Ode to SUU

T-H-U-N-D-E-R T-H-U-N-D-E-R Go T-Birds! I love SUU. I even love the first day of school.
I looked forward to the day all summer long, where I could return to my beloved Cedar City and the Campus of Southern Utah University. The first day and weeks of school everything and everyone is alive with excitement looking for a new adventure. There are always new friends to be made, new things to learn, and something fun to do up every alley.
There is something about SUU that holds my excitement. Our campus is enchanting and inviting. I love seeing the old familiar faces who were lost during the summer. I guess some people might call me a nerd or a dork. I can't help it. College is supposed to be the best time of your life, so live it up! Trust me, time FLIES!!! I still feel like I was a freshman just yesterday.
Now if only the leaves would start to change colors. I would be in heaven. I love fall in Cedar....

Bryce Canyon Pines: The Musical

Bryce Canyon Pines: The Musical is the first musical I have attempted to compose and produce. My choreographer (Megan) left untimely, therefore it could not be completed. My lack of dancing skills would have made it very interesting. Since I was the music person I thought I would share the completed songs with you.

Opening Number: "Good Morning Bryce Canyon Pines" in the tune of "Good Morning Baltimore" from Hairspray.

Oh oh oh woke up today, feeling the way I always do. Oh oh oh hungry for something for Arj to make when I hear that beat. The rhythm the pound starts calling me now. It's like a message from the corral. Oh oh oh pulling me out to the restaurant that I love.

Good morning Bryce Canyon Pines. There's Doyle with his tool belt and Marty with the cash drawer, he says good morning gals. Good morning Bryce Canyon Pines and someday when I take to the floor the worlds going to wake up and see Bryce Canyon Pines and me.

Oh oh oh look at my hair, what do can compare with mine today. Oh oh oh I've got my bus tub and ticket book I'm ready to go. The ketchup bottles are all on the tables, they seem to say Charley it's up to you. So oh oh don't hold me back cause today all my dreams will come true.

Good morning Bryce Canyon Pines. There's Jose at the dishwasher and Aunt Mae at the register. She says it's time to open. Good morning Bryce Canyon Pines and someday when I take to the floor, the worlds going to wake up and see Bryce Canyon Pines and me.

I know every item, I know every order, I know it can be made promptly. They see all those fresh baked pies listed there. So someone get me some boysenberry. So oh oh give me a chance cause when I start to go I'm a super server. Oh oh oh something inside of me make me move. When I hear that bell I jump to the sound to bring the food 'round. It's like a panic from inside. So oh oh don't make me wait one more moment for my life to start.

I love you Bryce Canyon Pines. Every days like an open door. Every night is a fantasy of how much money could be made. I promise Bryce Canyon Pines that someday when I take to the floor the worlds going to wake up and see going to wake up and see Bryce Canyon Pines and me, Bryce Canyon Pines and me, Bryce Canyon Pines and me.




"At the Bryce Canyon Pines" in the tune of At the Idaho State Fair

I found her and lost her at the Bryce Canyon Pines. Had a date made for lemonade at Ruby's Inn that night. I hiked and I hiked all over that canyon. I looked in every nook, but she was no where. I'm going to buy her some pie at the Pines. Yippee eye come a tiddlyo with a fiddlyo and banjo. One waitress one hostess with one summer to roam. Yippee eye come a tiddlyo with a fiddlyo and banjo. I'll sing neath her window till the pie is all gone.

I really enjoyed coming up with these songs. I hope everyone enjoys them! I will miss the Pines!

Life Lately

Wow! It has been a long time. Life seems like it has gotten away from me this last month. I have learned a lot and spent time with those I love. I can't believe how things change in a matter of moments!

I went and saw Jenny and Shae in Cedar. We ate at our favorite place in the whole town... well almost. It is more of a traditional place :)


If you didn't know our favorite place is Chili's.

The next weekend there was a young single adult conference at Ruby's Inn. Right near where I work. Jenny came up and spent the night. We went to all of the "COOL" places in Bryce Valley to chill. Clarke's for dinner. The Bryce Canyon Color Country Rodeo for a real good time. Bryce Canyon of course to see the sights people travel the world to see. Finally, world famous pie from the Bryce Canyon Pines.This is Jenny and I at Bryce Canyon.

The conference was all about dating. Surprisingly is wasn't all that bad for a group of single adults to hear. They had a lot of good suggestions for us.

