Quick Plug!

In my long list of things 'To Do' writing about my adventure hiking Table Rock yesterday is low on the list, but I wanted to put in a plug about hiking Table Rock to all the locals before too much time passed because time is running out.

If you have the opportunity or have room in your schedule to hike Table Rock.....GO!!!

Due to the long winter and amount of snow on the mountain Table Rock opened late this year. This also means that the wild flowers came late too. They are in full bloom and blanket the mountain side in tons of different colors! Even if you don't make it to the top or even half way to the top, the wild flowers are definitely worth it! THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL!! Summer is coming to a close soon, so don't miss out! Hopefully the picture below will entice you to go...


And if you are hesitant to go because you don't have a hiking buddy to go with you, I went alone yesterday - the reason being that Table Rock is such a frequently hiked trail that if anything were to happen somebody will run into you sooner rather than later. Be prepared yourself, of course, but I feel it is a safe enough hike to do alone if you are a confident hiker.

Where the Pavement Ends.......

.......And Dreams Begin

Today I went on a quest that I have been wanting to do for over a year now. It has always been a dream of mine to run through a corn field. Don’t ask me where this dream came from or why I have it, but it has something that I have wanted to do for years and years. Last summer after I finished school and moved to Arizona my best friend Angie vicariously fulfilled this dream for me during one of her bike rides on the back farm roads of Rexburg. It meant so much to me that she took the time to become apart of one of my dreams. It has been my goal this summer to find the same corn field and run through it too.

Vaguely remembering the directions that Angie had once told me on where the corn fields were I set out on my quest heading East to Poleline Road, where our most frequent rides took us last summer. Instead of turning North on the usual road (Rd. 3000) that would bring us back towards Rexburg I continued to head East in hopes to find the corn fields over a few rolling hills. Cresting the top of the rolling hills I tried to see any corn fields in distance. I couldn’t distinguish between corn fields and potato fields at such a far distance. I was tempted to turn around several times, but something kept pushing me on. A few miles down the roads I came to a “Pavement Ends” sign. Whether there were corn fields beyond that point or not, I wouldn’t know because I couldn’t go any further with my road bike.

Where the pavement ended there was a road that turned North (Rd. 5000). I debated whether to head down this road or head back and take the usual route back. Intrigued and having a little sense of adventure I decided to take Road 5000 to see where it would take me. I was disappointed that I had not found the corn fields where I thought they would be and didn’t expect to come across any during the rest of my bike ride. I thought maybe this year may have been an off year for growing corn. My focus had changed to exploring this area that I had never been on. The road cut through more beautiful potato and hay fields with a few ups and downs along the way. I took the first left that I could (2000), which would spit me out North of Rexburg on the road that lead to Sugar City.

As I cruised down this road I debated on the several different routes I could take to get back home. I thought about turning and heading South or Road 3000 to meet up and finish out on the route that I normally ride, but as I came up on that road I decided last minute to turn left on the next road. This intersects with the same route I normally ride, just a mile or so down the road at the Rexburg Cemetery.

I had picked up quite a bit of speed as I was biking to my next turn and was keeping an eye on my odometer to see how fast I could ride on flat ground. I glanced up to quickly get my bearings when I noticed on the other side of the road a corn field that I had already completely passed! I yelled out, “A CORN FIELD!!” as I slammed on my breaks. It came as a complete surprise!

I rode to the furthest entrance and set my bike down. I couldn’t stop smiling! I was filled with so much excitement that I had found the corn field and I was finally able to fulfill one of my dreams!

The sprinklers were going, which caused the ground to become muddy – all the more fun I thought! I was wearing Chacos (because they make the world go round) and didn’t hesitate to jump right in the mud! I bypassed the sprinklers, taking a moment to breath in the extra oxygen from the mist, and then completely surrounded myself in the corn! The corn towered over me at about 7 ½ feet or so. I was in my own little heaven!

My camera was the first thing to come out! I was grateful I brought it so I could capture this dream. After taking a few pictures I was more than ready and excited to finally do what I had been wanting to do for so long. I lined myself up in one of the corn rows and took off running! I spread my arms out as wide as the corn row and let my hands brush over all of the corn leaves as I ran passed them. The only thing I wished for was somebody to be with me to video record me running through the corn field. But since that wasn’t an option I didn’t let it taint my experience one bit, but let my dream be as full and filling as it could possibly be!

