tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32482496530361980442024-02-06T23:46:33.158-08:00SAMANTHA SMITHSamantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-17838969915057629152012-12-03T08:16:00.002-08:002012-12-03T08:16:42.202-08:00The Beginning of the End<br />
My heart began to break last week. The end always seemed so far away...and here it was, fast approaching. And that is when for the first time in my life I have never felt so happy and so sad at the same time. When I left Mesa I knew I would be coming back in a short time, so it wasn't so sad. The reality that I may never come back and see the people I have come to know and love is breaking my heart. The Martinez family has won my heart and I feel so sad to leave them. They told me this week that "I was part of the inventory" and when I leave they will be missing a piece and will mourn my absence. I have worked diligently the last couple of weeks to convince them to move to the U.S. I've got the youngest convinced and we have a plan for him to come after his mission and carry on to BYU. The older son I have mostly convinced. And the parents I'm not so sure, it's a joke, with a desire...but I think if both their sons are in the states that is the selling point. I have fallen in love with this family and will miss them so much. There is so much I want to stay for and be part of, it makes me wish my flight wasn't for another week or month or two.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
Now, on the other hand I know that if I were to leave any later </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
then this coming Thursday I would also be so sad because I miss my family and friends like crazy! And so I come home this Thursday, but part of my heart will remain in Colombia. My biggest consolation is the anticipation to see my nephew, Carson. I can't think about it or I get too excited and can't focus on anything else. So I am trying to remain here mentally.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This little dog deserves some attention, as I was/am SOOO close to bringing her home. There are many reasons I am not, but I want to SO bad! Her name is Lucifer...if you knew her you would know why. But she is awesome, and she loves me. She comes running every time I call (or even hears my voice).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1N3dH07POLusbpVq1zHhbIyUyOMfH65j63wkhC76DRwjLpYp0VlXIULSdiqRA3z9PiOBYrFiN9ax4PqXMqa6WrABiG3E_j-pIFERRLaOMuiiu-lHRCchD7MfwlfZMNSSfR5mkKjlzG9SL/s1600/IMG_0916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1N3dH07POLusbpVq1zHhbIyUyOMfH65j63wkhC76DRwjLpYp0VlXIULSdiqRA3z9PiOBYrFiN9ax4PqXMqa6WrABiG3E_j-pIFERRLaOMuiiu-lHRCchD7MfwlfZMNSSfR5mkKjlzG9SL/s320/IMG_0916.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This little one remains nameless, but he is SO cute. And he only likes me. He won't eat from anyone else's hand, and he shakes for everyone except me.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeJ7l_lGc8OT8uqKYIDBQDcwjBsYawWbYAppK29cjOr7f-PdcBG4Qi6EM-Bf9wqj_thbNp2vjYMSo7wmGDrhkJOgoj4wQaKzUTfeDeIdSp6nuiHwK_h6r-RX0OyTyG5Po7G0NRMi7QMW4/s1600/IMG_0919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeJ7l_lGc8OT8uqKYIDBQDcwjBsYawWbYAppK29cjOr7f-PdcBG4Qi6EM-Bf9wqj_thbNp2vjYMSo7wmGDrhkJOgoj4wQaKzUTfeDeIdSp6nuiHwK_h6r-RX0OyTyG5Po7G0NRMi7QMW4/s320/IMG_0919.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Gus Gus & me before he left with his new owner. (sad day)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3EIpAkF_OVpV-jdgcs3YlCoVbfdY_GvzUwOtpEttg9SvHd2ynbNgiKxVVuwTr82WL-qsGlTAVEbE5fG_BZRjuuJztz3A15lGMIoooV_UoY7UqKPtL4D7d9qpK0EqjExwnt00y0Y3prJo/s1600/IMG_2848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3EIpAkF_OVpV-jdgcs3YlCoVbfdY_GvzUwOtpEttg9SvHd2ynbNgiKxVVuwTr82WL-qsGlTAVEbE5fG_BZRjuuJztz3A15lGMIoooV_UoY7UqKPtL4D7d9qpK0EqjExwnt00y0Y3prJo/s320/IMG_2848.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hna. Martinez with the 4 puppies (we're now down to 2) and Canela (who, thanks to me, is now referred to in the house as "UN MALA MADRE!") But my little babies are so CUTE!!!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsllzJuCiGOFdqI7xCH20fNVEIZn92SWVKM0iyfUh2WJtAax-5shtFz1LX2udsYR5aAOgXpoDrkYhmdIpobQdqw-Wmj6o7eI-WqGtQqSXwSvdNbhu3fYCT7uWlXCwL_kaofwQlaEK_1uV/s1600/IMG_2850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsllzJuCiGOFdqI7xCH20fNVEIZn92SWVKM0iyfUh2WJtAax-5shtFz1LX2udsYR5aAOgXpoDrkYhmdIpobQdqw-Wmj6o7eI-WqGtQqSXwSvdNbhu3fYCT7uWlXCwL_kaofwQlaEK_1uV/s400/IMG_2850.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
Now, for events of the week. Andrés Felipe got into the university that he wanted! I went with him to register and after we went to a famous park close by. Unfortunately I had to go to the bathroom SUPER bad and there weren't any:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdtcSU5NvsK78MuLUmwpKJoLodcOH26f_AZ4CCH_YE6c9iVsDGIXGonfTzJk1OXzhIxSqRZr4CHyJZ96la8F-4tgBuEMaKm0ENZBH3horLDNpq7BEov8aRDNGncQXkEttiHRAp3271NTI/s1600/IMG_2853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdtcSU5NvsK78MuLUmwpKJoLodcOH26f_AZ4CCH_YE6c9iVsDGIXGonfTzJk1OXzhIxSqRZr4CHyJZ96la8F-4tgBuEMaKm0ENZBH3horLDNpq7BEov8aRDNGncQXkEttiHRAp3271NTI/s320/IMG_2853.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Andrés Felipe was half horrified and half impressed.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1iwIlX4YmOwkLUkXKpSm9C11oVY0IdjZQeH32t4gRKKnzzrcXnBupTDbI8zBhYCkoxFoYs74zay4Yup7zGeoZNmZOqcU6RMNHSZqg-keucjMkco9m6fV6ZfPHwecRmNsJSKgMaIy_Pev/s1600/IMG_2854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1iwIlX4YmOwkLUkXKpSm9C11oVY0IdjZQeH32t4gRKKnzzrcXnBupTDbI8zBhYCkoxFoYs74zay4Yup7zGeoZNmZOqcU6RMNHSZqg-keucjMkco9m6fV6ZfPHwecRmNsJSKgMaIy_Pev/s320/IMG_2854.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
For his graduation gift we went to Salitre Magico, an amusement park. I wore my "Jog for Jamie" shirt and we ran from ride to ride as a "Jog for Jamie Day".</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-BzBWaewZxnMghhOpQjPOCOURUbEpcnniWa5XuStWJUqH1SHnL6RF-fknS0BgN94bo73mnxjZvt44sZwxHPPMbqFCxlmkNY6z9Iul-8lWPLKwuv7BXrDPFzaBny3vF9KOxI_qrExK13B/s1600/IMG_2855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-BzBWaewZxnMghhOpQjPOCOURUbEpcnniWa5XuStWJUqH1SHnL6RF-fknS0BgN94bo73mnxjZvt44sZwxHPPMbqFCxlmkNY6z9Iul-8lWPLKwuv7BXrDPFzaBny3vF9KOxI_qrExK13B/s320/IMG_2855.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Unfortunately for us it started raining part way through the day and then was FREEZING! Of course we didn't leave the lines when it rained, so we were wet and cold. Ferris Wheel under such conditions...bad idea!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ENhL-_5KFf3PEcCvoR5jpazRrmLmhvkO5qa9LEsVP_Fn3_B6YkbpMojas-wkUPdaDBU0OkEjJTQFnsAawhOTBMTJkJbpL-f8n5rdgAx_9sKLsZtQNmY_1_kQkyNOYmY6EuNCaqOqnw2o/s1600/IMG_2861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ENhL-_5KFf3PEcCvoR5jpazRrmLmhvkO5qa9LEsVP_Fn3_B6YkbpMojas-wkUPdaDBU0OkEjJTQFnsAawhOTBMTJkJbpL-f8n5rdgAx_9sKLsZtQNmY_1_kQkyNOYmY6EuNCaqOqnw2o/s320/IMG_2861.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We were miserable the whole ride and wanted to get off because it was an open cage and it was windy!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemwMXMn68lEuuj1gB4n04YYbv46tS-WHfhF3sXIGkSLYsJIjDGsGRujQjLJiPLW4njZxcoQ_uc-RDKlcOa-4Rqarh1-l3pP9kDrKo90RN-JNsZVIospVUlcf68MXagYJHV0NnguNmeO0p/s1600/IMG_2862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemwMXMn68lEuuj1gB4n04YYbv46tS-WHfhF3sXIGkSLYsJIjDGsGRujQjLJiPLW4njZxcoQ_uc-RDKlcOa-4Rqarh1-l3pP9kDrKo90RN-JNsZVIospVUlcf68MXagYJHV0NnguNmeO0p/s320/IMG_2862.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I was SO excited when I saw the cotton candy. Now I have put together almost all the events that occur at the Arizona State Fair.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2U5zG7Y8ZSZ1us2jC8U5Mi7B1zDjxANcKNABG1y8NLtcwTDi7k63Li9sXUfVDMhOyqkqkWuLsjr65k0mjmVIrDAqbHV9hME0q3Ug0kIkmshrnh2ASVHrlscL-Bc4bvE0uOKzH0VoIOUU/s1600/IMG_2871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2U5zG7Y8ZSZ1us2jC8U5Mi7B1zDjxANcKNABG1y8NLtcwTDi7k63Li9sXUfVDMhOyqkqkWuLsjr65k0mjmVIrDAqbHV9hME0q3Ug0kIkmshrnh2ASVHrlscL-Bc4bvE0uOKzH0VoIOUU/s320/IMG_2871.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
On Thursday I got to go to the CCM (MTC) for a training for new missionaries. I was the "investigator" for a couple of trainings. It was pretty fun. I pretended to be a heavy partier and I gave the teachers some pretty funny questions. I also had some sad moments. Later in the day I was an investigator for new gringos. I felt SO bad for them. Their faces were completely terrified because they didn't know a lot of what was being said and they spoke horribly. (Two things on this: 1-I had so much compassion for them because I have been there...it was a while ago, but still the same, 2-I understand now why Jhonatan thinks I speak so well). It made me think of my brother-in-laws little bro who is in the MTC right now, en route for Mexico. It was really fun seeing all of Jhonatan's co-workers, since they are the ones I see nearly every weekend at the dances. All of them commented multiple times on how much my spanish has improved since they met me at the JAS(YSA) conference nearly two months ago. I am really happy with how far my spanish has come! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
Now for Andrés Felipe's graduation. There were some really choice moments. One of the most random parts was they would stop the reading of names periodically and a violin/ saxophone duo would play a song. The best song was by far this one!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDXY4gI3xBd-c782mKIEckiCZHjWXVqQFgFucB5psXwlHZF2j6IJ0jUyTK6aVrenOqc9spiKFO5N3C4V3hL9ftFDGnZIm1lknNoIdL-s6DdJFN4eE_FXSL5WkdeTSbcPptp2ixWxWthe5/s1600/MVI_0845.AVI"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D99360ca8ebe72b5a%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1357137711%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D147754FB1A3FF82FB4F08F605FE07D53D7CBD602.90C7A02304C4E3EC0357051810D7449E16288FCE%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D99360ca8ebe72b5a%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1357137711%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D147754FB1A3FF82FB4F08F605FE07D53D7CBD602.90C7A02304C4E3EC0357051810D7449E16288FCE%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I looked around in anticipation to find the sexy sax man, but he wasn't there! :(</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
If you don't know who that is, follow this link:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKSyPoxzT6w</span></u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(annoyingly it has an intro, but it's by far the best one)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Also I warned Andrés Felipe that I would cry at his graduation, exclaiming "You grew up so FAST!!!" And I was true to my word.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdH32XhbxNuJRJpYS-wPaExf-nKVnqhzfqC5c5C3X2qM5WqLeFmYYGv9BLnJYWku9A9Nj6ybHhzrBY_3EXJghE_OO8i5-EVaLY06ugIinV14ii-lKbZTdwrn4sROl6ZPOL-Lc1CLjpkQ39/s1600/IMG_0865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdH32XhbxNuJRJpYS-wPaExf-nKVnqhzfqC5c5C3X2qM5WqLeFmYYGv9BLnJYWku9A9Nj6ybHhzrBY_3EXJghE_OO8i5-EVaLY06ugIinV14ii-lKbZTdwrn4sROl6ZPOL-Lc1CLjpkQ39/s320/IMG_0865.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Aw, so cute!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg358IefATB2_bK-KXW-sViPIWGFfk36fROqaqWOhwwHmsU06gmetMnmpcCptuRKWorTooIOWuI1aR6nFC8uEmsDyBnMLdwHLO-Xl5V1LaO892MFczXM-1u2fDDONiZY9DP0D04xCcC0EmR/s1600/IMG_0866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg358IefATB2_bK-KXW-sViPIWGFfk36fROqaqWOhwwHmsU06gmetMnmpcCptuRKWorTooIOWuI1aR6nFC8uEmsDyBnMLdwHLO-Xl5V1LaO892MFczXM-1u2fDDONiZY9DP0D04xCcC0EmR/s320/IMG_0866.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is my favorite picture! A spontaneous expression of fatherly love. So sweet!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqEapa2DVS0299VGJ6beAQtcUobV6VHzJWeqbDS3EHg0kDPKWk0ve87h7lSBaPt5CRVHPXkKPc5YhUQm-svNgTpKeErCbkwcy_ArPYZk9esxXRwCDiMUuxiO0tFDucLVjzZNuznL07dJ0/s1600/IMG_0885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqEapa2DVS0299VGJ6beAQtcUobV6VHzJWeqbDS3EHg0kDPKWk0ve87h7lSBaPt5CRVHPXkKPc5YhUQm-svNgTpKeErCbkwcy_ArPYZk9esxXRwCDiMUuxiO0tFDucLVjzZNuznL07dJ0/s320/IMG_0885.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Man Colombians know how to party! We didn't leave the party for his graduation until 2 in the morning!!!!! It was my last dance in Colombia...I am going to miss them!</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Saturday was cool because I went to the temple to do a session, but traffic was HORRIBLE and so I missed the last one. Initiatories was closed, so I went to sealings. There were two older brethren (one was blind and needed assistance walking) in my session that were sealed to their parents. It was SO tender, and it made me think of the real reason for Christmas. If there was no Easter there would be no Christmas. And because Christ DID do what He came to do, we can all be with our families together with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ!!! It made me so happy.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sunday morning in sacrament meeting I was surprised to hear my name announced as the last prayer. Both the sons looked at me with huge grins (as my prayers have notably been a source of humor for the family because I often say something wrong that is funny). This time it all came out perfectly. Sunday was a hard day; I was in tears most of the day. It really was hitting me how I won't see this family for quite some time, and possibly ever if they don't move to the states. I really love and admirer them and I have grown a lot with them. Last Sunday was my turn to give FHE, which I did. But they wanted me to give it again because this was my last Sunday. It was so hard, and I tears often streamed down my face as I spoke or listened. We has fasted together for some special purposes the day before and that day and I feel so much love for them!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
After FHE we took some photos of the fam:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This is actually before, us playing casual...Presidente didn't get the memo do be casual.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidT8OTgVK5-0CjBgF_lwjv4hEoB59mCzpLbZBunCTYaJIt7LYlyZ4fkeIHg_E42QLIMcGAGBOiEbN-NpryB5hh_pQ7ZTiNSDneXD2RNZp0CU-hgdqD9vqrdH9dTX3KjeUvuM2ZyFnv6thY/s1600/IMG_2876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidT8OTgVK5-0CjBgF_lwjv4hEoB59mCzpLbZBunCTYaJIt7LYlyZ4fkeIHg_E42QLIMcGAGBOiEbN-NpryB5hh_pQ7ZTiNSDneXD2RNZp0CU-hgdqD9vqrdH9dTX3KjeUvuM2ZyFnv6thY/s320/IMG_2876.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And I Andrés Felipes face in this one!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM65Jj1ciCDVektL8mpOIIZV74uGoMxqulJxz7J5TFUdvSFQhqO2oohdpyOUjmbkuf9d5Gkms-tW1LN7FVWPXnqQonawUxm86uotNCgISSCaSBcVPd1ai0g1jt6wOe4uzyg6lb8Ow_ELrP/s1600/IMG_2877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM65Jj1ciCDVektL8mpOIIZV74uGoMxqulJxz7J5TFUdvSFQhqO2oohdpyOUjmbkuf9d5Gkms-tW1LN7FVWPXnqQonawUxm86uotNCgISSCaSBcVPd1ai0g1jt6wOe4uzyg6lb8Ow_ELrP/s320/IMG_2877.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ok, this is after FHE!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCF1N4Qqnpq_Ub827OLPKDIf4TlUUcCjIuDJ90IFesRW7sCkEMwDfryiMp5wEs4GNo3nPWMTYGVnhcCqk-m1HPsCgNKwRzuJlCK0mgF5Iflg1KQMi4YJnbUYm52vfBdIBOluFFzf7MfYH/s1600/IMG_2881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCF1N4Qqnpq_Ub827OLPKDIf4TlUUcCjIuDJ90IFesRW7sCkEMwDfryiMp5wEs4GNo3nPWMTYGVnhcCqk-m1HPsCgNKwRzuJlCK0mgF5Iflg1KQMi4YJnbUYm52vfBdIBOluFFzf7MfYH/s320/IMG_2881.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Not everyone was happy with different pictures, so here is another:</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dWfyyn4wq5UFtTrzaEVQ0q3fP_imc2epcmIRPPsKQBQF-XwNhO5rGFcBrZTf_rS0fSH33X-y-AlpFzfVvAfhDTEo4swoK6Utfyxez6mey5AVtt6LfEmWenCQNV1PUl71yM9jGui0AvPE/s1600/IMG_2882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dWfyyn4wq5UFtTrzaEVQ0q3fP_imc2epcmIRPPsKQBQF-XwNhO5rGFcBrZTf_rS0fSH33X-y-AlpFzfVvAfhDTEo4swoK6Utfyxez6mey5AVtt6LfEmWenCQNV1PUl71yM9jGui0AvPE/s320/IMG_2882.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
And a goofy one!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnQT4aapXxgnxX60uK8qK7rebDjqVJwnYs5qzjvjS7-UIhKi2tzj9IoxogXnYAKHZPVfNyamf0ZBBY5J4b8VSOCg6HYX5ymTDN6abW7i42NarraY28tiRehrYlCVly4MuWpGqHM6CJgUm/s1600/IMG_2884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnQT4aapXxgnxX60uK8qK7rebDjqVJwnYs5qzjvjS7-UIhKi2tzj9IoxogXnYAKHZPVfNyamf0ZBBY5J4b8VSOCg6HYX5ymTDN6abW7i42NarraY28tiRehrYlCVly4MuWpGqHM6CJgUm/s320/IMG_2884.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
I LOVE THIS FAMILY!!! They are so fun and they make me laugh so much. They are so wonderful and I am so grateful I got to live with them and get to know and love them. I will miss them greatly. That being sad, I recognize that the people who read this blog are the ones I have been missing for the last 2 1/2 months and am SOOOOO excited to see this coming Thursday or Friday. </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Operation Colombia: extremely successful!</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
But like all good things, they have to make way for the next adventure life has to offer. So here I go, from the end of one adventure, to the start of another! I sure love everyone who has been and is part of my many adventures in this life!</div>
<br />Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-31371790113666403352012-11-25T14:08:00.002-08:002012-11-25T18:04:47.868-08:00I'm so Grateful.Well this last week was kind of lame for a while, I was sick from last weekend until this one with the flu. I was grateful in between my moments of pain that I am normally not sick. When I came home from church that Sunday I laid down for a nap, despite my exhaustion I could not sleep. I felt that I needed to write down things I was grateful for. I told myself I'd do it when I woke up, but things kept flowing into my mind, so here are my 26 things (for my age) that I am most grateful for:<br />
<br />
1. My Savior, Jesus Christ - His atonement, love, & example<br />
2. My Heavenly Father - His plan of happiness & infinite love for me<br />
3. The Holy Ghost - for teaching & testifying to me all the truth I know<br />
4. Having the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life<br />
5. My dad - for being a wonderful man, husband, father, grandfather, & always supporting my dreams<br />
6. My mom - for loving me, even when I wasn't so loveable<br />
7. My sister - for being my best friend; even though we've had our rough spots, she's always shown her<br />
love & loyalty by working things out with me.<br />
8. My brother - for being a good example of a loving husband & father who supports his family and<br />
serves faithfully in the gospel.<br />
9. My in-laws: Esther - for being a good mother to my adorable nephews & niece, and being so fun to<br />
talk with. Jason - for teaching me so many gospel principles that have changed my life.<br />
10. My nephews & neices - for making me so happy & letting me see the simple joys of life through<br />
laughter & insatiable curiosity.<br />
11. The priesthood - so I can be sealed to my family forever.<br />
12. My church leaders who have loved, counseled, & encouraged me.<br />
13. The opportunity I had to serve in the temple & all the wonderful women who shaped my life there.<br />
14. My dear friends who love me, laugh with me, cry with me, almost die with me, & put up with me.<br />
15. Being endowed & all the spiritual strength & power that gives me to carry on.<br />
16. The opportunity to work at Anasazi & have my life changed & get to know incredible people &<br />
watch their lives be changed.<br />
17. The opportunity to come to Colombia to improve my spanish & discover more about myself &<br />
more about the Lord.<br />
18. The Martinez family for being so wonderful & fun & funny & patient with my spanish.<br />
19. A healthy body so I can climb sweet mountains, & go where I want free of pain or inconvenience.<br />
20. Living prophets & apostles who always have words that console, encourage, & inspire me to be<br />
better.<br />
21. Being an American - even though our nation definitely has its problems, we <u>are</u> <u>SO</u> <u>BLESSED</u>!<br />
22. Having all of my senses work well - so I get to enjoy many incredible things to their fullest.<br />
23. Living near my sister & her in-laws, & them always making time for me & making me feel loved.<br />
24. Laughter - that heals hearts & bonds families & friends.<br />
25. Miracles - especially the miracle of my dear friend Jamie Tingey not only having her life preserved, but also having miracle after miracle defy medical feasibility to make a full recovery.<br />
26. This beautiful earth that provides all our necessities, many of our wants, & is breath takingly beautiful.<br />
<br />
On Monday I was washing my garments by hand and I though I should add the little things I'm grateful for:<br />
<br />
1. a washing machine - so I can throw my clothes in and do something else for the next 45 mins<br />
2. a dryer - so clothes shrink back to size...mostly just jeans<br />
3. my car - so I can go where I want, when I want, and not have to make an 20 min trip turn into an<br />
hour of standing squished next to strangers (though this is entertaining sometimes)<br />
4. seeing people I know when I go places<br />
5. having a calling and feeling like I contribute to something<br />
6. a toilet that I don't have to worry if it's going to flush or not<br />
7. a heater and AC in my house...depending on my whim<br />
8. english as my native tongue (general conference is way better not being translated)<br />
9. a temple super close to my house<br />
10. water fountains in every establishment I go in<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
During my week I fought boredom all the time because I was stuck in bed, but I found ways to entertain myself (and of course was ever studying spanish). My favorite was putting on facebook that I am in a relationship & that it is complicated. This was mostly funny because people take facebook seriously & no one can call me. I laughed every day as there were new comments or messages inquiring about my status. Oh facebook...so silly.</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Thanksgiving was a lovely day in which I did nearly nothing special. But I did go to the temple and I happened to go at a time that when I entered the celestial room I was the only person in it. So that was sweet. I had planned on making Thanksgiving dinner here, but I've never seen a turkey, yam, or a cranberry here...so I bought two of my favorite treat to make up for my lack of the meal. Then I had half a Colombian hot dog for dinner. I would be sad but I made my sister promise that we would have my favorite Thanksgiving items for Christmas this year. (lets be honest, it wasn't hard to convince her because everyone loves Thanksgiving foods) I did get to speak with my entire family on Skype that night though! So I was happy about that. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
One of my favorite moments was when I was Skyping with my roommate, Catherine, to have her call me dad to tell him to Skype with me. She energetically greeted him, told him it was "Catherine Bridges" (sidenote - who he doesn't know) and proceeded to talk to him for a good 10 minutes about how he was doing, how I am doing in Colombia, etc. She put him on speaker and I was dying laughing as he cheerfully chatted away without a clue or a question of who she was.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
I finally caved after several days and started taking medication, which luckily got me better in time for an institute dance on Friday night. As always I had a blast. There is a song here called "La Gringa" and so when it played I would dance through the middle of the circle and everyone cheered. It was pretty funny. Also funny was a guy who asked for a dance asked if I had a number here, I lied and said I didn't have a cell phone. I have less then 2 weeks left, I don't need another Manuel on my hands!</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jhonatan, me, & Andrés at the dance:</div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrHViJWZMjqRm2s6Tlq1HNtnDHlhdH07tcst9JP2RENXwz0Ds5J0CLwogOJ0LVM-gZDRKDSfca3462IAif2u-X8t-lriyJDj9jJUMgeKQo2itExE0BcvUE-ZhtgSMHfa4sG-yneYXTuyn/s1600/74253_10151267069994596_677340874_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrHViJWZMjqRm2s6Tlq1HNtnDHlhdH07tcst9JP2RENXwz0Ds5J0CLwogOJ0LVM-gZDRKDSfca3462IAif2u-X8t-lriyJDj9jJUMgeKQo2itExE0BcvUE-ZhtgSMHfa4sG-yneYXTuyn/s320/74253_10151267069994596_677340874_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The next night was graduation from seminary for Andrés, followed by a dance. Presidente kept introducing me to guys, and then basically pushed us on the dance floor. One of the times I got asked to dance the kid asked if I had a boyfriend....he was 13. At one point I told Presidente & Hna. Martinez to go dance, they responded they were tired. THE NEXT SONG Presidente asked me to dance, I looked at him incredulously and said "I thought you were tired?" He said with a smile and laugh "He don't want to dance?" I got up, and as soon as we hit the dance floor he grabbed a poor, unsuspecting guy (who he knows), and put my hand in this guys hand and told us to dance. He then went and got his wife to dance. Meanwhile I had a kid whose eyes are huge with surprise at what just happened, I should have seen it coming. Haha, pretty funny.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Coming soon: Photos of the graduation.)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
This week I really had to talk myself into being responsible and not bring a puppy home. BUT I WANT ONE SO BAD!!! They are so cute and they all love me. If I am near them when they are sleeping and I say something they always wake up to my voice. They freak out when they see me. And I love them! </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here is a typical occurrence: they all run around playing and one by one they find me and crawl in my lap or on my chest to sleep. It's so sweet.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnWEkzKQOPe2SP_dfjJ4r_GNIGl_4Whm33zblqH6lFct0NgTUFOfmoiW_9oITnEVPAdwsqIUY2tZTsjjn9v1aa6c10q4v4ixZJlCCpLlwCo9nByvM8Q-BlVVTimekqEhj4Go9XGP8Hbp1/s1600/Photo+on+2012-11-22+at+18.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnWEkzKQOPe2SP_dfjJ4r_GNIGl_4Whm33zblqH6lFct0NgTUFOfmoiW_9oITnEVPAdwsqIUY2tZTsjjn9v1aa6c10q4v4ixZJlCCpLlwCo9nByvM8Q-BlVVTimekqEhj4Go9XGP8Hbp1/s320/Photo+on+2012-11-22+at+18.02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
And of course I love it!!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJfq15wiHl0oHIV-l2Rv33I9EmCOge9Db0oSrPZLKQME76_2ypT71VTXUBlbvfYeourq4y76AVPBoCiBmiM01r6rrVKZvC9im8jDh0ArZ2ilWNHUHaPB_NRW_e2DKCa4gCfKAKvC8kZgM/s1600/Photo+on+2012-11-24+at+20.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJfq15wiHl0oHIV-l2Rv33I9EmCOge9Db0oSrPZLKQME76_2ypT71VTXUBlbvfYeourq4y76AVPBoCiBmiM01r6rrVKZvC9im8jDh0ArZ2ilWNHUHaPB_NRW_e2DKCa4gCfKAKvC8kZgM/s320/Photo+on+2012-11-24+at+20.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The sisters came over today, and I we were figuring out what days I could go on splits with them. I wanted to go tomorrow but it is their "P day". I explained to them how when I was little I used to think that "P day" meant "play day" and they got to be a tourist once each week. I can no idea they used it to wash their clothes and other things. Jhonatan then chimed in "that's you're every day life right now!"<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
Well I have a week and a half left & I am definitely making the most of my time. I am so excited to see everyone back home, but I will really miss it here. The family has for some time now been telling me they are going to be sad when I leave, but today Hna Martinez said (this is translated of course) "You know what Samanta? We love you!" It was so cute. (And no I didn't unknowingly spell my name wrong, it's how they say it.)</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
I have a good plan though. I have been planting ideas in the sons heads about moving to the U.S., and just recently started using my persuasion that since they want to go to BYU they should just stay after school. And if the sons are in the states, then the parents will follow. It's a joke right now...but who knows, maybe it will be reality some day. (cuz heaven knows I'm not moving here, I love my peeps in AZ and other states too much!)</div>
Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-88039162136208887282012-11-19T18:41:00.000-08:002012-11-19T19:15:05.146-08:00My first touristic week.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There is a little town 8 hours bus ride away from Bogotá, it's name is San Gil. Temperatures comparable to Mesa in the spring all year round. San Gil is nestled in between rivers with rapids, lush mountains, caves where bats will crap all over you, beautiful waterfalls to rappel down, and many other tourist attractions. It is the home town of Hna Martinez's mother, and she and her sister had business to do there, so they invited me along. Thus was born my real-deal, honest to goodness tourist week in Colombia.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We left Bogota on Monday night at 9 PM and arrived in San Gil a little after 5 AM. Being a small town, everything was closed when we arrived. I couldn't sleep the first couple hours on the bus because my mind just wouldn't go to sleep, that was followed by hours of not being able to sleep because I felt so sick from all the turns and ruts of the mountainous road. We walked to the middle of town, where there was a beautiful little park...with benches.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now, a journal entry from Tuesday:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"Today one of my dreams came true...kind of. I have always wanted to sleep in Central Park in New York like a bum. This has never happened because all those who love me said "NO!" We arrived in San Gil this morning at 5 AM, so everything was closed. I found myself in the park in the middle of town, I laid on a bench--thanks to my hoody morning became night--and I slept a little more."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCS43mnLIxq01nLZw5kDYwUoAQrQmpzfd9libPpZM9jT0gQvDhiSbWuYPyBGxvY6ODE6g8tYF-TN2pWT1b1dKaadfVTCGWYnyOmOeajhdjmH7sp5ONH7XLCFwsrwsc7Ck4CVg3Y89RjH2/s1600/IMG_2748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCS43mnLIxq01nLZw5kDYwUoAQrQmpzfd9libPpZM9jT0gQvDhiSbWuYPyBGxvY6ODE6g8tYF-TN2pWT1b1dKaadfVTCGWYnyOmOeajhdjmH7sp5ONH7XLCFwsrwsc7Ck4CVg3Y89RjH2/s320/IMG_2748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I heard something beautiful I have only heard in movies, the town has several churchs that ring their bells. This was really cool, and also not cool because it was 6 AM when they sounded.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
When the town woke up we moved to a hotel.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9zJdqnHIjULMZvTOU2QcseUJu4kSBz46M2M3dOpYKuoRqBLphDFM4rZaLYEayF-lKrIk3rkHPbEQdhwzH_NFQRJkReAhrEMsuM4NzwkYZr15clGA0VxxOPePdEK4Gdzn-qsflR61Qf4V/s1600/IMG_2751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9zJdqnHIjULMZvTOU2QcseUJu4kSBz46M2M3dOpYKuoRqBLphDFM4rZaLYEayF-lKrIk3rkHPbEQdhwzH_NFQRJkReAhrEMsuM4NzwkYZr15clGA0VxxOPePdEK4Gdzn-qsflR61Qf4V/s320/IMG_2751.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
I was happy to be in a warmer climate, but as the day wore on it got so hot! I went into survival mode and quit speaking and showed little emotion on my face.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
That afternoon Hna. Martinez took a nap and I read. OOSH! SO hot. As I laid on my bed and melted I thought of the poor missionaries who serve in areas like this. It is hot in AZ, but you have the respite of AC. How do they sleep and work!?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
It made me think of a comment Manuel had said to me the other day, he said I only like Colombia because I am visiting, and if I had to live here I would feel differently. I think that is the truth because there are many things here that aren't good, but they don't bother me because it's not my home. So am I excited to come home? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6FqPQV5BQ4_9CabarCjdwK0UAbZwTroVy8y4W7drxzLqURY2eEBo_XLo-9RJzvcyBx9nT4eM1EY52n_J0b2T9VwU5TYXjS3UhWQycMqrotaSVwErJf2Pg140RkxNqtM2WE7y0Hz2-O0i/s1600/IMG_2755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6FqPQV5BQ4_9CabarCjdwK0UAbZwTroVy8y4W7drxzLqURY2eEBo_XLo-9RJzvcyBx9nT4eM1EY52n_J0b2T9VwU5TYXjS3UhWQycMqrotaSVwErJf2Pg140RkxNqtM2WE7y0Hz2-O0i/s320/IMG_2755.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ya.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here is my new favorite treat, it's called leche asada and it is a million times more delicious then flan (and that is really saying something because I LOVE flan). Also check out how cool this is! They have bags of water. We need to pick this up in the states for sports teams.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTZ7C_9eg_PqwFhwsV_ARoKU2ptXOQKxnNZDO2URv1CcQwv0g0Gxv7LUzthqJk7hVYGHDNSXAzuzNm4kd82e-CL0zLK5ls0jzWXR9Hqg7oDyzzO9Qc6iOtiGjP3s_M5qEX3cxLXMh7CNL/s1600/IMG_2753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTZ7C_9eg_PqwFhwsV_ARoKU2ptXOQKxnNZDO2URv1CcQwv0g0Gxv7LUzthqJk7hVYGHDNSXAzuzNm4kd82e-CL0zLK5ls0jzWXR9Hqg7oDyzzO9Qc6iOtiGjP3s_M5qEX3cxLXMh7CNL/s320/IMG_2753.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I went into this week totally unaware of my options. Luckily I brought my swimming suit which served two purposes: one, I wore my board shorts every day cuz it was so freaking hot! and two: I had something appropriate to wear when I discovered that water water rafting is a big thing in this town and it is super cheap. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here I am with all the other tourists. The couple next to me are from Canada, everyone else is from Europe. None of them spoke more then a few broken phrases in spanish, so I served as the translator because our guides only spoke broken english. The black guy in front only speaks french, that is an important detail for later.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Sso31_nbMXpUmO4SxZVC-_Zqefe6QCIo-MI8u-8tTFmCK37I8xmNGInmnKBg9CWqx-nW0WRcA5wwM9dg1N98_N63J4u_uc3qsw_HQL5X8B6Ezpm-RSadvvCaefJaaxg2fxRpIOphCSjO/s1600/IMG_1664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Sso31_nbMXpUmO4SxZVC-_Zqefe6QCIo-MI8u-8tTFmCK37I8xmNGInmnKBg9CWqx-nW0WRcA5wwM9dg1N98_N63J4u_uc3qsw_HQL5X8B6Ezpm-RSadvvCaefJaaxg2fxRpIOphCSjO/s320/IMG_1664.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm not putting many rafting pictures up because there are already a million pictures on this post, but there are a lot more pictures of this on my facebook. I'm middle right. (Left in the boat, but right in the picture)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtTwD3XGJh8gDldnmor1pK4NxT0hQeZJ1NmFI-65vk3dqSzrP37w6VLaLQzo5Bd5H5Ch7FMbXUkEEJs88W_xH__h6bHJaZE09ggRYibY2Gj5-1Ny6MDkTvSwLnK9NXvgIiv1oR7L-L7zx/s1600/IMG_1741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtTwD3XGJh8gDldnmor1pK4NxT0hQeZJ1NmFI-65vk3dqSzrP37w6VLaLQzo5Bd5H5Ch7FMbXUkEEJs88W_xH__h6bHJaZE09ggRYibY2Gj5-1Ny6MDkTvSwLnK9NXvgIiv1oR7L-L7zx/s320/IMG_1741.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In the middle of class 3 or 4 rapids two of our big dudes go overboard. Rules of rafting are that everyone keeps paddling and the closest person does the rescue. Black dude that only speaks french (and the only other guy now in our raft besides the guide) is closest and does nothing! I jump in the front, extend my paddle to the guy who didn't grab the side rope, then pull in the guy who did grab the side rope (note...this was my fear that I would have to rescue one of the guys, don't know if you are aware but I am small, and particularly weak in the arms). I was surprised how easily I pulled him in and then the next one. I jumped back to my seat, and grabbed my paddle ready for the next rapid. Everyone looked at me in surprise and said "HOLY CRAP (in more crude language) how did you do that!?! You are so strong!" Then the french guy that fell in turned to his buddy (black dude) and yelled at him saying "WHAT THE HECK MAN! You let a girl rescue me and just sit there and do nothing!?" </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzghJrJt2ZxW72_61Ts00yTKVGmpgHq6iT7riSZj8LqyxBHZqC7u5wPwUOy23rTNXtjOZKrRPIimlsNy9ePuG8tC5nzmo8Dx1RQsQOMeYUd3LzoTDuuQ2y5WD9SbWj5oUfA2v9uzOQXH3b/s1600/IMG_1750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzghJrJt2ZxW72_61Ts00yTKVGmpgHq6iT7riSZj8LqyxBHZqC7u5wPwUOy23rTNXtjOZKrRPIimlsNy9ePuG8tC5nzmo8Dx1RQsQOMeYUd3LzoTDuuQ2y5WD9SbWj5oUfA2v9uzOQXH3b/s320/IMG_1750.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I thoroughly enjoyed the whole ride! I've only done up to 3 plus rapids, and this had quite a few 3, 4, & 5 plus'.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLV6YhyVRN0e0NVFa-8fbxHVXahYOa4rb9GTsY8ldu_RzDmGfv0qSmEY8l5B9cH0xLw7UXDeeug6CanVxBWBALbVTY05NNi7ok014Wr4NswkhWp0Zsq_kZSHT1dFl_-mPlSOn6DM0N6mZ/s1600/IMG_1867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLV6YhyVRN0e0NVFa-8fbxHVXahYOa4rb9GTsY8ldu_RzDmGfv0qSmEY8l5B9cH0xLw7UXDeeug6CanVxBWBALbVTY05NNi7ok014Wr4NswkhWp0Zsq_kZSHT1dFl_-mPlSOn6DM0N6mZ/s320/IMG_1867.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
