I can't believe it's already September! So many things have happened these last few weeks, that I decided to throw them in one big post. So here goes....
Well.....I'm not going to even try to explain this one! You'll just have to use your imagination. :)
It seems a tradition every summer to go to 7 Peaks at least once. This summer I made it a couple of times. This time, Eliz, Eliz's nephew, Mary Lu, and I spent a few hours on a Saturday chilling in the lazy river and riding a few rides. Have to love the summer!
A few weeks ago I had the chance to attend my first jungle party. The only thing I know about jungle parties is that you have to watch out for the "jungle juice"! But luckily this wasn't that kind of party. But the house was decked out in decorations. They had a hot tub full of ice and drinks. It was pretty awesome! I know it's probably hard to believe, but I spent most of the time singing and dancing to the karaoke machine. We did some great work with many of the Disney classics.
Next we have Elizabeth's birthday. Happy b-day Eliz! Elizabeth and I have been friends since 2007. She is such a great friend! She recently got back from a mission to Indiana, and it has been great to have her back. It was so fun to celebrate her birthday with her! Mary Lu and I took her to one of our favorite restaurants: Red Robin! And then it was on to our skittle bowling adventure. We decided to make things a little more exciting by having to ask each other questions depending what color of skittle you picked out of the bag. If you didn't answer the question or your answer wasn't satisfactory, then you had to bowl a different way (under the legs, etc). This might explain why our scores were not great.....but maybe that's just my excuse! But I do get some bragging rights for winning the second game.
This last Saturday, a couple of friends and I took a spontaneous trip to Manti. I have been to Manti many times, but had never gone inside the temple. It was a great opportunity to see one of the first temples built by the pioneers back in the late 1800's. It was absolutely beautiful! The architecture and the colors were very indicative of the time it was built. I loved seeing all of the artifacts. We found a table that was built out of sewing machine boxes that came across the plains with the pioneers. It was beautiful! My favorite part of the day might have been afterwards, as we were changing in the parking lot. And yes, I mean exactly that -- we changed our clothes in the parking lot. It was all done quickly and modestly, but we were still busted as a car happened to drive by, and totally saw us, and busted up laughing. It was a great moment.
A few weeks ago I was talking to some co-workers, and heard about a Confederate soldier cemetery in Utah. I didn't believe it! Civil War Confederate soldiers in Utah?? When I told Mary Lu (from Georgia), she got so excited, that we just had to go find it while we were down in the area. All we knew was that the cemetery was found in Soldier Summit, a ghost-town about 20 miles or so into Spanish Fork Canyon. So we headed there on our way back from Manti. We stopped at a gas station to ask for directions, and were told that there would be sign on the other side of the street, a little ways up the road, that would tell us where to turn. So we went up the road, and didn't see any signs until we made it to a fork in the road. We ended up wandering all around the mountain, almost to the summit, before turning around and heading back to the gas station. The lady at the gas station smiled as she told us that it was not that far up the road. She said the ghost town was right across the street, next to the road. And that the cemetery was too much further. We all laughed when we finally realized what we had missed. It's amazing how the signs can be right in front of you, if you only choose to see them!
This was the jail of Soldier Summit, and one of the last remaining standing structures. Most of what we saw were only foundations of old homes. (Which I like to think is why we didn't see them in the first place!)
We may have missed the first sign in the road, but we made sure to follow the rest of the signe. The cemetery was hidden in a small grove of trees. We never would have found it without them.
And last but not least....I also had the opportunity to celebrate the 225th of the Constitution by attending a lecture by David McCullough, author of 1776 and John Adams. As a history nerd, I have always enjoyed his books. He is an expert on Revolutionary America. He talked about how by small actions, the founding fathers brought forth great things. How America today is becoming a "spectator" nation, and how we need to become active participants by standing up for the things we believe in. He talked about how we are ultimately responsible for what happens in this country. Through the Constitution, we have opportunity to speak against policy that we disagree with. He talked about the founding fathers, and how wealth, position, and circumstance were not important to them. Honor, education, and the satisfaction that comes with accomplishment and hard work made up the happiness that the founding fathers strived to attain.
Overall it was a great address. What a great way to celebrate Constitution day! I couldn't get a great picture, but here is David McCullough with President Matthew Holland of Utah Valley University.
