Road trip

My fist twelve hour drive started today. My mom, sister, and two nephews are headed to Lubbock Texas. We are going to visit my aunt and uncle. They moved their dairy from Phoenix to Texas a couple years ago. Nothing to much to report, but we did stop at a breakfast spot in Flagstaff. I guess this place was on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. For being on a tv show it was a little bit of a let down. But it filled my tummy with coffee and pancakes so I was happy. My nephews are getting pretty tired of the ride. The older one( who is 3) can't figure out what we are doing. I guess driving for 12 hours is not the ideal fun time for the little guy. I'm happy to report I have only asked for one bathroom stop this whole trip. Granted all 4 other times I was the first to go to the toliets. We are somewhere in Texas, the landscape is pretty flat and I think we have 3 hours still... Lubbock here we come

Sweat and Dirt

It has been a few weeks since I talked about my new summer ambitions. Well here is an update. I have yet to take pictures of my garden, but I promise its real. I have added a hibiscus tree, a snail vine, and little yellow flowers that I'm not sure what they are called. I put the vine and yellow flowers in the corner where my sunflowers were. My sunflowers died, well the only two seeds that came up died. I'm pretty sure they did not get enough sun. I guess that is why they are called sunflowers. I was very sad about my sunflowers so I bought small yellow ones to replace them. I got the snail vine to make my garden more lush. I woke up last Saturday early (I know roommates I still get up early on Saturday) and planted them. But I wasn't sure what I was doing with the vine, so I ended up pulling the root out of the black buckets plants are always in. I figured that wasn't a good thing but I still tried planting it. I'm sad to report that my vine is not doing well. My mom keeps telling me to have patience; give it a week to see if the vine grows back. I don't know it looks really sad to me.

The previous day Friday, my mom and I were scheduled to run an 8 mile. I haven't ran any further than 6 miles so I was very nervous. The morning was pretty cool, and I was almost enjoying the fun. I got to mile 4 and thought I have no desire to do this. I told mom to run without me and I continued to walk on Lower Buckeye (the route my mom and I were taking). I tried to run again, but then i scratched my nose. Arizona is no good for anyone that has sensitive noses. The air is really dry here (unless it is a week of monsoons) so I commonly have nose bleeds. I felt my nose get really wet (kinda gross I know) and realized I'm having a nose bleed. Lets remember I was suppose to be running, so I didn't have a kleenix, nor my telephone. So i used my shirt. About mile 5 I saw my dad pass by in his truck, so i walked in that direction then I could not find him so i continued on Lower Buckeye.  About fifteen minutes later I saw my dad pass by me again! I was so sad that he did not see me. It was getting hot and I did not want to be walking 4 miles but I told my mom I would keep walking. So that is what I did. All the while thinking about a little child who was kidnapped and killed in New York while walking back from camp. I couldn't help but thinking the worst. I was about ten steps from the end point when I decided to walk towards home. Thankfully, my dad found me only a few steps after turning back.

I know that is a long story, but if you know me well you can probably imagine how scared I was. Over the weekend I thought about just doing the 5k. I still wanted to take part in all the activities for the marathon, but not sure I can run 13.1 miles. Today my mom asked what I was going to do, and I have decided I need to get back on the horse and keep training for the half. I think Melissa is right, my mom runs fast, so I am going to slow down and try 8 miles again this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.

I think that I'm learning a lot with my new ambitions. My garden is teaching me how to have patience. The flowers need a lot of water and if I want to make it pretty it needs attention. I have found I am enjoying taking care of it but I'm also learning to have patience with the flowers. I know they will grow but on there own time. Now I just have to take what I'm learning with the flowers and practice with the people I love.

I'm also learning with my half marathon how my body works. I'm kinda a lot of work, and seem to always be a production. But with this half I'm trying to learn how to push through all those things. I guess that is called endurance. I know there is more that God is teaching me, but I haven't quite figured that out. So I'm glad to keep with the training to see what else God has in store for me.

Great Minds Do Think Alike

I can't help but show our matching outfits! Unfortunately, this launched me into probably 15 minutes of trying to figure out what to wear. I couldn't go out matching my boyfriend, coordinating him I can do but matching... not my thing

Powell

So here are the pictures I promised from the past weekend. There were a lot but these give the basic idea.

