The Story of Ben and I

This past weekend I got engaged!! It was a perfect proposal at one of my favorite places in the world, Newport Beach at sunset. It was a day that I’m sure many questioned if it would ever come.

I first met Benjamin Adam Mikell four years ago at Brownstone apartment complex in Provo. Originally I had planned on going home to work for the summer but those plans changed when Bishop Ang asked me to stay and serve as relief society president for the YSA ward. Anyone who was there at Brownstone that summer would probably agree that it was one of the most epic summers of all time. Everyone was friends and we all just did everything together. Because of that, I knew who Ben was but I didn't KNOW Ben, he was never really on my radar. I had been home from my mission for a year and he was a 20 yr old premie with LOTS of facial hair. We hung out together because that’s what everyone did but I don’t know if we had ever actually held a conversation. He moved back to Tennessee at the end of the summer and I didn't think anything of it.

Hanging out at the park in Provo. "Sledding" down the hill in the sprinklers. 

I remember one Sunday having a note delivered to my apartment. It was a note from the love note box – you know, one of those cheesy things that you would only ever possibly find in Provo, where they pass around a box and allow you to put in “love” notes to other random wardies? This one caught my attention though because it was super funny and flirtatious and completely anonymous. I think I had been getting the notes every Sunday for like a month before I finally figured out who they were from. I don’t remember how I figured it out but it turns out that Ben’s sister Alli, who still lived at our complex, had been writing me love notes on Ben’s behalf and under his direction.

I text him one night to thank him for the notes and we just started talking. We talked off and on for the next four years. For some periods we would talk every day other times we would go months without talking—or years if you take into account the time he was on his mission. Sometimes our conversations were just goofy and flirtatious, other times more serious and thought provoking. I still never thought much about them. He seemed like a cool kid but I had way too much going on in my life to think too much about this kid who lived across the country and was getting ready to go on a mission.

I remember reading one day on his sister’s facebook page that Ben would soon be coming home from his mission. My mind was filled with fond memories of goofy conversations and a boy who had always been so kind and thoughtful. I immediately sent him a facebook message and told him to shoot me a text when he had the chance. Things picked up right where they left off, we never skipped a beat. He still had his life and I still had mine (at this point I was focused on trying to get established in my career and trying to make a home for myself in St George) but I always knew he was there for me to chat about life or whatever it may be and he was ALWAYS good for a laugh.

Last spring Ben told me he would be coming out west to do a few EFY sessions at BYU. I told him after years of unabashed flirting he should come down to St George and take me on a date. He just seemed like he would be a fun person to go on a date with and I knew that he would treat me just right.  And so he did. He actually stopped by St George on his way home from California where he had been visiting his mission. He was only supposed to stay for a day but we had so much fun together he decided to stay another. We had a blast just goofing off and having fun together. I was a little nervous about the whole thing because really we had never really hung out just him and I, we had never had an actual conversation in person. None of that seemed to matter though, it just seemed like we had always been good friends.

There was just one problem. I was kinda dating someone else at the time. Nothing exclusive but we had been on quit  a few dates and were spending a lot of time together. Ben lived in Tennessee and the boy I was dating lived in St George. The practical side in me didn't even question it, Ben was a nice, fun, awesome kid but we could never be. I don’t do the whole long distance relationship thing.

And so, Ben headed back to Provo and I went back to my life. Still, he had left quite the impression on me and I couldn't but help wonder "what if?". We started e-mailing back and forth while he was doing EFY and I decided that I had to give the guy a shot. I had to see if there was actually any potential.

I went up to Salt Lake to hang out with him for a weekend but there was just so much going on that weekend I wasn't quite my normal self. I just didn't know what to do. Still, there was just something that drew me to him. Something that made me want to put in the effort to see if things could really work (anyone who knows me knows that’s not normally my style).

The summer continued on and I continued dating St George boy while keeping in touch with Provo/Tennessee boy. I was trying to be as fair as possible to both of them--they both knew about the other--but I knew I couldn't keep stringing them both along forever. I had to make a decision. I just didn't know what to do. One day I went out to dinner with my friend Clint and we spent the whole night talking about our complicated love lives. Something he said though just clicked in my head and in that moment I knew that I chose Ben. I didn't know if things would work out between us or not but I had to give it a shot. He was worth it. I felt like he was the one who would help me be the person I want to be.

