Best Summer 2015

This summer has just been so great!  I don't know why I never expect summer to be so awesome, but every time I come back to live at home for these few months, my life is better than I ever anticipate.  The past few weeks I've gotten pretty bummed every time I think about leaving.  It's not that I'm sad about what's coming (school and the crazy life), but I'm just so sad about what I'm going to be missing here.  The summer has been packed with the funnest stuff with some of the best people you'll ever meet.  I seriously lucked out in the friend department!  I don't know if I've ever been more comfortable just being myself.  I also don't know what I did to deserve this life, but I'm so thankful for it. It's just been the best.  

Hikes, hikes, and more hikes!

Some days up here with Kalbie.  I just want to be more like her.  

Family reunions (I have some of THE cutest nieces and nephews)

Camping

Some upholstery (I finally got all my tools and I'm so excited!)

Laughing my head off with this girl

Martina McBride concert

 Seeing siblings

Scalp treatments with Sierra

Watching my friends at rodeos (one of my favorites!)

Beautiful sunsets

Cheyenne Frontier Days

Rafting the Snake River

Saying good bye to the Hammond house (this was actually super sad...)

Running the Vaquero

We also went fishing some, rabbit hunting a bunch, a beautiful ride up to Graham's Peak, ate raspberry shakes, golfing off Big Hill, and sat and visited around fires.  I just tried to soak up every second in this wonderful place I call home.  It's a close call, but I think I've got a new top favorite summer.  Life is good.  So good :)

National Parks

At the start of the summer I made a goal to visit three National Parks before I headed back to school, and ya know what?! I actually accomplished it :)  I visited Redwood National Park, Crater Lake National Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park.  Each one was very different.  Each one was breathtaking.  While I was talking to my Uncle Sam back in July at our family reunion he asked me about my visits to national parks during the year.  I told him I was so amazed at how unique and beautiful each one was.  He then said that he likes to think of national parks as "God's Gallery."  I love that.  So, here are some photos from the three "galleries."

Redwoods National Park (California)

Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)

Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)

Livi's Logic #13

As the summer is coming to a close and my fitness/healthy eating goals have pretty much gone out the window, I couldn't help but laugh when I saw this. 

Luckily, I really love to exercise, because I REALLY love all the treats.  It would be nice to have someone following me around and telling me not to eat all the crap though.  Any volunteers?! 

He's Aware

I've been thinking a lot lately about how God is aware of us.  He loves us.  He knows our hearts.  He wants to help us.  Every day, God lets me know that he cares.  Sometimes I notice His hand, sometimes I don't.  I noticed His intervention in my life one day while I was in Peru.

It was my first Sunday in Peru.  I had decided to go to church with the Gavancho's (a connection with the Thornock's), which required me to go across town to the chapel.  Eunice had given me the address to the chapel and I had just caught a cab because I didn't feel too comfortable with the bus system yet.   Church was from 2-5, and then I decided to talk to the bishop about getting my records transferred and setting up a time for a temple recommend interview so I could go to the temple when I visited Lima.  When I got out of the church around 6 o'clock, it was dark.  I was as good as lost, in a foreign city, and I was feeling a little panicked.  Regardless, I went to go and catch a cab to get me back to my house.  Just about every car was a cab, but being a blonde American in Peru, I was strongly advised to only take legitimate cabs.  It was getting later and later, and I could not get one to stop for me.  I was getting pretty frustrated when two sweet girls came over to me and asked me if I needed help.  In my broken Spanish I explained to them that I just needed to get home.  They asked me where I lived, and said that it would almost be impossible to find a cab in this area to take me there at this time of night.  But, they said they knew a couple of buses that would take me to a plaza right close to there.  I was so relieved!  So, I thanked them a ton, hopped on the bus, and started the ride back toward Arcopata.  

The bus was standing room only, and as I stood there, I was feeling pretty discouraged.  I had felt so sure about my decision to come down to Peru, and now the only thing I felt sure of was that I was going to die down here!  That's when a kind lady started talking to me.  Even with my limited Spanish, I was able to understand everything she said, and I was able to come up with what to say back.  Through my conversation with this sweet lady, my spirits were lifted.  As I got off the bus and finished the walk to my house, I was lucky enough to realize that I had just seen the hand of God in my life.  Those two girls were prompted to come and help me.  That lady on the bus was inspired to talk to me.  I was blessed to be able to understand her and have a conversation with her.  Even though I was far away from home, I was able to see my Heavenly Father's hand in my life that evening. 

I know He is helping me every single day.  He is there, and He is aware of each one of us.  

To: Dads

Dads are great.  I feel so lucky to be surrounded by men who are great dads.  

Let's start with my neighbors.  Everyday as I ride my bike down the street I see at least one dad out playing with his kids.  The kids are laughing and running, shooting hoops or throwing a baseball.  Making memories with their dads.   It just warms my heart.  

Next comes my bosses and people I've had a chance to work with.  I get to be around these men without their kids, and they still speak so highly of them.  Sometimes they're frustrated with their kids choices, sometimes they don't know what to do, but they're always proud of them.  When they are with their kids they are always trying to make the most of their time.  They are trying to be the best dads they can be.  I know these men love their kids.  

