Hiking Mt Timpanogos & deadly storm the night before

Natalie (one of my roommates from BYU), Elisa L and I planned to hike Mount Timpanogos about a month ago. We picked a date. Friday September 18th, early morning. Natalie would stay over Thursday night since she lives in Pocatello, 2.5 hours away. But by Wednesday we decided to move it to Saturday because Friday's weather was looking rainy and stormy. Friday afternoon we heard that it was in fact very stormy, and some college aged kids had hiked up and were in the storm at the summit, under the tin shack shelter when lightning struck it. Anyone who was touching that shack was impacted. A 19 year old guy died, and a few others were injured. We were so sad to hear this news, and felt for this young mans family. I'm sure they felt like they were being safe, getting under the only shelter, near, but it was a false shelter. Being made of metal, with a steeple at the top, it's more of a lightning magnet. Sometimes things around us aren't as they seem, and it's important for us to know what truth really is and which sources speak and point us to truth. 

Saturday morning we were up around 5am and drove down around 540. Natalie brought her car to park somewhere along the canyon, and Scott planned to drop us off at the top. We didn't realize until we got there that last year someone had started a shuttle to take people from the Salamander flat campground to the Timponeke trailhead; It's $7 one way or $12 round trip. Natalie parked her car there and then we all jumped in with Scott and he dropped us off at the trailhead. We started hiking around 620am, and we ended up finishing at 12:45pm. It's a total of 14.2 miles and it took us about 6 hours and 20 minutes, which is fast! We hiked up fast, and we jogged some of the down. Finding people who go at your pace is amazing! I love hiking, and I love moving at a quick pace without taking many breaks (we stopped at the top for a few minutes to take pictures, plus we had to stop to potty twice and we stopped for a few minutes for lunch, but that was it). We started the hike with headlamps, and after about an hour we didn't need them anymore. 

As we were hiking up, at one point a huge moose ran out in front of us, crossing the trail going downwards. If we'd been 10 feet ahead, he would've trampled us! We saw several moose along the way. 

The weather was absolutely beautiful. We really couldn't have asked for better hiking weather. 

We took a couple of pictures at the saddle before continuing up the mountain to the summit. That last part is only about half a mile or so, but it is more precarious and takes awhile. 

We made it to the top! Here's that tin shack I mentioned. 

Such beautiful views of the valley! I'm always in awe of God's creations! 

There was a group of people hiking up with bags of hats they were giving away for free in honor of this company they were starting up where you can only buy the hat or the gear if you did the thing. Like hiking mount timpanogos. And then you can get them customized with a patch of whatever it is you accomplished. We each got a hat and our said mount timpanogos on the side with his distance and elevation. It was pretty cool. 

Beautiful Fall colors! 

We were pretty hungry after our hike, so we stopped off at Cubby's for lunch in Lehi. I love their salads and sweet potato fries! 

That Saturday was also homecoming, and I was able to get home early enough to see Jane off. She looked beautiful. They had a nice time together. 

And I had forgotten that Scott had RSL tickets for that night. I was SUPER tired from my hike, so I was grateful when Annabelle surprised us with a visit, and since the others girls already had plans, she was able to do a daddy daughter date with Scott to the RSL game, and I could sit at home with my feet up and watch a movie and stretch. It was just what I needed. It's the little tender mercies and His hand in the details of our lives. Love Him. 

And my step count for the day: 38k! 

 

Sep-Romneys, love life and see good days

Labor Day weekend the Romneys came out for a family wedding but we got to hang with them for a day/night which was fun. Jane had a short schedule and so we took her and Rain to Ninja Kids. 

And we met our sister Pepa for a late lunch at a Thai place in Saratoga. 

That night we went to the high school football game to support Jane as she cheered. We usually go for half, which is what we did. Our team is not doing well this year, so Scott doesn't mind so much that we leave early. And I never mind :). 

Saturday we took the girls to Swiss Days in Midway. Annabelle came down for this too. It was warm outside and SO, SO crowded! I don't know that we'll go next year. 

With Charles coming home in November -- and no one wanting the bunk beds in their room, and he's a little big for the bunks, and the guests that stay don't get great sleep when someone is sleeping on top-- we decided to sell the bunk beds. We're going to get him a queen bed in place of the bunk which I think will be better and which I think guests will prefer. If they have a young one that wants to stay in the same room, we can pull in a camping pad or cot. 

We wanted to go on a little hike with the girls and penny on Labor Day. 