And so Ben and I started dating. As soon as he was done with EFY he came back to St George to hang out for a little bit then I flew out to Tennessee to meet his family and spend time with them. At the end of that trip we packed up his car and drove the almost 1600 miles from Memphis, Tennessee to St George, Utah. I figured if we could survive spending that much time in a car together we actually had a pretty good shot of making this work. 

That was about three and a half months ago that he moved here to St George and I must say things have turned out pretty good for us. He is so different from the guy I always pictured myself ending up with and yet I think he is everything I need to help me become who I need to be. He’s kind, considerate, compassionate, and intelligent, has the patience of Buddha, is always willing to try new things and go on adventures with me, and most of all, he ALWAYS treats me like a queen.

I can’t wait to start this new adventure together. I can’t wait to travel the world together, learn new things together, and build an eternal family together.

Israel -- Day 1

I envy my older sister Andrea's writing skills -- the ones I don't have. Reading her blog about Israel shamed me, knowing I could never create something so beautiful. It reminded me however that such a trip must be documented whether done eloquently or not.

It has always been my dream to go to Israel...probably right up there with my desire to go to Africa. Every Sunday when I would go to Sunday School I would stare at the picture in the front of the classroom of a golden sunset descending over the holy city. I saw the picture and chills would run down my spine my heart  aching for what it would mean to go there. For months I would lean over to my roommate who was attentively listening to the lesson and remind her that one day I would go to Israel.

I never imagined that that day would come so quickly. For months a work trip to Switzerland and Eastern Europe had been on the calendar -- Switzerland because our company owns a trust company there and the bossman thought it would be beneficial for us to meet with the officers there as well as other professionals who might be future business partners -- Eastern Europe because the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants was holding their annual continuing education conference on a cruise ship in the area.

Then, the boss man (aka Mi Padre) asked me one day if -- since we were going to be in the neighborhood anyway -- if I would like to take a little side trip afterwords and go see the Holy Lands. My heart leapt for joy. Of course I would.

In the end it ended up being Mi Padre, Myself, Andrea, and my good friend Candache.

Candace met us in Venice the day we got in from the conference. We spent the day bumming around, looking for some last minute souvenirs before we had to catch our red eye to Israel. We arrived in Tel Aviv at five in the morning exhausted and ready to go -- at least I was, I think my dad and Candace were ready for a nap.

I have never seen an airport with as much security as the Israel airport (and I've seen my fair share of airports around the world). I must have looked suspicious because almost the second I stepped off the plane I was stopped for interrogation. Passing the security lady my worn out, mildew stained, passport she eyed me dubiously. Why was my passport picture all spotty? It got wet (when our church building flooded in Shanghai) leaving mildew stains -- The spots have only caused problems in two other countries but never enough for me to actually consider replacing it. I had a stamp from Malaysia (a predominantly Muslim country) why was I there? For travel. Who did I go with? Myself. She didn't seem to believe me. Why would I do that? Do you have family there? No. Do you have friends or acquaintances there? No. After what seemed like forever of playing twenty questions I think we finally convinced her that I was not in fact a terrorist entering the country to disrupt the peace.

It was 6 in the morning and our hotel check in didn't start till two. My dad was exhausted. He wanted to sleep. Oh well, I didn't know where in Jerusalem we were supposed to meet Andrea so we mind as well get some shut eye. We slept on the couches in the lobby.

They let us check in to our hotel rooms early and Andrea finally responded to my e-mail, she would meet us at Jaffa gate. The anticipation in my heart continued to grow as we hopped into a taxi and started our hour long drive to Jerusalem. As we wandered through the hills that separate Tel Aviv from Jerusalem our driver pointed out to us all the different small towns along the way. That one is Muslim, That one is Jewish, That one is Christian. They all kept themselves so separate. He pointed out the 15 foot high walls on top of the hills running along the side of the freeway. Those were to hold out the shooters who would stand there at night shooting at random drivers. All of it brought a reality to the Israel/Palestine conflict that we've all heard about in the news since forever. For the first time I began to grasp what it was all about.

