California

A trip with Brett, Jacqui, and Allie to the great state of California for a total of seven days. What more needs to be said to let you know that this trip was awesome! It included friends, laughter, jokes, baseball, sun, beach, theme parks, corn dogs and hot dogs, pb&j, swimming, walking, and most of all just living.

This wonderful adventure started on May 17 when we all meet up at Brett and Allie's house to get things packed and ready to go for the next morning. We got off to a ruff start with smashing Jacqui's fingers in the car door. Not the best way to start a trip. Luckily, nothing was broken and she could still move them. After taking some Advil and with ice pack her hand we all headed off to bed around two in morning, after we had painted our finger nails of course.

May 18th started bright and early with all of us getting up at about 6:15 so that we could be packed up and on the road by 7. We didn't quite make the 7 o'clock goal but we were gone from the house by 7:30. Not to bad when you have four girls getting ready to leave on a trip, one girl getting ready for school and one girl getting ready for work and all using one bathroom. After filling up for gas and getting some breakfast we were on our way. On our way to California with a 11 hour drive before we were to get there. Luckily, to pass the time Allie and Brett had decide to give us a surprise every hour of the trip. The first one was coloring. It was awesome and it really did entertain us for the next hour as we all colored our Disney pictures. The next was crossword puzzles, also Disney related, followed by starbursts, the fave red bag of course, Disney Princess tic-tac toe and ping pong, ring pops, beach toys, a Frisbee, glow sticks, and kites. Needless to say, between taking naps, singing along to our favorite songs, and the gifts every hour, it was a pretty entertaining drive. Plus you throw in a snowstorm, a stop in St. George with pedicures, and amusing drivers and you get to California in no time flat. Once there we found our hotel, checked in, and promptly threw all our stuff into he room. Then we headed out for supplies. Once finding a Walmart we proceeded to buy all of the stuff we realized we had forgotten and stuff to make sandwiches throughout the week to save money on food. From there we went back to the room where we ate dinner showered and then watched the Roommate. Creepy show by the way and not the best one to watch when you are in a hotel room in a different state with just girls right before you go to bed. Oh well, we survived.

May 19: After getting very little sleep for the second night in the row we all woke up bright and early and were across the street at Disneyland by 7:45am for Magic Morning witch started at 8am. Once inside we spent the day running around from ride to ride all the while laughing our heads off and enjoying our time. We went on everything from Peter Pan and Mr. Toad to Indiana Jones and Space Mountain and all that is in-between. We also ran over to California Adventures and played there as well. We met Mickey, rode Tower of Terror and Screamim, played video games with Woody and Buzz, soared over California and had oh so much fun! When we decided that it was dinner time we went in search of Corn Dogs from a stand that had once been on the pier. By this time of the day our feet hurt and we were starving. Needless to say when we had walked around the pier multiple times and throughout the park to find the place and couldn't, we were a bit disappointed....ok, just down right upset. We ended up getting soup in bread bowls instead, which was good, just not what we wanted. After dinner we went and saw the World of Color, which is still amazing and worth seeing.

May 20: Friday. A day that started with sleeping in. At least a little bit anyway. Once we all got up we headed back to the parks to play some more. We spent the morning in California Adventures and had a blast going on our favorite rides. And guess what we just happened to find when we went around part of the pier that none of us had gone on before...I will give you one guess....The Corn dog Stand. Yes, the one that we had been searching for the night before. We were so excited that we had to take a picture with it. No, we did not get a corn dog at the time. We knew that we were having hot dogs that night and did not want two in one day. No worries though,we would be coming back later. We did however, venture over to Disneyland to get the Pineapple Dole whips. They are fabulous and if you have never had one then the next time you go to Disneyland it is a must. We left the parks around 5:30 and went back to the hotel for a little rest and to get ready for the Baseball game! That's right, we went to the Los Angeles Angels vs. Atlanta Braves baseball game. All of us happen to love baseball and were ecstatic when we found out that there was a home game we could go to during our trip. We ate our hot-dogs and pretzels, watched the Angels kick butt, saw fireworks at the end, and had the best time ever. Gotta love baseball.

