Chasing the Fire

Over the last six years my mind has jumped from one career to another, beginning with the desire to be a Crime Scene Investigator to Graphics Designer then to the world of Recreation and now currently to Wilderness Search & Rescue. I wish there was some kind of job that included all of my interests and all avenues of things I want to explore and try. Only in my dreams.

But since I have had an interest in Wilderness Search & Rescue I have spent a bit of time over the past several months researching what it would take in order to become a Wilderness Search & Rescuer. I have only discovered a little information on how to get there to show for the large amount of research I have done. I first need to jump through a lot of hoops getting certified in a number of things before even beginning to get on somewhere. These hoops include becoming Fire Fighter certified (city and/or BLM), EMT/Paramedic certified, Wilderness First Responder (or WFR EMT) certified, and obtaining a pilots license. Wow. Intense.

With so many certifications needed I figured I better stop researching and get on the ball. I stopped by the Health Science Department at BYU-Idaho, where I worked the entire time I attended college, to talked with a couple of the professors about possible contact people or programs in order to become certified. My visit was a lot more successful than I had ever imagined!

Being pretty tight with the Paramedic Director he got me into the Fire Fighting class that had just begun for the semester. All I needed to do was tell the instructor that 'so-and-so' said I could attend class and then take the test at the end of the semester, which would get me certified in Fire Fighting. What a blessing!! The class is every Tuesday & Thursday from 6pm to 9pm. I attended class for the first time this evening and already enjoy what I am learning and am excited to continue going. By January I should be a certified Fire Fighter and one step closer to my goal.

Fire Fighter Rachel

Hot Chocolate Floats

The weather has cooled down into the 70's now and I have pulled out my sweatshirts, jackets, fleece pants, and socks. I find myself wrapping myself up in one of the many blankets we have stashed around the house - whichever one I can get my hands on. Don't ask my why I still reside in Idaho or I should say, the 'burg,' because I wouldn't be able to give you an answer.

Along with the warm clothing and blankets, hot chocolate has also come down from the top shelf of the cupboard. But I don't just have hot chocolate. For the people who know me well enough know that there always has to be a unique twist to things, if possible. Yes, even with plain hot chocolate. It is quite simple and very tasty - I recommend it to everyone, hence my blogging about it.

With your "Just Add Water" hot chocolate mix make a nice rich, steamy cup of hot chocolate, always making sure to add that extra scoop of mixture. Heat it up, stir it all together and then for the secret to smooth and creamy hot chocolate just add a couple of small scoops of vanilla ice cream. OH! It's soooo good! Let the ice cream melt into the hot chocolate by giving it a couple gentle stirs and then indulge in the divinity of this simple creation!

Now, probably none of you are as cold as I am at this time of year and won't be pulling out the hot chocolate for a couple more months. So as I continue to indulge my taste buds in this rich goodness, you guys can sit back and let your thoughts drool until you are ready to take the step into the world of hot chocoloate floats. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

Simply Joys in Life

I am currently taking an online computer class to improve my computer skills as well as get a more in depth knowledge of the capabilities Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access has to offer. I just finished the unit on Mircrosoft Word and had an assignment to create a Newsletter. This assignment was right down my alley because I love design, layout, and creating things of the like on the computer. As part of the assignment I was supposed to simply write a few sentances about anything I wanted. I decided to have a little fun with it instead of just writing lame or boring sentances like, "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" (which contains every letter in the alphabet). I gave what I wrote a piece of my personality....

"I absolutely love Chaco sandals, Nalgene bottles, and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Chaco sandals make the world go ‘round. You can wear them wherever your feet go! And your feet never get tired of them, but in fact relish in the joy of such amazing and royal treatment. You’ll always walk with an extra bounce in your step.

Simply stated, Hydration is Happiness! Being completely hydrated solves all the problems and ailments your body may encounter (except decapitation).The sleek design and durability of Nalgene bottles bring added enjoyment to your hydration happiness. Let your Nalgene bottle be your side-kick wherever you go. Drink more water!

Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is a good friend when it comes to those hard and depressing times in life or when you simply want to have a delicious treat with a good friend. You can’t just take one bite or resist eating the whole pint of delicate, smooth, creamy, and scrumptious ice cream. No longer deprive yourself or your taste buds of such luxury! "

Outdoor Junky

I have done a number of things in the outdoors to wrap up the summer and before fall settles in. They all have been great adventures that I have thoroughly enjoyed! Below are the different adventures I went on that were captured on camera. I wish I could post all of the pictures, but I will only display a few of the best pictures. Enjoy!

CLOUDS

I love clouds. I do. Looking up into the sky is the first thing that I naturally do every time I walk outside. These clouds however were spotted from inside looking out from either my bedroom window or from the living room windows.

View from my bedroom window

Wow!

View from front door step

Amazing!

Soft and Gentle

TEMPLE GROUNDS

All summer I had been wanting to make a special trip to the Rexbug Temple to walk the grounds. I have ridden my bike past the temple several times, but never stopped. After having a really crappy day I decided to spend some time on the temple grounds. I was so grateful that I did because it brought the peace back into my heart that I needed. The temple grounds are truly hallowed grounds .

Flowers on the Temple grounds

This was the first I had ever seen these kinds of flowers. Pretty!

Rexburg, Idaho Temple

Majestic!

SLACK LINING

I didn't take the opportunity to slack line this summer as much as I would have liked to, but here are a few pictures from my last slack lining fun!

Amber practicing her balance

Me walking the line

One step at a time

Concentration!

I have been slack lining for over a year now and have made it from one end to the other numerous time. I decided to challenge myself and make the goal of being able to walk to the center of the slack line (where it is the hardest place to balance), do a 180 degree turn, and then continue walking in the same direction as before - which is backwards. The above video is my successful attempt after many many failed attempts.

TABLE ROCK

Finally, what you've all been waiting for! It was really hard to choose which pictures from my Table Rock hike to post. There were so many that I love! The lesson that was taught to me on this hike rather strongly was, "It's not the destination that matters, but the journey" which has significant meaning in my life right now. I spent only about 20-30 minutes at the summit because of cold and extremely windy conditions. My joy on this hike was found on the trail, not the summit.

The Grand Tetons.

To see Table Rock click on the picture to get an enlarged view. Table Rock is the next highest lump just below the Grand - the highest peak of the Teton Range.

The trail lined with wild flowers

Berries!

Bursts of flowers!

Aspen trees and wild flowers - can't go wrong there!

Simple Beauty

Indian Paintbrush

Gorgeous!

Yes, pictures of Chacos does make it to the "best pictures" list!
"Chacos make the world go 'round"

Discovered Waterfall

Field of wild flowers. Gorgeous!

Small stream surrounded by wild flowers. Stunning!

The end in sight

The summit with the Grand Tetons in the background

HUG A TREE!

I wasn't going to leave the mountain without hugging at least one tree! This is one of them that I hugged, an Aspen tree - one of my favorites!

The trail head at the end of the hike.

Click here to read more about Table Rock.

MESA FALLS

My friend Stephanie recently came to visit me. Mesa Falls was one of the places we went to. I went back to Mesa Falls a few days later with another friend of mine. Below is a combination of both trips.

Upper Mesa Falls

I love how the plant frames this photo! Amazing!

Upper Mesa Falls. It was so neat to see a rainbow the waterfall created.

Roadside wild flowers

The trees and plants have already begun changing colors.

Stunning shot!

Lower Mesa Falls

The view of this water fallis from a distance - as close as we could get.

Look at those colors! Brilliant!

To view all of the pictures, check them out on my Photobucket! (Coming soon)

Three Long Nights

Many of you know that I have taken a job working with the elderly at an Assisted Living place called the Homestead here in Rexburg, but I always get the question, "So, what is it that you do?" Well, I'm here to tell you...

