Happy Birthday to Me!!

I had a few days off of work and was able to come home for my birthday. My Mom, Amber and Ella met me at the airport with flowers which was so fun. They then surprised me with a trip to the spa where I got a massage and after hiking ten miles the night before I really appreciated that.

My favorite moment of the day was the cake. A model of Angels Landing, complete with the switch backs, chains and a picture of me at the top. So funny!! Kylee then took me out to dinner to a little bistro downtown where we met up with some friends and ate amazing pasta. I then came home and crashed. What a great day.

Angels Landing

"Angel’s Landing—if you have done your research, you know this hike is not for anyone with a fear of heights. You probably also know that it is one of the most unique and thrilling hiking trails in Zion national park. The trail to the top takes you along the narrow spine of a geological fin, complete with chains to help you reach the summit of this highly exposed rock formation. The clincher for most hikers is the last half-mile to the top, where you must climb along the narrow ridge that has dizzying drop-offs on both sides—nearly a 1,200 foot drop on one side, and over 800 feet down on the other. When you reach the top, stunning valley views and canyon vistas spread out as far as the eye can see—a spectacular award for those who brave the climb."

We took a group of eight and only four of us made it to the top. We reached the top right at sunset. It was amazing.

Lower Antelope Canyon

Lower Antelope Canyon

Paria movie set

Paria Movie Set was used to film western movies and TV shows from 1963-1991. As a location, it was used for several episodes of “Gunsmoke” and “Sergeants Three” and the famous Clint Eastwood film “The Outlaw Josey Wells”.

12 hours of BRUTAL hiking. Welcome to the Subway

The Subway!!!

The Emerald Pools

Coral Pink Sand Dunes

Not far from the ranch is Coral Pink Sand Dunes State park. What an interesting place. It was so windy this past weekend and I got sand everywhere! My eyes, my teeth, my hair. Not the souvenir I was looking for.

The Hospital Visit that almost killed me

The past few days my leg has been bothering me but knowing that I haven't fallen and have no injuries I didn't think much of it and thought it would go away eventually. Well it didn't. The pain has slowly increased and my leg has been turning a wonderful array of red, black and blue. After a horrible night and insistently from my Mother, I decided it was time to drive myself to the local hospital and have it checked out.

The hospital was something you would see in the movies. It was so tiny and all the nurses and doctors were like characters in a movie. They got me in to see a doctor rather quickly and he said my leg had an infection. They have no idea what caused this infection but most likely it would heal itself. He prescribed me an antibiotic and sent me on my way.

Then I head to the pharmacy and out of habit I ask the pharmacist if the medication I was prescribed had any penicillin. (I am deathly allergic.) She said that the prescription I was given was penicillin and that she had to refuse me. I was so mad. I told every nurse, PA, and doctor that I saw that I could not have Penicillin. And then to walk out of the hospital with a prescription that would have killed me was so frustrating.

My leg still looks the same and is taking a long time to heal. At least it wasn't a spider bite!!

It is finally starting to warm up again so I went on a hike Saturday afternoon. I have been very overwhelmed with all the changes and lack of direction at the resort.

I went into the canyon to get away and think about the changes and directions I want to make for myself.

There is a peace that I feel when I am in the canyon that always seems to clear my head and I feel more centered.

I had a friend who said that Zion Canyon takes away your worries and allows to enjoy the beauty around you. When I looked at the pictures I had taken not one did I look stressed or overwhelmed.

I believe he may be right.

Look who came to the Ranch

What do you do when you get five feet of snow?

Race to the top of the "mountain"....

Wait for your car to thaw out....

And of course have many snow ball fights.

The Jessica Simpson Girl Theory

I just felt the need to express my frustrations and write my feelings down. Dating is so hard! There is no doubt in my mind that the desire I have to be sealed in the temple to a righteous priesthood holder is a righteous desire. I know that through the Lords help that anything is possible. I also know that I am meant to have a family of my own, so when I have disappointing moments it makes me wonder if decency and commitment exist in the LDS dating world.

There seems to be a growing consensus among LDS guys that their number one priority in dating is finding the hottest girl. They have admitted many times that finding a smart, ambitious woman, someone who would make a wonderful mother and friend, who has a testimony of the gospel are simply only a bonus. It all comes down to looks. As long as she is hot the rest is negotiable. It makes me sick when I hear priesthood holders talking about where their priorities are when it comes to dating. There is no question that Satan is trying to break apart families. I believe he may have done that before many families are ever brought together.

I refuse to dumb myself down and turn into what we have termed as 'the Jessica Simpson girls' in order to find a guy. I feel that the gifts I have been given are unique to me. They are things that my Heavenly Father has blessed me with and I refuse to ignore those in order to attract a guy. So in the meantime I am disappointed once again by another guy who believes in this theory. A twenty eight year old who would rather date an eighteen year old still in high school. And once again I feel very blessed that I didn't date the guy who believes in this theory.

Dinner at the ranch

During the winter months the kitchen at the ranch is closed and I have been cooking for myself. Although I like being able to prepare healthier meals, I miss eating and socializing with the other staff and having all your meals prepared is an indulgence I could get used to.

They are playing with the idea of changing the kitchen into more of a restaurant. Guests would be able to eat in the restaurant or order their meals and have them delivered to their cabins. Both really good ideas. Tonight they interviewed a chef who as part of his interview made us dinner. Here is what he prepared for us:

The first course was an oriental chicken salad, next was a steak burrito, salmon with red potatoes and asparagus (who knew I liked asparagus), shrimp scampi with pasta, an Italian spaghetti pasta, and then steak, chicken and pork. I only had a very small portion of each and it was all so good!!!

I leave in the morning for Provo to help with the career fairs at BYU and UVSC with my manager Michael. It is going to be so much fun. I am hoping that they hire me to be the manager over housekeeping this summer. If the managers from last year turn down the resorts final offer than I am one of their top picks. It will be a lot of work so I am not taking this lightly. With no living expenses it will allow me to make over ten thousand dollars this summer and that is hard to pass up. Michael said that our four hour drive to Provo will be my interview. I have a feeling that I have nothing to worry about.

After dinner tonight and talking about all the changes that are happening it made me so excited about working here through the summer. It still surprises me how I ended up working here and how much I have learned about myself in the process.

Mount Everest

One of the things I have learned about my living situation is that it allows me the time to dream and dream big. I have been looking through my life goals and one of the things I want to do before I leave this earth is see the base camp at Mt Everest.

I have always been fascinated with those who climb the mountain. I have been reading and watching a documentary on Everest and once again that desire is burning strong. I started to look into how to make my dream a reality. I found a tour that will take me through Kathmandu and into base camp. It is a twenty day trip (it takes that long for your body to acclimatize to the altitude) and although the tour isn't outrageously expensive the flight to Nepal is. It may take me a year or two to get everything in order but I have no doubt that this is possible.

Now all I have to do is convince Clay to come with me. :)

Easier mornings

I decided to wear my hair curly today. Mainly because I was too lazy to dry and straighten it. It turned out pretty cute. My morning routine might have just gotten a little easier.

Zion National Park in the Winter

This weekend I decided to take advantage of the beauty of Zion and I went for a winter hike. I am a little lonely since everyone went home but I am surprisingly not sad. How can you be blue when you live here?!?!!