:)

Wow, I'm on a roll with this whole posting on the blog thing. But tonight, I went to Oregano's for the first time, and man it was good! I am soo full now though. It was a fun experience, although I could do with out the uncomfortable fullness. Hahah.

Yesterday, I went to freestone park with Natalie. We got Costa Vida and ate it there. Only we had some extra food left... And there were tons of ducks around. So we fed them! There were so many! There was even a little baby duck, which is now affectionately known as "Baby Duck." :)

But yeah...

Decision-Making in Quotes

So, decisions have been coming my way left and right lately, what with college and all. And I'm just not that great of a decision-maker I guess. I say this because I take forever to make them... And I'm very indecisive about them. The only solace I can find is when I pray about them, which isn't a bad thing. But I guess it comes down to some quotes I've found lately. To start out...

“The key to change... is to let go of fear.” -Rosanne Cash

This quote has defined a lot of my decisions lately. Such as college. I had so many fears about it, about things that would happen depending on the college I went to. If I really wanted to change where I lived, or just change the school I was going to (like ASU, which is still a huge change in... everything). In the end, I decided on going to ASU. To do so I had to let go of many fears. But so far it appears as if it was the best decision. And who knows what could happen as a result of this decision?

Which brings me to the next quote...

“Sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can change your life forever.” - Keri Russell

Its a common quote, in one way or another. Heard several times, several different ways in one's life. But this is just so very true. Not talking to someone for one day could turn into not talking to them for six months. But this quote just makes me weary sometimes. Such as my decision about what ward to attend. Singles ward, or the home ward where I would teach primary? This decision is still on my mind, and its not going anywhere anytime soon.

But I guess the most important quote is...

“Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.” - James Dean

So never let go of your dreams, but say things that you feel impressed to say, do the things you feel you should do. You never what will happen. Thank our Heavenly Father for all the blessings in our life, no matter how small they may be. Live your life so that you would be comfortable dying tomorrow.

Trip to Greer... In more detail.

As if you wanted that, right?

Alright... Here's how the story goes: leave work at about noon on friday, pick up coxes... Skip forward to Pinetop, about 3:40 pm, and we are buying groceries. Then we continue the drive down to Greer.

We arrive in pretty good time, and we unload our stuff and head down to explore the area. Visit the creek, lakes, and everything else. Trying to figure out what to do, we attend a woodwind quintet concert at the community center, which was pretty good. We left at intermission though, because Marissa didn't like it all that much. Then we go back to the cabin, and we hang out and watch a lame scary movie (it still freaked Rissa out though).

The next morning Riss and I wake up at about 5 am, and get ready for the hike. We finally get Nat awake, although apparently she thought it was 8 am. I only discovered that later on the hike. We ended up leaving at about 5:30. Then we drive on a dirt road to the trail head... And begin the 16 mile hike up the highest mountain in the White Mountains of Arizona. The first half goes pretty good, and the scenery is great. We cross a creek and begin the real incline to the top of the mountain.

We turn back about a half mile from the top, however, because it starts sprinkling. Then once we get across the creek, it starts to pour. At first, we try to stay dry, but to no avail. With about 7 mile to hike in the pouring rain, there is no chance. We finally make it back to the car, soaked through and freezing. Then we dry off at the cabin and hit Rendezvous, which is my favorite restaurant/cafe EVER! In case you wanted to know that. ;)

There we eat lunch and have much needed Hot Chocolate. Mmmm.... Afterwards, we head down to Eagar and buy new, cheap, extremely comfy jackets, as the ones we wore on the hike are, well, wet. We head back and nap... Then Nat and I head down to the stream and take pictures. We then go back to the cabin, and play games(like dominoes and Wahoo).

The next morning we go back down to the stream, and take more pictures. Then we head out. We eat lunch in Pinetop, and return back down to the valley around 4 pm.

Great trip, all things considered. And oddly enough, I want to hike Baldy again next year. Who wants to come?

Update on My Life

Well, since the last blog post on here, a lot has happened... For one, I am now graduated from high school! Woo! It is actually quite a relief... Oh, and yes, and I've finally decided, I'm going to stay in this horrible, hot place for college... Where I will most likely have to live with my parents. It all depends on my finances after this summer with working and all. But I am majoring in Human Nutrition, which is based on the downtown Phoenix campus... Which is actually quite nice, if you ask me. I've actually split my classes between Downtown and the Main campus though.

Work... Work is a wonderful thing that somehow makes me tired. Yes, sitting in a chair and yelling at kids makes me tired. Or maybe it could be the sun. If you haven't figured it out yet, I am a lifeguard. I love it, and I love the staff at my pool. They are freakin' awesome!! We are tight, so tight that we are planning a staff camping trip. Oh, and apparently we would risk on of our own to win the Old School Challenge against Greenfield Pool (long story there). But along with it, inservice is really fun! Its amazing that I get paid for it! Hahah. It doesn't seem fair to other people. Too bad this is the last week of public swim. :(

So leaving High School, with work taking up all of my time... I am realizing how difficult it will be to keep in touch with all of the people who I want to... And to decide who I shouldn't try all that hard to keep in contact with. I know it sounds kinda mean... But some decisions just have to be made. Some might not even be made for me, for all I know. But I do know there are some people that I will always be friends with (the whole gilbert gang along with some from mesa. :) ). Its also slightly depressing watching people change now that they feel freedom from school. I don't feel as close to them anymore. Its weird... But they seem like they are becoming LESS mature.

But now a more happy subject! Marissa and Natalie came into town about two months ago... and I've had so much fun with them!! They are amazing girls! I love them so much! They are definitely two of those people that I will always be friends with! We've done so much in that time, a whole blog post should be dedicated to them. But we all know that I'm lazy and that won't happen. While hanging out with Rissa though, I've also hung out with Xochil, who is just way fun. I'm so excited for hanging out with her at ASU next year. I'm sure some great adventures are coming up there as well!

After graduation I had a glowstick pool party with Xochil, Heather, Amber, Lora and Tialene. That was fun. Then I had another one with Heather, Amber, and Whitney, which was also fun.

I did several other things... Such as visit Thatcher with Nat and Riss (saw Heather!). And then we drove up to Tortilla flat...

Took some pictures...

And we even went to Greer!

Where we took more pictures! Hahah. It was very fun.

Most of which is documented through photos on facebook, in much more detail. But now, at the end of the summer... The twins are leaving in a week. Heather left to boot camp today, and everyone leaving to college. It just seems... sad. Makes me thankful that I have friends down here to hang out with... Who aren't abandoning me. (Which brings up the fact that you, Natalie and Marissa, should go to ASU next year. No more abandonment.)

But all in all, it was a pretty great summer. :)

(Ah yes, this post was originally started in June. Its August 2nd now...)