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?

A Confession

Yesterday, I did something I've never done before - never. I watched 8 hours of college football, and I liked it. Well, most of it. (Before I continue, you must know that I didn't just sit in front of the TV for 8 hours. I folded laundry and other productive things that could be done while sitting in one spot.)

I grew up watching BYU football. There are entries in my journal when I was 7 and 8 where score of the games are recorded as well as the names and numbers of those who scored. I loved (still do) BYU football! However, it always boggled my mind that people could sit and watch a game of any sport when they didn't care who won.

Well, the last couple of weeks, I've discovered a couple of things about myself. First, I can watch a game, apparently several in a row, as long as I have a team to cheer for. I do have to have some coaching when it comes to choosing a team, and sometimes I'm laughed at when I ask the question ,"Which team do I want to win?", but I've learned that a good rule of thumb is to cheer for which ever team will help BYU to move up in the polls. Second, and this I already knew, I only like watching a team get killed if BYU is the one doing the killing. I much prefer a close game. I get bored and find myself flipping between several games at once.

I will admit that by 9:00 last night, I was somewhat dumbfounded at what I had done and had a bit of a headache. This is not a way that I will spend every Saturday, but it was fun. And who's to say that it won't happen again...

Where Can I Turn for Peace?

Today after work I took a drive up Provo Canyon. I needed to think as much as I needed some peace and this seemed like the place for it.

I have always loved the mountains. For some reason, there I feel a greater sense of Heavenly Father's love - almost as if the beauty was created just for me. The nature of an all powerful Father seems very apparent in the creation of such majesty, while at the same time, his gentleness is transparent.

(By the way, I realize these pictures are poor attempts to capture the changing leaves. They were taken with my cell phone out the window while driving. There might come a day when I remember my camera...)

On Tuesdays and Thursdays this month, my nephew, Haden, and I have been hanging out. He lives right across from the BYU football stadium, and since I watch him at his house, we spend part of our day walking past the stadium and up behind the Provo Temple.

Today as we were walking up the hill, I noticed the leaves on the mountain are changing. I love this time of year. If I had my way, Fall would last for six months and Spring the other six.

I love wearing sweaters, sleeping with my windows open, the sound of crunching leaves, and taking drives in the mountains. I like not having to run the air conditioner or heater in the house and not having to water the lawn.

I'm pretty blessed to live in such a beautiful place. You should see the view of the mountains from my back yard!

"Don't be afraid. It's going to be alright."

Today, like some of you, I attended a conference for all of the stakes in Utah and Wasatch Counties. President Uchtdorf's talk was amazing. As he spoke I felt the need to be personally better and to take an accurate inventory of my life and where I'm headed.

I seem to be doing this a lot lately. For the last few weeks I've taken to walking up to the temple in the evenings. The walk takes me about an hour and I wonder every time if I'll make it up the hill, but I do, and the time I've been able to spend with just my thoughts has been good for me.

My thoughts as I walk are filled with those I'm close to who might be going through difficult times, wishing always that I could make things better. Also while walking, I think way too much about work, sometimes trying to convince myself that I can indeed do it for one more day. But mostly, my thoughts turn to an evaluation of life, wondering how I got to this point, if it's where I need to be, and if I will have the courage to take the next step.

I wish I could say that these walks have helped me to figure everything out. If anything, I have more to think about. But something President Packer said today at the end of his address was exactly for me. "Don't be afraid. It's going to be alright."