. Here's a run down of the events of the week.

Tuesday, July 3rd: We went to the West Jordan City Park and watched "October Sky". The movie was shown on a big inflatable screen and we camped out on the grass.

Wednesday, July 4th: Happy Independence Day! I had to work in the morning, but came home around noon and had fun the rest of the day. MJ, Chris, Steph & I played at the pool for several hours and ate lunch. Later, a group of us got together for a barbeque and then went to the West Jordan Rodeo. Ali planned it, knowing I'd never been to a rodeo. I don't know who had more fun: Me at my first rodeo, or Ali watching me and being excited for me! I laughed a lot and made funny faces at things I found to be bizarre. After the rodeo, we watched a spectacular fireworks show and then went to Sonic for a treat. P.S.--I don't like to wear cowboy hats! But don't we all look so cute?

Thursday, July 5th: The girls called the celebration for this day "Crepe-tet". So let me explain: a few months ago, Steph was sending a text inviting Chris to play croquet with us. Her phone doesn't recognize the word croquet, so it spelled 'croptet' instead. We now call croquet 'croptet'. And, while we were in France, we ate crepes and we still love them. So, they combined the two favorites and we had an evening of crepes and croptet!

Friday, July 6th: I didn't think anything was planned for Friday because the girls were going to Idaho for Shellie & Dave's wedding reception. Kendra & I went to lunch at Red Robin and guess who met us there? All of the girls! They all came down to Provo before leaving for Idaho! I was so surprised and so happy to see them before they left, and I loved having my closest friends together for lunch.

Saturday, July 7th: Amy (my roommate) and I went out for breakfast, which is something I love to do but rarely get to do it. I spent part of the day at the pool, and then Brent came up and took me to lunch at Cafe Rio. We enjoyed ice cream at Cold Stone, then came back to my house and looked at pictures from my trip. I think he was bored but I had so much fun sharing with him all of my 800+ pictures!

Sunday, July 8th: Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad! Sunday was a relaxing day after 9am church. Ali, Amy & I spent the afternoon relaxing at home and then went to Sandra's house for cake & ice cream. Sandra made a chocolate mayonnaise cake with cream cheese frosting, which is exactly what I wanted to have a bit of home with me. We only had 4 candles, so had to blow them out 7 times! There was a big group of friends there to celebrate and that made the day so wonderful. I got phone calls from my family throughout the day and lots of birthday hugs.

This will always be one of my favorite birthdays. I am normally not a fan of so much attention, especially over such a long period of time, but it was nice to feel so loved. Happy birthday me!

Tuesday night at Lagoon

Sometimes I put myself in situations where teasing is inevitable. One such situation is when I told my friends at work that I got a season passport to Lagoon, just like last summer. Who really wants to go to Lagoon that often? I do! I went last night with Amy, Steph, Chris, and Michael and we had so much fun! It was so hot when we got there, so after a few rides we headed for Rattlesnake Rapids. By the time we actually got on the ride, we were all so hot and 'moist' that we glady accepted the fact that we would get soaked. I think everyone got wet, but I got completely soaked since my side of the raft went right under the waterfall. I was still damp when we got home just before midnight. Lagoon has a new roller coaster this year called "Wicked". We waited in line for almost an hour (I think--it seemed like forever) and I questioned whether or not that wait would be worth it. It was totally worth it! I had so much fun on all of the rides last night, even the rides where I got totally beat up. My left knee has a huge bump and a gross bruise, my right arm is sore, and my back is killing me! And, I'm exhausted. Despite my woes, I'd do it all again--and I probably will soon because I have a season passport!

I loved Europe, but it's great to be home

My trip to Europe was so awesome! I have a million memories and a couple thousand pictures to keep those memories alive. And best of all, Steph & Sandra and I are even better friends than we were before the trip. We started our 10-day tour of France in the South in a city called Nice (Neece) along the French Riviera. We spent 2 days there, then went to Paris for a couple of days. We drove all over France for several days, visiting chateaus (castles) and cathedrals. We went back to Paris for a day, then our tour group went home. Steph, Sandra & I went up to London (saw Les Miserables!) and Scotland for a week and finally arrived back home on Friday night.

