This summer I discovered that I love hiking and camping. I love all things outdoors and quite frankly Utah is the best place for all of those things. Here are a few pics and highlights. We went to Zions last May and it was awesome: (L-R) Preston, Ie Ling, me, Greg- The four of us went down to Moab on a Thursday night and found a good camp site and then on Friday we did a fun hike to this arch and then half of another very uphill hike, which we gave up on. It was really fun. Another from that hike. The future cover to our band's first album: Then, on Friday afternoon/night a bunch of our other friends from the ward came down and we all watched the sunset and then on Saturday we did some of the fun hikes around Arches National Park. Here is the whole group: We did Delicate Arch which was beautiful, although crowded. The arches really are amazing. I think this hike was called Double O Arch hike which included landscape arch which was awesome. Again, really incredible stuff. Greg, Preston, and I stayed behind a bit longer after everyone else had headed back to Provo and did two other awesome hikes including our favorite called Negro Bills which took us to another amazing arch. The trail went through more greenery and along a beautiful stream. I don't have any pics of that one. The boys have them all and I keep forgetting to ask for them! After the glory of Moab I realized that I needed to do more hiking. I didn't do nearly as much as I would have liked during the summer, but in the fall I started trying to go weekly so a few of us would go on Friday afternoons. This is some of us: me, JM, and David with Preston taking the picture. This was a great hike up Provo canyon.
Next, and a super highlight of my hiking from the past few months: ZIONS!! The hiking crew- JM, David, Preston, and myself- took off on a Friday afternoon, got to Zions in the early evening and drove around the park a bit- including a small but fun hike/run while we were stuck in construction traffic, camped on BLM land for free, battled fire ants, made peach cobbler on the fire, and had a not-completely-miserable night's sleep under the stars. Saturday we woke up early and headed deep into the park. We started with Hidden Canyon, which was a fun one. It was especially nice because we were some of the first on the trail so it was pretty peaceful and nice. Then, after lunch we hiked the Narrows, which is so fun. I had done it as a kid but it was nice to go again. I would love to do the real hike- the three day backpacking trip- someday. Here is Preston jumping in Hidden Canyon (I don't know why these pictures turned out so small) Me, Preston, and David taking a break On the trail!
So, the moral of the blogpost is that I love hiking. I love being outdoors. Virginia is beautiful in a different way and I am excited to being able to get to know her trails. All I need now is a canine companion to accompany me...
President Monson shared this during the General Relief Society broadcast this past October and I thought it was such a beautiful story. I will actually post info on my life soon...
Enjoy:
A classic account of judging by appearance was printed in a national magazine many years ago. It is a true account—one which you may have heard but which bears repeating.
A woman by the name of Mary Bartels had a home directly across the street from the entrance to a hospital clinic. Her family lived on the main floor and rented the upstairs rooms to outpatients at the clinic.
One evening a truly awful-looking old man came to the door asking if there was room for him to stay the night. He was stooped and shriveled, and his face was lopsided from swelling—red and raw. He said he’d been hunting for a room since noon but with no success. “I guess it’s my face,” he said. “I know it looks terrible, but my doctor says it could possibly improve after more treatments.” He indicated he’d be happy to sleep in the rocking chair on the porch. As she talked with him, Mary realized this little old man had an oversized heart crowded into that tiny body. Although her rooms were filled, she told him to wait in the chair and she’d find him a place to sleep.
At bedtime Mary’s husband set up a camp cot for the man. When she checked in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded and he was out on the porch. He refused breakfast, but just before he left for his bus, he asked if he could return the next time he had a treatment. “I won’t put you out a bit,” he promised. “I can sleep fine in a chair.” Mary assured him he was welcome to come again.
In the several years he went for treatments and stayed in Mary’s home, the old man, who was a fisherman by trade, always had gifts of seafood or vegetables from his garden. Other times he sent packages in the mail.
When Mary received these thoughtful gifts, she often thought of a comment her next-door neighbor made after the disfigured, stooped old man had left Mary’s home that first morning. “Did you keep that awful-looking man last night? I turned him away. You can lose customers by putting up such people.”
Mary knew that maybe they had lost customers once or twice, but she thought, “Oh, if only they could have known him, perhaps their illnesses would have been easier to bear.”
After the man passed away, Mary was visiting with a friend who had a greenhouse. As she looked at her friend’s flowers, she noticed a beautiful golden chrysanthemum but was puzzled that it was growing in a dented, old, rusty bucket. Her friend explained, “I ran short of pots, and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn’t mind starting in this old pail. It’s just for a little while, until I can put it out in the garden.”
Mary smiled as she imagined just such a scene in heaven. “Here’s an especially beautiful one,” God might have said when He came to the soul of the little old man. “He won’t mind starting in this small, misshapen body.” But that was long ago, and in God’s garden how tall this lovely soul must stand! -Adapted from Mary Bartels, “The Old Fisherman,” Guideposts, June 1965, 24–25.
I love the Fourth of July. I have always loved it and I will admit that I have been a 4th of July snob having grown up right outside the Nation's capital and being spoiled with the best fireworks and surrounded by such amazing history. This year, however, I was humbled. I had an incredibly fun weekend on our nation's birthday.
