week 8: brag just a little bit

I'd like to take this opportunity to brag about my sister. She is the greatest. Especially when it comes to smarts, serving, humor, friends, standards, singing...She has been especially amazing in her roll as Rose in the MidvaleArts’ production of Bye Bye Birdie.

I've gone to the show twice and both times I sit there in awe as she lights up the stage with her no fear, bring on the world attitude while she brings to life Rose’s character. She took this character and made it her own. Watching my sister on stage is one of the surreal experiences where I find myself thinking, "Is that really my little sister?" Siblings can surprise you like that. You think you them so well—after all you did grow up together, play together, fought together, worked things out together—then you see them do something incredible, like dance and sing out on stage, and you realize how blessed you are to be forever connected to them. I am over and over again reminded of that blessing.

PS. Yes, her hair is really that dark and mine is really that light.

This is my other cool sister who also was part of the production. And just in case you were wondering it was her show. 

week #7: one more place i’ve been

I can now add Mt. Rushmore (and South Dakota) to the places I’ve been. Check. A few people had somewhat talked it down for me and told me not to expect much. But when I got there I was not disappointed. I thought it was spectacular. And I lost my heart in the black hills and blue skies of Dakota. (two oldies, but goodies.)

#7 #6 

week 5: rock like a teenie bopper

Confession: As a teenager, I was not one of the those girls that worshipped bands or other music idols. I never had any band memorabilia on my walls, nor did I run out and buy the newest albums. In fact, most of time I had no idea what song belonged to what group. Yes, I was that clueless and I didn’t care. However, if I were thirteen years younger now, I would probably be in love with David Archuleta. He is adorable.

Saturday, I drove with my mom and sisters to Rexburg, and joined the many other screaming fans at the David Archuleta concert at BYU-Idaho.

David Osmond was the opener. He was pretty good.

Then the main attraction…

I was pretty impressed with the kid. He didn’t seem wrapped in himself, nor his fame-dom. He is just thankful that God gave him a talent that he can share with others. I am glad that there are some “idols” out there that live good lives that youth can look up to. He was seen earlier that day at the temple and he ended the concert with his testimony and singing Be Still My Soul. It was a sweet concert and I am glad I went.

Other weekend happenings:

Dinah’s dance concert.

Benjamin and I know how to enjoy a long dance concert. It’s called Toy Story 2 on the IPOD. =)

***I saw Toy Story 3 with Cori, Jake, Benjamin, and Caleb.

We laughed, we cried, we had a great time. Pixar and Disney did it again. It is a great show.

***Back by popular demand. My family put on a small variety show and Alta Ridge.

*HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!

week 3: celebrate free get into parks day in a park

I got wind of a group going to Moab and Arches on Friday and I jumped in. We went down Friday night, camped, and spent Saturday hiking around Arches. Fortunately it was free get into parks day in Utah. It was nearly a hundred degrees. But it was fun and a great little get away trip. God must be a big fan of Utah because He surely filled it with a lot of beauty. And I am so blessed to have to opportunity to live here and enjoy it. Life is beautiful. 

Pictures to come when I get my camera back from a friend.

“Your joy in life depends upon your trust in Heavenly Father and His holy Son, your conviction that their plan of happiness truly can bring you joy. Pondering their doctrine will let you enjoy the beauties of this earth and enrich your relationships with others. It will lead you to the comforting, strengthening experiences that flow from prayer to Father in Heaven and the answers He gives in return.” -Richard G. Scott, Finding Joy in Life, Ensign, May ‘96

week #2: go the distance

Call us crazy. Call us insane. Call us whatever you want…but we did it!!

One of my favorite places in Utah is Bear Lake. Mostly because of my love for the beautiful blue water. This weekend my family went up there. So I decided to take advantage of the opportunity to do something that I had always wanted to do. Ride my bike around Bear Lake. I mentioned this to my cousin and she decided she wanted to take on the 51 mile challenge with me. We also roped in my thirteen year old brother. I was pumped and excited.

