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!