There are many different shifts offered at the Homestead. I happen to work the weekend night shift - Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 7pm to 7am. I chose this shift for a few different reasons. First and foremost, I love to play! Working the weekend shift enables me to have Monday thru Friday to play. Second, I came to the realization that because I like to play so much that I have a really hard time settling for an 8am to 5pm job. Working intermittedly until 5pm in the Health Science Department at BYU-Idaho for five years while attending school and then working at Anasazi where I get 6 full days off didn't help me too much in regulating my play time. With having such open and flexible working schedules for the last six years I find it really hard to have the desire to work the 8am to 5pm, Monday thru Friday schedule that most people in this world have conformed to. My shift has its pros and its cons.

There are three buildings at the Homestead. The Homestead to recently finished the third building, which sits behind the other buildings. When I first began working at the Homestead I was in Building 2. Then when my shift started I moved to Building 1 - the Alzhiemer's unit; the only building that is always on lock-down. While working in Building 2 I met a girl who at the same time as me switched to the weekend night shift. We discovered that we are opposites in our likes when it comes to the duties we are required to complete while working. She hates to cook, but loves to clean. I would rather cook than clean any day! So we made a deal that I would do the cooking for both buildings and she would clean both buildings. It has worked out wonderful!

When I arrive at work at 7pm my first main duties include helping the previous shift finish up their evening duties, which include: cleaning up dinner, doing the dishes, and putting the residents to bed. On a really good day all these things are done before I arrive - those are wonderful days! On most days though I mostly help finish putting the residents to bed before I begin my shift duties.

When the residence who need to be put to bed are all tucked in and things start to slow down and settle for the night I begin multi-tasking between giving the residents their nightly medication, gathering and organizing the ingredients for the different recipes, and starting to cook. Throughout these activities, of course, are tending to any of the needs the residents may have at any given moment. But usually my full attention is on cooking between 9 to 10pm.

Everything I make is made from scratch, which I don't agree with 100% of the time, but nonetheless do anyway. The amount of cooking varies from night to night depending on what is on the menu to make. The majority of the time there is a meat dish of some sort that takes a long time to make, some sort of veggie or fruit salad, and a dessert or two. The number of items to cook have ranged from 3-8 and have taken from 2-6 hours of cooking time to make. On average I am done cooking around midnight or 1am. Cooking so many items has really taught me and refined my skills in cooking as well as in multi-tasking as I am working on a couple recipes at the same time. I must say one thing though - these residents eat like KINGS!

Once I am done cooking or 2am rolls around (which ever one comes first) I switch with my buddy from the other building so she can clean my building. This is when my down time begins. While she is in my building cleaning I am relaxing as I read, work on homework/work, etc., or sleep. Usually the latter, even though I am not really supposed to (which is another thing I don't fully agree with), but sometimes can't help falling asleep!

Upon returning to my building I either finish up cooking if I didn't get it done beforehand, or continue to rest or work on things as I wait until 4:30am rolls arounds. That is when I begin getting residents up for the day. (I hope to never get up that early!). I enjoy getting the residents up in the morning because they can be pretty entertaining and the time goes by really quickly.

After working 12-hours I come home and crash. I usually am pretty anxious to change into my warm pajamas and snuggle up with my blankets and very quickly drift off to sleep until anywhere between 11:30am to 1:00pm depending on how long my body will allow me to sleep as well as how quiet my roommates are around the house. After sleeping I am left with what seems like just a few hours before having to go back to work. I definitely get things done and play during the weekend, but I feel like I am working and sleeping the majority of my weekends.

I have been working here for about two months now and am already beginning to feel my body growing weary of these long weekend shifts. It takes just about the time to get my body clock readjusted when it's time to go back to work for the weekend. My friend who does this same type of work - who also does the night shift - told me it takes about a month for the body to adjust to the night work schedule. I think I'm still waiting for the end of that month mark to come.....

Each night is different because you never know what to expect with the different residents, esp. those who have alzhiemer's and are in a different world. One resident in particular often believes she is on a mission or visiting teaching. She also stays up all night on occassion getting into all sorts of mischief. Or you have those male residents who aren't afraid to extend some affection towards you, most of which can be inappropriate if not careful. It's always a new experience and a fun mental game with these residents!

