revisiting the bucket list

This morning when I woke up for my morning run it was SO dark outside. By the time I was dressed and outside, it felt like the middle of the night. Running by moonlight is such a winter thing to do, and it is STILL summer ... at least for a couple more days.

It got me thinking about that good ol' summertime bucket list I made. So now, please indulge me a bit while I return to see if I got it all in.

*Movies Under the Stars at the Capitol - check. Despicable Me gets funnier every time I see it and I like that I can now quote it with my brothers. (Sky, this one is for you: "Why are you sooo OLD?")

*Get a few good sunburns next to the pool - check (sort of). My really great sunburns came from a week at Lake Powell which is about 100 times better than an afternoon at the pool!

*Farmers Market (Saturdays at Pioneer park) - shoot, I have one chance left, but it doesn't look too likely i'll make it. I think there is something sort of like this in P-town though... i'll look into it.

*Read lots of books that have nothing to do with school - check. And now all my school books are on their way to my home. I even have my first reading assignment, lucky me.

*Scrapbook - CHECK. In fact, I have a confession to make. I am a complete addict to scrapbooking online. I really may need an intervention...but let me finish the 2 projects i'm working on first. ;)

*Find housing for fall - check, Check. CHECK! And I'm as happy as a Ute in P-town can be! I found a little house close to campus and the very best part is that i'm living with my brother. Oh my heck, dreams coming true all over the place!

*Rodeo - check. Thanks to the wonderful Kristalee. It was so fun to go to the Days of 47 rodeo with one of my days of 47 sisters! It was wonderful to see her family, get caught up on her fun life and oh ya, see some amazing cowboys ride the bull! :)

*Days of '47 Parade - check. This one is all thanks to Jessica and her devoted (slightly crazy) family and the wonderful tradition to sleep on the route so that my family could have wonderful front row seats.

*Clean my closet - um... I think i'll do this in conjunction with the packing/moving process.

*Camp out at the cabin - sadly there was no camping...just work trips this summer. But i'm getting so excited for when it is all done. We may still be able to squeeze in a couple fall time trips before it's snowed in. And I guess we could always hike in this winter.

*Go star gazing - check. Though the stars at the cabin are great, I had forgotten how awe-inspiring the stars in Lake Powell are. It is impossible to fall asleep on a clear night because of how absolutely beautiful the stars are.

*Drive-In Movies - Still haven't been in years. Too Bad!

*SUGARLAND CONCERT - This Saturday!

*Go dancing - very little. I got a few ballet classes in this summer but I didn't go country dancing once! There is something very wrong with this picture!

*Catch up with friends that I miss like crazy - CHECK! I had such a wonderful time catching up with collage, pageant and Lambda Delt/ SGC friends this summer. We need more reunions!

*Have an EPIC Chuck party - check...a few of them. ;)

*Spend every minute I can with my Bestest Friend Sky - Check. You better believe it!

Overall I would say summer has been a success, and I still have a little more to go.

And as a consolation prize for it all being over, these are always nice for fall:

10 hour days are killer!

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my 3-day weekends. And come Thursday night at 6 o'clock when I tell everyone to have a great weekend, I adore working 10 hour days.

But around 4:30 on a Monday, I can barely imagine how i'll make it through...

I Love This:

Flash Back Friday - Pioneer Trek 2001

A few of my friends do this cute little Flash Back Friday thing where they tell about a memory from way back when. I love the idea and since I have Fridays off, it seems like a good thing to occupy my time.

So, in honor of the holiday weekend, I would like to flash back to summer 2001. At 13 years-old I was reluctantly having a seed planted that would grow into a passion for my pioneer ancestry.

At 13 years-old I was even more girly than I am today (is that even possible?) and I did not understand how anyone could see how me sleeping in the dirt, wearing ugly DI clothes, and walking all day in the hot sun could be seen as a faith promoting experience. With true teenage angst I imagined this to be just another way that adults were out to ruin my life (in an, i'll admit, creative new way).

Surprisingly, spending 3 days roaming a cattle ranch in the middle of Wyoming, pulling a handcart was inspirational and somewhat life changing for me. I was enlightened by the stories I heard of the brave pioneers, and proud to know that my own ancestors were among those strong enough to make the trek west.

The most meaningful moments for me took place during the infamous Womens Pull.

I'll never forget the feeling I had as I watched my 'Pa and brothers' walk away and knew that it was up to us women to haul this handcart up the hill. I imagined what it would be like to watch my own father and brothers walk away and not know when or if I would ever see them again. To know that it was up to my mother and I to take care of my remaining 4 younger brothers would take a strength that i'm still not sure I have. As I watched other families struggle as they literally took two steps forward and slid one step back down the hill I ached with a desire to help them, but knew it would take everything in me to get my own cart up the hill.

And then the men returned to watch us in silence.

They walked side by side with us giving us support we needed while never actually touching or speaking to us. It was indescribable. I couldn't help but feel that this was what it felt like to have guardian angels - another pioneer experience.

The strength of the pioneers hearts, minds, spirits and bodies was seared into me at that moment.

This pioneer weekend I am so very grateful for my pioneer ancestors, their strength, their example, and the day off from work to celebrate just how wonderful they are!

Have a Happy, Safe, and REFLECTIVE holiday weekend!

Adventures in Africa - Part 4 ~ The best part of Africa...

was the children! I have to say that everywhere we went I was enamored by their sweet spirits, positive outlook on life, joy from the smallest things, and enjoyment of a few brunies (what they call the white people) who wanted to learn their fun games and play along.

First off, go here to watch a fun clapping game that we learned in one of the villages. There were only 2 girls brave enough to play with us at first. Later on the other kids warmed up a little. :)

The children loved teaching us games, but they were teaching me a lot more than how to dance...

I miss these kids a lot!

My Summertime Bucket List

The following are a few things I plan to do this summer. If any of them sound exciting to you, then call me up and join me. Also, if you have something exciting you’re planning on doing, let me know! I work all day long and need to get some summer playtime in!

*Movies Under the Stars at the Capitol

*Get a few good sunburns next to the pool

*Farmers Market (Saturdays at Pioneer park)

*Read lots of books that have nothing to do with school (thanks Jess for helping me get started)

*Scrapbook

*Find housing for Fall (you should all help me on this one)

*Rodeo – don’t know which one yet, but I have to go

*Day’s of ’47 parade – I’ve actually never been and I think it would be fun

*Clean my closet

*Camp out at the Cabin

*Go star gazing (best at the cabin)

*Drive-In Movies ~ haven't been in years

*SUGARLAND CONCERT

*Go dancing (ballet, country, swing…)

*Catch up with friends that I miss like crazy

*Have an EPIC Chuck party

*Spend every minute I can with my Bestest Friend Sky

BEST. DAY. EVER.