We went to a nearby trail (only about a ten minute drive) but Annabelle wasn't feeling good, so we only got in like maybe a half mile before we had to turn around, so it was a really short hike. 

Nora and I got Acai bowls after. The others weren't interested. 

One of my new favorite scriptures: "Love life, and see good days." It reminds me of the picture I have hanging in my front room that was my Moms and she gifted it to me. It says, "be happy for this moment; this moment is your life." 

God is good and I love the life we're making. Of course there's hard too, but there's also always good. You've just got to look for it. 

It's often the little things. Like family dinner on Sundays. Many other days of the week girls have work or sports and so don't get to eat with all of us together, but I do love our Sunday dinners. I would also like to be better about making a dinner for us all each night even if most can't make it, but trying to plan a time where some of us can. 

On this particular Sunday, I felt like making Acini di Pepe or frog eye salad as my roommate Natalie had just been talking about it on our Timp hiking adventure and I remembered that I love it and get it whenever we eat at a buffet, although I'd never actually made it before. It was delicious. 

Jane often goes in big groups to her dances (with her cheer friends), and this next one is no different. The team all went around asking the guys together with their 'girls pref' shirts. 

My sister Pepa lives about a half hour away, and works full time, and my schedule's busy too, but we try to get together at least monthly. On this particular week in September, I went down after work and we ate Indian food together in Saratoga Springs. It was yummy (although the naan wasn't my favorite). We sat and visited for about an hour and a half, catching up on the latest which was nice. 

Friday nights lately are spent at the high school football games so we can support Jane. Like I mentioned above, we usually just stay for half and then we head home. Saturdays are often our temple and dinner date nights. I love that Jane watches for us and is always happy to see us. We love our girl!

This pic was from a dinner date night at Maria's Mexican Grill in south Jordan that we went to after our Jordan River Temple visit. The enchilada with the dark red/brown mole was my favorite. 

And we love watching Nora play soccer too! She's quick on the field and fun to watch. And she has some really good friends on the team as they've been practicing and playing together for years. 

Spiderman pose

Jane and Nora each take a day to watch our sweet neighbor Saige each week. Saige loves animals, so when our friend said we could come over to see her new puppies, we planned it for a time when Saige would be over. She was in heaven. 

And so were we. We loved snuggling the puppies. Since then we've gone back to snuggle the puppies a couple more times. 

When I was working at the temple one evening, and approaching the end of my shift, a young woman walked in the front door dressed in her gym clothes. I was standing at the front as that was my post. She went to the recommend desk and asked if we had a phone charger. Her phone had died and her ride didn't come to pick her up. We did not. The young woman was crying now. I ran back to the office to see if anyone there had a charger. Nope. When I came back to the front to tell her she could try her Mom on the phone in the waiting area (she'd said she didn't know the number of whoever was supposed to get her)  but the guy at the front desk had already problem solved. He'd unplugged our iPad that we use to read the scanned recommends, and used that cord to charge her phone. She sat in a chair in the front room while it charged. After about ten minutes he told her to come over and turn it on and try again. She did and it worked! When her mom picked up the phone and said, 'where are you?' (it was on speaker), she burst into tears again and couldn't get out anything intelligible. The guy took the phone from her hands and said, "your daughters at Jordan river temple, at the recommend desk. She needs someone to pick her up out front." The mom said she'd be right over and then got off and the girl walked out the front doors and into the dark. Before she walked out I told her to come back inside if her ride didn't show up. About five minutes later, my shift was done so I quickly went to the dressing room to change and then I went out front to see if she was still there. I thought I'd wait with her in case she needed to use a phone again. When I got out there, another woman was waiting with her; she also works at the temple. So I joined them and told her I'd wait too and then asked her about where she was coming from (work at Goldfish; she taught swim lessons), and how old she was (15), and if her family lived close (yes, a neighboring city). I Found out she lives by some of Jane's friends so I asked her if she knew them as she did, and she also goes to our same high school. I told her I was glad she came inside the temple, that it's probably the safest place she could be. Shortly thereafter her parents pulled up in a truck and off she went. 

Reflecting on this experience reminds me that God often meets our needs through others. we need to be able to slow down to notice and help others. Between the man at the front desk and the woman who found her outside and was waiting with her, it made me so grateful for all the good people who are out there, trying to follow Jesus by loving and serving others, comforting those who need comfort and helping the broken hearted. We can help him in that work. We can be tools in the masters hands. 

Aug-N braces off, USU, back to work/school. God is good.

