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.