All of this is Lake Powell in August.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Lake Powell in August
Heaven on Earth. Friends for life. Starry nights. Full moon. Songs played on the guitar. Singing along to said songs. Boating. Dragonfly. The feel of the wind as you boat. Falling asleep to the sound of waves crashing against the shore. Sudden rainstorms. The Shinning Trail. Broken Generator. Hiking in swim suits and flip flops. Reading. Narrows and slick rock. Fridges that stop working. Red rock mountains. Cliff jumping. Early morning ski runs. Waking up to the sunrise. Sleeping under the stars. Mice crawling around. Mouse traps with peanut butter. Grilled food. Tubing. Holding on for life while tubing. Taking "showers" in the lake. Boat excursions. Bagels and Orange Juice. Wake boarding. Exploring old canyons. Sand Hill. Calls to fix all broken things. Defiance House. Natural Dam. "Short" hikes equaling over two hours in the sun with one water bottle for five people. Tadpoles and toads. Scrapes and bruises. Homemade Cherry Lime Rickie's (made by Ken). Swimming up a narrow canyon. Swimming through twigs and sticks. Twigs in swimsuit. Lizards. Taking pictures. House Boat. Royal Sunrise. Group Pictures. Being the "kids". The junk food counter. Laughing. Engine trouble. More calls to fix broken things. Zombie conversations. Life vests. More reading. Waking up to sore muscles. Finding Nemo. Learning new things about people you've known your whole life. Sleeping. Life long jokes. Sun block. Laying out. Sweating so much it drips. Jumps in the lake where you instantly cool off. Floating in the lake. Aloe and lotion. Advil. Flying kites behind the boat. Swimming in the dark. Learning to speak Whale. Wearing nothing but swimsuits and sweats. The sun. The lake. The sand. The people. The laughter. The fun.
Happy Birthday to ME!
"Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday dear MEEEEEE! Happy birthday to me!" No, my birthday is not today. But is was a couple of weeks ago. July 29th to be exact. And to me, birthdays are something that should be celebrated. Yes, I know that they happen every year and that they aren't exactly an oddity or anything. But still, they are worth being celebrated. For you see, when celebrating a birthday you are celebrating that fact that someone is alive. The fact that someone has been living a life and still has a life to live. And the fact that not only do you know this person, but you have gotten to be a part of this life that they are living. So you see, to me birthdays are worth celebrating because it isn't just a day for gifts, cake, or ice cream, but it is a day for friends and celebrating that fact that you get to live your life with them. So when someone you love has a birthday coming up don't just pass it off. Take the time to let them you love them and that you are glad that they are alive and that you are lucky enough to be a part of their life. Take the time to really celebrate.
Now, with this said, some of you may be wondering what I did for my birthday. No worries, I celebrated. I celebrated a lot with a lot of very good friends and family. The first celebration happened the week before my birthday on the 23. A bunch of my friends and I gathered together at the Rood residence for a BBQ, swim, and movie night. We have had these types of nights often and if you have heard about them before then you know that they are AWESOME! First of all, you have the people. A group of friends who know each other so well that we can sit around a kitchen table for hours laughing our heads off. Plus, none of us are afraid to be exactly who we are. Which tends to mean that we all act like little kids and make sarcastic jokes and comments when ever we are together. Second, you have a pool with a slide, diving board, and lots of pool toys. You give all of this to the said people above and you know we are entertained. Third, you have great food. Ben rocks at cooking burgers and the girls make great salads and have gotten very creative with making non-chocolate desserts for me. Fourth, you have a funny movie in a theater with a soda machine. Then you throw in some funny moments, great weather, great gifts (that included a library check-out binder, cake decorating supplies, fun nail polish, picture frames, and gift cards) and lots of laughs and you can imagine how great the afternoon and night was. In one word, it was Fabulous!