As we drove back it was pretty funny because I was the 'local' that everyone was asking what foods were good and explaining culture stuff that they didn't get.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
That night was horrible! Worst idea ever: go rafting, then sleep on a super hard bed. The next day it hurt to cough or more too fast. What a pain. I hardly got any sleep that night because it was so hot in our room. I felt SO bad for missionaries who sleep like this every night. Hna Martinez and her sister slept terrible too, so we switched hotels.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The next day I found out that there were hormigas for sale! (Large fried ants) I was so excited!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVFdRnHvVP2AjjVu0QDHcOy5OLDPp4BnpNKBw4zRyo8ElLMCtJouDSJxdE2qBfk4-P26LHbtFWxAUtKGTVfzwkGYA59GrlW8bqT5-4UwCMb_qUsB6bjsTNDnaur664w97T14vWlF28Dxo/s1600/IMG_2759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVFdRnHvVP2AjjVu0QDHcOy5OLDPp4BnpNKBw4zRyo8ElLMCtJouDSJxdE2qBfk4-P26LHbtFWxAUtKGTVfzwkGYA59GrlW8bqT5-4UwCMb_qUsB6bjsTNDnaur664w97T14vWlF28Dxo/s320/IMG_2759.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I found a perfect ant...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXIW6XcDl0V-4_N2l28-y7WosG_KmWMFzf8qij8OEsa1XuFpY5KgXZTxRqxgpXTYfyoJBFgOMvwp2-kuVRrnsUVEGP6N9cAKO-oVPzeexgUKH-miCjmZ8L_3URp2d6Mr6a9OuKjLVXKKM/s1600/IMG_2760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXIW6XcDl0V-4_N2l28-y7WosG_KmWMFzf8qij8OEsa1XuFpY5KgXZTxRqxgpXTYfyoJBFgOMvwp2-kuVRrnsUVEGP6N9cAKO-oVPzeexgUKH-miCjmZ8L_3URp2d6Mr6a9OuKjLVXKKM/s320/IMG_2760.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I stared him in the eyes...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb46rijDE_hsIaHSq9Zb1V-vjBQgalCoO8Hd0LA_gbDJKhwjeFpiXrmuROaAYL4Qbo44uXKEEwDVlC-tOw2aQcPyeyVTuywuB7q0psl4tLOFl1jBfECtk3NSnokUAEY0eUOppIDaFGTcTL/s1600/IMG_2761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb46rijDE_hsIaHSq9Zb1V-vjBQgalCoO8Hd0LA_gbDJKhwjeFpiXrmuROaAYL4Qbo44uXKEEwDVlC-tOw2aQcPyeyVTuywuB7q0psl4tLOFl1jBfECtk3NSnokUAEY0eUOppIDaFGTcTL/s320/IMG_2761.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Gently placed him on my tongue...and ATE HIM! Followed by more of his little friends who were as unlucky as he was. They actually are kinda good. Salty and crunchy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpf1WNoK2wKSq4XEFYYPN8v71agL7Ya_0hMooX66u-Ly2zvFBm4PZvL1Io7WsmLPKRTxRD0b8aVBHxlNOFEBurroMSOfpj0EharWdFGBvXGmKlzbEln-YTTEgI850hIUYAhZYIBFKBFVEr/s1600/IMG_2762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpf1WNoK2wKSq4XEFYYPN8v71agL7Ya_0hMooX66u-Ly2zvFBm4PZvL1Io7WsmLPKRTxRD0b8aVBHxlNOFEBurroMSOfpj0EharWdFGBvXGmKlzbEln-YTTEgI850hIUYAhZYIBFKBFVEr/s320/IMG_2762.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here is some typical food from San Gil, goat and rice with goats blood (not a huge fan of the taste of the fried goats blood).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-Ux6rwG_j2cbc7SFTOTWHd_IrDcFhdzZbyraEVtRxqbzp-vopOf7VSo0p86UowMyKdYPu5nIKtxtQjPlTQYBSwmmHhPuKhZ34W69YaCsg6WqFEoPxsCzHsfBMuNdaqDWBI3a4f2Lt8F7/s1600/IMG_2763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-Ux6rwG_j2cbc7SFTOTWHd_IrDcFhdzZbyraEVtRxqbzp-vopOf7VSo0p86UowMyKdYPu5nIKtxtQjPlTQYBSwmmHhPuKhZ34W69YaCsg6WqFEoPxsCzHsfBMuNdaqDWBI3a4f2Lt8F7/s320/IMG_2763.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We went to Barichara Santander and this is their sweet church. (photo taken by someone just learning to use a camera apparently). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKs24ndYl-72vh0s6kpPQE7qfPCynPYT5nNvy_atuhV_Yy9esrpeKmVF52wDFeX_fDziNrP0oJNTF4q5G7jSeLJd-uvb-vMWxrAPHkMC6ZiO4yb0PlTRIRvqATsu_KvI0gfJsiRiDF906Q/s1600/IMG_2764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKs24ndYl-72vh0s6kpPQE7qfPCynPYT5nNvy_atuhV_Yy9esrpeKmVF52wDFeX_fDziNrP0oJNTF4q5G7jSeLJd-uvb-vMWxrAPHkMC6ZiO4yb0PlTRIRvqATsu_KvI0gfJsiRiDF906Q/s320/IMG_2764.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
Funny story about this little town. It is about an hour outside of San Gil. We went with the aunt of Hna. Martinez. Her aunt and her aunts mother waited in the car while we looked at a few things in a store. When we emerged 15 minutes later the car was gone. We walked around the town square and couldn't find them. This is when Hna. Martinez & her sister started to <i>freak out</i> that they left and were ready to jump on a bus to go back to San Gil. I tried to calm them down and suggest it would be a really <i>bad</i> idea to just assume they left and that we should call their aunt. Beyond my understanding, they didn't have her number! I suggest that we call another family member to obtain it. After much coaxing they did so. Right as they called the other family member the aunt and her mom roll up, they were just touring the town.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
When we got back to the hotel that night I was super tired and got ready for bed. Just as I was about to climb in bed I noticed Lindi at the door with her purse and room key. I asked where she was going & she said she was going to Parque el Gallineral (a national park that was around the corner from our hotel). I donned my glasses and flip-flops and off we went. I wasn't totally sold on the idea cuz I was super tired, then it turned out it was raining...I almost turned back. We got to the park & the line was crazy long! (again I almost turned around). Obviously we weren't going in, but they said there was a firework show. I didn't want to wait (I figured it'd be a lame show) but then I got distracted by the town drunk who had a sweet painting he was trying to sell. I bought it for $25. As we stood talking about the painting an explosion went off 15 feet from me! Turned out the better view was from the outside of the park! I was half impressed with the firework display and half concerned that something else would blow up. The fireworks didn't go that high and I got hit several times. The shooting point was only 35 feet or less from some major power lines & directly across the street from 2 gas stations. The explosions were so big that car alarms for several blocks around were going off. But it was beautiful! I had a big grin across my face as the childhood joy of watching things explode in the night sky in brilliant colors & spectacular shapes made me forget everything else. In the end I wished I had a picture cuz I'm sure my face was priceless, I'm also glad there wasn't a pictures cuz I'm sure I looked like an idiot! It was an impressive display, but the streets were littered with debris.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
When we got back to our hotel room I had a hilarious reminder that I'm in Colombia. Once we returned to the room the door lock stopped catching to shut. When the attendant came up to check it out she said it was broken (thanks Sherlock) and told us to push one of the beds against the door to keep it shut and that she'd watch that floors security camera really well. BAHAHAHAHA! Classic.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;">
The next day I took a bus for an hour (wanting to vomit the whole time) to see Cañon Chicamocha. There is a national park at one spot where you can take a cable car to the other side of the canon. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;">
I went to the bathroom to find this poster...so disturbing... </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqifzsGDFtAhuVsVN8LOvXL_DSm3XhbWJzHSp2bhU6QBCQS7tHZFp_bilNIusO11l2aR6ilrqk3LwThtCVCmlzQyfMEEagG295aCriQ2UcKt7dgQ0o69BUWNHBvwxk6d8FofyWtRXFsXpd/s1600/IMG_2768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqifzsGDFtAhuVsVN8LOvXL_DSm3XhbWJzHSp2bhU6QBCQS7tHZFp_bilNIusO11l2aR6ilrqk3LwThtCVCmlzQyfMEEagG295aCriQ2UcKt7dgQ0o69BUWNHBvwxk6d8FofyWtRXFsXpd/s400/IMG_2768.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ok now for the beautiful pictures! My heart sunk as we drove through the mountains cuz the were in the middle of a cloud. Naturally the clouds would lift, but we were leaving for Bogotá that day, so I couldn't wait very long. As I looked over the edge this is what I saw.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoPAzdtG0g_WdoOkFQ-Kff1pSs23_z_4EMVJu_v9ACXBsAxrywHksTPg8RIbO3WY-jyRM0oMvjngkUMGw5bTq2AsKLcwOpGNnLFALT1vJu2t7My_OFOY_7-mJqmEMDbOfF5Cij2YlqcsM/s1600/IMG_2766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoPAzdtG0g_WdoOkFQ-Kff1pSs23_z_4EMVJu_v9ACXBsAxrywHksTPg8RIbO3WY-jyRM0oMvjngkUMGw5bTq2AsKLcwOpGNnLFALT1vJu2t7My_OFOY_7-mJqmEMDbOfF5Cij2YlqcsM/s320/IMG_2766.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I didn't have a choice but to go then, and hope that the clouds lifted on the way back. (30 mins from one side to the other) But to my joy the cable car sunk beneath the clouds and I had a great view of the canyon. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKyxm-lT8qSwPD8fgzljt3R_6G_qUpMca1kk4ApifBBct8ObaJafFH9MDZ9yj9ZUVxW4N53qYr3FzKLSfn68GI-r-74626wym0NyJooNUeoywvINen1hcvoLqPujsem125op5uGkvvzR3/s1600/IMG_2771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKyxm-lT8qSwPD8fgzljt3R_6G_qUpMca1kk4ApifBBct8ObaJafFH9MDZ9yj9ZUVxW4N53qYr3FzKLSfn68GI-r-74626wym0NyJooNUeoywvINen1hcvoLqPujsem125op5uGkvvzR3/s320/IMG_2771.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6SkE1rnTwB_f6tCe5JltwLdlbv7QcG-qnqo1_RdsvFEPiRqoa0x3BGhRrcx8mprzA5lg-7zP3ZLz832pMapAdL6bSUU9HfgKPPT4rf3ojon9K3XCUDBUmjFU00DX-eXvjxyt2BPde15S/s1600/IMG_2775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6SkE1rnTwB_f6tCe5JltwLdlbv7QcG-qnqo1_RdsvFEPiRqoa0x3BGhRrcx8mprzA5lg-7zP3ZLz832pMapAdL6bSUU9HfgKPPT4rf3ojon9K3XCUDBUmjFU00DX-eXvjxyt2BPde15S/s400/IMG_2775.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I was surprised by how many little farms there were on the sides of the mountains, and a little annoyed for them that cable cars were built over land I am sure there families have owned for centuries.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGRVs2yDJaSCJwqYYKp4-lVVSQwwsscCI-KSlOnaCs4awxb7Pe1JUB-VLunqpKLfslfkrWnQTdy3ybg5sUT2iI9e18_SSgNKSnMFRimbmLBYjNMhWKtQdjWBxsczlyA8qRwIcfVRwaY7r/s1600/IMG_2781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGRVs2yDJaSCJwqYYKp4-lVVSQwwsscCI-KSlOnaCs4awxb7Pe1JUB-VLunqpKLfslfkrWnQTdy3ybg5sUT2iI9e18_SSgNKSnMFRimbmLBYjNMhWKtQdjWBxsczlyA8qRwIcfVRwaY7r/s400/IMG_2781.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Look how cute these cows are!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujmAQ0bj4XnsHfGpvM4PAq0S6cU06HvqeiFuC7WbzJ_ipRBVuMZ1qGkRXL1TYZsYVDO-AArvexk38ap9IrpJzPdTpVr7BoSGOlQvaGcg6ul7REZAzkwTAYIeHRcTNXXsw95KMIYkrZvvv/s1600/IMG_2782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujmAQ0bj4XnsHfGpvM4PAq0S6cU06HvqeiFuC7WbzJ_ipRBVuMZ1qGkRXL1TYZsYVDO-AArvexk38ap9IrpJzPdTpVr7BoSGOlQvaGcg6ul7REZAzkwTAYIeHRcTNXXsw95KMIYkrZvvv/s400/IMG_2782.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkORMKT6VktQx92pvrep6SDxq0TsswWq-oMzDraqlJVyMps5bOQqKx0ztcvALiE_uT5Qcl3I6DG-V9sR5c9YPZBF9L-7WDN7iW00i4YX9tvE6L-TtLmHXn0g4lkbhu3efLqlKdT_OeDcP/s1600/IMG_2777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkORMKT6VktQx92pvrep6SDxq0TsswWq-oMzDraqlJVyMps5bOQqKx0ztcvALiE_uT5Qcl3I6DG-V9sR5c9YPZBF9L-7WDN7iW00i4YX9tvE6L-TtLmHXn0g4lkbhu3efLqlKdT_OeDcP/s400/IMG_2777.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVWy4uqvXVEixTGhvHHN9Jo4N6Mx4jtwbE_hrEuedBp-QiudDXnVn4i8_Qf_Yw4-9UYrYcCJN7vnUAuwpa0VGjZ6n84twBIwvcvTw4musWagNpX_8VzfU8XgOw25P2NoDnpUPzPlJBoIn/s1600/IMG_2778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVWy4uqvXVEixTGhvHHN9Jo4N6Mx4jtwbE_hrEuedBp-QiudDXnVn4i8_Qf_Yw4-9UYrYcCJN7vnUAuwpa0VGjZ6n84twBIwvcvTw4musWagNpX_8VzfU8XgOw25P2NoDnpUPzPlJBoIn/s400/IMG_2778.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Looky looky! There are century plants here!!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKDtwdza7ki3Nk4Enq2xjzOIxnH0m1hdgDfSuAGMJ2Ux_yxHuSjU4HIKHjVnoQnPPyaFrTG6Ymae0MLTYuorK_2dUEb36BwxEb4eQ7yjdbjYqDC-aglM2rnxq0EzLov8p9mJWz-nk_x74/s1600/IMG_2788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKDtwdza7ki3Nk4Enq2xjzOIxnH0m1hdgDfSuAGMJ2Ux_yxHuSjU4HIKHjVnoQnPPyaFrTG6Ymae0MLTYuorK_2dUEb36BwxEb4eQ7yjdbjYqDC-aglM2rnxq0EzLov8p9mJWz-nk_x74/s400/IMG_2788.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These views made me nostalgic for Anasazi!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrIDqM6l3zd-ZyLmp2sZlgweLrsqt0OosSDf-2J3b3Nozda7Ct4f7ta0nlt-QOnVNgayjOyFLP95uSPZEP0uZri5mn3SbThmWHTfb1E971CMpRqPRAmHdeC9r87UUkVPdJYARL-uxfqg5/s1600/IMG_2792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrIDqM6l3zd-ZyLmp2sZlgweLrsqt0OosSDf-2J3b3Nozda7Ct4f7ta0nlt-QOnVNgayjOyFLP95uSPZEP0uZri5mn3SbThmWHTfb1E971CMpRqPRAmHdeC9r87UUkVPdJYARL-uxfqg5/s400/IMG_2792.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPnEp63vb9_R6KbyzzGyOtY1dgmYUa4qO88IFol4nK6hPYhZbrlwRpeHqB5a8N2wRvXePJc3OTmJ1FFZVmRkdmVqsseIdzSxVhjUuTb99Qkmcnr4IJ25ZzytDqdpQRwy-MHz35vX1PLb8/s1600/IMG_2793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPnEp63vb9_R6KbyzzGyOtY1dgmYUa4qO88IFol4nK6hPYhZbrlwRpeHqB5a8N2wRvXePJc3OTmJ1FFZVmRkdmVqsseIdzSxVhjUuTb99Qkmcnr4IJ25ZzytDqdpQRwy-MHz35vX1PLb8/s400/IMG_2793.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGaxCTVdJR1XogzKoa8Uq4rYPkMD6WFUB_uanuuD88VI4Zq43y7zJwbLpXQTnz7xdCW_EQPaqWZCBzhO3pG_gsgWiqr_BJAunQumEBjPLFtqHz9nbAheXyKppscaAP3-VVLJoxJYbovME/s1600/IMG_2800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGaxCTVdJR1XogzKoa8Uq4rYPkMD6WFUB_uanuuD88VI4Zq43y7zJwbLpXQTnz7xdCW_EQPaqWZCBzhO3pG_gsgWiqr_BJAunQumEBjPLFtqHz9nbAheXyKppscaAP3-VVLJoxJYbovME/s400/IMG_2800.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So I know I am in Colombia, and that is super sweet...but I was a little sad to miss the AZ state fair cuz I love going with Heidi each year and seeing the prizes she wins for her sweet stuff, and to see the joy and wonder on my nephews face as we go through the park and ride rides, and to spoil him with sweet and return him to his parents...hehe. But one of my favorite rides since I was a little girl is the long slides! I was so excited when I saw they had one here! So of course I had to ride them!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQsZrmmBtwff5JJNFw0ig_X8IsKgtd712eQADCeMPve3BKPXNVBDavPHwYdxzdfD_86t1Wpy1Uc1OgRGBiYB-PHmhkOfEmMeWAHEvls9llA-3k396-AYpaXoNeTkciwliMdR1D7uoMXRr/s1600/IMG_2806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQsZrmmBtwff5JJNFw0ig_X8IsKgtd712eQADCeMPve3BKPXNVBDavPHwYdxzdfD_86t1Wpy1Uc1OgRGBiYB-PHmhkOfEmMeWAHEvls9llA-3k396-AYpaXoNeTkciwliMdR1D7uoMXRr/s320/IMG_2806.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlpu0kOC7RU6iC7aFwOa4XgNkTPrU4_fTBOEF0ONII-pdVowuvR62_0Y26Kc9_666YHt-fIq2Ei1mAyWVuQkpZmRdTLCfpeAbaOfqV4z0q7ff4gJmVvZ7piw3JkSA8MYa5vK8-J40f_Gv/s1600/IMG_2812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlpu0kOC7RU6iC7aFwOa4XgNkTPrU4_fTBOEF0ONII-pdVowuvR62_0Y26Kc9_666YHt-fIq2Ei1mAyWVuQkpZmRdTLCfpeAbaOfqV4z0q7ff4gJmVvZ7piw3JkSA8MYa5vK8-J40f_Gv/s320/IMG_2812.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgSmjuP2WPQ0I9tyHAlEOZ0Bb3q1I1XqNDqOVCfX-_6XTKlsNxzA4byXfplkOuHcTIBOLJFskc-IGqhclebpBD2T5biyIzupYG18JUg1jiaqeF6mkcxLFb_tCILcav8nkuq5Z0_AkWwJZ/s1600/IMG_2815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgSmjuP2WPQ0I9tyHAlEOZ0Bb3q1I1XqNDqOVCfX-_6XTKlsNxzA4byXfplkOuHcTIBOLJFskc-IGqhclebpBD2T5biyIzupYG18JUg1jiaqeF6mkcxLFb_tCILcav8nkuq5Z0_AkWwJZ/s400/IMG_2815.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ok, back in San Gil it appears that their town mascot is a giant ant. My favorite thing about this particular statue is that it is affixed to a trailer that has then been sunk in mud...I don't think I have words for this. All I know is that if I lived here I would definitely pull a town prank and move it one day</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDoVENYPpZq6NtwWPfgPcsolpOu5_Sco4C_f6X9mJGG5NOVYhtrqTx1aFd5I0MajWGloBQ3K2CylAg2u8vWu6sODWUTUUX6JKMKOzm5iP-5CbG-Ha1VA4Bw1f_1jEVHJ5rn-7U3_dURZeW/s1600/IMG_2820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDoVENYPpZq6NtwWPfgPcsolpOu5_Sco4C_f6X9mJGG5NOVYhtrqTx1aFd5I0MajWGloBQ3K2CylAg2u8vWu6sODWUTUUX6JKMKOzm5iP-5CbG-Ha1VA4Bw1f_1jEVHJ5rn-7U3_dURZeW/s320/IMG_2820.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The painting I bought is of a bridge in the National Park Gallineral. I visited it and took a few pictures that resemble the painting I bought. When I bought it I just thought it was a sweet painting, but I didn't know what I'd received. Apparently, Juan--the town drunk, is famous...they say in the whole world, but I don't believe them, maybe in Colombia, and certainly in San Gil. As I carried my painting to catch a bus leaving town, everyone in the street stared and many stopped me and exclaimed "You know Juan!" Turns out all the restaurants in the area have paintings from Juan. Even in the bus station workers stopped me to hold up my painting so they could admirer it. Pretty funny.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KcLwdfTRc0hs5KP6zvIBv-lRJzHrunxXNC_6V2JjdPkFplrxADtvfJ9-VQmLrYyWj5J10tlnTxuxsxFU2DfCxdTpo7my1g4OOARi2fPGG0eMCwZ-nYHRcB_jURsZw5yappM-DFyCAVSV/s1600/IMG_2821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KcLwdfTRc0hs5KP6zvIBv-lRJzHrunxXNC_6V2JjdPkFplrxADtvfJ9-VQmLrYyWj5J10tlnTxuxsxFU2DfCxdTpo7my1g4OOARi2fPGG0eMCwZ-nYHRcB_jURsZw5yappM-DFyCAVSV/s400/IMG_2821.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXbCbbWwyrB06p-t2zgp300eajH5cfhsr1T_thSx5Ze2YCw30akV5Y5al0Y2Xrqmvbhi5G0C9DC4DL9YsPzhNUhvQvQ3nwZKLR116EaAFnCoZu38DLHo0nuUB5YERH-cIDNZHIfakVd5F/s1600/IMG_2823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXbCbbWwyrB06p-t2zgp300eajH5cfhsr1T_thSx5Ze2YCw30akV5Y5al0Y2Xrqmvbhi5G0C9DC4DL9YsPzhNUhvQvQ3nwZKLR116EaAFnCoZu38DLHo0nuUB5YERH-cIDNZHIfakVd5F/s400/IMG_2823.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOF8YqABrRDH56s2EXZaOfh41Bk7Fd4IR0hL8zgQdNOO2ITa8iJvFuCVXJkCst90mWb1BvuZjEQbaNsga-twRmpM557KU5hWrF_PF_h7rrgMotBO6sw007-KhKKEBIZVHOH3gLJZ9HI03Z/s1600/IMG_2824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOF8YqABrRDH56s2EXZaOfh41Bk7Fd4IR0hL8zgQdNOO2ITa8iJvFuCVXJkCst90mWb1BvuZjEQbaNsga-twRmpM557KU5hWrF_PF_h7rrgMotBO6sw007-KhKKEBIZVHOH3gLJZ9HI03Z/s400/IMG_2824.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I love this flower!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGv5nYBqaJxkfM23oiGNSLpl8rEEsKH-q1xVOJQEsXlhnIHzxwMtw8VBhoZb5OgEwhVqh_76FpnQo_fdmSQ2ZxbRrajhvEMH-AXov7-gt4BDt2bkU-d8neLNY-3aT5WEa9A2KbyiQnOaR/s1600/IMG_2827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGv5nYBqaJxkfM23oiGNSLpl8rEEsKH-q1xVOJQEsXlhnIHzxwMtw8VBhoZb5OgEwhVqh_76FpnQo_fdmSQ2ZxbRrajhvEMH-AXov7-gt4BDt2bkU-d8neLNY-3aT5WEa9A2KbyiQnOaR/s400/IMG_2827.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Nothing spells fun like taking pictures of yourself...by yourself...right?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TSUetVV2KedJ4do3FHJhFgKVUxQq3SI7D1wDk2daUV2J8AVJQEUWEO5jlxYWVy3-b-J9lorwW8ENaHuwWqA_-uCS9MmzyEoHJE9cf-cyECDLt1el4TyIfJnFpKK05Je9oDqNfLLqz5VO/s1600/IMG_2831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TSUetVV2KedJ4do3FHJhFgKVUxQq3SI7D1wDk2daUV2J8AVJQEUWEO5jlxYWVy3-b-J9lorwW8ENaHuwWqA_-uCS9MmzyEoHJE9cf-cyECDLt1el4TyIfJnFpKK05Je9oDqNfLLqz5VO/s400/IMG_2831.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlmp5DbvqCzp-CIfL_Jq1S4xdw0BbDv7qvH4J4PYOvRqRU0hVYEHU3HNlgYPJHxfN6mWWK2qIDHlx2hULWRUwovJGmCRgpl80Tjb5NNLggBdKFqgf6y1XFb0muqo8dDOFzBMTLFsN-axQ/s1600/IMG_2834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlmp5DbvqCzp-CIfL_Jq1S4xdw0BbDv7qvH4J4PYOvRqRU0hVYEHU3HNlgYPJHxfN6mWWK2qIDHlx2hULWRUwovJGmCRgpl80Tjb5NNLggBdKFqgf6y1XFb0muqo8dDOFzBMTLFsN-axQ/s400/IMG_2834.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8d3FsIk68Y823QE25I0wHN9DotVvmuv5LkgL9TI-Wb2VVPzgslZ6vuz4zqxML_7CpAfIXWn4h5AaQB55aHutWWr9WimVxiV1TouEnt52YyZF9IQJ9fWt4FPCO5ChDg0UT0_X5UHe27IUy/s1600/IMG_2835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8d3FsIk68Y823QE25I0wHN9DotVvmuv5LkgL9TI-Wb2VVPzgslZ6vuz4zqxML_7CpAfIXWn4h5AaQB55aHutWWr9WimVxiV1TouEnt52YyZF9IQJ9fWt4FPCO5ChDg0UT0_X5UHe27IUy/s400/IMG_2835.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Totally lucked out on there being a back seat in the bus so I had somewhere to put my painting! I thought it was ready to roll, but he had finished it the night I bought it and I was leaving the next day!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYE6nIBd8DW9wsAPgZmRKcs3FgCdeHUGRly9YTKbmpZ-IbjugNvA4mmVgLmedxvP3PlvHE9jyCCtBgBt7QiPirNjKv9tc0vjfjYfHEYVoM_E7ySBGDTj-Tnxv7VlftpUoJNjWGXXJJ7N6o/s1600/IMG_2845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYE6nIBd8DW9wsAPgZmRKcs3FgCdeHUGRly9YTKbmpZ-IbjugNvA4mmVgLmedxvP3PlvHE9jyCCtBgBt7QiPirNjKv9tc0vjfjYfHEYVoM_E7ySBGDTj-Tnxv7VlftpUoJNjWGXXJJ7N6o/s320/IMG_2845.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
Saturday morning I went to the temple and I had the following cool awakening:</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
"This morning I was waiting for the bus and I was watching for it down the street. I wanted to read or study but I felt this compulsion to watch & wait for the bus. I thought it was strange, but when I looked around everyone was doing the same. All eyes were fixed in the same direction, all hoping that any second it would appear. No one was distracted with anything else. Of course we knew it was coming, we just didn't know when, and all watched for the first sight of it so they would be ready when it came. Then the awakening: Why don't I watch like this for the Saviors second coming? Am I drawn with such force to Him that it overrides all my worldly desires and distractions & I wait & watch to ensure I am prepared? I'm not proposing to be a zealot & go buy a bomb shelter & move away from everyone. I'm just posing the question, 'are our actions focused on becoming more like Him & bringing overs to Him so we'll all be ready in that great day?'</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Well friends, it's been 8 1/2 weeks, and I have 2 1/2 weeks left. I have loved my time here, but I am for sure ready to come home. I am trying to stay present and I am working hard at my spanish. Unfortunately I got sick this weekend, but I am so grateful that this has been the first time and normally in life I don't get sick. </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Best conversation with Carson today on skype! He always asks me where my gun and sword are, then if I've killed all the monsters yet. Today part of our conversation went like this:</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Me: "Carson, I think I'll be done in about 2 1/2 weeks and then I'll come home and see you!"</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Carson: "Great! As soon as you are done killing the monsters get on a plane and fly to your house."</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Me: "Ok baby, I will!"</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Carson: "And then I'll come to your house in 5 weeks!"</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Me: "Great idea! I'll be home for Christmas."</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Carson: (eyes widened, and mouth opened in excitement): "I'M SO HAPPY!!! MOM, MOM! SAM IS GOING TO BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS I AM SO HAPPY!!!"</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
It pretty well melted my little heart! I am SOOOOO excited to see that little boy!</div>
Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-78372577884422298152012-11-12T15:34:00.001-08:002012-11-12T15:34:10.122-08:00Less then 4 weeks left, crunch time!This week was definitely more eventful! Kicked off with a holiday I was set up for success. <br />
<br />
It has becoming somewhat of the joke to tease me about my boyfriends here or in the states. On Monday the family had some friends over to eat and play games. A very lovely couple; by the end all were laughing and teasing each other. Of course the topic of marriage comes up and Presidente & Hna. Martinez express their concern that Jhonatan doesn't have a girlfriend. I responded "But he's <i>only </i>21!" His mom replied that he's 22 (which is not true, his birthday is at the end of December) and 'she knows a guy who is 32 and unmarried'. On and on the conversation went and finally I laughed and said "I wonder what my parents say about me! Bahaha, they've probably given up hope!"<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
Don't worry folks, I haven't given up hope. I really don't think 26 is that old, and it probably will happen some day. But it did make me laugh to hear the concern of parents for a 21-year-old not taking dating seriously enough.</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
Speaking of love, that night I received a message on Facebook from Manuel with sentiment that I did not return. It was epistle number one of the week, in which I learned first hand how cheesy latinos are in their romantic endeavors. (oh, and included a youtube link to "Smile" by Uncle Kracker) <br />
<br />
Tuesday was the great and tragic day of the presidential election! Scanning and e-mailing my ballot didn't include being a proud recipient of a "I voted today!" sticker, but I still felt warm and fuzzy in my heart. I was so nervous I went running for a little while! As I eagerly searched for the best online source to keep me posted I settled on two sites, and my excitement dissipated as the numbers rolled in.<br />
<br />
I woke up Wednesday morning to the sad recollection that Obama is still the president of our country. I got dressed and heading to the temple solo (normally I go on Tuesdays with Hna. Martinez, but on account of the election I decided to wait a day). On the way I remembered we are supposed to pray for our enemies, so I prayed for him. I have to admit that made me feel much less dooms day-ish. I had a wonderful session and when I went to the celestial room I had some quality Sam-God time. I even thought of my motto, I wasn't looking to make one up, but it just came to me. Certainly it is not a new concept, but it's one that chose me and I felt it deep in my heart that it is what I need to focus my life on:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Faith <i>in</i> Jesus Christ,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hope <i>in</i> <i>OUR</i> future,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
&</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Charity to <i>all</i> men.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I like it cuz it's reminds me what my faith is in, so I don't look to any other source. And also that there is hope in the future (and 'our' reminds me not to be selfish and have everything be able 'me'). And Charity isn't a pick and choose who I like game, but it is for everyone. The sun raises on the just & the unjust alike.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
An exciting improvement this week was being able to wake up and emmediately speak spanish!</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
Thursday was my "4 weeks left" mark! So crazy it's been 7 weeks! I have been waiting for the missionaries to call me, and it finally happened Thursday! We had some sweet experiences, and it was cool to share my experiences with the scriptures in another language.<br />
<br />
They called again for splits on Friday, and I happily accepted. I got to help teach a really awesome couple who are getting married soon so they can get baptized. It was cool to watch them learn the gospel and help in the process of teaching. We also spoke with a less active recent convert and I was grateful for my parents example to me throughout my life and got to express to her the legacy she might leave for her daughters.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
When we returned to my house we were all chatting in the living room when the phone rang. Hna. Martínez was busy and asked me to answer. The following occurred:</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Me: "Alo?"</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>nothing</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Me: "Alo?"</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>nothing</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
(just incase)</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Me: "Alo?"</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
and then a super soft voice, which sounded to be a recorded message</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
(so naturally I hung up, and declared it was a marketing recording)</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
But the phone rings again:</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Me: "Alo?"</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>nothing</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Me: "Alo?"</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
this time the voice spoke just as soft, but I felt I should give the phone to someone else, just incase I was wrong out the recorded marketing thought. At first the Sister thought the same thing, but then quickly handed the phone to Hna. Martínez who looked someone alarmed as she spoke. Just then Presidente came to the door and she quickly passed the phone off to him.</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>Turns out</i> it was the <u>secretary of the Area Seventy</u> that <b>I HUNG UP ON!!!!!!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
All Friday nights there is an institute dance class, but this was the first night I got to go. I learned some sweet new salsa moves! On the bus ride home Andrés was picking my brain over different slang words that he has heard in english songs. I learned a couple of new words myself, like "nachas"--which means butt...ironically I'd been wondering for a while what that word was. The best part of the night was after I had repeatedly told Andrés that "a$$" is a bad word and to use "butt", he was trying to practice the pronunciation of some other words, in frustration he declared: "I like a$$, it's <i>so</i> much easier to say! A$$, A$$, A$$!!!!" I about fell out of my seat laughing.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Before I go onto the weekend, some photos: </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is probably one of the worst photos I've seen of a group of people...and Jhonatan put it on facebook, THANKS! This represents 5 hours of dancing and really tired friends.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYobb4IRYd_MCeoTDHeyTSKu-rWiWJ_wEklKA5nas1SQzj6rpnEaBbmq_FaUNggeoif5fUrRvTLuUkVHiqP5H9WcVW4ioxqpOEvmozdmt9VPOO-fmX66zUQkgBMTkK2_7QOqPRD-xzhqcg/s1600/534647_10151235522414596_1634375655_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYobb4IRYd_MCeoTDHeyTSKu-rWiWJ_wEklKA5nas1SQzj6rpnEaBbmq_FaUNggeoif5fUrRvTLuUkVHiqP5H9WcVW4ioxqpOEvmozdmt9VPOO-fmX66zUQkgBMTkK2_7QOqPRD-xzhqcg/s320/534647_10151235522414596_1634375655_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This might look like a regular plate of food...I invite you to look again. That my dear friends is only a QUARTER of an avocado! (I think I'm in love!!!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7j1yz3OVNSRmDVuqD8JTslNx2GXvVS0XopMaKq3zd-dF4EjEiKqC_Hhz5p_e58KQPsXy6rNTnz9UKXGcJaxBiSzxqGsyyQHwzackQO1wjjWomlwiN4LM52eft1OpPzs6yJMgsRVLCPAM/s1600/IMG_2724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7j1yz3OVNSRmDVuqD8JTslNx2GXvVS0XopMaKq3zd-dF4EjEiKqC_Hhz5p_e58KQPsXy6rNTnz9UKXGcJaxBiSzxqGsyyQHwzackQO1wjjWomlwiN4LM52eft1OpPzs6yJMgsRVLCPAM/s320/IMG_2724.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This might come as a shock to some: but I haven't boughten any candy here yet. So Friday night as we were walking home I got the urge and splurged so I have a supply for when I get tired in church!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(Andrés recommended these 3 as the top delicious candies...the US definitely wins in this department.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawdkQYcP7r_xA0XWeChVeQtxMjHFdumc8TlKbbCIe8qQ-aXSZew_abMXfx7QVt7mg_xsftZd1_NcZWbgEBVZ849bUnftLQX2e-XVQlThP6lXCZRFjbpJcLn2svMqHGSvXW6moMvDRV4gG/s1600/Photo+on+2012-11-11+at+16.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawdkQYcP7r_xA0XWeChVeQtxMjHFdumc8TlKbbCIe8qQ-aXSZew_abMXfx7QVt7mg_xsftZd1_NcZWbgEBVZ849bUnftLQX2e-XVQlThP6lXCZRFjbpJcLn2svMqHGSvXW6moMvDRV4gG/s320/Photo+on+2012-11-11+at+16.48.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Back to the boy: A day or so after receiving my epistle I replied with a short response, which contained 3 different statements of only being interested in friendship with him. He still had not responded on Friday, and being that we had made plans the week before for the next day and my last response was debatably harsh, I wrote him again explaining my position a little more clear and also that I would not be offended if he didn't want to go to the Salt Cathedral. He wrote back and expressed that he still wanted to go. I falsely assumed that because I had told him I wasn't interested in him romantically that this changed the before stated date to the Salt Cathedral to a simple outing with a friend. He paid for my bus ride there (to Zipaquiera, a city about an hour and a half away), for my entrance into the cathedral, train ride, lunch, and bus ride back. Of course I protested every time and tried to pay, but he always refused and won paying because he speaks better spanish then I do. He even tried to pay when I went to the bathroom! (luckily I was faster at getting my coins out).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