The most rewarding things of this job are making the residence laugh and seeing them happy through the little things, seeing their eyes light up when I walk in the door, or hearing them say, "I like you." I have come a long way since making the initial phone call to work here. I have overcome my fear of being around and interacting with the elderly and have truly come to love each one for their own unique personalities.

One Step at a Time

It's been since April that my fantasy suite was created and it's been that long since I have done anything else to it. (I have a bad habit of putting off the simple and little things off). There have been a couple of small changes that have made a huge difference.

If you want to refresh on what my fantasy suite looks like, click here.

The first change that happened, which took sooooooooo long to happen was the huge hole in my wall. This hole prevented my mom and I from putting up the last panel of the wall mural on the wall as well as finishing up the painting on the adjacent wall. The man who came to fix the hole in the wall did an excellent job! You can't even tell there ever was a hole there. Flawless. He even finished painting the wall for me!

The gaping hole in the wall!

The gaping hole replaced! Impressive.

The next thing that went up were the curtains my mom made. We got the fabric for these curtains years and years ago. After making and sending them to me the curtains sat in the box underneath my bed for months all because I needed to get curtain rods for them. When I finally couldn't stand seeing the box under my bed anymore I found the motivation and made the time to put them up. And "WOW!" what a difference they make!! I love them. Thanks Mom!

The curtains!

There are still a couple more things still yet to be done in order to make my room complete. The difference the curtains made in my room has given me the motivation to get those other small things done because it's in those small things that really make a huge difference!

Honest Mistake

After getting some good and much needed rest from another long night at work I had one hour to get ready for church. I quickly jumped in the shower, dressed in my Sunday best, and ate a juicy, sweet nectarine as I was running out the door to make it to church on time. I am grateful my church building is only a three-minute drive away. I drove to the end of the street where my church building is located and as it came into view I said outloud to myself, "Oh dear." There was one car parked in the parking lot. I slowly eased my truck to a stop as my mind raced trying to figure out what was going on. I was pretty sure nobody was playing a joke on me. Then I remembered. Stake Conference. With disappointment in my voice my response to this realization was, "Ooooops..."

I was going to make a loop and just drive home, but when I came to the street that lead to the Nature Park I quickly changed my plans. I sat on the tailgate of my truck at the Nature Park and took that time to study, ponder, and soak in the warmth of the sun and the sounds of nature around me. I was able to get some comforting guidance as well as some gentle reprimands as I studied and pondered. I am grateful for a religion that doesn't believe that the only way to receive revelation and guidance is through one's preacher or bishop. I am grateful for personal revelation and that I can still receive and be filled even when I forget about Stake Conference. The gospel is amazing and the Lord merciful!

Mountain Trails

It's hard to believe that it has almost been a year since I broke my tailbone mountain biking. I am still reminded of that experience whenever I sit for a long period of time because the pain will come back, but a lot of healing has taken place over the past year, which I am grateful for!

An old trail walker buddy of mine, Krissy, has recently become my new room roommate. She happens to enjoy mountain biking too. In fact, I took her on her first mountain biking adventure in Arizona - the ride before I broke my tailbone. Anyway, she is training for a mountain biking adventure in North Dakota later this month and invited me to go on a trail her co-worker told her about located by HI-C. Not hitting any trails myself this past summer I decided it was past time for me to get on my mountain bike again.

The drive out there took a lot longer than expected but the real surprise came when we hit the trail. The first mile or so was great terrain - not too difficult, not too easy. But we soon found ourselves walking our bikes more than we were riding them. The trail was littered with medium to large size boulders and the dirt was soft and light which caused our tires to spin out in our attempts to bike up the steep hills. These two factors were the reasons why we spent the last mile hiking our bikes rather than riding them. We both concluded that this trail was more advanced than where our skill level was and that we would be returning when our skills were more developed.

But we both experienced something new that neither one of us had experienced mountain biking before. The trail we biked followed a canyon that had a stream that flows into the Snake River. The biking trail crossed this stream a number of times and so Krissy and I had the opportunity to bike through it. It was SO fun!