The next celebration happened on my birthday, Friday July 29. This night I got together with two very special and amazing girls. Girls who I have become great friends with over the last year and love to death. We got together and went to China Star for dinner because my favorite food just happens to be Chinese. While we were there eating great sweat &sour chicken, rice, ragoons, and more they gave me my birthday gifts. Two things which show how well they know me because I loved them instantly and made giddy noises in the restaurant upon opening them. Taryn gave me the soundtrack to the show Midnight in Paris. (If some of you remember this show is one of my fabulous finds which I loved). Now the thing about this gift is, you can't just buy the soundtrack. It is not available in the US. Therefor Taryn went through the music list for the show, found all of the songs, and put them together herself. Awesome! The second gift that I was giddy over would be the movie North and South which Jessica gave me. She was the one who first introduced me to this show and I fell in love with it. I am so happy to now own my own copy. After dinner we went to see the play Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. It was funny and the music was great. We all enjoyed it and plan to go back to see other shows in the coming year. From there we went back to the apartment where they proceed to sing me happy birthday over pumpkin cupcakes. Delicious. And then watched Physc. It was a great night.
The next celebration happened the next night. Saturday, in case you didn't follow. I got together with two other great girls that I have know for years and who are also fabulous. Their names would be Kendra and Maggie. We went to Pepperbelies for dinner. which is this great Mexican restaurant in Kaysville. You should go there sometime if you have not. After some great food and conversation I was given some very god fried Ice Cream for dessert. Delicious! From there we went back to Kendra's house and watched Anne of Green Gables. (this was also a fabulous find. One that I had started watching and needed to finish which Maggie was nice enough to bring) A show that I love and now need to own for myself. We also had birthday cake and yes I did blow out more candles and yes they did sing to me as well. And to top it off Kendra gave me some great new books to take on my trip. It was great!
And now, I get to continue celebrating with a family birthday dinner this coming Sunday. One that I am sure will be great and full of fun and laughter. So trust me, birthdays are worth celebrating. And they are worth celebrating with all the people that you love. You should try it.
Now, with this said, some of you may be wondering what I did for my birthday. No worries, I celebrated. I celebrated a lot with a lot of very good friends and family. The first celebration happened the week before my birthday on the 23. A bunch of my friends and I gathered together at the Rood residence for a BBQ, swim, and movie night. We have had these types of nights often and if you have heard about them before then you know that they are AWESOME! First of all, you have the people. A group of friends who know each other so well that we can sit around a kitchen table for hours laughing our heads off. Plus, none of us are afraid to be exactly who we are. Which tends to mean that we all act like little kids and make sarcastic jokes and comments when ever we are together. Second, you have a pool with a slide, diving board, and lots of pool toys. You give all of this to the said people above and you know we are entertained. Third, you have great food. Ben rocks at cooking burgers and the girls make great salads and have gotten very creative with making non-chocolate desserts for me. Fourth, you have a funny movie in a theater with a soda machine. Then you throw in some funny moments, great weather, great gifts (that included a library check-out binder, cake decorating supplies, fun nail polish, picture frames, and gift cards) and lots of laughs and you can imagine how great the afternoon and night was. In one word, it was Fabulous!
The next celebration happened on my birthday, Friday July 29. This night I got together with two very special and amazing girls. Girls who I have become great friends with over the last year and love to death. We got together and went to China Star for dinner because my favorite food just happens to be Chinese. While we were there eating great sweat &sour chicken, rice, ragoons, and more they gave me my birthday gifts. Two things which show how well they know me because I loved them instantly and made giddy noises in the restaurant upon opening them. Taryn gave me the soundtrack to the show Midnight in Paris. (If some of you remember this show is one of my fabulous finds which I loved). Now the thing about this gift is, you can't just buy the soundtrack. It is not available in the US. Therefor Taryn went through the music list for the show, found all of the songs, and put them together herself. Awesome! The second gift that I was giddy over would be the movie North and South which Jessica gave me. She was the one who first introduced me to this show and I fell in love with it. I am so happy to now own my own copy. After dinner we went to see the play Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. It was funny and the music was great. We all enjoyed it and plan to go back to see other shows in the coming year. From there we went back to the apartment where they proceed to sing me happy birthday over pumpkin cupcakes. Delicious. And then watched Physc. It was a great night.