May 21: Saturday. After our last few days of adventures and lots of walking, we decided that this day was going to be spent at the beach. Once we all got out of bed we threw on our swimsuits, hoped into to the car and were off to Newport Beach. Once arriving we found a spot in the sand and made our camp. Ok, not really a camp, we just claimed our spot with our towels and supplies. Then we proceed to be lazy and lay out in the glorious sun. It was so nice to just relax, listen to the waves, and feel the sun on our skin. and yes, we did wear sunblock. After a few hours of laying around we decided it was time to play on the beach and in the ocean. After all, how often is it that you get to swim in one and let the waves crash over you and wash you back to shore. Needless to say, we had a blast. Once we had had enough sand for the day we headed back to the hotel and then went out to dinner and relaxed the rest of the night. It was a fantastic day.

May 22: Sunday. Also, Jacqui's birthday and the perfect day to go to Hollywood Blvd and Santa Monica Pier. We spent the morning sleeping in, shouting happy birthday, opening gifts, and then getting ready. Once we were off we headed back up to LA and straight to Hollywood Blvd. Once here we realized that is was quite crowed and that part of the street was blocked off. It turns out that they had had the premier for Kung Fu Panda 2 and were in the process of cleaning it all up. We wondered the sidewalks and looked at the stars, we also went through the shops and went to the Chinese Theater to see the footprints and hand-prints. then we went to the Disney Soda Shop and got some delicious treats. When we were done with Hollywood we headed over to Santa Monica pier. IT turned out to be the perfect night for walking along the pier and playing on the beach while watching the sun set. It was so nice and relaxing to just be there and watch the waves crash into the shore and the sun set over the water. After the pier we headed back to Anaheim and went to the Rain Forest Cafe in downtown Disney for dinner. If you have never been here, you should go sometime. The food is pretty good and the atmosphere is fun to experience. And to top off the night, on our way out four French guys hit on us and asked us out for drinks. No, we didn't go. and yes, it was funny and nice to be noticed.

May 23: Monday. A day back at the parks. A day for meeting princesses, minus Aura, going through castles, riding our favorite rides, shopping, posing for pictures, taking last minute photos, getting corn dogs, and watching the World of Color one last time. All in all, it was a day for fun, laughter, and making lasting memories.

May 24: Tuesday. The drive home. No more needs to be said.

Little Reassurances

Throughout my life there have always been moments when I wondered what in the world I was doing and if I was headed anywhere good or right at all. These moments always seem to come after making decisions. Some might be small decisions or they might be the big life changing ones. And no matter how much you put off, or hate making these decisions, the fact is that they are a part of life and always will be.

Then after you have made these decisions sometimes there comes a moment when you wonder if what you choose was right or if it was completely insane or just even plan wrong. This uneasiness can last for a split second or a month or anywhere where in between. Sometimes you don't even realize that you have this feeling, you just feel like something might be off. And then, just when you think you might need to change your whole life again, you get this little reassurence.

It can come in a variety of ways; by a friends kind words, a stranger commenting on your work, a picture in a store, a song on the radio, or even just a thought in your mind as you day dream. But no matter how it comes, it comes with peace and a reassurance that you are exactly where you are supposed to be and doing exactly what you are supposed to be doing. All of a sudden you know in your heart and in your mind that you are on the right path and that all will be ok. And then you feel an overwhelming joy for knowing that you made the right choice and knowing that your Father in Heaven is watching out for you and will make sure that you will be and become who you need to be.

