Angie's Life...

New Blog

2009-02-23T22:03:00.000-08:00

So I was having a hard time posting on my blog and decided that I wanted to change things up a bit. I started a new blog at

http://blessedwithenough.blogspot.com/

You can change the link you have for me to this new blog. I'm not sure how much I'll be using the old one.

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Tommy! I love you!

2009-01-24T09:24:00.000-08:00

This post is dedicated to my oldest brother, Tommy. Today is his birthday and he has been in my thoughts all week. I wish he could celebrate his birthday at home with his family, rather than where he is, but I know that he is where he needs to be.

Its been a long, tough road
these past few years,
There are have been many broken hearts
and a whole lot of tears.
I've asked questions like,
"Why does he have to be like this?"
Or "Will he ever know what its like
to take care of a wife and kids?"
Sometimes I feel hopeless
and helpless and selfish.
I think that things will never change
and I'll just have to get used to this.
But when I get on my knees and pray,
I see his face and know there is hope.
He is a child of God, he is my brother,
I see things from a more heavenly scope.
Christ commanded us to
"Love one another, as I have loved you."
I might not cure Tommy's pain,
but there is something I can do.
I can love him unconditionally,
because I know that's what Christ would choose.
He would take Tommy in His arms
and there would be no judgment in His eyes.
He'd give him comfort and peace
and He'd cry while Tommy cries.
Then He'd say, "My brother.
Please come back to My fold.
Drink freely of my living water,
its worth more than silver and gold.
I came to this earth to prepare a way
for you to come back Home.
I'm gathering my lost sheep
and you no longer need to roam.
I suffered greatly in Gethsemane
and gave my life upon the cross.
I did it because it was the only way
to save the souls of those who have been lost.
I have felt your pain and it hurt so much
Please do not let it destroy you
Give Me your pains and burdens
I will take away your suffering too.
Come back to My fold, dear brother,
I am standing outside your door.
I will not go away, I will always stay,
and when you're ready I'll give You wings to soar."
My hope is in Jesus. I know He is there.
There is no need to worry or fear.
When Tommy is ready, whether in this life or next,
Christ will be ready and near.
I will love him and pray for him
it the best I can do.
And the Savior will take care of the rest.
He'll bless Tommy and me and you.

California Here We Come!

2009-01-12T17:52:00.000-08:00

My little brother, Robbie, and I decided to take off to California for a week and it was a great trip! We drove down there, and the first night we drove to Vegas. The weather was horrible and I managed to slide off the road twice! But we made it safe and sound. In Vegas we visited the Temple and then spent a couple of hours on the Strip. Then we were off to California! We got up early one morning and went to the Price Is Right! We didn't get up on stage, but we did get to view a taping of the show, and Drew Carey totally had a conversation with my brother. It was great!! The next day we went to Disneyland and California Adventure and it was awesome!!! The parks were not crowded at all, so we went on tons of rides and I loved it!!! Disneyland is the best!!! Our last day we spent in San Diego at my Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Mike's house, which is on the beach. It was so much fun to spend time with them! I'm so glad we got to go!!!

In The Middle of Nowhere

2009-01-12T17:39:00.000-08:00

So in December my friend, Kristin, and I drove down to Manti to go to our friend, Heather's, wedding. It was a beautiful day and the drive was going great. Then, suddenly, all of the cars in front of us started slowing down, and I thought, "Oh no, there's probably an accident or something up ahead and we're already running late. Ahhhh!" As we got closer to the stopped traffic though, I realized that we were no longer in the city, but far out in the country. There were HUNDREDS of sheep in the road!!!! They totally surrounded our car! Luckily, we had a camera and although the pictures didn't turn out too great, it is proof that no matter how far out in the middle of nowhere you might be, there will always be sheep!

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-18T08:09:00.001-08:00

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A Shout Out To My Peeps!

2008-11-15T21:06:00.000-08:00

So for Thanksgiving my WHOLE family will be together and I'm super excited! I love when all of my nieces and nephews are around! They are my most favorite kids in the world!!!! They are all so beautiful and so unique! I love them and I love being their FAVORITE aunt!!!!!

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITES???

2008-10-24T13:05:00.000-07:00

I'm putting together I list of books and movies that I want to see. Will you all share with me your all time favorite books and movies? People are always telling me good things to read and see, but I always forget. I LOVE a good book!!!! So please share!!! Feel free to list as many as you'd like! Thanks!!!!!

Blast from the Past

2008-10-24T10:28:00.000-07:00

So I found this picture and it totally made me laugh! Being a kid was the greatest thing. Life was so easy and so carefree. I was completely happy with a cheese tortilla and my silky pink pajamas. An added bonus was having so many siblings. There was always someone to hang out with. Shawn was a great little brother. He had no problem dressing up and playing house. I'd beat him over and over again in basketball and he'd throw the ball at me and tell me that I was a cheater, but then he'd always come back for more. Children are amazing that way. They don't hold on to things. They bounce back and keep trying again and again. When we got older and Shawn grew taller and became a better basketball player, I knew my days as the champion were over and we never played anymore. I wish I could say I could still whip him at ball, but I know that I don't even stand a chance. Maybe I should trying playing against my sisters....

2008-10-21T13:33:00.000-07:00

I was having a grand ole time reading my sister Natalee's blog. She had been tagged and I was thinking to myself, "I'm so glad I haven't been tagged"....but then, there it was....MY NAME! Natalee had tagged me!!! So, here ya go:

My 3 Joys: 1.)Belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints and knowing that I have a Father in Heaven that LOVES me and that I can one day live with Him again. 2.) My family: our family keeps getting bigger and bigger and it makes me so happy! Each member of my family is amazing in their own way. I don't know where I'd be without them. 3.) This amazingly beautiful earth!!! I love spending time outdoors, especially with good friends and family! Nothing is better than a great hike, with awesome views, and people I love!