The next celebration happened the next night. Saturday, in case you didn't follow. I got together with two other great girls that I have know for years and who are also fabulous. Their names would be Kendra and Maggie. We went to Pepperbelies for dinner. which is this great Mexican restaurant in Kaysville. You should go there sometime if you have not. After some great food and conversation I was given some very god fried Ice Cream for dessert. Delicious! From there we went back to Kendra's house and watched Anne of Green Gables. (this was also a fabulous find. One that I had started watching and needed to finish which Maggie was nice enough to bring) A show that I love and now need to own for myself. We also had birthday cake and yes I did blow out more candles and yes they did sing to me as well. And to top it off Kendra gave me some great new books to take on my trip. It was great!
And now, I get to continue celebrating with a family birthday dinner this coming Sunday. One that I am sure will be great and full of fun and laughter. So trust me, birthdays are worth celebrating. And they are worth celebrating with all the people that you love. You should try it.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Baseball
Baseball. An all-American sport. A spot that I have not only grown up with all my life, but have loved all my life as well. As far back as I can remember baseball has always been a part of my family. I remember going to games when I was little to watch my mom play. She used to play on her work team and we would go to her games every week. I remember sitting on the grass and just loving the sounds and the actions of the game. Especially the night games when everything thing seemed so much better under the stadium lighting.
From early on as kids we were taught how to throw a baseball and how to catch one. From there we then learned how to hit one as well. Then, as soon as we were old enough, we were put on to teams and began to learn the rules and strategies of the game. And even from early on, I knew that I loved it. I loved hitting the ball and then racing the outfielders to get to the base before they got the ball there. I loved that feeling you would get when you crossed the home plate and knew that you were safe. And most of all I loved being a part of a team that was playing the game I loved so much.
From tee-ball I went on to coach pitch and then machine pitch. Each time summer would come around my mom would take us kids and sign us up to play. And even thought he teams changed each year, and you played with a whole new group of kids, we always had fun and we always loved it. I remember years of being the only girl on the team and years where I got to play with my sister. I remember learning how to slide into home plate and how to hit a pop fly. I remember learning the baseball cheers that never seemed to change no matter how many years would pass. But most of all I remember that sound the ball and bat would make when they connected and you just knew it was a great hit. That sound that still makes me smile when I hear it today. CRACK
After machine pitch I didn't play on teams anymore. I had gotten to the point where you either had to play competitively on a comp team or try out for the school teams. I really didn't want to do either so I stopped playing on teams. I did not however stop loving the game. I still loved it and I still played it with my family and friends and most of all I still went to plenty of games. For you see, I had brothers that played the game as well and even though my sister I no longer played on teams, they did. This meant that every spring and summer I had plenty of baseball games to attend. They would play every week and the games were always at night which, in my opinion, made it that much more fun to go. And even though I was just watching I still got to hear that sound of the bat hitting the ball, I still got to cheer the same baseball cheers and I still got to watch the game under the lights.
As we all got older my brothers stopped playing as well. Some of them played through Jr. High and some through High School. But, nevertheless, they all stopped playing on teams at some point as well. This is when I started going to other games. Comp games, miner league games and major league games. All of witch still hold the same thrills and love for me. The first miner league game I went to was the Bee's of course. Living in Utah that is the only professional baseball team to go and see locally. I went to my first major league f\game when I was in DC on my high school choir trip. We went to the DC Nationals vs. the Atlanta Braves. It was the first year that the Nationals were a major league team again. And to make the experience even better our choir got to sing the National Anthem at the beginning of the game down on the field. It was an experience that I will never forget. Being on that field and singing that song was just plane awesome. Then to top if off the Nationals won.
