Sunday Morning

I woke up this morning with a smile on my face (figuratively speaking, of course), and decided to go for a little walk around my neighborhood. I live in the very south-east corner of Provo, so it only takes me a few minute to be up high enough to see the valley. I put on some basketball shorts, a sweatshirt and my slippers and ventured out. At first I thought "this could be a little embarrassing if I see people I know", then I realized most of the people I know are still sleeping at this time Sunday mornings.

The air was crisp and everything was still.  I thought about my life a little, about what will happen in the next year, how school will go, what graduate schools I want to apply to, what I would like to focus on in my research, etc. Then I came across a pumpkin patch just up the hill from where I live! I got really excited for Halloween and Thanksgiving. There were some nice pumpkins, I think I will go back and see if they are for sale. Then as I started back down the hill I was struck with how beautiful everything was. The moon was low over the west horizon, making it appear extra large and very white. The leaves on a group of trees next to me spanned the entire yellow-green spectrum, in order. They just flowed together from one tree to the next. Last I noticed the light breaking onto the back side of the Wasatch mountain range. It reminded me of all the accounts in the scriptures of prophets climbing mountains to be with God. They truly are a place of light.

 That was my Sunday morning walk.

 Also, if anyone is interested in what is currently going on in my life, the following offers a comprehensive summary (if that is not an oxymoron, then I don't know what is).

• 17 graduate level credits 
• midterms around the corner
• blind dates (I've almost set a new world record)
• string cheese, apple sauce, and granola bars 
• teaching temple preparation

Yellowstone

For the last couple of weeks I have been on an extended vacation.  I ended my job with England Logistics on July 20 and have been traveling ever since.  First I went up to Port Angeles, Washington with my parents to visit Michelle and Trevor.  We went to the beach, played in the river, ate pizza, and watched the Olympics.  Need I say more?  Then we went south to Yuba City and I spent a couple days enjoying the sun and seeing old friends.  

When I flew back to Utah last Tuesday, I had two days before going on the road again to see the sights at Yellowstone National Park.  There were 11 of us (all friends from Salt Lake) that went up there to a family cabin in Island Park for the weekend.  We had such a great time!  Here are some pictures from the Park.

Bison.

Mammoth Hot Springs (which is drying up)

Yellowstone Grand Canyon, just above the Lower Falls (that is the mist from the Falls you see at the bottom)

More of the Yellowstone Grand Canyon, beautiful huh?

On the drive home, just before we got to the West Entrance.  Amazing.  

Can't remember the name, but some of the most brilliant colors I have ever seen in a body of water.  Very cool.