3. Things I look forward to in the future: 1.) Graduating from college....less than a year to go. I can't wait!!. 2.) One day marrying the man of my dreams in the Temple....I just need to find him.... 3.) Being a Mom. There is nothing I'd rather do more than that.

3: Things I like to obsess over: Photos!!! I love to take photos, scrapbook photos, and reminisce over old photos. Right now I am also obsessed with getting in shape and losing weight. I obsess over watching "Biggest Loser" and "Grey's Anatomy." I obsess about being on time. I'm obsessed with eating at Paradise Cafe.

3: Surprising Facts about me: hmmmmm...... 1.) I won $1000 on the radio. 2.) I don't have a car and haven't had one for 3 months. I take the bus to work and school every day and I have great friends that make sure I always have a ride.

3.) I'm considering joining the Air Force when I graduate from college and becoming an officer.

ABC TAG

A- Attached or Single? Single....but hoping for attachment.

B- Best Friend? I have a few. My roommate, Kristin. I pretty much tell her everything. Anjanelle, she's someone I admire most in my life. Shells and Pelosi: two of my most favorite people ever!!!! I think most of my friends are my best friends...in their own unique ways!

C- Cake or Pie? CHEESECAKE all the way!!!! Especially when Telle makes it!!!!

D- Day of choice? Sunday. There is nothing better than getting some spiritual upliftment, some rest, and a yummy dinner with my family.

E- Essential Item? I have no idea. When I'm working out I have to have my iPod and my Sigg Waterbottle. When I'm outdoors I have to have my camera. My Book of Mormon is essential in my everyday life.

F- Favorite color? Blue. Pretty much any shade of blue. I love the color of the sky and the color of the ocean and lakes. I find it a calming color. I also love green, like forest green and olive green.

Gummy bears or worms?- Both!

H- Hometown? Highland, Utah

I- Favorite Indulgence?- I love pizza! I could probably eat pizza everyday and be happy. I especially love New York pizza (any hole-in-the-wall pizza place in New York is great), Olive Garden's pizza with olives, Italian sausage, and artichokes, and I love pizza from Cafe Trio and the Pie!

J- January or July? July! I love the sunshine!

K- Kids?- Aren't baby goats called kids? I definitely have none of those!

L- Life isn't complete without? People who love you!

M- Marriage Place? That little chapel in Vegas.......

N- Number of brothers and sisters? 5 brothers (Tommy, Paul, Chris, Shawn, Robbie), 2 sisters (Jen and Ash), 1 brother-in-law (Kiley----yes, thats a boy's name :), and 3 sisters-in-law (Natalee, Becki, and Jessica).

O- Oranges or Apples- Apples 90% of the time.

P- Phobia and fears? I think the older I get the more I'm afraid of heights. I'm also getting more claustrophobic (in Alaska I'd get freaked out being zipped up in my sleeping bag and I'd have to rip it open because I thought I would suffocate or something). I'm afraid of rejection and also afraid of never reaching my true potential. I'm afraid of snakes. I'm afraid of walking alone in the dark.

Q- Quote? "Our deepest fear is not the we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, which most frightens us." "The way to achieve inner peace is to finish everything you start." "You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there." "Live life outside yourself in love."

R- Reasons to smile? Anytime I'm around my nieces and nephews! They brighten my life. Knowing that I will be graduating soon! Standing on top of a mountain that I've just climbed.

S- Season of choice- Summer! The sunshine brings everyone to life! There's nothing better than a summer day followed by a warm summer night! I also love Autumn because its so incredibly beautiful!!!

T- Tag? I tag Becki, Telle, Anjanelle, and Cindy!

V- Vegetable? Spaghetti Squash, corn-on-the-cob, yellow and orange peppers, artichokes.

W- Worst Habit?- Cutting in when someone is in the middle of saying something, not making my bed (i'm getting better at that), cleaning my ears with Q-tips.

X- Ray or Ultrasound? I've only had an X-ray before.

Y- Your favorite foods?- Pizza (as explained above), chicken artichoke panini from Paradise Cafe, pork salad from Cafe Rio, sun dried tomatoes, mashed potatoes, musubi from 7-11 in Hawaii, homemade soup, loco moco from Seasider Grill at BYU-H, my mom's homemade rolls, California rolls, hummus and pita bread, baked cheesecake, etc etc etc

Z- Zodiac sign?- Aries

I Saw Perfection Today

2008-10-18T18:44:00.000-07:00

I saw perfection today.
I witnessed his very first breath.
Tears crept into my eyes
As I thanked God for this amazing miracle.

He came to a fallen world
That gets more evil with each passing day
But he was just in the presence of God
He gives me hope for the triumph of good.

There may be hatred and sin all around
The clouds might get darker and our numbers are small
But God is sending His most noble and brave
They will pave the way for the coming of the Son.

This perfect little baby boy
That I held when only a couple hours old
Brought with him the love and spirit of God
And I will press forward in faith and hope.

I saw perfection today.
He is noble and brave and strong.
Only a small babe
But greater than us all.

*my nephew Tyler was born today and I was there to witness his birth. It was an amazing and spiritual experience. He is perfect and beautiful!

On Top of the World

2008-10-03T17:22:00.001-07:00

You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down again. So why bother in the first place? Just this: What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above. One climbs, one sees. One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen. There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up. When one can no longer see, one can at least still know. Rene Daumal
A few weeks ago I hiked Timpanogos with some friends and family. It was so great! I love hiking! The leaves had already begun to change colors, so it was extra beautiful up there! We made it to the top of the mountain and the views were amazing! Its such an awesome feeling to stand on top of a mountain and look at the world below. Its such a great accomplishment to make it to the top and so incredibly enjoyable along the way. The quote above is one of my favorites. You have to make it to the top on your own to really know what it feels like to be up there. You can't give that to anyone else. Everyone has to go to the top on their own to discover for themselves what its like.

THE CHALLENGE...

