It's About People

I’ve been wanting to get this off my chest for a while and so I’m just going to do it.  You don’t have to read it or even agree with it, it is just my opinion.  There have been so many extremely saddening events that have happened in the past number of years, but none so much as what happened last week with all those innocent children and adults.  It is so very sad and something needs to be done about it, but I don't think taking away guns is the answer. Every time a saddening mass murder happens we hear more about gun control and what should be done. Am I the only one that thinks it has NOTHING to do with gun control and EVERYTHING to do with people control? Society (and sometimes parents) subject kids and young adults to violence at such an early age. It is everywhere. It is on the news, TV programs, internet, movies, and probably the worse form in my opinion, video games. It is accepted. It is the norm. Yet we wonder why there are so many shootings. A person can't eat a dozen donuts every day and not gain a lot of weight. An addict with drugs or alcohol sitting in front of them is not going to be able to get over their addiction. An athlete at the top of their game can't be expected to walk away from a sport when being on top. A child can't have candy or a toy placed in front of them without them wanting to eat or play with it. So why on earth do some people believe that we can subject kids to all this violence and expect it not to effect them in some way and the more it is in their life, in a major way? Which brings me to the worst form in my opinion, video games. Teenagers and many young (and not so young) adults spend hours and hours a week playing video games where they are at war with other people. Shooting other people to win a game. How many hours can one do that without it getting inside their head?  Now I'm not saying every individual that plays video games is going to kill someone.  We are all wired differently. I played cowboys and Indians when I was a kid with big wooden guns. We shot gophers with rifles and BB pistols and we had a great time.  None of my family grew up to be killers. But I do believe that subjecting yourself to violence (not guns) for hours and hours, week after week, month after month, year after year, it is going to get into your head and then it makes them more angry and violent. Especially when someone is already mentally unstable. We aren't talking about shooting Asteroids on an Atari here.  We are talking about 2012 graphics and shooting at people for fun.  I think the only time shooting at a human is appropriate is when defending someone, whether yourself, people or to defend your country. We've all seen the funny (yet not so funny) YouTube videos of teenage "gamers" that get a little too involved in the game and start yelling "I'm going to kill you" at an opponent and the mothers that threaten to take the games away, but some don’t because they keep on playing. And while we laugh at these videos, I know I have, at what point does it become real life?  We reap what we sow. That is how it works. That is how it always will work. “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.” - Stephen R. Covey. We can't expect that violence viewed over and over and over in some form for a long period of time will not effect the way we think and eventually act.  People need to take responsibility and have accountability for their actions.  Stop blaming it on an inanimate object that can do nothing on its own.  A drug addict will find drugs whether they are legal or not.  And a violent person will find a weapon if they want one. If they can't find a gun, there are many others that will work.  Look at all the serial killers, many of them don't use guns, yet they still kill.  It's not about guns, it's about people.  So let's fix the people. I have my opinions on how that can be done, but I think the main thing is getting rid of all this violence viewed that is expected not to effect us. I want to reap love, so I will try my best to sow love every day. Ok, now I feel better!

Be Careful

I've been thinking about this a lot lately and today I decided to just post it...

Men, be careful how you treat women, because your daughters are watching and through you they will learn how men should treat them. Men, be careful how you treat women, because your sons are watching and through you they will learn how women should be treated. You are always an example, good or bad. I hope you choose to treat women with respect, kindness and love, to be a good example, because people are watching, especially your children. 

Own Who You Are

"There is an old man up ahead, you may not know who he is, but he is you grown old." (paraphrasing)Brother Giles, my Institute Director, used to say that quite often and I love it. (I think he may have gotten it from someone else or from a story, but I've never been able to figure it out for sure.)  It is referring to the person we will become based on our experiences, but most importantly our decisions and choices on how we will react to those experiences. Who will I become? Who will you become? Do we like the "old man" we are becoming? If not, at any time we can change our direction. 

