A Bike Ride with Jessica and FHE with Bugs at Utah Lake

If you haven't caught on, I'm using some of the extreme amount of free time on my hands to chronicle every bit of my life. It's being fun, and I doubt I'll ever have time like this to do something like this again, so I'm goin' for it!

Yesterday was Tuesday, Jessica and Jon's day off! Unfortunately, Jon had to cover for someone, so he had to miss out on the daytime fun. Jessica and I had tons of fun though riding our bikes along the Provo River Trail up to Bridal Veil Falls and back! I was really excited because I'd spent the morning tuning our bikes, so I thought everything would be perfect! Well, in order for that to be the case I would have had to tune the bikes perfectly, which I didn't. Therefore, the handlebars on one of the bikes got flipped the wrong way shortly into the ride and wouldn't move back and the gears on one of the bikes didn't work well and the handlebars on one were too short and the tires weren't as full as I'd like them to be.

Therefore, rather than perfect, it was interesting.

But 20 miles later, we'd done it!

Later that evening, Jon joined us for FHE (which was a day late). I was in charge and I had this wonderful idea. This was the plan:

Make our way to Utah Lake right as it gets dark. Talk about the story of The Brother of Jared from The Book of Mormon. Then, because that story has glowing rocks, we'll splatted rocks on the lake shore with glowstick gunk and then skip them across the lake, watching the glow jump it's way across the water.

It would have been great, except then we got there and HOLY BUGS!!! I've never seen so many bugs all in the same place at once. They literally peppered the sky and filled the air with the constant sound of their buzzing. Loudly.

I've been to Utah Lake at night before, and this had never been a problem, so needless to say, this was a surprise.

We tried talking about The Brother of Jared, but Jon and Jessica were hopping around like rabbits and so we decided to try moving somewhere else where the bugs didn't qualify as a new form of air pollution. This new spot had less bugs, and so we tried cutting open some glowsticks, pouring them in a bag, and then shaking some rocks around inside of it. The problem now, however, was that instead of having bugs congest the sky, this new area had mosquitoes, and mosquitoes really, REALLY like my blood for some reason.

Jon was suddenly as happy as could be because he was skipping rocks and thinking he was cool for how many times they bounced, and Jessica was enjoying watching him. I, on the other hand was hitting myself obsessively to try and kill the mosquitoes that were raiding my body. I would hit three on my left leg (I was wearing capris) and then four on my right leg and then four on my left arm (short sleeves) and then five on my right arm only to look back to my left leg and find five more already there again! And I'm not dramatically exaggerating here! (My leg is itching in memory as I write this!)

I tried staying, because Jon kept wanting me to watch him be really cool and skip a rock a ton of times, but I failed to watch him skip nearly every rock because I was too distracted with hitting myself. Finally, after about five minutes, I just turned around and left. It was not worth it. Plus, the glowing rocks didn't even glow as they bounced across the water like the internet said they would. Lame!

Today, my legs look like they're recovering from chicken pox.

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!

25 Days Reflecting on Learning: Making Sandwiches and Dressing Like a Boss

Day Two: Today I learned how to make amazing sandwiches at FHE:

Sandwich made by: Audrey, Sarah, Drew, John, and I

 The (Obviously) Better of the two Sandwiches: French toast with ice cream, peanut butter, and nutella in the middle. Topped with whipped topping and drizzled chocolate and caramel syrup.

Sandwich made by: Emily, Amelia, Rachel, Scott, and Gentry

The (Obviously) Lesser of the Two Sandwiches: Ingredients unknown (Sketchy, right?)

Scott and Gentry also taught me how to dress like a boss in negative degree weather:

Thank heaven for armpit holes in jackets and nice calves, huh?

Letters

Ems and I with the cousins!

Dear Aunt Christie, Ethan, and Clancy, Thanks again so super much for making this Thanksgiving one of the best ones I've had in years! We got to do so many fun things, but the best part was just getting to know you and feeling so blessed to be a part of such an amazing family. I love and miss you guys!

Dear Shakespeare Paper, I'm not a fan of you at the moment. How bout we stop debating over silly details that don't matter and start making what we write actually applicable to our lives? You probably wouldn't understand--your from the Humanities department.

Dear FHE Family, Decorating for Christmas last night by making paper snowflakes and hanging lights and putting up a Christmas tree (one that smells AMAZING) was super fun! Thanks for being so happy and fun to be with. I really like laughing.

Dear Sarah, I'm glad that I went to the Women of Faith play with you in the HFAC last night. It was a good excuse to skip weight lifting and the stories of the women in the play were inspiring. And, as always, being with you was fun!

