Utah - life elevated

Five people in a GMC Jimmy packed to the very brim, excitement spilling over, acticipation going bonkers - with the compass pointed due west.  Utah, you better be ready...

With our new view looking nothing like home, we all piled out of the Jimmy to stretch our legs, breathe in the fresh desert air and admire the view.  After 5 days the view still made my heart gasp in awe.

Supper was prepard, tents were assembled, sleeping bags were laid out and we were finally off to Arches National Park.

Hiking 1 1/2-2 miles was nothing for our traveling jitters.  John and Stephen ran around in circles, climbed over every rock and peppered Josh with questions.  Hiking up large rock and enjoying each others company... we rounded the bend and there stood the Delicate Arch.

Hiding from view till the last second, and shimmering in the receding suns glory was the first sandstone arch I had ever seen in person.  I couldn't help but marvel.  You couldn't have planned it better.  

We serve an awesome God

Day #2 - Off roading/arch exploring

I'll let the pictures do the talking.  Except to explain that the picture below does in no way give you a peek at what that poor Jimmy endured.  This mild bit of sand was easy compared to the large rocks, steep inclines, daunting boudlers, deep sand... several times I thought we were stranded.  And as I walked behind the vehicle and watch the wheels bounce and tip... all I could do was pray that we wouldn't be stranded in the middle of no where with a broken vehicle.

Some of my favorite people right here folks!

Whale's Eye Arch

Climbing and wishing sandstone wasn't quite so brittle.

Matching!

All of creation gives testimony to the Creator.

Yes, we are in ^ the picture.  Look hard.

Classic side-of-the-road eating/truck repair/river wading/relaxing.

Day #3 - Slot Canyons (my favorite!!)

Love this picture!  This was one of my first views of a canyon.

Words cannot describe how COLD this water was.  Imagine to coldest water you have ever experienced - times that by 100.

I felt so hikerish as I walked with my shoe strings tied around my neck.  And I was ever so grateful for my new quick-dry shorts!

xoxo

COLD.

This kid ^ was crazy limber and flexible.

This time around we literally had to swim through this water.  This was the reason I came on this trip.  I wanted to swim through freezing water and shimmy through slot canyons and come back home with great stories.  Check. check. and check.

It was cold.

And I screamed.  Very loud.  The breath was seriously sucked straight from my lungs.  It was invigorating.  And scary.

Stephen was the brave soul who stayed back with Emily.  And surprised us as we started to pick our things.

Yes.  I felt like we just have been on some cool movie or something. (yah, it wasn't crazy impressive, but don't rob my glory moment.)

Love these two ^^ people.

Day #4 - Mountains

We couldn't drive through CO without a quick climb up a mountain.

It wasn't really a "summit", but it was the highest the younger boys had ever climbed.  And it was cold, so that counts too.

We were rained on and snowed on in our little tent homes.  Thankfully for Josh we had nice gear, sleeping bags and tents.  Safe, dry and happy we hunkered down for a blissful nights sleep.

We drove through a snow storm, rain storm and dust storm all in one day.  

Scampering over sandstone, hiking through canyons, swimming in FREEZING water, climbing mountains, sleeping in tents, eating out of canyons and.... 

When can we do it again?!?

A fresh opportunity

I was slightly interested, but not really.  A coffee date just to talk about how I could start an in-home business didn't appeal to my crowded schedule.  I had heard of this company, yes, but like I said, my schedule was full.  I almost told my friend "no, thanks!"

Good thing I didn't.

A week later I found myself sipping a hazlenut mocha blended drink, peering at charts, expanding my mind to skincare products, chatting with two friends and dreaming of a white Mercedes.  True story.

My eyes were opened.

Thoughts of "what animal did I rub into my skin this morning?" and "I had no idea that sweet smelling lotion was full of not-so-sweet ingredients" and "wow, America really doesn't know a thing about healthy skincare products... I'm moving to Switzerland!"

Turns out I don't have to move to Switzerland (unfortunately), I can know what I'm putting on my skin and roadkill doesn't need to find its miserable self on my valuable skin.

Thank you, Arbonne!

I cannot wait to unfold the specifics of what I just mentioned.  Blow-your-mind incredible.  At least I thought so, and I've a hunch you'll agree.

The Arbonne that's now in my home, it can be in your home too.  Actually it'll be in your cabinents, by your sinks, in cupboards, bedrooms, kitchens, purses and of course - on your skin.

The long and short - I've the joined the Arbonne Team and cannot be more excited.

Check back soon for a fresh perspecitive on skincare and a full disclosure of the above statements (including the white Mercedes. Yep, I knew you were still a little confused... haha!)