Lately

The past month has been full of so many fun adventures for Jon and me!

In the middle of April, we hiked Mt. Si, a peak up near Seattle. It was a fairly steep 4 miles and a very busy trail, but it proved to provide a beautiful view at the top!

Then, the last week of April we ventured into Seattle for our first Mariner's game. The whole ordeal took us quite a few hours because we took the bus and wanted to get there early, but it was all worth it.

One of the best parts of the evening was getting to see Jon's friend from growing up, Tex. Tex works at the Mariner's games, but was able to come and sit with us during his break for quite a big chunk of the game. Jon especially appreciated having him there so that he could have someone who understands what's going on to the same degree that he does!

Today we spent several hours bike riding along the Foothills Trail, starting in Puyallup. This trail is wonderful for intercity bike riding! It's over 30 miles long and paved the whole way, weaving through several cities. We hope to make it back sometime soon to bike along another part of it!

BYU vs. Virginia

Today Jon and I spent our afternoon cooking out in the sun at the BYU vs. Virginia game. We won, and the game literally left a mark on me...I have a white spot on my cheek where my "Y" sticker was. It was worth it though to have finally been able to attend a game in person. 

GO COUGS! 

Labor Day Weekend (So Far)

Watching the Game

This past weekend has been lots of fun! We started things off by going over to our friend's house to watch the BYU football game on TV. We won, so of course it was a very good night :)


Then, yesterday we made our way to to Temple Square in Salt Lake City to attend a FREE (whoot! whoot!) Paul Cardall piano concert. Paul Cardall is a new age and christian piano artist. The music in the room was beautiful, but the spirit that it invited was definitely the highlight. The best part of the concert was the testimony he bore before he played his last song, which was called "Redeemer." He testified that if there was anything broken in our lives that Christ could fix it, or that if we found ourselves in need of some comfort and shelter that we could find it in Him.

At the concert

"I love Jesus Christ," he concluded emphatically.

A tear slipped out of my eye and a feeling of warmness and devotion that I haven't felt in a while, because of the craziness of getting married and moving and starting a career, came over me. The feeling said: "I love Christ too," and I really do.

With that feeling still in my heart, the rest of the evening and all of today have been pretty top notch. Tonight we have our neighbors over for treats and games and tomorrow we go to the Ogden Temple Open House. Labor Day Weekend doesn't get much better than this.

Letters

Dear FHE Family, Though I was tired and it might have appeared otherwise, I really did have fun with you guys last night. It's so good to be a part of an FHE group who participates and has fun when they're together, rather than one where it's a struggle to get people to even show-up. I look forward to the Mondays ahead!

Dear Emily, The dinner on Sunday night was quite wonderful. As are you. I'm so glad that we've figured out a schedule where we can cook and eat together twice a week. Time with you is always time well-spent.

Dear Eric and Jared, I had so very much fun going up to Idaho with you two this past weekend! It was so fun talking with you guy on the ride up and so refreshing knowing that I was with people who were comfortable with silence on the way home. I hope to be seeing you guys again soon (and we WILL manage to fit in a hike sometime!!!)

Dear Ellen, You enter the MTC tomorrow! I'm so glad that I went up to Pocatello with Eric and Jared so that we could attend your farewell and see you off. The talk you gave on happiness was sincerely one of the best sacrament talks I have heard in a very long time. Thank you so much for preparing--both for the talk and for the upcoming months you have as a missionary in North Carolina. You are going to be a wonderful missionary!

Dear Ethan, Clancy and Christy, I'm so very glad that I got to see you three during my short time in Idaho. Even though it wasn't very long, it was just a joy to get to see you. Thank you for being family that I know I can always rely on and whom I know would do anything for me. I love you!!!

Dear Ryan, Thank you for letting the ward join you in your efforts to create a healing garden at the hospital. I haven't played around in the dirt for such a long time, and it was (surprisingly) super refreshing! I just might head over with you again sometime to play around in the dirt some more!

Dear Jon, The run on Saturday morning, though slightly more uphill than we were expecting, was absolutely beautiful! I'm so glad that you served your mission in Washington so that you can understand my love for the green and the rain--both of which made our run so enjoyable. Thanks also for the fun last Friday night. I had a very good time!

Dear Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun--please shine down on me!!! And please stay! I love it when you're around!

Dear Custodian, Thank you for coming and cleaning out our recycling today. It was super appreciated.

Dear Kate, I'm so glad that we got to talk on the phone last night. Hearing about all the awesome art you're working on, you're crazy school day and everything else going on in your life is always a pleasure. Can we pretty super please keep in touch?!!

Dear Abby, I like it when you steal Mom's phone and text me. Thanks for keeping me company on my car ride home from Idaho. Thanks also for talking to me on the phone on my walk home from the temple last week. You are so easy to talk to!

Dear Jessica, You so got all this crazy girlscamp/school/band/sleep/eating/seminary/homework/doinghairforweddings/busyallthetime/alwaysbeingawesome stuff. I'm so grateful that you took the time in the middle of it all to sit and chat to me about all my crazy/exciting/lifeness stuff last Saturday. I hope you know that I'm always just as open and free to talk to you, even when my life is crazy/busy/stressful/alwaysbeingbusy. Family is definitely always a priority.

Dear Rachel, Betsy and Lyndy, I'm so glad that we could have our girls night last Thursday and watch "What a Girl Wants." It was super nice to be able to just sit and chill with friends and a good (and cheesy) chick flick. Good luck with all your school work and tests this week! You can do it!!!

Dear Institute-Going Friends, I'm so grateful that I have you guys to motivate me to get to institute every week. Last week it was exactly what I needed and gave me some of the direction I've been seeking in my life. Let's keep this up!