Dear Emily and Quaelii, I really enjoyed watching The Amazing Spider-Man with you two on Saturday night! I think we should do it again sometime soon!

Dear Derrik, Decorating your Christmas tree (and rearranging your apartment) on Sunday night was fun! Thanks for the invite!

Dear Brady, I enjoy talking with you outside the apartments in the cold at night. Seeing Divine Comedy this Friday will be fun!

Dear Week, You insist on being crazy and fun and stressful and exciting and tired all at the same time, don't you? Guess I'll take it.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thanks for being patient with me when I'm grumpy and stubborn and prideful and sluggish and frustrated. I promise I'm trying to do better now!

Awesome in a Nutshell

Why the past few days have been AWESOME (in a nutshell):

1. For FHE we carved pumpkins and baked pumpkin seeds. Super fun.
2. Yesterday, on my way to Shakespeare I ran into Emily Christensen. We got to talk. She's amazing. Then, after work, I got to go over to her apartment and we talked about life while she made chile.
3. Last night, our Relief Society had an activity called "How to Simplify and Satisfy Your Semester". So many girls came, and the girls who shared their talents are seriously skilled. Now I know how to cook delicious chicken, stay healthy, do my hair pretty, and make yummy tortillas.
4. After the Relief Society activity I came home and Ryan's parents were there! We got to hang out with them and just talk for over an hour. They are such good people. Of course, what else would you have expected from Ryan's parents?
5. Today, Emily Christensen came into my office while I was at work to talk to me for two seconds. Smiley face: check.
6. Today Kyle Wilson and Sarah and Amelia and Lauren and Rachel and Emily and I chilled in the apartment and did homework. Chinese and Shakespeare and Music Composition and American Heritage and Theater and Violin all in the same apartment. We're pretty awesome.
7. I got to go to weightlifting today with Emily (like I do every Monday and Wednesday night). We decided we're going to chill this weekend, so of course this weekend is going to be the best.
8. Today for my Shakespeare class, I read a letter writen by Keats. He pretty much quoted scripture. I love finding gospel truths in the things I am learning!

Letters

Dear Morgan, When you waved at me through the window when I was at work it made me super happy on the inside. Our apartment hasn't been the same since you left. I miss you, but hope that life is being super amazing over in Southridge!

Dear Amelia, After Morgan waved at me through the window, I didn't think my day could get any better, but then you came in to get papers to fix your SFL minor. Day officially made. I love you ton-zers!

Dear Bishop, Happy birthday! Thanks for working so hard and sacrificing so much for so many years. For us. Now only have you served our ward directly for the past almost 3 years, but you have living a righteous life before that, which made you worthy for the call. Thanks for all you do and all you are. We love you!!!

Dear FHE Family, Fingerpainting with you guys tonight was awesome. You're all pretty cool peoples. Can we keep being super awesome together? Okay? Deal.

Dear Heavenly Father, For everything I've written above and more, thank you.

Letters

Stephanie and I at prom our senior year

Dear Stephanie, Happy one day late birthday! You are one of the reasons I made it through high school semi-sane. Thanks for late nights on Paige's rooftop, homecoming nights in PJs with Ken dolls, egg salad food fights, rare winter days sledding down your house's hill, daily lunches in your kitchen, Sunday cookie-making nights, mutual book obsessing, movie nights with popcorn and goldfish, running in the rain, sitting together in calculus and AP Language, surprise birthday parties, making me laugh so hard I can't stay upright, and everything else in-between. You are awesome and I love you!!!

Dear Jason, You are already missed. Laughing outrageously hard while playing liers dice with you and calling you fat because you found your shorts in the plus-sizes area at DI and talking about prophets on the benches in the middle of south court and being excited that you have a new horsey friend to sleep with and running into each other on the path south of campus where all the awesome baby ducks (who aren't so baby anymore) are and celebrating your birthday by going to Sonic and everything else with you is the best. Thank you for being comfortable with and confident in yourself. It liberates those around you and gives them the freedom to be themselves too. I'm sure gonna' miss you.

Dear Anna, I was going to write you a nice note on Sunday night, but then realized that you no longer live in our ward. It was very sad. Therefore, I'm having to pass along my nice note via blog. Here it is (eh-hem!): You were an answer to my unsaid prayers when you invited me to go to the temple with you on Friday. It set the tone for the rest of my weekend. I miss you so much and am so glad that you and I have decided to go to the temple together regularly. I don't think I've ever felt more comfortable with anyone there than you. Thanks for being such an amazing example, support, and friend. I love you!