I've been thinking a lot recently about who I am, who I used to be, who I've become and who I'm becoming. There are things I like about the changes that I've made and there are things that I don't.  I'm not perfect. I've never pretended to be perfect and I think I'm pretty good at putting forth who I am. There will be times that you won't see the whole me, if you do or have, you are one SPECIAL person because I have to feel EXTREMELY comfortable to take ALL the walls down, not because I'm pretending to be someone else, because the parts you see will be REAL. I recently was at a church meeting and a friend ask me how I was and my response that day was, "Okay". They said, "JUST okay?". "Yes, JUST okay." I've had some rough times this past year and especially that week and honestly saying "okay" was about as good as it was going to get.  Another friend that was nearby cut in and responded, "That is what we love about Nilda, she is always honest." I really appreciated that. I took it as a compliment, which is what I think it was meant to be. This person definitely doesn't have the wool pulled over his eyes and has seen me at some pretty low places and to know he thinks of me as "always honest"...I don't think you could say something that would mean much more to me than that. My normal response when life is great would be "wonderful", but I wasn't wonderful and wasn't going to pretend I was wonderful. 

Which gets me to what has been on my mind today.

Own who you are.  Who you are is who you are and don't pretend you are someone you are not.  People are ever changing and who you are will change, for good or bad, but no matter WHO you are at any present moment, let that be who you portray yourself to be.  I've never looked down on someone who said sincerely, "I'd really like to be a better person."  There have been some pretty amazing people that I've heard say this. I think we should all want that for ourselves, our families, our church, our friends and for the strangers that one day will be.  Why wouldn't we want to be better?  None of us are perfect.  But whomever you are, be that person and own it, even if it is while striving to be the person you WANT to someday be.

Own your words. There is a CD on communication from Dr. John L. Lund, For All Eternity, that I absolutely LOVE.  I would recommend EVERYONE listen to this, not just married people.  One of the things he talks about is owning your words.  Say what you mean and don't make people read between the lines and interpret.  That we need to get rid of hints and that making people figure out what we really mean isn't fair and really isn't good for any relationship (not just the ones between man and wife).  I strive to do just that. to say what I mean and for the most part I think I do pretty good at this, BUT recently I had an experience where maybe I used the wrong words, or phrase.  I re-learned a BIG lesson.  I made the comment to someone that I had a love hate relationship with one of my young women that was there (and I knew she was there).  I probably have used this phrase 5 times in my life (if that) and am not sure why I chose to use those words at this time.  I knew what I meant.  I meant that I loved her and at times I didn't feel like she loved me. (I am however her leader and sometimes leaders aren't the most popular) That individual thought I meant I hated them (or so I've been told). This is a young woman that I have spent COUNTLESS hours praying for, pondering how to help, fasting for, counseling with my leaders about and trying to better understand. I cannot count the tears that I've shed for her. How could she think I hated her? It still blows my mind a little, but that isn't the point of this post. I WASN'T owning my words and I chose to use a phrase that isn't commonly used and especially not with teenagers. I chose the wrong words and they were misunderstood.  What was I thinking?  Honestly I was thinking there was NO WAY she could take it wrong. NO WAY!  I won't repeat that mistake again. If you ever hear me say that phrase again, remind me it isn't the best one to choose. I do however try to always say what I mean, even if it isn't the most popular thing. There is NOTHING wrong with being honest...NOTHING.

Own your actions.  If you mess up, fix it.  If you wrong someone and know about it, apologize. Sit down, discuss it and resolve it, it could just be miscommunication or a misunderstanding. Don't just hope it blows over. Do things ever REALLY blow over if they are left unresolved? Seriously, if you know of any please fill me in, I'd love to hear about them. How people wonder why things get brought up from the past baffles me.  Do you think maybe, just maybe, it is because they were left UNRESOLVED and still hurt deep down for that person.  I'm not talking about the good happy memories that are brought up, I'm talking about the hard, ugly, harsh ones. Deal with it people...we are all adults (or will be one day).

Own the consequences.  Every choice has a consequence, good or bad, and that is how it is meant to be. When you have wronged someone or said something that was offensive, don't justify it. You aren't doing yourself or anyone else any favors. I just hope that at the times where I've wronged someone and didn't know about it, that they themselves would give me the opportunity to right the situation. To talk it through and talk about the misunderstanding. That is where I feel cheated.