Over the years I have been to more Bee's games and another Major league game. A game in which the Atlanta Braves played again. This time against the LA Angles. I have also been to some of my cousin's comp team games. all which I have loved being at and being a part of. I got to enjoy one of these games this last Friday, July 21. Some friends of mine and I had wanted to go to a game and finally got together to do so. We sat on the first row balcony seats just left of home plate. They were great seats and even though we lost, it was a great night. One filled with friends, laughter, ball park food, baseball cheers and songs, stadium lights, and that favorite sounds of CRACK as the bat hit the ball throughout the night. It was a night of baseball and all that I loved about it. A night that will have to be repeated again.
After machine pitch I didn't play on teams anymore. I had gotten to the point where you either had to play competitively on a comp team or try out for the school teams. I really didn't want to do either so I stopped playing on teams. I did not however stop loving the game. I still loved it and I still played it with my family and friends and most of all I still went to plenty of games. For you see, I had brothers that played the game as well and even though my sister I no longer played on teams, they did. This meant that every spring and summer I had plenty of baseball games to attend. They would play every week and the games were always at night which, in my opinion, made it that much more fun to go. And even though I was just watching I still got to hear that sound of the bat hitting the ball, I still got to cheer the same baseball cheers and I still got to watch the game under the lights.
As we all got older my brothers stopped playing as well. Some of them played through Jr. High and some through High School. But, nevertheless, they all stopped playing on teams at some point as well. This is when I started going to other games. Comp games, miner league games and major league games. All of witch still hold the same thrills and love for me. The first miner league game I went to was the Bee's of course. Living in Utah that is the only professional baseball team to go and see locally. I went to my first major league f\game when I was in DC on my high school choir trip. We went to the DC Nationals vs. the Atlanta Braves. It was the first year that the Nationals were a major league team again. And to make the experience even better our choir got to sing the National Anthem at the beginning of the game down on the field. It was an experience that I will never forget. Being on that field and singing that song was just plane awesome. Then to top if off the Nationals won.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Friday's Fabulous Find
For this Fabulous Friday Find I went to a place that has been on my list of places to go for awhile. The friend who gave me the idea to start Friday finds is the one who told me about this place. I have been meaning to go there forever and I am glad I finally did. The place is called
Hip and Humble
Location: 559 West 2600 South, Bountiful (there is one in SLC as well)
Hours: Mon-Fri 10 - 7, Sat 10 - 6
Phone: 801 - 298 - 3373
Website: http://www.hipandhumble.com/
Prices: not to bad
Description: cute boutique with cool and unique things
This place is really cool. You walk in and just know that the things you find here you wont ever find in places like Target. It is a store full of really cute and really neat things. Things from clothes and jewelry to kitchen supplies and books. The people who work there are friendly and fun to talk to. While shopping you will probably be asked if you would like a cookie or a beverage to have while you look around the store. Add this to the fact that you will just love what they carry and that half of the products will bring a smile to your face or an outright laugh, and you have yourself one fabulous store. I had such a good time looking around and fell in love with a few of the things I found. I even ended up buying two things for myself and a gift for a friend. All of which I had no intention of getting before I entered the store.
I also got one of the cutest children books I have ever found. Looking through this book just made me smile. I was honestly standing in the store giggling and laughing like a little kid while looking through it and doing what it asked me to do. I just had to buy it. And then, when showing it to my mom after I got home I just giggled and laughed all over again as she went through the whole book and did all the things it asked as well. It you like interactive books that make you smile then this is one you should own.