Dear Amelia, Rachel, and Lauren, Talking late at night on Sundays under the stars on the tables outside Slab Pizza with you three was amazing. Real talk is the best. I love you guys and am glad we're roommates. You are all doing just fine. Keep it up.

Dear Sarah, I'm glad Heavenly Father has placed you in my life right now so that we can help each other be awesome. I feel like I can be honest with you. I feel like you want me around. I feel like I can help lift you up because you lift me up. I feel like getting ice cream with you and talking about life is the best. I feel like I love looking at the pictures you take on your adventures. I feel like sitting and listening to you play the piano while I read my scriptures and think about life helps me feel at peace. I feel like you are such an incredible person and that you make me want to be an incredible person too. Thanks for being there.

Dear Mom and Dad, I was so happy to see you on Saturday night and to get frozen yogurt with you and to sit up on campus on the benches between the Clyde and the MARB. You two are some of my favoritest people in the world. Thanks for sitting and sharing stories about Grandpa Rogers and about all the things you got to do when you were down in St. Johns, AZ for his funeral this past week. I love you guys more than ice cream, 7 hours of sleep in one night, getting rain and sunshine in the same day, and writing letters combined.

Dear Ryan, No one helps me figure out my life more than you do. You are honestly the best friend I've ever had. Thanks for stopping and asking and listening and commenting and understanding. I know you're always there if I need anything. I also know you're there to have so much fun with and to tease me and to approve or not approve of any of the guys I consider dating. What else to brothers do?

Dear Bishopbric, You do amazing work. Thanks for the support. Thanks for the example. Thanks for the laughs. Thanks for the smiles. Thanks for the service. Thanks for the testimony. Thanks for the love. Thank you.

Dear Awesome Ward, I am so happy to belong to such an amazing group of happy, steadfast, faithful, funny, uplifting people. Air five to each and every one of you.

Dear S109, I love how warm and inviting and fun your apartment is. What I love even more, though, is how warm and inviting and fun you all are. Thanks for talking and smiling and being friends. Let's keep this up!

Dear John and Scott and Drew and Gentry, I think this whole FHE family thing just might work, even though you are rich snobs for living in the four person apartments instead of the six person ones. But that's okay. We can handle snobs. At least you seem like nice, fun snobs. Though, there is still this whole problem with you guys being pigs. Really, you need to work on that. Monday nights are going to be so much fun!

Letters

Sitting at the top!

Dear Emily, Hiking the Y with you yesterday afternoon was the best. Thanks for being patient with me when I stopped a kagillion times to fix my shoes or take a breather. I promise I'm not usually that slow moving up the mountain. This morning I even ran up part of it without stopping. Yesterday I was just tired, or at least, that's my excuse. Either way, spending that time with you was so much fun. I love how I can be my complete, normal self when I'm around you. Let's hang out again sometime soon.

Dear Jim, You were such a kind, nice man. Emily and I didn't even know you, yet when we ran into you at the bottom of the mountain you stood and talked to us for at least 15 minutes, talking about wrestling and trucking and Utah and your kids. Best wishes to you, Sir!

Dear UVU Wrestling Team, Hiking past you while we were going down the Y and you were running up it was...kinda' interesting. Next time, would you consider wearing something along with you tiny spandex shorts? Awesome.

SOme of the old FHE family at Josh's BBQ. Good times, good times.

Dear Josh Duncan, Thank you so much for inviting us to your going-away BBQ on Thursday night. It's the first time I've been to Rock Canyon Park, even though I've run past it a million times. The food was good, rolling down the hill was fun, but seeing you one last time before you leave for grad school was the best of it all. Thank you for being the best adopted FHE brother in the world!

This is what Costco's frozen yogurt will do to you. Maybe we should be more careful next time we order  from their food court.

Dear Rachel Munyan, Going to Costco to get huge cups of frozen yogurt and then going to Rock Canyon Park to eat it and talk and have fun was a blast. Emily and I both love you (and that was the first time Emily's ever even met you!) I hope you have the best time ever with your sister today, and that you and I get to go have fun again sometime soon. I really like you.

Dear Audrey Pister, I really, really, really like talking and cooking and watching movies and laughing and being with you. You are pretty much awesome. Even if things don't work out and you're not our roommate in the fall, I hope you will drop by to say hi often. We all think you are really cool.

Dear Graduations, I don't know if I'm going to enjoy my own graduation very much after having to help put on so many others for work. Oh well?

Dear Alma, The words of counsel that you gave your sons in Alma 36-42 are some of my favorite in the whole Book of Mormon. Thank you.

Dear Sarah Porter, Thanks for talking the other night. It's good to have you back home for a bit.

Dear Stephen, I'm so excited for you to be here at CP next week. It's going to be so much fun!

