Sunday, July 12, 2009

I Heart My Mom and Dad


I have the BEST PARENTS IN THE WORLD. Because of them, I have a wonderful life. They both have worked so hard and sacrificed so much in order for their kids to be happy and have every opportunity in the world. They are so kind and thoughtful and are always thinking of others. I know that anytime I'm having a rough time, I can turn to them. The past year, I was the only child living in Utah and it was fun to hog them to myself and become even closer to them. I loved being able to meet my dad for lunch on the spur of the moment when I had a free hour come up. I loved going up to their house on Sundays and talking with my mom as we made dinner.

My mom is really cute because she has passion for little things and has the ability to find excitement in everyday things like a good newspaper article or rocking out to Bon Jovi in her little sports car. She has a super strong testimony and is always trying to be more Christ-like. She goes to the temple 1-2 times a week to serve those who have passed on. She is always getting things for other people or thinking of them, such as writing a note to someone who gave a good talk in Church, or buying little dolls for my cousin's daughters, or saving a newspaper article that she thinks I'll like.

My dad is also fantastic. He is one of the most generous people I know. For example, he has gone to Young Women's camp and Oakcrest for like the past 10 or 15 years to teach archery out of the goodness of his heart. He takes the Scouts snow caving every year, even if it isn't his calling. He is always going out of his way to facilitate me and my friends enjoying ourselves, like renting a SUV so that we could drive to California without car problems. He has a great sense of humor and I love to hear him laugh. If you want to make his day, ask him to tell his Big Nose joke.

I've had SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES because of them, both now and growing up. My mom totally sacrificed her own life so that I could do activities. She would take me to dance lessons, Girl Scouts, soccer practice, etc. For 12 years, she came to every game I played in twice a week, and went with me to out of state tournaments. When I had my knee surgery she was there for me anytime I needed her, even if it was 2 a.m. I remember one of the times I had food poisoning in college, she came down and stayed with me all day until I felt better. My dad has worked so hard to provide for our family and make sure we had more than he did growing up and has done a fantastic job. All of us kids have been able to see and do so many things because of how hard my dad works. I remember when I was living in Hawaii and having a really hard time with some things, I would talk to my dad on the phone every day, and he would help me feel better.

Most of all, I'm grateful to my parents for raising us in the Gospel. It is the most important thing in my life, and I can't imagine how different I would be if I didn't have it and if I wasn't taught the gospel as a child.

So, Mom and Dad, thank you for all your support -- for doing a wonderful job raising me and for being my best friends now.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

This one goes out to you Dallin... :)

I've decided I travel too much. I just got back to D.C. from being in Central Mexico for two weeks and this weekend I'm going to NYC for the weekend (woohoo!!). I love traveling and checking out new places and people, but after a while, you just wanna be home with your family in a comfortable bed with a pillow (I didn't have room to pack a pillow for my move to D.C. so I'm pillow-less out here). Sometimes being around the familiar is nice. For my own entertainment, I'm going to recount my travels as best as I can remember. This will probably be boring to anyone but me, so you'll probably want to stop reading here. But hey, a blog is just a more efficient way to write in your journal, right?