This is Antelope Canyon we drove down the further it went the narrow it got. I have to say exploring canyons make me very nervous. (If any one loves JCrew like me, they did a photo shoot at Lake Powell, and my mom and I believe it was around Antelope Canyon)

This is Daniel and I on a jet ski in the middle of the channel which means it had awesome waves.

My mom and I relaxing during our lunch stop. We had ham and turkey sandwiches with chips and whatever else was in the ice box. 

That's me wake boarding!

Thys and Daniel thought it would be fun to jump off a cliff, well lets just say they walked away from it after seeing how high it really was. "Is this the same rock?" Daniel said when looking down.

Thys, Courtney, Daniel and I on a little rocky island we swam to, ( Daniel and I swam further, hence the life jackets).

Thys and I double wake boarding. I wish I had a water proof camera at that moment. I was able to see Thys jump from a side angle. It looked sweet. And I don't remember why I was laughing so much in this picture. 

We had the brilliant idea to switch sides so I could jump off my dominant foot, but I didn't squat low enough and I got hit with Thys' rope in the head. Not a good feeling at all. 

This is the group at Rainbow Bridge. Because the water level is so high we had a short walk which was great compared to the longer hikes I've taken to see the bridge in previous years. 

Daniel and I with a beautiful Lake Powell background. 

From the looks of it you might have figured out I love water sports, I love being with my family and my boyfriend. I'm so thankful we were able to go, and I hope that someday you'll be able to experience Lake Powell.

4th of July

Happy 4th of July to everyone.

This past weekend my mom, dad, Thys, Courtney, Daniel and I went to Lake Powell in Page, Arizona to take a break from our activities and responsibilities. I just have to say Lake Powell is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Although I have been there quite a few times in my life I am still blown away at how beautiful Lake Powell is. God did some amazing work there. We took of Friday June 31st and came back today around 5:30pm. We stayed in the hotel right by the lake, and had lake view rooms (but I have to say they were more like ramp and marina view rooms) it was not the houseboat but it was perfect for our 4 day trip.

We spent all day Saturday on the lake, exploring the canyons, and took a small hike to the Rainbow Bridge which Lake Powell is well known for. Of course we did our good share of wake boarding and skiing. I have to say the water is much calmer at Lake Powell then Lake Pleasant. I think that comes with the size of the lake. Sunday we were able to rent jet skis for half the day. I rode with Daniel, and the whole time heard "oh yeah" and "hold on." This was his first time on a jet ski and did a good job of driving but I think I was a better driver. We explored Antelope Canyon, and drove through a very wavy channel that is actually the original Colorado River. After returning the jet skis we stayed closer to the marina but was able to get some skiing and wake boarding in. My mom and dad skied which is the first this summer. I have to say I get to learn from the best. They were really good. Thys and I double wake boarded (both being pulled at the same time). Even though I got hit in the head with the rope that was really fun watching Thys jump. Daniel and Courtney were able to get up on the wake board. And I think all of us got enough sun for a while. Daniel and Thys got the most burnt, (I missed Jamie and his continuous lotion application because every time I got out of the water I had to apply more lotion). We ended the days with food and watching TV. The sun took a lot out of us but it was worth it. We learned that our faithful Mexican restaurant is no longer faithful after a couple of us did not feel well.

I learned a lot on this trip as well. For all of you who don't know much about the Grand Canyon (well I thought I knew a lot but  I guess not) there is a tribe of Indians that live at the bottom of the canyon who have set up Havasupai, which is a small town. I knew that there were places to camp but I never knew that there was a tribe that lived on the bottom of the Grand Canyon. I learned all that at breakfast this morning. I have to give credit to Daniel, I did not believe him, so I asked my parents. It was true! That was just one example of what I learned, oh John Wesley Powell discovered the lake. My dad is full of information I don't think I have absorbed it all up yet.

I had a great time this weekend. We finally had a Lake Powell trip without having someone get hurt, the boat broken, or houses being broken into. I am so grateful that our friends were able to come along. I hope this paints a small picture of my weekend I promise I will post some pictures... but for now its time to watch the Bacherolette! (Go J.P.)