The Beauties of Mt. Timp

Tim hiked Mount Timpanogos this weekend with some scouts and leaders. They hiked up to the meadow on Friday night, camped, and then hiked to the summit on Saturday. They were back by 1:00 in the afternoon. His scouts did wonderfully considering it is a VERY tough hike. It was even raining off and on through the night. I'm proud of Tim for making it again and for encouraging his scouts to be able to make it as well. He came home renewed and feeling victorious. There is nothing like conquering nature to do that for you.

On Sunday Tim thought it would be fun to take a family drive through the mountains (the Alpine Loop) and see all the the beautiful changing leaves. It was just breathtaking!! It is amazing to me how many things God has done for us just so we can enjoy life. We had a great drive, walked a little, and saw many beautful views. If you haven't gotten to do it yet this season, now is the perfect time! It did cause me to ponder on my blessings and appreciate my wonderful family.

Quizes

Two of my friends have posted quizes this week. I thought it was fate, so I thought I would post my results. It's kind of fun. I don't know if it will include links, and I'm not very good at hyperlinking. I took a class in college, but let's face it, that was a while ago. Anyway, enjoy!

You Are Pocahantas!

Free-spirited and wise. You have a strong passionate spirit that touches and changes all who know you. The wisdom and common sense that you have is really what guides you through life. Even so, you also have a very playful side that loves adventure and excitement.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Take the Quiz here!

Midnight Sun Reactions

For those who aren't Twilighters, you won't know what I'm talking about. Those that are I was wondering how people felt about the Midnight Sun leak and subsequent posting. I was really looking forward to Midnight Sun and understanding Edward better. The chapter that had been posted was very good and I wanted more. When it was leaked and Stephenie Meyer said she was no longer going to finish it, I was sad. After reading it and feeling like it was left hanging was so disappointing. Especially because it ends just before the really good scenes like the meadow and the whole James thing. I was glad to get the 12 chapters she wrote and I am a bigger Edward fan than before (if that is possible), but I want more. A curse on the one who leaked it! So, how do the rest of you feel about it? If you haven't heard about the leak, you can find the link to the book at stepheniemeyer.com It is 265 pages long. I for one hope she can get past her disappointment enough one day to finish it. Midnight Sun was my favorite of the entire saga. We still have the movie to look forward to. I heard she used Midnight Sun to help inspire Rob Pattinson for his scenes. November 21st!!

Drive-in Fun

Tim made cars out of boxes with the girls on Saturday. They thought that was loads of fun. They have doors and headlights and everything on them. Then they watched a drive-in movie.

They all took a trip to Artic Circle in their cars to get ice cream. Then they played on the "playground" which was the couch. I'm glad the girls have a dad that is willing to play their pretend games with them. It endears me to him even more than I already am!

Wahoo! Back to School

My oldest starts pre-school this next week. I know it is just pre-school, but it is 2 1/2 hours 3 times a week that I know she will be gone and engaged in educational things that I don't have to do!!(insert celebration dance here) It is also during nap time for my younger cutie. So many options suddenly open up before me as this new stage begins. I adore my girls, but I do think this will be good. Summer is fun, but the structure the school year provides is wonderful. Besides preschool there is music class, dance class, story time, and toddler playtime. That means a lot less of my time will be spent trying to think of fun educational things for my little ones to do. I'm very excited and the best part is, so are the girls!! Win-win. I plan to clean, nap, scrapbook, or make calls for my calling. I might even be able to leave the monitor with my neighbor every once in a while and run a quick errand. Such possibilities!!

What do you plan to do with all your "extra" time now that school has begun again?

Wow, 10 years flies by!

10 years ago on Aug. 18th I entered the MTC very afraid, but ready to serve. I was a missionary in the New York, New York South mission for 20 months. I was called English speaking, but 11 months into my mission I was switched to American Sign Language. I grew to love the people of New York and especially the hearing impaired. I spent most of my mission in Brooklyn, but some in Queens and a short 2 months out in Long Island. I had such a great experience. I made many great friends, and learned so much about the gospel of Jesus Christ, and conquered several fears. Sometimes I can't even believe some of the things I did while there. I grew so much and can attribute a lot of who I am to those wonderful (but very hard) 20 months.

What is an experience in your life that largely shaped who you are?

Enrichment: to meet or not to meet

I was recently made the enrichment counselor in my ward. The presidency has heard from many sisters in the ward asking for a monthly enrichment night again. Honestly it was becoming a problem trying to attend all of the different enrichment classes. They were almost every night!! So, after a lot of discussion with the RS presidency, the bishop, and the RS stake presidency we decided to hold a monthly enrichment night. The quartly meetings will remain the same. For the activites we will meet and have a little something to eat (part of the recipe class) and then break off into classes. One night, everyone gets to see eveyone else. When I presented this idea in Relief Society, we of course got a few murmurs of "that's going against the brethren". So, what do you think? Is this going against the brethren, a great idea, or just not going to work? I'm curious what others think, and how other wards do enrichment.