Dear Softball Buddies, It was fun to watch your game last Tuesday (nice win!) and I'm looking forward to watching your game tonight! Go team!

Letters

Dear Eric, Thank you for coming over on Monday and helping me figure out half-marathon stuff. Knowing that I have a friend to back me up on it all helps a whole lot.

Dear N106, I had fun using my cricut with you guys last Monday at FHE. Our Mother's Day Cards turned out pretty spiffy. 

Dear Poci (aka: Jessica), You are so kind and thoughtful and amazing for bringing me flowers last week! Not that you weren't all those things before. It was just a good reminder. Thank you for being such an amazing example of selfless service and of always thinking of those around you. I love having you for a friend. 

Dear Steve, Sorry the weather was bad on Tuesday and that we weren't able to go hiking! I had fun baking cookies and watching 17 Again with you anyways. We'll have to go hiking sometime soon!

Dear Institute Friends, Wednesday night was fun. Let's do it again this week!

Dear Trevor, The Mexican food and games was SO much fun! Thank you for the wonderful date Friday evening, and I hope that I'll be able to join you guys in eating fish sometime soon!

Dear Five Mile Run With Many, Many Hills, I felt super after you on Saturday morning! What a wonderful way to start the day.

Sarah and I in our new shirts! We both wore them on Sunday to church.

Dear Sarah, I'm SO EXTREMELY VERY MUCH GLAD that you and I were FINALLY able to go cardigan/shirt shopping on Saturday at Cozy! After two months of wanting to go, we finally made it happen! And we look pretty snazzy in our new clothes, if I many say. Thanks for being a fantastic shopping buddy and an even more fantastic friend. You are wonderful.

Dear Jon, When I mentioned to my mom that Sarah and I got a boy to take us clothes shopping she asked if he waited outside or came in the store with us. When I affirmed that it was the later, she labeled "him" an angel/saint (because what boy would be willing to take two girls shopping for clothes?!) I quite agreed with her. Thanks for being "him."

Dear Sarah, Jon, Emily, Jacob, and Poci, I had so much fun going to the baseball game with ya'll on Saturday. Thanks for laughing with me when I asked what "2:55" meant on the scoreboard ("That's the time," Jon replied. "As in the time of day. 2:55pm." Oh.) and for helping me be more American (first baseball game ever!) Hope we can make the fun adventures continue (and that maybe I won't have to embarrass myself quite as much on the next one!)

Dear Brett, Jacob, Sam, and Ems, Washington groupies + Idaho Falls roommate get together on Saturday night was the best. It's nice to see familiar faces among the crowd of BYUites. And I hope you're all on time to work today.

Dear Peaceful, Beautiful Sunday Morning, I have not felt so much peace and calm in such a very long time. I love the beautiful weather. I love reading General Conference talks. I love visiting with friends. I love walking and sitting on the path south of campus. I love writing letters to Amelia. I love the gospel. I love the Lord. And I love having all these things come together in a beautiful span of three hours.

Dear Kyle and Emily Bashaw, Thanks for letting me steal your soy sauce and mustard. I ACTUALLY LIKED THE FISH I COOKED IT ON!!!!!!!!

Dear Everyone, You do not realize how big of a deal the above letter to Kyle and Emily is. I HATE fish. But yesterday, I actually liked it!

Dear Jarod, Nice to meet you. I'm looking forward to grabbing drinks with you later tonight!

Dear New Activities Committee, I'm super excited to join the club! I love being a part of a group with as much focus, energy, care, love, and motivation as you all have. We are going to work magic in the ward over the next few months and the thought gives me drive and purpose. And each of you inspire me to be better.

Dear Gentry and Scott, Noticed that you hacked my facebook account. Thanks for restraining yourselves from doing anything too horrific.

Dear Mom, Thanks so much for talking yesterday and for being more concerned about talking about my life when it was your day. You are an amazing mom and I'm so grateful to have you in my life.

Dear Life, After a soul-searching trip to the temple last Thursday, things have been looking really up. I'm so glad to be where I am, to get to learn from the mistakes I've made over the past few months, and to come out better because of the experience in the end.

Dear Heavenly Father, You know where I'm at better than I even do. Thank you for second chances, for giving me opportunities to learn, and for sending examples and friends and help in my life so that I can do it all.

Letters

Dear Minhnhat, Morgan, and Chris, Thanks for playing badminton and then going to the Malt Shop to get shakes with me! I had so much fun!

Dear Agent Octear/ Chris, Playing pretend super secret agents with you all the way home from the Malt Shop was the best ever! I'm convinced that you and I could save the world super secret agent style if we needed to.

Dear Jarrett, Your message was hilarious. Best phone message I've ever gotten in my life. I'm excited to go hiking with you tomorrow!

Dear Alexis, Thanks for letting me run with you for a mile or so even though we are total strangers and will probably never see each other again. It was fun and extremely nice to have someone to run with. Good luck on your half marathon next weekend! You'll do AMAZING!

Dear Bed, I'm super excited to join you in a few seconds. HERE I COME!!!

Dear Heavenly Father, You are so good. I think I'm the luckiest person in the world to have you as my Father (along with all the other billions+ people in the world. They're lucky too.)

Letters

BYU rugby is AWESOME!

Dear Chris, Going to the rugby game with you yesterday was more fun than slip-n-sliding down a super long hill head first. I can't wait to go to the next game with you in May!

Dear Morgan, Lauren, (and soon to be Whitney), The apartment is really empty without you guys. And I'm not talking about the lack of bedspreads, books, pots, and pans. Please come back to visit often.

Dear Spring Semester, It's going to be great. I'm so excited!