What defines you?

A few years back at camp a previous staffer who was currently on a mission wrote to a girl on staff.  In his letter he asked "What defines you?".  We all laughed and joked and thought "What a wierd thing to ask?"  However, years later I am asking myself that exact question. 
What defines you?  I thought for a long time that what defined you was what you did.  The jobs you got, the sports you played, the classes you took and the friends you had.  I am realizing that things are always changing.  New jobs and opprotunities come, friends move away, we gain new interests, hobbies and experiences.

It is not what you do that defines who you are- but it is the type of person you are that influences those things around you.  I am not just (or was) a swimmer, an artist, a high scoring student.. or a an area director of a very special camp.  I am a teacher is so many ways, I am creative, I am passionate, I am a friend.  I'm a decent person.  These things are constants.  They are what will allow me to succeed in whatever life I choose. 

I'm going to Philmont this summer.  As much as I am excited to go- I am freaking out!  But... new adventures!

Not a Taylor Swift sort of romance!

I think that deep down, every girl wants the typical fairy tale romance where you grow up and marry your childhood best friend/boy next door/high school school sweetheart/first kiss/long time crush ... boy.  We want this because it is something shown with so many romantic comedies and Taylor Swift songs.  We grow up hoping and wishing that our lives will turn out exactly how we want them too.  We may not even be in love with.. or even like this person any more, they they seem to be our options, our fate, our destiny.  We start to grow up and see them move on and we realize that sometimes..  life throws curves at you.  Maybe I was wrong.  Perhaps a whirlwind romance and fast engagement is the way to go.  We may not have known that person for our entire lives but we will have the blessing to know them for the rest of our lives and beyond.  I don't know what- or should I say who's coming and I don't know how long I'll have to wait.  But I know I'll have that happiness that I see my friends and loved ones have.  And it probably won't be with who I want it to be with- or who I think it should be.  I guess I won't know until it happens. 
I can't wait. 

2010- Best. Year. Ever. My year in pictures.

2010 was so incredible.  I really just feel very happy with everything that has been happening in my life.  I am highlighting, chronilogcially the best parts of my year. 

January:  California Trip!  We flew to Cali with my family.  Carly cam and so did my mom's good friend Suzanne.  It was a lot of fun.  I have not been to CA since I was little and it was fun to be a little kid again. 

We flew, and read books at the airports.  We went to the beach!  We went to California Adventure and Disney Land.  We went to this incredible little diner that was 50's themed!

March.  Les Mis!  Bonneville put on Les Mis and it was the most incredible play I have ever seen!  Mark and Matthew were it it.  I saw it at least six times. 



April:  Emily, Rachel, Mark, Matthew and I went on a road trip up to Washington to visit our cousins in Spokanne.  We don't see them very often.  It was a fourteen hour car ride, so but much fun!  We passed through four states.  We stayed over Easter and decorated eggs, had an Easter Egg hunt and a big BQ.  It was also General Conference.  We watched most of the sessions off my uncles computer crowed in his home office.  Our cousin Sarah contacted us after many, many years.  She came to dinner and it was an incredible reunion!  She is happily married and just had a baby!

 May brought some incredible memores from CHASP (Club Heights After School Program) where I work.  We had a huge 'World Cup' soccer game, we had a fun end of year program, we took a field trip to the Clearfield Aquatic center where I beat Jared Tesch at swimming!  I love CHASP.  It is the best job in the world!



May:  My aunt Anne (Sarah's mom) got married.  It was a pretty funny wedding with some crazy circumstances but it was an incredible day to have everyone together. Sarah, and her siblings Jon and Heather (and all of Heather's sweet little girls!) all came.  My aunt and uncle flew down from Washington and it was the first time my mom and all of her siblings had been together is a really long time.

My family drove down to St. George.  It was the first time I had ever been there. It was so warm and beautiful.  We stayed in our of our convenient World Mark condos.  We went to Zions, did lots of shopping and playing and lived in the pool.  We went to the lame kiddy arcade/mini golf/go carts place and had the time of our lifes gambling away all of our change to the video games.  We ran into the Stauffers on their way home from Las Vegas to visit family.  We had a spontaneous Denny's breakfast.   

That May the Singles Ward I had been going to was disoved to make way for the Historic new YSA stakes and wards in Ogden.  I loved my ward but I love my new ward even more!  This was my old ward having a big last FHE before we all split.

June.  I head off for my final, seventh summer at Camp Bartlett.  I can't say every increible thing that happened or show all the photos.  Read my previous blog posts.  It was an incredible summer.  I will miss it so much!!!

July!  Me and Debbie were lucky enough to go backpacking through Philmont!  My uncle was participating in the big Priesthood Leadship Conference with President Beck.  Me and Debbie got to travel through the rugged mountains of New Mexico for five days.  We flew to Denver, drove to New Mexico.  Debbie was fresh out of China and I hadn't seen her for months!  I had missed her SO much and it was a great way to spend some together.  It was one of the great experiences of my life.  I hope to work there this summer.. if they ever hire me!

When I got home from Camp in the Fall it was time for school, work and life.  I had my birthday-bought a car! I have no pictures of my birthday.. but Rachel's was a blast.  I love my sister!!!!

Me, Emily, Layne, Rachel, Alex, Matthew and Mark ascended Mt. Ben Lomand on Labor day.. a new tradition of mine I've done for the past three years.  It is a hard hike- but totally worth the awesome view!

September brought home Jeff Munk!  One of my best friends fresh out of Australia!! Since he's been back we've had lots of fun together.

October!  Lots happend in October!  My family spent UEA in Bear Lake.  We had fun, my favorite city- Garden City is a ghost town.  Labeau's shakes, nice walks, hanging out with the family and wading at the beach.  We attempted to swim and all got mild hypothermia and spent an hour in the hot tub. 

October brought Halloween fun.  Frightmares and Halloween at Wolf Creek!  Jeff, Jared, Layne and Alex and Debbie and visited us there.  It was a blast!



November!  My boys ( term meaning once on my Handicraft staff) Zach and Chad Sakurada got their Eagles!!  I was so proud of both of them.  Zach gave me his mentoring pin.  One of the proudest moments of my life. 

Thanksgiving was great.   My grandma taught me how to make her famous Eggnog pie!

 Emily got engaged!!   Layne Morris is a great guy!



December brought the end of the most hellish semester of my life and time for some fun!  Christmas lights, movies, books, going out to eat, spending lots of time with my family.  Debbie got her Venturing award.  I'm so proud of her!!!  I wish I was that amazing. :D  It was a great night to spend with some old friends and celebrate our favorite Debbie!

My Grandma finally went through the Temple.  It was an amazing day.  I love her so much and I am so proud of her.  She is an example to me to do everything I can to make it to the Temple. 



Christmas was great this year!  We spent it in Bear Lake.  Labeau's wasn't open.. but we went sledding, ate food, opened presents, watched movies, played games, played mario cart and spent alot of time in the pool. 

I spent the last week of the year getting read for school, and spending more time with my family and friends.  I saw movies, got frostbite walking around Weber with Jeff, going out to eat, going snowshoing and ringing in the new year with my favorite people in the world! 

2010 was amazing.  I hope as I embark on new adventures this year.. that 2011 can be just as good (or better) that 2010 was.  HAPPY NEW YEARS!