Arriving in Jerusalem it appeared like any other city. Tall buildings, lots of traffic, all the modern conveniences. Could have just been any city USA if it weren't for the fact that the majority of the people walking around were orthodox jews with the black kippahs on their heads and their silky ringlets framing their faces. Even the younger boys had them. The women wore ankle length squirts with their hair pulled back in a scarf bun just like on Fiddler on the Roof.

Our taxi driver dropped us off at a nondescript intersection and told us the gate was to our right. I was confused. I saw no gate. Where was the majestic city that I had seen depicted in religious art since my childhood? My heart sunk, the city was nothing how I had envisioned it-- Then we found the gate, crossing the threshold was like being transported back two-thousand years. The wall towered over Old Jerusalem, the streets made of white sandstone stones. A big church towering over the entrance. Money changers and market stalls everywhere. It was beautiful.

Jaffa Gate

Andrea was waiting for us on the steps of the church. I was so excited to see her. It had always been my dream to travel with my big sis, unfortunately she was married before I even graduated from high school and having children by the time I was in college. It appeared I would have to wait until we were grown and old -- but here she was. Here we were. In Jerusalem. Fulfilling both of our dreams.

We were starving so we set out to find some food, Shwarma to be exact. I had no idea what that was but it sounded good. After about an hour of wandering the markets and allys of old town we found a little restaurant (It was more like a street cart within the confines of a market stall) preparing the tasty dish. Across the ally was a hookah bar (for lack of a better term) where old men sat smoking their hookah and catching up on the gossip of the day -- or so I imagine that is what they were talking about. It was all so perfect. I was in Jerusalem. The Shwarma was awesome! Right up there with Brazilian strogonoff and Ugandan matoke and g-nut sauce.

After brunch we continued to wonder the streets, meandering our way to the Garden tomb which Andrea had happened upon the day before. As we picked our way through town we were stopped by Shlomo an American Jew making his living as a tour guide in Jerusalem. He asked us if we would like a tour of the underground tunnels that run along the western wall. It just so happened that this was on my list of things to do in Jerusalem so we jumped on the opportunity.

It was amazing seeing the  layers underneath the city. The city has actually been rebuilt right on top of itself so many times that the actual city as it existed during the time of Christ is about 60 feet below the ground in some areas. Walking along the wall underground you could see the different layers of history come to life. Very cool.

The closest you can get to the Holy of Holies

Next on the list of things to see that weren't included in our tour was the Dome of the Rock which sits on the temple mount where King Herod's temple once stood. It is also the place where it is believed that Abraham was prepared to sacrifice Isaac and where the prophet Mohammad ascended into Heaven thus making it a very holy spot for Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike. Unfortunately by the time we got there the Dome of the Rock was closed to tourists for the day.

And so we set off to the BYU Jerusalem center. I insisted they wouldn't let us in. It's closed on Sundays, I already emailed them begging them to give us a tour. They politely explained that it would not be possible on a Sunday. My dad was not deterred. Ask and you shall receive he said. I had already asked. I know better than to question my dad's skills at getting around the rules though. He's very good at it. Our taxi driver dropped us off in front of the center and the guard informed us we could not go in. It's Sunday he said. I gave my father an "I told you so look." "If you could just let them know we are here and ask them for us we would appreciate it." he responded to the guard. Sure enough 10 minutes later one of the service missionaries came out and welcomed us in. My dad returned my "I told you so look"

The center was absolutely beautiful and made me proud to call BYU my Alma Matter. The view of the Old City was breathtaking all sprawled out in front of you. My first view of the Dome of the Rock. My breath caught. It was just as magnificent as I pictured it. For about the 50th time that day I stood in awe that I was actually in Jerusalem, the place where Jesus walked. Where he performed miracles, where he atoned for the sins of the world, where he hung on the cross, where he was resurrected. I was walking in his footsteps.

That pretty much concluded our first day in Jerusalem. I had not been disappointed. It was everything I hoped it would be.

On the taxi ride back to Tel Aviv much of the drive was spent with our driver telling me all the many reasons I should move to Israel and marry him. He was building a home just outside of Bethlehem -- A mansion by local standards, made of the beautiful white sandstone that is so abundant in the country and windows that cost thousands of dollars a piece. He would hire me a maid and a cook and a nanny. I wouldn't have to lift a finger. All I would have to do is bear him 6 or 7 children. That was it. I could do that.

