Summer Time and The Living Is Easy

Hey, All!!! So, I am new to this blogging thing and you are all going to have to be a little patient with the gimp! Anyway, I wanted to kind of do a little update on my life and what has been happening this summer!

Let's see...

JUNE: The highlight in June was definitely the graduation of my seniors! It was so awesome to be a witness of the first graduating class of Graham-Kapowsin High School! Go Eagles! Honestly, for a counselor, graduation is PAY DAY!!! Sendin' out the love to all my seniors out there!

In the latter part of June and early July, I had two groups of friends come and visit me. Tara Johnson, Melissa Miller, Katie Bell, and Jamie Taylor came for a weekend. It was a wonderful "girl bonding" weekend. We spent a day in Seattle, a day at Northwest Trek and enjoyed lots of talking time accompanied by chocolate chip cookie dough...and some actual cookies. I then was fortunate enough to have Keri Graybill and her friend Mollie come and visit me. We also spent a day in Seattle and even rode the duck. It was a blast! Good times for all! I also discovered a favorite spot for me...Point Defiance. It is honestly one of the most beautiful spots in the world! It is on the Puget Sound. It consists of a beautiful waterfront area and also a beautiful wooded area. It is a piece of heaven on earth...literally! I love going there and spending some good time reading in the scriptures or other special books. I am learning how important it is to take time out to connect with God and also ourselves. I need it!

JULY:

I had the great blessing of returning to the homeland of Utah for two and a half weeks.

Academy For Girls Retreat: The first thing that I was blessed to do is attend a retreat/reunion with women I had worked with at Academy For Girls about ten years ago. Speaking of which, I can't believe that it has been that long! Where in the world does the time go? Anyway, it was a very spiritual and uplifting weekend. I have now started a Book of Mormon program as a result. The program is to read the Book of Mormon in 100 days. I will most likely take a few extra days but it is great to be reading with women of faith all over the country! I was also very uplifted and inspired by the amazing women that I was with. I need to and want to be better than I am!

Week with Friends and Family: The following week I had the opportunity to spend time with my wonderful friends and family. I tell you what...it is always fun to catch up and to make new memories!

Wolf Creek: The last week I was in Utah was spent up Ogden Canyon at Wolf Creek with my family. It was so much fun because all of the grandkids were there! They are so much fun and are full of so much energy! I love being a pseudo- "aunt"! I also got to see Shauna and her little boy, Joaquin...I know that with him I am the favorite aunt! I love that little man! It was a great week...away from the hustle and bustle of life in the great outdoors! Scott and I actually rented a kayak one day and got to kayak half of the reservoir. It was great! That is something that I am picking up on lately...kayaking! Good times for sure!!! So, overall, Utah was great! AUGUST: August started out with the extraction of all FOUR of my wisdom teeth! It was awful! I ended up in the dental chair for a total of FOUR hours...instead of the hour and a half that they had prepared me for. Ugh! I literally felt like they were going to rip my face off! I am so grateful for my angelic mother and aunt who stood by my side and took care of me in the healing process. I am blessed to have them! The remainder of August will be filled with preparations for the coming school year as well as a birthday celebration for my wonderful mom...another quick trip to Utah! This sums up my summertime adventures!