Own your beliefs. Whatever they are, own them. You don't have to shout them from the rooftop or get on your soap box, but when asked about them, share them. You shouldn't be embarrassed about your beliefs, if you are you should think about getting some new ones.. =)

I'm not sure this post is going to win me any friends and honestly that isn't the reason I'm writing it. I just needed to get it off my chest and put it into words to work through it. That is the largest reason I blog, to put things down so I can resolve them in MY head and put me one step closer to moving on. If I'm not ready to put something out there, then I won't blog about it (which is why I haven't blogged much in the past year.) This post isn't directed specifically towards any one person, you can say it is a few experiences that brought me to this post. If I have offended anyone in this post, that was not my intention. I apologize upfront for being honest.

"Sometimes it takes everything in our power to do the right thing, to be the bigger person.  In that moment, if you can do it, you win the most important battle, the one within yourself." (Nilda, June 2010) I feel like I did that many times in the past week. Today probably being the biggest one. A friend gave me some great advice and said, "Just read your scriptures...". I believe that the biggest battles are usually the ones fought within ourselves. I have never regretted doing the right thing or being the bigger person, when I've managed to do it. I repeat...I am not perfect. I don't pretend to be, I don't say I am and I will never be while I'm on this earth. I do however STRIVE to be better and do the right thing. I sometimes fail and that is okay, that is what the Atonement is for.

Congratulations Russ & Jen

One of my really good friends Russ and his wife Jen had their 1st baby about 6 weeks ago. (Yes, I'm a little behind posting something). Jen is amazing and if you don't agree after watching this birth process, you're crazy. 38 hours of labor! I can't imagine any other person being more perfect for Russ than Jen. Congratulations!

Another mutual friend, and awesome photographer, Jen Garbett took pictures of the process. Take a few minutes and watch this beautiful birth story of Owen Russell. You don't need to know any of them to feel their pain.

Check out other amazing work from Jen G at PhotoJenic Photography.

For the Love of All Things Hiking

I've been so far behind on blogging. There has been so much going on in my life in the past year, yet not, all at the same time. There were things that I didn't want to talk about at the time, that now I should talk about, it'd be therapeutic. Then there were things I've always wanted to post, but didn't because I was behind and wanted to post other things first. Well, I've come to the decision that I'm never going to catch up if I don't just start where I am. There are posts that I've started and never finished and published. Because this blog is mainly for me and to help me keep track of my life, I suppose it really doesn't matter if I publish things that are old and nobody will see. For those of you that do want to see, it could be a little bit of a mystery and you can go fishing for the stories you've never read.

Like many things Nilda, I'm probably a bit too open and honest. You can stop reading at any time =). Don't you just love agency?!

This morning was another interesting morning for me. It got me to thinking that maybe I should write it down. Maybe it'd make more sense to me, maybe not. For anyone that has known me in the last 7 years you've probably thought of my love for hiking. I had done less hikes in my previous years of life than I did in my first year of living in Arizona. In 2001 I flew to Phoenix to do Havasupai with my family that lived here. I loved Havasupai. The hiking part was okay, but there are no "real" mountains in the city in Great Falls, MT and so a treadmill was what I used to get prepared (very different than hiking). Then I moved here in August of 2001 and my real love for hiking all started with my Uncle Delwyn preparing for doing Rim to Rim to Rim of the Grand Canyon and inviting me to go hiking with him in case I liked it enough to train to do the Grand Canyon with them (a group that did it pretty much every October). My first Arizona hike as a resident was Shaw Butte off 15th Ave and Peoria. We went up, over and down the other side and back up, over and down to our car. While it was hard (because I'd never "really" hiked before other than Havasupai, I enjoyed it. I also enjoyed spending time with my uncle and I was able to get to know him better. I spent a lot of time hiking in the next year.

In October of 2002 I did the South Rim to the North Rim for the first time. I didn't come back to the South Rim via hike due to the 16 lovely blisters I'd accumulated the first 21 miles. My hips didn't like me very much either. In years since I've learned that my feet are soft, get hot while exercising and are prone to blisters. I've tried many, many things and purchased many, many different shoes and boots and while I've learned to reduce them, I rarely do a big hike without at least a few. It is what it is.

