It's a mine field, it's a mine field! OK! It's a you field it's a you field!

       So once upon a time on Labor Day Denise, Liz and I decided to go for a hike up Rock Canyon.  It was a pretty intense hike for somebody who hasn't been doing anything all summer :)  But it was gorgeous. The whole time we were hiking we got to talk about life and boys and the Gospel and the future and it was just nice.
   As we hiked it was fun watching the people we passed.  There were cute families and cute couples and just groups of friends enjoying the day.  And then we pass this older gentleman and he was just happy and he asked us and another group of young people if we were going to the mine.  We had no idea what he was talking about so he goes "come on follow me." The other group declined but the next thing I know we are hiking up a path talking to this man about this mine.  Then poof there it was.  He got his camera and flashlights and told us some rules. And to be honest in my mind I had some flashbacks to CSI shows where they have found the bodies of 3 young girls and the killer had taken their pictures and had them in his trophy case...
   So we are going deeper into this mine with little flashlights and then he would stop us and have us pose and we had a whole photo shoot inside this mine.  It wasn't that deep into the mountainside.  After I realized that I calmed down a little bit. When we got to the back of the mine he had us turn the flashlights out, and he talked about the darkness and how it can engulf our life.  Then he had us wait until our eyes adjusted and there was the faintest little bit of light.  He then compared it to our life.  When we have the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives and we thrive on the Light of Christ it is so much easier to see where we are going and the path we are choosing.  But if we only have a little bit of light we are limited in our sight and may stumble or hit our head really hard on some obstacle we didn't see before. 
   It was such a neat experience.  Afterward we all admitted to each other how we were a little weary about following a stranger up to an abandoned mine but I'm so glad we did.  After we left Tom (the mine guy) asked us if we saw the cave on our way up, when we gave him a blank look he lead the way again and we were off on another part of the adventure.  He talked to every person we passed or that passed us.  He was so happy and just enjoying life and nature.  Tom was a great example to me how we truly can make or break our happiness and we can certainly add to others' day. 
   Tom and his wife have been doing this for the past few months, taking people to the mine and having little photo shoots and then emailing the people the pictures.  So I've picked out a few to share.  Thanks Tom :)

*You could tell Tom had done this multiple times...He kept putting us in certain poses or telling us to lean forward or back more..."Now act surprised! Act excited! Pretend like you don't know she's down there.." Yeah Tom.

Limbo

 

Sooo I have been having an interesting time recently.  Full of ups and downs and a lot of stand stills.  Part of my life feels as if it's in a "coma" I'm not ready to pull the plug on it.  Or atleast I don't want to be the one that makes that call.  It's all in limbo...or in a coma... either it'll die and that'll be it.  Or things will be revived and the adventure will continue.  In the meantime where does that leave the rest of my life?  It's kind of a little off.  Isn't it funny how one aspect can affect the rest of it.  I saw this photo earlier today...I don't want to live with regrets.  I know at this point I can't be the one to pull the plug...It's got to come from somebody else.  I've been patient for so long I just wish I had answers right now! :)

   So I will try to live without regrets.  It'll be hard but I know that everything will work out in the end.  I'm going to be so happy and blessed.  We all are.  No matter how rocky or jacked up life seems. We got this!

Ooo Shutdown!

Loud, distracting student that talks all the time while Miss Brady is trying to teach the whole class: You know what sucks?

Miss Brady: A vacuum.

Said student sat dazed, confused and speechless for the next 5-10 minutes.

Yes sir that just happened.

Why do people do this to themselves??