2008-09-18T10:01:00.000-07:00

So two weeks ago I began the Body For Life Challenge. It has been going pretty well. The other day I was reading on the Body For Life web-site about ways to be successful in this challenge. It said that one thing to do is tell everyone around you that you are doing the challenge, that way you have a good support group. I am someone who likes to do things on my own and I haven't really told anyone about this challenge, but I want to be successful, so here it goes. I want to lose 30 pounds!!! That is my goal. I have twelve weeks to complete the program, and I need all of you to be my support group! I want to get healthy and fit, that is my main objective, but for those of you that really know me, you know that I am competitive, and I really want to WIN this challenge!!! Thousands of people enter and there are 8 winners total. I want to be one of them! I also look forward to dropping some pounds and getting fit. When I was in Alaska on my backpacking trip, one of the last days out in the wilderness we had to climb straight up this mountain, about 1000 feet high, carrying our 50 pound packs. When I looked up at it, I thought I was going to cry. I felt the tears coming. I wasn't sure if my body could make it up there. But I pushed forward and when I made it to the top I felt like a whole new person. I had just conquered a mountain and I felt like I was on top of the world (which I was). Now this is my next mountain to conquer. You are my support. I need you all to chip in and be part of the voice in my head telling me to keep pushing forward. Please send me some encouraging words, favorite quotes, poems, songs to workout to, anything that will encourage me to reach my goal. I have until November 24th to reach it. I will conquer!!!

A Dream Come True

2008-09-17T18:34:00.001-07:00

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I had the amazing opportunity to spend some quality time with Zac Efron during the shooting of High School Musical 3!!! It really was a dream come true. As we danced and sang together in front of the camera I felt like a movie star. I will never forget our day together at East High School. Go Wildcats!!!

Stop ____________________ (fill in the blank).

2008-09-15T22:01:00.000-07:00

ARE ATHLETES HEROES?

2008-09-12T14:51:00.000-07:00

Today I sat through an interesting class discussion in my Sport and Society class. We were asked the question: "Are athletes heroes, role-models, or none of the above?" It really made me think about how society views athletes, especially how us in the United States, view our professional athletes. Are they heroes? The definition of hero is:

A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life (from the dictionary)

Using this definition, are athletes heroes? Should we be allowing or encouraging our children to look up to athletes and glorify them? I thought about this a lot. There are some pretty amazing athletes out there. I was addicted to the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer and there were some awesome stories out there of athletes overcoming obstacles to make it to those games. I think that there are some athletes who make outstanding role-models. They seem to be fewer and fewer these days, but there are some. I just don't know if any of them are heroes. Maybe in their individual lives they do heroic things, but is playing a sport and winning a game a measure of heroism? What do you think?

My Epic Expedition

2008-07-15T11:26:00.000-07:00

Recently I spent three weeks in the Wrangel-St. Elias mountains of Alaska. I went with a program called NoLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) and I took the Alaska Backpacking Outdoor Educator Course. There were fifteen people in our group and we didn't see a single other person, besides our bush pilot that flew in our food rations once a week, the whole time we were there. We backpacked over 70 miles in 21 days and endured the wild terrain of Alaska. My boots got wet on day 2 and stayed wet until the day I got back to Utah. We hiked through sunshine, rain, and even snow! One morning we woke up to 2 or 3 inches of snow outside our tent and there was one camp we stayed at that I never even saw what it looked like because we were basically in a white out the whole time we were there. It was incredible! I definitly learned a lot about myself during this trip and realized that I'm a lot stronger person, both physically and mentally, then I ever thought I was. There were some really tough days out on the trail, but I enjoyed every minute of it. I felt like I was in my element out there and would have loved to stay out there for another few weeks. We were constantly surrounded by beauty and the silence of the mountains really helped to clear my mind and help me feel at peace. I would find myself often standing in complete awe, staring at the scenery around me, and feeling completely content with where I was. The people in my group were incredible! We had 3 instructors that were just amazing and we all feel like we lucked out to have them lead our group. They each were so different from each other and had very different styles, but they meshed together so well and gave us the chance to learn different things from each of them. We had people from all over the country and we quickly learned to trust each other and help each other push forward. We definitly got to know each other very well, because we were in bear country, so we ALWAYS had to be in groups of four, no matter what. This meant we hiked in groups of four, cooked in groups of four, used the bathroom in groups of four, and slept in groups of four. So we had plenty of time to get to know each other and to learn from each others' strengths and weaknesses. They are all incredible people and I'm grateful to have each one of them as a friend. We've all been through this amazing experience together, and no one else will ever fully understand what we've been through. So we get to share this little secret of what life is like out in the wild of Alaska. I also learned a lot of leadership skills and was able to improve my own leadership skills along the way. One of my favorite days on the trip was when we got to walk on a glacier. We had been camped next to the glacier and one morning we got to hike as a whole group, without our heavy backpacks, and go down and explore the glacier. It was so much fun and we were like little kids in a candystore, everything looked amazing! We even had a map reading class right on the glacier. So cool!!! Another favorite day was the day we practice river crossings in the Jacksina River. It was a hot, sunny day, and we practiced crossing the river in groups and cheering each other along. The water felt great and Another favorite memory was when we did our solo student expeditions. We were able to go out in student groups, without instructors, and hike and camp on our own for a night. I was with Carl, Bryan, and Garrett. To get to our camp we had to climb a huge mountain that went straight up and was covered in trees and bush. I was so nervous to climb it and so afraid that I wouldn't make it. But I said a few prayers and pushed along. I thought it would take us like 3 hours to get to the top, but it only took a little over an hour. It was exhausting, but not as difficult as I thought it would be. When we got to the top we had the most amazing view I've ever seen in my life. I could see for miles and miles in every direction and it was all mountains and lakes and rivers. I got a little emotional as I stood at the top of that mountain, looking out, and feeling complete joy. I realized that day that if I could conquer that mountain, I could do anything. I don't have to be afraid of doing hard things. I just have to push forward and do it. It was the greatest feeling in the world! There were so many great experiences and I wish I could write all of them down. The thing I love most about the wilderness is how close I feel to God when I am there. I spent a lot of time reflecting and praying and I felt the love of the Lord so strongly. I remember one day in particular, I was just standing there by myself, at camp, looking around me, and I was suddenly overwhelmed with the knowledge that God loves me and that He is aware of me. It was such a powerful and peaceful experience. I think that being in the wilderness, away from all of the distractions of the "unreal" world (cell phones, computers, t.v., noise, etc. etc.), is the one of the greatest ways to feel the spirit of God and to learn a lot about yourself. He has created such an amazing and beautful world. I wish more people had the opportunity or took the time to explore the wilderness and to see the beauty. I'm so grateful for the experience. It really did change my life. Now all I need to do is continue applying what I learned in the "real" world (the wilderness), to my life here in the "unreal" world. I know, at least a little bit more, what I am capable of doing, and I want to keep on learning, and growing, and helping others to do the same.