It occurred to me awhile ago that Heavenly Father does not want us to fail. He doesn't want us to be cast out into outer darkness. In fact, it is quite the opposite...He wants us to succeed. And not only does he want us to succeed, but he wants us to enjoy doing it and to be the greatest we can be at it. With this it also occurred to me that if we start to go down the wrong path in life then he will correct us. We just have to doing the things we know we are supposed to and be willing to listen and follow his guidance. If we can do that , then he will not let us ruin our lives. He will, in fact, help us to succeed in them. For you see, He knows the plan. He knows who we need to be and where we need to be in order to become that person. And because of this he will help guide us to get there.

Knowing this helps me to make those decisions. Those decisions that matter in our lives and that can change the course of them. And the then if I have moments of doubt or uncertainty (and I usually do at some point) it is the little reassurances that My Father in Heaven provides that help me to continue with that decision and have the faith and the trust that it will all be ok. And who knows, it may even be great.

Friday's Fabulous Find

I know i have missed the last couple of these. Life can get crazy busy as I am sure you all know. But, I did happen to have a Fabulous Friday find this last Friday. And let me tell you, it was utterly fabulous. First of all my dear friend Jenny came along to experience the excitement of something new, second, it was a bright and sunny day, and third, it is just so much fun to discover something new. Our something new this last week was Memory Grove.

Memory Grove Park
Located: 135 E North Temple, Salt Lake City

I choose to go here because it is a place that I have always heard about. I know lots of people who have talked about, I have read about it in books, and I just figured that it was high time I visited this place and figured out what it was and what it had to offer. I wasn't even sure how to find it and where it was really located. I had to look it up on the internet to figure it out and once I did I knew I then needed to visit the place.

Memory Grove is a park that has monuments dedicated to the people who have fought in our wars. There are monuments from World War I to Vietnam. It also has great ground and is just a lovely, peaceful place to walk through. While Jenny and I were walking through and looking at everything we had the thought that this place is a like a Utah version of DC, and because we both enjoy DC we loved every minute we spent in the grove.

The park is laid out right in City Creek Canyon. The city creek runs through the middle and the grounds are covered with grass, trees, flowers and the canyon walls. What some people don't know is that there are also trails that lead you up to City Creek Canyon and up to the capital. The trails up to the capital lead to other monuments that are part of the park. Jenny and I stayed in the main area because of time, but are planning on going back to enjoy and explore the rest of the park.

After our walk through the park we headed down to temple Square and ate lunch at another Fabulous Friday Find.

The Nauvoo Cafe
Located:Joseph Smith Memorial Building, Lower Level
Hours: Mon - Fri 7am to 8pm
Saturday 9am to 8pm

This place was fantastic as well and was also one I didn't know existed. It is a great cafe that serves Hot Carved sandwiches, salads, soups, and the JSMB desserts. They also serve breakfast if you happen to be there that early. I got the Chicken salad sandwich and it was delicious.

So if you ever happen to be downtown and have some time to spare then you should go and check these places out. Memory Grove is a fabulous place for an afternoon stroll and the Nauvoo Cafe is the perfect place for a quick and tasty bite to eat.

Saying Goodbye Leads to Hello

This last week has been full of goodbyes. It all started a few weeks ago when they announced that they would be changing all of the singles wards and the boundaries of them in the Salt Lake Valley. We all new that it was coming and were expecting it, but none of us really wanted it to come this soon.

The church has been changing all of the student wards and stake singles wards in that state for the last year. They started in Cedar City and have done St. George, Weber, Logan, and now Salt Lake. They are taking all of the wards and combining them so that there are just Young Single Adult wards(YSA wards). The church is finding that they are losing track of to many young single adults within the church. They are also finding that a lot more young single adults are going inactive while trying to find a ward for them. Therefore, the church has decided to consolidate the wards and bring people back together based on where they live. This means that young single adults will now have two options. You can attend your home family ward or you can attend the YSA ward for where you live.