     Last night, on a whim I joined a few of my friends on a drive up to Logan.  The reason?  One of my friends has been training really hard and was going to run in her first marathon, the Top of Utah.  Do you know why they call it a marathon?  According to Greek History there was a battle at a place called Marathon.  The Greeks beat the Persians and they wanted to make sure that everyone at Athens knew so they could be prepared in case the rest of the Persians decided to attack Athens right away.  One man was elected to SPRINT the 26.2 miles back to Athens and tell them the news.  He did and upon arrival he gave his message, collapsed and died.  Thus the human race has decided to basically reenact this amazing feat and do it for fun.
     So this morning two friends woke up at 4:50AM to go run 26.2 miles...By their own choice...I've heard of this phenomenon but I had yet to experience it first hand.  Well today was that day.
    The supporters woke up about 8:30ish (Mind you the runners have already been running for an hour an half down the canyon), we ate breakfast, got in the car, and drove toward the mouth of the canyon.  The town had been set up and everybody was getting ready for the appearance of the runners.  We got to a point (mile 17ish) and waited.  As we waited we people watched.  By mile 17 the runners (who CHOSE to do this to themselves) are more than halfway through.  We cheered and tried to look happy and supportive.  Some looked completely miserable.  Others were in the zone and didn't even know we were there.  And then there were the smilers and encouragers.  This people would thank US for cheering them on, they would push a friend they were running with, they told US good morning with the biggest smiles...One older gentleman gave us high fives and told us "greetings from Ohio." Another older woman told us we would look a whole lot better out there with them (ha).
   We also saw quite the age range.  We saw some teenagers, a lot of 25-35 year olds, many 60ish, and there was even a boy around 10 or 12 and his dad.
   And then there were the bodies.  There were very athletic looking people who were already walking at mile 17.  There were many bigger bodies who were pushing themselves at a fast pace.  There were skinny ones, tall ones, short ones, it was almost like a Dr. Seuss book.
   So we hop back in the car, and get ready to go to the next cheering spot.  2 friends were running in the marathon (one of them was doing her 4th and the other one this was her 1st).  The non marathoner that was with me brought stuff to run with our first timer friend.  So she literally hops out (the cops wouldn't even let me stop the car for like 2 seconds) of the car and goes and runs awhile with her.  This was at Mile 19ish...  I continue on and find a spot to cheer.  There are SOOO many people that are there to support and cheer them on.  It was kind of touching how encouraging strangers were being to each other as they watch these "normal" people pushing themselves to do something so intense and so miserable looking you can't help but be awed by their determination.
   My next cheering spot was down by the finish line.  Our 4th timer friend finished in an amazing time.  As I was walking up to the finish line I hear them announce that someone had just finished their 131st marathon.  Wait...What? Really 131st?? You've done this 130 times before?  All the while I'm passing these people who have finished and are getting massages or laid out on the grass with ice packs and heat packs...I think you get the picture...
   I could go on and on about the things I saw but here's the point...I wanted to cry.  Not because I was imaging how much pain these people were experiencing (seriously my knees were definitely having sympathy pains) But because the human body is so amazing.  We can do amazing, amazing things...And these people have pushed themselves and gotten to the point where they could say with their head held high "I ran 26.2 miles"  I'm still not sure WHY they would want to be able to say that...But I do know that it feels so amazing when you set your mind out to accomplish something and then you do it.  I think that's why people do it.  It must be, because although the happy people at mile 17 were smiling and supportive...when they crossed the finish line at mile 26 they weren't happy but they were confident and proud.
   Turns out there was somebody who was running their 400th marathon that day.  People make a hobby of this stuff...My eyes of been opened to the marathon world.  I don't think I will be taking part as a participant anytime soon...BUT I will gladly be one of the spectators their to cheer you on.  We all need those sideline supporters.  Those people willing to run with us for part of the race or those family members willing to hand out otter pops to all the runners.  Those strangers who see you struggling to cross the finish line and step in to help you make those last excruciating steps or even carry you across it.  This life in a way is a marathon and we all have different paces but we all have the same purpose.  And it's a lot happier and feels better when we got each others' backs.
   We got this.  We just got to keep pushing. And like the runner at the Battle of Marathon and all of those people today in Logan...we will make it.  We will accomplish the impossible.  There is no way we can fail.