As we came through the canyon, down the mountain, and into view of the lake, I burst out laughing--and could not stop. "Oh, that’s what 51 miles looks like." All of sudden I remembered how big Bear Lake really is. And all I could do was laugh. I was laughing at what we had gotten ourselves into. I was laughing because there was no way either one of us would back out--even after the insaneness of it hit us. Biking around the lake isn’t particularly insane. Lots of people do it every year. The insane part was that we had decided to do it a few days earlier, we hadn’t trained or prepared, and we were on cruisers. Yes, I was laughing at all of it--near tears, I was laughing so hard.

You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh.—Marjorie Pay Hinckley

After a good dinner and decent amount of sleep, the three of us started out.

We made it to Idaho.

Still going

“Dear Mom, I think I might have killed my little brother. Will you please come rescue him.” Caleb made it 28 miles with us. Which make him one of the coolest 13 year olds alive. He also got 100% on his CRTs in language arts. 99% in math. Yeah, he’s a stud.

Love it!!!!

About mile 46. Body hurting, but still smiling. It was about here where I started thinking I should be relaxing this weekend instead putting myself through this. Two more miles. I got another second wind at this point. Finish line. We did it!!! 51miles. Done!

My mom met us at the end with the ibuprofen. After a few of those and resting for a few minutes I was up and playing with my nephew and feeling surprisingly good. Determination and endurance are amazing things. When your body feels like it is ready to give out and your bum is sore, determination will take over and keep pushing you until the end. I am determined to have the same determination and endurance in all walks of life.

Enduring, or carrying on, is not just a matter of tolerating circumstances and hanging in there, but of pressing forward.—Marvin J. Ashton, “Stalwart and Brave We Stand”

We can endure these trials and tribulations because we can draw upon the gifts of heaven, which will help us see them for what they are. As we conquer them, we are drawn closer to our Heavenly Father. We feel His love, gain His knowledge and truth. We are able to meet the test and endure these to the end.--Bishop Richard C. Edgley. “Keep the Faith”

I am so thankful to have a friend/cousin with the same stubborn determination and endurance. I don’t know if I could have done it without her. And even if I could, it wouldn’t have been nearly as fun. Honestly, any journey is more fun when you have someone to endure and enjoy it with.

If you’ve never been to Bear Lake, Google it. I couldn’t find a good picture that captured the whole thing. And if you want to know what the rest of the fam was doing while we were having our adventure check out One "Hale" of a Story.

week #1: where it all begins

At my birthday party last week my friends, old and new, helped me come up with 30 things to do before I am thirty.  Para glide (Ok, this one is mine.) Set up a stand a farmers market. (If time and talent allows.) Stand on Mt. Zion. (Already did in Jerusalem. Figuratively every Wed night.) Dance in the rain. (for sure) Meet weird Al (um, no) Ride in a hot air balloon. (would love to) Get a pet duck. (probably not) Let Joanna give you a make over. (yes.) Eat fire ants. (If I come across them, ok.) Hike squaw peak. (for sure) Learn how to sing the Macarena. Backpack Death Hollow. (Ray Ann, you name the day.) Drive across country in a convertible. See the sign. Get 30 kisses. Hike Mt. Kilimanjaro. (I don't know if I will make it to Africa this year.) Hike Mt. Fuji (...or Japan) River raft in Colorado. Kiss a sheep. Go to Europe. Memorize the lyrics to "American Pie." Go to Antarctica. (Someday).

The list came up a little short so I added a few of my own. Graduate with a master's degree. (April 2011) Read the Book of Mormon in two weeks at least twice. Do a month of cooking everything from scratch. Go to the Grand Canyon. Weekly temple attendance. Train for a triathlon. 52 weeks of purposeful living. Is that 30? I'm not even going to count because this list is going to evolve. I  need some more time to think and figure it out.

Setting goals is not a new thing for me. I’ve done it regularly for years. Lists of things I want to accomplish are scattered throughout my journals. However, they aren't usually something that make public. I like to keep things to myself. It’s safer that way. But, I have observed that when you tell people, they follow up with you and they hold you to them. So I am going to give it a try. One of my main goals this year is to live and experience as much as I can, and do it on purpose. I want to feel like I have accomplished something every week this year. I want to make sure I experience and live an abundant life and I want Live on Purpose. Each week I will try to report these goals and experiences. 

So Fifty-two weeks of goals, learning, experiencing, Living on Purpose begins now.  

PS. My siblings gave my a fun digital scrap booking program. And it is going to be a fun creative outlet and used for more than just scrap booking.