Alabama vs. Reality

Confession:

I hate to admit it but I now secretly love being able to say I call Idaho home, especially Teton Valley and my vacations are spent where I used to call home.


Sundays in the South:

I loved being home and being able to catch up with my home ward and meeting all of the new members. This is Nikki. I went to high school with her and she converted 2 years ago and now she's married and pregnant so next time I see her she's gonna have a baby! Also my mom and I went to a piano recital for my sister's best friends since she wasn't able to go because she was at the beach.

Rachael Graduated:

My sister Karen came down from Nashville with my baby niece Elizabeth and my brother Joe works downtown where it was held so he was able to come as well. I'm so proud of her and all she has accomplished and I can't wait to she what she decides to pursue.

Graduation Cookout:

I loved seeing so many people come together to support Rachael and what she has done but I especially loved seeing my family. I surprised my nieces and nephews and hung out with them the whole night. My oldest nephew is now taller than me!

Fishing for Days:

How do I spend my last night at home? I fish. It is one of my favorite things to do and I was the only one who caught a bass. I caught 5 for the night. Don Paul just wanted me to take a picture with his catfish so I took one with Hunter who leaves for his mission on my birthday next month to Spain. Last time I get to see him for 2 years!

Home to Home in 1 Day:

Usually when I travel home I break it up into 2 days because it is such a long drive to Idaho alone but I did it all in one day on Wednesday. Woke up at 4, flew to Dallas with a 2 hour layover, then SLC, then drove 5 plus hours to Teton Valley. I got a beautiful sunrise before I got to the airport and when I got back to Idaho I got a rainbow in my backyard.

JOSH TURNER:

Thursday I went to a sold out show at my school for Josh Turner. I went with my friend Daniel who has heard of him but doesn't know much of his music. I'm pretty sure he loved it. Scotty McCreery came 2 years ago and sang a cover of Your Man and Mr. Turner ended the night with that song. It was great to say I've heard it twice on the same stage. We had amazing seats too!

Training:

Thursday I also started my training to be an AFY counselor and so far it has been a blast and a ton of work. I got chosen to be one of the wranglers so all that time at President Wilson's paid off! I also live with 34 people and that has been one for the books as well.

March Madness: Traveling

This was the busiest month of my life! Some events are not included because it was that crazy!

I went on a camping trip to a beautiful gem in Idaho called Gold Bug Hot Springs. It was the shortest but steepest hike I have ever done and proved that I need to start working out more. The view was well worth it and I recommend it to anyone! 

(It was a perfect 2 days for camping, hiking, sitting under waterfalls, and gorgeous views!)

Then the next weekend I had the opportunity to travel to New York City for a whole week. I was chosen as one of six students to advocate for the unit of the family at the United Nations’: Commission on the Status of Women. I went as an intern for a nonprofit NGO (non-governmental organization) that hosted Fight the New Drug at a parallel event. I was chosen as one of two students to speak alongside the CEO of FTND, Clay Olsen. It was an eye opening experience for who I am, what I believe, why I believe it, and what I want to do with my future career and future schooling. I went so many places! Here are just a few. #pornkillslove 

(Time Square, Les Miz, Brooklyn Bridge Freedom Tower view, Rockefeller Center, Clay Olsen and I after we spoke.) 

The day after I came home I went to Jackson Hole, Wyoming for the Zac Brown Band Concert being held there. Randomly before the concert we were in one of the tourist shops in Jackson Square and I look up and see Zac Brown himself standing right in front of us! I was with 2 huge guys that happen to be twins. We were so close to the stage later that night that he recognized them and smiled at us the whole night! 

(It was freezing cold hence the jacket, creeper picture!)

The following Tuesday I drove 13 hours to Portland, Oregon for my best friend’s wedding! I spent a week there being a tourist and helping out as much as I could with the wedding. I was chosen to do her hair for her big day. Talk about nerve wracking! 

(Cannon Beach, Silver Creek Falls, Downtown Portland bachelorette party, Horsetail Falls, Wedding Day!)

Once I came back to Badger Creek I was working with my boss my last day and he, out of the blue, offered me a job for the summer to stay here and be an AFY (Adventure for Youth) counselor! So all of my plans for summer changed at the absolute last minute and I’m anticipating an amazing summer to come!