In the years after that hiking became my love. It was probably part of why I no longer "hated" Arizona. I give hiking credit for making me enjoy this state at all (other than my wonderful aunt, uncle and cousins). For they have mountains in the city. Who would have thought that? Some of our "mountains" are shorter than the "hills" in Montana, but they still provide a lovely form of exercise. Who would have thought Phoenicians would hike more than Montanans? It just doesn't make sense. I used to hike North Moutain and Squaw Peak regularly with my friend Roxanne. We did Camelback once in awhile, though it was more like "climbing" than actual hiking. I learned from Uncle Delwyn that Mt. Ord, by Payson, is a great hike for training in elevation and getting some good distance. I've even done it a few times by myself because I have cell signal almost the whole way and when I couldn't find a partner I'd call and check in with Laura every hour so she knew I was alive and hadn't been kidnapped =). Seriously. Most days, when it wasn't over 90 degrees and it was actually light after work, I'd be found on a mountain. Any mountain.

In December of 2004 I did Rim to Phantom Ranch with some friends and new friends (I'd never met before then) and we stayed a few nights and then hiked back out. I LOVED IT! Who knew hiking in the Grand Canyon could be cool (temperature). I think this was my perfect Grand Canyon hike.

In the summer of 2006 I went to Glacier National Park (which used to be only a few hours away) with my sister and a couple friends. That was a dream trip that I hope to do again someday. Why when things are so close do we take them for granted?

In 2007 I did North Rim to South Rim with a friends family. It was the middle of May and my biggest worry was my ankle holding up. I'd torn every ligament in my right ankle playing basketball in March of 2006. It was a "freak" accident and the doctors were surprised by all the damage. I had gone through 3 months in a boot, 7 months of physical therapy and surgery clean up the scar tissue to lesson the pain. The ankle did okay. What didn't do okay was my body. At 100 degrees at the bottom and little shade coming up the South Rim, I ended up having heat stroke, then heat exhaustion after we left Phantom Ranch. That story is long and is a story for another day. It was more than miserable hiking out.

In 2008 I opted not to do Rim to Rim because it again was mid-May and it wasn't worth the risk. My body had never handled heat the same way again.

In September 2008 I flew to Colorado to hike Long's Peak (14'er) with my brother Karlen.

In 2009 Perkins decided to do Rim to River to Rim instead and again invited me along. I'm sure now they wonder what they were thinking after the last experience, but they did. It was not a good experience. While we did it in late April and it was cooler, it was not fun. I remember thinking many times, "why did I put myself down here again?", "I am NEVER going to do this again!". I kept wondering, "why is this so hard? I've trained, I'm prepared, why do I feel like this?" In the upcoming weeks and months we would have that answer. If you're reading this and don't know that answer, you'll have to wait for that story for another time. That was the beginning of the end of blogging and it is too long of a story for me to write at this moment. It will come.

I'd planned a group trip to Havasupai in 2003 (or maybe it was 2004), 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Some of my favorite memories are in Havasupai and the main part of the Grand Canyon. I love those places!!!

In late September (I think) of 2009, my first decent hike after surgery, I did a hike with a few friends from church. We did a hike in the White Tanks. I'd done exercise on a treadmill, but hadn't really hiked more than a few times at North Mountain, but felt like I'd do okay, after all my body just knew how to hike, right? While the company was great and I was shocked that the White Tanks were actually a mountain range =), it just wasn't the same. There were moments that I enjoyed the hiking part, but there were so many more times that I didn't. The more it heated up outside the more miserable I got.

Which is a really long way of getting to today. I got up to hike this morning, not quite as early as I'd wanted to, but sleep is lacking and I actually was getting pretty good sleep so I left a couple hours later than planned. I went to Thunderbird to do 3-4 miles. I'd love to say that I was prepared for what happened, but I wasn't. I just didn't enjoy it. Not one minute of it! It was hot (only 80, why can't my body still not handle that?) I kept thinking, "I used to love this?", "I hope I can get that back". It's just harder than it used to be and because I don't love it as much I don't do it as much and because I don't do it as much it is harder and so I enjoy it even less. Before, even when I was in really bad shape, I didn't hate it, I wasn't miserable. Today as I came back down, only doing half of what I wanted because it was simply too hot and my body was freaking out, I couldn't help feeling emotional for losing a love for something that played a HUGE part of my life. It almost feels like I had something taken away from me. Something that was big and important and something I did as much as possible before all the crappy stuff started to happen. I couldn't help feeling loss.