Epic Letters for an Epic Weekend

Dear FHE Family, Camping with you guys in the Unitas this weekend was one of the best things I've done my whole life because you are some of the best people I've met my whole life. Outside of my own immediate family, I've never felt more at home with any other group of people. You are all awesome, faithful, steadfast, funny, kind, serving, amazingly wonderful people with strong testimonies and big hearts. Here's to you:  

Dear Lauren, Thanks for singing crazy songs with me on the drive up to our campsite. And for taking awesome pictures. And for being your super amazing silly self. And for sleeping next to me and for jumping onto us when we woke up.

Dear Jeremy, Thanks for being your amazingly awesome, nerdy, funny, comfortable-with-being-yourself self. Thanks for carrying a role of toilet paper when we went hiking and for walking around in the water and skipping rocks with me and for sitting next to me by the campfire. 

Dear Amelia, Thanks for putting so much hard work and effort into planning this trip. And thanks for being awesome at cooking yummy food on the campfire and for being so funny when we played taradactal.

Dear Chris, Thanks for coming camping with us, even though camping isn't your thing. Thanks for letting all 9 of us cram into your 5-seater car on the way driving down the cliff back to our campsite. Thanks for being awesome and amazing and cute and yourself.

Dear Rachel, Thanks for being an amazing nurse when I scraped up my hands and for letting us use so much of your camping gear and for smiling and fishing and being awesome.

Dear Kap, Thanks for burning huge boxes and for coming up even though it was only for a little bit and for being so happy and optimistic all the time.

Dear Morgan, Thanks for being so silly and for biting people's elbows and for hugging your car and saying awesome things and doing awesome things.

Dear John, Thanks for coming all the way down from Idaho to be with us and for waking up at 3am on Saturday to drive to get Ryan and Kap and for putting so much effort into the planning and for being your amazingly kind, nice, selfless self.

Dear Josh, Thanks for coming and being a part of the family and for talking to me about awesome books and movies and eating snow and for always being willing to lend a hand.

Dear Ryan, Thanks for coming up on Saturday and for having fun with us even though you were super tired being you were only running on 3 hours of sleep. Thanks also for entertaining us when you sat on John's lap on the ride down from the hike.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for placing such amazingly wonderful, good, and inspiring people in my life. I hope that this FHE family is one that can be together forever.

Letters

Shen Shen and I at Spoon It Up!

Dear Shen Shen, I loved hiking the Y and having a water balloon fight and going to get frozen yogurt and playing Uno and celebrating your birthday with you. You are such a sweet, fun girl!

Having fun at the top of the Y!

Dear Eric, Thanks for hiking the Y with Shen Shen and I and for helping with the water balloon fight and for going to Divine Comedy with Sarah and I. You are pretty much the best x-coworker in the whole world!

Dear Spencer Olsen, Thanks for stopping to say "hi" last night. It meant a lot.

Dear Old FHE Group, Yea for going camping this weekend! I'm super excited to be outside and have lots of fun with you all. Let's make it the best EVER!

Dear ASL Class, I'm going to miss you so super much! Thanks, Brandon, for teaching us so much and for letting us have so much fun. I really love ASL.

Dear Scriptures, You are amazing. Let's hang out tonight, okay?

Dear Kelly Prue, I'm so excited to get to serve with you in the Relief Society Presidency! You are awesome and amazing and we're going to have so much fun!

Dear Sarah Porter, You are pretty much an awesome person. Thanks for going to Divine Comedy and for watching Becoming Jane with me on Saturday night and for sending me nice text messages and for talking on the bench outside and for giving amazing Relief Society lessons and for writing amazing music for BYU's play Arabian Nights and for just being an awesome "you". Keep it up.

Letters

We took this picture the last day of finals when we went up into the canyon to have foil dinners and to celebrate John's birthday

Dear FHE Family, You. Are. The. Best. I have never associated with a group of people as fantastically fun, righteous, and trustworthy as you guys. Our next FHE group has BIG shoes to fill.

Dear Ryan, Chris, and Kap, Thanks for "tucking me in" when I was laying on your living room floor and for then reading me "Oh the Place You Will Go" for a bedtime story. You guys will be awesome dads someday.

Dear Morgan, Thanks for your stroke of genius in planning the ultimate Frisbee game. Best idea EVER!

The first few players...many more people came to join us later!

Dear Frisbee Playing Buddies, You were all amazing. And my body is super sore/exhausted/tired/dead. I haven't had this much fun the in the longest time. I'm excited for the Spring and Summer so that we can play even MORE!

Dear Finals, It's been fun. Almost goodbye.