Here a few other things I learned along the trail:

When hiking in the Wrangels, make sure you have trekking poles, because you WILL be bushwacking! (or you could hug trees)

Don't eat dried apricots along the trail: your stomach won't appreciate, and your hiking groups won't appreciate it if they have to walk behind you.

You can cook delicious food in the wilderness, including: tortillas, scrambled brownies, pizza, and cornbread.

You can hike in the same two pair of socks for 21 days straight.

There are great quotes made in the wilderness. For example:

"Sticks and Stones may brake my bones,

But Alaska just might kill me." (-said by Carl)
"I have a wooden spoon!" -said by Katie

If you wear dry long johns under you soaking wet wind pants, and rain pants over those, your wind pants will dry in about 20 minutes. (I did this more than once. And it worked!)

You can wake up in the morning to 3 inches of snow, and have warm sunshine in the evening and dry out all of your wet clothes.

There are more than just bears in Alaska: moose, caribou, pika (?), golden eagles, tarmigans, doll sheep, etc.

You can create over 100 songs about your puffy coat (just ask Sheila).

ThermaRest sleeping pads make great blackboards when teaching classes in the wilderness.

NOLS gold really does exist!!!!

Wiping with snow is probably the best naturaly toilet paper in the wilderness (wet moss comes in a close second!)

I could go on and on and on, but I'll stop there. Here are some pics from our adventure.

Day 1: Our group right before we headed into the mountains Bushwacking at its best!If you look closely you can see the ice that formed on my boots during the night! My socks froze that night too!Celebrating after the bush plane dropped off our food rations!Amazing rainbow at around 4:30am!

Practicing river crossings!
Writing in our journals around 11:00pm. The mosquitoes were pretty bad that night.
The bush plane!Crossing a deep creek!The view from where I was standing was amazing!

Carl and I at the top of the big mountain that we climbed! It was awesome!!!
Happy Birthday Carl! He got snow for his birthday for the first time!

Modeling for my senior pictures!
My cook group making dinner along the Jacksina River
Getting water from the Jacksina. We always purified the water before we drank it. Watching a golden eagle while we were hiking.
My tentmates writing in their journals before going to bed.
One of my favorite pictures. This is at Grizzly Lake!

One of my favorite hikes. There were a lot of waterfalls in this valley.
The ladies hiking from Grizzly Lake to the River I used my thermarest to teach my class about wildflowers. Kelly helped me with it!

Our coolest campsite, next to the glaciers!

Avalanche! We watched a few avalanches and it was so great!
My fingers cracked and had cuts all over them the whole time we were on the trail. I taped them up and just kept going.

Hiking in a white out. This group saw a Grizzly Bear!

Our tent!
Last day on the trail! We hiked to the road and the bus picked us up. It was strange to come back to the "unreal" world.Our amazing instructors at our graduation!

Sensei Sheila, Sensei Rob, and Sensei Lloyd

Our last night hanging out together as a group before everyone headed home. It was sad to say goodbye!

Greatest Place on Earth

2008-07-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

So a week before my NOLS course started, I flew out early with my sister, Ashley, and our friend, Natalie. We spent a week going all over Alaska and it was amazing! It was kind of a cold week, but the sights were still so beautiful! We biked along the coastal trail, went on a glacier and whale watching cruise, kayaked in Prince William Sound, and explored Anchorage. It was such a fun trip!

An amazing view from Eagle River

Lunch Break during our kayaking trip

Kayaking in Prince William Sound. The day started out cold, but then the sun came out and it was awesome!!! We went past waterfalls and even saw a huge glacier in the distance.

Ash and Nat kayaking

This picture was taken at 11:30pm! It stayed light all night long!

We ran the 5K at the Ocean's Festival in Anchorage.

This was taken during our cruise. There is actually a bald eagle sitting on one of the rocks. We saw quite a few bald eagles during the cruise!

This is a humpback whale that jumped completely out of the water. It was so cool!!

Our cruise ship stopped here and we ate lunch in front of this glacier and watched big chunks of ice fall off and into the water. So cool!!

Holgate Glacier

We hiked to Exit Glacier one day and even saw a black bear up above it!

We rode a tram to the top of the mountain at Alyeska Resort and had lunch. There was still so much snow up there!

This is the first hostel we stayed at in Anchorage. It was great!

Enjoying a beautiful hike

Biking the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail in Anchorage. We biked over 20 miles along the coast. We saw a lot of moose and their babies.