At the entrance of the cathedral I noticed the miners here have unusually long right arms...I suppose it is easy to mine with this extended reach...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0neABgQ-nNp3UasG1ZYRibdqKHr9HEJc2ccjSGrSY0LXIT09iD9vvjdA7fkAdGBdAJHcRz167m5aAvzp44N34tJ6aCMVMeuf-BEChtlgs5KRKisvj4FaLs-hknrfGzhAPTxe1bhwtlDn5/s1600/IMG_2725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0neABgQ-nNp3UasG1ZYRibdqKHr9HEJc2ccjSGrSY0LXIT09iD9vvjdA7fkAdGBdAJHcRz167m5aAvzp44N34tJ6aCMVMeuf-BEChtlgs5KRKisvj4FaLs-hknrfGzhAPTxe1bhwtlDn5/s320/IMG_2725.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The cathedral is an extensive underground church with many rooms that are significant for the catholic faith. It was pretty cool, but my favorite part is what appears to be the tree of life, carved in this wall of salt.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanQdg5GRnKqgMxv5d-fExDW8Sea7IFyG_jW-2HkbzHBRYQW_h95BWwcsYopE5a9YfkXkHz6bNAusn7pRpBeFPoESk6QnvrZj_3oPp8VrLmy-lzPeQLW_lMCZykSF9VK-65YTENudSqdES/s1600/IMG_2726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanQdg5GRnKqgMxv5d-fExDW8Sea7IFyG_jW-2HkbzHBRYQW_h95BWwcsYopE5a9YfkXkHz6bNAusn7pRpBeFPoESk6QnvrZj_3oPp8VrLmy-lzPeQLW_lMCZykSF9VK-65YTENudSqdES/s640/IMG_2726.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Look closely, the detail is incredible! I wish there was a better picture, cuz these just don't do it justice!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaKXKkq-k8KnK-m37QYikvXA5_tPHzNeuftEqNpI25lZKhL7h9f6X2T5UCdamZsFtV0yUuG_mMsIC79I1XVC7chPSHvvfL0UAhe-3L17_KCg8inZxsABGdCZd1ecLwjwBlTCXVR0yDAXJ/s1600/IMG_2727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaKXKkq-k8KnK-m37QYikvXA5_tPHzNeuftEqNpI25lZKhL7h9f6X2T5UCdamZsFtV0yUuG_mMsIC79I1XVC7chPSHvvfL0UAhe-3L17_KCg8inZxsABGdCZd1ecLwjwBlTCXVR0yDAXJ/s640/IMG_2727.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaOabHPikK642YuO074ND66cvgCI-QQlFKWE9q9dB_pHunCpBKNy8jkHgPN8DumIB8nXdRnw9ndblsOKKK70YKjnC1_LLzE1MJPywmfp6Nj9PS5DOfq3adE_iEts2nPYgzB6USnuffKxP/s1600/IMG_2729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaOabHPikK642YuO074ND66cvgCI-QQlFKWE9q9dB_pHunCpBKNy8jkHgPN8DumIB8nXdRnw9ndblsOKKK70YKjnC1_LLzE1MJPywmfp6Nj9PS5DOfq3adE_iEts2nPYgzB6USnuffKxP/s640/IMG_2729.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixK1SRBlWXhiAt81fMSZS7OqFIPp3t8e4Rhv_dtWrCB74Ck77Vqr7kWBWKyvng_bHL960iM2rt4480Ozyjwpva5arIyAeHOVgM0K1t73KZ8immZ6a3huqFvfP1ZQZRJhTesur4tktd6nur/s1600/IMG_2730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixK1SRBlWXhiAt81fMSZS7OqFIPp3t8e4Rhv_dtWrCB74Ck77Vqr7kWBWKyvng_bHL960iM2rt4480Ozyjwpva5arIyAeHOVgM0K1t73KZ8immZ6a3huqFvfP1ZQZRJhTesur4tktd6nur/s640/IMG_2730.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is the only photo I've ever taken with a naked man...but it was a sweet representation of the creation of Adam.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFeS0nQ-qwZVMunF4-wKsS4v00d7LVfaKSt498ce1Fp4MlZDHlNVLc4y-EA6i8TfnD2Rjl-m1qInppxintew56Z3t4QAyl4kQvpRDvR5HQqXPJss_u4FuDXUbMJ37NhENi_xxEURjPibqe/s1600/IMG_2731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFeS0nQ-qwZVMunF4-wKsS4v00d7LVfaKSt498ce1Fp4MlZDHlNVLc4y-EA6i8TfnD2Rjl-m1qInppxintew56Z3t4QAyl4kQvpRDvR5HQqXPJss_u4FuDXUbMJ37NhENi_xxEURjPibqe/s640/IMG_2731.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is me on the train tour of the beautiful town of Zipaquiera.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCa0UlV2Ue2tSR3CDF1gwGc_9yG0L7Cbcoj7SNllH_8N-SK5spWa-JP1oNU7-vaq00CJHkZaUia7h9nluDPzXYlGXJkUD3Kp-VIgpHDmmPVl5ph824uXj4VSPpOz7NctIza56VQaFKlQIp/s1600/665308_10151082499781813_1947181993_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCa0UlV2Ue2tSR3CDF1gwGc_9yG0L7Cbcoj7SNllH_8N-SK5spWa-JP1oNU7-vaq00CJHkZaUia7h9nluDPzXYlGXJkUD3Kp-VIgpHDmmPVl5ph824uXj4VSPpOz7NctIza56VQaFKlQIp/s320/665308_10151082499781813_1947181993_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was pleasantly surprised when I got my plate of food for lunch, unlike all other meat here, this was perfectly undercooked! As I ate I had only a seconds pause about the parasites I might get from eating this, but continued...so worth any parasite I might get! DELICIOUS!!!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlsX1UjDFS9AEB20uiPUf8lE-aj3H1Wdl0o6lJ40ce46FtTqnA3a8KDcc0AI2JO2LMOc_HV3Sr63y8ekaz5YkIuGxHedC0-tjQ5WE0dnd_R7vUXFRLrk3JiX6nE5udYTbkkc15niI7Kcg/s1600/IMG_2733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlsX1UjDFS9AEB20uiPUf8lE-aj3H1Wdl0o6lJ40ce46FtTqnA3a8KDcc0AI2JO2LMOc_HV3Sr63y8ekaz5YkIuGxHedC0-tjQ5WE0dnd_R7vUXFRLrk3JiX6nE5udYTbkkc15niI7Kcg/s320/IMG_2733.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This little whicker rocking horse was sweet, I wanted to ride him but figured I'd break it. :(</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDw-WQhYYdDb4zCbusjGMh5pdURO7MTKrEkEUb-8t1H40AJ2X1i7dhEe37Mdmk7530f3EsSwoUSXdBvCjOOKgmpz2fN1mVWouoYGP8iwkHz3eFzhZU2ydFnjSKnwwJUnDRTPyBRSkhl-gn/s1600/IMG_2735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDw-WQhYYdDb4zCbusjGMh5pdURO7MTKrEkEUb-8t1H40AJ2X1i7dhEe37Mdmk7530f3EsSwoUSXdBvCjOOKgmpz2fN1mVWouoYGP8iwkHz3eFzhZU2ydFnjSKnwwJUnDRTPyBRSkhl-gn/s320/IMG_2735.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hna. Martínez had requested I bring her some of this candy. I bought some for myself as well and was happily surprised to find it was like a hard cotton candy! DELICIOUS! I felt like a little girl at the fair the rest of the day in that town.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyqPdOt-xNYgtE1CUfcrSclUUKq-XVFn125EwYSprob0Ihphj7vZh3gZR1xAq2VsZTanNUKP71S7yW8oGRBLSpLTaLU_Ly5rwD4oJr3ij8Xc-Y5PIpuBiKKgYZ9a_SoPvwA8eVmdeDANT/s1600/IMG_2738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyqPdOt-xNYgtE1CUfcrSclUUKq-XVFn125EwYSprob0Ihphj7vZh3gZR1xAq2VsZTanNUKP71S7yW8oGRBLSpLTaLU_Ly5rwD4oJr3ij8Xc-Y5PIpuBiKKgYZ9a_SoPvwA8eVmdeDANT/s320/IMG_2738.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I decided I needed at least one photo in front of an old church in Colombia, and this one was sweet!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlfRRP5WoXFX1DSogMhOBh79SelTws_6e1FY-SxMKnb7AhavR6Dj3EFtovss_XVqwA339zhaTl3H_jHwRBveIHt7bqlo6VgQDlbVM6YZ5RBgZOf-yfNRodeiBVPnJI024pEyWFuEFQklH/s1600/177202_10151082513136813_1649497489_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlfRRP5WoXFX1DSogMhOBh79SelTws_6e1FY-SxMKnb7AhavR6Dj3EFtovss_XVqwA339zhaTl3H_jHwRBveIHt7bqlo6VgQDlbVM6YZ5RBgZOf-yfNRodeiBVPnJI024pEyWFuEFQklH/s320/177202_10151082513136813_1649497489_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't know who this represents (his tag said "José") but he made me happy, so I gave him a hug and he kissed my hand. So naturally a picture was in order.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-DIAKX2V-TzhnJNctV08UAXeTlRtY7BNlqRUgE9iJ6UgxF0qrkKj-A5FxomBWV9AW8V4qL2gf5qQRv7rFswFqK_jGrJz_8b6ey35OyNBx7vJakPCLHYL4sr8n6LmcUezT_UPGVRL3lT7/s1600/IMG_2741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-DIAKX2V-TzhnJNctV08UAXeTlRtY7BNlqRUgE9iJ6UgxF0qrkKj-A5FxomBWV9AW8V4qL2gf5qQRv7rFswFqK_jGrJz_8b6ey35OyNBx7vJakPCLHYL4sr8n6LmcUezT_UPGVRL3lT7/s320/IMG_2741.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We were walking up to the oldest church in the town when I spied this little gem! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What a BEAUTIFUL mosaic!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosIhI_jWxlitYJyO9Chx9dJIqBNINMHypQkRL4iIBS5pLk7XXmmwvOwYLudRBt_xzibPpkWmMPF-eUMFrOv1EBzZr3IqSEjX2l7CrWc_zHzvcPukaaBEnLpBrRwvQLcy_iqplUb6k_GXr/s1600/IMG_2742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosIhI_jWxlitYJyO9Chx9dJIqBNINMHypQkRL4iIBS5pLk7XXmmwvOwYLudRBt_xzibPpkWmMPF-eUMFrOv1EBzZr3IqSEjX2l7CrWc_zHzvcPukaaBEnLpBrRwvQLcy_iqplUb6k_GXr/s320/IMG_2742.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I thought at one point I should start behaving poorly so Manuel would stop liking me. But I didn't know what to do to be a bad date. It was clear he didn't listen to a word I had said about not being interested in a relationship with him. I was careful on spacing, conversation and everything, but this guy wasn't getting it. He spoke for quite some time how he wants to raise his kids in the US--in Salt Lake City, and even threw out AZ as an option--he looked at me after he said AZ, and I kept a non-responsive face! OOSH! He invited me to a really nice dinner for a friends birthday next week, I told him I have an institute class that night (which is true, dance class at the institute Friday nights!) He invited me to spend the day at an amusement park on Monday (a holiday) I told him I was leaving to go to another town that day (which is true...not important that I don't leave until 9PM). He offered to accompany me home, I assured him I knew the bus system well and it was not necessary. He mentioned that one day I would have to come see his house, I thought 'not on your life'. I went home with the thought, I can't hang out with this kid anymore, he has grand thoughts in his head about us. Before I could write the e-mail he wrote me one. Epistle number two, more forward then the first, littered with contradictions of respecting my desire to be friends and declaring some intense feelings towards me. He asked to come to my ward next Sunday, and also to accompany me to the airport in a month. And so I wrote my first break up letter in spanish...for a boy I'm not even dating.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
On the train ride back to the house there were a lot of couples kissing and making out...and I thought..."I wish I had a boy to kiss!" But not that bad I guess, cuz it's not happening with Manuel.</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
It was a joke with the family that I should attach a sad song to my response to him (in mimic of his romantic song to me with his first epistle)...but I'm not <i>that</i> mean.</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I can't post without including something about my babies. This little girl was the first of all the puppies to walk this week! But they are all walking now. Man I need a pet when I get home!!!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtLRbULuiilzHFHOwAhAud33aKtRzoLpoWhqsa43U1DSAem1O-SXmbEN3lyS0qZRbojHQ8LSG3X4UDoKxhHlnGJjchrIdcrClfCe_CWO6lKDjRaJ8ikjLvzxlGCgRBJE8Knc1w3sdtRW-/s1600/IMG_2743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtLRbULuiilzHFHOwAhAud33aKtRzoLpoWhqsa43U1DSAem1O-SXmbEN3lyS0qZRbojHQ8LSG3X4UDoKxhHlnGJjchrIdcrClfCe_CWO6lKDjRaJ8ikjLvzxlGCgRBJE8Knc1w3sdtRW-/s320/IMG_2743.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Ok, there is a pretty funny story I have neglected to tell. But with the urging of Andrés I will include it this week. First, my disclaimer: NEVER in my life have I stopped up a toilet! But the toilet at this house seriously hates me! My first few weeks were fine, then there was several weeks where my number two's never flushed for me! (which I could understand if they were big, but they're not!) Then there was the week of horror, several weeks ago. One day it clogged all the way to the top of the toilet, and it took Hna. Martinez and I quite a while to fix it. <i>THEN</i> the next day it flooded the bathroom with my poop water! <i>SO HORRIBLE!!!!!!!</i> <i><b><u>THEN</u></b></i> the next day it filled to the brim again and we couldn't fix it! So Hna. Martínez said we should leave and go shopping, and shop long enough that María Eugenia would get home and fix it, and even longer to give her time to cool off. I was horrified by this idea (and also slightly amused); but I didn't have a better idea, so we went. Talk about a walk of shame when we got back! :( Then for weeks all has gone well, the toilet has been my friend and flushed every time! ...until last night, when it wouldn't flush my number two. So I waited for the tank to fill and flushed again, and again no. Everyone had gone to bed, but Andrés and I were listening to and downloading music, so he was laughing with me about my bad luck. While I was waiting for the toilet to fill A THIRD TIME so I could try it again, Presidente left his room for the bathroom. Andrés and I looked on in horror, and then snickered with nothing else to do! This is when Andrés insisted that I write about my shame with this toilet. It is seriously my curse here!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
So here is me and the devil!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK3rJCdgqnQo8kRU68e8DqJLVmZ_roaYrw1bvPYayBXIAUd6JOVfJpfp2RixcljOT8cP1CEtaXdgupAV4S3qTrq-PiqK7SgfZWXwEQVCwhXmFlE7KGd89hJPH4qISMIxBL4Y993TyVr5A/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK3rJCdgqnQo8kRU68e8DqJLVmZ_roaYrw1bvPYayBXIAUd6JOVfJpfp2RixcljOT8cP1CEtaXdgupAV4S3qTrq-PiqK7SgfZWXwEQVCwhXmFlE7KGd89hJPH4qISMIxBL4Y993TyVr5A/s320/Slide1.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
I love Sunday nights here because it means FHE. Normally it gets assigned a week out, but last week apparently we forgot to do that. Not withstanding, we had a sweet FHE. While we were sitting around chatting Andrés grabbed Canela and a permanent marker. At first I told him not to do it, but as I watched him draw a smiley face on top of her head I almost fell off the couch and was crying I was laughing so hard. Then Andrés, Jhonatan, and I all started teasing about drawing faces on our faces. It was all fun and games until Jhonatan and I remembered that Hna. Martinez has black face paint! Our eyes lit up, but Hna. Martinez objected--reminding us it was the sabboath. I assured her it was a really good idea for a family home evening activity. She just shook her head and laughed, but provided the desired paint. I'm not sure why, but we were the only participants in this activity. Weird... </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Before:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHTvk2cdM8Wm7bs_qYrY5Rh-s3ZbF9yp-k6rFEU6NC4wQCqgygIjZu9wQFJ8NfhyphenhyphenmTOxU_kNWD7o0JYoeToDhiK54uGp3vWAXuHALtXNMbVew7BkLKBINtyrkBsiETAceNL2tPqXOwGsx/s1600/Photo+on+2012-11-11+at+17.59+%236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHTvk2cdM8Wm7bs_qYrY5Rh-s3ZbF9yp-k6rFEU6NC4wQCqgygIjZu9wQFJ8NfhyphenhyphenmTOxU_kNWD7o0JYoeToDhiK54uGp3vWAXuHALtXNMbVew7BkLKBINtyrkBsiETAceNL2tPqXOwGsx/s320/Photo+on+2012-11-11+at+17.59+%236.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtbyDQFu0hZUkhRsPFz2M-q1g5D_iufdcJGt-J2VWInX0ncUU7CyB0VkM1dPVPhGPQ9jzlWslUEj9Qi_ta8ojHko_SHcOfJwn8O-Mo-FjIQxBJ74zRei2aqe0QkVIj7MWM5K3iTmEnpOO/s1600/Photo+on+2012-11-11+at+18.26+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtbyDQFu0hZUkhRsPFz2M-q1g5D_iufdcJGt-J2VWInX0ncUU7CyB0VkM1dPVPhGPQ9jzlWslUEj9Qi_ta8ojHko_SHcOfJwn8O-Mo-FjIQxBJ74zRei2aqe0QkVIj7MWM5K3iTmEnpOO/s320/Photo+on+2012-11-11+at+18.26+%232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheY7gBsMLYV0ZN75Xt0QCaUrhi2uKQVStnCzH_7FVd0ByFwcmdd8XQUUE-6-yNnjAl1Xlxv8GVEoKYDWhmssR2SWZN_Mt9-rmDlHECahLFzCvcjsSUnav5-HOrimSRooLb0c2L_8m2OZC2/s1600/Photo+on+2012-11-11+at+18.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheY7gBsMLYV0ZN75Xt0QCaUrhi2uKQVStnCzH_7FVd0ByFwcmdd8XQUUE-6-yNnjAl1Xlxv8GVEoKYDWhmssR2SWZN_Mt9-rmDlHECahLFzCvcjsSUnav5-HOrimSRooLb0c2L_8m2OZC2/s320/Photo+on+2012-11-11+at+18.28.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
And for the last funny note: Andrés is always learning bad slang from me. NO I don't offer it, he asks me what a word means and I simply explain. Anyways one term we joke a lot with is "mujers de la noche" (women of the night). The other day he asked me what the word was in english for that, so I told him 'whore'. He kept randomly throwing it out as a joke after church and I kept telling him not to say it on Sunday. At one point he said it and I thought he called me a whore, so I was teasing him for calling me a bad word and he said, "no, tu eres un mujer de la mañana", bahaha! (Then he came up with mujers de la mediodia!) Tehehe, it cracked me up anyway. The joke in the family right now is that I am super righteous and perfect, cuz the other weekend when Andrés, Jhonatan, & I stayed up til 2:30AM the dad was teasing me about it the next morning and I joked that I would never stay up that late for no reason, and that I was reading the Bible. So now anytime I go to my room he says it's to read my Bible.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
Well that's all folks! Hope ya have a great week!</div>
Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-81084949078573282302012-11-07T20:58:00.000-08:002012-11-12T15:37:42.393-08:00Doubled Up<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
I didn't have much to report on week five, so I held off till week six. So far, its been awesome. During week 5 I realized "HOLY CRAP I ONLY HAVE 6 MORE WEEKS!" If I thought I was disciplined before, I took it to a whole new level. It certainly paid off too! </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Two weeks ago, on Sunday, I got asked out on a date. I accepted but didn't confirm when. This turned out to be adventageous for me because the next day I got invited to a (church) party by another guy. Keeping my number one rule in mind (personal safety) I told the first guy, Manuel, that he would need to meet my family I am staying with first, and that I wanted to be back before dark. He agreed to these terms and said we'd get some ice cream and just walk around. That same night there was a young single adult dance, so I told him about it and invited him to go (and of course I had Andrés come with!) That Friday afternoon (of the date and dance) I found out it was a costume party, and it only took me a few minutes to rifle through my every day clothes to put together a costume! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
I was an indian of course!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWff1VOLoGz3oQQciNEkI1qf41BkI4NoJiwoItHv17AMC_HRgzkzUTKS8bE1I3xnWcs6iWbeApmhmZtRXqclak_-r9B6AxL2K2v336m5RllT4pccXew57pZievuWwtvOp0vtvAFWOF_De/s1600/IMG_2693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWff1VOLoGz3oQQciNEkI1qf41BkI4NoJiwoItHv17AMC_HRgzkzUTKS8bE1I3xnWcs6iWbeApmhmZtRXqclak_-r9B6AxL2K2v336m5RllT4pccXew57pZievuWwtvOp0vtvAFWOF_De/s320/IMG_2693.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="256" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
And the children Marie watches happened to have brought me flowers that day, so I made them part of my costume. (The bands featured here are a wardrobe glitch, but I got them fixed before I went to the party!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvD27i_U4MIOKmcdA8KjqWY_qm1zp3WcwWOzfhw1mmUNCrdSkJN8GSY7L-DaiXK_hQm_9WfNuM6YuzzSzA2tVnNzlgL5L5gROCdh8i__BswBov93nhE15NDFZIaiHGpr3qi490sM1PGCue/s1600/IMG_2687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvD27i_U4MIOKmcdA8KjqWY_qm1zp3WcwWOzfhw1mmUNCrdSkJN8GSY7L-DaiXK_hQm_9WfNuM6YuzzSzA2tVnNzlgL5L5gROCdh8i__BswBov93nhE15NDFZIaiHGpr3qi490sM1PGCue/s320/IMG_2687.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Ice cream was good, but on the way to the dance I was trying not to laugh at some of his questions, including--but not limited to: "What am I looking for in a husband? How many children I want? Would I ever live in another country beside the United States?" As well as informing me multiple times that he has a visa for the U.S. that is good for the next 5 years and he could go "whenever he wants".</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
So Manuel doesn't have a costume cuz he came straight from work, fine. Andrés has his costume in a bag, whatever. Andrés friend meets us, having come straight from work and she is without costume as well. We show up to the dance and NO ONE ELSE is wearing a costume! I said "What is this!? Joke on the gringa?!" It was actually pretty funny. Several hours into the dance another girl showed up dressed as a green fair. I ditched part of my costume, and you could really only tell if you were close to me and saw my face painted (which fortunately was done lightly). It was pretty hilarious all in all!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Though we had been on a date earlier, I hadn't wanted this to be an extension to the date, so I tried to keep things casual. Funny thing was he never even danced with me because from the moment the music started I was dancing with other guys, tehehe. This is us when he took off:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMMsjuvPN0rW4eow5bxuajh5ubDAn4m-rF8UllU9ypYpMEdcUSSdaMo23X33ru5wgPSLJodsDUNnewvc9sgdS3NHmc7zWezxvUgBu7JAjQGz1V94o2sZtMjnxBN0WTQsDCvgmPGdwphkK/s1600/201031_10151063457241813_2064680227_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMMsjuvPN0rW4eow5bxuajh5ubDAn4m-rF8UllU9ypYpMEdcUSSdaMo23X33ru5wgPSLJodsDUNnewvc9sgdS3NHmc7zWezxvUgBu7JAjQGz1V94o2sZtMjnxBN0WTQsDCvgmPGdwphkK/s320/201031_10151063457241813_2064680227_o.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Man they really know how to party here, but I was sad for this! I left with the sons I live with and their friends at 2:30 IN THE MORNING! And it still wasn't over! I was so tired. As we walked to the closest main street for a cab I wasn't talking too much because it is super hard for me to speak any language when I am tired. However I got roped into answer some questions and I was trying to figure out the word for "hole", and Andrés offered an option so I took it and added "black" to it. What he had told me is NOT the word for hole, and when I added black it was a super bad term that I now gather is a super dirty term. So they have been making fun of me since.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
We slept for a few hours at a friends house, and then took the journey home, arriving around 7AM. When I woke up at noon I confirmed that I am so done with all nighters!!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
That night was stake conference, and it was awesome! I felt really good about my spanish too because I understood all the talks!!! So much so that I was even able to take notes! This was especially exciting because earlier that week I felt discouraged that I was never going to get spanish down.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Some other things from that week:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
One of my favorite breakfast soups! It is so delicious!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3d_XTlL8F_FmkmqCRNE2pbv7PkruV2Eh7ddgbVaQ9og5YSE8XAURZaO4v2JVYDebd47MevQOHrSzBNrYN-n20BSFn_GAM7MtBr30NbNo-o4YfA-f8SnTCQf0zK9Vlv0zF9U0CymTegkfj/s1600/IMG_2669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3d_XTlL8F_FmkmqCRNE2pbv7PkruV2Eh7ddgbVaQ9og5YSE8XAURZaO4v2JVYDebd47MevQOHrSzBNrYN-n20BSFn_GAM7MtBr30NbNo-o4YfA-f8SnTCQf0zK9Vlv0zF9U0CymTegkfj/s320/IMG_2669.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
This little guy is for a Christmas tree...but I love him so much I think he's going on my bookshelf. Aly helped me name him "Mortimer".</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDdghkCJYfj5tVgbFYMD0D6WGqGXG9Q0Cokggxq-xUfFtBShiHDQQvb6IsUzUqVZuL1_2HAcOX86F8yOnBE4BAwolvF86cbXZw_qq1vFqOmxhFmHe8nrricYk4L2rW2QzBMJ00oB2m6VK/s1600/IMG_2701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDdghkCJYfj5tVgbFYMD0D6WGqGXG9Q0Cokggxq-xUfFtBShiHDQQvb6IsUzUqVZuL1_2HAcOX86F8yOnBE4BAwolvF86cbXZw_qq1vFqOmxhFmHe8nrricYk4L2rW2QzBMJ00oB2m6VK/s320/IMG_2701.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Also this week the puppies opened their eyes!!! I am totally in love with them!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0WPjQhF8_qxt338MdyUYGMd9hST_38K_7FfcYO4dCZgvrjDFDiC8Y_F6F-i_nyLjwR0DSy5WwnYVlsWJEcE8TStJE9jIQSinbIIYSix_RUf89rLyDCu8eOHSz05ew9YZgITi2AV92YiZ/s1600/IMG_2704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0WPjQhF8_qxt338MdyUYGMd9hST_38K_7FfcYO4dCZgvrjDFDiC8Y_F6F-i_nyLjwR0DSy5WwnYVlsWJEcE8TStJE9jIQSinbIIYSix_RUf89rLyDCu8eOHSz05ew9YZgITi2AV92YiZ/s320/IMG_2704.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
I went from an iPhone to this bad boy! Here you can receive texts and calls, even if you don't have minutes! So strange! But this week I decided to buy minutes...which also can be used for texts...and there is a time limit during which you can use them. Maybe it's like that in the states and I've just always had a plan...but I was so confused with this bizarre program.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dbdHTRR0ngDL5ZyWTkO5X29E8qprkBONYgdfV1qOXq7RntE_RkhyphenhyphenjoRK5dA2u8stmY9pWs-qzKRuIEO5m5lplubjyHunqPsl0DowZjVjnhwM4syTpdxwrJ4GwmCSXRDa77rjwW-S2Je8/s1600/IMG_2705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dbdHTRR0ngDL5ZyWTkO5X29E8qprkBONYgdfV1qOXq7RntE_RkhyphenhyphenjoRK5dA2u8stmY9pWs-qzKRuIEO5m5lplubjyHunqPsl0DowZjVjnhwM4syTpdxwrJ4GwmCSXRDa77rjwW-S2Je8/s320/IMG_2705.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Now for last week. Here is some more delicious food:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil22xAmOBJ0ixc6PhJy3vJBgYV5Vlbu4d42pPTC-O8kKt5s6f26XTnsqeLd8WJJ9ZRfBcrvP7v7Ld3rDhadNvknkxYAbH0jIMzijBBgtxFbWuPlTg1R213JHLpB4UQv2I0nIxu8lfRmRH7/s1600/IMG_2709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil22xAmOBJ0ixc6PhJy3vJBgYV5Vlbu4d42pPTC-O8kKt5s6f26XTnsqeLd8WJJ9ZRfBcrvP7v7Ld3rDhadNvknkxYAbH0jIMzijBBgtxFbWuPlTg1R213JHLpB4UQv2I0nIxu8lfRmRH7/s320/IMG_2709.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
And my favorite study partner:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBE8KG98LashimZO9s2LvEUbQ4bwS7mUbrHPzwmjb3EDy0_GSdGyJYJgR27-Js6UisUxbGaYo017LERiHMgPpkSwUI8jg7ToeG2YDl-evFlTZuBNhXHVsF_433_fOcSNe79WSoHSCPOHu/s1600/Photo+on+2012-11-03+at+15.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBE8KG98LashimZO9s2LvEUbQ4bwS7mUbrHPzwmjb3EDy0_GSdGyJYJgR27-Js6UisUxbGaYo017LERiHMgPpkSwUI8jg7ToeG2YDl-evFlTZuBNhXHVsF_433_fOcSNe79WSoHSCPOHu/s320/Photo+on+2012-11-03+at+15.38.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
My spanish took a significant step this week, so I was pretty excited to implement my new found knowledge! Also I found out the week before that my ballot had been sent the 5th of October, but this week I still hadn't received it. Getting nervous I e-mailed my state about it and they e-mailed me my ballot!</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gBnkP4asnzHJLP_XdDG_lUYVsEwd4uqRLjRUiTQoZAgENXIuzts1ZhdHQMyjN6RrOGZgGJSHNAGgmjdwb-gfeRYBGoLQUyPJw2gWUtblEWvH_DiOrXlXLpufgcPqBcCTNAl96n6sSi6C/s1600/IMG_2723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gBnkP4asnzHJLP_XdDG_lUYVsEwd4uqRLjRUiTQoZAgENXIuzts1ZhdHQMyjN6RrOGZgGJSHNAGgmjdwb-gfeRYBGoLQUyPJw2gWUtblEWvH_DiOrXlXLpufgcPqBcCTNAl96n6sSi6C/s320/IMG_2723.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Manuel invited me to his university on Friday for a "English Day". I woke up a little late, and reverted back to a poor American habit of breakfast to go:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVObu2UtkIdsEWL6OrvjE0ZRnvtF4rN-Aoz1WAhX83dK49gFJasX385v-t-1ARZTS9137GYnADyijesAma8pwNgUxDTLIHczeXV1UcJabl5v_JFJWmucnvRC5roQILwNmK6Na_NNqPmcH3/s1600/IMG_2720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVObu2UtkIdsEWL6OrvjE0ZRnvtF4rN-Aoz1WAhX83dK49gFJasX385v-t-1ARZTS9137GYnADyijesAma8pwNgUxDTLIHczeXV1UcJabl5v_JFJWmucnvRC5roQILwNmK6Na_NNqPmcH3/s320/IMG_2720.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
It was an entertaining day all in all, and I laughed at the stereotypical "english" things they did (including "who wants to be a millionaire?") And of course their were booths representing various english speaking countries.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAyRk08Qh1ngayg9qtxwwatvojkwYAOotu1E2cZPIDC-jMW6IU_bjHk0bS7emn3neCR3PbrkoSLEcv2lgIN1BKhZdOOs1W_T0fP-4raA7_63q0drT1RK_SJb-_qD4AN1YDGUmUUpW3Z2Q/s1600/IMG_2721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAyRk08Qh1ngayg9qtxwwatvojkwYAOotu1E2cZPIDC-jMW6IU_bjHk0bS7emn3neCR3PbrkoSLEcv2lgIN1BKhZdOOs1W_T0fP-4raA7_63q0drT1RK_SJb-_qD4AN1YDGUmUUpW3Z2Q/s320/IMG_2721.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
(Random side note...none of the public toilets have seats here. All those years of my mom teaching my to squat in public restrooms has paid off!)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSWdbuUxYybBlyA-bMZS76D9G3NajOxI5nVfkEOEuJZedo3IkawWLorGUTWlqnc1Lhg4oprglpQBv163L6mcDCtQMQKMtf-JamQmcl_AwQ3wAD1o6bOuesSeshLdTb18PVFEyAyu0u4fV/s1600/IMG_2722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSWdbuUxYybBlyA-bMZS76D9G3NajOxI5nVfkEOEuJZedo3IkawWLorGUTWlqnc1Lhg4oprglpQBv163L6mcDCtQMQKMtf-JamQmcl_AwQ3wAD1o6bOuesSeshLdTb18PVFEyAyu0u4fV/s320/IMG_2722.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
So, "English Day" kind of turned out to be a sneak, all-day date. He invited me to lunch and dinner (and dinner turned out to be at a really nice place that the Martinez family has been teasing me about ever since). At dinner he asked me again "what qualities I am looking for in a husband", "if I have a boyfriend in the U.S."(which is about the 3rd time for that one), and when I spoke of grad-school next fall he asked "if I wanted to get married or not". All of my answers were honest, but I tried to keep our conversation very friend-based. I was going to a dance that night at the institute, and he was going to a party for a co-workers birthday. He took the bus with me an hour out of his way so he would walk with me the 10 minutes from the bus station to the institute. (I have to note here that I did protest but he wouldn't hear it, and I was grateful not to have to walk the dark streets alone.) One of my favorite things that he has asked so far is "if I can make cookies" and he was super impressed when I said yes! Bahaha.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
I realized the other day that am getting skinner...well, my stomach is flatter at least. At first I thought it was because I run once or twice a week and have the opportunity to exercise every other day, but after 5 hours of dancing the other night I realized that probably has a lot more to do with it! So my recommended work out for everyone is to dance all night long!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
I really feel like a part of the family. This weekend I stayed up Friday and Saturday night until 2:30 in the morning talking and cracking up with the sons. It's so fun to live with a family again! Wait...I do that with my roommates all the time! I love the people in my life!</div>
</div>
Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-13801218052630456972012-10-21T21:08:00.002-07:002012-10-21T21:08:48.857-07:00"One of the Least of These"<div style="text-align: center;">
Last weekend was a whirlwind from the conference, and then Tuesday hit. It was a dismal day for me or absolutely nothing! I remained in my pajamas all day, and for the first time here (which I think I did pretty good making it 3 1/2 weeks!) I went crazy in my mind because I have no responsibilities. I tried to study, but I felt completely worthless. Apparently the people in Colombia don't like being served and after 3 1/2 weeks of diligent searching for service opportunities I had turned up none! I felt sorry for myself for a day, and wondered what I was doing with my life.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wednesday morning I woke up and earnestly prayed for a service opportunity. The following is a journal excerpt:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
"This morning I prayer fervently for an opportunity to
serve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I listened to Elder
Holland’s conference address and it’s inspiration to be a disciple of Christ
made me feel like I was running against a wall, I didn’t know where to serve in
this country so foreign to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
I went to the grocery store with Hermana Martinez I expressed my feelings of
being lost without a responsibility, but she just confirmed what everyone else
did—that there wasn’t a place right now for me to serve. My friend, Rachel Sanchez, was talking to me on facebook and when I lamented not having a responsibility she said "Be responsible for relaxing! Sometimes you have to be responsible for that especially after you've been too responsible!" Haha.</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After
lunch Andrés discovered that one of the 5 puppies wasn’t responding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first we thought it was dead, but on
closer inspection it was breathing very shallowly and far spaced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We rushed to warm and revive the little
fellow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was the smallest of all
the puppies and I rubbed him with little response from him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I place him inside my shirt on my
chest, and put my alpaca beanie over his little body, then placed a water
bottle with warm water along his back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After breathing warmth on him for a little while his chest started to
rise a little higher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
followed next was one of the funniest experiences of my life!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hermana Martinez and Andrés milked the
mama dog!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This produced very
little milk as she is a small dog, so we used a little cow milk and with some
coxing the pup ate a tiny bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Next I searched online for what to do and we followed as best we
could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One suggestion was to get
puppy powder, but they don’t have that in the little stores close to the house,
so Hrm Martinez ran to her sisters house who has a bigger dog that just had
puppies and milked her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
produced much more milk that I was able to get the runt to drink a little more
of!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All afternoon was taken to
warming, and feeding, and reviving this little guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one point I heard in my mind “In as much as you have done
it unto one of the least of these, you have done it unto me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had prayed for an opportunity to
serve, I had supposed it’d be another person, but this fragile little pup
certainly qualifies as “one of the least of these”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God works in mysterious ways!"</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And that is what I have been doing all week since. Every 2 hours during the day, and every 3 hours during the night I feed this precious little guy!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUh1BOp_JWxxvSGoySt79og7g6TXJDPKd7Z2xtYChyphenhyphenIaMyWvQhNK55EkiQ0KVutRAZUmc6ifPWt2Tlvj7hfNAR4hT83akhLVSLEOgBD0jQR6U_WL3v-HC1LUkqXebFcCYUPu5RyMwgpjGG/s1600/IMG_2658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUh1BOp_JWxxvSGoySt79og7g6TXJDPKd7Z2xtYChyphenhyphenIaMyWvQhNK55EkiQ0KVutRAZUmc6ifPWt2Tlvj7hfNAR4hT83akhLVSLEOgBD0jQR6U_WL3v-HC1LUkqXebFcCYUPu5RyMwgpjGG/s320/IMG_2658.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's the one of the bottom right:</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xbl1nQbWwh9zNsDsCEzjokcfT0q8W7N7GdQJmKU9laqxZI3g5wIV-VY1xsOBA4tCPbCPkwLlFa0E3CkHj2APW_GpLvFiNZgp68bMdsjttj6Qgh_3XtcW0mm1Oc8iCeaprVgHP1bG3cRZ/s1600/IMG_2662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xbl1nQbWwh9zNsDsCEzjokcfT0q8W7N7GdQJmKU9laqxZI3g5wIV-VY1xsOBA4tCPbCPkwLlFa0E3CkHj2APW_GpLvFiNZgp68bMdsjttj6Qgh_3XtcW0mm1Oc8iCeaprVgHP1bG3cRZ/s320/IMG_2662.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This one is the fattest, and I named him Gus Gus like the little fat rat in Cinderella. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydPR5Vc068Jncki2yS1DHTrL2E03pbDEhkyTwl7PdkstvvMmtfVoMXAZUogjN0aAPP68QJVpcCZ1zPbnKoJGzgScnwjEopPCXdJq1UZu57aYZxeOBEUiR6xqbOGdHOOZVbtnWXEVgd4Jt/s1600/IMG_2667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydPR5Vc068Jncki2yS1DHTrL2E03pbDEhkyTwl7PdkstvvMmtfVoMXAZUogjN0aAPP68QJVpcCZ1zPbnKoJGzgScnwjEopPCXdJq1UZu57aYZxeOBEUiR6xqbOGdHOOZVbtnWXEVgd4Jt/s320/IMG_2667.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It looks like I am squeezing him, but he is just that skinny :(</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1renNovqcat24VqeDX7REZvNdijn_aIDDztrgZ0xHzRft8tm_p7-wYBopK3cxjf56gxdFwU0ud-gVRdBAfxdFwNRXJKA8KuDt8O8fvUR8u60qw9sDa5Z0xmidG7DtRLAwbUhtWwKhJ8t/s1600/IMG_2668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1renNovqcat24VqeDX7REZvNdijn_aIDDztrgZ0xHzRft8tm_p7-wYBopK3cxjf56gxdFwU0ud-gVRdBAfxdFwNRXJKA8KuDt8O8fvUR8u60qw9sDa5Z0xmidG7DtRLAwbUhtWwKhJ8t/s320/IMG_2668.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here is a better picture of my cute little guy! One night at dinner they said I was like his mom and the 16 year old quickly corrected "More like GRANDMA!" Bahaha! So this is my grandson. To keep the theme of Cinderella Anrés named him "Ceniciento" (Cinderello).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjHaMRj7iyHD-Mz63UfZkG8wvEZDiMfd_beZOei8Lj6kxcXqvPghUqGfx3HxvR6_NaKOSPLMujPChqn0WNhUgPpG7_imkj5ICzOpMoftBIuEqDlkybzBSE554RBsOzvoKG5nuTVwtIDfa/s1600/Photo+on+2012-10-20+at+14.14+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjHaMRj7iyHD-Mz63UfZkG8wvEZDiMfd_beZOei8Lj6kxcXqvPghUqGfx3HxvR6_NaKOSPLMujPChqn0WNhUgPpG7_imkj5ICzOpMoftBIuEqDlkybzBSE554RBsOzvoKG5nuTVwtIDfa/s320/Photo+on+2012-10-20+at+14.14+%232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Unfortunately his is not a fairytale with a happy ending on earth. One week after he was born, this little guy died tonight. I am sad, but like I told Andrés "Heaven is way better then here!" We did all we could do, and we loved him when he was with us.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sorry to start out on a sad note, but the majority of my week was studying and caring for Ceniciento. For a while he was really improving, but by yesterday I was pretty sure he wasn't going to make it. It was a sweet opportunity to take care of him. If you know me at all you know I have a super soft heart for animals, so I loved every minute of caring for him.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Friday it hit me that I DO have another responsibility! And that is to study spanish! There is a time and a season for everything, and right now the more I improve my spanish the more I can improve my service in other areas when I get home. So I have 7 weeks left and need to get cracking! So less e-mails, less facebook, less other distractions, it's crack down time! (And I thought I was studying a lot before).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's been a pretty chill week other then that. Here is my first pizza in Colombia! (If you didn't know pizza is my favorite food.) My verdict is: mine is better. They don't really have sauce on their pizza (or at least I didn't see or taste any), but it was alright...probably won't be eating it again.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQ9b-asqRzMGp6SJPgq2aQ5so-rDTe88T18SxLSpkasRa3FCyIv-XmPiuOvetH6ceNACgB82U5IQjM0JERUTNOoxrl7ZcU00iAelUaptX8_Kjqgzs6KZp5eA1DheFU9RH6YjfONnRB95Z/s1600/IMG_2655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQ9b-asqRzMGp6SJPgq2aQ5so-rDTe88T18SxLSpkasRa3FCyIv-XmPiuOvetH6ceNACgB82U5IQjM0JERUTNOoxrl7ZcU00iAelUaptX8_Kjqgzs6KZp5eA1DheFU9RH6YjfONnRB95Z/s320/IMG_2655.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
And to end on a funny note, two things from today: </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1- I was talking with the older son (who knows a bit of english) and I mentioned something about only knowing 2 other girls in high school with my same name. One was cool, one was less then that (and then I said I didn't know the word in spanish). After some guesses and hints, one being "ella era como una mujer de la noche", his face lit up as he said: "OHH! Como "playa". I was confused for a second until I said the word out loud in English "beach" and then I laughed SO hard! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2- I get asked to pray A LOT here, more then I have in my whole life. I don't know if they think it's funny to hear the white girl pray or what, but the family, church classes, all the time! So for F.H.E. tonight I was asked to pray and whenI started to thank Heavenly Father for this day of rest I forgot the word "rest" and after a pause still couldn't produce the word so I said essentially "thank you for this day we don't have to work". The family is getting pretty good at holding their laughter till after "Amen" but all their faces were red and they busted as soon as the prayer ended.</div>
Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-67408473134815709832012-10-17T14:48:00.000-07:002012-10-17T20:13:56.686-07:00Sometimes My Life is Just One Big Laugh!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This last week has been one of the funniest weeks I've had in a long time! (and my life is usually hilarious, so that is saying a lot) Since you are tuned in, get ready for some good laughs. First I'll start with the bad: I was pretty excited when I came here on the idea that I wouldn't have to listen to that stupid "Call Me Maybe" song for 2 1/2 months, it took 2 1/2 weeks--but that dream was shattered. Here are some songs I have been greatly disappointed to hear on the radio and even more horrified that people knew the words:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Katy Perry.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"Here's My Number, So Call Me Maybe" - this is really the one I was sad about.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"What Makes You Beautiful"<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The family and I get along great and are always making jokes, but I think I'm well accepted because the other day the parents told me they are all going to cry when I leave (and it's 2 months away). The youngest son is hilarious and is always teasing me, here is a video of his latest favorite thing to make fun of me for, you'll probably recognize this and most likely you too have mimicked me on this particular laugh of mine (he is sick so it's not quite as good as usual):</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxVgVe2yk1cEttPbJhtgN3xsUdXmAuULBqnhgDZMmW8xoMd7eYKMx8kRRnAogawKAKFEapM0vB3rJv7BQdjpQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Wednesday I was SO hungry for breakfast that I kind of zoned out and was focused on my food. (Which is featured below. Side note: when my friends who served in South America told me of dipping bread in hot chocolate for breakfast I vowed to never do such a odd and gross thing...now I do it nearly every morning!) Anyhow I was eating and trying to hold myself together because I was so hungry. Hermana Martinez has been telling me about the cheese, then I zoned. She asked "If it was cold like this in the United States" and I stated "that I didn't know because I had never eaten it before". To which she and Andrés starting cracking up. Apparently--without me--the conversation had switched to the weather, in particular, autumn. We had a good laugh about how I had never eaten autumn before. This of course is an isolated event, I never tune anyone out and go into auto response...I'm sure I've never done that to anyone in the states. ;)</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvA6OeFsd-mNym7XTUjK97rnDpi8mV_W338wyt0UqXVLYvr9lpHoFXBNLMpiObnEQr1qnWYoO0wR5uSS1NCAZfQz7Ipl9iyJsuT6_TYWaP3mlcgM2yPb9gp8-4BrfHv1XjBeMl3SFW_rAR/s1600/IMG_2626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvA6OeFsd-mNym7XTUjK97rnDpi8mV_W338wyt0UqXVLYvr9lpHoFXBNLMpiObnEQr1qnWYoO0wR5uSS1NCAZfQz7Ipl9iyJsuT6_TYWaP3mlcgM2yPb9gp8-4BrfHv1XjBeMl3SFW_rAR/s320/IMG_2626.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On the topic of food, here is another typical lunch:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_96ijbe06c_At2yFrWJgtLrkESAUW9uMLH2fOxbdRLbF-npSejsaGEn6N6k-j4xO1fGP5AyY7PICPR7auzAhcY6FD5ETAA262GJqBS8ewpsi-rHK782HOtWTCgT6rHclVUUPMeumDqkBi/s1600/IMG_2628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_96ijbe06c_At2yFrWJgtLrkESAUW9uMLH2fOxbdRLbF-npSejsaGEn6N6k-j4xO1fGP5AyY7PICPR7auzAhcY6FD5ETAA262GJqBS8ewpsi-rHK782HOtWTCgT6rHclVUUPMeumDqkBi/s320/IMG_2628.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Of course there were some classic mis-speaks this week, but the following is one of my favorites:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Andrés was sick so I gave him some of my DoTerra oils. He was asking what they were all for and as I was explaining I got to wild orange and said it was my favorite because it "Huele MAL!" (meaning it smells bad) which obviously I didn't mean. So now when we pass a place that smells bad we always laugh about how happy I am.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Presidente graduated from his Masters program this week, so I bought him a cake and had them write "Happy Graduation Shoulder" on it! (if you don't get this, refer to last weeks post) He thought it was hilarious.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVB00B3NtrKFnKunZ-GPMlJV02TJwcqZQjhEspSQpOLx_iEHKk39UM6Q8l1WbAuRffVBmHEvakWHGuNGsF2Jp0wg8UaIphQjzYL1xKKWFUdCsh_EqE9G06QbnSIJ8PJ36QCJmp4_6hjhpv/s1600/IMG_2632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVB00B3NtrKFnKunZ-GPMlJV02TJwcqZQjhEspSQpOLx_iEHKk39UM6Q8l1WbAuRffVBmHEvakWHGuNGsF2Jp0wg8UaIphQjzYL1xKKWFUdCsh_EqE9G06QbnSIJ8PJ36QCJmp4_6hjhpv/s320/IMG_2632.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Look at the following two pictures and consider what they have in common:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9F9RfKyjA1mcHQYHBorONOJq3QNEaglLmoX5lAMMtlZDi_WB_tmC3qOqSAjq7BIG3CTr3c0xnrmx-MWN_T8arD_8YhV8fZTNcRsSH2wT6l4yphJIa8ViSmxaAZBLaTkQqea42_7e_ccr/s1600/IMG_2624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9F9RfKyjA1mcHQYHBorONOJq3QNEaglLmoX5lAMMtlZDi_WB_tmC3qOqSAjq7BIG3CTr3c0xnrmx-MWN_T8arD_8YhV8fZTNcRsSH2wT6l4yphJIa8ViSmxaAZBLaTkQqea42_7e_ccr/s320/IMG_2624.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(I know, you wish your hair could be this styling after 3 days of not being washed.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioM6GJwt8dtXcooepLogcm2jgpGPQdpEQq3GRBzjxIXMVoDbXqg4XUEMTs7END3fCQaVfEuOzwg4SjZqyrnytEfL5O7l40vK5d9qGouzjHNMqQe25pJmBlgXRcKtScb0SkMj6XfLpYZx_F/s1600/IMG_2629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioM6GJwt8dtXcooepLogcm2jgpGPQdpEQq3GRBzjxIXMVoDbXqg4XUEMTs7END3fCQaVfEuOzwg4SjZqyrnytEfL5O7l40vK5d9qGouzjHNMqQe25pJmBlgXRcKtScb0SkMj6XfLpYZx_F/s320/IMG_2629.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
(This is a pitcher of water I boiled...)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have been avoiding showers here because it is SO cold! Sometimes I wait 2 or 3 days. And for 3 weeks I haven't shave my legs. This whole time I have been so confused at the girls who shave their legs! The water is freezing! There is only one knob to turn, and every time it's cold water. Once it was less cold, but mostly always cold. But this weekend was a 10 stake young single adult conference and there were dances, and swimming and I needed to shave. I happened to be chatting with my roommate from AZ, who is friends with the family, and told her about how I just heated up water on the stove to shave with. This is when THREE WEEKS after shower with cold water, I found out THERE IS HOT WATER! There is a trick you do with the handle and no one told me! I wasn't mad at all, just SO happy I didn't have to shower for the next 2 months with cold water. It was probably one of the best showers of my life!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Before I get into the conference, que más? This week I ran 4 miles for Jamie and by mile 3 I thought "Man, I hope it's the altitude that is making this so hard to breath!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thursday was a long, hard day of studying...which entailed listening to popular songs most of the day and writing down vocabulary I didn't know. haha. My life is tough right now.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This little girl is the cutest thing ever! Dana is a girl that Maria watches and we became fast friends. Every time we have a cake for a celebration she always sneaks frosting before it's time to eat it! I understand, I was (and sometimes am) that way too.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5at4KNyUAtUFgWfusIyOBnFpfZUPBShc2aEshsgvon4iEMA8LNTErNZifgRxwuykSYeaSUoKtELklBM7foVM9LK-hGGJFVZHx0mq_RmLgtAtghe-fMRsm4Obrl6JU_x90VPyO8HrFEjCS/s1600/IMG_2630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5at4KNyUAtUFgWfusIyOBnFpfZUPBShc2aEshsgvon4iEMA8LNTErNZifgRxwuykSYeaSUoKtELklBM7foVM9LK-hGGJFVZHx0mq_RmLgtAtghe-fMRsm4Obrl6JU_x90VPyO8HrFEjCS/s320/IMG_2630.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
So there is an alarm in the neighborhood that goes off randomly during the day and night. I asked about it a week or so ago and they explained it was both for something dangerous or bad (a drunk or druggie in the street) or for something good (like a goal for a soccer game). I thought it was super weird that it could mean good or bad, 'cause how do you know when it is which!?! I just let it slide though. I always thought there was some random place in the street where you turned on the alarm, which I also found confusing, again--I let it slide. Friday was a big soccer game which Colombia won! It was a great game, and as we watched the game the answer to my questions came clear:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjoxDK0nC6ONlsUE13JtfABZI2CvQYYH1a79R_Q097Exo4YIrpybdxhFqugMzdgg823_vhIloglgIR0u8rrXQLcvfvUZ9xqbWXJ49txVewI5kHF8GtqwSDS5EJ6y2TbJ9R_PXJqXyF9QZ/s1600/IMG_2633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjoxDK0nC6ONlsUE13JtfABZI2CvQYYH1a79R_Q097Exo4YIrpybdxhFqugMzdgg823_vhIloglgIR0u8rrXQLcvfvUZ9xqbWXJ49txVewI5kHF8GtqwSDS5EJ6y2TbJ9R_PXJqXyF9QZ/s320/IMG_2633.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
There is a switch in all houses that turns the alarm on! I about fell out of my chair laughing as I viewed it being turned on and everyone ran to the porch to yell at the top of their lungs "GOOOOOOOAAAAL!!!!!!!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here is a photo of me in front of our chapel. This whole town is tatted up!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuJ6it6x1W56JUl1O9dotj4uuIx38z5n7Q7oXcuyVZh3Vo-kRUWvnaRgDY5f7k1FKKxavq9M5sBfx4PxIEP6uEz8f12f6pj7nnxy0G3oosNwmlxuItNwkbrCdXXHxU2TST-RiZerTpnO8/s1600/IMG_2636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuJ6it6x1W56JUl1O9dotj4uuIx38z5n7Q7oXcuyVZh3Vo-kRUWvnaRgDY5f7k1FKKxavq9M5sBfx4PxIEP6uEz8f12f6pj7nnxy0G3oosNwmlxuItNwkbrCdXXHxU2TST-RiZerTpnO8/s320/IMG_2636.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XsOT3RtFebghYV14EEudfPOK1tBGiBoLkUOzbvThEuCcAUY6bzlZDclagign68x3q4QnYhqV9tCQ_2s8n5qxUPgFvyE4NfF47I1Tom2iz9vjrcYnPtL3LeGaW30MtnEQ0DYWgCPEyUrt/s1600/IMG_2648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XsOT3RtFebghYV14EEudfPOK1tBGiBoLkUOzbvThEuCcAUY6bzlZDclagign68x3q4QnYhqV9tCQ_2s8n5qxUPgFvyE4NfF47I1Tom2iz9vjrcYnPtL3LeGaW30MtnEQ0DYWgCPEyUrt/s320/IMG_2648.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love looking out the window and looking at the graffiti as we go places! This week as we were going somewhere I looked at these walls and I felt like it was my home, not a vacation. I knew where we were and I knew how far we had to go, I felt comfortable with my surroundings! It was sweet.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBXFKKC853hf2BTw-hixoxAWu7av-pYIxZcuDPE6lUN6teGQsRNctR9Qp_ZKb3b8efQUsVzYVZ4aMwGD9J2TABhdG5KVwea5PgnVej3sHKRuLv7PQWr2it0YeXCIXqItPJaANT_E8J3vt/s1600/IMG_2647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBXFKKC853hf2BTw-hixoxAWu7av-pYIxZcuDPE6lUN6teGQsRNctR9Qp_ZKb3b8efQUsVzYVZ4aMwGD9J2TABhdG5KVwea5PgnVej3sHKRuLv7PQWr2it0YeXCIXqItPJaANT_E8J3vt/s320/IMG_2647.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just enjoying a drink on the Transmilenio!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Here is one of my favorite journal entries of the week:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
"This morning I had a pretty sweet experience at seminary. First off it is their school break, and there is still seminary this week. There are 3 members in the class, one of which doesn't come most of the time. The other two (Andrés and Stefany) are the only members of the church at their school. Normally seminary is at 5:30 and the teacher walks to each of the boys houses and then we all walk together to Stefany's house, where seminary is held. Since it is a vacation week seminary is at 8:30 and we just meet at Stefanys without being picked up. Today, however, it was a 6 because their teacher had something she needed to go to. Sometimes the teacher doesn't come because she is a single mom of 4 and sometimes she or her children are sick. She doesn't have a phone, so they just wait and if she doesn't show then there is no seminary that day. This morning Andrés and I walked to Stefany's house and arrived at 6. No teacher. SO what did this 14 year old girl and 16 year old boy do? They didn't sit and chat, they didn't lay their heads on the table and fall asleep, and they didn't go home. They sat and read their scriptures. So I followed suit. After 15 minutes they said to each other "She is running late, we better start" so they picked a hymn and we sang, they assigned me to pray, and then Andrés gave a spiritual thought. Now 6:25, no teacher. So they said, "well we're supposed to be in Matthew 7" so we started taking turns reading verses in that chapter! 5-10 minutes later their teacher comes. WHAT INCREDIBLE YOUTH! Pretty sure in the states if the teacher is 15-30 minutes late you bounce!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: auto;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Ok, the singles conference this weekend was hilarious! And sometimes frustrating. It was supposed to start Friday night at 6PM with a formal dinner and dance. Luckily I found a dress that week that would work. But Jhonatan said we were meeting some of his friends at their house and then heading over after that. But we didn't leave our house until 5:30, then it was raining pretty hard and we got stuck for 2 hours in traffic because of the accidents on the road. We get to his friends house and we are pretty soggy and it was cold. Then we waited another 2 1/2 hours for his friends girlfriend to get ready. So we show up right after 10PM (it goes till midnight). I was surprised to note as I walked in that the food for the buffet was still out with servers at hand. It was quite the elegant event; the tables had white linen tablecloths and napkins, big bouquets of roses, and full silver wear (including 5 forks). We get to the dance floor and the first two songs are an oldies swing song (which was hilarious because Jhonatan and his friends were all looking at me and copying my dance moves! Baha!) and then YMCA! I laughed so hard as they all sang the words to YMCA. There is the proof that it is a world wide LDS dance song! After that a meringue song came on and I didn't get asked to dance so I sat down at the table. A little bored because everyone I knew was dancing I went to go peer at the food before it got put up. It looked good, and being a little hungry I was served a plate of food. It was a little weird that there were huge stacks of plates and bowls, but I didn't let that deter me. I went back to the table, sat down, and started picking at my food when Jhonatan comes over and asks, somewhat surprised, if I'm hungry. I said that I was a little hungry, and immediately everyone starts pouring into the seats at the tables. The music stops and a prayer is said. By this point I was thoroughly confused and asked why they stopped the dance in the middle of it to pray? This is when I found of that in Colombia you dance first, then you eat! So here is the white girl with her food as everyone else gets in line to be served! BAHAHAHA! All the sudden the odd looks on the servers faces made sense!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The next morning we had to meet at the temple at 5:30! (keep in mind the dance ended at midnight and it takes forever here to get places because you take the bus or wait for a taxi) So we get there and they don't have breakfast or anything for us! We drive 4 1/2 hours (which was supposed to be a 2-3 hours trip) and arrive at the water park. Which consists of a bunch of pools that are shallow enough that I can easily stand in all of them with my head above water. It was an interesting experience because there wasn't a ton to do. So we ended up doing things like the following video:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
---coming soon, I'm waiting for it to be sent to me--</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Note the "gorro" on my head. I was handed it when I got there and I didn't understand why, so I put it in my locker. They didn't say they were mandatory! So as soon as I got in the pool I got yelled at. Haha, apparently they think these little caps keep diseases out of the pool.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
As one point I was sitting under a water mushroom thing and the water was pounding on my shoulders, it felt SO nice. In that moment I realized I really missed be touched. From my observations they don't really hug here, just a kiss on the cheek for hello and goodbye. In that moment I thought "MAN, I REALLY WANT A HUG!" (Which was cool because the next 2 days I got a ton of hugs from people! Gods love right there!!!) I met some cool people, and talked a lot with them. I was happy to make some friends.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The next day I attended the other ward (because I accidentally slept in) and they were AWESOME! I was so happy it was testimony meeting, and towards the end I got up and bore my testimony. The sweetest thing followed! I went back to my seat (in the middle/backish, on a bench by myself) and this older woman who was sitting in the front got up and came and sat by me! She gave me a big hug, thanked me for my testimony, informed me that we were going to be friends, and held my hand. It was so tender. Tears trickled down my cheeks because I had been praying to make some friends this weekend. I was so grateful to be loved by someone in the same country as me! She wrote down her name and number and told me to call her, I am so excited! After the meeting ended probably 20 different people came up to me and introduced themselves and gave me a hugs. I LOVE that ward! I went to sunday school with another sister that fastened herself to me and I understood everything that was being said! I felt so loved and welcomed I want to go back! I don't think it would be kosher to switch wards, so I think I am going to attend both because I have fallen in love with that ward!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
When I got home from church my favorite dog, Canela, went into labor and had 5 puppies! They are so cute!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_PgkzErHtRPlCrrKkcv7b59HK7DDMtD61Im8QD5qjtN5F-DzDieUSWx-QF4_4baGq1sdW257Bh2lC3zNYPmYLQO7OMcpkiJihEtw94aRw92CQStPeHlNaNgTafTevrxgnghPnDkvAQ4s/s1600/IMG_2642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_PgkzErHtRPlCrrKkcv7b59HK7DDMtD61Im8QD5qjtN5F-DzDieUSWx-QF4_4baGq1sdW257Bh2lC3zNYPmYLQO7OMcpkiJihEtw94aRw92CQStPeHlNaNgTafTevrxgnghPnDkvAQ4s/s320/IMG_2642.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPftu34c2bTnsoJpj6S0QrP_tSCrIGotHfsvFhMO74dBW6u26MJdyvAvD833Ui2aHhAsG1LvqyWEQ3chOM7nDgLnZ835gFoVketZrDOR-zvTTA2HzX4ZBAHLJkRSLIM5t5TqGSq9xbX3cS/s1600/IMG_2644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPftu34c2bTnsoJpj6S0QrP_tSCrIGotHfsvFhMO74dBW6u26MJdyvAvD833Ui2aHhAsG1LvqyWEQ3chOM7nDgLnZ835gFoVketZrDOR-zvTTA2HzX4ZBAHLJkRSLIM5t5TqGSq9xbX3cS/s320/IMG_2644.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Because of this Jhonatan and I were late going to that day of the conference. We missed the first fireside talk. But we didn't miss the never ending one! It was about 4 hours in total and there were 3 different times where everyone was sure it was the end, but NO! I was ready to poke my eyes out by the end. At one point I was a little bitter and thought "I NEVER WANT TO ATTEND ANYTHING IN THE CHURCH IN SPANISH AGAIN!" I was super tired, and really hungry, and I had no idea how long it was going to be when I went into it. In reality I do enjoy listening in spanish, but I was over this particular fireside or storymonies and never ending Q&A's. After it ended a guy who was sitting in front of me started talking to me. He asked where I was from and he was surprised that I wasn't from Colombia, success! He got my number, so that is guy number one with my number here.<br />
Monday was my favorite day of the whole conference! It was awesome! We listened to the Temple President talk (which amounted to "if you want to get into Heaven, get married!"--ok, it wasn't that blunt...but...). After we had lunch and it was super chill day hanging out with people. That afternoon/evening was my favorite! It started with dancing (which I was terrible at at first) and then intermittedly each stake would present a cultural dance from countries in South & Central America. It was AWESOME! It was nice too because it gave you a rest from dancing! I didn't think I would get asked that much, but I got asked to dance for every song! And equally surprising was that I picked it up pretty fast! I had a blast!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The stake I am in actually had the US and they danced 3 different styles and killed all of them! I was really impressed. The last number was a country dance and after they were done they wanted a picture with the gringa:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXH2rcTa_jzW9UtcNVCcHnSeMUv1Ltx0hlfNKoWQF8rY1TnmvuWY-_Qq-Bq5z8rqFHZWTxchr8R7uaaKOwKQQKAdQElW1GG0PpxKz5SJ8PT4HVMoS0fJXNmVGd7Cj-i2FaSCaTCXg8Wnfw/s1600/IMG_2650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXH2rcTa_jzW9UtcNVCcHnSeMUv1Ltx0hlfNKoWQF8rY1TnmvuWY-_Qq-Bq5z8rqFHZWTxchr8R7uaaKOwKQQKAdQElW1GG0PpxKz5SJ8PT4HVMoS0fJXNmVGd7Cj-i2FaSCaTCXg8Wnfw/s320/IMG_2650.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
These are all co-workers of Jhonatan from MTC down here. I majorily hung out with them this weekend. They are all super nice and really funny! It's hard to pick a favorite among them, but probably the 3rd from the left. She was really fun to talk with.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbx1X1L44b1KJx5Wq2KjfXynfUvTOd-886r6P08WDJijuGz07FtgeFMXn2fz7TOvCncaA0t0q6aT7uJjBEjKEzOgOhUBnv8XMGJmDewKGyBZfybxc4KN4GwKmw7oRjo_beuyD8SxBP53m/s1600/IMG_2651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbx1X1L44b1KJx5Wq2KjfXynfUvTOd-886r6P08WDJijuGz07FtgeFMXn2fz7TOvCncaA0t0q6aT7uJjBEjKEzOgOhUBnv8XMGJmDewKGyBZfybxc4KN4GwKmw7oRjo_beuyD8SxBP53m/s320/IMG_2651.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
By the end of all this I ended up having more confidence in my spanish because I was able to talk with so many different people, I picked up some sweet latin dancing skills, gave my number to two guys, and made quite a few friends and acquaintances!Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-88626297623681236352012-10-07T20:10:00.001-07:002012-10-07T20:10:25.581-07:00Una Semana Difícil Bueno<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This week was not an easy one for me. Last Sunday night I went to a fireside for the singles of this stake. President Martinez was the speaker, he is the dad of the family I am staying with and I almost always know what he is saying. But as I sat and listened to him speak I found that there were many times I didn't know exactly what was being said. About half way through I was wondering why I was having such a difficult time and all the sudden I remembered my previous stake presidents. As I remembered their talks I remembered the moments when they would say a word and all the congregation would look at one another because we didn't know what it meant. When I thought of those moments, and how I've been speaking english for 26 years and I still don't know it all, that's when it hit me--I am going to be studying and speaking spanish for a very long time and even then I will not know it all. I determined I was ok with this, and moved on to keep learning. But something else settled deep in my heart that night--no one hear knows me. They don't understand all I want to say, and I don't understand all they say to me. And for the first time in a long while I felt very much alone. The family I am with is wonderful, and kind, and funny. I enjoy their company very much. But it takes a lot of time to explain my thoughts, it's not easy like it is with my friends at home, and we don't laugh till our stomachs hurt. I think Anne of Green Gables coined the term "Bosom Buddies", and I was missing mine. I missed talking to my friends in english, I missed easy communication. That night when I knelt to pray I decided to start praying in english again, so at least I could have an easy time talking to God.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Monday morning I woke up at 5 in the morning for seminary (it hit my that night watch at Anasazi has prepared me for going to seminary again! ha) and I wanted so badly to stay in bed. I got up we waited for the teacher, but she never came. Andrés decided he wanted to go to her house, and so I accompanied him. On the walk over my heart was still weighed with the thought of missing dear friends. When we arrived he started talking to her about a scripture mastery he had memorized. As I listened to him I thought "Hey, I should memorize some more scriptures while I'm here, I've got the time!" And immediately the words from a conference address a couple years ago of Elder Richard G. Scott came into my mind that knowing and memorizing scriptures is like gaining a new life long friend. With that my mind shouted "Great idea! You need those right now! Start memorizing today!" And then the words "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thee for good." I got very emotional as I sat there and realized I HAD already memorized many scriptures, and thus I HAD many friends with me. As more scriptures came to mind I felt overwhelming gratitude that all these years after I had memorized them, here they were when I felt so alone in a country far from home.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Also on Monday I got to skype for the first time with my nephew! Which I was very excited about, and the conversation was pretty funny. His face when he saw me was priceless! His mouth popped open and he immediately requested that I come to his house. When I told him I couldn't because I was far, far away he paused, then asked "Oh...were you chased by monsters?" Hahaha, I replied in the affirmative but that I ran fast like him, and that was satisfactory enough of an answer. Now when I leave the house Andrés Felipe (the 16 year old) warns me to watch out for monsters! Another classic thing that happened monday was I wanted to show you guys how they do milk here, so I took a picture at a big store and about 2 minutes later (and several aisles over) a security guard approached me and told me sternly that I couldn't take pictures. I did what any good gringo would do, I acted like I didn't know what he was saying and muttered some things in sloppy spanish (on purpose of course!) Here is the fruits of my labor:</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJRgyeaEJde0uM3eVR1haMIPqyBJD5pq3TMqyHmIvjE9gtfUm8u45p8Q_2hlMDLA1tk0r1BjwWmd1BkeJ7ArIX0beY5WFfJREM5TvoZeZ2ziHPAS5p7n26S5J6DxF7r93pNDCxiPw0TxZ/s1600/IMG_2603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJRgyeaEJde0uM3eVR1haMIPqyBJD5pq3TMqyHmIvjE9gtfUm8u45p8Q_2hlMDLA1tk0r1BjwWmd1BkeJ7ArIX0beY5WFfJREM5TvoZeZ2ziHPAS5p7n26S5J6DxF7r93pNDCxiPw0TxZ/s320/IMG_2603.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
All of those are bags of milk! I saw them in boxes in Mexico, but bags was a new experience for me!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Also in this same store I went to use the bathroom and the first stall I entered didn't have toilet paper (as in the whole toilet paper dispenser) "that's weird" I thought and moved to the next stall...but that one didn't have any either! Good thing I happened to have in my purse my little package of puppy print, smell good tp.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Tuesday I got to Skype with some friends and I was so happy. Man I really give it up to you missionaries, it's tough not having friends who speak your language! That day Sister Martinez and I went shopping again (I think for the 5th or 6th day in a week and a half) and on the bus ride home I thought "I hope I don't die today or tomorrow because I really don't want to tell God that for my last week on earth I shopped most of the days!" (Luckily my life has been spared.) When we got home I was showing my spoils to Andrés & Maria when two men came over. I asked "Quien hay <i>estos</i> hombros?" And they laughed and laughed, for two reasons. I had accidentally called them 'hombros' (meaning shoulders) instead of 'hombres' (meaning men). Bahaha. Also you call men in the church "hermanos de la iglesia" (brethren of the church), and 'hombres' is somewhat derogatory. So all in all it was a ridiculous statement. So we laughed hard and decided it was our new insult/joke. And we always so it with cattiness. I think it's my favorite mis-speak so far! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This town is tatted up! But some of it is really beautiful.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEePhEiNu-IwHz_64NxHkZ7D9wcy8BAYxRbjGan2qsJ6uX4iEYyQ7FHZ0DCXoxok7_w6Z1kd6XrNnzovpbdfCrJpNkAsbYDH809pfdDJOuF_wHeBpsbEue_Z-9gGUmUojBcNAcMLbUvCC5/s1600/IMG_2605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEePhEiNu-IwHz_64NxHkZ7D9wcy8BAYxRbjGan2qsJ6uX4iEYyQ7FHZ0DCXoxok7_w6Z1kd6XrNnzovpbdfCrJpNkAsbYDH809pfdDJOuF_wHeBpsbEue_Z-9gGUmUojBcNAcMLbUvCC5/s320/IMG_2605.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This week was my first time doing the wash...I'm a fan of how we roll in the states ;)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH36AxMFbqXyokeKMIJDdNBr5Gds1BdoeTu9WAK2v_ScMT2_nfAYfGJQEM6TBsjTM5COJP3kJ7h7Y4zckzJxDUpZxe6XGuXv1fv03O5dN2d0XGOw31fdiUB4kGpq_j6HvQZB0D6qBfPUMB/s1600/IMG_2607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH36AxMFbqXyokeKMIJDdNBr5Gds1BdoeTu9WAK2v_ScMT2_nfAYfGJQEM6TBsjTM5COJP3kJ7h7Y4zckzJxDUpZxe6XGuXv1fv03O5dN2d0XGOw31fdiUB4kGpq_j6HvQZB0D6qBfPUMB/s320/IMG_2607.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Shopping on Friday for a suit for President Martinez brought us to this store with a Harry Potter bathroom! (I am bent over at the waist.) I thought it was so funny I had to take a picture. (and thanks to my dad my eyes are never open!)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_A095gggsg6zGlHSTcHmP1D7cPyDxT8FvbF8av-sZHzlE0_IG0QTAScCIAR69-GBlxwLgWJNUx8HjTMTvPyWIcyz_6ijtpvgQ9ncaAEgrhL3uczwyx80aZf6zCEzsTkwmaP9gyfN5THA/s1600/IMG_2618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_A095gggsg6zGlHSTcHmP1D7cPyDxT8FvbF8av-sZHzlE0_IG0QTAScCIAR69-GBlxwLgWJNUx8HjTMTvPyWIcyz_6ijtpvgQ9ncaAEgrhL3uczwyx80aZf6zCEzsTkwmaP9gyfN5THA/s320/IMG_2618.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Some more of the sweet lunches I enjoy here. I love cooking, but it's super sweet to have a home cooked meal 3 times a day that I do nothing but show up for (most of the time).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFy7DjpSc1Fx2Sud7C-ZwR9MzVHRx0qo9eeT9S9jCWcctl0XGtcW3Dg8MhAlVjTLnVkpL5TKxNNRFHQiwgrWSqGSs81MIOrVkVFz0U9QQApPEMb1ni-e-8yVomdAeJTLxss8zFRVCGU7rz/s1600/IMG_2613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFy7DjpSc1Fx2Sud7C-ZwR9MzVHRx0qo9eeT9S9jCWcctl0XGtcW3Dg8MhAlVjTLnVkpL5TKxNNRFHQiwgrWSqGSs81MIOrVkVFz0U9QQApPEMb1ni-e-8yVomdAeJTLxss8zFRVCGU7rz/s320/IMG_2613.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Can you see why I'm a little concerned at getting fat here? I ran 2 times this week because I ate arepas and drank avena so much!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvj7C_rEwp_N4AQFqO9up3qb0Si6qwLUSqLrX8IiHeiCZt5Iw_AcA_0qDGOmFBDuG4M-ew78RIeY9EIEx891cA85yZfRlag-h5FgtN9Kpz2p8ao49Mdg-CQk-TuEd_ag-IZJC-LIAHJai/s1600/IMG_2621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvj7C_rEwp_N4AQFqO9up3qb0Si6qwLUSqLrX8IiHeiCZt5Iw_AcA_0qDGOmFBDuG4M-ew78RIeY9EIEx891cA85yZfRlag-h5FgtN9Kpz2p8ao49Mdg-CQk-TuEd_ag-IZJC-LIAHJai/s320/IMG_2621.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
One of the fruits of my purchases. I can make boots like these...but for $20 I'm sold! These are one of my favorite pairs of boots. I went from 2 pairs of boots in the states, to the proud owner of 6 pairs total. I think I'm done shopping, it's just that things are SO CRAZY CHEAP here!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWCUadOeOCabtXDm243cdg-my6wY_SEDxh56COQ3mLsPzeCAL4M39tVe67n_VsKLe66V_FLt70BGyP0Ji5Ed_6lcCaF8T6w7EbhqVJIjt0TkiqSXb0re_i5sbHsHroE-XJD2tFJsuruf3/s1600/IMG_2615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWCUadOeOCabtXDm243cdg-my6wY_SEDxh56COQ3mLsPzeCAL4M39tVe67n_VsKLe66V_FLt70BGyP0Ji5Ed_6lcCaF8T6w7EbhqVJIjt0TkiqSXb0re_i5sbHsHroE-XJD2tFJsuruf3/s320/IMG_2615.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Saturday I was listening to some stories the family were telling and expecting I any moment there would be something I wouldn't understand, but it didn't happen. I understood them completely! (Now that is not always the case, but it is happening more and more often. Pretty sweet!)<br />
I was super excited for general conference this weekend. Initially I had intended on watching it in spanish, but after trying that for the relief society broadcast I decided against it. I was alone in my room when I heard the exciting news about a new temple in AZ! And I had no one to be shocked with about the new age option for missionaries. But it was a sweet experience. President Uchtdorf laid it down like he always does, and single-handedly answered almost all the questions I wrote down. But as usual it just kept coming. I loved all of it! I am so excited to have that counsel right now! It came at a perfect time to set my sails on where I need to go. I love that we have a living prophet and apostles that speak to us!<br />
Tonight they had me in charge of FHE. Of course the song I choose isn't in spanish, and they don't have any other songs about the prophets that I know. I gave the lesson and I wasn't so sure that it'd go well so I wrote down my thoughts so I would have all the words set up right, but I put my paper down and started and hardly looked at it. It turned out well!<br />
Well turns out I'm the same person speaking english and spanish. Today the mom and dad were teasing me about how sassy I am. And we are constantly dishing jokes back and forth. Well I am setting myself to a new schedule this week. Hopefully it will help my spanish skyrocket! Sure miss and love y'all! I'll write again next week if I'm alive ;) (I went to the stake center today with the family for conference and watched the morning session with the gringo missionaries...when they found out I was living in Bosa central they all got looks on their faces and said it was dangerous. I don't believe them, I've been here two weeks and it's been fine! Don't worry, I am very careful still.)Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-47205201402619623992012-09-30T18:12:00.001-07:002012-10-05T20:00:22.448-07:00Mi primera semana en Bogotá, Colombia!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have been informed (via my dear friends Allison & Kristin) that is has been two years since I wrote on my blog. I will try to go back and fill in this gap; I was really busy! (No surprise there.) But a few months ago I decided it was high time I get my spanish to where it should be and I bought a ticket I've been wanting to buy for years. Since a week ago Saturday, my life has changed dramatically! It's kind of sweet having no responsibilities...but it's only been a week, so maybe I'll be going crazy soon; but for now it's "chevere".</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here is an entry in my journal from the first night:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"I left a spacious 8 bedroom mansion with 12 single roommates and came to a cozy 3 bedroom apartment up a flight of stairs with a warm mother, father, & 3 kids just my age. I had experienced moments of the occasional slips in vocabulary or grammar, but now it's an exciting moment when I get an occasional full sentence out correctly. My car at my leisure to 80 cents for bus rides...this is going to be a sweet experience!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
One concern I had was not being able to be funny for a while since I knew my spanish is rough (I know--my concerns are deep and somewhat disconcerting), but this fear was alleviated my very first night. Though there were a few moments that passed because I was looking up words in the dictionary, I found that I know enough to throw out my typical Sam sass and get laughs from the whole family. It is a great feeling when you can't even speak the language completely, but the little you know combined with your wit is enough to make the family you just met laugh and laugh.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last night as I drove to drop off my car before I went to the airport, it hit me "I'm going to be all alone...I'm not going to know a soul. My phone is gone and it's just my spunky little self and God..." Let me tell ya--that thought got me SO excited! My heart filled with courage and I said out loud "Alright! It's you and me God. I'm really doing this, but it's just me and you!" All the calmness washed away and I was drenched in the most electrifying current of anticipation for a new adventure!"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My sweet new casa:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCg65x7Z8dk66B9puSpGplCeF61skMXpxH1eIzxjdehxfwR4XC3ruvb06z2s7UgKzjU2ZxVsTrFSj_pNQ2FxkmgO3yW6yx3mYwc3N4jgAC65xIb0aIh3ZgTYVQTHIo3Uj47iBq0BUk_yi_/s1600/IMG_2592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCg65x7Z8dk66B9puSpGplCeF61skMXpxH1eIzxjdehxfwR4XC3ruvb06z2s7UgKzjU2ZxVsTrFSj_pNQ2FxkmgO3yW6yx3mYwc3N4jgAC65xIb0aIh3ZgTYVQTHIo3Uj47iBq0BUk_yi_/s320/IMG_2592.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My cute little room. It's sweet because it's super easy for me to keep clean!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-jUdsnG4_xJ9rbLpPv12Xebfy1fv4g-ZykFn2KMb7PdULimJzvfL4TLHNjIkRMGYNs418ueyBz12XfCxuLgpLNip46R9bsksMqZewCJWDmJq2UExnnJ2buMkUHM08_wy-Edj6KfzRr90/s1600/IMG_2556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-jUdsnG4_xJ9rbLpPv12Xebfy1fv4g-ZykFn2KMb7PdULimJzvfL4TLHNjIkRMGYNs418ueyBz12XfCxuLgpLNip46R9bsksMqZewCJWDmJq2UExnnJ2buMkUHM08_wy-Edj6KfzRr90/s320/IMG_2556.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Andrés Felipe, Maria Eugenia, & myself on the stair with the family dogs. I normally don't like small dogs, but the one I am holding is pregnant, so she's way chill. I miss pets!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Lrg13pyS1dIdyLvmQQxj9WMTeRhqXqWZjCg8fxpWX04MGmbfczF7Tl_ACWPw_Kqx0fLKJR8wUsaNGAjBxQjIt1bDcH9GcOu4kRr3U21Dlh1XE4do9K8rY76CiGwUnwIfCmIJZjZytIc_/s1600/IMG_2566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Lrg13pyS1dIdyLvmQQxj9WMTeRhqXqWZjCg8fxpWX04MGmbfczF7Tl_ACWPw_Kqx0fLKJR8wUsaNGAjBxQjIt1bDcH9GcOu4kRr3U21Dlh1XE4do9K8rY76CiGwUnwIfCmIJZjZytIc_/s320/IMG_2566.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Martinez Family:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Me, Jhonatan, Luz Marina, Alfonso, Andrés Felipe, & Maria Eugenia</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2HfPVrOrAVlfLMCoXwnqvUAwT2ZSRcy24y6-9Wx2bhjpHzdLwTihTwXHaJWXpqLqW6sVdatPTklUToDZ07dounLMXngoBzi-n4XeeAou2a7kg8Od94I4h9w7OKv9AGg_REtTs-prdapS/s1600/IMG_2602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2HfPVrOrAVlfLMCoXwnqvUAwT2ZSRcy24y6-9Wx2bhjpHzdLwTihTwXHaJWXpqLqW6sVdatPTklUToDZ07dounLMXngoBzi-n4XeeAou2a7kg8Od94I4h9w7OKv9AGg_REtTs-prdapS/s320/IMG_2602.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(This week President Martinez walked in the door one day and called me Samantha Maria. It stuck and now that is how I introduce myself.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On Monday Hermana Martinez brought me to a different section of town for a little bit of history, fine dining, and shopping.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This was my first restaurant experience...I was pretty excited!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_htxUDo61p7JC6aG8ss7HccHTD22iPUR6DpM7MRywsby_oIEbc1r3sWUANeovhIXt_xpSk9mBqByptozUIKJv7h6IAe9S8c53eEmmv8BnOGzCx973_0WSfNKLWzClcApV9ovIL8JRNjo/s1600/IMG_2565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_htxUDo61p7JC6aG8ss7HccHTD22iPUR6DpM7MRywsby_oIEbc1r3sWUANeovhIXt_xpSk9mBqByptozUIKJv7h6IAe9S8c53eEmmv8BnOGzCx973_0WSfNKLWzClcApV9ovIL8JRNjo/s320/IMG_2565.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Since we're on the topic of food I snapped a couple other pictures. I have loved everything I have eaten so far. (Arepas & Avena are my favorite!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hermana Martinez is a great cook and breakfast is always hot food because it's so cold in the morning. (It's usually 46-64 degrees here...that might not seem cold to you, but remember--I'm a pansy.)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNyVinx2HMBTMuIPFO6g012iTtrKjVmwohya0pXFpr1wPCUATYH1DseM0aJpMHtNYVtwPXTysGE03yAJ9KKYKXQGSZHZ7ZROoZzWVtAinBNMyaOc7pbxrJBEWyhyHVxFU8gryPF5l94xO/s1600/IMG_2586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNyVinx2HMBTMuIPFO6g012iTtrKjVmwohya0pXFpr1wPCUATYH1DseM0aJpMHtNYVtwPXTysGE03yAJ9KKYKXQGSZHZ7ZROoZzWVtAinBNMyaOc7pbxrJBEWyhyHVxFU8gryPF5l94xO/s320/IMG_2586.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After the temple one day we went to Hermana Martinez' uncles home. His wife gave ma so much food! It might not look like it, but that is easily 2-3 times more then I eat! That beautifully formed pile of rice & meat was over 2-3 inches tall. Before we left she fed us two more times! (Thankfully they were much smaller portions.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrnx6LnacproISL6-okjixonrrrubREoJz5hrzw-BDRC9-S3VF1UrJZW7ya6w7gxz4Y4RgU1vGmEonqS88qFJPjI7C_vxZ7mnDheAfa5odcIII0qjuY6b_6O8hcrp7dc_smsWUTqO8ZXQ/s1600/IMG_2582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrnx6LnacproISL6-okjixonrrrubREoJz5hrzw-BDRC9-S3VF1UrJZW7ya6w7gxz4Y4RgU1vGmEonqS88qFJPjI7C_vxZ7mnDheAfa5odcIII0qjuY6b_6O8hcrp7dc_smsWUTqO8ZXQ/s320/IMG_2582.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