Bucket List

** = Completed

* = In progress

1. *Spend a year living in Africa (Collective)
2. **Go on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Completed July 2008)
3. Raise a family in the Church
4. Ride an Arabian horse in the Arabian desert
5. See Victoria Falls
6. **Ride an Elephant (Completed '06, '11)
7. See the Northern Lights
8. See a wild killer whale
9. Swim with dolphins
10. **Get at least a bachelors degree (Completed April 2011)
11. Dig a well
12. Adopt a Child from Africa
13. Scuba Dive at the Great Barrier Reef
14. *Visit 80 different countries/territories
15. **See Angkor Wat (Completed June '06, July '11)
16. *Read 3,000 books
17. *Read all the books on the NY times “100 greatest books ever written” list
18. Become a millionaire
19. **Go on an African safari (Completed June 2010)
20. Work for an airline
21. *Live in 10 different countries for at least 3 mo. each. (not including the USA)
22. Learn to speak Italian
23. Learn to cook
24. Design my own house (pay someone else to build it)
25. 
    
26. **Put a prayer in the prayer wall (Completed June 2013) 
27. Get an article published in National Geographic or like magazine
28. Start or work at a non-profit organization
29. Climb Mt Kilimanjaro (not necessarily to the top)
30. *Visit all 50 states
31. Go Skydiving
32. **Go bungee jumping (Completed June '06 in Thailand)
33. Get married in the temple
34. *Visit 75 different temples
35. **Read the Quad cover to cover
36. **Hold a monkey (Completed June '11 in Thailand)
37. Go on a road trip across the country
38. Go on a motorcycle road trip
39. Visit Tonga or Samoa
40. Visit Prince Edward Island
41. **Learn to speak a foreign language fluently (Portugues learned '07-'08)
42. Visit the grand canyon
43. Live like the poorest of the poor for a week (Mother Theresa)
44. Fly a plane
45. Have a dog named Suie (seweee)
46. Share a kiss at the top of the Eiffel tower
47. Visit Sudan (Darfur if possible)
48. **Visit the middle east (Completed June 2013) 
49. Go on a photo shoot to Vietnam
50. Be able to run two miles without stopping
51. See the Dead Vlei (Namibia)
52. See the Taj Mahal (India)
53. Explore the Mayan Ruins (Again) (Mexico)
54. Visit Petra Jordan
55. **Ride a camel (Completed June 2013) 
56. Explore the Egyptian pyramids
57. **See Taman Negra Rainforest (Malaysia) (Completed Sept '11)
58. Visit Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania)
59. See the Himalayas and Nepal
60. See the Ghats (India)
61. Produce a Documentary
62. Make Crum Brulee
63. Spend a night sleeping in a snow fort
64. **Eat something that I think I won’t like
65. Knit a sweater and give it to someone
66. *Sleep under the stars on every continent (except antartica)
67. **Go white water rafting down class five rapids (Completed May '10 in Uganda)
68. **See a giraffe in the wild (Completed June '10 in Uganda)
69. **Dip my foot in the source of the nile (Completed May '10 in Uganda)
70. Stand in two hemispheres at once
71. Go dog sledding
72. Take an art class
73. Learn to play the cello
74. Sew my own formal gown
75. Take my family on a trip to see the holy lands
76. Go on a church history tour
77. **Ride a horse on the beach in Southeast asia (Completed Thailand June '11)
78.  Hike a volcano
79. Take a vow of silence for 24 hrs
80. Read the Book of Mormon from start to finish in 1 week
81. Go on a roadtrip where the direction at every intersection is chosen by the flip of a coin (once we are already on the freeway)
82. Sponsor a student from a foreign country through college.
83. Pay for someone else to serve a mission
84. 
    
85.  Panhandle on Venice Beach
86.  **See the Cristos statue in Brasil (Completed April '11)
87.  **See Iguassu Falls (Completed April '11)
88. * Spend at least a month in the holy lands 
89. Visit the temple of Zues
90. Go on a gondola ride in Venice
91. **Visit Istanbul
92. Go to the Ellen Degenerous Show
93. Go camping at Havasupai
94. Go cliff jumping in Greece
95. Swim in every ocean
96. Kiss under the Mistletoe
97. Learn how to sail
98. Learn to say "Hello" and "Thank You" in 50 different languages
99. Go to the Sky Lantern Festival in Thailand
100. Sleep in a tent (or under the stars) In the Amazon rain forest
101. Visit the Dome of the Rock
102. **Go to Dubrovnik, Croatia (Completed May 2013) 
103. Create a book of family traditions to uphold as a family
104. **Swim in the dead sea (Completed June 2013) 
105. Start a scholarship fund for students from developing countries to be able to come to the US to study.
106. Build a second home called "Forever's End"
107. **Watch the sun set over Jerusalem (June 2013)

