What I did on my Summer Vacation...

As you know from my previous post, I took a few days off last week (thanks for all the helpful suggestions as to how I could spend my time). While I think I was in my store four of the six days last week, I also did some fun things.

Wednesday morning I watched Haden while Dre put in a half day of work. When she got home around 1, we bundled Haden up, threw the stroller in the car, and headed to hike the "Y". For a humorous account of the adventure, check out Andrea's blog.

Those of you who have never done this hike before, don't be fooled by the word "EASY" that's used on the website. The only reason I could keep up with Andrea was that she was pushing the stroller straight up (not the recommended way to get a baby to the top).

The view from the top was beautiful and could possibly be the best way to view all of Utah County. I wish the camera could have captured the stunning colors of the leaves, but the sun was in the wrong place.

While Dre couldn't walk after the adventure, since she really was in a 90 degree angle the entire way up, it was fun to spend time with the two of them, and it felt good to have hiked all the way up.

Friday, I found a great little place in Pleasant Grove to hike. Again the colors were amazing and I had wished that I had gone a few weeks earlier to see the leaves. The hike only took about 45 minutes and it was so pretty!

A Few Long Weeks

Okay, I'll admit it. I've been incredibly stressed out lately! Those of you who work for me can attest to this. My patience has run thin, I've had a short fuse, and tolerant is not a word anyone would use to describe me.

Usually before October hits I try to take some incredibly relaxing vacation. (Okay, I never do that, but I always think about it.) This year my summer vacation was spent packing and moving, two things I don't like to do, and it certainly wasn't relaxing.

Now there are 10 weeks left in the year, 10 of the most exhausting weeks for those of us crazy enough to work in retail, and I'm already wiped out.

So next week, other than the reports and schedules I have to do on Monday, conference call on Wednesday, lunch meeting on Friday, and a Glenn Beck event on Saturday, I have the week off. Any suggestions as to what I should do during my free time?

This morning I had a terrible dream. I was stuck in a major storm, unprepared and uncontrollably panicked. The dream was so real. When I woke up I was almost convinced that it had happened.

My thoughts were consumed by this dream as I drove home from work this afternoon. I just couldn't shake that feeling of panic and fear that came from being so unprepared. I wondered what aspect of my life was in a storm-like state and what I could do to fix it. The scripture in Heleman 5:12 came to mind. "And now, my sons, remember, remember that is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

General Conference this last weekend was a gentle reminder of things I need to do to make my foundation sure. I don't ever want to be in a position again (even in a dream) where I am unprepared in a storm. There are many things I need to do to ensure this doesn't happen, course corrections I need to make.

Isn't it a blessing to know that He, who is our foundation, is also the one who picks us up when we fall, carries us when we can't seem to walk anymore, and protects us from the elements as long as we are trying our hardest, doing our best, and asking for help?