Hannah and I were able to take a break from work and go home for a week. It was nice to be able to relax with nothing to do! I even had a fire or two in my backyard fireplace with friends. We got back to work just in time to work the 4th of July holiday weekend. Lucky for us we were still able to bring in the 4th with some fireworks at Ruby's Inn.

It is hard to enjoy what you are doing when it seems like all you do is work. I have been told that is what being an adult is all about. So we have tried to have some fun this summer. We even revisited childhood by playing at the park in Tropic.
Deysha and I enjoyed the slides :)

I guess you really just have to take time to appreciate where you are and what you are doing. I think there is a reason for everything. So lets make the best of whatever that reason is. Life is more enjoyable when we are positive, happy, and loving every minute of life! :)

Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together

I have been thinking lately about all of my friends and how incredibly blessed I am to have them. I found some quotes to express how I am feeling about my friends.

"Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with."
- Mark Twain
Jenny and I have been through some of the same things lately. She is just amazing and I love her!



"But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life; and thanks to a benevolent arrangement of things, the greater part of life is sunshine."
- Thomas Jefferson



Allie, Shae, and I before the '80s dance our freshman year at SUU.

This is important because we can't lean on our friends only in the shady times or in the rough times. We need to need our friends always! Thankfully the shady parts only help the friendship to grow stronger.



"Never shall I forget the days I spent with you. Continue to be my friend, as you will always find me yours."
- Ludwig van Beethoven



My friend Nicole in our matching shirts. She is my best friend from high school. I miss her!


I know I have lost contact with some of my friends. However, just because we don't talk everyday doesn't mean that I don't consider you to be a friend.


So to all my friends I love you and I would be lost without you!

The End of May

After three weeks of working I returned home to be beneath the majestic guard of Nebo, AKA Nephi. It was nice to have a break and just relax. I spent some time with the fam. My little sister Hannah graduated from high school and seminary. It was neat for our family to be together and celebrate this chapter of Hannah's book closing and another one opening.


This picture isn't from her graduation because at Juab High they are not allowed to throw their caps in the air. It has always been a dream of mine to do that. Perhaps someday! :)

When all the celebrating was over, I returned to Bryce Canyon and got right back to work. Two days later Hannah started working with me. It has been kinda fun for me to learn how to have my sister as a roommate. The first night she was here, my friend and our roommate Deysha all went to dinner in Tropic. We stopped by the candy store and this is what Megan found.



We have fun when we aren't working :)

I LOVE Quotes

Quote are my favorite. You can find a lot of strength and guidance from the words of people. These are some of the ones I love the most.

Just because your eyes don't mist doesn't mean your heart doesn't cry...and just because you come out strong doesn't mean there's nothing wrong...Often, you choose to pretend you're happy so you don't have to explain yourself to people who'll never understand...Sometimes, smiling is easier than explaining why you're sad..
When your heart speaks take good notes.

Why do you try so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?

In times of test, family is best.

Shallow or deep water?

When life gives you lemons make lemonade.

I am grateful for the experiences I wish I'd never had.

Don't let things you don't know clouds the things you do.

Greet each day with your eyes open to beauty, your mind open to change, and your heart open to love.

Those who bring sunshine to others cannot keep it from themselves. -Sir James Barrie

A lot of kneeling will keep you standing. -Bishop H. David Burton

Keep your sail up!

If you don't know where you're going any road will get you there. -Lewis Carol

The way will be brighter, the trials fewer, and the burdens lighter is we are happy.

The only way to have a friend is to be one. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Once something is important enough to commit to memory, commit it to life.

Clinging to a past that doesn't let me choose.

Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great purpose in heart. -President Gordon B. Hinckley

I believe everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn how to let go. Things go wrong, so that you appreciate them when they're right. And sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.

The only way to get through this life is to laugh you way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache. -Marjorie Hinckley

To love is to RISK being loved in return, to hope is to RISK pain, to try is to RISK failure, but RISK must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to RISK nothing

Face troubles with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and triumph with humility. President Thomas S. Monson

Deysha's Birthday

Birthdays are a great thing to celebrate. When you live on top of a mountain it makes celebrating in a fun way hard. My friend Deysha's birthday is Sunday. We went to Cedar City one afternoon after work to celebrate her 19th birthday. We did some shopping and went to a movie. We saw Letters To Juliet. It was a cute movie, but just another typical chick flick. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed a nice break from work and life on the mountain.

Happy Birthday Deysh!