My life just wouldn't be complete without my brothers.  I have three who CHOSE to join our family?!  As well as two who are stuck with us by default.  Four out of five of them are dads now, and they are awesome at it.  They are always supporting their kids in their activities, taking them camping and fishing, teaching them to ride bikes, spending quality time with them, and just being good examples.  My neices and nephews are pretty dang lucky.

Grandpas.  Grandpas are like dads on steroids.  They know SO much and have the best stories.  Nothing quite compares to a grandpa's laugh either.  I've been blessed with two incredible grandpas--one who has passed on and one who is still here.  Both are great men who love their kids, grandkids, wives, and most importantly, the Lord.  Because of their faith and diligence, my family can be together forever.  

Being able to associate with all of these dads now, as an adult, has shed a little more light on to just how much my dad loves me.  I have spent countless hours with my dad--around the dinner table, family scriptures, in the gym, in the mountains, in the car, at the school, in the garden, and the list could go on and on...  He's been frustrated with me.  He's been proud of me.  Most importantly, he's loved me.  

So, on this beautiful day in June, I just want to say thank you to all the dads.  You're awesome, and you're all influencing my life in more ways than you know.  

June 7th Already?!

I can't believe it's already June 7th.  Where has the first month of summer gone?!  It's been a busy month, but a great month!  

I started work up at the cemetery again for the 4th year in a row.  I guess it's safe to say I love that job.  I got a new work partner, Kalbie Harmon, and she's great!  We've had a good time working together.  The first three weeks were busy trying to get ready for Memorial Day.  We were up there lots of hours and we got wet lots of times.  I haven't been alive for a long time, but this was definitely the rainiest May I've ever experienced.  I just felt like I was always soggy... It was all worth it though, cause the cemetery ended up looking pretty great for Memorial Day, and I got to know Kalbie a TON better.  Very successful month at the cemetery.  

At the start of the summer, Tess decided our family needed to set some goals.  So, we had a family home evening activity where we each wrote down some goals we wanted to accomplish this summer.  My favorite one so far has been "a hike a week."  Because of some crazy schedules, I haven't been able to be as adventurous on the hikes as I've wanted to be, but we've gone on a hike each week none the less.  This next week's hike is going to be pretty legit, so stay posted :) 

Up Rocky Peak.  I love these three.  

What would I do with out this sis?  

Tyson and Candace came down for a few days here this last week and we had a fun time with them.  Sunday afternoon Dad, Tyson, Tess, and I went on a drive up to my Uncle Ron's summer range and Tess and I got to hear story after story of my dad and Tyson's days out cowboyin'.  It was a good afternoon! 

Ron's horses.  Everything was SO green!

One night we all met Tami, Casey, Tel, and Kimball up in Jackson at the Bar J.  It was so fun being together, eating good food, and listening to some great music and jokes.  Those guys are hilarious, and so talented!  

The five members of the Bar J Wranglers.

This past week I've been able to go docking.  I sure do love doing that, and the Child's are nice enough to keep letting me come back!  It's made for some long days, but it's been so worth it! It's so fun being out there with all of them.  They're the best!  Tyson and Candace came out for a few days so that was fun! Tess came out for a day as well.  It was fun introducing her to it, and now she understands why I like going so much :)  So, thanks Child's for yet another fun week out dockin!!

Cute little Mason and Katelyn with some lambs.

Finally, this weekend Tel got baptized.  I'm so proud of him and the choice he made to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  As I watched the baptism, I thought about the covenants I made at my baptism 14 years ago.  I covenanted to take Christ's name upon me, to always remember Him, keep His commandments, and serve Him til the end.  Since I was baptized, I've messed up plenty!  I've had moments when I didn't represent Christ well, when I didn't serve when I could have, and plenty of times when I didn't keep His commandments.  Luckily for me, each week I get to renew these covenants as I take the sacrament.  It's kind of like getting baptized again.  I get to repent of all of the things of screwed up on during the week, and resolve to try my best the next week.  I'm so thankful for the ordinance of the sacrament and the chance I have to renew those baptisimal covenants I made when I was eight, just like Tel.  

One of the most handsome 8-year-olds ya ever did see! 

So, as you can see, my summer is off to a great start!  It'll be fun to see what the next three months will bring :) 

The Real Life

So, I've been doing a million fun things lately.  Anyone who follows my Instagram or who is friends with me on Facebook definitely knows that.  I went to...

Zions

Stewart Falls

BYU Sporting events

the ski mountain 

Laramie

1st grade for a month

home

birthday parties 

Moab

fires

Questival

the Bean Museum

California

and some other fun places!

While all of this was going on, so were some real life things.  I was taking 16 credits, working, exercising, and just being a human.  I worked hard, met some goals, and didn't quite reach others.  Some days were awesome, some days were normal, and some days were just plain crappy, BUT every single day had something wonderful.  Whether it was the clear blue sky on my way home from a frustrating day at work, or a killer morning hike up the Y with Rachel and Tess--each day had something good.  This semester I was the happiest I have ever been. It's amazing how when YOU choose to be happy, happiness surrounds you.  Now I've moved home for the summer and some days are tough.  The rain just keeps coming (we really need it, but it makes work a little worse...), but I've been lucky enough to get a great work partner, live with three of the coolest people, and spend every day in this great community.  So, here's to another one of the happiest summers of ever, and I'll try to do a better job at keeping you all posted.  Not just on the fabulous, adventurous days, but on the regular days as well :)