March 2010-May 2010: Syndey, Australia for internship
August 2009: Newport News, Virginia for Operation Smile International Student Leadership Conference
July 2009: NYC for the weekend
June 2009: Ocotlan, Mexico for two weeks (with a day layover in SLC with the family on the way out and back)
May 2009: North Carolina for Duck Beach 2009! Woot woot! Body, body, body language
May 2009-August 2009: Washington D.C. for internship
March 2009: Eugene, Oregon for a week to visit sister, brother-in-law, and nephew (amazing times of jewelry making and BBC movie-watching)
February 2009: Las Vegas for 4 days for physical therapy conference, D.C. for 4 days to visit friends and check the area out
January 2009: Idaho for the weekend to go duck hunting
December 2008: Las Vegas for BYU football game (Perfect weekend with my BFF, except for the fact that BYU lost... that has a tendency to ruin my day.)
October 2008: Eugene, Oregon for a week (I believe this is the weekend I solidified my standing as Dallin's favorite family member)
September 2008: Seattle for BYU vs. UW football game (SO MUCH FUN-- went and watched BYU win, had a BBQ with old friends, and then went to a Mariner's baseball game. Perfect day, right?)
August 2008: Brazil for two weeks (absolutely unbelievable experience)
July 2008: Valdez, Alaska for 4 days for a glacier kayaking trip with roomies (I imagine heaven looks like Valdez. Lots of good stories from this trip)
June 2008: Anchorage, Alaska for a weekend temple trip
May 2008-August 2008: Fairbanks, Alaska for internship (possibly the greatest experience of my life)
end of May 2008: Eugene, Oregon for Memorial Day visit (missed my flight back to Alaska, had to call in sick to my internship)
April 2008: L.A. and Newport Beach California for Diane and Fernando's wedding (LOVED this trip because it was to see my friends marry each other-- SO COOL!)
March 2008: Eugene, Oregon for a week
Hmmm I'm forgetting some in between here.
December 2007: Las Vegas for BYU football game. (They won this time-- went with the family and unlike a lot of people, we stayed the whole time so we saw the blocked field goal)
Beginning of December 2007: Mexico for orphanage trip. (these trips are when I feel most alive-- I think this trip is when it took us 17 hours to drive home and there were 5 of us in a 2 door coupe)
November 2007: Idaho for duck hunting, Eugene, Oregon for Turkey Day (this was the trip when I flew home earlier than the rest of my family so I could go to the BYU vs. Utah game)
October 2007: Las Vegas for BYU football game, Mexico for orphanage trip, Eugene, Oregon (I went to school in between all of this, I swear.)
August 2007: L.A. for Diana and Junior's wedding, Idaho to go fishing with Dad, brother and uncles
July 2007: Mexico for orphanage trip
May 2007: Newport Beach, California for Memorial day with friends (awesomely awkward/ fun and creepy)
March 2007: St. Louis for a week, Phoenix and Flagstaff, Arizona for a weekend to check out grad schools, Denver for a weekend to interview at Regis University
February 2007: Denver for a weekend for interview at UC, Seattle for a weekend to check out UW
December 2006: Kauai, Hawaii for Christmas (this is when Heather told us she was pregnant with Dallin!!)
November 2006: Thanksgiving in Idaho (this was the weekend of the "John Beck is on the run, he throws behind him, it is... CAUGHT FOR THE TOUCHDOWN!!!--- just in case you forgot).
October 2006: Colorado Springs for BYU vs. Air Force game (the beginning of a fabulous tradition with Red)
January 2006- May 2006: moved to Laie, Hawaii for school
August 2005: went to Hawaii for ten days to visit old roommates
December 2004-May 2005: moved to Hawaii for school

I haven't even included all of my moves on this list. Again, for my own entertainment.
Move #1: moved out of my parents to Raintree apartments for my first semester at BYU
Move #2: moved to Hawaii for a semester
Move #3: moved to Glenwood in Provo for 3 months
Move #4: moved back home for a month because of insane construction at Glenwood
Move #5: moved to Regency apartments in Provo for a semester
Move #6: moved to Hawaii for a semester
Move #7: moved into Stonebridge in Provo for TWO WHOLE SEMESTERS!!
Move #8: moved into Enclave 211- The Clave Cave (best decision ever!) for a semester
Move #9: moved into Enclave 107 for a semester(doesn't sound like a big move right? Wrong-- I have a ton of stuff-- just ask Pere)
Move #10: moved into Enclave 104 for a semester
Move #11: moved to Turnberry in SLC for a semester
Move #12: moved to Alaska for a semester
Move #13: moved to Sugarhouse for TWO SEMESTERS!
Move #14: moved to Washington D.C. (well, Vienna Virginia technically) for a semester.

There is a serious lack of stability in my life. Don't get me wrong-- I love my life. But sometimes it just wears you down to always be out of your comfort zone and always have to make new friends, and then once you get comfortable with them-- then leave again. However, I wouldn't trade my experiences the past few years for anything. I have met some of the most amazing people ever, and even if I'm not able to keep in touch with them, I will always remember the fun times and how much they meant to me. I have a lifetime of fantastic memories.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Fun Few Weeks


Well I've been living here in D.C. for 3 weeks now, so I thought I'd give an update of what I've been up to.