I'm Heading Out....Into the Wild

2008-05-29T13:16:00.000-07:00

I am finally leaving for Alaska. I fly out on Sunday and I'm really excited and also a bit nervous. I'll be living in the wild for over 3 weeks, with no showers, toilets, and even no deoderant!!! Yes, its true, I cannot take deoderant with me. Maybe my smell will scare off the bears! I know it will be quite the adventure and being out in the wilderness where very few people have been will be something that will change my life. I will have no access to computers, phones, and I don't think I'll be able to send out any mail. But if any of you would like to drop me a note you can send it to the NOLS headquarters in Alaska and they might be able to get to me, otherwise I will get it when we return to headquarters. I'd love to hear from you all!!! The address is

Angela Webb (AOE-6/9/08)

NOLS Alaska

PO BOX 981

Palmer, AK 99645

I return home on July 5th and I will be sure to share my many adventures and experiences with you!!!!

Early Father's Day Tribute

2008-05-29T11:50:00.000-07:00

So I decided that since I will be in Alaska during Father's Day and nowhere near a computer, that I would give my Dad an early tribute. My Dad is so great and gives so much of his time and energy to make all of us happy. He has taught me the value of hardwork and I'm so grateful for that. He has a great sense of humor and loves to tease and joke around. He loves to have fun and he LOVES being with his family! He spoils his grandkids like crazy and they just adore him.

Dad, thanks so much for being who you are. You're a great example and a man full of integrity. You stand up for what you believe and I look up to you so much. Thank you for loving me and for encouraging me along my path of life. I love you!

Memorial Day Weekend!!!

2008-05-29T11:12:00.001-07:00

Memorial Weekend was great! On Friday night I headed up to Idaho Falls with my little sister, Ashley, and her friend, Brittany. We stayed with our friend Jena and it was fun to see her. Her little girl, Shaylie, is so cute! We ate breakfast at Smitty's in Idaho Falls on Saturday morning. Smitty's is a definit place to eat if you are ever up there!!! I had a delicious omelet. On Saturday evening I met up with my friends, Shelley and Telle, and hung out with them in Blackfoot until Sunday afternoon. We brushed up on our Guitar Hero skills and ate lots of ice cream with peanut butter and caramel toppings! After church on Sunday, Shelley, Telle, and I drove to Salt Lake, picked up Kristin, and then headed down to Scofield to Telle's cabin. It was a lot of driving, but definitly worth the trip! Shelley and Kristin kept us entertained in the car with their amazing singing voices and Telle's cabin was awesome!!!! Its in such a beautiful area and we hung out with Telle's family the rest of the weekend. We also got to go four wheeling with Mike and we totally covered in mud by the time we got back. Good times!Idaho Falls TempleHanging out with our little buddy ShaylieTaking a walk in the rain at the cabin

Me and Kristin driving through the puddles

Mike and Shelley made quite a splash!Muddy Buddies!I like this shot!

We kind of made a mess....

Belated Mother's Day Tribute

2008-05-29T10:26:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to do this for awhile, but at least I'm finally doing it. Mom, I love you, and this post is dedicated to you. You're an amazing woman and a great example to me. Here are the Top 10 Reasons Why I Love You!

Reason #1: You have ALWAYS put family first! You provided us kids with a home where we felt loved, safe, and free to be who we wanted to be.

Reason #2: It is because of you that I have such a great love for children, especially babies. There is nothing better then snuggling up with a newborn baby. I'm glad I had baby siblings that I could tote around the house.

Reason #3: You're beautiful! (and always will be).

Reason #4: You have great hair!Reason #5: You have a great sense of humor and a very contagious laugh

Reason #6: You gave birth to 8 children! Thats definitly something to be proud of!Reason #7: Family trips were always so much fun! They have been a bit hectic for you, but I have great memories of all of our family outings and vacations.Reason #8: You are our #1 fan. You came to my basketball games, no matter how boring they might have been. I think us kids succeeded in turning you into a sports fanatic!Reason #9: You are so strong! Not only have you completed 4 marathons, you have endured so much in life and you keep on going. Reason #10: You let us kids dream and have supported us in all of the decisions we have made. Real life can be hard at times, but its good to know that we have a Mom who believes in us.

Thanks again for all you do!

I love you!

The Great Outdoors

2008-05-29T10:13:00.000-07:00

I am so glad winter is finally over!!!! This Spring has been so crazy and the warm days have been few and far between, but its starting to warm up and I love it! I've been trying to hike as much as I can before taking off for Alaska and I love the Utah mountains! They are full of so much beauty and I love the quiet of the mountains. Its so great to escape to them and have my mind cleared as I hike. I've been hiking with Kristin and Pelosi and its so fun to hike with friends and just talk. Hiking has also made my super excited for my Alaska adventure. It will be so amazing to spend so much time in the mountains and to escape from the fast pace of real life.

Hiking Granduer Peak

The River

Pelosi hiked Granduer Peak with meAshley and I sitting on Cliff's Bench

A Pleasant Suprise

2008-05-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

So a few weeks ago I was sitting at work and counting the hours until 5:00pm and I could leave. It was a Friday and my cousin Karolee called me. She was in town to run the Salt Lake marathon and asked if she could stay at my house since I lived so close to the U. Of course, I said yes, and then she invited me to come over to Kris, her sister's, house for dinner. So finally that clock got to 5:00 and I took off. It was fun to hang out with the my cousins, I hardly ever see them anymore. My Aunt Anna and Grandma also came and it was so great to see them. It was nice to spend an evening with family!!!!

In Broad Daylight

2008-05-08T15:33:00.001-07:00

I've been meaning to post the picture for quite awhile. Here's the story behind the photo: One Saturday afternoon in March my ward was having an Enrichment party at our Bishop's house. He lives up behind Hogle Zoo. Anyway, we were all hanging out and our Bishop's daughter started saying, "Hey, they broke the glass!" I thought that maybe she was saying that one of us girls had broken something in the house, but I was totally wrong. We all ran to the window to see a person run from the Subaru and jump onto the back of the motorcyle. Realization finally hit me and it clicked in my brain that the two people on the bike had broken in the a car parked along the street. A couple of girls ran outside to chase them down, while someone yelled for someone to take a picture. I had my cell phone in my hands and quickly took a picture before they drove away. The car belonged to a girl that was there for the party and her passenger side window was shattered and her purse, which is under her seat, had been stolen. I couldn't believe it! It was so creepy to watch the two thiefs drive off and I wondered how they could do something like that. So sad!!! I was able to give my photo to the police officer that came and hopefully one day those people will get caught!