Krissy was leading the bike ride and she stopped at the first river crossing. When I caught up to her she said, "I don't know if we should ride through it." "Why not!?!" was my reply as I flew by her and splashed into the stream getting my Chaco shoes soaked and legs dripping with water. Next to riding all downhill back to the truck, the river crossings were our favorite part. Here are a few videos of our splashing adventure!

Krissy's First River Crossing Attempt

My River Crossing Ride
(Sorry for the sideways video!)

Krissy's Redeemed River Crossing Ride
(Again, I apologize for the sideways video).

Still shot of Krissy crossing the river

Everything was SO gorgeous!

The clouds looked like desert sand in the sky with its ripples and waves

It was so good to get on my mountain bike again after a year of absence. Even though the terrain was a bit more advanced we still enjoyed the challenge, had some fun splashing in the water, and soaked in the beauty of nature!

Coming to Terms

I don't think it is rare to find somebody who doesn't have a good amount of state-pride in them. When people ask me where I am from I still claim Washington state, even though I haven't lived in Washington for six years now and my parents have moved to Texas. I love Washington - it's my teenage stomping grounds. And the beauty found in western Washington is priceless.

When I discovered that my Washington State Driver's License was expiring on my birthday I had to begin mentally preparing myself to get an Idaho Driver's License. And even through that mental preparation I still resisted going until a month after my license expired. I know - I'm a criminal. Well, I was until today. (Phew!).

In order for me receive an Idaho Driver's License I had to take a driving test. They gave me an Idaho Driver's Manual to study from, but I threw it aside thinking "driving is driving no matter what state you're in." When I went in to take the test today the first question that came up on the screen was, "In an 'open range' who has the right away?" After reading this question my first thought was, "Only in Idaho..." Maybe I should have read that manual. But I passed with flying colors and received my Idaho Driver's License. It's official.


Actually, I have come a long way since my first realization that I was coming to Idaho upon receiving my acceptance letter to BYU-Idaho. Idaho was the last place I wanted to go. But I wouldn't trade my education or experiences here for anything! And I am even beginning to come close to claiming Idaho as home.

OH! I am supposed to inform my family that I am an organ donor. So, for all you family members that read this I am informing you that I have chosen to be an organ donor in case I ever die in some kind of accident.

Letting Go

When I first began working at Anasazi I had layered hair. I quickly learned that layered hair was a lot more difficult to manage on the trail and decided to grow out my hair long and even for the most part. That was three years ago. I have only received occassional trims since that decision in order to keep my hair healthy. I have really enjoyed having long hair and came pretty attached to it. But at the beginning of this past summer I decided that it was time for something different, but wanted to wait until the summer was over before doing anything.

I think I just needed the summer months in order for me to come to grips with cutting my hair and letting go of the long hair that I love. Well, it's September and the summer is fading fast. It was a spur of the moment decision to get my hair cut coupled with the encouragement of my friend that got me into the salon chair. The Results:

Before the Cut

Before the Cut - that's some long hair!

The finished product!

Ok, so it wasn't as drastic as I thought it was going to be. Nobody even noticed that I got my hair cut and layered, which still bewilders me a little bit. After getting home from having it cut I realized a problem that I didn't think of before hand. How in the world do I style layered hair!?! For any of you who know me well know that hair, make-up - you know all that girly stuff - isn't my forte. I am horrible at it! (I like to blame having three brothers for my girl styling deficiencies - sorry brothers). I was just beginning to get comfortable and expand styling techniques with straight hair. Back to square one. My skill and knowledge doesn't go beyond four styles - straight, crunched, curled under, and back in a pony tail. Sad.

But needless to say, I am a little excited to expand my hair styling knowledge. Hopefully in all of my failed attempts I'll learn something and find a new way of styling. Any pointers, tips, or suggestions would be wonderful!

Putting Things Aside......FOR YOU!

Ok, ok, ok....I get the picture! So...I'm putting aside the things that I should be doing right now to ease all you anxious yet patient lookers. THANKS for wanting to keep updated on my life!! :o) I have been wanting to post many things and have been keeping a list of all of them, but some of them are long posts and I haven't had time to dedicate to those long posts. So for now here are some quick posts to hopefully satisfy you until I can get those longer posts posted. Enjoy!