After I left Hip and Humble, smiling about my finds, I headed to Parsen's Bakery. After all, it is in the same shopping area and I figured that there was no better way to end this Friday Fabulous Find then with a White Jumbo Cookie with Nuts. And it was delicious as always. All in all it was truly a great find which made for a great afternoon.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Friday's Fabulous Find
This last Friday I didn't really have a new find but there is something that I wanted to share. Yes, I did see something new as I am sure a lot of you did as well. And yes, it was great and fabulous in many ways. But, I didn't really plan to go and experience anything new that day. In fact, I sort of forgot about it until later that night when my friend asked me what my find for the day was. For you see, lately, most everyday this week at least, I have been thinking a lot and it sort of just slipped my mind.
I have been thinking a lot about life and where I am headed in it. Once again, I no longer really have a plan. I had been working on a bunch of things these last couple of months to move forward in life and create a new plan. Needless to say, none of them have really worked out or turned out how I was hoping they would. Therefore, once again I am feeling like I am falling back into a rut. Once again, I have no idea where to go from here or what to do or try next. And once again, I don't know what to do about it and I don't like it.
So on Friday I went with a couple of friends to the gateway for dinner, caramel apples, and a movie. We went to the California Pizza Factory for dinner, got our Apple Pie caramel apples and then went to see our movie. And I am sure you can all guess what movie we saw:
Now the movie was great. I thought that is was really well done and it had some great character moments throughout the show that made me laugh and cheer. Then again, I am pretty bias and have loved Harry Potter since I got book 1 long ago. It has been fun to grow up with them and to see it all come to a close.
As most of you know this last movie is pretty much one big fight that takes place on two very long days. This is a fight that has been years in the making. A fight that has had blow ups and mini battles along the way, all leading up to this grand battle. This one last fight. A fight where only one can win and the other has to die.
So, there I was sitting in the movie theater watching Voldermort and his followers gather around the outskirts of Hogwarts castle. And as I am sitting there watching them get ready to strike the thought comes into my mind that this is how it is going to be in the end. This is how it is going to be in the last days of the earth and there is the great fight between Satan and his followers and Christ and his. And as I sat there and watched them fight it broke my heart. Because Satan will fight and he will have followers and people will die. But, just like in the movie there will be a good side fighting for truth and freedom as well. And also like the movie there will be a time to stand. A time to stand and pick a side to fight on. There will be no middle ground when it comes to this fight. Either you will be standing with Satan or you will be standing with God.
Now the battle will rage on and it will be scary and powers we have yet to see will be used. But in the end the good will stand. And the good will fight. and the good will prevail and win the fight. It is already know that Satan and his followers will fail and God and his followers will succeed and good will win over evil. The only question that remains then is which side will you be on. Will you be scrambling and scurrying around with Satan? Or, will you be valiantly standing and fighting for the good with God?
So there I was sitting and watching this movie and all the while thinking about this great fight that will one day take place. And I was wondering which side I would be fighting on. Now, I know where I want to be and where I hope to be standing. But then the question came into my mind If I was strong enough to be there and If I had enough courage to and strength to be on that side and to do all that would be asked of me. And it is a questions that I have continued to think about since.
But, the fact of the matter is, that just like in the movies, and the whole story of Harry Potter, this is a fight that is already in the making. And there are many small battles that take place in this world and in our daily lives that are leading up to this grand battle. and each time there is a fight we are already choosing which side we stand on. Everyday and every week we pledge our allegiance to either God or Satan. Everyday we are faced with choices that bring us closer to one side or the other. And everyday we have the freedom to choose whose side we want to be on. And everyday we either gain strength or loose it by those choices that we make.
A friend of mine had this video on her blog a little while back and I thought I would share it with you. It is something that I immediately fell in love with and listen to often. And yes, it truly does make me smile.
This video helped remind me that someone up above dose indeed send power down. And that this same person also has a greater plan that I ever could. So, just because I don't know where I am headed or what is up next in life fr me, I do know where I stand at the end of each day. I know who I have pledged my allegiance to and who I am choosing to follow and put my faith and trust in. and because of that, I also know that when the time comes to stand and fight in battles I will be strong enough and courageous enough to fight in them. And if I am not on my own, then I know that He will make me strong enough and give me the courage that I lack. He will not leave me nor forsake me as long I as keep choosing him and doing the best I can.