Now, don't think I'm just going to give up. With anything loved and lost, you want it back. I want it back. I'm really not sure if it is just a state of mind due to all the difficult experiences that I've had while hiking in the last few years. I'm just not sure. There are many things in life that I haven't enjoyed, yet I still pushed through them. The hard part is that the hotter it gets out the more I'll have to wait to see once it cools down again after a long, long summer. I want to do Rim to Rim again and I want to enjoy it this time. I want the Grand Canyon to have good memories. I love the Grand Canyon, I just don't love how awful it was to get out the last two times. Oh to feel as good as I did in 2004, when hiking was easy and my body just knew what to do and didn't get punished for it. Not that I haven't enjoyed hiking like I did in 2004, but that was when it was at the easiest. Some day. Some day it will be that easy again, if it kills me. I mean, I don't want it to kill me, I won't let it kill me, but I do want it bad. I suppose I, like many people, feel a little sad that their addiction is gone. Hiking doesn't have to be an addiction, but I want it to be loved again and most importantly, enjoyed.

I hope this post doesn't make everyone think they should never invite me to hike again. I know my limits. I'd never put myself or anyone else in a position that was of risk to any one's life. I learned a hard lesson over the past few years and life is worth living, even if it means never hiking again. I simply didn't know there was an issue, or I wouldn't have done it then either. I may strive for things that people think I shouldn't, but in the end I wouldn't do anything if I thought it wouldn't turn out good. I've been embarrassed enough for a lifetime, trust me. I've learned it is okay to back out if something doesn't feel right, even if it makes me look like a flake. People shouldn't judge people, because no matter a persons reason, it must be best for them. Not everything people do is selfish. I understand that what might be good for me might not be good for another. That is okay, I'm letting it be okay. Time will heal all, or at least I hope it will. Honestly, I'm a bit afraid to do a long hike again, especially the Grand Canyon, because if it is as miserable as the last couple times, I'm afraid I'd never, never do it again. I hope there comes a time when I do the Grand Canyon again...and enjoy it! Oh to dream!

What a difference a year makes...April 2009.

Just A Song In My Head

Have you ever had a song in your head that just won't go away? One that seems to run over and over and over? Only this time it is one that isn't annoying me, it is making me think, in a good way. I believe that thinking is a good thing (unless it is late at night when I should be sleeping, then maybe not so good).

I was thinking how grateful I am to have the Gospel in my life. I'm so grateful for that knowledge and testimony that there is so much more to life than what we can comprehend. I'm also grateful that I don't NEED to know everything. I'm so blessed to have the truth and to know that I have the truth. I'm grateful for the Atonement. I'm grateful to know that it is there for not just me, but others. I'm grateful to know that it is there for so much more than just repentance (not that that part isn't important, because it is, but there is just so much more). I'm blessed to be part of an Eternal Family. Not just an Eternal Family, but an Eternal Family that WANTS and NEEDS to be together. I cannot even imagine being part of a better family. I'm blessed to have wonderful friends. I feel like I have been so lucky in the friends department. So much so that I hope saying it doesn't jinx it. I'm grateful for the Power of the Priesthood, the comfort it brings and the impact that it makes in my life. I think that most of all right now I'm grateful for Faith. Faith is something that I've come by easily (hopefully not jinxing that either). I consider it one of my BIGGEST gifts and blessings. Faith to know that NO matter what happens in life, that it will be okay, that it is part of the eternal process. Faith to know that I can be healed. Faith to know that the sun will rise tomorrow, as it should. Faith to know that I have a Father in Heaven that is IN CONTROL. Because he is in control, I don't always have to be. Faith to know that I have an older brother, Jesus Christ, that is there for me NO MATTER WHAT. Faith is a wonderful thing. It will all work out. If I do my part and do my best, the rest will come. Today, the thing I'm most excited and grateful about knowing is that tomorrow WILL come. Can it get any better than knowing that my tomorrow WILL come? Right now, no, there is not!