Goal #1 Spend A Year Collectively Living In Africa 

1. (Uganda, May-July 2010)

Goal #2 Serve A Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Goiania Brasil – Feb 2007 – July 2008

Goal #6 Ride an Elephant

1. Phuket Thailand, June 2006.

2. Ayuttaya Thailand, June 2011

3. Luang Prabang, Laos, July 2011

Goal #14 Visit 80 Different Countries

1. Canada (Summer 1994) When I was ten I think, the family went on a motor home road trip that wove in and out through most of the north western states. On this trip we also went up to Canada. We didn’t spend very long there, just a day I think but it was a pretty cool experience. We went and saw Victoria Gardens and Larry was too lazy to walk so we got him a wheelchair at the entrance. Half way through the park we came to a very long stair case. Some nice tourist saw Larry at the top and just as he was about to get out of the wheel chair to walk they lifted him up wheel chair and all and carried him all the way down the staircase. It was hilarious.

2. Mexico (Winter 1996) When I was in fifth grade all of us younger kids went to a private school named Reid School. It was part of the Seventh Grade curriculum (Leslee’s Grade) to study the Mayan culture. As part of their study there was a trip planned down to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. My mom was supposed to go as a chaperone but last minute had to drop out, since it was too late to get a refund for the trip I got to go instead. We spent a whole week busing around the Mexican countryside visiting ancient ruins, swimming in underground caves, and chasing armadillos through the jungle. We also got to spend a couple days at a resort in Cancun. I wish I had been older when I took this trip so that I could more fully appreciate the beauty of the Mayan Culture, that is why I want to go back someday.

(Spring 2005) This time I was down there for a family vacation to Cabo San Lucas. It was a little bit to touristy for me but my favorite part was when Leslee, Beth and I (Wayne was with us too) went for a Sunday drive and found a small village a few miles out of town. The people there lived in these tiny shacks and the kids were running around in just their underwear and no shoes. There was a soccer field there where the kids had a game going. We stopped to watch for a little bit and then continued on. There were some really cute kids that we took some pictures of.

3. Hong Kong (Feb 2006) On our way over to China we got to spend two days in Hong Kong. Although Hong Kong is technically a part of China, autonomously it is a country in and of its self. Thus I am counting it as a separate country. While we were there we got to do baptisms in the Hong Kong temple, see a floating fishing village, ride a bus to the highest peak which overlooks the whole city, and see a laser show on the bay.

4. China (Feb-June 2006) I went and spent four and a half months living in Kunming China teaching English to little kindergarten aged kids. I went with a group of 13 other girls including my sister Leslee and my friend Amber. While we were over there we had a foreign coordinator named Colin who helped us with pretty much everything. He has become one of my best friends, we talk on the computer all the time and we are working on getting him to come to America. While I was in China I got to visit Shanghai, Guilin, Dali, Langzhou, the First Bend in the Yangtze River and many other exciting places.

5. Thailand (June 2006,) School finished a few weeks earlier in China than it was supposed to (they loved changing the schedule last minute on us, it was a pretty common occurrence) so my friends Jessica and Lindsay and I decided we were going to go do some backpacking down in southeast Asia. In Thailand we spent a night in Bangkok before continuing on to Cambodia. We then returned a few days later to fly down to Phuket and spend the rest of our stay sitting on the beach and seeing some sites. Our one night in Bangkok was spent shopping at the street market behind our hostel and exploring the several different temples that could be found within a few blocks. Our time in Phuket was spent sitting on the beach as I mentioned as well as riding elephants, going snorkeling, and exploring deserted islands.

(May-Oct 2011) I’ve been living in Thailand with my brother in law’s family for two months now. I haven’t had a whole lot of time to travel too far from Bangkok due to work but I’ve still been able to do lots of cool stuff. Updates on the overall awesomeness of living here to come later.

