A few things...

Lately I have been blessed with some pretty profound and also not so profound moments that have caused me to think about the things I love and am grateful for. Hardly ever do I record or even decide on favorite things or specific loves, but I probably should more often. Here's a list of a few things I love and have learned lately, but in no particular order.

It may sound odd, but I love physical labor. I love getting up early and working hard by myself, where I can use lots of energy and either think or just work mindlessly. It's therapeutic.Along with work, I love to do dishes, the old way by hand-washing them in the sink. That doesn't mean I want to do that for my occupation or anything, but there's just something I love about it.
Most who know me would know that sweets are a passion or maybe just a weakness of mine, but I do love them (particularly brownies and lemon bars)
What you may not know, is that I could eat any kind of fruit all day everyday if allowed and my fridge supplied.As most would say, I love family, and I really do. I love the blessings of having people who know, understand and want to understand you better. Who are the ultimate examples in their lives and push you harder to be all you can be, and who love you without restraint. I love being able to be there for them too. I love my family for being all of this and so much more.I love music, but moreso I love the quiet or the soft sound of waves, allowing you complete freedom to think or talk without distraction.One thing I've always deeply loved, that has been growing particularly strong lately is the temple. I love the peace and happiness you feel and see on everyone's faces, the opportunity to serve with all your heart and soul, and all the comfort and love, as well as answers you receive there.
I find the sky fascinating. The incredible colors in the sunsets, uniquely shaped clouds, and amazing stars (and I love the mountains)
I heard a poem once that talked about being grateful for our "thorns". This may sound odd, but I love pressure and expectations, as well as trials. They're always hard, and it's their nature to be. But I love trusting and being trusted with things that will test and try me, pushing me to my limits and thensome, but molding me into something better in the process.
I love people. This is something I have been taught and felt, and hope I'm able to show it.I love to listen. In the busyness of the day I love taking the time to feel and listen, to the yearnings and feelings of others as well as my own.In the end I am so blessed to love all of these things and so much more, and I'm grateful for them. And even with all the little quirks and things that I have in my life, I love to be me, the goobery one that I am, and I love it when others can be themselves, without hesitation.

Conferences, Friendships and Mardi Gras

Mid-October Bekah and I headed to Utah for a week-long National Parks and Recreation Association Conference. While there we went to some great classes and saw amazing exhibits. Everything you can imagine that has to do with play was there, including an amazing Viking helmet of sorts that I was given and privileged to wear around for a day. You wouldn't believe the looks I got... until people realized I got it there and hadn't brought it with me just to wear, and then they wanted one too!

After the Conference we met up with Tay and did baptisms in the Salt Lake City Temple! It was my first time there and was incredible! Oh my word, the history and detail in that building is incredible, not to mention the amazing work that goes on as well. Then we went to pick up Jeanie at the airport, who was flying in from Florida to visit. Tay and I taught Jeanie on the mission. We had a great weekend together and with Tay's family!

The next weekend was Halloween. Bekah and I hosted a Murder Mystery Dinner Party at my house. Tay and her sister, Tanna, came up and others came as well. It was an awesome group who really acted their parts, accents, personalities and all. We had quite the investigative discussion and eventually the murderer was revealed....

It was quite the two weeks, all the while being in school and working, but was so much fun! I'm so glad to have friends that are willing to work hard and then let loose and have a good time!

(I know there's a lot of pictures, but they are some pretty great ones)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Amazingness....

Take a look: No, I'm not showing off my earrings. Take a closer look... I could claim it's from the HUGE oven at Great Harvest that I practically have to climb in to take the bread out of, but....that would not be entirely true. It is what you think it is. Moral of the story: don't try to curl your hair when it's 4 o'clock in the morning and you're still half-asleep...

Semester Happenings: Potato Land

Wow, apparently I'm quite the slacker when it comes to blogging and journal writing. Sooooo much has been happening that I haven't recorded! But, you'll be happy to know that I do have pictures for a lot of the big stuff, so it should be a fun update.

September was the month school started again, and also marked the annual East Idaho State Fair! I love fairs because they're packed full of crazy-good and fattening foods and tons of interesting people. We went down twice and definitely had our share of both and had a great time. The first night we found the most amazing thing...The Idaho Potato Museum!! My life was complete after this moment...okay so not really, and the museum was closed so the guys climbed on the HUGE potato for a fun picture.

Then we headed for the real fair and a BMX dirt-bike trick show. I haven't ever been into dirt bikes and everything they do with them, but this show was pretty awesome. There were backflips, full-extensions and even "captain" tricks pulled time after time. Their final trick was jumping a snowmobile on dirt, and doing a backflip with the snowmobile....turns out he didn't make the full rotation and the machine landed on him on the ramp. The whole place went completely silent! It was so scary but he ended up walking off, painfully. Check out the video to see it.

After the show we got some funnel cakes, which I'd never tried before. Shocking, I know. Everyone else was shocked too, but it turned out neither Jake or Scott had either, so we all got a fabulous taste of the fried goodness. And it was so good! The next time I got it with fruit though and would totally recommend the fruit. We were a little crazy excited, can ya tell?

We had fun looking at the animals, especially the HUGE horses for Bekah, and trying on some fun hats. What do you think? :)