I have been thinking a lot about life and where I am headed in it. Once again, I no longer really have a plan. I had been working on a bunch of things these last couple of months to move forward in life and create a new plan. Needless to say, none of them have really worked out or turned out how I was hoping they would. Therefore, once again I am feeling like I am falling back into a rut. Once again, I have no idea where to go from here or what to do or try next. And once again, I don't know what to do about it and I don't like it.
So on Friday I went with a couple of friends to the gateway for dinner, caramel apples, and a movie. We went to the California Pizza Factory for dinner, got our Apple Pie caramel apples and then went to see our movie. And I am sure you can all guess what movie we saw:
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2
Now the movie was great. I thought that is was really well done and it had some great character moments throughout the show that made me laugh and cheer. Then again, I am pretty bias and have loved Harry Potter since I got book 1 long ago. It has been fun to grow up with them and to see it all come to a close.
As most of you know this last movie is pretty much one big fight that takes place on two very long days. This is a fight that has been years in the making. A fight that has had blow ups and mini battles along the way, all leading up to this grand battle. This one last fight. A fight where only one can win and the other has to die.
So, there I was sitting in the movie theater watching Voldermort and his followers gather around the outskirts of Hogwarts castle. And as I am sitting there watching them get ready to strike the thought comes into my mind that this is how it is going to be in the end. This is how it is going to be in the last days of the earth and there is the great fight between Satan and his followers and Christ and his. And as I sat there and watched them fight it broke my heart. Because Satan will fight and he will have followers and people will die. But, just like in the movie there will be a good side fighting for truth and freedom as well. And also like the movie there will be a time to stand. A time to stand and pick a side to fight on. There will be no middle ground when it comes to this fight. Either you will be standing with Satan or you will be standing with God.
Now the battle will rage on and it will be scary and powers we have yet to see will be used. But in the end the good will stand. And the good will fight. and the good will prevail and win the fight. It is already know that Satan and his followers will fail and God and his followers will succeed and good will win over evil. The only question that remains then is which side will you be on. Will you be scrambling and scurrying around with Satan? Or, will you be valiantly standing and fighting for the good with God?
So there I was sitting and watching this movie and all the while thinking about this great fight that will one day take place. And I was wondering which side I would be fighting on. Now, I know where I want to be and where I hope to be standing. But then the question came into my mind If I was strong enough to be there and If I had enough courage to and strength to be on that side and to do all that would be asked of me. And it is a questions that I have continued to think about since.
But, the fact of the matter is, that just like in the movies, and the whole story of Harry Potter, this is a fight that is already in the making. And there are many small battles that take place in this world and in our daily lives that are leading up to this grand battle. and each time there is a fight we are already choosing which side we stand on. Everyday and every week we pledge our allegiance to either God or Satan. Everyday we are faced with choices that bring us closer to one side or the other. And everyday we have the freedom to choose whose side we want to be on. And everyday we either gain strength or loose it by those choices that we make.
A friend of mine had this video on her blog a little while back and I thought I would share it with you. It is something that I immediately fell in love with and listen to often. And yes, it truly does make me smile.
This video helped remind me that someone up above dose indeed send power down. And that this same person also has a greater plan that I ever could. So, just because I don't know where I am headed or what is up next in life fr me, I do know where I stand at the end of each day. I know who I have pledged my allegiance to and who I am choosing to follow and put my faith and trust in. and because of that, I also know that when the time comes to stand and fight in battles I will be strong enough and courageous enough to fight in them. And if I am not on my own, then I know that He will make me strong enough and give me the courage that I lack. He will not leave me nor forsake me as long I as keep choosing him and doing the best I can.
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