Farewell Blog

It's a beautiful Saturday on the coast and I've decided to stay inside on my computer. Ironic. Anywho, the point of this blog post is to say Peace Out. I will not use this blog until I return from my mission. "But what about the very few of us that want to hear from you from now until August 2012?" Have no fear my friend, I will have a missionary blog. The catch is, you have to request to see it because I don't want people looking at my blog that I don't know. My mom (more likely my sister) will update my blog w/ my family e-mails so you can have a looksy whenever you like w/o getting an e-mail every week from some girl that like but don't really have time to read an e-mail every week and then you feel guilty because you delete them haha. Speaking from experience. ANNNYWho the blog is :
http://sisterforester.blogspot.com/
Let me know if you want to be granted permission to view it :) Love you all! 25 Days!!!!! 

Letter for Vanessa

So I wrote this on my computer for my best friend serving a mission and decided why not post it. So here it is:

This is me at the game ha I’m such a goob, but it was fun.

The pic on the right was this wall some of us climbed up on the hike we did. It was about 40 yards up and we had to hold on to this rope. The scary part was there was water coming down so the rocks were kind of slick. One of the bishopric made this gospel analogy with this wall that I thought was really cool. He said that we are all trying to get from point A to point B in life and it doesn’t matter how strong you are or experienced you will probably fall. Sometimes in life we have situations like this when the only thing that you can hold on to that will keep you from falling is the rope (your testimony). That’s why we need to make sure we have a strong testimony because there will be times when we won’t have our footing and there will be nothing and we will need it.
Also Kristen Metzger (who did the climb as well) made another gospel reference from this climb. She said in the beginning everyone is cheering you on and helping you. They are telling you where to place your foot and such and she said there was a small moment when no one was cheering and that’s when she began to panic. She had a split moment where she needed to make a decision, so she followed the spirit and trusted and continued down. Not long after everyone began cheering her on again until she got to the end. (Funny thing is the same thing happened to me, but I didn’t apply it like she did ;) She then said that’s how life is, sometimes we feel like we have all the support and we can feel the Lord there telling us where to go and continue and then there will be times when the Lord lets us make our next step because we need to trust in the spirit and continue onward and then quickly after the Lord is there again helping us forward. That’s where the whole agency is a gift, not a burden came from. I really like this application because I could physically remember everything. It was a literally life or death situation (not being dramatic). If we let go of our grip of that rope we would have fallen and it would have done some SERIOUS damage. So there you go, another analogy

This is in my bathroom . . . what do you think it is?!? That chain thing doesn’t pull out or anything, it just sits there. Ya, it’s weird and slightly creepy. It doesn’t move from side to side either. Just thought I share that with you and see if you have any ideas.