Want to know what song is running through my mind?

"If Today Was Your Last Day" by Nickelback.

My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had, if today was your last day?
What if, what if, if today was your last day?

Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the price is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you're never living twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?

And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?

If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are

So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothing stand in your way
'Cause the hands of time are never on your side

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?

And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?
(End lyrics)

Isn't it beautiful...simply beautiful. I hope I can better live my life. I pray that we all can. Life was meant to be lived...to the fullest.

Havasupai 2009 ... Post Flood

It's taken me awhile to get these up. I hope you enjoy. While there was damage from the flood last year, it was still well worth the trip. It is amazing what water can do. I now better understand how the Grand Canyon became to be. This year there was 52 in our group...more than twice the size of last year.

Are you ready for picture overload. What to post? What not to post?

Down there in the bottom of the canyon...that is the trail. What normally takes 2-2 1/2 hours to get to, the village is only 3 minutes in the helicopter. The ride in was a bit scary due to the bad winds.

The village from the helicopter.

While the flood took away 1 of the waterfalls (Navajo), it also created 2 new BEAUTIFUL waterfalls. This is the 1st of the new ones. We didn't see it until we were further down the trail the 1st day. The ground near it is very unstable and you can see the destruction in the 2nd picture. This used to all be a creek and surrounded by trees.

Just below the 1st new falls.

Next view. You can really see the canyon the water made in this one.

As the 2nd new falls appears (what we call "New Navajo Falls") It is just upstream from where Navajo Falls was (check out the pictures and video below of what it looks like now)

They discovered that they enjoy jumping off this falls better than Navajo. It is about as high from the jumping point and there is a place to put your stuff. Neither of these falls have been officially named. (Check out the video below of Brigham doing a flip off the falls.)

Just below the 2nd new waterfall looking down stream.

This is looking back at the 2nd new falls, but around the corner. You can see the 1st new fall in the distance. This is how we discovered the 1st one existed. A few of us went back into where Navajo Falls was. It was so eerie. The mud from the flood filled in all the pools. The only water left is from what is left of the pool in the picture below.

You can see the old rope hanging down right in the middle of the picture. This was used to get from the top of the falls down to the point you could jump off. It was so quiet back there. Felt sort of like a grave yard. From the top of Havasu Falls. Jason Needler was the one brave enough to get that close to it going over the top. First peek of the color of the milky water and new pools at Havasu Falls. Only part of the old falls is there.
What is left of the pools (some of which they are helping to build back up)

From the side coming down the trail.

Showing better what is left of Havasu Falls.

Havasu Falls from below.

Havasu pools being rebuilt. You can see the trees and sand bags in some places. The mineral deposits have already covered almost all of them. Probably by next year you won't be able to tell that is what they did to help build them back up.

Alisa walking across one of the smaller pools being built up. You can see a few sand bags.

What is left of the campground. There isn't many trees or shade left and what trees are left, most are dead.New picnic tables were built to replace the old ones that were lost in the flood.

There was a lot of debris left after the flood. Here is one of the old picnic benches.
Mooney Falls from the top.Looking down below Mooney Falls. The pools are gone and were filled in with mud and there is less water. The water goes over to the right now instead of filling all this in.Mooney Falls from below. Still looks the same from this angle.This is where we used to rope swing off a mini falls below Mooney Falls. There isn't a pool left to jump into, but it looks similar. The tree the rope swing was on is still there.Down below Mooney Falls. You can see yet another mini fall. There are many mini falls between Mooney and Beaver Falls.If this fall was there last year, I don't remember it. This is just after the previous picture, just looking down stream. It was pretty cool looking and you could totally stand underneath in this little cave on the left side. This is now where the awesome rope swing is. The pools are again filled in, but it doesn't mean we didn't figure out how to have fun there.A bit of improvising. They used to jump off the rock while hanging on the rope swing. The old angle and old pool used to allow a lot of space to do flips into the water and a lot of fun has been had. This year the pool was limited and only below the mini falls. This is how we did it this year. (Check out the video below of Alisa doing the full thing.)Kristin gets the best air after letting go.Tammy, Janelle, Aly and I at the rope swing. This is one of the only pictures I have of me on my camera. Always behind the camera...rarely in front of it.Blogger isn't cooperating. It won't let me move these pictures. These are of the 2nd new waterfall, but from the bottom of the fall.You can walk behind the whole waterfall. You can see Alisa about to go behind and Jason is already behind the waterfall. For those not willing to jump off the top, the lower jump is an option. For people like me...none of it is an option:)From the front.More destruction.

