Chicago Urban Studies 2008

August 10 - 23, 2008

I had the opportunity to spend 13 days in assisting and working with the Chicago Urban Studies program with BYU-Idaho. Words cannot fully express how grateful I am for this experience.

There were also fellow counselors who because close friends. Like a church mission, something like this becomes so intimate and sometimes hard for others to understand.

Here are a few lovely pictures of myself and my 2 fellow male counselors. I was indeed blessed with two of the greatest counselors EVER!

I love this picture of the two guys hitting each other in the fun mirrors! (Navy Pier Chicago, IL)

Good times! Good times, indeed! =)

Here we are at the Hersey Factory! Dang, we're hot!

Here are our "Nerd Fighters" dressed in white:

Speeding for a Spiritual Purpose

So, the funny things come when you get caught for "Speeding for a Spiritual Purpose".

I decided to stay an extra night at Island Park and to make sure that I got to church. Reason being? To qualify for blessings in order to sing well on Thursday (for the Education Week opening devotional).

I head back to Rexburg for what is an hour drive. At the bottom of the hill, I begin to go around the person in front of me. I also look down and turn on the radio to find "KBYI" the local BYU-Idaho radio station that usually plays devotional talks, or has LDS songs on it. I look up to see where I'm going and notice that I'm probably going a bit fast. As I lay off the accelerator, my eye catches the beautiful spinning of red and blue lights in my rear view mirror. The police are happy and eager to make my acquaintance.

Mr. Baxter comes strolling up to my door, asks for license, registration and proof of insurance. I reach into my jockey box to get the requested items. "Crap!" Is the only thought occupying my mind. I forgot that I had just cleaned out my car right before I went to Island park. Registration and all were at home in a leisure spot on my couch. Long story short, I received a lovely gift from the officer. A speeding ticket of $140. I graciously accepted his gift, smiled, and took off. (I don't think that stopped me from driving "direct".)

I got home, threw on a skirt and walked across the street to church.

I had the honor of sitting next to Bryan Bybee of whom I shared my latest adventure. We had a chuckle. To my dismay, our intermediate hymn was "Choose the Right", and the concluding speaker spoke on agency and making good choices. (Bybee and I kept laughing!)

During Relief Society, the talk was on "Living our lives in accordance with God, that we may stand blameless before him". Hm... I think I was being rebuked by God!

So, let's review:

1) In a hurry to attend church to a) pay tithing, b) qualify for blessings to get help to sing for Ed Week devotional c) sped to get to work on time d) got pulled over after not paying attention while looking for KBYI e) intermediate hymn is "Choose the Right" f) talk on Agency & good choices g) living lives in a God-like manner and the kicker h) I got a church calling as the "Emergency Preparedness Specialist".

Needless to say, I've only sped once since then, and it was only to keep up with Grover Wray taking the Chicago Urban Studies boys to the airport on time.

Moral of the story... plan to leave places early, don't procrastinate your time of departure, and set your cruise control when looking for a religious music channel!

A Fun Weekend in The Woods

So, a few months ago I was blessed to go with a friend and her family to their family cabin in Island Park. (Where I was before I got the infamous "Speeding for a Spiritual Purpose" ticket.)

Here are a few photos from that weekend.

Wendi and I looking really silly!

The 4-wheeler we rode on:

One of the dirt bikes I fell in love with and the guys rode:

The family cabin in Island Park:

The fish we fed bread to:

This is Sawtelle. We drove the 4-wheelers and the dirt bikes up to Sawtelle. From our cabin, this place looked like a golf ball on top of this really tall mountain. When we got up close, it looked like a huge soccer ball!

Here's the girls... they looked like three little aliens! I loved it!

Here I am joining the alien crew too! =)

Here I am playing the guitar:

Here's me with Doug and the family:

Me with Wendi and the family:

Me with the girls!


I had a blast! Thank you!!!!

Baseball Game & A Dead Battery

On Tuesday night, Ryan Hales got some free tickets, through his work, for the Chuckars Baseball game. The game was pretty great. We lost by "1" point! Heartbreak! Missoula did have a sweet triple play rounding the homeruns to "5" in the 5th inning! It was pretty intense!

