Monday, August 31, 2009

The End

This summer has been the best of my whole life

I think I have learned more about the world and myself, then in my entire lifetime

So now, the end is in view, and sadly my thoughts must turn back to school

Normally I would be more upset about school starting again, but this summer was so wonderful that its like a fire burning inside me and not even the thought of 10 months of vigorous school, mean peers, and waking up and 5 am can bring me down. I can testify that God will pull me through if I have faith, stay humble, and always turn to him.

So BRING IT ON.

With the lord on my side, I can do anything.

summer Pictures, Images and Photossummer Pictures, Images and Photos

Friday, August 28, 2009

I'm A Rolling Stone From Texas

I was invited to my Aunts Ranch in Texas for two weeks. El Rancho Chaa is its full name. It is located right on the border of Mexico. I flew down with my two cousins, Devin and Jenna. Devin is 16 and Jenna is 13. We took a plane from the Seattle Airport to Salt Lake City and from there we took a flight to El Paso. Once we reached El Paso we met Vic the cab driver, A one in a million kind of guy. He took us to the grey hound bus station, helped us get our tickets, and even called my parents to tell them we had made it there safely. He got a big tip. From the station we took a bus to Van Horn. Which was over 2 hours long. From Van Horn, my dear Auntie Pilar picked us up and drove us for another hour and a half to her home in Alpine Texas where we got some much needed rest. The next day we spend bussiling around, trying to get all neccessary items to survive on a ranch for two weeks. After stocking up the car with many food items, and other supplies we headed down to the Ranch. MR (Manuel Rodriguez) my aunts ranch partner was down there before we got there, he called my aunt and told it was 119 degrees at the ranch, and that he had just seen a coyote chasing a rabbit and they were both walking. Im not sure which one I believed less. Once we arrived however I knew he was kidding, about the tempreture I mean. It was sooo hot, and coming from Seattle, Washington where it rarely brakes 80 degrees this was quite a shock. My first two days there were a bit of a struggle for me. Then Travis had his 21st birthday fiesta my Aunts Mexican friends Cepriano, Manuel, and Julio came and played with us. After that my heart did something I didn't really expect it to do. It fell in love, with a place. I completely lost touch with the girl I was back at home. I didn't where make up, I never straightened my hair, I got dirty and I didn't think twice about it, I ate beans and burritos every night, I went looking for rattle snakes, I sunk into quick sand, I shot a pistol into the air, I rode a horse bareback through a lightning storm. It was some of the most fun and adventure I have had in my whole entire life. I fell in love with the people I was with too. Aunt Pilar, the amazing hostess of the whole trip was a goddess. She made everything come together perfectly. Jenna was my sister, we did everything together. Devin was my goober, we liked to tease eachother, and try new things together, and Travis was my teacher/trainer/best friend/and big brother. I taught me more about how to live life then anyone I have ever met. The ranch was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. When I cam home I just moped around the house. I played my Texas music, Jimmie Rodegers, Woodie Guthrie, THE WORKS! Though they did bring back memories and good times, my hear still felt split in two. For the first time in my life, I had discovered this whole new alter ego. The girl I used to be 5 years ago, before being poisned by the peer pressure, and norm of public school. I loved the girl I had found, and it made me sad to have to return to the other. After much contemplation however, I discovered that I could be both girls. I could join them together to make one person. Some who loves to have order, and to be clean, and to look pretty, and the other girl who loves to ride horses, get muddy, shoot guns, and spit spit balls. Both girls had something to offer. The ranch made me a better person.

You are amazing if you read all that.

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Our First Summer Adventure.

Before school ended my family and I embarked on our summer vacation to Cold Springs. Cold Springs is a historical piece of american property located in West Virgina. The house is very old and is the base of Cold Spring's historical value. It housed Civil War Confederate soldiers, it even has a slave cellar (there are no slaves there now of course). The owner of the home is my fathers cousin Bernadine, and her husband Harry. They were such gracious hosts, and made our visit absolutely magical. While were there we also visted all the civil war battelfields and monuments, and then we decided to drive up to see the Omish. It was a very long drive but well worth the wait. They are such amazing people, and it was a very interesting culture change. The day after we saw the Omish we drove all the way to Palmyra, New York and visited the Churches historical sights. We saw the place where the first Book of Mormon was published, the place where the church was organized, the Hill Chimorah, and even the Sacred Grove. It helped my testimony so much, its an experience I will never forget. Even with all of the driving, and flying, and uncomfortable hotel beds, my family and I managed to get along great. My siblings are my best friends, its hard to imagine that is our last trip together, before Katie goes to college.

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Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Failed.

So I told myself, and my blog readers, (who at this point don't really exist), that I was going to keep this blog and update it faithfully; recording and sharing the monumental experiences and epiphanies that I am experiencing and also just the small simple incidences that that make up my life. Well, so far I have quite obviously failed at that goal, but as of today I am turning over a new leaf. I really am going to keep use this blog and I am going to keep it updated.
I REALLY MEAN IT THIS TIME! I REALLY REALY DO!

at least I think so.

I'll start by rewinding the clock a little bit and telling about the end of school, and the beginning of the best summer of my life.