A few people are in this video jumping off. At the end of the video is Brigham's flip.

Navajo Falls Video

Just below Mooney Falls.

Alisa braving it and doing the rope swing the "new" way.

Video of below Havasu Falls.

New Moon Excitement

Ready? Set? New Moon Trailer (almost makes me want to be a Jacob fan...almost)!

Also, if you haven't seen it, check out this blog for pictures (including Italy scenes) and video of the taping. (Spoiler Alert...Not an official website, but definitely of interest to Twilight fans).

I'M SO EXCITED!

Memorial Weekend

Memorial Weekend started off on Friday leaving town to go camping with the family and having EVERYTHING go wrong. Just before Table Mesa Road Laura's check engine soon light went on and it started shaking. We pulled over and looked under the hood (yeah, like we have ANY clue about vehicles). A tow truck pulled over and suggested we drive back...which we did.

We weren't going to go. Only so many things can go wrong that make you think it just isn't suppose to happen. Jason really wanted to go and so I rented a truck. It was SO fun to have a 4 door and throw everything in the back. I figured if we got to Table Mesa Road again and had issues, then it was a definite sign. I did however feel good about going, so figured my wires were either crossed (which wouldn't be surprising this week) or it was okay to go up. No more hitches and we were on our way.

We got up there just after lunch. Awaiting me was my brother Karlen. He surprised me (after my worse week ever) and drove down from Colorado. I WAS SURPRISED! He had asked if I wanted him to come down, but I said it was okay and there was nothing he could do and that we were going camping. It never occurred to me that he'd go camping too. So, I guess it was good that we went. He said he would have driven another 2 hours if I hadn't. It was great to see him and it meant a lot (though it wasn't necessary). A big thank you to my sister-in-law Jeri for encouraging him (even though he'd been out of town all week for work and it was a long weekend).

The first day it pretty much POURED rain. I was not happy. I love to camp, but hate to camp in the rain (or snow like last Memorial Weekend). After that it rained off and on. The pics of me with the umbrella aren't because it is raining. I'm on a prescription that makes me burn easy and so I was instructed to stay out of the sun. Check, check, check. I did everything the doctors asked of me this week!

Here are some pics:

Karlen, Uncle Delwyn, Danette & Laura

Laura & Jason, Kohlton & Nevaeh eating around the fire (my favorite part of camping...the campfire)

Kids climbing a tree

Chad & Parker (Father & son) finding more firewood

Jason & Karlen

Laura & Kohlton

David (such a cute, happy and special little boy)

Trisha & Laura visiting (and making a face)

Erika, Jason & Chad (Jason was made in California and is proud of it)

Hanging around the fire

Nevaeh & Jarom playing in the tree

Karlen & I (no, I don't have any makeup on and I don't want to hear about how crappy I look. It was a rough week and I really didn't care and that is the whole point of being with your family camping, right?! Besides, he drove all the way from Colorado to see me, so how did I not post a picture of us?) Thank you Karlen! (Thank you Jeri!)
Trisha's dad took the grand kids on a hike up the little mountain. Gutsy!

Kohlton taking a nap on my lap...for 2 hours! He was out, out!

This may have been the funniest part of the whole weekend. Collins had this game that had 2 golf balls on the opposite side of a rope. Someone threw it up in a tree (probably by accident, right, though it was up pretty high). It took them about 10-15 minutes to get it out (throwing bats, balls, etc.) It was so funny. A few times they knocked it out, only for it to jump to a different branch and hang on. By the time we thought to record it, they got it out. It was hilarious!!!

Yep...my favorite little man again. So cute! This little man LOVES me.

Tom, Karlen & Jason