Flash Back

2008-04-13T20:02:00.000-07:00

I was just looking through some old photos and I came across this video. It was recorded a year ago when I was in Pennsylvania visiting my sister. We went to the Crayola Factory and the best part of it was this video screen that you stood in front of and it copied everything you do. We played in it for so long and I thought it was the coolest thing ever! This video is me and then I think my sister joins me towards the end! Its definitely the greatest invention ever!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRENNAN

2008-04-11T11:06:00.000-07:00

Today my nephew, Brennan, turned 1! He belongs to Chris and Becki. I can't believe how fast this past year has gone. I went to visit Brennan in the hospital the day he was born and he was such a beautiful baby. As he's gotten older throughout the year he gets even more beautiful. He has such a great smile and you can't help but fall in love with him when you see him. He is very pleasant and is such a gentle giant, a lot like his dad. I'm grateful to have Brennan in my life and I cannot wait to see him as he continues to grow and do amazing things in his life.

Ethan & Brookie

2008-04-11T10:45:00.000-07:00

During the Priesthood Session of General Conference my mom, Becki, and I went to Natalee's for dinner and to watch Dan In Real Life (which is now one of my favorite movies). During the movie I took Ethan and Brookie outside to run around and we had such a great time! They are such beautiful kids and so much fun to play with! We ran around for awhile and had fun taking pictures. Brookie LOVED looking at herself in the camera and Ethan really liked being the photographer for some of the photos. He did a great job!

ETHAN & BROOKIE

Happy Birthday To Me!

2008-04-04T09:20:00.001-07:00

So on Monday, March 31, I turned 26 years old. I'm not sure what happened to 22, 23, 24, or 25, but suddenly I am 26 years old and I must say that I'm happy with that. I enjoyed 25 and I'm looking forward to another great year. To celebrate my day I went do dinner with my family, went bowling with my ward, and then my friends threw me a "CEREAL PARTY" to celebrate! I had my favorite, Peanut Butter Caption Crunch, and there were about 20 other cereals to choose from. There's nothing that helps make you feel more like a kid than eating sugary cereal! It was a great birthday!

The cereal gang!
Bowling at the University of Utah

My beautiful niece Brookie!

Ethan LOVED the self serve Ice Cream!

My family at Sweet Tomatoes

I'm Going To Alaska!!!

2008-04-04T09:09:00.000-07:00

I am the recipient of the NOLS scholarship from the University Of Utah. NOLS stands for the National Outdoor Leadership School. I will be taking a backpacking Outdoor Educator course for one month in Alaska! I'm so excited to go. It goes from June 9 to July 2. My sister, Ashley, and I are going fly out a week early and explore Anchorage and the amazing Alaskan wilderness. I'm so excited to go. These pictures were taken on previos NOLS Alaska Courses. You can check out the course description at http://www.nols.edu/courses/locations/alaska/akeducatorbackpacking.shtml

I think this will be such a big learning experience and it will be so nice to escape to the mountains for awhile. I'll be coming for over 3 weeks and we will be out in the wilderness without electricity, showers, bathrooms, etc. So it will definitly be a new experience for me!

St. Patty's Day

2008-04-04T07:44:00.000-07:00

For St. Patrick's Day my ward had a big "Green" Potluck Dinner. Chantelle cooked an amazing main course of Ham, Potato, and Leeks Pie. Everyone else brought "green" food and we had a great turnout. Mike, Brother Kirk, and Kim provided the entertainment. Enjoy!!!

Our Irish Entertainment

Shelley held the cue cards for the dancers

Our Amazing Chef--Chantelle

Laura, Meagen, Shelley, Me

Spring Time in San Francisco

2008-04-04T07:23:00.000-07:00

For Spring Break I went to San Francisco and had a fabulous time!!! My friend, Heather, flew out with me and we stayed with my Aunt Susie and Uncle Rick in Pacifica. It was so fun to visit with them! Heather and I rented bikes in San Francisco and rode all over town and across the Golden Gate Bridge. It was amazing! I totally fell in love with San Francisco. Its such a beautiful place! I'd like to get out there again sometime soon!

The flowers were amazing in San Francisco!
Sunset in Pacifica. So beautiful!
Aunt Susie and I at the Oakland Temple

Eating clam chowder in a sourdough breadbowl on Pier 39.

Visiting Uncle Rick at work. He works on the Golden Gate Bridge.

Riding to the Golden Gate. We rode along the water and it was awesome!

Making my way across the bridge!

Our first stop in San Francisco was China Town!

We were so excited to be in San Fran!

An amazing view of the city from the Golden Gate.

March 1, 2008: Natalie's Wedding!

2008-03-03T21:43:00.000-08:00

On Saturday one of my dearest high school friends, Natalie, was married to Joey. I was able to attend their temple ceremony and it was beautiful!!! That evening I also attended their reception and had such a great time!!! Natalie looked gorgeous and so incredibly happy! Her and Joey make a great couple. I'm so glad I got to see her and to also see her family. Its been quite a few years since I've seen most of them. I also got to visit with some old friends, Carli, Amy, and Josh, and we had a good laugh. They are so much fun! I'm grateful for good friends!

Joey, Natalie, Me, Amy

I was babysitting my friend's kids and we had a great time at the reception!
They were troopers for coming with me and I had a blast with them!

Amy, Carli, Me

Me and Amy

JJ and Jameson at the Salt Lake Temple.

What Is She Wiping Off The Floor???

