Summer is over, and school has started. Fall has always been exciting---the changing leaves, the multitudes of college students everywhere in town, pumpkins, spice scented candles.....
WHICH means, it is almost Christmas! Yessirree, I am the person who has been listening to Christmas music since last Christmas. If you could see my Pandora playlist, you'd notice 1/4 of my stations appeal to that special time of year. I'm helplessly in love with hot cocoa, giving gifts, singing carols, eating fudge and drinking eggnog. I especially love the extra effort people make to be charitable, and loving to even total strangers. I love the feeling of peace and unity from worshiping the Babe born in a manger over 2,000 years ago. That is why I love Christmas, and really, why I celebrate it all year long. If Christmas means coming closer to Christ, showing greater love, giving a little more, forgetting yourself, and spending special time with loved ones, then "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"....and yes, I realize it's only September.
Despite being anxious for the holidays, Q and I have had a "most excellent" summer, to quote Bill and Ted. It's been short, and full of a lot of work and monotony, but we've had our share of wonderful experiences and grand adventures:
This forth of July, desiring to get out and get dirt under our fingernails, we found a promising hiking destination on Google. However, when we arrived at what we thought was the trailhead (emphasis on "thought"....we had wandered lost for while before hand. So we really had no clue if this was the right place...but we had nothing to loose) we saw only a cow pasture with a fence saying "Private property." We figured somehow that this must mean "private-to-everyone-who-is-not-trying-to-find-an-exciting-place-to-hike"...so we opened the fence, and drove into the pasture. We found a "trail" with a sign that said no parking...but since there was only a cow pasture, and no paved parking lot, we parked anyway.
After hiking on a totally secluded trail, and being victims of hungry mosquitoes for two hours, we headed home, tired and hot. We did have a good time, wherever we were.
We went to Oregon to visit our families for a week in August, and had a blast. The 11+ hour trip up had been a little nerve wracking..our car was acting up (something with the sparkplugs, and fuel line?) and we really struggled up the hills. The last 100 miles were pretty brutal, but we made it. We had a WONDERFUL time with family. We learned that having your immediate family and in-laws in the same town makes vacations a little complicated, but we adjusted, spending half the week and one place, and half at the other, and combining both families on the pew at church.
We enjoyed a week of canning peaches and making jam (my first attempt!!), white water rafting, playing at the beach...etc. My little brother Rhett, who isn't so little anymore, is going to serve a mission in Brazil soon, so spending time with him was a highlight, since it is the last time we will see him in two years.
Last weekend, my boss took Q and I to Jackson Hole, WY. We had SO much fun! I fell in love with the majestic Tetons, and we enjoyed getting our cowboy on, and gazing at the western artwork in the galleries.
It's been a great summer, but now we are back to the grind...thankfully I have Christmas to look forward to! :)
Here are a few other summer photos:
I was able to go to the wedding of a mission companion I loved dearly, Sister Baldwin! I got to see other mission friends and had a great weekend in Logan.
Q and I had a blast building a tent one night this summer! We had scripture study in the tent, but loved the fact that our own soft bed was right around the corner.
I also ran a 10k race this summer, and placed 6th over all (4th woman). I LOVE running! I love pushing myself and seeing improvement, and knowing I am capable of so much! I can't wait to do my marathon!