One of my favorite things here is that everyone I have seen cook (whether they have a lot of money or a little) cook in these tin pitchers: hot chocolate, potatoes, meat, rice...they are sweet!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kKsPml3EXwWboX1GqHe78fCwkP9TlSAHXmFyZWPKavHbi9vBQQfU0fCjtZsTmHxgkMqqdAOF43ZviCBs57Z6za3s6c2Y8SBFKLmKfYfUaZh_go8ECjGp9U7w25r-KcWMAeE0tkb1Hx8F/s1600/IMG_2587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kKsPml3EXwWboX1GqHe78fCwkP9TlSAHXmFyZWPKavHbi9vBQQfU0fCjtZsTmHxgkMqqdAOF43ZviCBs57Z6za3s6c2Y8SBFKLmKfYfUaZh_go8ECjGp9U7w25r-KcWMAeE0tkb1Hx8F/s320/IMG_2587.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Day 4 inspired me to write the following:<br />
<br />
A COUPLE THINGS I'VE LEARNED:<br />
-In the desert at Anasazi I used rocks for toilet paper, in Colombia my toilet paper smells like flowers because you don't flush it.<br />
-To be dehydrated when I go out. At Anasazi I was taught to be hydrated ALL the time, and it was ok because the whole world (well with a certain distance from water and camp) was my bathroom. Here I have to pay to use the bathroom and I get sweet little packets of toilet paper with puppy dog prints that also smell like flowers:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdI45jPLxGdCFUkkFrA-4AUeonwQVA-ih8P-Frr4I2gSCQsr0YNVSU8Su3GOTyQE4EFpRk0JLkfsMyLMbzxviBAQGK0O9aKWpjwGTfTYn36abQ88smme7zw4SXH6zKO3V9j7PR-xzYzgQf/s1600/IMG_2574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdI45jPLxGdCFUkkFrA-4AUeonwQVA-ih8P-Frr4I2gSCQsr0YNVSU8Su3GOTyQE4EFpRk0JLkfsMyLMbzxviBAQGK0O9aKWpjwGTfTYn36abQ88smme7zw4SXH6zKO3V9j7PR-xzYzgQf/s320/IMG_2574.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
SOMETHING I'LL BE DOING DIFFERENT:<br />
-I might have a new record for not shaving my legs. I have gone a month before on a dare, I might hit 2 1/2 months while I am here. I thought I took quick showers before, but I'm mastering the 3-5 min shower (which is not easy with long hair!)<br />
<br />
A COUPLE THINGS I NOW UNDERSTAND:<br />
-Why missionaries sometimes have a difficult time when they get home speaking their native language. (I have been trying so hard to think in spanish that by day three each time I wrote my parents I have to go slow because I keep trying to write in spanish).<br />
-Why people wear long underwear. Living off the Golf of Mexico and in Arizona my whole life I didn't know the joy of long underwear!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am so grateful for a temple so close to my house in Mesa! It took us almost 2 hours on a packed bus to get to the temple in Bogotá. Having learned the ordinances in spanish when I served in the Mesa temple is really paying off here!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78CHUavGtGroqpZnnetV3yi2Mw9Kv1Rxoz-ewcTSLdGD2kTtVgfy1SACbxHwB9qeEd6d_LA3BHKf1x2U7XF3MYm8y_vvoC8l6pbHsUsuh80RI7SGlx3C0osdd4cDY0UDU_Nwv4QXTjI0l/s1600/IMG_2581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78CHUavGtGroqpZnnetV3yi2Mw9Kv1Rxoz-ewcTSLdGD2kTtVgfy1SACbxHwB9qeEd6d_LA3BHKf1x2U7XF3MYm8y_vvoC8l6pbHsUsuh80RI7SGlx3C0osdd4cDY0UDU_Nwv4QXTjI0l/s320/IMG_2581.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Believe it or not my room is always clean...it's amazing what having time can do! But this little guy is always on my nightstand. My little luck charm, complements of Miss Aly Herred. (and yes, I know that is spelt wrong, but I like it better that way ;) ) </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAoxdxbDDKUcNgmwPQMWzqPn78X2y1NNLL2jKhxYCVOtDru_OoLMSlEJ43D3kBdd3PFHKUPYjoOKet-pzPB5sQTajNyzXtOYrETLRVsK4DSt-Pb00yOZPkN0xUVGkFWAFjTWkZRUTymF8/s1600/IMG_2588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAoxdxbDDKUcNgmwPQMWzqPn78X2y1NNLL2jKhxYCVOtDru_OoLMSlEJ43D3kBdd3PFHKUPYjoOKet-pzPB5sQTajNyzXtOYrETLRVsK4DSt-Pb00yOZPkN0xUVGkFWAFjTWkZRUTymF8/s320/IMG_2588.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is the street I live on, and this is me running. I am not in the shape I used to be, but this is my weekly Jog for Jamie in action:</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGr4RyaLJZE1EH1rQAMlMUaFO4d0slgIq4kQjnmGIXakY-SN7BmsTKSqxiZUAtB0HX5jUzDnXbH5XDavfFxapmpqGsHZHzvPgL_hvCznB9dQc0ynPJ_0Lhxy6lTHPhuzjLhF5WBF3NwblS/s1600/IMG_2599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGr4RyaLJZE1EH1rQAMlMUaFO4d0slgIq4kQjnmGIXakY-SN7BmsTKSqxiZUAtB0HX5jUzDnXbH5XDavfFxapmpqGsHZHzvPgL_hvCznB9dQc0ynPJ_0Lhxy6lTHPhuzjLhF5WBF3NwblS/s320/IMG_2599.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
A FEW MORE FUNNY THINGS:<br />
I have been here for over a week and I am never offered water. I knew that water is less commonly drunk in South America, but I didn't know it was NEVER. For breakfast it is always hot chocolate, for lunch it is fresh pressed juice (which I LOVE), & for dinner it is either juice or soda of some sort...and sometimes hot chocolate.<br />
I have to make sure I take the right amount because I know I must always clean my plate. Even though I take smaller portions, I still get fed a lot and so I have been exercising in my room daily so I will still be recognized when I get home and don't get swallowed by SamanthaMaria. (Today The family put all the food by me and were teasing me to eat more, so I asked them "Why do you not want me to return to the states skinny?!" and they all laughed. I said it wasn't a laughing matter for me & my future husband, and then we all laughed.)<br />
Friday was the first time that I didn't clean my plate, for lunch or dinner. I just can't eat this much! I don't know how missionaries do it! I think the reason I couldn't eat all of my lunch was because I had a big plate of food AND a big bowl of lintels! If only the young walkers on the trail could have seen my face when I saw these lentils! I was SO excited. And I gobbled them up; but if you've eaten lentils before then you know how filling they are!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoqcU2vfIkqo9WNVhyEh69noESMx9nOjSnLMtKnW3_WaBapSCOBYsvJwsbr_SByHCggm0LKwVmG97H6SNHqX3tIWSMAWrv2hVagnUCpkutj97oeXz2QAIMc6jyYkcFpCNRiXQcdUd_rOp/s1600/IMG_2595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoqcU2vfIkqo9WNVhyEh69noESMx9nOjSnLMtKnW3_WaBapSCOBYsvJwsbr_SByHCggm0LKwVmG97H6SNHqX3tIWSMAWrv2hVagnUCpkutj97oeXz2QAIMc6jyYkcFpCNRiXQcdUd_rOp/s320/IMG_2595.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Saturday I went to an institute activity and learned how to salsa dance better. Here is Andrés and I all dolled up to go. I am sporting my first pair of skinny jeans. In a truly girly moment I broke down and bought 2 pairs 'because I needed them to go with my new boots'!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv67vEdkA7ARXj9N-yi8zAPLYknviTs8pvVYLAkUVMbDAjI0Ord2oQ-uwLyMUvCnieMWSo9PSexe3txjJjPlqi5QGXSJV7YtgJpeBpF1hLLrY1_SRlPSSaI_M751eZPZvvnM53epMzWH3T/s1600/IMG_2600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv67vEdkA7ARXj9N-yi8zAPLYknviTs8pvVYLAkUVMbDAjI0Ord2oQ-uwLyMUvCnieMWSo9PSexe3txjJjPlqi5QGXSJV7YtgJpeBpF1hLLrY1_SRlPSSaI_M751eZPZvvnM53epMzWH3T/s320/IMG_2600.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
FUNNIEST STORIES OF THE WEEK:<br />
There have been some pretty funny moments with the family, but one of the best happened Friday morning. I was talking with Hermana Martinez after breakfast and we were talking about the wash. I said that I needed to buy some 'calcetines' (socks) because I had only brought two pair. (It's important to note that I had been here for 7 days by this point.) The conversation moved on and then got brought back up, and I said I just didn't think about bring more because I don't wear them often in Arizona. This is when I found out that in Colombia 'celcetas' means underwear and they call socks 'medias'! So she thought I only had two pairs of underwear, and it had been a week, and I hadn't done my wash yet! We had a good laugh over that one.<br />
Tuesday was one of the best moments I've had of saying the wrong thing. President Martinez asked me to pray (which I had done with the family several times already)--very basic prayers, but they work. Well this time I was giving thanks for the safety we had that day, for the gospel, & for the food. I went to bless the food...but I could <i>not</i> remember the word "bless, so I said "por favor puede que este comida que esta bien"--which is a very crude way of saying "please you(God) could that this food to be ok." I said it fast because I didn't want to wait to think of the correct way to say it. So I ended the prayer and President Martinez bursts out laughing and says "bendice" (the word 'bless'). We all had a hard laugh over my sad attempt to bless the food. It was particularly funny because that day they had all been commenting on my spanish having improved greatly since I got here.<br />
<br />
I have already learned so much and I am loving my experience! The family is so kind and very funny; it's been a pleasure living with them. We'll see how busy I get, but I'm really trying to keep things chill so there should be a post each week.Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-60769301802785662302010-12-05T14:58:00.001-08:002010-12-05T15:03:32.705-08:00Blog BackupI started writing a Christmas letter for the first time this year to send to all my family and friends, and after multiple edits and still not getting it under two pages I realized it was best I just update my blog so those who are interested can come enjoy my comical/amazing life as they please. I say comical because I find myself quite comical...I crack myself up constantly, also I happen upon some very comical situations quite frequently. I say amazing not because I think I am so amazing, but because I truly have the most amazing things happen to me and I am surrounded by some of the most amazing people this world holds.Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-51009165894078187392010-10-29T15:57:00.000-07:002010-12-13T16:29:04.609-08:00Total Sam Story!<div>When I got in my car accident 2 years ago and totaled poor Johnny I had to buy a replacement car fast. I got a beater that was running well, and didn't plan on keeping it this long. When I brought it to the mechanic over a smaller issue I asked them about some other problems I had been noticing, and half a day later they came back with a report of about $2500 worth of major issues (which I had a feeling were going on). From shot struts to warped drum brakes to some lightbulbs being out, I was not going to dump that much money into a 20 year old, 225,000 mile piece of work. I set to looking for a new car but after a couple of weeks got tired of looking at peoples "looks like new" dump cars that clearly had problems written all over them. I stopped for a few months, and then grew concerned of stranding myself somewhere in my car I started the search again. After a couple of weeks I got frustrated again, but called my dad for assistance. Within hours he e-mailed me a list of cars and the second one on the list I bought a day later. The following day I went out of down for four days, and then came home and worked from 6 AM to 7 PM, only getting home around 10. The next morning I thought I really needed to get my other car put on Craigslist, and even though I hadn't had the time to clean it out or wash or vacuum it I thought I would get those things down over the next weekend. The next night I checked my e-mail and to my surprise I had over 15 e-mails, 3 from the same guy. It was too late to call him back, so I called the next day. Long story short he came over, drove it with me, and offered me cash.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lets look at a picture:</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JSqysoNozFla1ar3JMd1YUm_LIYAJoOS2TTBpJeou-F60bSDy7UP96LJenPREWOOUPko1homWS-TkXUsFC_5z3hKK6JMFcsIxdOPo1pBsswbz0RVXVkXvOhdpt6E7k8gnMlX766vvEna/s1600/IMG_1002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JSqysoNozFla1ar3JMd1YUm_LIYAJoOS2TTBpJeou-F60bSDy7UP96LJenPREWOOUPko1homWS-TkXUsFC_5z3hKK6JMFcsIxdOPo1pBsswbz0RVXVkXvOhdpt6E7k8gnMlX766vvEna/s320/IMG_1002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550321398588140930" /></a><br /><div>It was dark, so you couldn't tell the outside of the car was unwashed, but the inside was pretty bad. Between camping, hiking, and watching two little boys who are a mess, it gets pretty trashed. Add this to not having vacuumed it in a good year or so (maybe it was more recent...but not much more recent). Dust and dirt everywhere he wanted to buy it. I walked in the house with two arms full of empty water bottles that were stashed under my seats and my roommate Allison busted up. It took at least another trip like that! I had my emergency stuff in the trunk still. And I hadn't even notarized the title!</div><div><br /></div><div>First person, 2 days after the post, 20 year old car, 225,000 miles, unnotarized title, dirty outside, messy inside...only Sam can/would sell a car like that! Haha</div><div><br /></div><div>I love how comical my life is!</div>Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-71887183089064511592010-10-12T11:05:00.000-07:002010-12-12T14:28:02.862-08:00San Diego<div>I have a pretty small family (3 kids in my fam, dad has a brother with 3 kids, mom has two brothers with 2 kids each, and a sister with 9 kids), despite our few numbers somehow we managed sprawl across the whole US...seriously we are coast to coast, top to bottom. This made getting to know my cousins more difficult, but with dedicated parents it was still possible. The cousins we were closest with were my mom's sisters kids because they lived the closest...and, well, sisters stick together more. I have many fond memories of Aunt Beth and Uncle Jeff and their children, but keeping up with them all now is a challenge. My cousin Mary and her Husband, Ehren, live in San Diego. After Mary came to Phoenix a couple of times for business I finally got my act together and took them up on their offer to go visit them.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have always loved Mary, and it was great fun getting to laugh about times past. I had only met Ehren once before, but was impressed by how fun loving he was. We all had Columbus day off, so I took the opportunity to go over. The whole trip was a delight! I enjoyed great conversations with them, they fed me some wonderful dishes, and we had a lot of laughs together. I love watching people interact, and I was so impressed by Mary and Ehren's relationship. I appreciated the excellent example they were to me of a strong and good marriage. Mary is due in January and I kept thinking about what a lucky baby he will be because he will have wonderful parents.</div><div><br /></div><div>On Monday we went to Lego land, the first time for all of us. You might think that these places are only fun to bring children to...but they are actually more fun if you go with friends who are still like children...we all fit the bill for this! If only we could have captured the look on Ehren's face when he saw Darth Vader made out of small legos, priceless!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9Eonfen-qy5tuEK0zTVUVX90YHZwMnfNe4Zpu9Muq3sarC5UfMAHLrzvD9MymdT5TNWgzK9xfXqbLWJxJjRW4Ej9U2iWlOjoIuPFxagK8vkJFUo5Xx_GfjRwJJd1lcm6eY-jUk6HjMuo/s1600/P9110121.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9Eonfen-qy5tuEK0zTVUVX90YHZwMnfNe4Zpu9Muq3sarC5UfMAHLrzvD9MymdT5TNWgzK9xfXqbLWJxJjRW4Ej9U2iWlOjoIuPFxagK8vkJFUo5Xx_GfjRwJJd1lcm6eY-jUk6HjMuo/s320/P9110121.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548020909389749810" /></a><br /><div>I couldn't help but to kiss this Italian pizza man with a sailors tattoo on his bicep and chest hair curling out of his wife-beater. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfakmQhnewZ5u3cOG054ghGGrOvrOBY9TOZxfrjLdYId2Xa9ctwP4roParpynmqFpY0b_LxDOCt0Gds6hmcAS1ko8YM0EIObpPHjG0KY8fnDsDf9XdJYlnrBhiYBy_9t0xJfOLuLfSRxh0/s1600/IMG_0976.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfakmQhnewZ5u3cOG054ghGGrOvrOBY9TOZxfrjLdYId2Xa9ctwP4roParpynmqFpY0b_LxDOCt0Gds6hmcAS1ko8YM0EIObpPHjG0KY8fnDsDf9XdJYlnrBhiYBy_9t0xJfOLuLfSRxh0/s320/IMG_0976.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548020906667791154" /></a><br /></div><div>They even had chia pets! If you have not been to Lego land this alone might make it worth going.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBwufR9l_LkJSZuvpFmpvF_1I1efLc_oBMBWfLi-z8XR4ZNG_gm2goY_E_SiuE9tYFG4kOfSz40FXEK4-aKQZWoT7-EJZ77ZXXS-_zJ0qf-BL56ySxrpUtpJLckEhMWIMGtgzIaATzWvN/s1600/P9110122.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBwufR9l_LkJSZuvpFmpvF_1I1efLc_oBMBWfLi-z8XR4ZNG_gm2goY_E_SiuE9tYFG4kOfSz40FXEK4-aKQZWoT7-EJZ77ZXXS-_zJ0qf-BL56ySxrpUtpJLckEhMWIMGtgzIaATzWvN/s320/P9110122.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548020899132138754" /></a><br /></div><div>Lego land also has rides, we could not resist the potato sack ride, and so Ehren, their friend, and I all set out to see who was fastest.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmr7lqbX_SiU7tVULBpWTPBtX89AdpXT4JCgykdIUMPCQsDAtMmbt1fPnsUP2NP5OUnQwoZlyRjAEMY3MB-fgb6kDOzgvg1BuApUOoiMMAtRpYwZA9IqfMTWl_elcbUQTvfJeWk9ruRZ8/s1600/P9110148.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmr7lqbX_SiU7tVULBpWTPBtX89AdpXT4JCgykdIUMPCQsDAtMmbt1fPnsUP2NP5OUnQwoZlyRjAEMY3MB-fgb6kDOzgvg1BuApUOoiMMAtRpYwZA9IqfMTWl_elcbUQTvfJeWk9ruRZ8/s320/P9110148.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548020890750385122" /></a><br /></div><div>I was determined, despite my being small, to win the race...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17c1hZZgqc-mtEZncsNx9Wgb0Vs4DzuneH-DXt7-e6bFthBvMYni9OufGvvJquBBEZQXtxkCgTOm1gkmCvcoc3KAZpYGeoYFuw-3ytxIzpwsl5gfzHbAwBVW_CWMK1vJP-jAIfyb2N4gC/s1600/P9110149.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17c1hZZgqc-mtEZncsNx9Wgb0Vs4DzuneH-DXt7-e6bFthBvMYni9OufGvvJquBBEZQXtxkCgTOm1gkmCvcoc3KAZpYGeoYFuw-3ytxIzpwsl5gfzHbAwBVW_CWMK1vJP-jAIfyb2N4gC/s320/P9110149.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548020884823052562" /></a><br /></div><div>...and determination here pays off!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEKGm6IoJu5bBv5mgQYAoW1uMuw2sULfe_ytJDcnaNp0oBnFgzRLoYWEtAg_NXrwRt5zExPhjAyYD0Eujn_ImAguuQpkmFtrvdMfNEb9HWm83eSCMoTUyew-FlwtFZz8HRnIffxtMOX9s/s1600/P9110150.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEKGm6IoJu5bBv5mgQYAoW1uMuw2sULfe_ytJDcnaNp0oBnFgzRLoYWEtAg_NXrwRt5zExPhjAyYD0Eujn_ImAguuQpkmFtrvdMfNEb9HWm83eSCMoTUyew-FlwtFZz8HRnIffxtMOX9s/s320/P9110150.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548019885881971746" /></a><br /></div><div>Me, Mary, and Ehren.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkdXelrWHUfOvdUSYHcxDT79v2n082uo-RWmb3gMJlySlwlPRVaNm6kmSJ0dq3E9R-FybdFZ5ZXL7jRmkvznoOO2ZgZ6GVvvWJDIpOivSSReBqTTiyQPGGk4n6g9pmmnog2OFvOpgvkLP/s1600/IMG_0980.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkdXelrWHUfOvdUSYHcxDT79v2n082uo-RWmb3gMJlySlwlPRVaNm6kmSJ0dq3E9R-FybdFZ5ZXL7jRmkvznoOO2ZgZ6GVvvWJDIpOivSSReBqTTiyQPGGk4n6g9pmmnog2OFvOpgvkLP/s320/IMG_0980.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548019879517140290" /></a><br /></div><div>Me making a wish with the witch at the wishing well.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaDl7IcIw8YXQ5-VI2UA-1DeXqCMVPAUHhTWNivBr-XxprcnfuAVQoG0rAGiXmgir5Qof-NKFTBe4-erRCoLr9eGY0IIIAWpDbiML26MGSB_YrTOxMujVhbGJuKIc4UxruI4oYdbgz1bf/s1600/IMG_0983.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaDl7IcIw8YXQ5-VI2UA-1DeXqCMVPAUHhTWNivBr-XxprcnfuAVQoG0rAGiXmgir5Qof-NKFTBe4-erRCoLr9eGY0IIIAWpDbiML26MGSB_YrTOxMujVhbGJuKIc4UxruI4oYdbgz1bf/s320/IMG_0983.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548019870188139410" /></a><br /></div><div>I was in a sharks mouth! (Don't worry, no sharks were harmed in this construction of the lego shark.)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfp-4JcZqU9UIRw6uIwjxR9BTW6kG48c9aJvGkHpMQJ0LkKAp6c1H6Qbj3vFfxWmlmiANo1NuKGP-2Yq3aDbsjWshjfjQHLHmT5R3JldcxbY_mQVwPb5i1nx1LTKtc9HYGWmu6hDlssXl4/s1600/IMG_0991.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfp-4JcZqU9UIRw6uIwjxR9BTW6kG48c9aJvGkHpMQJ0LkKAp6c1H6Qbj3vFfxWmlmiANo1NuKGP-2Yq3aDbsjWshjfjQHLHmT5R3JldcxbY_mQVwPb5i1nx1LTKtc9HYGWmu6hDlssXl4/s320/IMG_0991.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548019860841183922" /></a><br /></div><div>Ehren and I the morning I left. I love their hats!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-aktDDKCcDtYn5YyErqFHSAEt99aDXAqQ0UMQYZy9qWJMbt27IwXTfIjfBn2dM0cewNlYw1YWDInR5sAy0woI1VqvO8nhAndnZDc9UKkaZvu9NItzVy3kZbu132P5OUTUXvfq4o3Vr9n/s1600/IMG_0996.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-aktDDKCcDtYn5YyErqFHSAEt99aDXAqQ0UMQYZy9qWJMbt27IwXTfIjfBn2dM0cewNlYw1YWDInR5sAy0woI1VqvO8nhAndnZDc9UKkaZvu9NItzVy3kZbu132P5OUTUXvfq4o3Vr9n/s320/IMG_0996.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548019855646561266" /></a><br /></div>Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-71322169901451294662010-10-05T17:19:00.000-07:002010-12-12T15:11:56.985-08:00Classy Party<div>I have some pretty awesome friends, it's true. They always come up with some pretty great ideas, and my old roommate, Amanda Kvavle's, idea was no exception. We had been talking about old movies and discovered we both love Doris Day. This spawned the idea to have a classy party. Plans were made, the date was set, and classiness resulted.</div><div>While the boys were off at the Priesthood session of General Conference we got all dolled up in the most hip 40's era dresses, shawls, shoes, hats, and other accessories. Down to Kiwanis Park we went with our croquette set and chilled bottles of IBC cream soda...very classy, I know.</div><div><br /></div><div>Amanda, Allison, and I posing before the game.</div><div>(note the blue sky with a few white clouds)</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdwcaw6z0fYlNTmlAFzh4SNEtBpTbOl19ThyphenhyphenT0ug9iJfxljypPjk3Ex5EsUPwK0MV7FRNEkITpbcugpIiOzaHTZZNN7ThZakyZQs9cCWNyXOaoUXprXbncU_Qy62U5EUt6QWxmEsQ38ui/s1600/IMG_0962.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdwcaw6z0fYlNTmlAFzh4SNEtBpTbOl19ThyphenhyphenT0ug9iJfxljypPjk3Ex5EsUPwK0MV7FRNEkITpbcugpIiOzaHTZZNN7ThZakyZQs9cCWNyXOaoUXprXbncU_Qy62U5EUt6QWxmEsQ38ui/s320/IMG_0962.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547375280981743554" /></a><br /><div>Allison starting us off.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoPXqvU8a3fxZjGR1GjpGq6T1CBoIh-ufnegcQVEvDyapdds1YrMkjhlp9f0GndcIWaUQxa5AVXHN7ylUHAgS9CH20GzMJxFim0C5ml_WzmQeHJR1bJMfRlGOGy9UYbJUucgC8DZp3oo5/s1600/IMG_0963.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoPXqvU8a3fxZjGR1GjpGq6T1CBoIh-ufnegcQVEvDyapdds1YrMkjhlp9f0GndcIWaUQxa5AVXHN7ylUHAgS9CH20GzMJxFim0C5ml_WzmQeHJR1bJMfRlGOGy9UYbJUucgC8DZp3oo5/s320/IMG_0963.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547375271633921714" /></a><br /></div><div>Amanda was the most classy with her white gloves.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLG4FT406DcysIHuqXrID9QIj1TIs2leye_b_xPCX67xJC_UInaPIN_Xzt8dzdYvXCcDN9krOobNrL8r1Ue-V8eSyQq461WowpNEjFxTYVBFqJxZiGuSDQvJpxfIYA-PwlWkPn3-YyRHE/s1600/IMG_1318.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLG4FT406DcysIHuqXrID9QIj1TIs2leye_b_xPCX67xJC_UInaPIN_Xzt8dzdYvXCcDN9krOobNrL8r1Ue-V8eSyQq461WowpNEjFxTYVBFqJxZiGuSDQvJpxfIYA-PwlWkPn3-YyRHE/s320/IMG_1318.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547375262992903874" /></a><br /></div><div>Me being a poser as usual.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdSPRg8LdKyU3H1XF6blOvULAt250X74Xm6nhRtLZSXR901cK2E-TdclXDHqayHXxWXAuGfZsxXiHitOFWT97yi7IEFHXw1AEFvXHLweX_LlE_RpGo7mHrTbQ29VP8j7wVXFpB3x1j40X/s1600/IMG_1324.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdSPRg8LdKyU3H1XF6blOvULAt250X74Xm6nhRtLZSXR901cK2E-TdclXDHqayHXxWXAuGfZsxXiHitOFWT97yi7IEFHXw1AEFvXHLweX_LlE_RpGo7mHrTbQ29VP8j7wVXFpB3x1j40X/s320/IMG_1324.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547374179700888962" /></a><br /></div><div>Al doing a better job at posing then me.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2KxYGk3GArL3U44J7hoKwLYZCBu5Zrlcx3uZW8hcB7R6s3tu9sQK3yfC4AFNuhfHrc78vrso5GxVsfRdyPLrJXYr3xAUSO53jwzXTFajyly68alD93ZIzKJMF3VivrkIDJmO3uyy562N/s1600/IMG_1331.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2KxYGk3GArL3U44J7hoKwLYZCBu5Zrlcx3uZW8hcB7R6s3tu9sQK3yfC4AFNuhfHrc78vrso5GxVsfRdyPLrJXYr3xAUSO53jwzXTFajyly68alD93ZIzKJMF3VivrkIDJmO3uyy562N/s320/IMG_1331.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547374167649002114" /></a><br /></div><div>Al and me making a cheers for a friendly but competitive game...which I won.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_iZQOXKm2c2lxsz1-ZLyI6vULuZOZIyN9KS7A3bivQJLsQJddaAtphFyGIPKOeQbtydIhGPG3aR0C6ROg96HLl-_wxi8ffyqDPuhrITrbr-n6IaIE_EIjwzlh6SQ8BGR15Rv3hjlCcZ7/s1600/IMG_0969.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_iZQOXKm2c2lxsz1-ZLyI6vULuZOZIyN9KS7A3bivQJLsQJddaAtphFyGIPKOeQbtydIhGPG3aR0C6ROg96HLl-_wxi8ffyqDPuhrITrbr-n6IaIE_EIjwzlh6SQ8BGR15Rv3hjlCcZ7/s320/IMG_0969.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547374161333423634" /></a><br /></div><div>Me, Amanda, and Allison looking very classy with our croquette clubs under an awesome, late season monsoon sky.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlaTAMdbvRRjuz9SSNbYT56pxBeGmvlrsWZi0KjzSo5w8Lt32zcryQMe_0yAFOr76FSIjTdnc3D5TA5b_Owe4X61CS2t5Wn-ck-7mjfPbosvjL5HONKeb0ST4srUKfUYdfjBddPf3_7Dp/s1600/IMG_0973.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlaTAMdbvRRjuz9SSNbYT56pxBeGmvlrsWZi0KjzSo5w8Lt32zcryQMe_0yAFOr76FSIjTdnc3D5TA5b_Owe4X61CS2t5Wn-ck-7mjfPbosvjL5HONKeb0ST4srUKfUYdfjBddPf3_7Dp/s320/IMG_0973.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547374152326393346" /></a><br /><div>During the game an awesome storm started forming and by the end of our game the sky looked incredible!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoJouGvb3kbVbgAW4gmo2bqlaFo7qsuRNKWRYpVJHgGRUAfmq8NWXz3mcPGoVNf_H0tTaQUxiZm1ncSDOLxiFRG741bBf_ryGAU5aZhbtIWX8FPY3xN4xsJt5HOdIbNVbURIlTHDd1sky/s1600/IMG_0975.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoJouGvb3kbVbgAW4gmo2bqlaFo7qsuRNKWRYpVJHgGRUAfmq8NWXz3mcPGoVNf_H0tTaQUxiZm1ncSDOLxiFRG741bBf_ryGAU5aZhbtIWX8FPY3xN4xsJt5HOdIbNVbURIlTHDd1sky/s320/IMG_0975.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547374148611079906" /></a><br /></div><div>After a very classy dinner party the boys came over to watch <i>Glass Bottom Boat</i> featuring Ms. Doris Day, CLASSIC and <i>classy</i>, making it an essential part of our evening. Amanda brought old school, individual popcorn boxes--they were sweet! Side note: if you have never added Hot Tamales to your freshly popped butter popcorn you are missing out!</div></div>Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-41433022534025098612010-09-16T16:33:00.000-07:002010-12-13T17:52:21.142-08:00I love being an Auntie!<div>The same day that my nephew Carson was born my sister's sister-in-law had a little girl, Kaleigh Ann Kleiner. (she was born at 9PM on 09/09/09). I have the wonderful opportunity to go visit with her and her mama, Jenna, almost every week. These two little ones are the light of my life; when all else goes wrong and then I walk in their houses to see their faces light up, the world gets set right again!</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are 9 month photos they took of the two of them. My sister and her husband were just so excited they kept him alive that long! They high-five each other all the time over keeping him alive.</div><div><br /></div><div>Already drooling over girls...we'll have to talk about it being his cousin...</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_Q7VPuCXJX1oBmiqI2B2ngCe7MMYbvignje71syrpq9gZgvFmlnnKdwoP06O_nzWrhToWWFsgkQ7TI6siqdy2ovP5ZifuhVeHRlhpNJBG00caMoSmLHIKNeaOx_wiskSxqzSQWPBPWUy/s1600/IMG_2614.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_Q7VPuCXJX1oBmiqI2B2ngCe7MMYbvignje71syrpq9gZgvFmlnnKdwoP06O_nzWrhToWWFsgkQ7TI6siqdy2ovP5ZifuhVeHRlhpNJBG00caMoSmLHIKNeaOx_wiskSxqzSQWPBPWUy/s320/IMG_2614.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550339116359170242" /></a><br /><div>They are so cute! I hope they grow up to be the best of friends!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wiZWJ6eMvuzk5OOemQKJwhzjEC0ck3V_gcO7KFprABMom3jvQTYWryXRP9bXknQ3t7mDQ3JjY8D72WuC1c2AJNpml1fYqjbIVPKMjE_05nMERNQRwVhWY5hdBCO33Nyx1v9k3Za_fbmb/s1600/IMG_2615.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wiZWJ6eMvuzk5OOemQKJwhzjEC0ck3V_gcO7KFprABMom3jvQTYWryXRP9bXknQ3t7mDQ3JjY8D72WuC1c2AJNpml1fYqjbIVPKMjE_05nMERNQRwVhWY5hdBCO33Nyx1v9k3Za_fbmb/s320/IMG_2615.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550339099171247314" /></a><br /></div><div>At 10 months old they bought him his first cowboy hat. He loves wearing it, especially when mama and daddy are wearing their cowboy hats too!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGurNQ9UpI82C9tiGILobrq8X5PHfa3tIMLwNfXVPW1c_7yRJp5_16OeLtvNeq-if79OIc2_DA0QgPGDHS_7PX0wBWRvA-vQQ3qHo2H8poMCnDiyX1JA_J7IXtNLRyCkwvbGKPuCXFXbnS/s1600/IMG00004-20100622-1453.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGurNQ9UpI82C9tiGILobrq8X5PHfa3tIMLwNfXVPW1c_7yRJp5_16OeLtvNeq-if79OIc2_DA0QgPGDHS_7PX0wBWRvA-vQQ3qHo2H8poMCnDiyX1JA_J7IXtNLRyCkwvbGKPuCXFXbnS/s320/IMG00004-20100622-1453.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550339091351445650" /></a><br /></div><div>Over the summer Carson fell in love with the pool. He especially loves being thrown in the air, and Robin caught the perfect picture of me throwing him!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfaFmXgtfqKsOwqnfslEt1sUmd8ptCYJPgWaVfWgELfDX86c_yPk1LAvN7j1mHLi9MHFB1DOGKFa711SGLuJk0D1NeLDZ4ANcZO1j5gpNhqoomZOplXL0ZrRcFiBgwCRSLqqyrSHn55XBz/s1600/IMG_0887.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfaFmXgtfqKsOwqnfslEt1sUmd8ptCYJPgWaVfWgELfDX86c_yPk1LAvN7j1mHLi9MHFB1DOGKFa711SGLuJk0D1NeLDZ4ANcZO1j5gpNhqoomZOplXL0ZrRcFiBgwCRSLqqyrSHn55XBz/s320/IMG_0887.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550339087410958546" /></a><br /></div><div>On their first birthdays we went shopping for their presents. My big grin is due to the fact that when both of them saw me they started reaching for me. Nothing thrills an auntie more then when the little ones she loves love her back!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisM1ctcKo_c2kaQNVSMu7YRkm_JcZdHy1FzURUsPcGl4Um0wEaLARwAgvjN4QOOgvr15TUnXROpS_wioyYo-G3LRTPL-460qNN-yW04GGql-q9fPL46E__zPNxpsoFbIUo5QwHz50Lfd_O/s1600/IMG_0935.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisM1ctcKo_c2kaQNVSMu7YRkm_JcZdHy1FzURUsPcGl4Um0wEaLARwAgvjN4QOOgvr15TUnXROpS_wioyYo-G3LRTPL-460qNN-yW04GGql-q9fPL46E__zPNxpsoFbIUo5QwHz50Lfd_O/s320/IMG_0935.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550339082879831266" /></a><br /></div><div>Robin made giant cupcakes for each of them. Carson is protesting that it's not big enough! ;)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFI1kT8M9fayOO-60e2QJdwVz6XcG4kBr8yo1vSGiRsbNgG-MWohNnTHy4yTAUdO3USypzSXVfKQZWCAkn5Jr23Sa0jJ967qM_LI4WleCnVDeDUWewVZv2ELqsJcCVf6CnKBKbS1w4En57/s1600/IMG_0945.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFI1kT8M9fayOO-60e2QJdwVz6XcG4kBr8yo1vSGiRsbNgG-MWohNnTHy4yTAUdO3USypzSXVfKQZWCAkn5Jr23Sa0jJ967qM_LI4WleCnVDeDUWewVZv2ELqsJcCVf6CnKBKbS1w4En57/s320/IMG_0945.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550337380493230402" /></a><br /></div><div>Kayleigh mows hers before we even lit the candle to sing!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdje_d4bydtQKgFeMFAHnUCPmUYLxKJ-1o251wXRR016DpRd-AQQ2gCcKzsd-iHDjuijuIZZ_y4SCLBk9hTE9K6X6nbddGjpu99K11v0uZ16Tns6bJPhYmh8VWXYkmteH7u4xT5s_YbzD/s1600/IMG_0947.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdje_d4bydtQKgFeMFAHnUCPmUYLxKJ-1o251wXRR016DpRd-AQQ2gCcKzsd-iHDjuijuIZZ_y4SCLBk9hTE9K6X6nbddGjpu99K11v0uZ16Tns6bJPhYmh8VWXYkmteH7u4xT5s_YbzD/s320/IMG_0947.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550337370291365538" /></a><br /></div><div>My parents came into town to be here for Carson's first birthday. They took up to the botanical gardens, which were super cool. I tried to get a shot of Carson and my sister but he was too enthralled by the flower in his hand.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDoHpb773EN-O3is4tOKaoc_HGEulOZI3j6XEsazvzkdrdJOCcWslnQwE1Y2oPhqrzpm86nmJKCv_5eeHUWmzRPolCcBPdJF5633hlhda-zC7X_SuYisIKN6T71cQnFHwCcLxwa7UZrk_v/s1600/131.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDoHpb773EN-O3is4tOKaoc_HGEulOZI3j6XEsazvzkdrdJOCcWslnQwE1Y2oPhqrzpm86nmJKCv_5eeHUWmzRPolCcBPdJF5633hlhda-zC7X_SuYisIKN6T71cQnFHwCcLxwa7UZrk_v/s320/131.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550337364440258706" /></a><br /></div><div>Getting a little dirt on his face while grandma sets up a garden for them.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6-ZMcUkawfUDihOy6k8Z4zfeVj7Q2i6L8UzRpN27PZDbHrOp9cGttsAR3d2JuC7A6BN0ehH1duyvpiVd25O1lifFEsJ0gjJQst2__D9WsSHsfTKa-VgAnnYJU2LP6XcoE5rxQ3hpGN4-/s1600/156.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6-ZMcUkawfUDihOy6k8Z4zfeVj7Q2i6L8UzRpN27PZDbHrOp9cGttsAR3d2JuC7A6BN0ehH1duyvpiVd25O1lifFEsJ0gjJQst2__D9WsSHsfTKa-VgAnnYJU2LP6XcoE5rxQ3hpGN4-/s320/156.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550337359474779794" /></a><br /></div><div>Look at that face! I just love him!!!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ku6VmDdudclFqc1lyygeITgVDfiFRG3DCmYqgOiw6Nk9eLUtL_ZJdtfKUuO4Ghcw_k7fZNXfhvkAAreq-MYp5Tde_pRbwIW4F_C1L4mczC1VUiElsG4v_IEzQijddZKINYv4emaUOFqM/s1600/060.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ku6VmDdudclFqc1lyygeITgVDfiFRG3DCmYqgOiw6Nk9eLUtL_ZJdtfKUuO4Ghcw_k7fZNXfhvkAAreq-MYp5Tde_pRbwIW4F_C1L4mczC1VUiElsG4v_IEzQijddZKINYv4emaUOFqM/s320/060.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550337353470975410" /></a><br /><div>For Jasons birthday I got him a new cowboy hat and Robin snapped this impromptu photo of them, I think it's my favorite shot of the two of them!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHTUAYO4kUef15UkuXdthhzr_mb7yLVRnDDVbHJH4WPyjZxbh9KevlH0TnPkkqSUQ8XTvgNX61JZZFMJ_auZujgrPdjLCBMyhECITp2HGKkw5hLYwqvQZXh5nNkvzD-WPSA5OoIV8q5p6/s1600/shot_1286333524947.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 276px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHTUAYO4kUef15UkuXdthhzr_mb7yLVRnDDVbHJH4WPyjZxbh9KevlH0TnPkkqSUQ8XTvgNX61JZZFMJ_auZujgrPdjLCBMyhECITp2HGKkw5hLYwqvQZXh5nNkvzD-WPSA5OoIV8q5p6/s320/shot_1286333524947.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550329811248801330" /></a><br /><div>Carson from the time he could crawl moderately well learned to crawl out the dog door (they have three large dogs...hence the big doggie door). He loves being outside, so it's great that he can get out there on his own...but it cracks me up because it's so hick! I love it!<br /><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy8JsJhiOvF9XXfmOjkXaZFxILhslJ4p2AnFK2RtIYjndNxf715O5oWM08wfXFEXI4P521gXX567iA6IDbETw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-63917907175594458852010-08-12T20:09:00.000-07:002010-12-13T12:13:31.968-08:00White Water Rafting Rocks!