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!

The Start of Something New

Bountiful Utah. Settled by Perrigrin Sessions in 1847 was originally named Sessions' Settlement. In between Bountiful and Salt Lake City the first real hard surface road was laid and the Bountiful Cemetery is one of the most beautiful in the state. (I know kinda creepy, but hey I would rather have a pretty cemetery that one of the most beautiful dumps in the state like Moab has!) Now Bountiful is the home to.... me, Karen. It has been good to me so far.

I learned last time I moved out that one of my favorite things about moving out was buying my own cereal because I get to pick WHATEVER kind I want, and I don't care about the price, gotta live it up while you're young. I know what you are thinking right now, what were my first choices?? Well, it was Fiber ONE Honey Clusters, Oops! All Berries, and Blueberry Muffin tops... Yum yum yum!

(My cereals, pure joy)

Mindy, Jake, and Cash are awesome. They are always willing to let me chill with them when I have nothing else to do. They also are going through the painful process of looking for a car (because the spaceship died :(..) with me and I am so grateful that they are willing to do that! And I have to add Mindy knows me very well! We went to look at cars earlier this evening and as we were getting on the freeway I got a text from Erin telling me there was and institute class we should go to. I really wanted to go but I felt bad cause we were already on our way too look at cars. Mindy kept saying it was ok if I wanted to go and that I SHOULD go. So, we basically took a drive to Salt Lake, looked at a few cars and then drove back and dropped me off so I could go with Erin and Allison. I should have just said I wanted to go in the first place but I didn't and Mindy was still so nice and happy to let me go :) Thanks Mind. One more thing, today I was tending Cashy and he said "apple" and "pop"! Still working on "Karen" :) That little man is so smart and he is gonna start forming sentences in no time. Even though his baby talk is stinking cute I can't wait for him to start talking. (Maybe then he'll be able to understand when I tell him not to pull my hair... ha)

(The last picture of the Spaceship... tear)

And I am loving my ward I have been to it twice and met a bunch of new people. Yesterday I went to FHE and that was really fun. I love having the ward because I really have been feeling like a loser.. ha and the ward gives me something to do and a great place to be around people my age AND feel the spirit, can't get better. I have to keep reminding myself that I just moved and my life will start again I just have to give it time to develop and I have to give me time to meet new people.

Change is hard for me but I am happy I just did it. It'll be so good for me and I can't wait to see what the summer holds. Right now instead of focusing on the big changes that make me nervous, or how I don't know hardly anyone, I am focusing on the little things that make me happy, like what cereal to buy next :) hmmm... There's really no way of knowing.

Finals. ✓

YIPEE!

I did it! Finals week is over :) I have had quite the year and always knew it would end sometime but couldn't see the end or imagine how it would feel but... IT FEELS GREAT! Last semester I had a Physics final, Stats final, Ecology final, and Geology final. (It wasn't as traumatic as I am making it sound. ha I couldn't even remember what classes I had... I had to look it up!) This semester I had Physics 2, Genetics, and Microbiology. Let me just tell you it is a good thing I love this stuff or else my life would be miserable! (My family probably thinks I hate my life however 'cause when I get stressed I kinda shut down and get really quiet and grumpy... Sorry momma, johnny, and papa! I promise I love you!) Anyways, now that I am done I have so much time.... I have watched The Biggest Loser, American Idol, ate some good food, and just sat. Being lazy never felt so good! I am also so excited that school is over cause that means I get to move in with Mindy and Jake soon! They are so great for letting me stay at their house all summer :) Maybe this way I can get Cash to say my name.. uh huh. Welp that is all the random thoughts I have. tata for now!

Carrie Underwood w/ Vince Gill How Great thou Art - Standing Ovation!

This song is amazing. Easter is a great holiday, I love the Easter Bunny, Easter eggs, rolling them down Old Main, and doodling about Easter on my school notes. Above all this though I love going to church and talking about Christ and his resurrection and the wonderful gift he has given ALL us. This all is starting to mean so much more to me as I grow older, but that makes sense right? and I love listening to music like this also :) Just thought I'd share! Enjoy

A Change is in the air

I am so blessed to live in an area that has four whole seasons! So riddle me this, if I love all of the seasons so much (maybe fall a bit more... don't tell the others I try not
to pick favorites) how come I get a little sad when seasons decide to move on? I know why, it is BECAUSE....

I am gonna miss snowshoeing with mom


I will miss sledding


Christmas Trees


Cross Country Skiing


And the true reason for this post, downhill skiing, Beaver Mountain is officially closed :(


All of those things are so much fun, but I can't wait for hiking, biking, rafting, Lake Powell, and so many more fun things!


Bring it on warm weather!