I am grateful that Angie vicariously fulfilled this dream until the opportunity came for me to experience, and that we were able to experience it together even at separate times! (Y+M=WE)!

See How They Run

I have been to West Yellowstone a number of times in my 6 years (and counting) in Idaho, but I have never take the opportunity to attend any of the plays at the West Yellowstone PlayMill Theatre. Last night I had this opportunity as I was invited to join Chad and his family in seeing the play “See How They Run.”

With the sunroof open, allowing the warm rays of sunlight to stream in on us, Chad and I left Rexburg at about 2:45pm and made our way through the beautiful Idaho country land, taking note of the clouds that filled the sky, the wildflowers that decorated the side of the freeway, and the quaking and pine trees that covered the land as we gained in elevation. It was a gorgeous day!

Upon arriving in West Yellowstone we met up with Chad’s mom Sheryl, youngest brother Russell, and his sister Dawnua and her two children Micah (daughter) and Trevan (son) who are visiting from California. We hit up Canyon Café for a bite to eat before the show. We all got milkshakes as apart of dinner. Trevan was so fun to watch as he ate his milkshake. No matter how wide he opened is mouth or how big his eyes got, his little mouth was too small to fully engulf the big spoonfuls of milkshake he scooped up on his spoon. It was so cute…and entertaining!

On our walk to the Theatre the family stopped for a little bit at a souvenir shop, but before we knew it we were being seated in the theatre for the show. There were several little acts that were fun before the actual play started, but the play was a great comedy! The acting was very well done and they had the audience laughing lots! It was really enjoyable.

While Chad and I were driving home we watched the sun set behind the mountains and they sky change from orange, to pink, then purple, then fade into the blue of the night. We decided to stop at Big Spring/River (can’t remember the exact name). There we watched the last of the daylight fade into the night as we stood on a wood bridge over the river. There was so much peace there! I loved listening to the flowing water with an occasional splash of a fish. I loved watching the sky fill with stars and the almost full moon beam brightly in the night sky. I love the outdoors and let every moment fill me.

The rest of the drive home seemed to go by really quickly as we shared stories of different experiences in our lives and had deep conversations about dreams and fears. It was a great evening!

Memory Bandwagon!

I am jumping on the Memory Bandwagon! It's great to reminisce! Here's what you do:

1. Leave a memory that you and I had together by posting a comment . It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.

It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. EVERYBODY PLAY! I want to see what memories are out there!!

Ask, Seek, & Knock

“Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened" (3rd Nephi 14:7-8).

This is a very commonly well known scripture that most people can rattle off from memory, but how many of us have really studied this promise from the Lord in depth? I still have yet to study this scripture more deeply, but I wanted to post my thoughts as of now and see what other insights you may have and be willing to share.

For a long time now I have been praying and asking for a couple of specific things. In recent weeks I realized that that is all I've been doing - asking. Introspective questions began to formulate in my head, "How bad do I really want what I am asking for? What am I doing to show the Lord this desire of my heart? How can I increase my faith/efforts to show the Lord that I am willing to work as hard as I can and do whatever is needed to receive this, if it be the Lord's will?" Since having these thoughts I have had a greater desire to do and be better in several different areas of my life, but mainly in increasing my devotion and dedication to the gospel and to the Lord.

I have given a LOT of thought to the quoted scripture and have great faith in this promise. I know the Lord fulfills ALL of His promises. After pondering over this scripture for some time I began to apply it to the specific things that I have been praying for by breaking up the scripture and asking myself these questions:

Ask: What am I asking for?

Seek: How am I seeking for this? By what means and/or actions am I seeking for this with?

Knock: How/Where am I discovering the things I am asking and seeking for? How/Where are those things which I ask and seek for being opened to me? (Tender mercies, actual answer to specific prayer, etc.).

