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!)

My Boots

After spending five straight days with a companion who exemplifies the list below, here's a word to the "future boyfriend."

BE...

Dependable
Comfortable to be around
Good looking
Supportive
With me whenever I go
Not afraid to get dirty
Walks with me
Adventure companion
Keeps me going forward
Secure and stable
Somewhat expensive, but worth the wait

Just love me like my boots do.
#singlegirlprobs

Just got back from a 5-day camping/hiking/totallyawesome stint in Utah with my siblings.

Take me down south!

Just take me back.

I can feel the taste of that Frappe, sense the rush of coolness and sweet.  Nevermind that it plunges into my body to wreck havoc and destroy my life.  Focus on the positive - it's yummy.

I arrived in Orlando crazy late Wednesday night.  From freezing temps to bright sunny skies the next morning.  It's like magic. Florida is my fairyland.

The Linds and I sipping sweetness

Shopping and Starbucks go hand-in-hand.

Creating our *fan-girl* signs

Some people bring out the silly.  Linds and I laughed and laughed and then laughed some more.

We took personality surveys and assesments one evening and determined that we were very, very, similar!  Linds was a bit more on the merciful/compassionate side than me, but everything else we were buddy-buddy.

Late night quick picture

The pretty lady in the middle... she loves a Boy and has a ring to prove it.  Flipping through magazines, purusing Pinterest, we had fun talking wedding plans - and I even got to meet the lucky Joshua!

Best fast-food breakfast ever.

My trip to Florida must include a breakfast trip to Chick-fil-a for chicken biscuits.  Talk about yummy. 

And...

Birthday GIRL!

...a trip to Strabucks!

Yes, weird lighting.  But this place was seriously amazing.  All us girls pooled together and got our nails done - prepping us for island adventures and sandy beaches.  

First time get my toes done and this place spoiled me.  

Pretty nails!

The group of us "girls".  The moms opted to just take the picture.

Florida is my magic.  Nebraks is my home.

Thank you, Johnstons from the bottom of my heart!

Inside the boat

Royal Carribeans' Majesty of the Seas!

This ^ is my best picture of the boat; captured on our way out to snorkel.  They say it was the smallest of all Royal Carribean's ships.  Coulda fooled me.

Our small and sweet suite

Lindsey and I loved our room.  Our steward quickly separated the beds for us and attened to our every wish.  Cleaning out room, replacing towels, bringing need items... I wasn't used to having my bed made and room cleaned for me while I was eating breakfast.

I was spoiled.  And I loved it.

Wonderful time of day - LUNCH!

By the time we got through check-in and registration we were all famished.  Lunch never sounded so good.  I quickly snapped this shot from the second floor of the Windjammer.  Good thing, because I never took a better picture.

Formal night
Anna, Lindsey, Kori and Andrew

Dressing up for an elegant evening was a special treat.  The food was always delicious in the dining hall, and formal night was no exception.  We were all grouped together during evening meals - at least

Andrew and Kori (having been on a cruise before) took Linds and I under their wing.  We loved tagging along behind them, sharing countless memories.

Ryan and Friends
Ventriloquist

These guys (Human: Ryan, Dummy: Jeffery) made me laugh.  Ryan was a very talented ventriloquist, making a baby cry, singing, male/female voices, arguing with himself and everything in between.

*fan girls!!* haha

Fun Story

Yes, the picture below does have a story to accompany our signs... haha!  Still makes me laugh.

I was in Orlando for several days before disembarking on the cruise.  I was staying with the Johnstons (Lindsey house) and so every night was spent thinking/planning/scheming for the upcoming cruise.  Our friends, the Wissmann's, were going to be some of the entertainment for each evening so Lindsey and I hatched a plan.

We mellowed out our original ideas and decided to bring a little encouraging fan action to the concerts.  Getting out a big red marker and a black marker we made *fan-girl* signs to hold up during their first concert on-ship.  They affectionately read;

We {heart} the Wissmann's

We underestimated the croweded concert room and bright stage lights.  We waved our signs, yelling louder and louder after every song.  Never once did their faces reveal that our signs had been noticed.  Their 30 min time-slot was running out.  We knew our time was running out.  The audience around us had to think we were crazy... and I was beginning to think the same thing.

We made desparate move; ran up and sat right in front and held our sign while they were singing.  Several smirks and smiles told us our effort had not been in vain.

The emcee for the evening, Ryan himself, came on saying;

"Wow!  Wissmann's evening have their own fan club that follow them everywhere.  What devotion, going on a cruise just to show their support!"  He smiled at us and continued; "I've always wanted my own fan club!"

That was all the encouragement we needed.  That night, after asking our steward for a piece of paper and scrounging around for a suitable marker, we made an extra sign that read Jeffery. 

We had to wait several evenings for Jeffery, the puppet, to make his appearance.  It was worth it.  Lindsey and I learned from our past mistakes and just ran right up front as Ryan and Friends began their performance.

Unknowingly, Ryan prepped our *fan-girl* moment perfectly.  Here's a tast of what he said;

"Jeffery was quite excited about coming on this cruise with me.  He loves the beaches and all that, but more importantly he was hoping to pick up a girlfriend on this boat..."  that's all the further he got.  Lindsey and I screamed like a typical teenage girl when she sees her favorite star in-person. We held up our signs;

We {heart} Jeffery!

The reaction was priceless.  Ryan was speechless.  He bent over and laughed.  And then laughed some more.  And more.  Lindsey and I were pleased.  There aren't many opportunities you can render a ventriloquist speechless.

Thanks, Linds!

Wissmann Family

I met several lovely ladies on the boat.  Check out their blogs for wonderful pictures and stories.

I wish I had taken more pictures of the ins and outs of boat life.  But I was too busy living every moment.

Food.  Did anyone mention food?  I miss the cruise food.  Seafood heaven.no joke.

Salmon, scallops, roasted duck, fried cod, shrimp... and we could have as much as we so desired.  Trust me, it was amazing.


And on that tasteful note; have a wonderful week!

Blogs:
Rebecca Vandermark
The Wissman Family
Alison Turner