6. Cambodia (June 2006, July 2011) My sister Andrea had recently been on a trip to Southeast Asia and she told us that Angkor Wat in Cambodia was not to be missed. So, when Jessica, Lindsay, and I planned our trip to Thailand we included a short detour to Cambodia. We flew into the capitol of Phnom Phen, went to church, and then hopped on a bus to Siem Reap which is the nearest town to Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat has to be one of the most amazing things I’ve seen in my life.

7. Brazil (Feb 2007-Jul 2008, April 2011) I lived in Brazil while I was serving a mission for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. While I was there I had the opportunity to learn the language and immerse myself in the culture on a daily basis.

(April, 2011) Shortly after my graduation my mother and I had the opportunity to return to Brazil. While we were there we visited the members I worked with while I was one my mission as well as visited other parts of Brazil including Iguassu Falls and Rio De Janiero.

8. Costa Rica (Aug 2009) One day I was hanging out at my frien Mike Marrets apartment at BYU. They were talking about scuba diving which brought up the fact that I had ALWAYS wanted to go to Costa Rica. “We should go!” I told them…So that summer we did. The traveling party included my sisters Leslee and Beth as well as our friends Candace Jones, Mike Marrett, and Eric Thomas. We spent about a week total in Costa Rica hoping from one place to the next including, Monte Verde, San Jose, …..

9. Panama (Aug 2009) This was also a part of the above mentioned trip. The only place we went to in Panama was and archipelago of Islands named Bocas Del Torro off the north eastern coast. From our hostel it was easy to catch a boat which could take us to any of the other small islands surrounding ours. We spend the whole day just sitting on the beach and doing our own thing. It was lots of fun.

10. U.K. (May 6 2010) My sister Andrea says I can’t really claim the UK because technically I was only there on a layover on my way to and from Uganda. I beg to differ though since I had enough time to see a broadway play (wicked) as well as visit Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Westminister Abbey. So, I think it counts.

11. Uganda(May-July 2010) I spent the summer in Uganda working with an organization called HELP international. While I was there I lived in a tiny house with up to 20 (the number of people varied) other college students. It was the adventure of a lifetime. Days were spent helping the locals build a mushroom house, plant gardens, gain business skills, or just playing with the orphans. I also had the opportunity to go on an African safari, repel a 100 meter waterfall, and visit the war torn countryside of Gulu while I was there.

12. Argentina (May 2011) I didn’t spend much time in Argentina, just a couple of quick trips over the boarder while I was visiting Iguassu Falls in Brazil with my mom. Mostly we just went there to see the Argentinian side of the falls and to do a little bit of shopping.

13. Laos (July 2011). My first adventure truly out on my own. Crossing the boarder from Thailand I hopped on a two day boat ride down the Mekong river to Luang Prabang where I bathed elephants in the river and went cliff jumping at the waterfalls. From there I hopped on a mini-bus down to Vang Vieng, a tiny little village that wouldn't exist except for the hippie backpackers who go there to tube the river and drink copias amounts of beer at the riverside bars. Even without the beer this may be one of the funnest things I've ever done while traveling. 

14. Philippines (August 2011) - Hung out on the island of Boracay. Most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. Crystal clear blue waters. Didn't do much but chill on the beach. Did go snorkeling and sailing one day. That was pretty fun. For my birthday I went to the neighbor island of Iloilo to meet up with a member who I had been introduced to through a member in Bangkok. He took me to this secluded beach about an hour hike off the beaten path. It was this quite little bay with no one around for miles (probably not the safest thing to do with a guy you don't even know but I trusted the member in Bangkok). Best part was that at night it was pitch black but when you through rocks in the water there were little micro-organisms that grow like glow sticks when agitated. 

15. Malaysia (Both Borneo and Mainland) (Aug & Sept 2011) Spent a week living in a wood hut in the jungle searching for the elusive Bornean Orangutan. Hung out in Kota Kinabalu. Wondered the streets of Kuala Lumpur, and spent a week in the oldest rain forest in the world hanging out with local tribes and learning how to drive a motorized canoe up river. 

16. Brunei (September 2011) Hung out in Brunei Darasalum visiting the many different mosques. Took a boat up river to visit the floating village and search for Probiscus monkey's which can only be found in Borneo. 

