Chicago Review

Here are a few more pictures from Chicago!

Here's Kristen and I at the Aguilera's home in Chi-town.










I really liked this sign. Eric, Tad and I ate at a restaurant before the baseball game... good times.










Here's Tad and Eric!!!













Hm... we'll you'd have to be someone who does not drink or curse to think this sign is funny!










Here's Eric. He was looking at something when I saw this and had to snap the shot!










Serious! This sign is a real sign on the sidewalk!

Stickshift & Safety Belts

My seat belt in my car is not working so well. No bueno.

It's early morning, and my body is already exhausted.

Sleep.

Slumber.

Rest.

Letters & Love

Well... there you go.

ha ha ha!

Reminiscing...

I found an old journal...

Words from friends grace that pages of this blessed book. Quotes of the heart, and good times.

"Who said that only the sky's the limit? I believe that there is no limit in achieving goals. It goes on to the eternities." pili girl~

"P.S. better keep this signature cause one day it's going to be worth $millions$." - Kyle Shimoda

"You amaze me. Totally. You do so much, like the Energizer Bunny. You keep going & going & going. Stop once in awhile and BREATHE!" - Cyndi Ozaki

"Well thanks for being my friend, without my friends I don't know where I'd be today. Friends have been such an inspiration to me help me when I'm down, give me hope, enable me to live the next day. That's why to you I am so much thankful. I thank God that he has brought you into my life, and every elses. You are a truly a great person." - name signed in Japanese.

"...I'll never forget your quest for Heculean status, and I deeply respect your intense emotional struggle. Keep fighting strong, and if at all possible, remember that you've got friends out there..." Kyle Fujimoto

"There are so many different kinds of people in the world. Some are sweet and kind, while others are harsh and mean. But no matter what attitude they portray, always remember that they are still human beings... and humans have feelings." - Aira Kato

"I will to Kyle F., the ability to have your wishes come true. To Aira, a place with God. Chad T., a set of drawing pencils and your own fashion models. Justin, drum sticks. Chad S., a million and 1 pianos." - pili girl~

"You gotta come play bassoon next year!" - Aaron Wilson

"God knows when the time is right for things to happen. Let time run its course and God's hand lead the way." - pili girl~

"It was nice to see him again." pili girl~

"Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans." - Betty Talmadge, b. 1924 (American meat broker)

Reflections of being 16...

Well, this past week has been one of wondering. No "what if" moments or "should/could have" wishing. Just, wondering.

Not to divulge all that is in my heart, but I will put part of my what my heart was feeling at 16 and my thoughts now, down for you all to view and know a little more of the inner workings that I share with caution.

So, let me pose a few questions.

What happens to those we love that sometimes slips away from us? Moments that meant so much in our lives at the time, and then somehow just fades?

This morning, I grabbed an old "thought" book I had, and came across the following passage.

"Dec. 29, 1997
Monday Night

If there was one thing that I would not want to have messed with, it is... my feelings or emotions. I don't want to 'fall-in-love' because I'm afraid of getting my heart broken... I just want to find someone that will love me for me. And for one of my friendships, I totally leave that in the Lord's hands. And whatever comes out of that, then it will be because Heavenly Father wants it that way...I know that in my situation I may be just another numbered friend, but I don't want to be left out, or left alone, because honestly, it hurts."

It's amazing, even at 16, those 10+ years ago, some emotions never get any easier to deal with. I wonder how that person is doing. The one that had my heart those many years ago. I spoke with his mother the other day, she remembered me. A surge of feelings flirt with my heart-strings and the plucking seems to be getting louder.

Please don't ask me questions.

These are just thoughts. Thoughts of the heart. My thoughts.

Flights to Kaua'i...

I'm currently in a training meeting, and, well, honestly, I'm ready to leave.

So, while we're on break, I thought I'd do a quick blog.

I'm thinking that one of my goals for this next year will be to go home to Kaua'i and visit my brothers and their families on Kaua'i. I checked on flights and the run from $687 all the way up to $1450! Insane!!! That means I need to start saving up a lot of pennies!!! AH!

Oh well, the family is worth it.

Ropes Course At BYU-I

This past Wednesday, I took the opportunity to participate in the new ropes course at BYU-Idaho. It was a great morning meeting and working with other people from the University in participating in something like this. There were quite a few people who showed up and were analyzing how the ropes course would be beneficial to the students' learning.

It was great to see some of the faculty show up in work clothes and climb up things anyway! Enjoy the pictures!

In this first event, we, as a team needed to get this ball from point A to point B only holding on to the strings on the ring. We had to be arms length from the ring. Here are the pictures from that.

Bro. Hurst setting up the activity:Everyone analyzing the activity:

The ball:

Everyone is holding on to the strings using teamwork and communication:

Success!!!!

This next one, Bro. Smith and I worked together in communicating and using resistance to help us travel along these two logs that widened towards the end.

P.S. Oliver was there!!!!

(It's a good thing we were spotted.)

Bro. & Sister Grant also participated:

Here are a few of the faculty helping each other when we had to avoid the side poles and cross to the other beam.

The following picture is of Bro. Allison:

This next one is one of my favorite people, Bro. Eaton:

This next one was fun as well. There were about 17 of us who were on this "whale watch" platform (pun probably intended) and we had to balance the platform on this beam. Once that was completed, we next had to transfer people from one side to the other. Since I was the one straddling the middle to balance, I'm the only one who didn't really have to move. I just had to throw my weight around a little to make things balance out. (Hm... synonym to life? I think so.)

The next activity was climbing the tower. From the ground, it didn't look tooooooo bad, but on it, my body would involuntarily cramp up. It was the weirdest feeling in the world. I'm not sure if I'd do that again. (Okay, I lied, I would.)

Here's Oliver teaching "Safety First":

Next, here's Bro. Black with his 2 and 3 picture of the year. (He doesn't like to take pictures. The only "picture" he takes is his family picture once a year.) =)

Now it's President Zenger's turn:

And, last but not least... me:

Hope you enjoyed the pictures! =)