As I have answered these questions personally I have been able to realized what things I am lacking and where I need to improve. I also discovered that, even though the actual things I am praying for have not been answered, there are tender mercies or blessings that the Lord gives in relation to what I have been praying for. And by realizing these tender mercies I need to let them fill me and allow them to be enough. My faith needs to be coupled with the will of the Lord and in His time table, but continue in diligence, dedication, and devotion to this desire of my heart, asking for the Lord to make my faith whole and complete. I know that I could give my all and do absolutely everything earthly I can, but the majority of my faith lies in the space between me and the Lord - the space that the Lord mercifully fills and makes up for what I lack. I can't do it on my own, but Ineed to wholly rely on the Lord in every effort for His support and guidence.

These are my partially-developed thoughts on the subject. What are your thoughts, insights, experiences, etc., that you would be willing to share that could bring more light on the subject? I'd love to hear them!

40:16

In high school I pulled many all-nighters in order to finish up long essays or big projects and presentations. As I entered college my ability to do this seemed to weaken, probably due to the fact that I was expending a lot more energy for school, work, and play than I did when I was in high school. I am again called to develop this ability as I am now working the weekend night shift (7:00pm - 7:00am, Fri/Sat/Sun) at the Homestead Assisted Living.

In transition to beginning my weekend shift at the Homestead and ending my work at the plant Nursery my capabilities of working for many long hours were stretched. There have only been a few similiar experiences prior to this weekend's work schedule that have called me to work for hours on end - most of which come from my time at Anasazi. But I have learned that sometimes you've got to do what you've got to do. This weekend was nothing short of that.

I was scheduled to be trained for my night shift at the Homestead on Friday and Saturday night. Several hours before work I began feeling sick. As time went on it continued to get worse and worse. I went to work nontheless in hopes that the sick feeling would taper off. Only after a couple hours of being at work I had to take several long breaks where I needed to put my head in between my knees. My body would begin to rise in temperature and then drop - just as if I was suffering the effects of having blood drawn from me gone bad. That wasn't a good sign. Along with this my stomach felt very quisey and ached. I had no clue what was causing me to feel this way. My conditioned only seemed to worsen as the time ticked on by. I finally decided to go home because I knew I wouldn't be of any use.

I continued to feel sick the entire day on Saturday and was able to be excused from training that night, but was asked to work the Sunday night shift. Due to some unexpected events I was left alone to work the night by myself - untrained. Now, the night shift isn't as hard as the other shifts because it is mostly filled with cooking and cleaning while the residence are sleeping. I do put the residence to bed at night and get them up in the mornings as well. I have been trained to put them to bed, it was staying up all night and getting the residence up in the morning that was the battle for me.

I am happy to say that all went very well Sunday, mostly due to the help extended to me at the beginning and end of my shift. Plus, nobody died on me during the night either. Phew! The night was very tiring and I had difficulty keeping my energy level up to carry out the duties required of me. By 3:00am I was exhausted and my body was screaming at me to rest. I was blessed to have the energy to get everything done that was needed and have a few moments of down time where I was able to sit on the big comfty recliner chairs and relax. It would be great if I could text or call a friend who stayed up during these late hours to help me stay awake.

When the end of my shift came around I was dragging my feet and searching for toothpicks to use in order to keep my eyelids open. When my shift finally came to a close there was no rejoicing to be had. It became a race to run home, change clothes, and make it to my Nursery job before 7:30am.

I didn't know how or where I would have the energy to do an additional 5 hours of constant manual labor, but upon finding out that it would be my last day working at the Nursery I somehow discovered a resevior of energy still left in me to make it through those 5 hours of work. This reservior of energy was a lot more full than I had expected. Even though my physical strength had weakened my body became more awake and alive as I worked. I didn't feel the drag of lack of sleep as I had been feeling at the end of my night shift. What a tender mercy and answer to prayers!

I expected to come home and completely crash until the sun of Tuesday morning woke me up, but found when I arrived home the desire to stay awake in order to accomplish a number of things on my to-do list. Once I ate a good lunch and showered I was ready to get accomplishing!