I work Monday through Friday at a physical therapy clinic. I love working there-- the physical therapists there are great, my patients are awesome, and I feel like I do a good job and I feel like I am well liked. I feel a lot more competent at this internship than I did during my internship in Alaska last summer. Sometimes I am a tad bit bitter that I am not getting paid and am paying tuition, but hey what can you do? The only other downside is that I have to wake up at 5 A.M.!!!!!!!!! I am not a big fan of that and wouldn't do it voluntarily, but since I have to, there are some cool things about it. When I leave to walk to the bus stop, the air still has that crisp morning feel and the past few days there has been a layer of fog rising up from the trees and it is very beautiful.




Over Memorial Day weekend, I had the chance to go to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for Duck Beach. BEST WEEKEND EVER!!!! I seriously could not imagine a more perfect weekend. My best friend Red flew out for it, and we drove down with my friends Melissa and Kari (about a 5 hour drive). We stayed in a beach house with about 25 guys and gals. It was dirt cheap AND food was included-- the girl who put the house together made us dinner every night too. I didn't have to bust out my wallet once on the trip. We spent all day Saturday at the beach playing in the ocean, playing soccer and football and hanging out with people. Oh I forgot to mention that Duck Beach is an annual event for single LDS people (it has been going on for 20 years). People from all over the country fly in for it and people just rent out giant beach houses and then just spend the whole weekend having fun. There were probably 600 Mormons there. So we had tons of people to play with on the beach and get to know. That night there were parties to go to and even just hanging out with everyone at our beach house was fun. Sunday we didn't do much besides reading scriptures and conference talks and hanging out, but it was perfect. It was very relaxing and refreshing. That night we went to one of the beach houses where they were having an acoustic night/party and that was a blast. Monday we spent the whole day at the beach. We had so much fun playing soccer on the beach and throwing a football around. I can't even describe how perfect this weekend was. The atmosphere was amazing, I made a lot of new friends, I laughed a lot, I felt like myself the whole time-- didn't feel self-conscious or lame or whatever--. It wasn't the kind of beach trip where you just go to meet guys and wear super nice clothes and try to be popular. It was just a ton of awesome people gathering to have fun. I loved it.






Oh, my sister was in town (D.C.) for Memorial Day weekend. I, sadly, was not so I didn't get to spend much time with her, but we did squeeze an hour or so in after work and before I left for North Carolina. I met her and her friends at one of the Smithsonians, then we went and wandered around Georgetown and then went to one of the cupcake shops they have here. It must be an East Coast thing, but they have tons of shops that just sell cupcakes. That was a lot of fun and the cupcakes were heavenly. We each got one and then shared.

Then this weekend, I had a blast going to the Herndon Fair with Melissa. It was exactly what you would imagine a hick fair to be. There was live bands, fireworks, a carnival, fair-type food, and a crazy assortment of people. There were the gangstas with their doo'rags and bling pushing strollers with their babies in em and talking about riding the merry go round. There were high school guys and gals dressed in their little summer outfits trying to impress each other. There were your typical hicks with their wife-beater tees and cigarette in hand. You could find just about every type of person there. Melissa and I loved it.

We waited in line for AN HOUR for funnel cakes and played a camera game to help pass the time. We would say an expression and then quickly snap a picture, so the other person had to react very quickly and act out that expression.

pensive


confusedangrysurprised


We were the very last people to get funnel cakes-- all the people in line behind us who had been waiting 45+ minutes were out of luck.

This upcoming weekend I am going to Chesapeake Bay with the Relief Society in my ward and we are having a little slumber party and then going sailing on Saturday. I'm really excited!


Other than that, I've just been getting to know the D.C. area. I've been able to do quite a bit of exploring, despite my lack of car. :( I am now an expert of the public transportation here (bus, metro, etc). It has been a lot of fun so far!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Public Transportation

Lessons I have learned from riding the public transportation to and from work here in D.C.:
1. I've learned that if you aren't sure where your stop is, don't just guess and pull the "stop request" cord when you think you are close. Wait until you see your stop or see it pass and get off at the next stop. Otherwise you will end up walking 2 miles to your house.

2. I've learned that it is important that you make sure your affairs are in order because there is a high probability that you will die riding the buses. The cause of this death may be for various reasons-- death secondary to the smells on the bus, death because your bus driver is crazy and drives like it is a James Bond movie, death because your bus driver ran over you, etc.

3. I've learned that it is important to tell your employer that you are commuting via public transportation because your bus will frequently be late and you will miss your connecting bus and have to wait 40 minutes for the next bus.

4. I've learned that it is much easier to not push snooze when your alarm clock goes off at 5 a.m. because those extra few minutes can be the difference between making your bus and missing it.

