Gotta remember.

I am a daughter of God and He loves me.

And then there was one

I started out the summer saying I was going to train for the Top of Utah MARATHON. Yup yup yup, a marathon. I was going to do it with my cousins and maybe my mom. Now, I think it is just gonna be me. :) As the summer has gone on I have trained my butt off. So many mornings my alarm would go off at seven and I would NOT wanna get up, but up I would get and run at least 5 miles. It is funny, as you start running your perspective on what is a long way to run totally changes. I now look at my training schedule (Made by Hal Higdon, he is a great guy even though I don't know him! He trains me for every race! Thank goodness for him.) sorry for that side note. But I look at my schedule and see 5 miles and say PHEW! Only 5 today, looks like I am set.

Now don't think I am some crazy runner cause my runs I go about a 10 minute mile pace and I bet ANY one of you could go with me. but ANYWAYS, I looked at my schedule last week and saw the dreaded 20 mile run looming in the near future, and boy was a dreading it! Well Erin and I accomplished that run today. We literally ran ALL over Bountiful. We went high and low, north and south, east and west. We got honked at by 3 cars full of the male gender (we were wishing we were wearing signs so we could inform them we were running 20 miles and that we don't ALWAYS look like old women when we run.) and then honked at once by a grumpy lady telling us to get off the road... She was probably just late for work, right? People aren't really that mean I hope.. ha Well we finished in three and a half hours and I feel FANTASTIC. I could have ran six more miles for sure. Bring it on Marathon!

One more long run to go and then it is the race day. I can do it. I can't wait for race day.......... My mom gave me this scripture today after my run. 1 corinthians 9:24. I may not get the real prize but finishing is a good enough prize for me! :)

Running is my getaway, try it.

P.S. Race day is Sept. 17. You are more than welcome to come cheer me on :) Just sayin.

Long Overdue...

Sorry!!
I have been MIA all summer, but sue me for living it up and having the summer of my life! Ok... not really but this summer has been so fun. I haven't done anything crazy cause I have been working a lot but I feel like I have two homes now, Logan and Bountiful. (P.S. I haven't taken too many pictures so this blog post is gonna be pretty wordy. You've been warned!)

When I decided to move down to Bountiful I thought that I would just work as a swim teacher and hang out with my cousins, Erin and Allison, every day. There as been lots of teaching going on and a little bit of hanging out with Erin and Allison (although I would love more Orange Leaf runs!) but I have been doing so many other things with amazing people!

Beginning of an unforgettable car ride!

First off, let me say I love YSA wards for many reasons. A. They help me enjoy church more because all of the talks and lessons are given by people my own age and they feel so much more applicable. B. With the new changes I was able to meet A TON of amazing people that live so close to me because they weren't all commuting to a U of U ward. Love it. Don't get me wrong I would still go to church even if it was with a bunch of hobbling old people with hearing problems but there is nothing wrong with meeting new young (even cute) people at church.


None as cute as this little man. He stole my heart this summer.

My sister Mindy bought her forever house with her family in an fantastic neighborhood. On her... MY (remember this is my second home now) street there are 6 houses with people my same age. They are all a blast to hang out with, whether we play volleyball, pool, eat frozen muddy buddies at midnight, or are just talking it is a guaranteed good time. But I don't need to leave to have a good time. Hanging out with Mindy and Jake is one of my favorite things about being down here!

Me with Chloe and Grace. I can't get enough of these two girls!

One of the houses by us is home to Amanda, Cam, Greg, and Amy. I didn't know them way well till about two weeks ago. We were in Lake Powell and we were camped in Slickrock Canyon. One day we were driving into our houseboat from a boat ride. We started cheering for a fellow boating family who just had two boys get up on surfboards. As we drove by I get a closer look and it was my friends from Bountiful, Chris and Jeff. I am like WAIT... I KNOW THEM! WHHHHHAAATTTT???? So I made my family turn around so I could go say hi. Those two came down with Amanda and Cam's family and they were camped right across the canyon from us. So that is how I met them and that trip led to banana rides, surfing, hikes, scripture study, and game night with an AMAZING family! I love them all. Too bad they all go to BYU. Guess I will be driving to Provo too. ha

Hiking with the neighbors

My summer has been a blast. I have camped (mainly just for the best car ride of my life with Erin!), boated, had pool parties, mountain biked, walks on the Boulevard with Tammi, and taught the CUTEST kids how to swim. Today one of my little girls gave me a drawing with note written on it. It said "Dear Karen, I love it when you teach me. I think you are my favorite. I love it when you teach me how to jump off the diving board and do monster arms -that's the front crawl if you didn't catch that ha..- Hugs and kisses, favorite teacher, I hope I have you again. Love Claire." Then she drew the cutest picture of us in the water. Man I have the best job.

Claire's drawing

Biking at Deer Valley.

I had a calling in my home stake as YAGL (Young Adult Group Leader) for LTC this year. That was the most amazing experience of my life and I will never forget it. In high school you take all the experiences like that for granted, I was basically spoon fed the spirit and didn't realize it. This time around you better believed I realized it and I have never been more grateful. All of the leaders are so inspired and put me with the perfect group. VIRTUE FOR LIFE. LTC helped me make new goals and helped me become a little bit better than I was before. Little by little is how we change and someday we will all become perfect.

Virtue!!

I turned 21, Yup that's right. Now I am adult and I don't have to go to McDonalds every time my friends wanna go somewhere that you need ID. (True story... almost. I actually ended up just walking around with Hot Cocoa) I wanted to get my ID checked so bad so on my birthday my friend and I tried but didn't get asked so we gave up and went to Nickle Mania instead. Good choice I'd say :)

Bowling for my 21'st. I won with a 152. WAHOOO

Well that is a BRIEF synopsis of my summer. Sorry I was a horrible blogger. I am committing myself right now to be better (for all my non existent readers... hahah) Now go live up the rest of summer!