Merry Christmas

Look what I found...

This little bungalow is swell. 

Maybe it's the skull over the awning that makes it so endearing. 

Ha. :)

Sometimes I wander...

Cache Valley

I've been asked on numerous occasions WHY I live here and LIKE it! 

With so many perfect days like today, how could anyone wonder?

Driving along with two of my lil ones in the car, 

we pulled over, and took a peek at the beautiful elk who had wandered down 

from the knoll they've camped on most of the winter.

 There is something about the rich brown earth, green spring grass and snowy mountains
that makes me somewhat delirious with contentment. 

Who wouldn't want to call this home?

The original clan. 

New and improved.

Blessed.

     What an honor to attend the wedding of my baby brother, Jace, and his sweet wife, Erin. I love them. After a week with my family- all nine siblings together for the first time in 7 1/2 years- I am deeply grateful for the eternal nature of our relationships. After saying goodbye, we scattered from St. George to Logan, Arizona, Missouri, and North Carolina. Kauri spoke in church earlier that day on how the Temple has blessed our family. As she was speaking, I thought of how thankful I am that we, as a family, can spread across the earth building the kingdom of God, and even though we may never live close to one another, our family is bound together for eternity. 

MARCH

The most beautiful month in St. George. 

Snowy Stroll

After class, I wandered through a white-out back to my car

 and found it covered in a good four inches of snow. 

Powdery, fluffy, wonderful snow!

 I immediately went home, bundled up, 

and took a quiet walk through the wonderland. Yum.

I adore winter.

Money's Worth

I'm sitting in class right this moment. 

I'm grateful to have the opportunity to be at this awesome university.

I'm sittin in this building at the moment...

except it's blustery and snowing outside.
Not sun-shiny like in the pic.

But...

I'm wishing I was somewhere else.

And the sad thing is it wouldn't matter much if I WAS somewhere else. 

Like the basketball game.

Or the temple with my stake.

But I'm here.

Maybe she'll call my name and I'll get three points for participation.

I'm paying money for this. 

And I just spent a dollar on M&Ms.
Just the regular size pack.

Money's worth? 

nope. 

I'm climbing. I climb. I'm a climber.

Okay, not really.

I've only been twice.

But since I have very few recent pics,

these babies are blog-worthy.

:)

My dear rock-climbing friends were kind and patient enough to take me.

(They may have tied me up, thrown me in the car, and forced me onto the rock.)

But it was worth it. 

This was my first climbing excursion. 

HIGH, if you ask me.

I didn't die. I went again. And I'll probably climb in the future. 

That counts as success, right?

up...

up...

 the top...

the view...

and down.

Oh, the Places I've Lived

A short summary...

Washington, UT

Norwalk, CT

Logan, UT

Townsend, MT

Billings, MT

Kalispell, MT

I know nobody will see this (it has been well over a year since my last post and nobody knew about the blog back then!) but I consider my ramblings here more for my own benefit than anyone else's.

This is what my sweet Cache Valley looks like at the moment. I still love it here as much (or more) than ever. It has occurred to me, somewhat recently, that I might not be here forever. That is a sad thought but makes each element of this place even sweeter. Gotta appreciate it while I'm here!

The past year has been BLESSED. I moved from my great apartment and great roommates in Maple Valley last June into a great townhome with great roommates in Providence. This change really has defined my post-mission Logan experience. I have learned and grown a lot, expanded my circle of friends, become aquainted with some phenominal women, and solidified the vision I have for my life. Now, I have lived long enough to know that plans don't always materialize (in fact, that is probably the exception), but my vision has less to do with 'plans' and more to do with character, qualities, attitudes and faith. I know what I want. Regardless of where life takes me, my vision will be fulfilled. I'm excited for what is to come. :)