5. I've learned a lot about the gospel from commuting via public transportation. My commute is between 2 and 3 hours every day and so I've started listening to conference talks and CES devotionals. Some of my favorites and ones that I highly recommend you download and listen to:
Things As They Really Are by Elder Bednar
In the Strength of the Lord by Elder Bednar
How Do I Love Thee? by Elder Holland
The Wind Beneath Your Wings by Elder Uchtdorf
Gifts of Love by Elder Eyring

Monday, May 11, 2009

Someone must have told them I'm in town...

I got the best news today!!! This Saturday the Church is sponsoring an event out here entitled Faith and Football! I'm SO excited! My two favorite things!!!

Details:

WHO:
-Derrick Mason, Two-time NFL All-Pro, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver

-Andy Reid, Two-time NFL Coach of the Year, Head Coach, Philadelphia Eagles

-LaVell Edward, College Football Hall of Fame Coach, Brigham Young University

-Lenny Moore, NFL Hall of Fame, Two-time World Champion, Baltimore Colts Legend

-Edwin Mulitalo, Super Bowl Champion (Ravens), Ten-year NFL veteran

-Ken Niumatalolo, Head Coach, US Naval Academy; Quarterback, University of Hawaii

-Burgess Owens, Super Bowl Champion (Raiders), NFL All-Pro, Ten-year NFL career

WHEN: May 16, 2009 (this upcoming Saturday)Afternoon Session: 4:00 pm (coaches session)Evening Session: 7:00 pm (playeres and coaches session)

HOW: This will be a great opportunity to hear from men who are the best in the world at what they do, and how their faith has guided them in their lives and careers. There will be two sessions about 2 hours each with speakers and a Q&A session. You are welcome to come to one or both. All you need to do is print off free tickets at WWW.FAITHFOOTBALL.ORG. You can invite others to attend as well if you would like.

HOW COOL IS THAT!?! MY LIFE ROCKS.

As a side note, all of the things that are important to me and that I can't live without start with F. Faith, football, family, food, and friends. Who needs more than that?

Sunday, May 10, 2009

New Home




Here are some pictures of my sweet new house for the summer. I'm living in Vienna, which is a suburb of D.C. It is beautiful here! There are trees everywhere and the air smells like cherry blossoms, lilacs, and all the other wonderful-smelling flowers! My new house has an awesome balcony in the back, perfect for summer BBQs! The kitchen is also amazing, which is muy importante to me! Here is to a great summer!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

I can't breathe...

So I am playing on an indoor soccer team up in Woods Cross and it is killing me!!! I am so out of shape! Indoor soccer is intense to begin with, so when you are out of shape on top of that it is bad news. Keep in mind that I run like a mile every 3 weeks and feel pretty good about myself for that. For those of you who aren't familiar with indoor soccer, let me give you an idea of how much energy it takes. There are two 25 minute halves and play never stops-- there are no out of bounds, no timeouts, nothing. And the game is very fast because you can bounce it off the walls and the turf doesn't provide much resistance to the ball. Substitutions are done hockey style. It is exhausting.

I am playing co-ed, which means that there has to be at least 3 girls on the field at all times (there are 5 players plus a goalie on each team). Boys are only allowed to touch the ball 3 times before they have to pass it off. This equals A LOT of work for the ladies. My team isn't very big, so that is a lot of playing time for us girls. At tonight's game we didn't have ANY subs, boys or girls, until about 15 minutes into the game. Then we had one girl and one guy come. The other team had SEVEN subs! Don't worry, we still won.

It is really funny for me to play because in my mind I am still 17 years old and in awesome shape. When I see plays developing and I see my own options, my mind WAY overestimates what my body can do. Sometimes it is frustrating to know what I should be doing, but be physically unable to do it, but mostly I just think it is funny. For example, I had some shots on goal tonight that would have been super easy for me back in the day, but when I kicked it tonight, the ball went like 8 feet and then died.

I'm having a blast playing though. I really love playing soccer and sports in general. I found a women's soccer league to join up in Fairbanks last year (that was super fun cuz the ages ranged from 19 to 60 and the old ladies were tough Alaskan chicks that could kick my trash and also we had games that would start at 9:00 p.m., but it was still light outside cuz the sun doesn't go down). Hopefully I will be able to find a league out in D.C. this summer too!