<div>I have been making plans for almost a year to go visit my grandpa Martin (my mothers father) and my great aunt Vi in Carson City, Nevada. After two tries and having to cancel the week of each time I finally was determined to go over the summer. Turns out that my best friend, Heidi Hydrick, grew up in the same neighborhood as them and she had plans to go visit her grandparents over the summer too; so we coincided our trips. Heidi is hard core in all of her outdoor skills; one which she has been doing since she was 7 is white water rafting--one of the higher things on my bucket list. Being that the American River in California is 2 hours from Carson City, we made plans to go rafting while we were there. The trip started out pretty rough for me. I had gotten maybe an hour of sleep the night before, and so I went about my Friday business and came home a couple of hours before my flight was to depart. With my bags ready to go I thought I'd take a quick half hour nap before my friend came to pick me up for the airport. Unfortunately I was so exhausted I didn't think to set an alarm. My friend had taken a business call and lost all track of time. When he got done he rushed to my house and frantically knocked on the door. I had assumed that when he got there the knocking would wake me, but it didn't. He didn't see me through the window so he went back to his car, but thought he'd better try one more time, so came back and rang the doorbell. To this I woke up and discovered that I had half an hour until my flight departed! Completely disoriented from lack of sleep/waking up from a deep sleep I stumbled to the door with my bags and we rushed to the airport in a panic. Luckily I live close, but still I only had 15 minutes when we arrived. You want to talk about stressed! I think I am usually pretty chill, but the panic had gripped me by this point. It was the last flight that night into Reno, I had already re-scheduled this trip two times before, and Heidi and I had plans to go rafting the next morning. I skycapped my luggage and sprinted to the security check, which was unfortunately busy...at least 100 or 150 people. I stood in line, with I'm sure a wild haze in my eyes, and fanned myself with my ticket and tried to remind myself to breath so I would calm down. The woman in front of me asked if I was ok and I told her my plane was taking off in 5 minutes. She told me to cut, but I protested that there were too many people to cut. She persisted and so I started muttering my excuse and passing people, about 50 people in a lady told me to just go over to the special needs line for the flight attendants and such. I got through security, booked it across the airport and was the last one on the plane. It didn't take off for at least 10 minutes after that, but I didn't care, I was so happy to be on it. I think I nearly gave myself a heart attack!</div><div><br /></div><div>Arriving into Reno I got my bags and went to the rental car counter to be told that there weren't in cars in for the reservation I made. Still disoriented from the lack of sleep and near heart attack panic, I looked at him blankly without knowing what to say. He looked up from his screen and asked if I would be ok with a truck. Hallelujah! That's when the whole day turned right. I LOVE trucks. And there was not a happier girl in the world. I threw my bag in the back and off I went, windows down, country turned up, off to grandpa's house with a grin pasted across my face.</div><div><br /></div><div>The next 5 days would have been wonderful anyways, but the truck sure helped! Here is my after our rafting trip in the beauty.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gy5lfOKEBpJh0F3WSl74k02NNVNXX9j6z0HnJc9nZujIh6lOwTh0Tl_YlM_J_llVKPwsRFKaGKVXVsljX3mHkjaZeLGwfkWCSSV3Ag0RuoX5Um6gQaNp1T3HgiR85v05pN2KFNluumVZ/s1600/IMG_0595.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gy5lfOKEBpJh0F3WSl74k02NNVNXX9j6z0HnJc9nZujIh6lOwTh0Tl_YlM_J_llVKPwsRFKaGKVXVsljX3mHkjaZeLGwfkWCSSV3Ag0RuoX5Um6gQaNp1T3HgiR85v05pN2KFNluumVZ/s320/IMG_0595.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547433149681775442" /></a><br /><div>I have pathetically weak arms...ok that is an exaggeration, but my legs are where I build muscle, not my tiny little arms. However, in anticipation of this trip I had been doing push-ups 6 days a week for a couple months. The following couple of photo's are of my sad attempt to row. Contrary to my previous notion, rowing is NOT easy. First off it takes coordination, which apparently I have little of. Second it takes muscles, which I already knew I have none of.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64yAkAIWvxC72bK4SA2zwyujU9XrYB9S94jEVKSbaGxl-uwyqOWSZV07eIfkpqvDVcJ7lkSKktqCcr7LPc-dp1xlT_z-2jVv54PHaCKOJcf6ti5pLNOF9M4BoOcO4AvQg7WgzM1QoaTHR/s1600/IMG_0583.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64yAkAIWvxC72bK4SA2zwyujU9XrYB9S94jEVKSbaGxl-uwyqOWSZV07eIfkpqvDVcJ7lkSKktqCcr7LPc-dp1xlT_z-2jVv54PHaCKOJcf6ti5pLNOF9M4BoOcO4AvQg7WgzM1QoaTHR/s320/IMG_0583.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547433144259644082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnChQdLET6q-n4ybYwEijjFcgcUzwS_bkgI9I9idwv7P5z8Xj_rFuvXTPrt_Q7PNY03oD1QAYU4KXeYFZVU2Yfa_rdtnYpzOpcReudieddsK1Ekw0J6Sb17ApbwBuMgkAly5pIOa8S585u/s1600/IMG_0585.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnChQdLET6q-n4ybYwEijjFcgcUzwS_bkgI9I9idwv7P5z8Xj_rFuvXTPrt_Q7PNY03oD1QAYU4KXeYFZVU2Yfa_rdtnYpzOpcReudieddsK1Ekw0J6Sb17ApbwBuMgkAly5pIOa8S585u/s320/IMG_0585.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547433135133927538" /></a><br /></div><div>Quick stop before the big rapids.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8B-bxfHGSqWPuL8s6qr9-_7kUjfoHSMC0SMbH75JLL79sGaAhVQll1V_PmI_4ekJWe4gxnTcPPxWX3EtgWWyfcUsx2Y0kL8doz5dHNJCKZnZf_fwqQHjUjgC-LPLNpB5o4501CZCO_y-a/s1600/IMG_0586.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8B-bxfHGSqWPuL8s6qr9-_7kUjfoHSMC0SMbH75JLL79sGaAhVQll1V_PmI_4ekJWe4gxnTcPPxWX3EtgWWyfcUsx2Y0kL8doz5dHNJCKZnZf_fwqQHjUjgC-LPLNpB5o4501CZCO_y-a/s320/IMG_0586.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547433117181804882" /></a><br /></div><div>Ok, I would like to preface this look on my face by first saying that Heidi had spent the previous <i>hours</i> drilling in my head how important it was that I follow her every command, and that I paddle strong because she would need my help, and that I not flench but give it my all no matter what happened. Oh, and "above all not to fall out of the boat"!</div><div><br /></div><div>(The following photo's were taken by professional photographers stationed near the bigger rapids...we weren't planning on purchasing them until we saw how priceless they were.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Ya...I was a little concerned at this point.</div><div>(Note: you can double click and the picture expands. Some of the looks on my face are pretty amusing.)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjqJpwvp8TnWVcHNLIz0tavgeuXJvCAzh7peuGgyXNtsYcWDKrhwA3pmEM5Hg82NPVK-WIZ7MTTLm9sqg6DnL-tERgFEqa106FkdTmDTADgqmsGZFuoz0JQ_AVlGViSmI7EvWeIBpTwri/s1600/08-07-2010_SFA_SC_PVT-GRY_I00120003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjqJpwvp8TnWVcHNLIz0tavgeuXJvCAzh7peuGgyXNtsYcWDKrhwA3pmEM5Hg82NPVK-WIZ7MTTLm9sqg6DnL-tERgFEqa106FkdTmDTADgqmsGZFuoz0JQ_AVlGViSmI7EvWeIBpTwri/s320/08-07-2010_SFA_SC_PVT-GRY_I00120003.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547433103878226818" /></a><br /></div><div>This is snow melt, so even though it is August that is dang cold water!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zvJz3bgGOJ2pbRSljJgXgl4rFxVh325qk7grnV-6T6Agurv43-xXnFT98g2eOdzApYI8XsFH618eZph4iZEyRE9DRNCdVJyOEf6bz7JAz4dBSqlSJClSUWqhUnNsrSvk7zYXBVAdsQdg/s1600/08-07-2010_SFA_SC_PVT-GRY_I00120010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zvJz3bgGOJ2pbRSljJgXgl4rFxVh325qk7grnV-6T6Agurv43-xXnFT98g2eOdzApYI8XsFH618eZph4iZEyRE9DRNCdVJyOEf6bz7JAz4dBSqlSJClSUWqhUnNsrSvk7zYXBVAdsQdg/s320/08-07-2010_SFA_SC_PVT-GRY_I00120010.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547431490217265218" /></a><br /></div><div>We made it through the first rapid, here comes the second one which is significantly trickier. I was feeling a little more brave here.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyL8_QlEFhQOBNkCSt_G4c0usGgFjxuGBo7klPybSky4UUXtQpY8hgxpSGVcahRIxEwA33iXJsdsvQb-q6sFlpqSdMu0ERgMU9baHPAT0xaucIRZtPz7HUj5zG5Uyvi_0ngg-2MOacZBR/s1600/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyL8_QlEFhQOBNkCSt_G4c0usGgFjxuGBo7klPybSky4UUXtQpY8hgxpSGVcahRIxEwA33iXJsdsvQb-q6sFlpqSdMu0ERgMU9baHPAT0xaucIRZtPz7HUj5zG5Uyvi_0ngg-2MOacZBR/s320/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090003.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547431484473806114" /></a><br /></div><div>This is my last breath.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfbpsXTgwNBXoHMAquhJNqE6uICqDtHcbxgRksFuNQGOse1CCu5tEBRZjuAx1DRLRXx6A7xOHODpt-MdLCRePdpLpTbbiPDDQU3KdaacME0BQ-6HFg6gctoDNYqWWnExW2qRTOvyP3daG/s1600/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfbpsXTgwNBXoHMAquhJNqE6uICqDtHcbxgRksFuNQGOse1CCu5tEBRZjuAx1DRLRXx6A7xOHODpt-MdLCRePdpLpTbbiPDDQU3KdaacME0BQ-6HFg6gctoDNYqWWnExW2qRTOvyP3daG/s320/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090004.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547431479271764914" /></a><br /></div><div>Yep...that's me completely submerged!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6XMLX3Xc-qgGD68zSpG5cx4qiUe_qIzQ8eei4-LsFjnP9zEB4mHJpGrR_1POkVRF0gnUoCLmq6NXsT1IsE0fy_2PEip40ASIb7OBDGAKTTvAJiXwt8_y1Uj-qEKpeKuqajIDi6WbMy2b/s1600/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6XMLX3Xc-qgGD68zSpG5cx4qiUe_qIzQ8eei4-LsFjnP9zEB4mHJpGrR_1POkVRF0gnUoCLmq6NXsT1IsE0fy_2PEip40ASIb7OBDGAKTTvAJiXwt8_y1Uj-qEKpeKuqajIDi6WbMy2b/s320/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090005.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547431473824382450" /></a><br /></div><div>This is where I boat was turning over on it's side. You can't tell, but only my leg is in the boat at this time. Fortunately I have some wicked determination and I was not going to let that river own me so I fought for all my might and pulled myself back in. Also notice the oar lock (the metal piece that is on the black part of the oar...ya, that's important that the oar stays in there so it is useful to row with).</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVO6mZIhq2J5ST0GZJKEbleK9QSN_aOr3Q6bzg3Hzn2axXZAthKqKdbKwpBMH_Yl6u6KutwXDtDuULA-PCtr9AgvVe9VWFGZG_hfiAfv6dXgj0gHHUKU6ePpT6CVvSEHm1Xa3pv3KWJBd/s1600/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVO6mZIhq2J5ST0GZJKEbleK9QSN_aOr3Q6bzg3Hzn2axXZAthKqKdbKwpBMH_Yl6u6KutwXDtDuULA-PCtr9AgvVe9VWFGZG_hfiAfv6dXgj0gHHUKU6ePpT6CVvSEHm1Xa3pv3KWJBd/s320/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090008.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547431467806288258" /></a><br /></div><div>Notice the oarlock is farther down on the oar...this is a bad thing. Also, you can see my sweet recovery.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4HrBhUbL0iQHThc3FyjS2bbHLfXL9MBgYZ0pGMzG3caHKLlkIfrsBza8fXTpM47dil57US6gOxqO1GOgPn8iwhNwUA4sKlwB6eyvDYa8ed6FjK_fIJbH-KHM7Xu1RQHu1nZZsKRwMITE/s1600/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4HrBhUbL0iQHThc3FyjS2bbHLfXL9MBgYZ0pGMzG3caHKLlkIfrsBza8fXTpM47dil57US6gOxqO1GOgPn8iwhNwUA4sKlwB6eyvDYa8ed6FjK_fIJbH-KHM7Xu1RQHu1nZZsKRwMITE/s320/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090009.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547430424487392546" /></a><br /></div><div>The oarlock is precariously at the edge of the oar. Also Heidi i starting to loose it and fall out of the boat.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tfwIkqPBiVdR0PBgI0bYb_6bHd4aQhbK7c7dcLNVP1v7xVYcvU5Y840tUVW66LrunTY27rknNqGIdz-5amR_m2KK8LKWxR3M1g23Kxuo0kP2tcDzFpg98Bje5vudMi5X4qXE_7WIc4JC/s1600/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tfwIkqPBiVdR0PBgI0bYb_6bHd4aQhbK7c7dcLNVP1v7xVYcvU5Y840tUVW66LrunTY27rknNqGIdz-5amR_m2KK8LKWxR3M1g23Kxuo0kP2tcDzFpg98Bje5vudMi5X4qXE_7WIc4JC/s320/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090010.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547430418667094994" /></a><br /></div><div>No, I was not really getting hit in the back of the head. Yes, it is a very bad thing that the oar is now completely out of the oarlock!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nNydXjt0vRpYUM5ViocyQqlp5ZRmlqGKF7zp9_9MbrQl6QKlMDUPiWp5OgcHi4CCLmeMqhFMwEYW5haNKMkO8JSwoyGFprNoe0bD5Zyq9zurllS8eai6rXFqSNZChYRwlpj-_o-a-iO-/s1600/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nNydXjt0vRpYUM5ViocyQqlp5ZRmlqGKF7zp9_9MbrQl6QKlMDUPiWp5OgcHi4CCLmeMqhFMwEYW5haNKMkO8JSwoyGFprNoe0bD5Zyq9zurllS8eai6rXFqSNZChYRwlpj-_o-a-iO-/s320/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090011.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547430412035293538" /></a><br /></div><div>The only thing that saves Heidi here is the other oarlock, she had a wicked bruise from it.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6I7r7GT1CtSq1Y83cQIJCVWKlMjJuZEX9pi8fsA3v9cnj8lNiik0bzgTJ_QTock9Yh6zBrRFaNgFO2djZz1z0FUU-v_N1DQuEhu4I_MJcnXfYpPUdf9wa236T3Ki6hnxGSlMYYFfV80OU/s1600/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6I7r7GT1CtSq1Y83cQIJCVWKlMjJuZEX9pi8fsA3v9cnj8lNiik0bzgTJ_QTock9Yh6zBrRFaNgFO2djZz1z0FUU-v_N1DQuEhu4I_MJcnXfYpPUdf9wa236T3Ki6hnxGSlMYYFfV80OU/s320/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090012.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547430409887662962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LAun8JzvzgUYD9RO_txN62Z23nynOmmh-YNBrxk2mCZvDsofk6aQcxBL2g0npIZde-1UQRGovRl7zKibNU1aCJaJZJovsr8FhnZG4WVOKQI91_-KLjBwylkw4yMlyGjei3QTOaYHd1M0/s1600/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090013.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LAun8JzvzgUYD9RO_txN62Z23nynOmmh-YNBrxk2mCZvDsofk6aQcxBL2g0npIZde-1UQRGovRl7zKibNU1aCJaJZJovsr8FhnZG4WVOKQI91_-KLjBwylkw4yMlyGjei3QTOaYHd1M0/s320/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090013.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547430404857149954" /></a><br /></div><div>Here is where I start to realize that I almost died...but didn't!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kIHrlRttc4wAQa_cB20e-1jerRAeXHTivoNXOQL1T8bw2VrM86HkQui6YkiXw3-TOFG9pulzlMZ-Tfq_cr5P9a1zSxbEO-60z_Knvk_rRcZi1Z2vRifBOLdNvMQeydRduLmKgTpErkRg/s1600/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kIHrlRttc4wAQa_cB20e-1jerRAeXHTivoNXOQL1T8bw2VrM86HkQui6YkiXw3-TOFG9pulzlMZ-Tfq_cr5P9a1zSxbEO-60z_Knvk_rRcZi1Z2vRifBOLdNvMQeydRduLmKgTpErkRg/s320/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090014.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547427585319514674" /></a></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ohJEjPKDsybEbx-xZU1d0IwOD4ASJBU4cTa_T7Drd26hpXKFvpJ-pRMv03t88YbwoF-mVQCSfxVq3skUMi79A4bnc2r9Sg0BRjBSGhGbmMvjSIfoFr7WAXsEqOiytJPnIOihw8uhzgD9/s1600/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090015.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ohJEjPKDsybEbx-xZU1d0IwOD4ASJBU4cTa_T7Drd26hpXKFvpJ-pRMv03t88YbwoF-mVQCSfxVq3skUMi79A4bnc2r9Sg0BRjBSGhGbmMvjSIfoFr7WAXsEqOiytJPnIOihw8uhzgD9/s320/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090015.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547427577584912178" /></a><br /></div><div>It has really hit me now that...at this moment I am caught in amazement, unaware that I almost lost my captain.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceJEWuPfBEinkFU1uqWdAGmt7skc5DhwNSzms6_2kejg36dvp3AtD8EuU-wrs30zH5KdxfVtzRAjnZozOXvcuWx04AloT2UuhnC5zjDcgPzltMKZe4LV4DFrfy2nREAYcOK4Tj6SbdMGx/s1600/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090016.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceJEWuPfBEinkFU1uqWdAGmt7skc5DhwNSzms6_2kejg36dvp3AtD8EuU-wrs30zH5KdxfVtzRAjnZozOXvcuWx04AloT2UuhnC5zjDcgPzltMKZe4LV4DFrfy2nREAYcOK4Tj6SbdMGx/s320/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090016.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547427569096924146" /></a><br /></div><div>I turn to tell Heidi that I didn't let the river own me, but that it almost had. (Meanwhile people on the shore are cheering for us...seriously...they thought we were goners for sure!)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwviheFwO94wJuF6UsvUzhwVe3h98v2rPjPCqw0crIxPjqM1gtsXnP8M4VTqSMlV9Hi4MMyRRYpl78aedsSY4xGYHijveC_45aqOlzNnh-gjqWVzEgvgIPTfAX8v-6QUcA_PbUsPWLeKdm/s1600/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090017.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwviheFwO94wJuF6UsvUzhwVe3h98v2rPjPCqw0crIxPjqM1gtsXnP8M4VTqSMlV9Hi4MMyRRYpl78aedsSY4xGYHijveC_45aqOlzNnh-gjqWVzEgvgIPTfAX8v-6QUcA_PbUsPWLeKdm/s320/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090017.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547427563674866882" /></a><br /></div><div>Reality still seeming surreal...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HYrzmeOXWEET5ld0J9bd0kJOgoC_Q3rP-rMExkG8XrIiRdi05Jt2q7lyam1EAPvIC1RPZNhIiNHOHKqOb3UoZ83_KMZsTVo00ipslXOj6DvzN490GxmStBu45JK9-oTVtcQXHAt9ZS2a/s1600/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090018.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HYrzmeOXWEET5ld0J9bd0kJOgoC_Q3rP-rMExkG8XrIiRdi05Jt2q7lyam1EAPvIC1RPZNhIiNHOHKqOb3UoZ83_KMZsTVo00ipslXOj6DvzN490GxmStBu45JK9-oTVtcQXHAt9ZS2a/s320/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090018.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547427556855522146" /></a><br /></div><div>Then glory begins to enter my mind...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmLImA0V52vQSkl_R9zVTF5wfAlcExHDEANlO7Zl2IUxfm35_QiAn7HmRFa_Kn-lgdoBrBWn0jarRawzhDnAcusb-SCK3fhuHM7VvcABW1eabP4AXCFxVoXPOvKZE3_Uk8VOQiFgKovSE/s1600/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090019.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmLImA0V52vQSkl_R9zVTF5wfAlcExHDEANlO7Zl2IUxfm35_QiAn7HmRFa_Kn-lgdoBrBWn0jarRawzhDnAcusb-SCK3fhuHM7VvcABW1eabP4AXCFxVoXPOvKZE3_Uk8VOQiFgKovSE/s320/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090019.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547426333703769746" /></a><br /></div><div>...and pure joy follows!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3ImrOuWvtkNsAyYakApGZ4C4IRqPmt6jeq004YOuW8ffP5_ayAp0926BremyPePgS1G2JGVfW2d7wTEBMs0gG5UlRNDTYy7dh2hRVCkuHKyms54UQfgS5JnwUWS2c2IgTLDY9MZN88qU/s1600/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090022.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3ImrOuWvtkNsAyYakApGZ4C4IRqPmt6jeq004YOuW8ffP5_ayAp0926BremyPePgS1G2JGVfW2d7wTEBMs0gG5UlRNDTYy7dh2hRVCkuHKyms54UQfgS5JnwUWS2c2IgTLDY9MZN88qU/s320/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090022.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547426321912133170" /></a><br /></div><div>Bring on this next rapid, we got this!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlGTh8WdvEiicy35MFqkarKVCdmKEG74xccUDNS1Xe3Ep_YlErS9OKeaznEDTYdb5EnrTkoIOUSerTW9WVRmsGq3FDlTv9kcUKS6w61H3o_7TzJdsNA8H8VdKrQeHubC2bOjhHYJ2on4V/s1600/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090023.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlGTh8WdvEiicy35MFqkarKVCdmKEG74xccUDNS1Xe3Ep_YlErS9OKeaznEDTYdb5EnrTkoIOUSerTW9WVRmsGq3FDlTv9kcUKS6w61H3o_7TzJdsNA8H8VdKrQeHubC2bOjhHYJ2on4V/s320/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090023.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547426318324523234" /></a><br /></div><div>But the water is still very cold!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15JfrD1YKImZINLpvs7BQT4jnpF8YAgJamcJiXVvuK91d3v9myJBHkMqqnO3ltZYnQMA-AB4wMRwsuwK1NyiJvS73GNRaQVFSQ7bzQs6Ikz55ITBcyuJ9rRXTFJG9QbpDH0ccvEX1BDQ_/s1600/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090024.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15JfrD1YKImZINLpvs7BQT4jnpF8YAgJamcJiXVvuK91d3v9myJBHkMqqnO3ltZYnQMA-AB4wMRwsuwK1NyiJvS73GNRaQVFSQ7bzQs6Ikz55ITBcyuJ9rRXTFJG9QbpDH0ccvEX1BDQ_/s320/08-07-2010_SFA_HB_PVT-GRY_I00090024.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547426315691394322" /></a><br /></div><div>Ya, white water rafting is AWESOME! Totally a new favorite hobby!</div><div><br /></div><div>This is what I did much of the time when it wasn't high adventure...ah...I love to eat!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lO60eRckciPOxpdONXP2dLy85hT1d1Bl9Mu-h7ZQ1KA6mKyRnVCJqjDt1EaLyPsQAmvwupcPJM-uIpBqdNUrJFw3iNGUnsvPW26bDwSTiejZ8KuECN7LLGT51YvDtDfG-J5jvLpJCc3q/s1600/IMG_0591.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lO60eRckciPOxpdONXP2dLy85hT1d1Bl9Mu-h7ZQ1KA6mKyRnVCJqjDt1EaLyPsQAmvwupcPJM-uIpBqdNUrJFw3iNGUnsvPW26bDwSTiejZ8KuECN7LLGT51YvDtDfG-J5jvLpJCc3q/s320/IMG_0591.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547426308792914914" /></a><br /></div><div>Here is the part of the story I'm ashamed of. So I didn't realize how long it was going to take us, I told them I'd be back by 6PM at the latest, and didn't end up home till well after 9PM. In fact, I didn't even have cell service until 7-ish. Apparently there had been a bad storm while we were gone and Aunt Vi and grandpa were worried sick because they couldn't get ahold of me. When I got home they asked how it was, and then asked some basic questions. "What town were you in?" "I don't know...Heidi just told me what highway to take and what road to get off on." "Whose house did you go to?" My sheepish response: "Um...grandma Hydrick?" "Well we didn't know where you were, and there was a big storm and we didn't have any information on who you were with or their address or number" AH MAN! I'm a horrible granddaughter! I've been living on my own so long I didn't even think to leave that kind of information.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then I made them pizza for dinner Sunday night, and for the first time in my life I burnt the pizza crust!!! I realized while it was in the oven that I hadn't taken into account the elevation change, so I thought 'oh well, I'll just leave it in a little longer' Ya, bad idea. I don't know if they'll ever want me back again!</div><div><br /></div><div>Grandpa, myself, and Aunt Vi next to their awesome tree that has a face on it.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWCLRPvtBgdEzlSN-8PWU5zUcihDsRxN_59Irt2a5jqI0FHPciL2naMtPAdY6TU64SBsLDZlOROlhL-QV-oMMU_9YWsQGci4yYpOZ6KELmQRD-LeEtfakNvIj6I5F_iw1llrTRnjMIUHL/s1600/IMG_0868.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWCLRPvtBgdEzlSN-8PWU5zUcihDsRxN_59Irt2a5jqI0FHPciL2naMtPAdY6TU64SBsLDZlOROlhL-QV-oMMU_9YWsQGci4yYpOZ6KELmQRD-LeEtfakNvIj6I5F_iw1llrTRnjMIUHL/s320/IMG_0868.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547424886527797058" /></a><br /></div><div>Grandpa smiling!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEaW-nvcVfQC6y0yhytNNg52_xmjafKB1Wmph-2hqEUX5CqR92lh-aa0oECwY_GnyyfELl7PL2wFFm-OHBjmnscomhYdLI1jkSuSG4hnjE3P6q2azOr-pdLNZMiLxP0vJoC1YVkzUd0pR/s1600/IMG_0869.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEaW-nvcVfQC6y0yhytNNg52_xmjafKB1Wmph-2hqEUX5CqR92lh-aa0oECwY_GnyyfELl7PL2wFFm-OHBjmnscomhYdLI1jkSuSG4hnjE3P6q2azOr-pdLNZMiLxP0vJoC1YVkzUd0pR/s320/IMG_0869.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547424880052067954" /></a><br /></div><div>A couple days after the rafting trip Heidi and I went for a hike and canoeing...except we ran out of time because we goofed off too much on our hike...so canoeing never really happened. :( Anyhow, this is fresh snow melt and it is the best water I've ever had! Cold and delicious! I couldn't get enough.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdct_5T32H8JZjUOG9WG-9HgjFrPkG4PFUl0mbN1DCnLDaN3SI16h5FKDw2sybDKkXlM_IKlJU7ps4x8hk3F2iOC2VOOf2xPvfKxAOkz1p99ceOyyojgGNTAIl7xa599N6eQlDS0Hfk7N/s1600/IMG_0601.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdct_5T32H8JZjUOG9WG-9HgjFrPkG4PFUl0mbN1DCnLDaN3SI16h5FKDw2sybDKkXlM_IKlJU7ps4x8hk3F2iOC2VOOf2xPvfKxAOkz1p99ceOyyojgGNTAIl7xa599N6eQlDS0Hfk7N/s320/IMG_0601.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547424873668555730" /></a><br /></div><div>Heidi and I on a mountain I forget the name of...but it's across from Lake Tahoe...and we went to tall grass lake on it, SO beautiful!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3Vmu26woqv5dWQ1iDhjzX27zUJmZRpGxZm1mtDrJ1itlBjXUf5ECtHm7DeOuJD9g0W4bDJNyEZpfkGOzBDsW4HeuNt-RWkfBsV_X_B1jREiF_tpqn0hmfGNQpWVnfgVddbcNXsyBEneO/s1600/IMG_0611.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3Vmu26woqv5dWQ1iDhjzX27zUJmZRpGxZm1mtDrJ1itlBjXUf5ECtHm7DeOuJD9g0W4bDJNyEZpfkGOzBDsW4HeuNt-RWkfBsV_X_B1jREiF_tpqn0hmfGNQpWVnfgVddbcNXsyBEneO/s320/IMG_0611.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547424869270889042" /></a><br /></div>Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-61991081650535455592010-07-25T16:36:00.000-07:002010-12-12T17:00:27.724-08:00I love the month of July!<div>July is one of my favorite months because it means picnics, bar-b-q's, fireworks, and--best of all--rodeos! For the past several years I have gone to one of my favorite towns in the whole world, ShowLow Arizona, for July celebrations. My best friend Kristi Adams lives there and her family has become a second family to me. I love going there, and I adore their house--it is absolutely picturesque looking out the kitchen window to acres and acres of cow pastures! Kristi and I have a whole day of traditions on the 4th. Often we start out by the night before sleeping on the trampoline. We wake up and get all dolled up in red, white, and blue and head out to the town parade where we join her family (who don't sleep in like us, and have a nice spot saved for us). Then we head out to the store and get some hot dogs, buns, chili, nacho cheese, and IBC creme soda in glass bottles for lunch. Driving around town with her is one of my favorite things too because it entails windows down (I love windows down while driving, and this time of year driving with windows down in Phoenix is a miserable choice!) and singing at the top of our lungs our favorite songs. We are flexible with our afternoon, but it often consists of playing with her nieces and nephews, or going down to fools hallow and swimming in the lake. Dinner is always an extended family bar-b-q, then we head out to the rodeo in Snowflake and watch the fireworks there. I love it! I love small towns, good food, great friends, and getting all dressed up to watch some crazy boys jump on bulls.</div><div><br /></div><div>Kristi and I dressed up for the parade, standing in her back yard.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wUiICUtk4pq9P4T8uADQ4ApelOcrB685fDpLmw4sublCOVj5n0_1l69DiWh_Lh1-iU0qR7i-c4bKRbHq4KPqC_oG793HFWs2Xd9_Wb-cRoG7gyKm-ooSere-KyuJZmR2XhPf-LWtLnJW/s1600/IMG_0771.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wUiICUtk4pq9P4T8uADQ4ApelOcrB685fDpLmw4sublCOVj5n0_1l69DiWh_Lh1-iU0qR7i-c4bKRbHq4KPqC_oG793HFWs2Xd9_Wb-cRoG7gyKm-ooSere-KyuJZmR2XhPf-LWtLnJW/s320/IMG_0771.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547363047147240098" /></a><br /><div>Every year I make a jello-poke cake decorated like the American flag, it's one of my favorite things to make!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpcQU3-hS-yHTmwoWiYrWYUj0b-nAya0Uzzb2T7GoHFKTIbXGXn4mMth2XUWCwfeCNtI6YBvKw0tqXqVx781wY4R7Rj7ppWxHyLUc_Yo-roG_VlMvu8zdMb4QCRkKGrDx19slqAFJAo7H/s1600/IMG_0774.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpcQU3-hS-yHTmwoWiYrWYUj0b-nAya0Uzzb2T7GoHFKTIbXGXn4mMth2XUWCwfeCNtI6YBvKw0tqXqVx781wY4R7Rj7ppWxHyLUc_Yo-roG_VlMvu8zdMb4QCRkKGrDx19slqAFJAo7H/s320/IMG_0774.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547363036729124210" /></a><br /></div><div>This year I broke down and bought myself a pair of cowgirl boots and a cowgirl hat. I've been searching for years (literally, like 6 years) for the perfect pair, and I finally found them and I LOVE them! I really dig the hat too. This is me just before the rodeo in Taylor for the 24th of July.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVkhueBEA9qxc-lScMqd17THCK9mjPHMAYX_Uyau-0_xhH_r9HpJX_EAz_YgaOTcsB12vcbXyh6tbuO35gdKyg90wChv6oLhWIi_YVZASP6RaNrr7DO73bwCqprPOb5hw14wYTRNv6aWl/s1600/IMG_0814.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVkhueBEA9qxc-lScMqd17THCK9mjPHMAYX_Uyau-0_xhH_r9HpJX_EAz_YgaOTcsB12vcbXyh6tbuO35gdKyg90wChv6oLhWIi_YVZASP6RaNrr7DO73bwCqprPOb5hw14wYTRNv6aWl/s320/IMG_0814.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547363034350743922" /></a><br /></div>Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-76632519957206564732010-06-12T17:01:00.000-07:002010-12-12T16:58:59.267-08:00It was meant to be.<div>For purposes of this post, below is a reference picture of my best friend Amanda, who is on the left.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizcDrCVIarQtT75pPDGYcYVrmS9m-Ik_4vL1cilVfNUv-eVLR2QI8SM3mYRoGuNOZ-7xzwoTtqcGpM5CtEX4A9Vq_Mep9SG3ST2Wky0LHP89_cYQGOriLMQ8gLy91CY8d7Q4xkElK_7i3/s1600/IMG_0805.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizcDrCVIarQtT75pPDGYcYVrmS9m-Ik_4vL1cilVfNUv-eVLR2QI8SM3mYRoGuNOZ-7xzwoTtqcGpM5CtEX4A9Vq_Mep9SG3ST2Wky0LHP89_cYQGOriLMQ8gLy91CY8d7Q4xkElK_7i3/s320/IMG_0805.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547371478995715186" /></a><br /><div>I have multiple best friends. People say that you can't do that, but I strongly disagree. I don't think there is a limit to how much you can love someone, or how many people you can love. Also loving one friend a whole lot does not diminish your love for other friends. That being said one of my best friends is Amanda Bluth Burton. I love her a lot a lot. And out of all of my friends I honor her for being the most true friend I have ever had. We lived together for two and a half years and from the very beginning we knew we were going to get along great. She has been my friend through some really tough times for me and she has always said or done just exactly what I needed to feel better or to be cheered up. I could write a whole book of all the amazing things she has done for me, she is just incredible. Anyhow, I love her lots! We are two peas in a pod. Well, one day, about 6 months after she got married (so we didn't live together anymore...that's important to the story) we go to one of our good friends wedding receptions and upon sitting down I saw her shoes.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaTc399K1Z9pvpoxsKUU8yMEjDMd28JKBmvrIRs1JLt-TCu1I9HYjy_pIUVKeqtp3oIxI2OB2yqvL4aCMTs1CcOmAYk7Nkpkb3_On8M07pk3YTtNcy3mE8UAzU3fzJPo_lbz2stUctGEe/s1600/IMG_0802.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaTc399K1Z9pvpoxsKUU8yMEjDMd28JKBmvrIRs1JLt-TCu1I9HYjy_pIUVKeqtp3oIxI2OB2yqvL4aCMTs1CcOmAYk7Nkpkb3_On8M07pk3YTtNcy3mE8UAzU3fzJPo_lbz2stUctGEe/s320/IMG_0802.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547368407501844498" /></a><br /><div>I find this proof that we were meant to be best friends.</div>Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-19746795952022183112010-04-13T17:02:00.000-07:002010-12-12T17:20:19.346-08:00The Elk Hunt<div>I'm not a gambling woman, but here in Arizona hunting is on a lottery system. I've wanted to go deer hunting for years, but have yet to do anything about it, this year one of my resolutions was to go hunting. I got talking into going elk hunting instead of deer, and I felt confident that with beginners luck I would be selected. I put in early, and anxiously awaited the good news.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately my dreams were dashed when I looked up my hunting number to see that I was not awarded a tag. In sadness I went about my life and sadly told my friends that I wouldn't be giving them elk jerky for Christmas (my idea was to give some of the meat to family and friends for Christmas presents). A few days later my dear friend Jen Wilson, who always seems to know what to do to cheer me up, stopped by my house for a surprise visit. I was in the midst of making pizza (hence the apron) and she made me close my eyes for a minute. When I opened them there was an elk (that kind of looks like a reindeer, but "ELK" is written on the bottom to avoid any confusion) on my wall and a toy gun that shoots 3 high caliber rounds. With a smile she exclaimed that now I could go hunting whenever I wanted. Could a girl ask for any better friends?</div><div><br /></div><div>Jen and I posing...</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jNoOkZvldRP167v_vcB1HGZ1l2LIvk2imd_Dunoq0m-BgQz9ben7JDUzG5PCczJGeUTrF0_6G5hrRqgwcCuqBfpMMXpl2538Su8EjLZqwNFCaUGEJHlg3-vzffwAcQgBU-AIDPwe4rY5/s1600/IMG_0650.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jNoOkZvldRP167v_vcB1HGZ1l2LIvk2imd_Dunoq0m-BgQz9ben7JDUzG5PCczJGeUTrF0_6G5hrRqgwcCuqBfpMMXpl2538Su8EjLZqwNFCaUGEJHlg3-vzffwAcQgBU-AIDPwe4rY5/s320/IMG_0650.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549966890818834802" /></a><br /><div>...and then getting serious about our hunt.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfh6HAG36GbUNTPhqB8UfkvlYDQ2byALiSREUVs48vIrPYPqTZ5ikHfKrPpvUOsj-9vC8Un8w05gov-bihqsyEVnt8S8NFIlULoCJOGjFXZAA1C8mqHfe40Nb2zqvCo_enXzp9VKSrHtRW/s1600/IMG_0651.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfh6HAG36GbUNTPhqB8UfkvlYDQ2byALiSREUVs48vIrPYPqTZ5ikHfKrPpvUOsj-9vC8Un8w05gov-bihqsyEVnt8S8NFIlULoCJOGjFXZAA1C8mqHfe40Nb2zqvCo_enXzp9VKSrHtRW/s320/IMG_0651.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549966879890691810" /></a></div>Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-18742175627337049292010-04-13T13:24:00.000-07:002010-12-13T15:57:11.335-08:00Carson Jeremy Lamb<div>I have been looking forward to nieces and nephews for years now! (That's no exaggeration either.) My sister-in-law had my first nephew on May 8, 2008, but they live in Texas and it is so hard to be the favorite auntie from a couple states away. My sister lives 20 minutes away from me and I was elated to hear the news when she got pregnant. Even more exciting was that she was having a boy also! Carson Jeremy Lamb was born 09/09/09. I anxiously waited for him and my sister to be brought to the recovery room so I could go meet him.</div><div>The first thing I thought when I saw his sweet little face was: "he's perfect". He is absolutely the cutest baby I've ever seen! (Since he was a cesarean section baby his face and head were in perfect condition.) I fell in love with the little guy immediately. </div><div><br /></div><div>My brother-in-law, Jason, and Carson just a few hours after he was born. Jason is an amazing dad, I love watching him with his son.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ98C7WjyBlPREnWUHfkOCsBAsNv9u-OkoPcEtOFicMRmW75GFX1HCfi-mRneuPfMJz5lJhFW7YFy3lb2g28bVoqBfL5oCXJm2UUZ4pQBjru39_oiGBgRPpm_g05eMuOD5q0bk6Sino-fl/s1600/carson+at+the+hospital+6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ98C7WjyBlPREnWUHfkOCsBAsNv9u-OkoPcEtOFicMRmW75GFX1HCfi-mRneuPfMJz5lJhFW7YFy3lb2g28bVoqBfL5oCXJm2UUZ4pQBjru39_oiGBgRPpm_g05eMuOD5q0bk6Sino-fl/s320/carson+at+the+hospital+6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550314424511275042" /></a><br /><div>Being that their last name is Lamb I spare nothing when I find something they could use that has lambs on it. This particular blanket I actually bought together with another set of lamb items before I even knew they were pregnant! Haha. My mom bought the other set that was similar. We didn't have to wait long though because we got them around Christmas and found out they were pregnant only a couple of months later.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-SIYKQG7OSL5HchgDjip-gOFNeDLZQh9l3paQcKZ3-gDhwoyN_a-zccPoO_6s_psKMtdVbD_o784TqvIwIAAZpzgMYS8B7s8YmIB7Zkko0MiAkCBJhigCzWZAKc0nAGrTO3TOU9opqAg/s1600/carson+in+bed+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-SIYKQG7OSL5HchgDjip-gOFNeDLZQh9l3paQcKZ3-gDhwoyN_a-zccPoO_6s_psKMtdVbD_o784TqvIwIAAZpzgMYS8B7s8YmIB7Zkko0MiAkCBJhigCzWZAKc0nAGrTO3TOU9opqAg/s320/carson+in+bed+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550314409432191362" /></a><br /></div><div>He looked like a little Italian baby with olive colored skin and dark features, it was funny to see him next to my pale sister (haha, just kidding, you're not <i>too</i> pale Robin ;) ) I just think he's face is so adorable! Grandpa says I'm biased, but I don't think so....I mean look at him, who could argue!?!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvNdJU8rOkoQDd4WvnUJrK-lEZ40kICegFK2r067sdUlSowMDyo1sGVKw_V-S11fUhEbK4jqugHC6rhMTruUTxBUsDLoi-GIYRIBLNYOKQo_zUw6jMIALZtku-O4s0VqGr0WUvQ9iSbfd/s1600/IMG_6310.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvNdJU8rOkoQDd4WvnUJrK-lEZ40kICegFK2r067sdUlSowMDyo1sGVKw_V-S11fUhEbK4jqugHC6rhMTruUTxBUsDLoi-GIYRIBLNYOKQo_zUw6jMIALZtku-O4s0VqGr0WUvQ9iSbfd/s320/IMG_6310.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550314078917863762" /></a><br /></div><div>Such a sweet little smile too.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiN4UOdPwvsZzKNvsdINRADG5rpy6XSpMsVBIByVUbmZ5e49ea-NLHd9Iu2Gj5kPbntaJLkn9AvE3WbIJzGdHC0Il_AXjiHafSPFqpRtKjPSvxIDVmIJsl1P2ipZ9VZ46V2bGJKoFZFtn/s1600/IMG_6320.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiN4UOdPwvsZzKNvsdINRADG5rpy6XSpMsVBIByVUbmZ5e49ea-NLHd9Iu2Gj5kPbntaJLkn9AvE3WbIJzGdHC0Il_AXjiHafSPFqpRtKjPSvxIDVmIJsl1P2ipZ9VZ46V2bGJKoFZFtn/s320/IMG_6320.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550314072380047778" /></a><br /></div><div>When he was 2 months old my oldest nephew, Jay, came to visit. Jay was only a year and a half old and he was so funny with Carson.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnlZRlgPllwV48SDzmwxBO2l5yGogix7kpWgXQa2GxjYqxWmH4VEf-lw9eLRMbUHY0gn4ur7NMzXkdheEZrs_TNRDUJDvKSz2re5KhGXPK7xa2UXR6Jx7ya_ESr_BDbXAX-hvK6CIKEUI/s1600/IMG_6323.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnlZRlgPllwV48SDzmwxBO2l5yGogix7kpWgXQa2GxjYqxWmH4VEf-lw9eLRMbUHY0gn4ur7NMzXkdheEZrs_TNRDUJDvKSz2re5KhGXPK7xa2UXR6Jx7ya_ESr_BDbXAX-hvK6CIKEUI/s320/IMG_6323.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550314058900553602" /></a><br /></div><div>Carson just a little after 6 months old, totally punched his uncle Kolby in the eye (with the help of his Tito, Kevin)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7QhjcQBji7jBMmDjieV1pDtptgJxxMAgNosgzmAkWboOTvEJ5jUG2OapK-IyPxFZi6_T5h5qRd020c2CABN5b5XEhjfiy33rEZ5feHxKhSM16VB6v8snitHH4BLsVqNFNvBdw8r4KRun/s1600/IMG_0424.