Saturday was soccer ALL day, which made me supremely happy. I played in a little 3 v 3 tournament with some old friends and some new. We didn't do that well- it took us a while to get used to the strategy needed in smaller sided games. After our semi-final finish we all went to Cafe Rio= LOVE and were all chowing down on giant portions of delicious Mexican food when one of our teammates mentioned that he was going to play pickup with some friends. We all perked up, because playing 3 hours of soccer wasn't enough, and we all decided to go. We got to play for another 2 hours on a field with goals and we had 3 teams of 11! It was FUN, although me and the two other girls from our team were the only girls and the boys were a little bit less-than-thrilled with being schooled consistently by us. Plus, I got kicked in the ankle which turned into a GIANT bruise which is STILL healing. But, overall, GREAT GREAT soccer. That night we did fireworks outside of the Stadium of Fire- they were fine, but the best part was playing soccer/football/Frisbee with my buddies- (side note: sometimes I think that I need to be a little more feminine. Whenever I am not dressed in workout clothes having just played soccer, gone running, or done some other sporty activity people ask me why I am so dressed up! Really, I am just wearing clothes not meant to be run around in, which I guess happens too rarely for people to realize that that is how I normally dress when not working out! But, I prefer playing sports to being girlie, so whatever.)(Left: A beautiful pre-fireworks Sunset at the MTC fields) We watched the fireworks at the MTC fields and it was fun to be out in the beautiful summer night with hundreds of other freedom-loving Americans. There is nothing like the 4th of July to bring people together.
Sunday was a nice day- Fast Sunday. I bore my testimony about being consistent in our scripture study/ prayers/ etc so that when we are faced with a challenge we are prepared. I compared it to my 3 v 3 soccer tournament where I had given a little pre-game prayer praying for stamina- after which I repented for asking for something that I had not worked for. I love how EVERYTHING has a gospel parallel. Actually, one of my favorite things to do is draw them from random, seemingly secular things- give it a try, it's fun! We also had ward Break the Fast and I ended up staying an extra long time having an interesting conversation with some of the gals and fellas in the ward about- what else?- dating. We talked about how boys don't mind being liked for their looks the way some girls do and how girls want to be liked for our personalities more than for our looks. So, now in order to compliment the boys in my ward, I compliment their looks- "you are so attractive!" and in order for them to give me a compliment they tell me that they like my personality. It is nice to hear :). The classic polarity of men and women!
That night our ward set up a good spot on the Provo 4th of July Parade route. We brought out the Foosball table, Uno, the bbq for making S'mores, Set, and even a TV (we watched the cleanflicks version of the Patriot in honor of the holiday). We had a few stalwarts stay the night- I went home at 3 and came back at 9 for the parade. I was amazed how many people were camping out and there were just people EVERYWHERE! Apparently the 7-11 gas station was packed with people just hanging out- makes perfect sense since 7-11 equals PARTY TIME. We even had suspicions that the people in front of us were selling drugs- one of their party was arrested early on in the night... oh, the drama of Provo after dark! Monday was the funnest day of all! The highlight of the parade was the end of it AND the maple bar at the beginning. Parades are usually pretty disappointing in my experience. It was fun to be with the ward though and I got all patriotic with my little American flags in my hair. Afterward, a ton of us got together and headed down south to Mona, Utah to enjoy the lake and rope swing they have down there. Apparently all of Provo had the same idea. It was totally fine though. We barbecued, swam, swung, read, and just enjoyed the day. It was a really good time! When we came back we were all exhausted but there was mention of playing soccer, which I strongly supported but worried wouldn't happen due to our lack of energy, but by golly, it happened! We played for about 2 hours! It was PERFECT. The topping on the cake came after soccer when we were all showered and clean and we headed to the local dollar theater to enjoy "How to Train Your Dragon" a gem of a movie that not only did I love, but I now want a puppy (or a dragon that looks and acts like a puppy- except for the fact that it can also FLY) more than ever.
It was a wonderful, fabulous, fun and friend-filled weekend that I enjoyed wholly! Hooray for the United States of America and hooray for FUN!
p.s. I really am so grateful for this country. One of the most touching parts of the parade was when the parents of two fallen soldiers were honored. I'll admit, I cried. I really respect the men and women brave enough to serve in the armed forces. I think about doing it every so often, but I am too afraid. It really is due to their sacrifices that we enjoy what we do. God bless them and God bless America.
I got a job! I will be working as a sales associate at the GAP! An example of the great places that a college degree can take you! Actually, I am happy and grateful for it because it will be flexible, new, and an income- however small... Go Gap!
My other blog tends to be a little bit heavy, so this blog is intended to be lighter, happier, and more personal. I chose the name "Looking out my Bay Window" because it represents a lot to me: Looking out the window makes me think of looking ahead, being positive, and facing any challenges that come my way; Windows always make me think of light and I LOVE light (I AM my mother's daughter), light to me symbolizes hope, optimism, and God and I love it; and last, making it a BAY window doesn't have as much to do with actual BAY WINDOWS although they are nice, as it does with the fact that I LOVE bays, particularly the Chesapeake Bay, Bays are my favorite body of water :).
Now, here is a little about my summer so far. It has been GREAT! Fun trips, fun games, fun times. Here are a few pictures:
At the Delicate Arch in Moab, Utah. SO FUN! The Cover to our First Album: Moab on the Tracks 4 Square is a Classic Summer Activity a Group of Friends! Pleasant Grove's Strawberry Days Rodeo- My FIRST Rodeo- with a ton of friends from the ward:
Other fun includes: a midnight,3D, IMAX showing of Toy Story 3- WONDERFUL!, Playing "Header Ball" where we stand in a circle and try to get everyone to head a soccer ball before it hits the ground- exceedingly entertaining, watching TONS of WORLD CUP- including that AWESOME USA win, Night Games, Campfires, bike rides, hikes, puzzles, etc. Summer in Provo is the best! How have I never experienced it before?! Oh, and of course... there is LSAT studying... :)
