Arches National Park

Last Sunday Erin and David invited us to join them on a trip to Moab to visit Arches National Park. Michael and I both wanted to go with them.

The North Window

 As the week progressed life got busy, and I don't like it when Life gets busy. Michael was getting stressed out about school. So by the end of the week were we're thinking that maybe we would not go.

The North Window

 Both of us wanted to want to go, but we didn't really feel up to it.

Still at the North Window

Then on Saturday Michael woke me up a little before 7 telling me we should go. I was mad at him. He should have told me last night so that I would have the time to pack.

North Widow. Some rocks wedged in the bottom of the arch above us.

We discussed whether or not we should go for another 10 minuets or so. Then I decided he woke me up he must want to go. We then had about 10 minuets to pack all the thing we might need.

Michael took this picture and failed to get the South Window.

While I was trying to find my toothbrush case, I decided this was what it would be like if officials called and said we needed to evacuate. I mentioned this to Michael and replied, "So we're going to spend half the time trying to decided whether or not we should go?" The answer to that would be no. If someone tells us to evacuate, we're evacuating.

The Turret Arch. Not quite sure why it's called the Turret Arch.

So we arrived at Zach's place (the meeting place) a little later then we were suppose to. But it turned out okay because when we got their we got a text from David saying that it took them longer to pack then was expected and that they had just left.

Tunnel Arch

This was fortuitous for Michael because he had realized he forgot to pack pajamas. He figured he could swing back to our place grab some and get back before David and Erin could arrive at Zach's.

Pine Tree Arch

He didn't. But we still made it. We got to the park and waited about an hour to get past the gate. We hiked on mud, snow, ice, and some cool red sand. The trail to the Landscape Arch was the most difficult and that's where we had our two falls. First David and then Erin with Tessa.

Pine Tree Arch

 After we saw the Landscape Arch it was getting dark so we headed to the lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint saw the rock on our License plate, then we headed to Moab to find a place to eat. We came across a Denny's first so that's where we ate.

Landscape Arch

 The next day we went back to climb to Delicate Arch. Here are photos from the drive in.

I love Snow

I think these were my favorite. They are next to the Balanced Rock. To me they looked liked giant toes sticking out of the ground. I could imagine a giant sleeping under the ground with the earth as his blanket; pulling the blanket to cover his head but then it exposes his toes.

 I kept trying to get a descent picture, but every time I took a picture a bush would appear. I had to start trying to take pictures of bushes to get a clear shot of the rocks. But by the time I started to do that the view had changed enough to not give the same affect. 

Here are pictures from the Delicate Arch Hike.

 It was nice to be able to hike on a wide open trail like this. You don't have to go single file. We were hiking on one big rock almost. It was a nice different experience.

Yep I love snow

 This adventure reminded me of the many I've had with my family. Dad is a way better photographer than I am. I look forward to doing more site seeing trips with him.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

So I don't usually watch things that people post on facebook, but I came across this film.
I thought I heard the title before so I clicked. And then I realized that I heard the title before, it was mentioned at a book club. After watching it I had instantly become  obsessed. Have you ever done that, watched a 2 and half minuets and are still thinking about most of the next day. I now need to read the book and I'm 25th in line at the library.

BYU Basketball Game

So my parents took us all to the BYU Basketball game.

Michael has been feeling sick this whole week and he's been busy with school, but he said he wanted to go to the game. When I went to find him when it was time to go, I found him asleep on the floor. So I left him at home.

Here are some pictures of the games

 It was all fun until about the end of the game. Isaac got really tired. He had been awake since 3am. So James took the three of them into hallway area (I don't know the name of that thing). I then got a text from James saying "Can you come help?" (Luckily it came 4 minuets to 10. My phone stops receiving text at 10.) So I went down to find them and this is what I saw.

 Despite all of the commotion going around him, he fell asleep on James' foot.

Violet was still having the time of her life.

The Fruit

So I was reading the Book of Mormon 1 Nephi Chapter 8 about Lehi's dream of the Tree of Life. So Lehi saw this fruit on a tree. Not really knowing what it would taste like, Lehi took a bite. It turned it tasted amazing. So good in fact that he wanted his family to see how good it tasted. So he continue to eat this wonderful fruit, partaking of the Love of God, looking for his family. As he looked for his family he saw a river, an iron rod, and a path leading to the Tree of Life that had this amazing fruit. He found his family and called to them to come try this wonderful fruit. Then I read this part:

24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.

 25 And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.

 26 And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth.

I can just image Lehi nudging the person next to him saying, "Isn't this fruit great."

And the other person saying, "I know, right." 

Then Lehi looking over seeing someone who is not enjoying this fruit that he knows is amazing. He wonders why they are not enjoying this taste of the Love of God. He notice that they are looking at something. Lehi looks to where they are casting their eyes and for the first time Lehi sees this large building. And in this large building are people that are mocking him. 

Now what I find funny is that Lehi is so caught up in the fruit "was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted" and "filled [his] soul with exceedingly great joy" that he didn't notice this a great and spacious building. He notice a river and a rod which is surely not as noticeable as a Large Building. He just standing there enjoying his life now that he has this fruit, not noticing the people across the river are mocking him.

Snow!

 I love snow! It makes all the world so pretty. It also makes the world brighter.

 The First snowfall of the season (it waited until mid-November to snow). Also Light posts are awesome.

 On our way to Washington through Oregon.

 Provo winter-land before the big snow fall.

 Christmas snowfall. It was wonderful. I also had fun shoveling the snow.