2008-03-03T21:12:00.001-08:00

I recently had a life changing event in my life and I wanted to share it with all of you. A couple of weeks ago my roommate, Kristin, and I decided that we needed some extra money and thought the best thing to do was donate plasma. We made appointments at the local plasma center and the glorious day finally arrived. We gathered our three forms of ID and headed out. Little did I know the adventure that awaited me. When we got there we had to be weighed and tested to see if we were even eligible to donate. Kristin was didn't weigh enough to donate. I definitely did not have that problem, so I gave Kristin my car keys and told her to come pick me up in a couple of hours. I passed the physical and was able to donate. I must admit I was a bit scared of having a needle in my arm, but I thought about the money I'd be receiving at the end and was able to go on. The process wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I sat and watched "Entrapment" while blood was pumped out of my arm and then pumped back in. When my time was up, the cute plasma guy (I don't know what they are called) came and took the needle out and told me to walk over and sit by the window where they give you the money. He said that if I felt light headed I should let someone know. I walked over and sat down. I was proud of myself for not getting lightheaded...but then it all went downhill from there. I was sitting there and all of a sudden the world around me seemed to be caving in on me. The guy at the window called my name and I looked at him, put my finger in the air, and announced, "I think I'm going to pass out." Then everything went black. When I came to there was a bunch of plasma workers around me, lifting me onto a table. The nurse took my blood pressure and laid an ice pack across my chest. I realized then that I was burning up. I looked down at the floor and some girl was wiping something up. I couldn't figure out what it was. I started to feel a lot better and the nurse said that my blood pressure was great and the color was returning to my face. I looked again at the girl wiping the floor and wondered what it was she was cleaning up. Did my arm leak where the needle had been? Was I sweating? Then realization hit me.... I had peed my pants!!!!!! I looked down at my sweats and froze, not sure what to do. Everyone but me had known that I had wet my pants. The nurse was very professional about it and went to see if there was a pair of scrubs I could have, but found none. Not a word was spoken about the wet pants, but there was an understanding, we both knew that I knew what had happened. I was thankful that I chose to wear my black sweats that morning. I texted Kristin and told her that I had fainted. She had been outside waiting in the car. Her reply was simply "Oh great! What should I do?" The plasma boy brought me my money and I confidently walked out of the plasma center, pee pants and all!!! Kristin was waiting outside, I jumped in the car and we headed home. But, of course, we needed food, so don't worry, we stopped by Curry in a Hurry on the way home and I even walked in to order my food and then quickly walked back to the car and waited for Kristin to bring the food out. I am now proud to say that I finally have an embarrassing story to share with others and to allow others to laugh at my expense. But hey, the $40 was worth it! The question now is: Do I go back to plasma place and continue to donate or should I never show my face there again?

THE STRENGTH OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT

2008-02-08T08:46:00.000-08:00

Every once in awhile something comes along that totally inspires me. A couple of years ago I was shown a video of a father and son that changed my life. This morning, as I was sitting at work, thinking about some of the tough things that are going on in the lives of the people I love, this movie came to mind. I pulled it up on YouTube and cried as I watched it for the hundredth time. It filled me with hope. It made me think of my favorite quote, "Our deepest fear is not the we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, which most frightens us..." Sometimes we fear our greatness and settle for being mediocre. Why do we do that to ourselves? We are all children of God and created in His image. We must believe and we must allow ourselves to be great. When a challenge comes along, face it head on and allow it to change you for the better. As children of God we can do anything. There is no limit to what we can accomplish in our lives, the only thing that stops us is our fear. The father and son in this video faced their fears and overcame great obstacles. They tapped into the power that lies within them and now they are moving mountains and inspiring others to do the same. I hope you will take the time to read their story (below) and watch this video. Then take a few minutes and pray to God to show you the greatness that He already sees hiding inside of you. We can all move mountains! You just have to believe!!!!

STORY: Team Hoyt is a father (Dick Hoyt) and son (Rick Hoyt, b. 1962) in Massachusetts who compete together in marathons, triathlons, and other athletic endeavors. Rick was disabled at birth by a loss of oxygen to his brain because his umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, and he also suffers from cerebral palsy. Dick carries him in a special seat up front as they bike, pulls him in a special boat as they swim, and pushes him in a special wheelchair as they run.
Thanks to his parents, who ignored the advice of doctors that he would live life in a persistent vegetative state, and Tufts University engineers, who recognized that his sense of humor indicated intelligence, at the age of 12, Rick was able to learn how to use a special computer to communicate, using movements from his head. The first words he typed were, "Go Bruins!", and the family learned he was a sports fan. They entered their first race in 1977, a 5 mile benefit run for an injured lacrosse player who was a schoolmate of Rick's.
Dick is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Air National Guard. Rick earned a college degree from Boston University in special education, and now works at Boston College. They continue to compete in races, and are also motivational speakers.
As of December 31, 2006, Team Hoyt had participated in a total of 942 events, including 216 Triathlons (6 of which were Ironman competitions), 20 Duathlons, and 65 Marathons, including 25 consecutive Boston Marathons. They also biked and ran across the USA in 1992 — a 3,735 mile journey that took them 45 days.
When asked what one thing Rick wished he could give his father, his reply was "The thing I'd most like is that my dad would sit in the chair and I would push him once."

VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gm7XwtIJdM

An a Cold Winter Day

2008-01-25T10:00:00.001-08:00

Once upon a time, in the city of Sugar House, it snowed like 12 inches. I woke up and attempted to drive to work, which was quite a scary ordeal since none of the roads had been plowed. I slip-slided down the freeway and eventually made my way to work. I only worked a couple of hours and then received a friendly invite to go sledding. I decided that sledding was more important than doing homework. So I went to lunch with Shelley, Laura, and Pelosi and then we hit the slopes. The fresh layer of snow was perfect for sledding and it was such a wonderful day! We went off jumps and even knocked over a couple of the little kids that were there. We ended the day with a four-woman train and took the jump head on! The crowd all applauded as we each stood up to prove that we had conquered the jump with no injuries at all (except for maybe some bruises and severe whip lash). We left the sledding hill feeling proud and complete. I finished off this great day with a trip to the past. I went Classic Skating with Kristin, Melissa, Rachelle, and other members of my ward. There is nothing greater than putting on old school roller skates and weaving in and out of the hundreds of people on the rink. I worked on my wicked cool skating moves and only ran knocked over 2 people while doing so. It brought back fond memories of snowball skating and holding hands with boys while skating in circles. Skating is so joyful!!! That night I went to bed with sweet dreams of the day's festivities. All of this happened once upon a time, on a cold winter day.