First Half Marathon

Awhile back I asked if I should do a triathlon or marathon or something else equally adventurous. My friend Amanda saying she'd do a half marathon with me. So half marathon it was because I would rather do a half marathon with a friend than a triathlon by myself. I did the Moonlight Half Marathon in Mapleton, UT. Here are some of my thoughts and reflections on my experience.
I'm convincing myself that I am NOT nervous at all. . . but in all reality I'm am. I got my wisdom teeth out the week before and I didn't do a whole lot of running. I mean I ran ONCE last week (3mi) which is not very good training for 13.1 miles. Then this week I ran ONCE again this time (4.5mi). I was feeling a rusty and hoping that all my training before I became handicap by my face was sufficient. I mean how much out of shape can you get in one week? If Amanda and I hadn't busted a long run (9mi for me 10.5mi for her on accident ha she got lost) I would've been REALLY nervous.
It's race day! I'm so excited. All my running this summer has been coming to this very moment! I MUST complete this successfully. No walking! I wasn't really sure what to eat for pre-race but I knew not to eat bon bons or mexican. I wake up, read my scriptures, run to campus to buy some books off of a guy (saved 40 bucks!), eat a snack, off to the MTC for 3 hours, then off to one of my girl's bachelorette parties at Olive Garden (where I found out my friend was doing the same half marathon! Apparently she got the idea from this blog ha. Funny I always picture myself just talking to myself), and then I came home for about an hour recoup before I left. After much debate we decided to leave at 8:30pm to head over to the race. 8:27pm I hear a knock on my door and realize that I am still in my jeans, I would! So I quickly change into my workout gear, carefully choosing clothes that I think would cause the least amount of chaffing possible, which apparently I chose well because there was no chaff-age.
We arrive to the starting line and we are ready to go! We start at 9:45pm sharp! I'm feeling ok. It's a normal run ha. Amanda, Kim, and I are going together, but I soon realize by 1.5 mile or so that I am not going to be able to run their pace the entire race and still feel good about the run. I drop off and start to go my own pace. For the next mile I run along side this girl the entire mile. I figured this girl probably thought I couldn't make up my mind with passing her or not so I say "Apparently I like your pace, just letting you know I'm not trying to pass you," she replies "I know, right? It's good to find someone who runs your pace." I'm feeling good and strong. There's some hills but their not like running around the temple. The first water station comes up and I'm still running with this girl. She decided she wanted a drink. I didn't want one because I never drink after 3 miles and I didn't want to change anything. She leaves and I thank her for jogging with me and I'm off. Slightly sad that I lost my jogging buddy, but I felt it would've been awkward to wait for someone I literally just met ha.
So here I am again. Alone on my journey. I pass the 4 mile and I'm feeling great! Not even hurting or anything. At this point I take the time to have a little chat with my Father in heaven and thank him that I'm not in pain and that it's not pouring (we were jogging in a lightning storm). People are passing me, and I'm passing people. In the mean time I'm kind of hoping the girl catches up with me, but I am not going to slow my pace to let her. At 4.5 miles or so I hear someone coming up behind me slowly but still making ground. Right when I'm about to move to the side I hear a "hello again!" From that point on I ran the race with this girl. Or shall I say woman, technically ha. We talked on and off through the entire race. No joke. It made it go by that much quicker! I've never ran long distances with a person, generally I do them alone. So this was a pleasant tender mercy for the hardest longest run of my life. Ha so dramatic, but it's literally true;). There was a mile or two in there that we were quietly focusing. The thought of walking never came through.
Here is some information that I learned from my running buddy. Her name is Camile (or Camilla ha), she's from Washington. She got her undergrad in journalism and is finishing up her graduate at BYU in recreation management and is thinking about getting her doctorate to teach at the university level. Wow it's crazy how much I remember ha. Maybe my mind was enhanced with all the blood flow, or I was searching for anything to keep my mind off of the pain (which by mile 6 or so was starting to fade in and out). She served her mission in Argentina. Funny how recently I've been meeting sister RM's, I must be crossing the age threshold or something. She is an avid runner who has done many half marathons, 2 marathons, and she hiked Mt. Rainier! Based on everything she told me I was guessing she was about 26 years old. I came to the conclusion that if we were in the same ward we would be friends. Needless to say we talked quite a bit.
I was entertained and shocked that I was able to talk! To me for some reason I associate physical fitness with your ability to talk while exercising. I think it's because whenever we go on hikes as a team my coach, who is mid 60's, talks the entire way up while I'm dying ha. He seems so strong and in shape when he's talking and we're dying. Anywho, it was my chance to feel cool and in shape. Don't let me get you wrong, it was HARD! We were pushing very impressive pace for me. We were jogging a pace faster than I normally do, AND I didn't even slow down on the hills which was a new thing for me because I usually have a hill pace and then on the down hill I bust it. I saw the mile sign coming up and thinking to myself "wow that was a very long mile!" I saw that it was mile 9, apparently both Camile and I missed the mile 8 marker haha. That was comforting, otherwise I would've been pretty discouraged. Once I passed mile 9 I knew I was in new territory. . . uncharted ground. It was cool. I was breaking a personal record here! My time didn't matter at that point. I had already achieved what I wanted out of this, and that was to feel happily accomplished. Mile 10! (Whoot I'm doing it! just a 5k left and I can do that in my sleep!) I'm feeling the finish line so close. Camile rolled her ankle. Not too bad, but bad enough :( Rolling my ankle was one of my biggest fears because it was dark and I couldn't really see anything. She jogged it off and was fine. Then I had a mini scare on a glow stick, but I didn't roll it all the way.
Around 11 miles I'm distracted by this cop car to our right and a car behind him. I'm slightly annoyed wondering what is their deal! Their right in the middle of our path! As I was looking over and jogging, at that VERY second there was a pot hole. Probably no joke the ONLY pot hole on the entire race! Needless to say I stepped in it and rolled my ankle. Not only did I roll my ankle. My entire came down along with my pride. I skid and my hands and side. I quickly got up and start hopping along. Camile was trying to help me and was asking me if I was ok. I'm hopping along trying to keep going. "Seriously Lord! I asked to get through this without harm... Yes I am aware that I have to do my part and actually look where I'm running, but you couldn't have given me some sort of signal to move to the right a little?" 12 mile sign. "Man, I'm soooo close! I can't stop now! I don't WANT to walk! Not after I've gone so far, so strongly." Though the pain was pretty bad, I was able to kind of jog by pumping harder with my right leg, hobbling along. I don't even know if I was keeping pace. I think I was fast enough because Camile didn't say too much. But then again she could've just been being nice. It was at that moment I thought of a gospel analogy haha. I know nerd right? So here's the gist of my thought process. We could be going so strong! Feeling soooo good and the end is close! We KNOW we're going to get there. Then we lose focus. Just for a second and that is all it takes to bring us down. Whatever it is that causes us to not only let go of the rod but fall away too far to where we can't even reach it anymore. Luckily if we get back up quickly and have good positive support to help us get back on track we will finish. I know having Camile there was crucial to my rapid recover. I didn't want to make her slow down, and she had just done the same thing before and jogged it off.
I was able to pick up my pace to what I wanted and by 12.5 miles I am going strong and surprised ha. The end is so close and I start to get excited. I'm at the stop sign before the park, there is so many cars and light all over the place that I get confused to where the finish is and how far away it is. All I know is that it's close. Fireworks shoot off! "Dang, I was so close to midnight! Wait. Yes, I'm so close to midnight! Right on! I'm basically here." We're going strong still and I say "you want to sprint to the finish?" Camile "yes!" So we're off and finishing strong!!!!!! I did it! I finished!!! Yes! I feel AWESOME. I give Camile a big hug and thank her for running with me and it was great to meet her. (Now I'm wishing I got her last name so I could be friends with her on facebook. . . grr. I mean 2 hours of running together is definitely worthy of facebook!) Then I start to walk to the car and on my way I run into some friends (Hannah) who came to greet us. Their sooo nice! We find the other girls. Amanda finished about 2 min or so before me 11:59pm, Kim kicked trash and finished at 11:54pm, and I finished at 12:02am (Sadly I didn't look at my time immediately because I didn't know where to look. When I looked I had been walking around w/ Hannah for awhile it said 12:04am. Since I got there right after the fireworks I'm assuming 12:01 or 12:02am)
So I found this on my other friend's blog and it's the pictures of us crossing the finish line! You can't see too well. But there I am to the left and my new friend to the right.
http://www.zazoosh.com/photos/331010443
Yep, and that's a VERY long account of my experience. I just wanted to make sure I got it down. Mainly for myself. I loved it! I feel great, and it was beautiful. I feel like I grew, and learned a great deal from it. Not to mention the gospel application throughout the race. I also enjoyed winning the mental battle.