I finally made it to bed around 9:30pm Monday night - having been awake straight for a total of 40 hours and working 16 of those. Talk about initiation! I'm grateful it was a one-time experience in order to get started and finish up between my two jobs! Even though it will still take my body time to adjust to the all-nighters on the weekends, I feel a bit more confident in my ability to make it through the nights.

I give big props and have a greater sense of respect for my friend who works these long, 12-hour night shifts! She's nothing less than AMAZING!

Photos of the Day!

I got the idea of doing 'Photo(s) of the Day' from my friend's sister's blog. There won't be pictures posted everyday, but whenever I happen to snap a really good picture I will post it on here to share with you.

These two pictures of Sunflowers were taken at the Nature Park in Rexburg. Believe it or not they were taken with my cell phone camera. Not too bad. I love the background in both of these pictures. The water, trees, clouds and sky in the first picture, and the sky, clouds, other sunflower, and beams of sunlight in the second picture. I love nature!

Photo By: Rachel Gillmore
Photo Taken: August 2, 2008

"Now I believe you..."

Many of you know that one of my favorite quotes - that I live by and say often - is "Drink more water." I even have a t-shirt that says that (thanks to the Anasazi Foundation). And since I live by this quote and know what amazing things water does for the body, mind, and soul I of course try to get others to live by the same. My current roommate Jessica included.

This afternoon Jessica came home from donating plasma. Shortly after we both got done eating the divine cupcakes she brought home she began to complain that she wasn't feeling all that well and felt as though she was going to throw up. My first response to complaints of this nature is either, "Drink more water" or "How much water have you had to drink?" I asked her this question and "not that much" was her response. I suggested that she drink some water.

THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO DO AFTER DONATING PLASMA!!

Jessica didn't take my suggestion of drinking water and so therefore she continued to feel more and more sick. She took a seat at the dinning room table and laid her head down on her outstretched arm. I was sitting on the couch, facing her, working on my computer. I peered up at her over the top of my computer screen and was a taken back by what I saw.

Jessica's face had gone completely white. Her eyes were opened wide and her face expressionless. She almost looked lifeless. I called out to her, "Jessica?...Jessica, are you ok?" There was no response from her. She then began having convulsions. They were small, but constant, one right after the other. I knew exactly what was happening. I called out to her again, "JESSICA!?!" She lifted her head and had the expression on her face that said, "What just happened?" She looked over at me with a puzzled look. I again asked her if she was ok, but still got no response. She then put her head back down on her arm and began to fade again.

I quickly threw my computer aside, jumped up, and ran to her side. She had begun having convulsions again by that point. I grabbed her arm and said, "Jessica! Stand up; you need to lay on the floor for me." After giving her a slight tug upwards she slowly stood up for me and I helped her down onto the living room floor.

With her face still white as a sheet she said that she felt like she was going to throw up. I ran into the kitchen and grabbed a large bowl to put next to her. I grabbed some couch pillows and quickly put them under her feet to elevate them. I ran back into the kitchen and filled up a large glass of water and told her to sip on it. I then ran upstairs to collect more blankets and pillows to put under her feet and head.

After laying down with her feet elevated and head slightly up she began feeling better. I told her that she was not to get up until she had finished drinking the entire 16oz. cup of water. She was a good girl and obeyed.

I then explained to her, once she was fully cognitive, that when you donate plasma they take out fluids. Eating the cupcake after donating was good because it gets the blood sugar levels back up, but more importantly you need to replace the fluids that have been taken out of your body.

Jessica then confessed that she never really believed my whole water 'theory' and felt like she was a big girl and her body could handle not drinking that much water, especially after donating plasma. She kind of had the "I'll show you" attitude today when I suggested she drink some water. But after today's experience she humbly she said, "Now I believe you."

Jessica and I are both grateful that I was home when this happened and that I knew what to do to help. We are also both grateful that it wasn't worse than what it was.

As I have said it a thousand times, I will continue to say and live by it...

"DRINK MORE WATER!!"

Delivery!

The unexpected happened today...I received my new cell phone in the mail! Woohoo! 7 days earlier than expected. So, I've re-entered the world wide connection again and must admit that I am pretty happy about it. Please disregard the statement about the day before August 7th for all of you who know what that day is....

Happy August! One of the two best months out of the year! :o)