Zion

For some reason, I grew up with a bias against camping. I had this idea that it was such a hassle--after taking hours to get ready and drive to the middle of nowhere, you just sit around and do nothing for days, and then you had to break camp and even after you where home, it took an entire afternoon to get everything unpacked again and back to its place in the garage so that you where ready to go camping again, and waste even more time in the godforsaken wilderness. Well, that bias is baseless. Camping is actually easy and really fun. It’s great to get away from the city, from school and work, and enjoy being together.

A few weeks ago, Tess and I went to Zion National Park in southern Utah. We have taken quite a liking to hiking recently, and so we decided for our summer vacation that we needed to go somewhere with exciting hiking attractions. This was our first real vacation as a couple that wasn’t to visit family. Granted, it was short, we left Friday afternoon and came back Saturday evening, but it was still really fun.

Apart from the amazing scenery which you can see in the pictures, the one thing that really amazed me was the people that we met riding the busses to the various trail heads. I would say that over half of the people that we met were foreigners, coming from Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany (and those are just the ones that we talked to). Their stories were all really similar, they were on a vacation for anywhere from 20 to 30 days and were driving from national park to national park spending a few days at each one. The Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Yosemite. Anyway, I just thought that it was interesting they would fly all the way from Europe to go see places that are in my backyard. I guess you never really appreciate things until you don’t have them or they seem weird. For example, I lived in Arizona for 8 years, one of which was on the Colorado river, just a few hours from the Grand Canyon, but I have never been.

In any event, below you will find a link to our photo album (just click on the following picture). I have made some comments on some the pictures to try to explain a little better what they are of if you have never been.

Zion

Oh, and contrary to popular belief, it's ZION National Park. Not ZION'S National Park.

I love America. Oh, and pictures of an awesome storm.

For the Fourth of July, Provo has a balloon festival. We got up early and walked over to it and it was quite exciting seeing the balloons inflate. Sadly the weather was too sketchy for any of the balloons to launch higher than a few feet. But I loved seeing an enormous Tony the Tiger! Kevin looked up what it would take to own a balloon and charge people for rides. He can tell you all about it, but I think my reaction was, "Let's get through our scone venture first."

Me with Miss Anna. You might remember her better as Miss Entrepreneur.

On the morning of the Fourth of July, we ran a 5K in Soda Springs with Myrna, Amy, and Rick. It was a lot of fun. I felt so good after it was over. We ran it in under 40 minutes. The run was in the memory of a good friend of the Hoopeses that passed away in an avalanche in February. They do this run every year and last year Kevin and I opted out since we hadn't trained for it at all. I was glad to participate this time around. We don't have any pictures of Amy and Rick finishing the race since they smoked us to the finish line!

Oh, sweet victory!

Can you see us? Kevin's in the orange t-shirt. I think I'm looking at the kid next to us in jeans with disdain because the whole race he would run ahead of us and then walk for a while and then run ahead again. I was determined to beat him in the end . . . slow and steady wins the race, right? Well, I can report that we did outrun him on that last stretch!

About an hour before we were going to watch fireworks, these ominous clouds started rolling in:

We waited out the crazy storm with lots of hail, thundering, lightning, and rain. Luckily it didn't last too long, and we enjoyed a nice firework show.

The calm after the storm.

Fragile

* Main Entry: frag·ile
* Function: adjective
* Etymology: Middle French, from Latin fragilis — more at frail
* Date: 1521

a : easily broken or destroyed (a fragile vase)
b : constitutionally delicate : lacking in vigor (a fragile child)

Today as I was delivering a box that needed to be shipped, I heard an ambulance siren. Before I walked back to my office, the ambulance arrived at the building next to mine and an older gentleman in a wheelchair was being talked two by the EMTs. I am glad that such an organization exists to help people in moments of emergency. I felt bad that I hadn't even really given a second thought to hearing those sirens until I saw the ambulance right in front of me and saw the man they were attending to. Then I wanted to go over and give him a hug to comfort him. Life is so fragile and I think that especially within the last few days I've been caught up in little details that really don't matter in the large scheme of things.

Speaking of which, in Harry Potter 2, Dumbledore tells Harry something like, "It is not our abilities that show what we truly are. It is our choices." I need to be better about choosing. Even one of the lessons that Kevin and I taught at church emphasized that no one "makes" you mad. You are choosing it. If I can have more perspective, and more faith, then having things not work out as I want them to maybe won't be so frustrating.

Speaking of which, I am sad to see a lot of my friends leaving Provo. I know their time has come to move on and I'm happy for them and their opportunities. As hard as it is to see them go, one thing that really comforts me is knowing that I will always have my best friend right at my side. Wherever Kevin goes, I go. And vice versa. Having the constancy amidst the change really helps a lot.

Speaking of which, we have been married for a year as of Saturday! What a fun year it has been! Last Thursday night, I asked him what he would do different last year. And he thought about it for a minute. Then he said, "Let's see, August 6th. I wish you could've come up and camped with us before the wedding." The answer made me laugh because I meant what would he change over the course of the last year, not just a year ago that day. When I clarified, his response was, "I think we've done pretty good." I wholeheartedly agree. There were some rough patches (specifically with my employment or lack thereof), but the rough spots weren't in our relationship. Rather, I survived the rough spots precisely because of our relationship.

Speaking of which, our big move from an apartment to a duplex went very well, thanks to Kevin's parents and sister. We are finally all unpacked and have even hung a few things on the walls. It feels more like home every day. And I would sleep next to our washer/dryer if Kevin would let me...I love it THAT much.

Perfect Day Off

Last Friday I took my first day off of work and it couldn't have been better! I got to go tandem biking in the morning with him:




I went to the temple with her:


And I hiked to Stewart Falls with both of them!

I will never hike without a Camelbak again! They are amazing!