Knowledge Brings Great Responsibility

I haven't had a "real" blog in awhile so this is me unleashing some of the thoughts that have been occupying my mind for the past little while.
I was driving home from work thinking "I wish I was a little kid and didn't have any responsibilities, like I could just lay around and do whatever I want." Then I was thinking how the older you get the more you have to do and why that is the case. It came down to the old adage "with great knowledge comes great responsibility." After pondering the subject some more I decided that to be like a child in that aspect, I'd have to offer up my knowledge or at least stop the increase flow thereof. Also, it was kind of a funny moment for me because I'm quite conflicted in my desires. I don't want to have to do anything and be responsible, yet I thirst and crave to know more. I cannot have both at the same time. I thus concluded that I'd rather have the knowledge because knowledge brings many other things. (and now lead into my next thought process)
You can never be truly happy without knowledge. Your options for activities, thoughts, and friendships are broadened when you actually know your options. I mean really think of all the things you would be missing out on if you didn't learn anything. Thus I take a fulness of joy (knowledge) even if it comes with the other side of knowledge's bargin. . . responsibility

Newport, OR

I had the pleasure of going home for this past week. I've realized a lot has changed and on the flip side, a lot has stayed the same. Here are some of my reflections.

*You know you're from Newport when you can be deep in forest and trees one minute and then 3 minutes later at the beautiful ocean.

*You know you're from Newport if you're jogging on the sidewalks and people slow down, not to be curteous but to look and see who you are.

*You know you're from Newport when you go to the store (there's only 2 to choose from) and you run into 10 people and one of them you have a 20 minute conversation.

*You know you're from Newport when you can walk into a restuarant with live music and chill for free.

*You know you're in Newport when you see a drunk guy on a bicycle and a red neck in his truck get in a fight.

