The Keeper of Old Flowers

So, I've been motivated recently to go through all my stuff and throw away the things I don't need.  I found in one shoebox under my bed a bunch of dried flowers that I have been keeping for years.  Each flower (usually a rose) I had dried and saved to remind me of a person or event in my life.  Most of them were from ex-boyfriends.  WHY ON EARTH AM I KEEPING FLOWERS FROM GUYS I DON'T TALK TO ANYMORE?  So, I took a picture of them, and threw them out.  Part of me felt like I was betraying them by throwing out these last keepsakes from them.  Why on earth was I feeling guilty?  Clearly they weren't the right guy for me.  It is just silly the little things we hold on to.  As a tribute to all the ex-boyfriends...here are your flowers!

I also threw away the dried bouquets from my friend's weddings that I've caught.  The dead flowers haven't brought me luck so far...it was time to take their pictures and get rid of them as well.  I even texted Kathy telling her I was sorry, but I was throwing away her bouquet.  Her reply, "I completely support that. No more catching bouquets for you...just throwing them!"

 

 

 

 

Golden Birthday

When I was five, I came across my mom preparing a care package for my oldest sister Barbara who was in Ecuador on her mission.  She was packing it with all these different kinds of candy.  To a five year old...candy is the world.  I asked her if I could have some candy and she said no telling me that it was for Barbara's golden birthday.  'What does that mean?" I asked.  Mom told me it is when you turn the age of the day you were born.  I asked her when my golden birthday was and she asked me when my birthday is.  September 29th I said.  Mom told me that my 29th birthday will be my golden birthday.  WHAT!?!?!  I remember two distinct thoughts running through my head.  First, I was going to be SOOOOOOO old when I was 29.  Second, 29 was SOOOOO far away.  Well...this year was my golden birthday (and yes I got a big bag of candy).  I decided to celebrate in style by going to Disneyland with my family.  It was just as fun and magical as I had hoped and this birthday will count as one of my favorite birthdays of my life.  Next year is my big 3-0.  What should I do to celebrate that right of passage?

Rhonda Got Married!!

There is something very special about attending the wedding of a close friend.  One that you stayed up late at night crying to about stupid guys.  One that you counseled with each other to hold out for the right guy and not settle.  There are few things more special than seeing her all dressed in white walking down the aisle, knowing what a long journey it has been to get here.  I was honored in being one of Rhonda's bridesmaids and to share that special day with her.  Here are some pictures of that special day and the reunion with my Westin friends.

San Fran with My Sister

Sometimes you just need a vacation, and my sister Karen...NEEDED A VACATION.  So I took her to San Francisco and Monterrey over Labor Day weekend.  We visited my friend Josh and saw all the sights.  Driving was very stressful for me, but I am a firm lover of the GPS system on my phone.  Monterrey was just as enchanting as I remember.  It is still one of my favorite places on earth.  Here are some pictures of that awesome weekend!

Nothing Between The Ears

I had an obsessive music day today due to the AMAZING concert I went to last night at the Sandy Amphitheater.  It was just some local bands, but they were good.  I was in the front row, the stage was perfect and the night was perfect.  There is simply something magical about live music on a beautiful summer night. Hence living so high on the perfection of music, I was listening to a little Benton Paul at work with my earphones.  I needed to call another admin for a quick expense question, so I took one of my earphones out, dialed her number and held up the phone to my ear.  Please note that the other earphone was still in my ear singing delightful music to me.  As she answered the phone, I found myself with two separate streams of sound coming in my ears...and what was the first thing that came to mind?  "I hope Marilyn can't hear the music."  Yes folks, my instant reaction was that my head was hollow and Marilyn could hear the music streaming in my other ear.  I bowed my head in shame as I took my earphone out so I could concentrate completely on my conversation with Marilyn.  IDIOT!

Motocycle Trailer

On my way to work today I passed a motorcyle with a little cargo trailer and I thought to myself "Really?  JUST BUY A CAR!!!"

Pioneer Trek 2010

I've been on two pioneer treks before back when I was a teenager and both gave me very rewarding experiences.  This trek was different though.  Maybe because I understand more about what the people of the Willie and Martin Handcart company went through.  Maybe because now I've been through the temple and have made the same covenants that gave them the strength to sacrifice everything for the church.  Maybe it's because I've learned more about my family history and have now made the complete journey of the Campkins from Biggleswade England to Perry Utah. 

Although this trek experience was threatened by people's shortsightedness and lack of faith in callings, I choose to remember the good things and the lessons I've learned.  My first of the big take aways came from Martin's Cove.  The wearied travelers had little food, thin clothing and were hit with an early snowfall.  When they were just about to perish (and many of them did), the rescuers came.  But their trial wasn't over.  They weren't life flighted to SLC nor did the rescuers come with a Thanksgiving feast.  They were given strength and reinforcements, but the trial wasn't over.  They still had to endure the cold and walk almost 300 miles to get to their destination. They still had to hang on and fight for their lives.

The second big lesson I learned came on the morning of our last day.  The previous day we had trekked 15 miles which included going over Rocky Ridge and through mud bogs.  We were tired and sore and beat up.  We slept at Rock Creek Hollow that night...the site where the Willie Handcart Company sought refuge from the same early winter storm.  When I work up at 6:30am, it was 37 degrees and we were freezing.  When the Willie Company camped there, it was -11 degrees.  On my trek, we were fed really well, had plenty of water, had good warm clothing and great sleeping bags and tents...and we were still cold.  It's true that the Willie company lost 15 people that night...but the real miracle is that they all didn't perish that night.  What a humbling realization in the morning of the last day.  I'm very grateful for this trek experience and all that it taught me.