We love our Missionary Mondays! When Annabelle went to HXP in Ghana in the beginning of July, she brought out 2 small packages for Charles and his companion and they received them in mid August! So glad they made it! 

Mid August, the girls were back to school and I was back to work. Jane is a Junior, and Nora is a Freshman! Annabelle started school at USU the following week! I can't believe we're down to 2 kids at home....for the time being that is. Charles should be back the beginning of November!

I snapped this picture of the Jordan River Temple as I was heading home after my Tuesday evening shift. I love how it lights up the area. It's definitely a refuge from the storm and a place of peace and strength. 

Jane was asked by Brock to homecoming. He's good friends with Halle's boyfriend. Jane's happy to be going with such a nice guy and with her group of girlfriends. I personally think we have way too many dances in a year...6 is far too many, but if they like it, and if they're paying for most of them, then I suppose it shouldn't matter to me too much. And it gives them the opportunity to date, since that's not something most of the high schoolers are really doing these days. 

So cute! Jane and Penny are napping together on the couch. 

We had some pretty awesome rain shower and thunder storms in August. We got some hail with some of them too. 

We've been busy packing up and cleaning up Annabelle's room. 

Monday August 24th we dropped Annabelle off at USU. She had received a priesthood blessing from her dad the night before and afterwards she was a little teary eyed and I asked her how she was feeling. She was feeling nervous about moving away, about not knowing any of her roommates, and about starting college classes. We'd been praying for her. Within a half hour of us arriving, her cousin Reese (from Oregon) got back from a run and came and hung out! Having Reese where she was, living a floor below Annabelle, was for sure, a divine orchestration. I'm pretty sure my mom and dad had something to do with it, pulling strings up there. Reese, who is the same age as Annabelle, had been planning to go to BYU. But then in June, she decided to take up the offer/scholarship she got from USU to run on their cross country team. She had to find last minute housing. Her team was in the San Juan Hall, which is Annabelle's hall. Reese got in! But then a few weeks later, they moved her team to the building next door. But because Reese hadn't signed up at the same time as the team, she couldn't move buildings with them, but stayed in San Juan Hall. And is just one floor down from Annabelle. It was so nice, so comforting for Annabelle to have Reese there, who is familiar family. They hang out a lot. They have a class together. I'm not so worried about Annabelle anymore. God is good. 

Oh and by the way, her roommate, Sophie is great! As are her other roommates. Sophie has a car and is from Alpine which is only 25 minutes from our house, so when Sophie comes home, Annabelle is always welcome to catch a ride (which she has a couple of times already and I'm writing this in September). I meet them off of 1-15 and it works great! Blessings and tender mercies. And answered prayers. 

Nora got her braces off!!! for the second time. And just in time for picture day! Literally, she got them off the morning of picture day! Lucky girl! 

Stef's dog had puppies! (Stef is one of the assistant coaches on Nora and Scott's team). The labs are SO adorable! And they fit in the palm of your hand! It kinda made me want one, but at the same time I remember how much work penny was and still is, and then I change my mind and feel quite content with having just Penny. 

Scott and I love trying new food places. We ate dinner at Tuk Tuks, a new Thai food place in mountain village and it was delicious! The stir fry in the pineapple was so yummy, as was my curry and the mango sticky rice. We will definitely be going there again. 

For about 6 weeks I'd been trying to recreate these muffins that I bought from Little Miss Muffin in Utah, and it has been a struggle! I think I've made about 6 different batches, adjusting the recipe. Why is it so hard? Because they're macro friendly. They've got so much protein, and fiber and little calories and sugar. Coming up with the right quantities has been hard. Some were really bad. And looked really bad. 

Then they got better. It's still not quite the same as hers, but I do feel like they're getting much closer. They're all bran based, and I've been trying out an almond poppyseed muffin and a lemon white chocolate muffin. The lemon white chocolate I like a little more. 

This is our intervention team at work! I love all these ladies! And we're missing Angie from this picture, she helps kids with math. Most of them do walk to read, and then Charilyn and I work with the multilingual kids, I teach them the Language for Learning program and Charilyn gets to play games with them while they work on conversational english. I love what I do. It's so rewarding to see them progress so quickly (many of them) and learn the English language. And you can't beat the hours. M-Th 9-2pm, and I get off all holidays and school breaks (Fall break, winter break, spring break, Summer). The schedule allows me to still cook and clean (if I want :)) and to run errands, and to write, and work at the temple and go to my scripture study/brunch on Fridays and just do the things I love to do. I'm grateful for my work and the people I get to work with.