It was about a month ago today, on April 10, that they announced in my ward that this change would be happening, and that it would be happening now. We were told that we would have one more week as a ward then stake conference and then on May 1st we would be in our new stakes. Needless to say, that April Sunday turned into a goodbye and welcome to change fast and testimony meeting. Even though part of all us were sad that this change was happening we all also new that change is something that is good and that we all need it. I even started laughing at one point because I had been asking for a way to keep moving forward and the thought cam into my mind that "you wanted a way to move forward, well here it is".

The next two weeks were full of last things. The last Sunday as a ward, the last ward and stake FHE, the last ward activity, the last University 2nd Stake Conference,the last ward council meeting, the last temple recommend interview with my bishopric, the last relief society meeting, and the last Sunday Drive to and from the U. I realized this when last Sunday I was leaving the parking lot. It occurred to me that I will no longer be making this drive each week. Part of me was in awe because I have been making this drive to and from the U each week for the last six years. Most of those years I was making the trip multiple times a week. There was even a time when I made that drive up to the U every day. I have been driving there for work, school, Omega, church, and the Muss. And then last Sunday I made that weekly drive for the last time. It was a very weird feeling to think that I would no longer be going to the U of U campus. I have spent so many hours there and it will be weird to now be spending none.

All of the other last things were filled with goodbyes as well. Goodbyes to those weekly associations. Goodbyes to those who we knew we will no longer see. Goodbyes to a bishopric that we have all come to love. And goodbyes to the wonderful unity and strength of our great ward of U32. And even though this last week has been full of goodbyes, it has also been the start of many hellos.

This last Thursday, April 28, we had a meeting down at the Conference center to find out our new stake boundaries. The church had three meeting total. One for each area of the valley. Davis county was to meet on Thursday night at 7:30 pm. That evening we all gathered together and released our bishops, stake president, and the boundaries of our current wards and stakes. We then found out the new stake boundaries for Davis county. They are making 3 stakes in this area with about 10 wards in each stake. Once we found out the boundaries we had some wonderful testimonies and talks from leaders of the church. Some of them talked about why they were reorganizing the young single adults, others talked about the history of the singles wards, some mentioned the power of change and how it will effect us in our lives to comes, and others talked about what a blessing we are to the world and to the church. But most of all they talked about how this new change was a rescue mission. A rescue mission to save those who are less active. A rescue mission to bring those around us into the church. But also a rescue mission for all of us to go out and find our eternal companion. A mission to help us see the view of the family and to help us to achieve it. A mission to help prepare us as the future families leaders of the church.

With these changes all of the new stakes meet today to find out there ward boundaries and their new bishops. My stake meet this morning at 9am at Viewmont High School auditorium. We all found out our wards, bishops, and place of worship for the next week were we will have our first meeting with our new wards. But this day wasn't just about finding out were to go the next week or what bishop you now have. It was a day that was the start of many hellos. A day of saying hello to a new stake president. A day of saying hello and accepting a new ward and bishop. And most of all a day of saying hello to those around you and realizing that there are a lot more young single adults in this area then you realized before.

They announced today that there are about 3,000 members of my YSA stake. 3,000 young single adults that live between North Salt Lake and Farmington. Now, not all of these people are fully active in the church, but they are here. And that is just the number of people in my stake. It was amazing today to see that just my stake had filled the whole auditorium, both of the floors with people sitting in all chairs and standing along the back wall. It was even more amazing to think that there were members of my stake who were not there that would have filled the place up even more. What this made me realize was that there are many more people out there as young single adults then I cared to realize or to get to know. There are many people out there looking for way to move forward. Many people who are looking for a way back to the truth. And most of all many more people who are looking for someone to say hello.

So, although the last few weeks, and definitely the last week, have been full of goodbyes today was the start of the hellos. Today I said hello to a new stake, a new ward, and a new bishop. And with saying hello I also raised my hand saying that I would accept them and all of the adventures that they may bring. So here's to today. A day of standing tall and accepting change. A day of saying I will move forward. And most of all a day of saying hello to the many changes and new faces that will surely come across my path. May I greet them with a happy smile and a determination to become a better person and a better friend.