Um... So, I don't think the "entire" evening was fun. But, let me tell you what happened to us poor folk last night after the game. First, let me set the stage. Those in attendance to the "after party"... (and I use this term VERY lightly)

• Ryan


• Brittany


• Marie Pack


• Pili


• Adam


• Travis


• Jamie


• Jessica


• Zac Morris


• Bybee

(these last 5 sat in Trav's dad's box)

Okay, so after the game and the little children finish running the bases, Ryan, Britt, Marie, Adam and I go back to Adam's car. We put our things in the trunk, unlock the doors, pile in and then..... nothing. Adam's car didn't start. He left the lights on. Ryan and Britt venture to Ry's car, with no hope of having jumper cables.

So, blessed are the cell phones with service, I call Travis with no luck of answering. I then call Bybee, and blessed boy answered his phone. I asked if Travis had jumper cables, and he indicated yes! (Apparently, Ryan and Travis were on the phone... I thought it was because Travis was in the latrine.) =)

To our relief, this black stallion of a truck comes to our "rescue" out from the dark abiss, and pulls up along side our car. We all jump out, wires etc were hooked up, and then.... nothing. We move the ground to another spot... nothing. At this moment, everyone has his/her hands, or head, or feet etc... anywhere and everywhere inside this vehicle to "try to figure it out". No luck.

Basically, we waited for just about a good 2 hours total for "RON, The tow truck guy" to arrive at our rescue. (Ron, the tow truck guy, is not replacing "Taylor, the Latte Boy"... you can use your imagination for the rest.) =) After all is said and done. Ron brings out his "jumper box" (same as Travis), and guess what? THE STUPID CAR STARTED!!!

The funny thing was, we didn't see this little 3/4 x 1/2 inch sticker that said "Ground (-)", meaning we were supposed to put the black cable on this little screw looking thing! With all of us there NOONE saw that blasted sticker! Needless to say, we all felt like idiots. We thanked Ron, said our goodbyes and went home.

Hope you enjoy the pictures from the game and the video's as well.

Hello...

HAPPY WEDNESDAY EVERYONE!

Hope you had a great day! The week is almost over!

I need a break. I wish this weekend was going to be a relaxing weekend. To my dismay, the only full weekend I'm going to have to "relax" will be the last weekend in August. Time to tighten the reigns and hang on for the ride!

Results for MS 115

Today was our APFT. And, I failed! MISERABLY!

Funny thing is... I still get an "A" for perfect attendance! =) OH YEAH BABY!

Here are the results:

Push-ups: 26 (passed)
Sit-ups: 33 (failed... miserably!)
2 mile run: 22:40 (failed by 58 seconds... can you believe that?!?!) However, I did improve from the June 26 APFT. That time was 24:09.

I'm just happy that I completed it. So... yeah. I'm determined to run the 2 mile under 20 minutes by the end of this summer. (Training and running on my own.)

I'm going to start training for another 1/2 marathon. I don't know when I'm going to do another run, but I'd like to do another 1/2 before the end of the year is up. (Or, at least a 10K or 5K, or something to that effect.)

Anyway. Class is officially over. I'm still working out with the Major the rest of this week for kicks and giggles. Tomorrow we're running and Wednesday is circuit training! (I think I can enjoy the class without stressing over the exam.)

What have I learned and/or enjoyed from this experience?

• I enjoy working out by myself. Don't like other's with me. However, I do enjoy having to report my workouts to someone.

Cheers!

4th of July

J

Just updating this block with some of my favorite 4th of July pictures.

Lame, I know... I didn't take any pictures of my 4th of July celebrations. Well, actually I think I did... it was only of the parade though. (Which, of course, ROCKED!)

It's amazing how unpatriotic people have become. I didn't see one person stand any time the American Flag went by. (I would've stood if I were sitting, however, since I was standing, there you go.)

Thank you to ALL of the Veterans of every branch of service and in any capacity you've served.

Belated Celebration...

Happy Belated Canada Day!

One Love~

Happy Early Independence Day!!!!

Happy early 4th of July everyone!

For Carrie Baclayon

This is for you Carrie! =)