The Eiffel Tower was so cool!

Us 3 girls on top of the Eiffel Tower
This trip was a once in a lifetime experience and I'm so grateful I did it! Given the chance, I'd do it again (once my bank account is back to normal)!

Hello from London!

I'm sitting in an internet cafe in London right now...but I should be in York, a few hours north. Our train was cancelled this morning due to severe flooding and now we're stuck here for another day. I absolutely LOVED France and can't wait to tell you all about it. I hope you all miss me!

So long, farewell!

Friends, family, coworkers, random bloggers...I am off to see the world! I am more than excited, as you can all imagine. I don't want to wish it all away, but I can't wait to come back and share so many exciting things with you. Don't worry, I have 2 memory cards so I will take plenty of pictures. I'm sure we'll stop at a few internet cafes and I'll try to post a note. Friends & family, I love you all so much! Thanks for being excited with me and for me. Thanks for listening to my excitement over and over. I'll miss you but not enough to stay home! Au revoir!!

Here is a link to my itinerary (our tour is in reverse) http://eftours.com/FindATour/Tour.aspx?tourcode=PCI&touryear=2007&sec=Itinerary. If you click on the pdf at the bottom of that page, you'll get an amazingly detailed itinerary. Enjoy!

I Miss Kendra!

Aloha Kenj! You've been gone F-O-R-E-V-E-R!!!

Kendra & I have worked together for 3 years, and for a little over a year we've shared an office. I don't think we've been apart for more than 4 days during those 3 years until now. She's been in Hawaii for the last 1o days and I MISS HER!! Yes, I miss her being at work and helping me through the day. But much more than that, I miss my friend! We tell each other everything and we talk about everything under the sun. Kendra understands me in a way most people don't. We laugh about how similar our childhood & family lives were. We get frustrated over the same things (if people don't think like us, they're wrong!). If we happen to disagree, it's on condition that we agree to disagree. We love to spend lunch together, whether we're running errands, watching Gilmore & eating at her house, or eating at one of our favorite restaurants. And the inside jokes we have (bonfire, not too bad for a Thursday, 80s, nicknames) will keep us laughing forever! She really is one of my very best friends and I don't like living without her.

Now that my pity party is almost over (she'll be back to work on Thursday) I have to admit that while I've been jealous of her vacation, I have no room to complain. I'll be on vacation for 18 days. Oh dear...that's going to be a LONG time without my friend! I don't know how I'll survive! I love you Kenj!

Service Project

Last Sunday as I was teaching my Relief Society lesson, Steph & Sandra signed me up for a service project and didn't tell me about it until later in the week. Sandra was trying to figure out what we had planned for Saturday and couldn't think of anything. I couldn't think of anything either, but reminded her that there was a ward service project and maybe that's what she was thinking of. "Oh yeah!" she exclaimed. "We're going to that, and we signed you up too!" Oh, how nice of them! So, Saturday morning, we met other members of our ward and drove to some church property about an hour & a half from here. It was a beautiful drive and I enjoyed the project. We helped dig a fire pit, which was difficult due to the rocky soil. It was fun being with other members of the ward for a few hours and being up in the mountains. I'm glad they signed me up!

A new type of Bridal Shower

On Friday night I went to a bridal shower for my friend Shelli. But this wasn't the typical bridal shower and for that I am so grateful! The theme of the shower was "T-Time" and it started at the driving range! About 15 of us girls met up at Mulligans in South Jordan and hit a few buckets of balls. It was comical! A few of the girls were pretty good, but for the most part we laughed at each other and ourselves. I know my form is horrible (as the picture shows) but I really had a lot of fun and would love to learn how to golf.

After the driving range, we went to Sandra's parents house for a "tea party". The backyard was beautifully decorated with lanterns (Ali had a few of them...) and white lights and pretty center pieces. We had raspberry herbal tea and some finger foods. I've never had tea from a real tea pot and in a tea cup! After visiting and eating, Shelli opened her gifts and the shower was over! No stupid games (I know you all know exactly what I'm talking about) and it was a fun evening with the girls.