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7QhjcQBji7jBMmDjieV1pDtptgJxxMAgNosgzmAkWboOTvEJ5jUG2OapK-IyPxFZi6_T5h5qRd020c2CABN5b5XEhjfiy33rEZ5feHxKhSM16VB6v8snitHH4BLsVqNFNvBdw8r4KRun/s320/IMG_0424.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550314049698360098" /></a><br /></div><div>My favorite thing in this whole world is to get this little boy to smile and laugh!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAexqRyNUtUbecendIMVIbITXHkF4qVjtZJL0cr42ChZjG14uYg66l81Z8Zylsicp-XI7ZgvKpFwEzpLsWpdgUA2sFq25splj4WvqqDY4yulU1qtKrUb02T-pUzm5X5Llmn5J7tmCW45Q/s1600/IMG_0470.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAexqRyNUtUbecendIMVIbITXHkF4qVjtZJL0cr42ChZjG14uYg66l81Z8Zylsicp-XI7ZgvKpFwEzpLsWpdgUA2sFq25splj4WvqqDY4yulU1qtKrUb02T-pUzm5X5Llmn5J7tmCW45Q/s320/IMG_0470.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550314033085655922" /></a><br /></div><div>My sister made his hat and pants out of an old, favorite shirt of his dads. Ya, my sis has mad skills! She didn't even use a pattern!!!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrjY0P2IyFS1Pd8vn7Wzq-lcd5fz3iu1wDLZtNdpyS3HR3AXc-hyVBrDyeYiR_NENQq7_kUY19J2wowHqjIndq502reO62DnZnKgr9oF-ejJVRcB9ca0kJZHFP9r9vRLGGFTgtA8uzm9O/s1600/039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrjY0P2IyFS1Pd8vn7Wzq-lcd5fz3iu1wDLZtNdpyS3HR3AXc-hyVBrDyeYiR_NENQq7_kUY19J2wowHqjIndq502reO62DnZnKgr9oF-ejJVRcB9ca0kJZHFP9r9vRLGGFTgtA8uzm9O/s320/039.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550282577828067538" /></a><br /></div><div>You might be questioning my auntie quality level since this post is 6 months after he was born, but I was so busy being an auntie that I just didn't have time!</div>Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-56293971032318685752010-03-03T15:03:00.000-08:002010-12-12T16:59:47.228-08:00My First Apple Pie<div>I have loved cooking my whole life because I was blessed with both of my parents being excellent chef's and they took much interest in teaching their children. Somehow I made it to almost 24 without making an apple pie from scratch though. I've made many other pies, but it's been a while and it was under the tutelage of my mother. It just so happened that it was the birthday of my favorite friend from the temple on my Wednesday shift, Debbie Murset, and she loves pies. Knowing that as a mom the likelihood of her getting a birthday cake (well...pie because she likes those more) was slim to none I determined that I would make her one. Below are some pictures of my adventure.</div><div><br /></div><div>A little boy I watch, Logan, wanted to help, so he made a pie crust out of playdough.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdx92G7oh_kqhq-JwOw_khyphenhyphenh1Mdiy7uv8J5sQ-5ABppEVZDOq0QkWKpgiLa2lvQSdNg0bv7XWi1HVcemQY1iH0xpnqbSVU8VFJHjHXSr5RsqHqSP4RtFyCXUTZRmRxJ_eAi3xHReNJnHK/s1600/IMG_0323.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdx92G7oh_kqhq-JwOw_khyphenhyphenh1Mdiy7uv8J5sQ-5ABppEVZDOq0QkWKpgiLa2lvQSdNg0bv7XWi1HVcemQY1iH0xpnqbSVU8VFJHjHXSr5RsqHqSP4RtFyCXUTZRmRxJ_eAi3xHReNJnHK/s320/IMG_0323.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547347193436353218" /></a><br /><div>Ok, pie in pan: check. Apples cut in slivers (this takes forever!): check.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwu2o3Tep933L5kPRVhnFi9TnA1RT6MFC3HIMu90ISJPEe3P8asasImiNIg4wkw6GEzLxy2g2S_f4Wx8gESCPHpIeX2MKefpimHmlXXhFLsxUteFci0w2jaKiaoiUfa0Tth4VrGQUcoQic/s1600/IMG_0330.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwu2o3Tep933L5kPRVhnFi9TnA1RT6MFC3HIMu90ISJPEe3P8asasImiNIg4wkw6GEzLxy2g2S_f4Wx8gESCPHpIeX2MKefpimHmlXXhFLsxUteFci0w2jaKiaoiUfa0Tth4VrGQUcoQic/s320/IMG_0330.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547347186847090898" /></a><br /></div><div>Lots of sugar and other yummy things: check.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRInnjGfkSQtv7QX0twisi7hyphenhyphenu_LjV4d60tsAqqyiyIGm1dIyCqDy9vr42gFyzz0XSQV5bMiql6Ho86NMl6XbFuq9neY7RwEOe-JjF0pAuByytrb_Hx1J4l4RLo8jZ0y7MnTEVj09huU9A/s1600/IMG_0331.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRInnjGfkSQtv7QX0twisi7hyphenhyphenu_LjV4d60tsAqqyiyIGm1dIyCqDy9vr42gFyzz0XSQV5bMiql6Ho86NMl6XbFuq9neY7RwEOe-JjF0pAuByytrb_Hx1J4l4RLo8jZ0y7MnTEVj09huU9A/s320/IMG_0331.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547347180667273106" /></a><br /></div><div>Lattice work was a must, I believe it's not just about how good it tastes, but presentation is very important too. Go big or go home is my policy. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjltKcjQ0GJNru5OQamGuhlkeMbxP8NOC3mwtd4cSd7xGiGLzEFkLSGrindcBGAkU6BEzBWivb5acR0n1g-CmVtiUaYLRPxftLkxeXSIINmpE21hf3O0N_ABkgIxu0jIUqiw82DqemjS3T/s1600/IMG_0338.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjltKcjQ0GJNru5OQamGuhlkeMbxP8NOC3mwtd4cSd7xGiGLzEFkLSGrindcBGAkU6BEzBWivb5acR0n1g-CmVtiUaYLRPxftLkxeXSIINmpE21hf3O0N_ABkgIxu0jIUqiw82DqemjS3T/s320/IMG_0338.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547347170975245122" /></a><br /></div><div>And finished product.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuONVHOhYWrr2s5EW-E1JWHTFm_AaidCcNZvGa1K20MLFJsW8eksyp7VZu2H6fY16FSVJ-kHZwaZNgwAXSwtq-OHk3DzZL2CElFnGSeWp_zMF01QDuuJYUJbZI1-fWq88sTKQcqJJBCTCo/s1600/IMG_0328.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuONVHOhYWrr2s5EW-E1JWHTFm_AaidCcNZvGa1K20MLFJsW8eksyp7VZu2H6fY16FSVJ-kHZwaZNgwAXSwtq-OHk3DzZL2CElFnGSeWp_zMF01QDuuJYUJbZI1-fWq88sTKQcqJJBCTCo/s320/IMG_0328.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547347167895217170" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I put some raw sugar on the crust for presentation and taste, but I still feel the crust was too bland. Sister Murset loved it and raved about it, and so it was a success because my goal was to make her happy. Next time I will not go with Betty Crocker's pie crust, she failed me this time.</div>Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-55763194048620515992010-01-20T14:40:00.000-08:002010-12-12T15:10:52.076-08:00Kenneth Bernard Smith (October 16, 1917-January 16, 2010)<div>I love my family. I don't know how I got so lucky to be blessed with them, but I did. Not only do I have an extraordinary nuclear family, but my extended family is likewise incredible. Shortly after starting college I wrote letters to my grandpa's and my father's father wrote back. For whatever reason I was impressed to call him instead of responding via post. That phone call was much longer then I anticipated it to be, and it was enlightening. I'd always liked my grandpa, but I had never known we were two peas in a pod. What followed were weekly phone calls and the blossoming of one of my sweetest friendships that we cherished. Last August we found out grandpa had an aneurysm by his heart, and in November it was discovered that it was leaking. I am grateful that we had a heads up and there was plenty of time for final words to be spoken. More then that I am grateful for the impression to write him, that he wrote me back, and for the further impression to call him so that for the years after our first phone call I could get to know him and seek his advice. Grandpa's famous words of counsel to me when I was fretting over what to do or pursue were: "Once you say 'can't' you're whipped." He was a hard worker, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was active in many charitable causes, very involved and valuable member in the local Mason Lodge, a natural learner, and fun loving.</div><div><br /></div><div>When he passed I was blessed to have a family who was tenderly concerned with how I was doing, and friends who dropped much to comfort me. It was noticed and much appreciated. I really struggled at his death, not for him, but for me. I know where he is, I know he is with family who love him, and I am certain he is happy. I am so grateful I know I will get to be with him when I leave this moral existence. I struggled though because I was so very sad that he is not here, right now, with me. I was deeply saddened that my future husband won't know the great man he was, and that my children won't have the chance to know him in this life. All this being said, the comfort I feel from the gospel providing answers about death, where he is now, the fact that I will be with him again, and that we will continue to have a relationship throughout eternity is precious to me.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is four generations of the Smith family. Grandpa, Jay, my pops, and my brother Christopher.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFR4flk863upwjw3plFPp0nCmlOiJYhx8qA4oEV33FuMjontsNgm8IAbFXzdn7srRXD0T8LleavvkoTmKfUMd8yglourCtLnyKFuKClO7np-OUt_UuVz5UUQOy-4tFpCDzs_iQ-eF80qhZ/s1600/junejuly-17.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFR4flk863upwjw3plFPp0nCmlOiJYhx8qA4oEV33FuMjontsNgm8IAbFXzdn7srRXD0T8LleavvkoTmKfUMd8yglourCtLnyKFuKClO7np-OUt_UuVz5UUQOy-4tFpCDzs_iQ-eF80qhZ/s320/junejuly-17.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549929537396004034" /></a><br /><div>Grandpa, grandma Julie, me, Esther (my sister-in-law), Jay, Chis, pops, and mother.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Hey check it out! With 3 inch heels and a slight hill I am almost as tall as Esther! I'm the runt of the littler...my mother feed my brother more, so naturally I got less...stunting my growth. She always said she gave him more because he was bigger then me, "DUH, he's bigger because you feed him more!" Without heels I'm 5'3" and he is 6'3"...account for that.) (Note: I am not bitter about this, there are many things I can do on account of my size...such as I never have to duck when walking under trees, I always win at hide-n-seek because I fit in the craziest places, and I can wear any heal and still be shorter then 95% of guys--greatly increasing my dating pool.)</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUBn77cwwGgU5riPfqzr-GVED10YQUkLEJAhJGoSuaTjU_IL8f0YT4YOr2pdzaxLNtJ0vekvHxSnns9S5R4if6Rq-b45ncLYqn1j5V2lVfMhV4wJY2T3_XZmfccyWVF1KhMR7HCEWlS0S/s1600/junejuly-12.jpg"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUBn77cwwGgU5riPfqzr-GVED10YQUkLEJAhJGoSuaTjU_IL8f0YT4YOr2pdzaxLNtJ0vekvHxSnns9S5R4if6Rq-b45ncLYqn1j5V2lVfMhV4wJY2T3_XZmfccyWVF1KhMR7HCEWlS0S/s320/junejuly-12.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549929534407778274" /></a></div>Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-733121263509911442009-10-31T20:47:00.000-07:002009-11-12T16:51:54.279-08:00My Halloween at Devil's Chasm<div>Arizona has some awesome hikes, and Devil's Chasm--in the Tonto National Forrest, part of Cherry Creek--I have heard is a really neat one. In addition to being a beautiful and somewhat challenging hike, it holds a sweet cave, as well as cliff-dwelling ruins from the Salado Indians that is estimated to be 700 to 800 years old. My bishop, some friends, and I planned this trip over labor day, and I have been looking forward to going ever since! I know there are a lot of pictures here...and I tried to limit myself, but I just love all these pictures!</div><div><br /></div><div>My friend Heidi took this picture the night before, and I am amazed at the stunning shot she got of the stars. (You have to double click to really see how amazing it is.)</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7qwCeulkS8IPia86eNLihCFwUogyNpFKwETxYO6ecDqGtDNYDFlpbB-IWQAj0Ku_mFYL9kfebXB5tiLHrZHxR7CEmoAEamNjQxwrJ0i39TVHgoS9tolyxz4eFxG12T5Dk7mPqMmmrSsp/s1600-h/devils+chasm+022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7qwCeulkS8IPia86eNLihCFwUogyNpFKwETxYO6ecDqGtDNYDFlpbB-IWQAj0Ku_mFYL9kfebXB5tiLHrZHxR7CEmoAEamNjQxwrJ0i39TVHgoS9tolyxz4eFxG12T5Dk7mPqMmmrSsp/s320/devils+chasm+022.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403264760440415570" /></a><br /><div>This is our group before we departed on our adventure: (front to back, left to right) Zack, Cimarron, Heidi, Bishop Nicholls, (on the rock) Marisa, me, Charlotte, & Justin. Yes...it was cold, mid-40's out when we started.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj684o0F8vX7wJV-S7t__z0Sw6j-HBjgUI0EpfBMO5gessyMvazXdIn9hraLyeu2Y-T18us8RxRZDUbN7cZdI10EKnoT2BTstr8rhGzAJ9a3bC769xN54OUneiF2mJUoKJy1Mij6TP0vqL9/s1600-h/IMG_1204.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj684o0F8vX7wJV-S7t__z0Sw6j-HBjgUI0EpfBMO5gessyMvazXdIn9hraLyeu2Y-T18us8RxRZDUbN7cZdI10EKnoT2BTstr8rhGzAJ9a3bC769xN54OUneiF2mJUoKJy1Mij6TP0vqL9/s320/IMG_1204.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403264637223493138" /></a><br /></div><div>I love this picture of us!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WBZNHPrmx8zU3Iwep3fIRvCUG1hqZUJjPmuMwvoQPJuJhlljO32SbMK0kroqh8jJulyk3ExrxIKIDQ51e9BsKNIyZ_z1bLhCE2gwakqm8HlZTIcLUDW29wFVFvCo29LIwJr-jDX8RkdZ/s1600-h/IMG_6381.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WBZNHPrmx8zU3Iwep3fIRvCUG1hqZUJjPmuMwvoQPJuJhlljO32SbMK0kroqh8jJulyk3ExrxIKIDQ51e9BsKNIyZ_z1bLhCE2gwakqm8HlZTIcLUDW29wFVFvCo29LIwJr-jDX8RkdZ/s320/IMG_6381.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403264628268374706" /></a><br /></div><div>So fun to hike up!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FiDT3kfKE6ILSCBKi0gszJlcxLMODO__hPYhW9fb6ajjO-Ivc94B3j7-jw2XDspTif-j803qOKpVMs8yKEvvYixGRlSFkp8fvEg01B1iar1gF7gvLk0V9VZYU6In7mSXs86cPq8Fkius/s1600-h/IMG_6388.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FiDT3kfKE6ILSCBKi0gszJlcxLMODO__hPYhW9fb6ajjO-Ivc94B3j7-jw2XDspTif-j803qOKpVMs8yKEvvYixGRlSFkp8fvEg01B1iar1gF7gvLk0V9VZYU6In7mSXs86cPq8Fkius/s320/IMG_6388.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403264614910356450" /></a><br /></div><div>I must admit, Arizona has some really pretty scenery when you look for it. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytyqEz_mpZ-08ttgUHuwIUKHCZHGAFH-g885MrY9FMvC6dCCXitw3s3Wz13K0FgjwmPB2DVmzFILw0rZOZcXT4tDzpK-0OfP4kMB8pRdjao8o3Q8TYqgDURqrqZXwAo_Y-jgqJJ4odtXn/s1600-h/devils+chasm+052.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytyqEz_mpZ-08ttgUHuwIUKHCZHGAFH-g885MrY9FMvC6dCCXitw3s3Wz13K0FgjwmPB2DVmzFILw0rZOZcXT4tDzpK-0OfP4kMB8pRdjao8o3Q8TYqgDURqrqZXwAo_Y-jgqJJ4odtXn/s320/devils+chasm+052.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403264607373333938" /></a><br /></div><div>Look closely, to the top left is 'an indian chief' with folded arms (2nd pillar rock on the left hand side), and the cliff-dwelling is nearly centered (just a little lower then the top half).</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-iWUx-fqhAQLr50ffVBHsK_gFe0k7ASNEh1DtiErX47LN7drj73xcLf1JxYNsAXRMdeJ1FLCFVYr3itK3F56PvRbyGVIXl12zrDxFqgwRsgPRF7BUsJaDIOsKK3VJLuZBjxcPfUQAYdu/s1600-h/IMG_1256.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-iWUx-fqhAQLr50ffVBHsK_gFe0k7ASNEh1DtiErX47LN7drj73xcLf1JxYNsAXRMdeJ1FLCFVYr3itK3F56PvRbyGVIXl12zrDxFqgwRsgPRF7BUsJaDIOsKK3VJLuZBjxcPfUQAYdu/s320/IMG_1256.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403264297388357266" /></a><br /></div><div>I love our faces in this one: Justin trying to explain the indian chief rock...Charlotte gets it, Zack is starting to, I'm completely lost (classic Sam face), and Heidi just doesn't care!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUhNeY9KhPslDgPND-uPZH-ySCS1dHj6fCVHuME886duIxXpu7n-ykCuRLgxDhndxnhgZiBguZvwwoSeHrV5NuLKQEj1vBmFssRihVVUpZoC7D50ARY9M5DtnCLSoQnMXX6V62XZqRYLZ/s1600-h/IMG_6397.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUhNeY9KhPslDgPND-uPZH-ySCS1dHj6fCVHuME886duIxXpu7n-ykCuRLgxDhndxnhgZiBguZvwwoSeHrV5NuLKQEj1vBmFssRihVVUpZoC7D50ARY9M5DtnCLSoQnMXX6V62XZqRYLZ/s320/IMG_6397.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403264289894005186" /></a><br /></div><div>Pretty sweet, huh, just tucked in there.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxnUheL7pqG8l_mT9kUX3QxyuW_evm0cDBIHz_z8jAemYe8caWfn12-O0h6PVU-LDi7L8x6f-KrkBFBjKj0fZ76rgIm_2XFR4RcCx_D3p62fGWiI1HNpgSXQeNBulgcEXQ30wtehDIbN6/s1600-h/devils+chasm+092.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxnUheL7pqG8l_mT9kUX3QxyuW_evm0cDBIHz_z8jAemYe8caWfn12-O0h6PVU-LDi7L8x6f-KrkBFBjKj0fZ76rgIm_2XFR4RcCx_D3p62fGWiI1HNpgSXQeNBulgcEXQ30wtehDIbN6/s320/devils+chasm+092.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403264283096561554" /></a><br /></div><div>The ruin is made out of stones and caliche, and you can still see the fingerprints in the caliche from when they pressed it in, this was a really clear shot (it might be helpful to double click it so you can see the picture bigger), SO COOL!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGdTQTLAiholsAxQ4juOrqvRpEtmW11_DJOOGoFspR15snR9GDjUTIkOtL6XiL5GCNe7jPkk8KBKjc0TJpNmu1fF4KVqCWIQiChRoYeTZJ8RYuXVvklTpIXC2t7iv9MBskViGJTPsRdkS/s1600-h/IMG_6438.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGdTQTLAiholsAxQ4juOrqvRpEtmW11_DJOOGoFspR15snR9GDjUTIkOtL6XiL5GCNe7jPkk8KBKjc0TJpNmu1fF4KVqCWIQiChRoYeTZJ8RYuXVvklTpIXC2t7iv9MBskViGJTPsRdkS/s320/IMG_6438.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403264273672121138" /></a><br /></div><div>Another great shot of the fingerprints in the caliche, with Heidi's fingers helping illustrate.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzMJYULLeSAOhYaWntUSkoCyuFckmB_33QS4pmq3sATv9itBKeJkYoWWb2V5CE49Mfy3m4vZFcEzI7I1GCRvNbDZhWfM4Xlr9KJ20afW0KaV1Xux2kpOZoGaagCKpqzpVUMd1ilguUgyM/s1600-h/devils+chasm+065.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzMJYULLeSAOhYaWntUSkoCyuFckmB_33QS4pmq3sATv9itBKeJkYoWWb2V5CE49Mfy3m4vZFcEzI7I1GCRvNbDZhWfM4Xlr9KJ20afW0KaV1Xux2kpOZoGaagCKpqzpVUMd1ilguUgyM/s320/devils+chasm+065.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403263733142272978" /></a><br /></div><div>In it's hay-day, it was 3-stories high, it's amazing it had preserved so well.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Hw1zRuTFpr2joNh5mGDHg9RxPwv31ejuqWaa20PaPyCLI7np-tEgGojJ-1wt9NEtQf-3I9XOVkxZ1CHXGOQPi_edhFqPpLydLkQ7edjxppkKNc3YA4-w8W8_wYHMEOCALN5vxepmxH75/s1600-h/devils+chasm+069.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Hw1zRuTFpr2joNh5mGDHg9RxPwv31ejuqWaa20PaPyCLI7np-tEgGojJ-1wt9NEtQf-3I9XOVkxZ1CHXGOQPi_edhFqPpLydLkQ7edjxppkKNc3YA4-w8W8_wYHMEOCALN5vxepmxH75/s320/devils+chasm+069.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403263633133943810" /></a><br /></div><div>There were several rooms you could go through, and but if you're not skinny, you're not getting in! (There were several metate's, and a significant amount of broken pottery in the rooms.)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbS_layfPT2-WxYLw6rvjl7cPVVhzM9zRX35WdIKuYUM5uvKq1hrGgQD94m3FL1J4Gv_ayRuUwltYkfZYwmlK50kARx4ZCoFT7363PlbDzwE1HTbXbp6x3Ha310P8xpGa8hExz1WeB_i3e/s1600-h/devils+chasm+083.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbS_layfPT2-WxYLw6rvjl7cPVVhzM9zRX35WdIKuYUM5uvKq1hrGgQD94m3FL1J4Gv_ayRuUwltYkfZYwmlK50kARx4ZCoFT7363PlbDzwE1HTbXbp6x3Ha310P8xpGa8hExz1WeB_i3e/s320/devils+chasm+083.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403263527694080018" /></a><br /></div><div>What a perfect picture of an old metate, with a breathtaking scene just out the doorway.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsvr5mNkRmtAtZrmlwfWk1VJ-YnkRukaxw8q4s5aJ0xtR5-E6uGUlgsxefnKCoAz5AdFQMcc3tJRMc7WYUHHOXwnn37z3xzaGSSP4Gj6Krv1GnbZWaEyIe34gFU1-htUm47-eyH7Elcn7/s1600-h/devils+chasm+077.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsvr5mNkRmtAtZrmlwfWk1VJ-YnkRukaxw8q4s5aJ0xtR5-E6uGUlgsxefnKCoAz5AdFQMcc3tJRMc7WYUHHOXwnn37z3xzaGSSP4Gj6Krv1GnbZWaEyIe34gFU1-htUm47-eyH7Elcn7/s320/devils+chasm+077.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403263409144601906" /></a><br /></div><div>Who say's Arizona doesn't have fall? Look at those gorgeous colored leaves!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4L8O1WbTUGsxyFjQlR07o6wf8x3dxELudUw-t6lxXsC2AckEDj89mXhYSNtcFosrBSlYAfgzc8agj_S6cPjPuOCUD5akB_OTa8utMhffIg0GrRIyay3jpCa-VS7nWhDNsR6Eav1z-ZHy/s1600-h/devils+chasm+084.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4L8O1WbTUGsxyFjQlR07o6wf8x3dxELudUw-t6lxXsC2AckEDj89mXhYSNtcFosrBSlYAfgzc8agj_S6cPjPuOCUD5akB_OTa8utMhffIg0GrRIyay3jpCa-VS7nWhDNsR6Eav1z-ZHy/s320/devils+chasm+084.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403263301270130098" /></a><br /></div><div>A doorway even I could hit my head on! I rarely have to stoop.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YAkyMyuHQkJysp0xP_FG8S6cWSWzJ5Rqbcd9gZDalZCCq46-4lHpg_Aehsm1p8LZ22J_JyiughZss6oF7S9F83fxQ4p2tE32C7PYjOkiuyTXrXWp9h3u1WSF2rwUSSPk8gcp54QJVKbf/s1600-h/IMG_1268.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YAkyMyuHQkJysp0xP_FG8S6cWSWzJ5Rqbcd9gZDalZCCq46-4lHpg_Aehsm1p8LZ22J_JyiughZss6oF7S9F83fxQ4p2tE32C7PYjOkiuyTXrXWp9h3u1WSF2rwUSSPk8gcp54QJVKbf/s320/IMG_1268.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403262284484007410" /></a><br /></div><div>Look mom, no hands! Not exactly the place where I'd be thrilled to have my kids playing.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4Otd4QW9xWVR5Bh6XeCD1waPEstR7jnAt_71SFER1VilJm0xgJ989nKL1CmOcl0oecnGOCMOft4vpMnmFE0grXMQw5cZksZIHFOuPgDVsITEXm2mzu3nhqu-Fe1ZicHgt9cyHnrV2vU6/s1600-h/IMG_6424.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4Otd4QW9xWVR5Bh6XeCD1waPEstR7jnAt_71SFER1VilJm0xgJ989nKL1CmOcl0oecnGOCMOft4vpMnmFE0grXMQw5cZksZIHFOuPgDVsITEXm2mzu3nhqu-Fe1ZicHgt9cyHnrV2vU6/s320/IMG_6424.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403262275552402274" /></a><br /></div><div>Us eating lunch on the edge of a cliff...the back patio if you will.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRMPK9iQA09gceveUtlMYNJMYJPFNF1jOmSfB04C_BK_XLNeY1RuULcPoyBzi_6GemA3kkWu_q738GwxqThOREwPfEpD8XAp6Q2D5Cwwx090SMBL3Kqi07ObxOTyKCyQiXRhk2kj1IQLY/s1600-h/IMG_6431.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRMPK9iQA09gceveUtlMYNJMYJPFNF1jOmSfB04C_BK_XLNeY1RuULcPoyBzi_6GemA3kkWu_q738GwxqThOREwPfEpD8XAp6Q2D5Cwwx090SMBL3Kqi07ObxOTyKCyQiXRhk2kj1IQLY/s320/IMG_6431.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403262261770612498" /></a><br /></div><div>There were lots of fallen trees, and I was just in the mood to climb on them.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Mu1ClVgm97SwY_lOj5bF1CVJZwz5mcMFHwh3imr3DH3Km1HAMltY-DFrUogi_6negvgnTJylyp5nwtuB156ZFSIurF2Jatqd8xpOM1QUEudGf_mtiZlPtinGhKT_rs4-Skk2T1GsW_Lf/s1600-h/IMG_6453.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Mu1ClVgm97SwY_lOj5bF1CVJZwz5mcMFHwh3imr3DH3Km1HAMltY-DFrUogi_6negvgnTJylyp5nwtuB156ZFSIurF2Jatqd8xpOM1QUEudGf_mtiZlPtinGhKT_rs4-Skk2T1GsW_Lf/s320/IMG_6453.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403262252310261346" /></a><br /></div><div>I even got Marisa into it.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgpo-OWmgatONuFcdacA5_aCCqTyL4PO4CoXycLuINcdFAYPUD-bn1eOjIjl81mgXFkeZukXru-TYGt8OIkeVToS4GVg4rXK5tQ0ltQET1vJ8bTaj3V5DugIpoUzYt4IbiU5y3TqvXJIU/s1600-h/IMG_6455.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgpo-OWmgatONuFcdacA5_aCCqTyL4PO4CoXycLuINcdFAYPUD-bn1eOjIjl81mgXFkeZukXru-TYGt8OIkeVToS4GVg4rXK5tQ0ltQET1vJ8bTaj3V5DugIpoUzYt4IbiU5y3TqvXJIU/s320/IMG_6455.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403262247133430386" /></a><br /></div><div>Bishop, Marisa, and I all bush-whacked it a long way, till we made it to a dry river bed, and followed that to the end of the chasm, and this is it. Zack and Cimmaron eventually made their way back too.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONbFt7GqYHJiMVBTl9DhiEa0D_V-e0XHAxlAZvntkdIf58lH0rcMcj2LJoEmCPq9p84vi-2jk7oJtW62LJnWus4gEbwxfpZN53zFh-NwE4Q1bxnAPFEfSTduaDTgXEQCdx_l0AfDsEvrN/s1600-h/IMG_1311.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONbFt7GqYHJiMVBTl9DhiEa0D_V-e0XHAxlAZvntkdIf58lH0rcMcj2LJoEmCPq9p84vi-2jk7oJtW62LJnWus4gEbwxfpZN53zFh-NwE4Q1bxnAPFEfSTduaDTgXEQCdx_l0AfDsEvrN/s320/IMG_1311.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403261871064715986" /></a><br /></div><div>You see Marisa...but where am I? I'm there...look closely in the dark...kinda creepy...kinda awesome, and if nothing else, totally hilarious! (You'll have to double-click to see it.)</div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSFfno1muNYXwXlpNbc_Xeoi4PLzkgT6WqF6z0xagtbbKnZaL55f6iYIZrIiGa4sQtYu6acQUopaPb1lg5Foq2thvq7vGmtyIiLHFbLg4IOgBixwXuWnrWt23LytVYPOAdH2HhU63R5xm/s1600-h/IMG_6460.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSFfno1muNYXwXlpNbc_Xeoi4PLzkgT6WqF6z0xagtbbKnZaL55f6iYIZrIiGa4sQtYu6acQUopaPb1lg5Foq2thvq7vGmtyIiLHFbLg4IOgBixwXuWnrWt23LytVYPOAdH2HhU63R5xm/s320/IMG_6460.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403261862568050834" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Eyes still glowing, I submerge from the dark shadows...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLJ_bJ_cNTMBb_sppIT4cLrqfg7q7Ii2qv5E9fW7Z3FDHZ4jrT_sgTxWMLToSSn6RFxDANR8XPaXcVtoui_RMcwMTj644ukv4z8s3PRsHG3FFD2DHluXYTZrT_GZ3e2finHsWHXE0wm25/s1600-h/IMG_6461.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLJ_bJ_cNTMBb_sppIT4cLrqfg7q7Ii2qv5E9fW7Z3FDHZ4jrT_sgTxWMLToSSn6RFxDANR8XPaXcVtoui_RMcwMTj644ukv4z8s3PRsHG3FFD2DHluXYTZrT_GZ3e2finHsWHXE0wm25/s320/IMG_6461.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403261850067070018" /></a><br /></div><div>Everyone likes to pick on Sam because her short little legs just don't reach most of the time! :(</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOwUMUqrXiu0c3tWLvPSftCE6Ycy74ByDp2Ltahw1sM9bnuWbznHxgKNGC15NCFJ-qURfcnyQQFbsiEqGb8kqtWithz6COgv_nCzkV4b-aT1z5ohuubDehhvMGZQg1N2L3LeSOxJUCRNsT/s1600-h/IMG_6474.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOwUMUqrXiu0c3tWLvPSftCE6Ycy74ByDp2Ltahw1sM9bnuWbznHxgKNGC15NCFJ-qURfcnyQQFbsiEqGb8kqtWithz6COgv_nCzkV4b-aT1z5ohuubDehhvMGZQg1N2L3LeSOxJUCRNsT/s320/IMG_6474.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403261841567207554" /></a><br /></div><div>Pretty colored leaf instead of a flower, working with what I've got.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5GZRSZwhhygnlKTgBHGoaO_0Ogkb-wvGJ72YTqEjEMsZBjQHtgIm4pGZfVWUJMUVzFapz3g5x91Psj-fsqMO5k8TkKrHuLTl_8vx-ywsAMcDcc9MequxndRT86KjcrAVa77DQx5noJYu/s1600-h/IMG_6480.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5GZRSZwhhygnlKTgBHGoaO_0Ogkb-wvGJ72YTqEjEMsZBjQHtgIm4pGZfVWUJMUVzFapz3g5x91Psj-fsqMO5k8TkKrHuLTl_8vx-ywsAMcDcc9MequxndRT86KjcrAVa77DQx5noJYu/s320/IMG_6480.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403261833782116898" /></a><br /></div><div>As I crawled across a fallen tree a few feet, Marisa suggested I be a sloth and I immediately complied, Bishop got there just in time to capture the moment!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXXg4pDyc_bPtV82xpZDYcCerpZmQxoqYX_LL4HNKw31l3g6_EnwgaYPDz5I97akaGuShCvPBohO40aCa-HoZ_9CeoLFrgsdi8WnDPwmMT_KaILOGWHImQuccu4WTEE7aKGEfFzjrfPMQ/s1600-h/IMG_6482.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXXg4pDyc_bPtV82xpZDYcCerpZmQxoqYX_LL4HNKw31l3g6_EnwgaYPDz5I97akaGuShCvPBohO40aCa-HoZ_9CeoLFrgsdi8WnDPwmMT_KaILOGWHImQuccu4WTEE7aKGEfFzjrfPMQ/s320/IMG_6482.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403261430472766674" /></a><br /></div><div>This is the scenery we hiked along, isn't it beautiful!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVp_8t5VCzqBuwr_0Fz42EZT8gudixAwlk6qj9XxPLYzIaFaD_lPgPEackks92MAaGCsDeZrO4_O6P1HfyniI2_ZdBgQi52bs8nDX3JB-UShfk9Xv2MUCoH55-ex_x3kFmq4HKOH59Cf37/s1600-h/IMG_6485.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVp_8t5VCzqBuwr_0Fz42EZT8gudixAwlk6qj9XxPLYzIaFaD_lPgPEackks92MAaGCsDeZrO4_O6P1HfyniI2_ZdBgQi52bs8nDX3JB-UShfk9Xv2MUCoH55-ex_x3kFmq4HKOH59Cf37/s320/IMG_6485.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403261415409345698" /></a><br /></div><div>After this intense dirt hill we literally CRAWLED up, we got to the cave, and in one part we found some bones...creepy...looked like part of a femur.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yi4JAYUOWTprLw-7ScJbKBFSs47iT3zBIv1CNMgsQdkSAOUH6NbPcUj-Pz0dWtDoX9x4n4cMllhLV2XB17942z0aEvFqky7ypqlpjGQdpLq8hahcW_ZHM3Cutw1tfyKlAX1OIZUbkMIb/s1600-h/IMG_6504.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yi4JAYUOWTprLw-7ScJbKBFSs47iT3zBIv1CNMgsQdkSAOUH6NbPcUj-Pz0dWtDoX9x4n4cMllhLV2XB17942z0aEvFqky7ypqlpjGQdpLq8hahcW_ZHM3Cutw1tfyKlAX1OIZUbkMIb/s320/IMG_6504.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403261407964004418" /></a><br /></div><div>Not my most brilliant of moves, I was a little nervous here since it was about a 15-foot drop, and we had no rope should I have fallen. But the thrill of cave exploration excited me to do it!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQfe9qjBm2LL5noHoP87e1OwJv__KZDIOFGoGeQPkmApvwJOME0s-mP1MNp3zrKvNNC2neGUeNhsv-l3F0Bk2zdeeQzifa6P_seQPK8qjKxd4KigBXZKoSlcAInEqSlivf_YQcx9xyxCT/s1600-h/IMG_1349.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQfe9qjBm2LL5noHoP87e1OwJv__KZDIOFGoGeQPkmApvwJOME0s-mP1MNp3zrKvNNC2neGUeNhsv-l3F0Bk2zdeeQzifa6P_seQPK8qjKxd4KigBXZKoSlcAInEqSlivf_YQcx9xyxCT/s320/IMG_1349.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403261397536378930" /></a><br /></div><div>There was asbestus in the cave, and I just wanted to blow my nose before a picture was taken...Bishop wasn't honoring this request, and I was showing my displeasure of this fact on my face! (Marisa was smart enough to turn around).</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8n9Mb3LVkQzqSbaUD4-eFjQxZ4fBEKQf8N7D-7BWMh7V2m8hC56kBTTwG2ZmLqtXKwc0KK0aEnEFxj4q-RVxoAJfn0x1Qccw2Homi7Jfos8x6qMLXETzErCGCaBElL4cIU4WkJqedGNS/s1600-h/IMG_6512.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8n9Mb3LVkQzqSbaUD4-eFjQxZ4fBEKQf8N7D-7BWMh7V2m8hC56kBTTwG2ZmLqtXKwc0KK0aEnEFxj4q-RVxoAJfn0x1Qccw2Homi7Jfos8x6qMLXETzErCGCaBElL4cIU4WkJqedGNS/s320/IMG_6512.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403261390247242066" /></a><br /></div><div>See, I'm perfectly happy to smile if I could just have a moment.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngnjcGHPqRHqM2FMrXnKAMJ7f8X3N26OhkiX_t0lcxv2TWJCs9G-tOJfQ34Auoi9knKvxThjuwxRsOiUa2ctLDL7LabBtsDnb34OP_qPDM3BtXTptfeKBidZpPFh6SSoEPRTTVh5WMNN6/s1600-h/IMG_6513.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngnjcGHPqRHqM2FMrXnKAMJ7f8X3N26OhkiX_t0lcxv2TWJCs9G-tOJfQ34Auoi9knKvxThjuwxRsOiUa2ctLDL7LabBtsDnb34OP_qPDM3BtXTptfeKBidZpPFh6SSoEPRTTVh5WMNN6/s320/IMG_6513.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403261011103347698" /></a><br /></div><div>Someone left a rope at this spot, which proved to be very helpful.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtas8CIs-ykrjzlmc2eyz3vyai6RW0H0t_w8riAb0f30mwUkicj09mBDTmXu1hzCb7fbg0K9foYLYZasXhO2R-DEsXyyaIgLQr6sL6XqcRaUeEBkL1u0T7RMOks5Y1jd1nUyz6cMyHnEB8/s1600-h/IMG_1373.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtas8CIs-ykrjzlmc2eyz3vyai6RW0H0t_w8riAb0f30mwUkicj09mBDTmXu1hzCb7fbg0K9foYLYZasXhO2R-DEsXyyaIgLQr6sL6XqcRaUeEBkL1u0T7RMOks5Y1jd1nUyz6cMyHnEB8/s320/IMG_1373.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403261001130739714" /></a><br /></div><div>Yes, that is sheer panic on my face because I had lost all friction, and was sliding down a steep rock, mere feet from a 5 foot drop! (Which unfortunately you barely miss the edge of in the bottom of the photo, so you can't tell what a dramatic moment this was!)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlttf64Pdl4UGTBrzXFmcH9hySGpgzrz_osu0U-cbo2D_mUHoAqS2y9VaEzElUu3f9jTO0ygknAicfh_I91XO-2ZoUgOUZATBvgeHojXNcbYQ8dewZnhTNpAWo0cQaQRlcYCzfv9zPeN6T/s1600-h/IMG_6520.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlttf64Pdl4UGTBrzXFmcH9hySGpgzrz_osu0U-cbo2D_mUHoAqS2y9VaEzElUu3f9jTO0ygknAicfh_I91XO-2ZoUgOUZATBvgeHojXNcbYQ8dewZnhTNpAWo0cQaQRlcYCzfv9zPeN6T/s320/IMG_6520.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403260995418311554" /></a><br /></div><div>All in a day of fun! I love our unofficial hiking club!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWw5EQ8hJSqBhpFEDDOl-CXX5UChWAz12itRsTdG2wntTcFYaACqskWpGRwH1YB_8Y6JcONYP5s-tZzcO6x7fHO9MJjEiJywuTcFm1JR3fCMZQPnEPYyP0sVy5ud3kVe9f2hqtEUKnmSSB/s1600-h/IMG_1387.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWw5EQ8hJSqBhpFEDDOl-CXX5UChWAz12itRsTdG2wntTcFYaACqskWpGRwH1YB_8Y6JcONYP5s-tZzcO6x7fHO9MJjEiJywuTcFm1JR3fCMZQPnEPYyP0sVy5ud3kVe9f2hqtEUKnmSSB/s320/IMG_1387.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403260981483608018" /></a><br /></div><div>But let us not forget my favorite part of hikes, Bishop and Justin skipping and singing 'Skip to My Lou', this makes any day cheerful!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVo6UcmffooTp8-MnnMZVA95FcmRsO1es9LAgXcwwFwf2wDxWqLY56HJ42k0gkszd5wSswDxJJ_3UR6pR57cx40WTYnuIAV_Th-zM2_njLkty8QFJevLNQl_2owCzcgH60tJhuQfGHcWb/s1600-h/devils+chasm+134.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVo6UcmffooTp8-MnnMZVA95FcmRsO1es9LAgXcwwFwf2wDxWqLY56HJ42k0gkszd5wSswDxJJ_3UR6pR57cx40WTYnuIAV_Th-zM2_njLkty8QFJevLNQl_2owCzcgH60tJhuQfGHcWb/s320/devils+chasm+134.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403260972342334338" /></a><br /></div>Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-38812252946792242432009-05-29T09:05:00.000-07:002009-10-29T10:03:28.129-07:00My little get away!<div>I have a dear friend, Allison Richardson, who was one of my best friends in high school has been bugging me since last summer to go to Hawaii with her. Given that tickets were so cheap this summer I just couldn't resist, and I invited my roommate, and best friend, Amanda Bluth to come as well. Having decided it is always more fun to just disappear and have people find out later that you were at a wicked cool place, we didn't tell a soul. Below are some of my favorite pictures from the secret extravaganza!</div><div><br /></div><div>The day we got there we were walking down bikini beach, and i found this old school hut...I love that Amanda is in the background staring at the beach (it wasn't even planned, but it's perfect)!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirj7QS7cT0PC94Z4ggDMwiL4uhOyspb1fh-pDU5iTbn31fTVIRQxQEKAXJrT6Lv5yTXkmUfCvXnNFG5VJ4Ig9olh4QrRWnDBojzJFb7Qt2bBbOdMKVpG162qBFGdvCc5WHAygKWp79arDm/s1600-h/IMG_8891.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirj7QS7cT0PC94Z4ggDMwiL4uhOyspb1fh-pDU5iTbn31fTVIRQxQEKAXJrT6Lv5yTXkmUfCvXnNFG5VJ4Ig9olh4QrRWnDBojzJFb7Qt2bBbOdMKVpG162qBFGdvCc5WHAygKWp79arDm/s320/IMG_8891.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398059593508172306" /></a><br /><div>The Hawaii Temple is currently under major renovations, but it was still beautiful to walk on the grounds.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLnvr32VeDBrXzQDV4JM1b2VJK3t81B9mDtQX17hQXcYTaEFHJWCtCvGKacC-vuhy6lzKSiEw3kYeQ0T0JfsWWsOZvnKdzbdu0JwoAySCj8rVqNE-LCDFw0zk2eAKE_JmOObcthDh4nP8/s1600-h/IMG_8920_2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLnvr32VeDBrXzQDV4JM1b2VJK3t81B9mDtQX17hQXcYTaEFHJWCtCvGKacC-vuhy6lzKSiEw3kYeQ0T0JfsWWsOZvnKdzbdu0JwoAySCj8rVqNE-LCDFw0zk2eAKE_JmOObcthDh4nP8/s320/IMG_8920_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398059590630642562" /></a><br /></div><div>You might think that your eyes are bigger then out stomaches...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhoq-0IfBcBX1Xe7HiH-bthtUKIr_O6qHEA3A08Y-WfSWUlOgc5-cPAnQUAD8dzTW0e4aEOuG2LkPbnyXjA7U6jH9KPKyhCnt8B0L4CAXCpIjf0nP1KW07cM7uXN8L7VlKFuoKjetelPp/s1600-h/IMG_8932.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhoq-0IfBcBX1Xe7HiH-bthtUKIr_O6qHEA3A08Y-WfSWUlOgc5-cPAnQUAD8dzTW0e4aEOuG2LkPbnyXjA7U6jH9KPKyhCnt8B0L4CAXCpIjf0nP1KW07cM7uXN8L7VlKFuoKjetelPp/s320/IMG_8932.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398059441549673490" /></a><br /></div><div>...but we did finish it! (Though I'm not sure that was the most brilliant thing we've ever done.)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqmEWbkhNbJNlCzKSAsODnvNFh5Qw_lEMRYSbWTlFv6CwNRvM91-nMNhj3llrM0u_R3sIRK28ca_Phyphenhyphen5St8iY7C2OPAsdw1E5x-TyKcfFY5HR0E-E9jmHDPE0RgJOfPw-A3noAF8YyaTG/s1600-h/IMG_8935.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqmEWbkhNbJNlCzKSAsODnvNFh5Qw_lEMRYSbWTlFv6CwNRvM91-nMNhj3llrM0u_R3sIRK28ca_Phyphenhyphen5St8iY7C2OPAsdw1E5x-TyKcfFY5HR0E-E9jmHDPE0RgJOfPw-A3noAF8YyaTG/s320/IMG_8935.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398059437250412466" /></a><br /></div><div>We were walking by this park and kept hearing a rooster, and for our lives could not see it...look closely...top third of the photo, and just right of the middle of the photo...maybe even double click this so you can better see that there is a rooster over 20 feet up in a tree! Who knew they flew?</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pcKwJe6L_B_Z2IWlKlcT1IZCZbkcQ7KMOKsqm8syrK4wn7ffCIwpFO3uvSLF-SRVdgQO9o9q67rqlgGVWYVJMy6asyhUlNU6CDCZG4zVaUyQ8NDJGs143tCt2Pgz_K3WUT3k41mxjeon/s1600-h/IMG_3364.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pcKwJe6L_B_Z2IWlKlcT1IZCZbkcQ7KMOKsqm8syrK4wn7ffCIwpFO3uvSLF-SRVdgQO9o9q67rqlgGVWYVJMy6asyhUlNU6CDCZG4zVaUyQ8NDJGs143tCt2Pgz_K3WUT3k41mxjeon/s320/IMG_3364.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398059435531648498" /></a><br /></div><div>We really loved this statue at the Polynesian Cultural Center...no more explanation needed...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqOxOM6XdaKCBQzRLnONpVFx2p00BprwhwppPobUmGI9UK8WgM4n5D_2TxO59bK9cjJHiVDLAxF8mG_4mjC-8B8iGZLvIizpPpruge-moRKSosPf8bo5DK4HnRcSN4TY9oBM1HqAqpXQ6/s1600-h/IMG_8946.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqOxOM6XdaKCBQzRLnONpVFx2p00BprwhwppPobUmGI9UK8WgM4n5D_2TxO59bK9cjJHiVDLAxF8mG_4mjC-8B8iGZLvIizpPpruge-moRKSosPf8bo5DK4HnRcSN4TY9oBM1HqAqpXQ6/s320/IMG_8946.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398059422999543986" /></a><br /></div><div>Be the statue...how'd we do?</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVXYV7nfPqzJ0z-Wrj_p_FoyBtjQ4pqhKrtlSLNvNq-u6jnxo1XhjBeeogvICxZ6-DDuy9Lfgnpxij7iLbU5On5YAmUYoSNq_mKjeC_izZxpO37XWTcepQ_1F-CfjS00kkrbevMCjebTB/s1600-h/IMG_8951.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVXYV7nfPqzJ0z-Wrj_p_FoyBtjQ4pqhKrtlSLNvNq-u6jnxo1XhjBeeogvICxZ6-DDuy9Lfgnpxij7iLbU5On5YAmUYoSNq_mKjeC_izZxpO37XWTcepQ_1F-CfjS00kkrbevMCjebTB/s320/IMG_8951.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398059415245095266" /></a><br /></div><div>I don't think we were trespassing here...there was no tape blocking it off! ;)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwcU2OUC7cbZP7MFNex19JQDKf16-XjT0cOlLCIsi2yl55eZYkuRwpqUJ86TsB0hmdCl_pjuewt-0FO27q2u50qrEL9ZlQ2QdbARpqcgnZigldEMwzbSN2ZFdmR1FmJpfQP8BuLaVmL5K/s1600-h/IMG_8955.