HUNGRY for HUNGARIAN!

2008-01-14T09:16:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday Kristin and I hosted Hungarian night at our house. A bunch of friends came over and we ate chicken paprika with dumplings. It was so yummy!!! We've decided to make ethnic food night a monthly event. In December it was Greek night and next month it will be German night! We also celebrated Kristin's birthday, which was on Tuesday. Shelley baked a delicious chocolate cake for Kristin and the whole night was a lot of fun!

Emilee & Shelley enjoying some chicken and dumplings!

Rachelle and Kristin

Yummy Chocolate Cake!!!

Mike chillin' on the couch

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS TIME PHOTOS THIS YEAR

2008-01-09T11:23:00.000-08:00

Christmas Day!

My sister's family stayed in Texas this year for Christmas and we sure missed having them. Teagen, Brayden, and Olivia look so adorable in this photo!!!

On Christmas Eve we were driving back from the movies and everything was all white outside. It was so beautiful!

During the holidays I went out to lunch with Emily, Megan, Amy, and Natalie. It was so great to catch up with them! We had a yummy lunch at Cafe Trio.

The lights at Temple Square!

My sister gave me a Zac Efron pillow for Christmas because we are always talking about how much we love High School Musical!!! On Christmas Night Kristen, Nikki, and Brittany came over and played games and I let them each have a chance to hold the coveted Pillow!

On Christmas Eve we went to lunch at La Vigna in American Fork. Its part of our annualy Christmas tradition to go to lunch and a movie. In this photo is me, Ashley, Mom, and Natalee

I love this picture of my Dad! He looks great!!! He loves being a Grandpa and he's so good at it. All of the grandkids LOVE him!

Christopher's birthday is on Christmas, so this year we suprised him with a little party! When he walked in with his son, Brennan, we sprayed them with silly string.

Paul and Ethan at lunch on Christmas Eve. I think Ethan looks so adorable in this picture...and Paul does too. :)

Ethan was so excited for Christmas this year! He kept telling me what he wanted. The things he wanted most was a fish tank, and Santa did good at bringing him one!

Brookie wasn't too thrilled about seeing Santa, but even when she's crying she's so darn cute!

Winter Must Be Cold For Those With No Warm Memories. (An Affair To Remember)

2008-01-09T09:33:00.000-08:00

So this morning I was getting ready for work and peeked at my window and was pleasantly suprised to see snow falling. I've never really liked winter, but this year it has changed a little bit. I think Heavenly Father knows that I do not like winter and so this year He has helped me to see all of the beauty. As I walked out to my car this morning I was amazed by how beautiful and still the earth was. The snow covered the trees and provided such a beautiful landscape. I ran back into my house and grabbed my camera. I didn't have much time, but I was able to snap a few pictures before taking off for work. One of the greatest things on earth is walking out in the moonlight when the earth is silent and covered with a new blanket of snow. I only wish now that I had more time to go out and enjoy the snow! I'm hoping to get some snow shoeing in with some friends and maybe even some sledding!

“Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter. Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom, but we hope it, we know it.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Winter came down to our home one night
Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,

And we, we were children once again. ~Bill Morgan, Jr.

I love my little house in Sugar House! I moved up here in September and I live with three other girls. Our house is so cute and cozy! Its been fun living in this area and meeting so many great people!

2008-01-04T09:55:00.000-08:00

Shawn and Jess with their family behind them

The three stooges: Brayden, Teagen, and Ethan

Kellie, Ashley, Natalie, and Me

The Bride and Groom

The Webb Kids

Shawn and Jessica's wedding was great! They got married in the

Salt Lake Temple and then had their reception at a church in Highland.

It was so fun to see so many family and friends!

2008-01-04T09:24:00.000-08:00

Ashley and I had so much fun jumping over

and over again while Natalee took pictures of us with

her new camera! It was hilarious!!! I love my

little sis! She's so funny!!! I love her visits home,

they definitely make things more exciting!

The Whole Fam Damily!

2008-01-04T08:36:00.000-08:00

The day before Thanksgiving my brother, Shawn, got married to Jessica. Our whole family was in town for the event, so we got family pictures taken and it was such a fun day. We had them taken at Hobble Creek Canyon in Springville and it was a beautiful day! Jessica makes our family an even 20! I can't believe how much its grown and I'm so grateful for each person!!! The wedding and Thanksgiving were wonderful!!!

I think I'm Gonna Try

2007-11-08T18:22:00.001-08:00

So I've decided that I think blogging is actually pretty cool and I'm feeling left out not having one. All of the blogs that I have seen are awesome and so here's my attempt to be part of the "blog" society. My life isn't the most exciting right now since it mostly consists of going to school and working each day, but I'm sure that some of the funny little events that happen each day will make it onto my blog. I love being in school and I'm learning a lot up here at the University of Utah. I am majoring in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism with an emphasis in Sports Management. I also love living in Sugar House! Its such a great little town, full of cute little houses. Its definitely been a good change. I'm glad Kristin got me out to move up here with her. She's hilarious and an awesome roommate! I'm also working part time with the Lone Peak girls' basketball team, and I must admit that I'm already missing being the head sophomore coach, but I know I'm doing the right thing and that I needed to put more focus on graduating from college. So yeah, thats my life in a nutshell. I'll try to add more soon!