Horseback Discovery

  During the first week of my second semester at BYU-I, Spring 2013, I found out about an awesome class called Horseback Discovery. It was four credits (two for environmental stewardship and two Living Prophets) and you spent every Friday in the mountains on horseback. So, naturally, after finding out I could get into the class, I dropped everything and made a new schedule centered on Horseback Discovery.   

And it was the best spontaneous descion I've made.

Rain or shine, I had the opportunity to go find enjoyment and peace in the mountains. On a horse. Once a week. For a whole semester. 

It was bliss. 

I got to meet some really great people, 

and see so many wonderful places I wouldn't have been able to otherwise. 

The class really opened my eyes to what Idaho had to offer.

I would never have known that BYU-Idaho owns an old Mafia cabin up in the mountains. 

or seen half of the land I was able to 

or meet the wonderful people from so many different backgrounds. 

I never would have guessed that I would love horseback riding as much as I did. 

Or that I would embrace the cowboy culture at all 

(Yes, that is a chick on my head) 

or bond with a horse named Jimmy. 

But I did. 

And I am so grateful. 

It really was a wonderful experience full of discovery and an obsurd amount of fun. 

I would drop it all in a heart beat for another experience like it. 

Carnivores Eat Cars.

Once upon an Autumn day in the year 2007 my oldest sister, Micah, decided she wanted to go Mexico. And being the overly generous and thoughtful older sister, invited my seventh grade self to go with her (may God bless her patient soul).

We (and by "we" I mean Micah, and Micah alone because I really just hate planning in general, let alone trips) decided it would be fun to stay at a pretty lo-key resort down in Puerto Vallarta. I worked (relatively) hard to earn half the money and a couple months later we were off!

After we landed in Puerto Vallarta we headed out the curb to hop in a van that was  to take us to the resort. While we were waiting, Micah and I noticed this cute family with two little munchkins, a little boy about five and toddler girl, that were toe-head blond, full of personality and wouldn't stop babbling. And I loved it. 

Anywho, when the van showed up this little family hopped in with us-- turns out we were all staying at the same small(ish) resort. They had been there before and were telling us all about it and how I would love surfing and how we should be sure and try this popsicle stand and so on. They told us how their family was planning on meeting some friends over at the resort who also had two little ones the same age. The little boy, Finn, kept jabbering away and the wife kept repeating random Spanish words like panadería, which would be followed up with a slightly audible explanation of why (panadería, for instance "Oh, it's like pastry! You buy pastries at the bakery! Panadería means bakery. Got it, got it, got it!"). Between the four of them, and our driver muttering rude things about all the other "conductores ridículas",  the ride over was rather entertaining. 

Then we got to Costa Azule. 

And this was our view. 

And I fell in love. 

We ate heavenly Mexican food (and I did algebra homework) on a beach front deck with this view.

And had many an adventure. 

(I am pretty sure it was right around this time I decided I would be 100% OK with owning beach front property)

 Micah and I had a grand ol' time galavanting about

 horseback riding (Where Micah realized I had a mischievous side as I used her horse's competitive nature to the best of my ability)

hiking

walking the beaches 

 Exploring the town 

Discovering the best soda on the planet (Lift)

Going to cultural events 

Enjoying the beaches (This was also the first time I read Scarlet Pimpernel. Rocked my 7th grade world.) 

learning to surf, 

and, best of all, snorkeling. 

(I fell in love with snorkeling. It was like a whole new world was opened up full of awesome creatures that I had only seen animated [thank you Finding Nemo] )

It worked out that the family and their friends that I mentioned came on quite a few of the escapades with us and we got to know them pretty well. On one occasion the two dads decided to go surfing, the spanish-word-explainer-mother stayed with the babies, and the friend-mom decided to take the two little five year old boys snorkeling on the same adventure we were. The ride out to the reef was beautiful and the little boys did awesome. 

The snorkeling was amazing, per usual (and, don't get to excited, but I'm almost certain that I saw Dory from Finding Nemo). 

 On the way back to shore we sat by the mom with the two little boys, again. It was a pleasant ride back  and the little boys kept talking about all the fish they saw and saying the most random things.  Finally, right before we got off, Finn, the little boy from the van, turned to the other and said with a matter-of-fact tone, "Carnivores eat Cars." 

And that was the end of the boat ride. 

I'm sure Finn isn't a little five year-old with floppy, curly blond hair anymore, and I'm sure he wouldn't remember us. However, Micah and I will always remember that carnivores eat cars, and, as the last six years have proved, will frequently inform one another of the fact. 

With woe, we said goodbye to the blissful town and the sweet little families the next morning. 

I loved Mexico.

It was my second time out of the country and my first time on a vacation with just Micah (which, much to my pleasure, has sense turned into a sort of thing for the two of us). 

I had always loved having adventures and novel experiences, but this trip was the first that really started to fuel that adventurer in me. I learned that there are so many wonderful people meet, cultures to explore, and lessons to learn. However,  my favorite lesson from this trip would have to be that there is always a good story. You just have to be listening. 

Don't forget-- Carnivores eat cars. 

The college life; a time of wonder.

College has been so full of adventures and memory filled moments that it's hard to comprehend that we are entering into the third month. It is also insane to think that it has only been this long.  

First Sunday together

Time seems different at college. You spend just about every waking moment being busy. Days are so filled that one seems like two or three. 

Nutella Party!

Because of this, you get insanely close to people so fast that it's hard to believe you haven't known them a life time. 

After an insane dance Paint Fight

 And as odd as it sounds, when someone leaves, even for just for two days, you miss them a whole heartful. Something is just slightly off when not everyone is here. 

Setting the fire alarm off at 2 in the morning. 

Being around all these individuals that have such a mix of personalities and talents that are all from such versatile walks of life is one of the greatest learning experiences (if you utilize it) and makes you develop more as an individual. 

Parking is great when you have a wee car. 

As you are with people that are so different from you, you discover that there is no other person to be but you and only you. And people like you for it. Or they don't. But either way it's OK.    

       

Skype sessions

People know when you are real and authentic and they appreciate that about you, whether they mesh well with you or not. You come to love and appreciate authenticity on a whole new level.  

Happy Valentine's Day!

You have parties.

Hickory pulled pork

Lots of them.

Happy Birthday!

                                     
You find the best places to get work done. As odd as they may be.

The Laundry room is where the studyin' goes down. 

And you have many, many adventures.                                           

Cross Country Skiing for the first time

Dance Fight!

First time eating Jack-In-Box tacos

                                             

Mad pizza dough tossing skills. 

Igloo adventures

Injuries. 

 And there is snow....

3 ft in one night. Poor Milly.

A whole lot of snow.    

The ice was INSIDE the car.

But that is Ok. I've actually come to love the snow. I find it enchanting.

However, if I had to pick, I would say that the best part about college is the people. They, combined with all the growing and constant change, are what make college what it should be.

Skeeteers!

Haunted Swing

Fro-Yo, Friday's at 3:30. 

A time full of love, learning, adventures, and discovering whatever it is you need to discover. 

                         
It's a time of wonder.