*You know you're in Newport when you collect pop cans because you get 5 cents a can when you recycle them

*You know you're in Newport/Oregon when you say pop instead of soda

*You know you're in Newport when you know all of the transients by name

*You know you're in Newport when a transient comes to your house, steals a bag of cans, then you catch them and give them another bag.

*You know you're in Newport when you're walking on the street and you each greet eachother and tell eachother to have a great day

*You know you're in Newport when you're on the sidewalk and two cars consecutively honk their horn at you because they know who you are

*You know you're in Newport when Marionberry syrup is offered with your pancakes

Ok, now to me talking about my vaca (pronounced vay-k). So I went to 2 baseball games of my little bro. I took way too many pictures but whatever it was exciting lol. So here are the pics.

Little Bro (Ryan) and his coach

Mommy and I enjoying the game

More of Mom and I

They had us score the game. . . It was an adventure. It's more complicated than it looks!

Gooo little man!!!

Bring it on home bud

Baseball scoreboards are not meant to go into the 20's haha!

My Bestie from home!!! Haley came by and boy did we have an adventure which will me explained while I add the pictures.
So I took Haley to a local hippy restaurant where live music is played and it's just an awesome hangout place. While we were there we met two VERRRRY handsome brothers. One was, of course, in the band. The other was at the table across from us. Sadly we didn't take a pic with them, we thought that would make it a little too obvious.

We also made another friend ;)

Basically I had a good time at home :D

Officially Summer!!!!

Just finished my last final until Fall 10' semester! Oh and it feels GREAT! Actually I can't fully expound upon how great it feels because it's still kind of fresh. The stress of school still lingers, kind of like the smell of a banana in a warm car, it doesn't go away for awhile.
BUT now that I have free time. . . oooooo say it again. . . free time. . . still gets me. Anywho I was thinking that since my summer has begun I should make an official list of things I would like to do and or anticipate doing:

• Read books I WANT to read!
• Finish the half marathon
• Jog to the Y, jog up it, and jog back! sooo hardcore haha
• Make a quilt out of all my old Ts shirts
• Get certified as a Personal Trainer
• Volunteer! Somewhere, Anywhere
• Go to the temple weekly. Right now I have Thursday mornings as my tentative time
• Clean my car inside and out
• Memorize songs. Heard it'll be good for my brain
• Camping Trip! Anywhere! On the side of a lake, up a mountain, I'm down
• Finish knitting the scarf I started 2 years ago ha
• Cook my dinners and find great recipes. This includes Sunday dinners
• Get some good friend bonding! I need a base for Fall when all my regulars from the past 3 years leave
• Maybe go to a concert
• Make Banana Boats
• Write some new songs
• Watch some good movies/Make some good movies
• Take a mini road trip
• Kiss a guy haha I don't have control over this, I'm just saying I'm open
• Get a tan/Go dancing (country/salsa)/Go swimming
• Get a more rocking bod
• Make art
  

. . . ok that's all I can think of for now, but this list is NOT over, NOR is it limited to just these things. Quite plainly I plan on making and enjoying the experiences of life!

Summer Projects

Due to my lack of friends I have decided to accomplish things that I can do by myself:) Ok I have friends, just not ones that want to do the same things that I do. . . yet. I've met some hopefuls haha.
So back to my projects! Man I'm so stoked for these!
FIRST.

I will become a certified personal trainer. I'm planning on taking the test in July. Now I will have a piece of paper that says I'm legit and can help people. I've always wanted to be a personal trainer and now I figured I already know most of the stuff for the exam, might as well get it so I can make some money on the side. Plus I love helping people get healthy, I have a passion for it, and this will help me get a pattern of how to do it.
SECOND.

www.moonlighthalf.com
I was watching the Biggest Loser (BEST SHOW EVER!) and the contestants had to run a marathon. While watching them I became inspired and decided I want to run a marathon!
Possible THIRD (If I don't do the marathon)

http://www.bearlakebrawl.com/Bearlakecoursemaps.pdf

This is the day after the Moonlight Marathon so I will have to decide which one I want to do. I think the triathlon will be fun but I think the half marathon might be harder. . . I just don't know. If any of you guys have an opinion let me know;)

FOUR

I want to read the Bible and Book of Mormon in Spanish. Also I'm going to read the Ensign and Preach my Gospel. Basically I will never be done reading;)

Well those are all my projects I can think of for now. I'm pretty sure this summer is going to be GREAT!