A treat

After we were done hiking, we drove up the rest of the way to Columbus area. After we checked into the hotel and ate dinner we decided we needed some delicious ice cream. Graeters was our choice. Super delicious ice cream is the only way to describe it. You can tell the kids really liked it too.

Hocking Hills

After a few days of being in Ohio we went and visited one of its many wonders. We headed out early Friday morning hitting one of the old country roads that took us through many small towns of southern Ohio. We stopped at this random historic sight called Seip Mound. Even after the forest guy helped us we were still a little unsure at what we were looking at, but whatevs. I guess it dates back to about 2000 years ago, and it was a sacred ground of some natives. A place where they buried their dead. After we walked around, we headed back to the car and drove up the next few miles to Hocking Hills national park. One of the most beautiful places I have ever been too. That doesn't really say much but still, it was gorgeous. We hit three hikes that were pretty easy, the longest one being a two mile loop through green scenery. The first one we went to was called Ash Cave. It was a wide expanse of massive rock, and waterfalls. Then we hiked over to Cedar falls, we walked down into a canyon that led to a waterfalls which poured into a natural pool of clean, clear water. The last one was Old Man's Cave. The whole hike was beautiful, it was old and everthing was covered in green moss. There were tunnels, bridges, waterfalls all along the way. We were tired and sweaty by the end but it was definitely worth it.

Ohio

I love Ohio. I love that it is so close to so many things. I love the trees. I love the food. I love the lightening bugs. I love the diversity. I love that the houses have characters. I love the people that live there, okay well maybe just a few of those. Anyway... on July 30th I hopped on a plane and flew to Ohio. When I got off the plane there was the cutest 5 year old waiting for me. She even had a sign. Don't worry she was accompanied by an adult. The first couple of days I just got settled in. We played volleyball, made bracelets, went shopping went swimming and worked out. I just loved being there. I loved the change. I saw a friend from school so that was nice. Life is good.

I taught her all I know about fashion.

I'm leaving on a jet plane.

Ever just need to get away? Well I did. So I boarded a plane to Ohio.

Congratulations to Me

I did it. After 14 weeks, 20 credits, and many emotional breakdowns. I graduated from BYU-Idaho with my Associates degree in Gen Ed. with an emphasis in Neuroscience. Sounds impressive right? I know its not my bachelors and I can't do much with it, but it is definitely one mile stone of many in my life, another step toward my goal. I didn't end up walking in my convocation but I still get the 8 by 10.5 piece of certification. Awe man it just feels so good to be done. I graduated from a college. Go me. Now onto my Bachelors and grad school, to get my big degrees.

Temple splurge

4 temples, 2 days. Great experience. I am flying out to Ohio from Salt Lake, so that required that my mom (or someother person) drive me down. However she was willing to take the job. She decided to take off a few days early and drive down and attend some of the Temples along the way. Seeing how I am not endowed and didn't feel like waiting in the car for two hours I went and did baptisms. On Thursday we hit Salt Lake. Oh my. It was immaculate. I only saw a small portion but I was in awe. The work of the baptistry is simple amazing. Then we hit Draper. It was simple yet absolutely beautiful, it was spacious and open. At both temples I was done before my mom's session was over. So I walked the grounds, read scriptures, thought about life and slept. Peaceful. I had the opportunity to talk to some sister missionaries on Temple Square, yep definitely made me feel that much better about my choice to serve a mission. I sat in the visitor center listening to them share their testimony of the church, and it was the best thing I could have heard at that time. Friday we woke up really early to go to Mount Timpanogos however when we got there walk-ins were no longer accepted to I walked the grounds while my mom did a session. After that we headed to the Jordan River Temple. I was informed while I was in the prayer room that it is the busiest temple in the world. They do more ordinances than any other temple. I believe it. There was a two and a half hour wait, but it really only took about an hour and forty-five minutes. The perfect way to spend 2 hours. They have a organist playing soft hymns and I love to see the temple was one of them. It was nice to be sitting in the chapel listening to that song, for it echoed everything I was thinking. Perfect. Something I discovered while I was there was that I love old people. I watched the cutest thing there, two 90 something year old men helping each other out. It made my heart smile so so big. I wish I could just connect my thoughts to everyone elses so you could see it, but then that would be weird. It was so wonderful. I am making a goal to visit more temples, and count down the days till I walk through the front doors, and see all the temple has to offer. Also I am at the airport waiting for my flight and the internet is uper slow so only a few pictures this time.

Things you forget

Sometimes I wish I was little again. There. I said it. Growing up, in not so many words, is crappy. Something about responsibility. Maturity. Bills. College. Career. Marriage. Whatever. I try not to think about it too much. I forget what it is like to be a kid. I know. I know, I am still really young. But the truth is I have no recollection of what it is like to be one. Or two. Or three. Carefree. Wild. Smiley. Happy. Simply myself. I watched two of my nieces grow a year older this month. I watched both of them as their eyes lit up as they unwrapped their presents. Small things, that to them mean the world. Emma was soooo grateful for her Grinch. Taylor I thinked liked her cards more than anything. You forget. You forget how small things can account for so much. As we have grown we have slowly adapted to the worlds view of grandeur, simply to say that if its not big and expensive, it has no value, that you have no value. Big houses, fun toys, name brand clothes. Is that not what it is all about? Sometimes I think the world would be a better place if we all went back to being little. We would sure understand a little more about life. But that is just my personal opinion.

Some things I have forgotten:

That four dollars is really quite the chunk of change

How fun it is to pretend to be a cowgirl

What it is like to have tea parties with your best friend.

And so many other things.

So while I have to be the responsible (haha. right.) adult. I enjoy living a child-like life vicariously through my A-dorable nieces and nephews.