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwcU2OUC7cbZP7MFNex19JQDKf16-XjT0cOlLCIsi2yl55eZYkuRwpqUJ86TsB0hmdCl_pjuewt-0FO27q2u50qrEL9ZlQ2QdbARpqcgnZigldEMwzbSN2ZFdmR1FmJpfQP8BuLaVmL5K/s320/IMG_8955.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398059164645499570" /></a><br /></div><div>Prepping to go snorkeling, I love it!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXyBZ3pZGpXBjD_YwZtiNlWYIkgDQ1cDckdGuLHiKO9Y4a-PDSQcUVC4Ft_XC4fqU12yEh3kuY4e26L-pEbuPmoxfY8ICaBsRIPot-m4esGSaTIBjis12c_DefyW_T4IUQ10H67lV7pA2/s1600-h/IMG_3367.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXyBZ3pZGpXBjD_YwZtiNlWYIkgDQ1cDckdGuLHiKO9Y4a-PDSQcUVC4Ft_XC4fqU12yEh3kuY4e26L-pEbuPmoxfY8ICaBsRIPot-m4esGSaTIBjis12c_DefyW_T4IUQ10H67lV7pA2/s320/IMG_3367.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398059152707634626" /></a><br /></div><div>Shark's Cove, sweet place for snorkeling...don't climb on the large coral rocks at the edge of cove...waves come, coral cuts...blood, pain...ouch! (bad, bad, bad idea!)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmayGOkE1AeUFTTdpQjGXzbBZpjuJ3j9kI-yMYGQq3W7y68gCCRi70espXJRJ1tat5tbDwoy53XOIm_nQ5idYR4U3zdJ007gljEmNxxdL5nWwxtLna1bDDS1sJLCa8okVl_0OlP1VF2tN/s1600-h/IMG_9009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmayGOkE1AeUFTTdpQjGXzbBZpjuJ3j9kI-yMYGQq3W7y68gCCRi70espXJRJ1tat5tbDwoy53XOIm_nQ5idYR4U3zdJ007gljEmNxxdL5nWwxtLna1bDDS1sJLCa8okVl_0OlP1VF2tN/s320/IMG_9009.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398059150937997746" /></a><br /></div><div>I love how touristy she looks! Don't you?</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSUVL4uXiqwlJoiJ67GnHmD-VI5tcq7NwPh24_EYvF_R_SVFD8N8FKEh_b0LDMHBWZohwls9jygyCmelrRZ47cWrXsAodDIupJkTjGazmAbiB8uxmAf70A6Wm16V9H_E8rc4xaoqxrEyI/s1600-h/IMG_9022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSUVL4uXiqwlJoiJ67GnHmD-VI5tcq7NwPh24_EYvF_R_SVFD8N8FKEh_b0LDMHBWZohwls9jygyCmelrRZ47cWrXsAodDIupJkTjGazmAbiB8uxmAf70A6Wm16V9H_E8rc4xaoqxrEyI/s320/IMG_9022.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398059144242389730" /></a><br /></div><div>Just resting from a long day of beach hopping, enjoying a good acai bowl! YUM!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucOonWMvlGRYMa4l0kLSHYJHsKcO_ZZiL0vycPf7zfgSl10bqOSzQxbdK2XLQQvZFWKjqFLKMdfDy1oQ44oRsShkczQrUGjceJ9DUWtVeImHD3aswgEq5zwewW6LhHeX3tdDdBxomQV1q/s1600-h/IMG_9024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucOonWMvlGRYMa4l0kLSHYJHsKcO_ZZiL0vycPf7zfgSl10bqOSzQxbdK2XLQQvZFWKjqFLKMdfDy1oQ44oRsShkczQrUGjceJ9DUWtVeImHD3aswgEq5zwewW6LhHeX3tdDdBxomQV1q/s320/IMG_9024.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398059135544762642" /></a><br /></div><div>The next three photos are on Sunset beach at sunset...i think this one is so perfect!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsk4P2r5UgqE6BHFB234G097UnL6b15T1F-OFJPqeyRXQZByfWLEdqAhao8PymMenLsm7dv9eOAS4wXyHFDTa-WncV0IRxmZ7Ow0G3_-4AGUeR3ku463JmqOVFQx1mpx99AZGEmBBvUuPO/s1600-h/IMG_9037.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsk4P2r5UgqE6BHFB234G097UnL6b15T1F-OFJPqeyRXQZByfWLEdqAhao8PymMenLsm7dv9eOAS4wXyHFDTa-WncV0IRxmZ7Ow0G3_-4AGUeR3ku463JmqOVFQx1mpx99AZGEmBBvUuPO/s320/IMG_9037.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398058859007948226" /></a><br /></div><div>Yes...I know my leg is not straight, that's why it's so funny!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEity0ESYNJxTADM8fTcFYuXIGVmZL4uwTxDsqXzVmxiLuXWQR5spdIIe6o0AUpFH4JJB0wqa5y_TL0mUCGLlFLCE-hY3dUGZTZKsu2WJZ_zM6BatODP5py0RWR0wA6QIndsh8CxmiyUyaqA/s1600-h/IMG_9038.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEity0ESYNJxTADM8fTcFYuXIGVmZL4uwTxDsqXzVmxiLuXWQR5spdIIe6o0AUpFH4JJB0wqa5y_TL0mUCGLlFLCE-hY3dUGZTZKsu2WJZ_zM6BatODP5py0RWR0wA6QIndsh8CxmiyUyaqA/s320/IMG_9038.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398058855865109602" /></a><br /></div><div>Amanda and I in slow-motion, battling to the death...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-IGmGE9adetvacF3ILHD8cVYoWYc1HaqNM6IJYSN9hBVs9daSaXeyGquI4C_8AAOmBmGyFCxGB59XNMgkP0xYBTrVKZJ8eMyFPXZ7NmhRCGMdKkv7Jonl7dWIEQqkaEDLhOCEWGP6q2o/s1600-h/IMG_9039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-IGmGE9adetvacF3ILHD8cVYoWYc1HaqNM6IJYSN9hBVs9daSaXeyGquI4C_8AAOmBmGyFCxGB59XNMgkP0xYBTrVKZJ8eMyFPXZ7NmhRCGMdKkv7Jonl7dWIEQqkaEDLhOCEWGP6q2o/s320/IMG_9039.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398058850088362002" /></a><br /></div><div>Dole Pineapple Plantation...red pineapples! I learned so many things in hawaii that I'd never before conceived in my simple mind!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvNOvd-jHejGsFqbrrbxDhaK-ieiQLhGXbnNx_94yLaBw7veehgLxk_1yYOHhaXOu0Su1O_kJo_TY6mb_J6MkriCDSyvgd8yh06zkbKcaBZGAdg8bXw8FCddG-FqmNoKNyo1Wtr_ydD-c/s1600-h/IMG_3370.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvNOvd-jHejGsFqbrrbxDhaK-ieiQLhGXbnNx_94yLaBw7veehgLxk_1yYOHhaXOu0Su1O_kJo_TY6mb_J6MkriCDSyvgd8yh06zkbKcaBZGAdg8bXw8FCddG-FqmNoKNyo1Wtr_ydD-c/s320/IMG_3370.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398058847354245618" /></a><br /></div><div>Hitchhiking...it's a beautiful thing! We did it quite a lot...(don't talk to my mom about it, she was NOT happy about this)...it was perfectly safe, we were traveling by 3! (Plus I'm a black belt in karate...ok, so I'm not...but I'm a fighter if situation should require such!)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCr5bzmCRoE1fxIqfuUMLZCh6MofG5LWHYABaodPDbBkbs0CYNSFZ9yQsSo344F9n0KwtzzHUgJf7KEWPDlNmUPdd5Gj2ol2BoXPqoW9MJVltN5txGnscxe7g7JE3kBi14R0V67yoRrJ4E/s1600-h/IMG_3377.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCr5bzmCRoE1fxIqfuUMLZCh6MofG5LWHYABaodPDbBkbs0CYNSFZ9yQsSo344F9n0KwtzzHUgJf7KEWPDlNmUPdd5Gj2ol2BoXPqoW9MJVltN5txGnscxe7g7JE3kBi14R0V67yoRrJ4E/s320/IMG_3377.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398058835543429746" /></a><br /></div><div>I love what a small world this world of ours is! The second day we were there I look over, and see Cody Easterbrook (a good high school friend of Allison's older sister and my older sister)! We ran into him throughout the whole week, and hung out some...here we turned him into a mermaid...an obese mermaid, haha.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVq3PjA-rDeKMU2bZY98YPNvFbwywLgT4IkNyPe0mZBpLFpN2SJmtNE20h9iSI81-24HvKUGb-gWYFnf6MfCnQhoAP1gOKlH4ZMYQkm_w7Rmgh8wE4ltJbzUR2TBtDHUbrd4Lf5O9qAAnZ/s1600-h/IMG_3383.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVq3PjA-rDeKMU2bZY98YPNvFbwywLgT4IkNyPe0mZBpLFpN2SJmtNE20h9iSI81-24HvKUGb-gWYFnf6MfCnQhoAP1gOKlH4ZMYQkm_w7Rmgh8wE4ltJbzUR2TBtDHUbrd4Lf5O9qAAnZ/s320/IMG_3383.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398058538119010290" /></a><br /></div><div>I don't know why, but I felt a burning desire while I was there to play Moglie's girlfriend (ya know, the JungleBook?) and so I practiced balancing many different things on my head...not bad, eh?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbcfj7TIJZM8QyvXe1HXkjFy2tip9SZPi1SDgDRef9IazAuEwZnK58TWMoHH8sxMtLL2bkjKcYJrX5f0Lh1GgxJ5EyHckrKrkvntBR9Y1Ii7jTR5yTzfA58vMn3TR4ggojBwZ4FJwD8Nl/s1600-h/IMG_3393.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbcfj7TIJZM8QyvXe1HXkjFy2tip9SZPi1SDgDRef9IazAuEwZnK58TWMoHH8sxMtLL2bkjKcYJrX5f0Lh1GgxJ5EyHckrKrkvntBR9Y1Ii7jTR5yTzfA58vMn3TR4ggojBwZ4FJwD8Nl/s320/IMG_3393.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398057953363311026" /></a><br /></div><div>I just felt like going around and kissing all sorts of men there too...I think this is such a classic, college vacation picture.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UKmuN4gvaliG0WDsxmehEopahewadl9GX7dISvM5wwhsKYO0GmZMDf9oLwPdiKkZtwSI91Xv6nNjjyqcEVUxPxKc8PLhRt5ILlFq-8IlbeZZS2gEBn7pv8FvO4flRlbKWxQe041JQO2u/s1600-h/IMG_9071.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UKmuN4gvaliG0WDsxmehEopahewadl9GX7dISvM5wwhsKYO0GmZMDf9oLwPdiKkZtwSI91Xv6nNjjyqcEVUxPxKc8PLhRt5ILlFq-8IlbeZZS2gEBn7pv8FvO4flRlbKWxQe041JQO2u/s320/IMG_9071.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398057944415440930" /></a><br /></div><div>This was a real man, dressed entirely in newspaper...I couldn't resist, when he looked down I ran up, kissed him on the check, and then ran off.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhXyfxJTtgPXakXlKYinU8ZF0bTSfu_6OFAfLzEquUKKGxnriONovIORtCBmer5vQp-fXRFv9imrafkXePYH1iRPNJzxFjwvMMLMlAvDxL20u-BAbiquzsV8LhulIfmLq0pNznM1TazsX/s1600-h/IMG_9072.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhXyfxJTtgPXakXlKYinU8ZF0bTSfu_6OFAfLzEquUKKGxnriONovIORtCBmer5vQp-fXRFv9imrafkXePYH1iRPNJzxFjwvMMLMlAvDxL20u-BAbiquzsV8LhulIfmLq0pNznM1TazsX/s320/IMG_9072.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398057941365550562" /></a><br /></div><div>The last couple of days we stayed with a family Allison is good friends with, and they live on a Marine base, super sweet place! We went for a leisurely stroll, and I hid in the bush and felt like Jane of Tarzan!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0MRd4X3No_Qbz5b_s1KlmKqo2ez0Fy5sNHDbnICQ0rjLscRnHppnKk-4k8zrbFoxaVUmI5iEqznG3c1cN1D7bV7_CQdFT5F614uCxE-rbTo-PTFktt_Zj1541ORv5j9gyHf6HZREDm-D/s1600-h/IMG_9082.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0MRd4X3No_Qbz5b_s1KlmKqo2ez0Fy5sNHDbnICQ0rjLscRnHppnKk-4k8zrbFoxaVUmI5iEqznG3c1cN1D7bV7_CQdFT5F614uCxE-rbTo-PTFktt_Zj1541ORv5j9gyHf6HZREDm-D/s320/IMG_9082.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398057933970539874" /></a><br /></div><div>Don't you love our floppy hats?!? SO CUTE!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-s3uakkPONH943doo64sHW9mRqsmgVf-9vOd4FQUA7fIPRubErnnhG6E2FDbhLOvign5mahc7z3GiEydyTjL6doYZON10XuXFYZLPgJv4YMoXvp3LG7KtO8t-bC0DDnqL6ZQz-Xqru1d/s1600-h/IMG_9091.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-s3uakkPONH943doo64sHW9mRqsmgVf-9vOd4FQUA7fIPRubErnnhG6E2FDbhLOvign5mahc7z3GiEydyTjL6doYZON10XuXFYZLPgJv4YMoXvp3LG7KtO8t-bC0DDnqL6ZQz-Xqru1d/s320/IMG_9091.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398057580732424578" /></a><br /></div><div>This should be a greeting card...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IU-no4IQyolLBopdEC4EgZFqgAc8E3enlIjl2SZ5ot4Fw7KFhPdcFxA0HfHZClzfoLPQ1viDOUJGAmdkBwO3QenSxu2Ap3yxvHEzCeXRYZaNqhYvffWkW0FA-OViDNlPFVuLRd8Hk-bi/s1600-h/IMG_9101.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IU-no4IQyolLBopdEC4EgZFqgAc8E3enlIjl2SZ5ot4Fw7KFhPdcFxA0HfHZClzfoLPQ1viDOUJGAmdkBwO3QenSxu2Ap3yxvHEzCeXRYZaNqhYvffWkW0FA-OViDNlPFVuLRd8Hk-bi/s320/IMG_9101.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398057573628007282" /></a><br /></div><div>It started raining, and Amanda and I danced in it...so tender, I know!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFqRsTZzYKdfAXvpjVQyVezqK_qZ0gL1JrXSvjv9a8Zu4JDuhLDNBb2T0v0hgiz45g_Mui5uRoOFnXoN3F_trk9jvckNnXys9UKXdywdSUBLslsY8fO8M96DglMlLT3Tcj8ugdsQUWfUZ/s1600-h/IMG_9123.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFqRsTZzYKdfAXvpjVQyVezqK_qZ0gL1JrXSvjv9a8Zu4JDuhLDNBb2T0v0hgiz45g_Mui5uRoOFnXoN3F_trk9jvckNnXys9UKXdywdSUBLslsY8fO8M96DglMlLT3Tcj8ugdsQUWfUZ/s320/IMG_9123.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398057569537787810" /></a><br /></div><div>Eating the rain with my best friend...does life get better then this? I submit that it does not!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpCNCBdZxFa2fa0P_3R1NRnPRvprmeoICWyojef5OB5UN7wcNYFGzVOaZk6UZNwrgVjqtbcHmLI9kRaTcr6qG7mqA0mXgt09QmW0qNWPGEZ7usQYrzsTlVTHyQ1dYgzB8YfZCMA0kaoCw/s1600-h/IMG_9128.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpCNCBdZxFa2fa0P_3R1NRnPRvprmeoICWyojef5OB5UN7wcNYFGzVOaZk6UZNwrgVjqtbcHmLI9kRaTcr6qG7mqA0mXgt09QmW0qNWPGEZ7usQYrzsTlVTHyQ1dYgzB8YfZCMA0kaoCw/s320/IMG_9128.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398057559430050562" /></a><br /></div><div>Memorial Day we went boogie boarding on one of the Marine private beaches, and this huge cargo plane comes in to land at the airstrip right there! SO COOL!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoeeyy7GHByMRxi9HUta0LWmpuPevymbwCP8UIB7OnC4mVf245A7DIA3cLEZ0mfQtZg96CAOqf8i8_ogUOYXLtCBwy1wx_kiCLSH5vvcpykvNPw0YorsfS57GrCbCEZInkaIXvp1Ez3iM/s1600-h/IMG_3412.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoeeyy7GHByMRxi9HUta0LWmpuPevymbwCP8UIB7OnC4mVf245A7DIA3cLEZ0mfQtZg96CAOqf8i8_ogUOYXLtCBwy1wx_kiCLSH5vvcpykvNPw0YorsfS57GrCbCEZInkaIXvp1Ez3iM/s320/IMG_3412.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398057555296578274" /></a><br /></div><div>That's all folks! Hope you enjoyed my photo's, I certainly enjoyed the vacation, it was in the top 5 of fav trips!</div>Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-90172093992178845332009-04-26T19:11:00.000-07:002009-10-27T10:01:21.688-07:00It's My Birthday!<div>Yep, I turned 23 and my dear roomie Amanda Bluth took me out for breakfast, YUM!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1lZfQYgUqROZ-9b1e3cBgriwjNHkCXzhj5zSKx1gh8NuSbQuXu6pNwulktN6LtbubCKRN3Crq5CHYC6OjXXEbnWLJAQ2Ux8I5xdXQcBK3cwOSoPBsKL3HP7yojim39ZMuc6bNyNZCTVF/s1600-h/IMG_3331.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1lZfQYgUqROZ-9b1e3cBgriwjNHkCXzhj5zSKx1gh8NuSbQuXu6pNwulktN6LtbubCKRN3Crq5CHYC6OjXXEbnWLJAQ2Ux8I5xdXQcBK3cwOSoPBsKL3HP7yojim39ZMuc6bNyNZCTVF/s320/IMG_3331.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335498429895608466" /></a><br /><div>Turns out I have lots of people who love me, contrary to popular belief...I know that there isn't anyone else in this photo with me...but they were at the party I promise...</div><div>(and yes, that is a burning napkin wrapped around a caprisun straw...we're poor college students, what do you want!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_eDFXce3ZYO7MAIxkxywN7OfzgPFQ1lX4-u7NhwB9imvpUzJzEQxE0Q3cGsFqEf729goDCP4VBIoTVDG4cIfbK6UtOWeejtwc31nBWLl2kbloN_7H9yUt-zdFDrrh9WWL3DKZvnM0Al4/s1600-h/IMG_3333.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_eDFXce3ZYO7MAIxkxywN7OfzgPFQ1lX4-u7NhwB9imvpUzJzEQxE0Q3cGsFqEf729goDCP4VBIoTVDG4cIfbK6UtOWeejtwc31nBWLl2kbloN_7H9yUt-zdFDrrh9WWL3DKZvnM0Al4/s320/IMG_3333.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335498422929181506" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Last stop was my ex-roommate, Ashley's, wedding and reception...busy day, but it was great. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAa93gIWL6ujABCcJ_UIkRVtfVu_yiVU7bTnJ5P_C4LMg7afD7UOzMuiA34afUW3Sg67-2GfAGgQoFlGY6QJ3_7-RqH81-41z5gOL5lKv_ohlEpXFijq7ujy_iNJ6ephcedAFKSp6TQrq9/s1600-h/DSCN4803.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAa93gIWL6ujABCcJ_UIkRVtfVu_yiVU7bTnJ5P_C4LMg7afD7UOzMuiA34afUW3Sg67-2GfAGgQoFlGY6QJ3_7-RqH81-41z5gOL5lKv_ohlEpXFijq7ujy_iNJ6ephcedAFKSp6TQrq9/s320/DSCN4803.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335498416540246066" /></a><br /></div>Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3248249653036198044.post-26237208544713024892009-04-15T13:05:00.000-07:002009-05-01T18:33:33.204-07:00Owning the Grand Canyon<div>Last June I was invited to hike the Grand Canyon with some friends. Though it was only a couple of days away, and I hadn't been hiking in a couple of months, I decided to go. I had lived in Arizona for almost 4 years by that point, but never made it to the Grand Canyon. It was really cold camping the night before, and I was woefully unprepared for this, so here I am sporting a borrowed sweater and a hat from Russia (it was so warm!)</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Dfr93spmP7HlLO5ki3cqKPBTupauCD-_urfqisqtTgjfIZok0pgbYv4Rwn0FQPLCJYeA_3uNh1NNkkLezqCLt8bKqb8OAcpkBB7nh_oWfV7K9hgzHpUuAo2Xgw9T4FJDEyMKQExzgGme/s1600-h/101_0336.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Dfr93spmP7HlLO5ki3cqKPBTupauCD-_urfqisqtTgjfIZok0pgbYv4Rwn0FQPLCJYeA_3uNh1NNkkLezqCLt8bKqb8OAcpkBB7nh_oWfV7K9hgzHpUuAo2Xgw9T4FJDEyMKQExzgGme/s320/101_0336.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330954967179315314" /></a><br /><div>The next morning I was very excited to start this adventure...I had no idea what I was in for! We started down the South Rim (Bright Angel Trail) to the Colorado River, about 8 miles down.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboHb4YIUeqkd2cwN3UMLXHJf6pjuDCKrPwkW430ySI5GqU2QiqyVwCiPZPOhNZfMiAMQB-c-7LzB-uv4yqbjkJeNxb7opxsP2-Y-dcuLO2Rv5wUg2YbR3u03iaWWB-1wWSu-eqs4NQk4p/s1600-h/IMG_2455.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboHb4YIUeqkd2cwN3UMLXHJf6pjuDCKrPwkW430ySI5GqU2QiqyVwCiPZPOhNZfMiAMQB-c-7LzB-uv4yqbjkJeNxb7opxsP2-Y-dcuLO2Rv5wUg2YbR3u03iaWWB-1wWSu-eqs4NQk4p/s320/IMG_2455.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330954965364223538" /></a><br /></div><div>Here's me at the Colorado River, it was so very hot, but the river was unbelievably cold! I faithfully stayed on this rock, icing my feet in the river.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzSC5v2mpfTa4UNd9Hv7X04l0zkwe4xNo9abkKigGO2mwS-HbQ9LCxTblC9VUhB6__5n8CjIGoszbTs_RlkGgM_xdi3EuHMDGp9F0znF4PxkffQN0kCuiv8c4_3cID5w7aM0vB2y8_8EQ/s1600-h/IMG_2485.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzSC5v2mpfTa4UNd9Hv7X04l0zkwe4xNo9abkKigGO2mwS-HbQ9LCxTblC9VUhB6__5n8CjIGoszbTs_RlkGgM_xdi3EuHMDGp9F0znF4PxkffQN0kCuiv8c4_3cID5w7aM0vB2y8_8EQ/s320/IMG_2485.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330954958041747234" /></a><br /></div><div>Being an inexperienced Grand Canyon hiker, not only did I not have enough space for water, but I also didn't know where the water points were. I thought there would be a place to refill my few bottles at the river, but there was not. Having run out of water, I baked in the sun at the river, only getting more dehydrated. I didn't tell my group because I didn't want to take their limited water supply, but it became very apparent as we started our ascent. The boys took my backpack to ease my burden, and they had me drink their water and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Gatorade</span>. There were many stops, but few places to hide in the shade.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcchAaAAICTSxwQTohSeJC1ufblEG1M7xv4q-qvi0LMojE8LvhnnxrbauzZpIt3-hQKcg1Ji_hk9azYySgY8oipMBN0ZIcLkpSb9D4RyjmSrSvcLyxaT64F_YliJ_PVyTVREUOo4VpnBSS/s1600-h/IMG_2499.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcchAaAAICTSxwQTohSeJC1ufblEG1M7xv4q-qvi0LMojE8LvhnnxrbauzZpIt3-hQKcg1Ji_hk9azYySgY8oipMBN0ZIcLkpSb9D4RyjmSrSvcLyxaT64F_YliJ_PVyTVREUOo4VpnBSS/s320/IMG_2499.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330954781302213762" /></a><br /></div><div>Here is a small sample of the switchbacks that were our pathway.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgpyQznQ7edtdO6QZsgVMVqvPt14o4Yu1iZtM4BmnJ1037OHn8n_h38FE9MLozn96gEZfNizdGGBXdd3RUrm7XTv3qXP4SV3EE3jdurgWXILyxeuPVZrRvRmMFrpfciIxj3ynyflgQdYl/s1600-h/IMG_2503.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgpyQznQ7edtdO6QZsgVMVqvPt14o4Yu1iZtM4BmnJ1037OHn8n_h38FE9MLozn96gEZfNizdGGBXdd3RUrm7XTv3qXP4SV3EE3jdurgWXILyxeuPVZrRvRmMFrpfciIxj3ynyflgQdYl/s320/IMG_2503.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330954780142403250" /></a><br /></div><div>About 2 or 3 miles up, I discovered a river, of blessed blessed river. I climbed down the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">treacherous</span> path to it, and laid myself across it as I gladly gulped its cool water.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmY_5kVGL3M3Nuu2Kj-WpXIHbpa7aQIfFMZ3S5UmyyA9j7LDzEbKeFzaZpVOsRuOFcL5A_TQzlcHZvKUb2t5SA-lFcuh5VHu5aYeWSYjLDFaQsM3Vt8Ny6qAQVuSf1gXRHp9gaZjgNMqi/s1600-h/IMG_2510.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmY_5kVGL3M3Nuu2Kj-WpXIHbpa7aQIfFMZ3S5UmyyA9j7LDzEbKeFzaZpVOsRuOFcL5A_TQzlcHZvKUb2t5SA-lFcuh5VHu5aYeWSYjLDFaQsM3Vt8Ny6qAQVuSf1gXRHp9gaZjgNMqi/s320/IMG_2510.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330954775937682802" /></a><br /></div><div>Indian Gardens is a beautiful, shady spot where benches, bathrooms, and most importantly, water spigots are available to weary hikers, such as myself. My main goal was to rehydrate myself.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nPgXlMOozFiL-BBJXYuFftfK2m96huXoxrdKObJRL9_Mv2CsQbBx52yy2M1pvWR05ZKmZWmzrfVYdWfkkVpct4dMPeRvUvBL65Fo1fKpOY3UEZj8In9E0cTwTgZOE8zIEpI5qnKczwIY/s1600-h/IMG_2523.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nPgXlMOozFiL-BBJXYuFftfK2m96huXoxrdKObJRL9_Mv2CsQbBx52yy2M1pvWR05ZKmZWmzrfVYdWfkkVpct4dMPeRvUvBL65Fo1fKpOY3UEZj8In9E0cTwTgZOE8zIEpI5qnKczwIY/s320/IMG_2523.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330954769884428610" /></a><br /></div><div>After resting at the Indian Gardens for a small period of time and rehydrating myself, I was ready to go! Curtis teased me to get a head start since I was going so slow...and that was a bad idea for me. I have issues with backing down to challenges, so I was determined to show him! I set a swift pace for my final 4.5 miles to the top. Lance is a beast though, so naturally he caught up to me, but on his way to catch up he snapped this shot. (P.S. Curtis didn't come close to catching up, or even matching my pace!)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETMJ8YKAKMlIJhZ9mLZBLiEB3ysDsyPnEm6ODfKbqno5igHVqv1tRMSTXBJHb1ZONMQox4eGxA7Zc92JAuL2G7QQ67H_vBVbHqLS1oXZN4ToBJxP8SZc7oAvuCPfRndYGRiKWOYMpcWNn/s1600-h/IMG_2531.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETMJ8YKAKMlIJhZ9mLZBLiEB3ysDsyPnEm6ODfKbqno5igHVqv1tRMSTXBJHb1ZONMQox4eGxA7Zc92JAuL2G7QQ67H_vBVbHqLS1oXZN4ToBJxP8SZc7oAvuCPfRndYGRiKWOYMpcWNn/s320/IMG_2531.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330954765746394866" /></a><br /></div><div>We did a little reenactment of my most dramatic fall...I'm not a clumsy person (my sister fills that role) but for some reason on the way down I fell or slipped over 15 times in the first 4.5 miles. I recognize we were running and so a wrong step on a loose rock, or loose gravel played a big factor...but really? That is a bit excessive! This spot was the location of a dramatic fall where I'm not really sure what happened, nothing was impeding my way, but I simply just found myself flat on my back, like so:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCrrKhjCn80ZUpxCiN4xLKqzSHNWDd-B-Oj-UlfMhaXc37bzHZkrdMdeK8u9CPzp1N1IepTns5lmDmxMf4Chr3cMOvNP7Jw7HSa0Mu_NBprAl6ZGt_ge2myNlKPSRXJahClEA-ueTBwbz/s1600-h/IMG_2545.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCrrKhjCn80ZUpxCiN4xLKqzSHNWDd-B-Oj-UlfMhaXc37bzHZkrdMdeK8u9CPzp1N1IepTns5lmDmxMf4Chr3cMOvNP7Jw7HSa0Mu_NBprAl6ZGt_ge2myNlKPSRXJahClEA-ueTBwbz/s320/IMG_2545.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330954187192374850" /></a><br /></div><div>Oh so weary, oh so tired...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8FhvxnYMj4x30WfO3fLhOB5ugWRON3dIay75JBkE3jWy8JQ6w14uiRjzx1uN-RsvCKyvICrginJvQb0MrtnXyxU5KmjTEu2cG_-WFOoLFKVbZ0Up9pM7NlpzNjMIpS8FKxiSGIsHbQ8P/s1600-h/IMG_2549.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8FhvxnYMj4x30WfO3fLhOB5ugWRON3dIay75JBkE3jWy8JQ6w14uiRjzx1uN-RsvCKyvICrginJvQb0MrtnXyxU5KmjTEu2cG_-WFOoLFKVbZ0Up9pM7NlpzNjMIpS8FKxiSGIsHbQ8P/s320/IMG_2549.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330954183738080482" /></a><br /></div><div>The last miles up was brutal for me, Lance offered me a piggyback ride, but I have too much pride, so instead he held my hand and pulled me up the giant steps...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp25S3L6u8rpo83wM3BNQ9HB0br-6m7R0qjof2UjVx4BVjDO69CX3yqrWE530Ti1UKOWizs9yPSrh0lBPxZTl4sNUsonMghtucE18odelATM5e9irxPQRzZPlOKV52dpxGOtVKYFei_OTt/s1600-h/IMG_2555.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp25S3L6u8rpo83wM3BNQ9HB0br-6m7R0qjof2UjVx4BVjDO69CX3yqrWE530Ti1UKOWizs9yPSrh0lBPxZTl4sNUsonMghtucE18odelATM5e9irxPQRzZPlOKV52dpxGOtVKYFei_OTt/s320/IMG_2555.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330954179787136386" /></a><br /></div><div>...until we made it to the TOP!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDW5WqkcNIBNQnctSY0tPuvTBVKGUIPRfd_3dOyXhjq4CE4swjcn-UEaje3CHQ7hIWsk_6cVNlGQUU0-M-ai21qeit7qJC-hoVsylZ0W-D6YtdRdlWXMuoPNdcN6udVGyJWAvG0pal0Nku/s1600-h/IMG_2556.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDW5WqkcNIBNQnctSY0tPuvTBVKGUIPRfd_3dOyXhjq4CE4swjcn-UEaje3CHQ7hIWsk_6cVNlGQUU0-M-ai21qeit7qJC-hoVsylZ0W-D6YtdRdlWXMuoPNdcN6udVGyJWAvG0pal0Nku/s320/IMG_2556.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330954167265933698" /></a><br /></div><div>With all the painful limping that ensued from my last hike, I was determined to take this trip more seriously! I started training a month before with hiking mountains around the Phoenix area, doing bleachers, lunges, and running exercises. This time is legit! For the camp out I bought some super cool little disposable toothbrushes! I am a fan of the new 'whisps'.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzopIqXJhoUmpOUjw9dhe9aGtr-X_IzqE4BSwFyNQpTWrLcpUc0do5E1FmmkrW2Lw5N5PQoEc6vLZKou3ZPIj1bPbOoeaL10H65yyys4vj60oQgYO6tI0Lp41TC8lDz_VBGcaszs30CGB/s1600-h/IMG_3027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzopIqXJhoUmpOUjw9dhe9aGtr-X_IzqE4BSwFyNQpTWrLcpUc0do5E1FmmkrW2Lw5N5PQoEc6vLZKou3ZPIj1bPbOoeaL10H65yyys4vj60oQgYO6tI0Lp41TC8lDz_VBGcaszs30CGB/s320/IMG_3027.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330954166230245938" /></a><br /></div><div>Boys brushing vs. girls brushing... (mine is the one on the left)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMNDs2mqqmiRwv7yL9hplsr17nryVaTBMH21Ah8bDu8sL9FgVV1JcgIMkvtUimFT_WbT66yqXZtA6fVaKNUrYbtBFTNIJ7unlkMf3x56WDxN-zdAvr7_oL9JJ7b_GQJIQXTsqSwcA6SwW/s1600-h/IMG_3029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMNDs2mqqmiRwv7yL9hplsr17nryVaTBMH21Ah8bDu8sL9FgVV1JcgIMkvtUimFT_WbT66yqXZtA6fVaKNUrYbtBFTNIJ7unlkMf3x56WDxN-zdAvr7_oL9JJ7b_GQJIQXTsqSwcA6SwW/s320/IMG_3029.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330953197129924706" /></a><br /></div><div>Me curled up in my sleeping bag near the fire:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeXR3HSa_OKrKY1XPecso2FmJeqp-NjrrBqVyYua9vS-X9QouyN5CC3wsX3diRZiCaHRI9615A2PA0NQvPwEHoDlgeJKc6KCRYrVAGxq54NylhTDTJUJPENG5u8DDkWOo9Ft4_CGDPQ_C/s1600-h/IMG_3032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeXR3HSa_OKrKY1XPecso2FmJeqp-NjrrBqVyYua9vS-X9QouyN5CC3wsX3diRZiCaHRI9615A2PA0NQvPwEHoDlgeJKc6KCRYrVAGxq54NylhTDTJUJPENG5u8DDkWOo9Ft4_CGDPQ_C/s320/IMG_3032.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330953192683466562" /></a><br /></div><div>Breakfast...penguins!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOepetJ4BO5lcEO1Mxx9u69LscWVcHncPGnS7OF1LvMhYzuHLvvaq_9xXpnGHpmsm8IExjuSAJWehlcS5pRPUUlgXBCyq-PeIglPDdLnaMSORwN3E3HPdhWheAHX1h6ylWl1gZDtL7Xo9/s1600-h/IMG_3042.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOepetJ4BO5lcEO1Mxx9u69LscWVcHncPGnS7OF1LvMhYzuHLvvaq_9xXpnGHpmsm8IExjuSAJWehlcS5pRPUUlgXBCyq-PeIglPDdLnaMSORwN3E3HPdhWheAHX1h6ylWl1gZDtL7Xo9/s320/IMG_3042.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330953189216254658" /></a><br /></div><div>Starting our extraveganza I pose as the little actress I am...yes, it was that cold to necessitate the wearing of a sweater, but no, I am not really fatigued...yet.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21_LWxwdQyfUpvfEy5meLjapsteVVd-tfHpNnEqJAXmxYvfMPjFD5YGh4PcBYKrVmX9O5W1IbL1LD9SRm255iU5lXrxDSbWxVTb_ML2qoUb066QvaNTRIOsSNaDtFuZOQumboDQx-08wz/s1600-h/IMG_3045.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21_LWxwdQyfUpvfEy5meLjapsteVVd-tfHpNnEqJAXmxYvfMPjFD5YGh4PcBYKrVmX9O5W1IbL1LD9SRm255iU5lXrxDSbWxVTb_ML2qoUb066QvaNTRIOsSNaDtFuZOQumboDQx-08wz/s320/IMG_3045.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330953181509195250" /></a><br /></div><div>Look at how amazing God is with his art work! (look closely, this is a compilation of 3 different mountains!)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpWAazcd3j9O4T7cZNiUxJZgTlcoBpASd-16KXviNRE84Jn9XFGvnJl8gcY6yMtNO-8v9ljZ_82mwkgJhzHnjTJ7xZZUI77rk3oQooGlRxTT2Brd5x4mDkfDkWuGNQkz1nVUWzalQMhH_/s1600-h/IMG_3048.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpWAazcd3j9O4T7cZNiUxJZgTlcoBpASd-16KXviNRE84Jn9XFGvnJl8gcY6yMtNO-8v9ljZ_82mwkgJhzHnjTJ7xZZUI77rk3oQooGlRxTT2Brd5x4mDkfDkWuGNQkz1nVUWzalQMhH_/s320/IMG_3048.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330953175285294562" /></a><br /></div><div>Oh the beautiful Colorado River that runs through the Canyon.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEXfKWE8QjsAOuQG5bmzS1aefX3OxBwIdMKi0qnNPcLh0YkQajPbHgLJXeGwzDjhDXC7HpXAX20_dszayV7l7cKsoDLfgKQTG_751tzWvw9opqzreaakdMABuXHWhuoA2C-bPX6TBQntr/s1600-h/IMG_3056.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEXfKWE8QjsAOuQG5bmzS1aefX3OxBwIdMKi0qnNPcLh0YkQajPbHgLJXeGwzDjhDXC7HpXAX20_dszayV7l7cKsoDLfgKQTG_751tzWvw9opqzreaakdMABuXHWhuoA2C-bPX6TBQntr/s320/IMG_3056.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330951932639201650" /></a><br /></div><div>We hike down nearly eight miles, over half of that we run, and I can think of nothing grander then to take off my shoes and relax on the beach...and Lance wants me to hike back to where he stopped to take pictures! Not happy...and I let him know such:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbbRyZMfjcmIy5LrQBegBh7LOesrPl5BTXXOtxRus6aMYWR_nbM6-JnTaVaqb_BTUIagrXJLFDYh6hbHTtL5pcDL7EKOMrbqJ7yOnL4rdktPtcWyiM0mp4wKHNLiyexkjLlT1bs5srUY_/s1600-h/IMG_3059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbbRyZMfjcmIy5LrQBegBh7LOesrPl5BTXXOtxRus6aMYWR_nbM6-JnTaVaqb_BTUIagrXJLFDYh6hbHTtL5pcDL7EKOMrbqJ7yOnL4rdktPtcWyiM0mp4wKHNLiyexkjLlT1bs5srUY_/s320/IMG_3059.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330951921533371554" /></a><br /></div><div>The previously mentioned beach:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvv5_NdVk3jHkXu8Gi2YYRiHzSapv1T4NW_oC70twWDVWW8WHtk5gDpxtyjR8ntGOxuJafPUCqbJncUtSJCC55tAoZZ_f87AR7xosraMgiR0Jmn2wBzgwI7fFaB_S9v-BRMNZUuLqIvJM/s1600-h/IMG_3062.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvv5_NdVk3jHkXu8Gi2YYRiHzSapv1T4NW_oC70twWDVWW8WHtk5gDpxtyjR8ntGOxuJafPUCqbJncUtSJCC55tAoZZ_f87AR7xosraMgiR0Jmn2wBzgwI7fFaB_S9v-BRMNZUuLqIvJM/s320/IMG_3062.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330951917633990466" /></a><br /></div><div>I know this looks bad...and yes, it's true I'm sleeping...BUT all that food was placed around me! I was framed I tell ya, FRAMED!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NhAxgz1LuUuUIuRBDVkTQPHoHekic_aa4KwUUkAuo2Emk2EByFEsXjgDjiHTW-ALjCwjIaqOG-75DT8sgyJd47pvqlti_mx6hiFfz3xa3proEjjoh7VIqCsd72iV8fZiJ2RvSXSObCmy/s1600-h/IMG_3065.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NhAxgz1LuUuUIuRBDVkTQPHoHekic_aa4KwUUkAuo2Emk2EByFEsXjgDjiHTW-ALjCwjIaqOG-75DT8sgyJd47pvqlti_mx6hiFfz3xa3proEjjoh7VIqCsd72iV8fZiJ2RvSXSObCmy/s320/IMG_3065.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330951904304989266" /></a><br /></div><div>See...here I am eating healthy:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMYU43Vc4wYpEFkw49Lfy9HWnzkRj6A6bV9_5n4hl2ky2nbX2-4jKKzvQwRRkdS5iTyjK4RwDw6Vv0a9pQg-wKOThsdB1_CfKn5r1Z2DLB4CNTONiFJ8cJoKtUWv-ufT9dXExPQJnCQD-/s1600-h/IMG_3085.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMYU43Vc4wYpEFkw49Lfy9HWnzkRj6A6bV9_5n4hl2ky2nbX2-4jKKzvQwRRkdS5iTyjK4RwDw6Vv0a9pQg-wKOThsdB1_CfKn5r1Z2DLB4CNTONiFJ8cJoKtUWv-ufT9dXExPQJnCQD-/s320/IMG_3085.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330951900602270386" /></a><br /></div><div>I miss-stepped and nearly drown in the Colorado River! I pulled myself out using my big, strong muscles...so it was all good.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizW8-qlzUDfJMMSfLDLiC1oWu0ccrb-LrlLo5iBzArq8liJrEIX70HPi4tGuQkUYDcozRo60_DRG9kogDAvBiTIlwyou7AR1wVWmYsMXKofRv2gpWq2YKbxzneqPbVSw7cTfTYWLRL07hw/s1600-h/IMG_3095.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizW8-qlzUDfJMMSfLDLiC1oWu0ccrb-LrlLo5iBzArq8liJrEIX70HPi4tGuQkUYDcozRo60_DRG9kogDAvBiTIlwyou7AR1wVWmYsMXKofRv2gpWq2YKbxzneqPbVSw7cTfTYWLRL07hw/s320/IMG_3095.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330951435664733666" /></a><br /></div><div>Cool frog I found in the cavity of a rock!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-haYzI1fRszn7Y_2UldrmJsepx_4gYUEgRzjsYwhfh98zvty4zRgnOVVeNSwou8EDUgB6tAlrNNkoolAe1yjIvJVTY15Ql6EFRjbHVC7zkoCHWRM6hfd-RFJB7UbF-f8RHevgbLqsMN0p/s1600-h/IMG_3102.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-haYzI1fRszn7Y_2UldrmJsepx_4gYUEgRzjsYwhfh98zvty4zRgnOVVeNSwou8EDUgB6tAlrNNkoolAe1yjIvJVTY15Ql6EFRjbHVC7zkoCHWRM6hfd-RFJB7UbF-f8RHevgbLqsMN0p/s320/IMG_3102.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330951433612372482" /></a><br /></div><div>Me leaving the beach and starting our way back up...this time I was equipped with plenty of water and was in no danger of dehydration!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlkYM9eCZmR9rbHBixmuq5EwS1uJyawKjhfgbcf-n6CiWv4W7GQN8YH-NzjslzmaCJRTOdFkwQP8cFRNo0MiMjtO_ju_wZvopv08mAD1G3JNgwQbk0c-dW5Pya0mjiqBeXjVyl8UXPjU1/s1600-h/IMG_3105.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlkYM9eCZmR9rbHBixmuq5EwS1uJyawKjhfgbcf-n6CiWv4W7GQN8YH-NzjslzmaCJRTOdFkwQP8cFRNo0MiMjtO_ju_wZvopv08mAD1G3JNgwQbk0c-dW5Pya0mjiqBeXjVyl8UXPjU1/s320/IMG_3105.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330951430974163842" /></a><br /></div><div>I had to throw this one up to show that the way up really is UP, not the easy trail the previous picture shows it to be.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_QWNIFXRqLHKGelftLDMF3Px0bezIPVoVd6D1DkG0hoWPp5R86uCwMucHnswgXQmh74JpejYXWqDX3rEaFLslht67Lyz-Mu38jNHU7LiRAtHPOMgMWtb_LWOV91cbUh7rbmCId2GWk6A/s1600-h/IMG_3106.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_QWNIFXRqLHKGelftLDMF3Px0bezIPVoVd6D1DkG0hoWPp5R86uCwMucHnswgXQmh74JpejYXWqDX3rEaFLslht67Lyz-Mu38jNHU7LiRAtHPOMgMWtb_LWOV91cbUh7rbmCId2GWk6A/s320/IMG_3106.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330951425166821442" /></a><br /></div><div>Last year I said I would not do it again in June, and I must say that mid-April was an excellent choice! Lows in the 40's and highs in the 70's, with cloud cover, and windy...couldn't be more perfect...and look at that landscape!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTOsPyKYvw5wJC04ANlNOHS_DFVAy3u2iCiB_M1oEQ6V4WxF5YA9XyH0YxwRe7mztBQtDKTloHTBTf6VNopxBsv2PUJnkVxsk6-t59XS-txZkAjNsSa6L7kFdOuSei0zLXgpLorTRHFkR/s1600-h/IMG_3108.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTOsPyKYvw5wJC04ANlNOHS_DFVAy3u2iCiB_M1oEQ6V4WxF5YA9XyH0YxwRe7mztBQtDKTloHTBTf6VNopxBsv2PUJnkVxsk6-t59XS-txZkAjNsSa6L7kFdOuSei0zLXgpLorTRHFkR/s320/IMG_3108.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330951415922937186" /></a><br /></div><div>I encountered many dangers during the trip...but this was a close call! A rock slide pinned me down, but thanks again to my big, strong muscles, I got myself out!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZKaviCrpBTiZG5-_sT0tkIAzFPaNM3B19L5VPDJbKOYFdLKFEK86RxnE0UeiGlZzSA3oliBlg6S5SsjSqEvfac5_Mngmgk99I0p2XnkO9PHzq0F78zOzRnpOBQ5g8BfCwyHkeDjm7cil/s1600-h/IMG_3111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZKaviCrpBTiZG5-_sT0tkIAzFPaNM3B19L5VPDJbKOYFdLKFEK86RxnE0UeiGlZzSA3oliBlg6S5SsjSqEvfac5_Mngmgk99I0p2XnkO9PHzq0F78zOzRnpOBQ5g8BfCwyHkeDjm7cil/s320/IMG_3111.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330950990643934642" /></a><br /></div><div>The last 1.5 miles I started to sweat! EW!! But hey, it looks like a smiley face:</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftVGhjiPmy7RNYVGvNRloK3xH-Qwo9xxAA_7EYaGTcLCW_AvXZlKloENP5tAIr8dXW5INpKcwIZU2UaUjXTTVCx61YAp20ldOYwK-HonwhCpRwtee2axRSOYpFZ98n6RNGqOvWd5HJt5f/s1600-h/IMG_3115.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftVGhjiPmy7RNYVGvNRloK3xH-Qwo9xxAA_7EYaGTcLCW_AvXZlKloENP5tAIr8dXW5INpKcwIZU2UaUjXTTVCx61YAp20ldOYwK-HonwhCpRwtee2axRSOYpFZ98n6RNGqOvWd5HJt5f/s320/IMG_3115.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330950985901896706" /></a><br /></div><div>The scenery is great and all....but...are we there yet?</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6b8lItUVB-Ec9XE_QzKNn7B56n-d5EougJ_MrkyBAi-pJ5P8xyYRJekiL40bXYLbCXvF3KszhTUZzOmy27fARMQL-ZvgBuYl_yO876VgVfOaxDW-T9UWcrClTt4ovjpGl2456s3Slvud/s1600-h/IMG_3130.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6b8lItUVB-Ec9XE_QzKNn7B56n-d5EougJ_MrkyBAi-pJ5P8xyYRJekiL40bXYLbCXvF3KszhTUZzOmy27fARMQL-ZvgBuYl_yO876VgVfOaxDW-T9UWcrClTt4ovjpGl2456s3Slvud/s320/IMG_3130.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330950981882021442" /></a><br /></div><div>There is no acting here my friends...this is the real deal, I am tuckered out after nearly 16 miles of hiking! (P.S. that sign is a warning of extreme exhaustion which admonishes that you don't go to the river and back in one day. Top to bottom took 10 hours, 6 1/2 of which was actual hiking time...what now sign, what now!?!?!?)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42hLFSZhy5Mf2sdWpDts6zJteWLoPRA_Sa7PaLvT5h_HKmVWuBCNABdh_4W9639qJAn61UVwTHossAJaY0mrPNLJ2-RcUuh07E0SKZAySoy31tpRgtbUJtDtJyJhsMmEePi8rx4HENc-l/s1600-h/IMG_3137.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42hLFSZhy5Mf2sdWpDts6zJteWLoPRA_Sa7PaLvT5h_HKmVWuBCNABdh_4W9639qJAn61UVwTHossAJaY0mrPNLJ2-RcUuh07E0SKZAySoy31tpRgtbUJtDtJyJhsMmEePi8rx4HENc-l/s320/IMG_3137.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330950978771679394" /></a><br /></div><div>CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfBN3br6CzcNLe55flEsEKR7irOzAqppHCq826_FPg9Ztx48YQuFUuY_n26WMJez8VoUxSdzCILXvAreiIktrqACv_b00N4IpUPx93E53fWvekJ2LsOyG1GTEOPx7S4B1SuqUd8Ox3OlX/s1600-h/IMG_3141.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfBN3br6CzcNLe55flEsEKR7irOzAqppHCq826_FPg9Ztx48YQuFUuY_n26WMJez8VoUxSdzCILXvAreiIktrqACv_b00N4IpUPx93E53fWvekJ2LsOyG1GTEOPx7S4B1SuqUd8Ox3OlX/s320/IMG_3141.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330950972590409746" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Moral of the story: I'm pretty proud of myself for doing the Grand Canyon twice within a year! Also, it was a good call to bring a Camelpack to avoid the travails of dehydration! </div></div>Samantha Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13714083175786291105noreply@blogger.com0