17. Bermuda (May 2012) Went to Bermuda for a work trip with Dad, Thomas, and Larry. It was raining most of the time so we didn't get out and do much. We did get to rent scooters for one day though and ride around the island with some friends visiting different beaches. It was pretty awesome. 

18. Guatemala (February 2013) Backpacking with Traci and Allison. Went all over the country including the ruins in Tikal, caves in the middle of nowhere Lanquin, and the beautiful lago de Atitlan. 

19. Switzerland (May 2013)

20. Italy (May 2013)

21. Greece (May 2013)

22. Turkey (May 2013)

23. Croatia (May 2013)

24. Israel  (June 2013) 
25. Palestine (June 2013) It should be a country. 

Goal #16 – Read at least 3,000 books

1. Book of Mormon

2. Eyes of a stranger

3. Message in a bottle

4. War and Peace

5. Les Miserables

6. Pride and Prejudice

7. The Chronicles of Narnia

8. The adventures of Huckleberry Finn

9. Lord of the Flies

10. Jane Eyre

11. The Grapes of Wrath

12. The Great Gatsby

13. To Kill a Mockingbird

14. Three Cups of Tea

15. Finder’s Keepers

16. The Da Vinci Code

17. The Hound of the Baskervilles

18. The Call of the wild

19. Anne of Green Gables

20. King of the Wind

21. Mere Christianity

22. Phantom Tollbooth

23. Stand for something

24. Invisible Women

26. Ariana

27. Persuasion

28. The Lost Symbol

29. Condoleeza Rice’s Memior

30. Half the Sky

31. Safiah’s Smile

32. The Blue Sweater

33. Under the Overpass

35. Wuthering Heights

36. Wildflowers of Terazin

37. Mother Theresa’s Biography

38. Sarah

39. Messiah

40. Jesus the Christ

41. The Giver
42. The Jew with the Iron Cross
43. Rich Man Poor Man 
45. 

Goal #21 Live in At Least 10 Different Countries for At Least 3 Months Each.

1. Kunming, China

2. Goiania, Brasil

3. Lugazi, Uganda

4. Bangkok, Thailand

Goal #30 Visit All 50 States

1. Utah

2. California

3. Arizona

4. Nevada

5. Oregon

6. Washington

7. Montana

8. Wyoming

9. Idaho

10. Colorado

11. Florida – Summer ‘04

12. New York – Summer ‘04

13. New Jersey – Summer ‘04

14. Maryland – Spring ‘99, Fall '11

15. Virginia – Spring ‘99, Fall '11

16. Massachusettes - Fall '11

17. Pennsylvania - Fall '11

18. Rhode Island - Fall '11

Goal #34 Visit 75 Different Temples

1. Salt Lake City

2. West Jordan

3. Draper

4. Logan

5. Bountiful

6. Newport Beach

7. Washington D.C.

8. New York

9. Campinis, Brasil

10. Sao Paulo, Brasil

11. Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

12. Hong Kong

13. St George

14. Idaho Falls

15. Los Angeles

16. Manti

17. Provo

18. Mt Timpanogas 

19. Redlands

Goal #88 Spend a month in the Holy Lands
1 Week spent June 2013 

There is Sunshine in My Soul Today

Today my horse Sunny passed away. I say my horse but really she was my sister's horse and then our family's horse, I just laid claim on her a long time ago. I sure am going to miss her.

Sunny joined our family over 20 yrs ago, the Christmas after my 7th birthday. Andrea got her as a Christmas present that year but she always did a really good job at sharing her with us younger kids.

When we first got Sunny she was young and very green. I can still remember my first time riding her, I was taking lessons at Wendy's house out in Draper. Normally I would have ridden my mom's horse Mistraff but for some reason he wasn't available that day. Reluctantly my mom told me to saddle up Sunny instead. I beamed with pride, Sunny had the tendency to be a less than reliable horse, if my mom thought I was good enough to ride her then I must have been really good.

Lessons that day were in the neighbors pasture across the street. The outer ring of the pasture was dirt and used for riding, the inner ring was grass and used for grazing. Toward the edge of the grass there was a grate--you know those things with spikes on them that they pull behind tractors to level out the ground? There it was, just sitting there with the spikes poking up. I hadn't been riding Sunny for more than a few minutes before she took off with me across the field, she was running straight for the grate and no matter what I did I could not deter her. I was pretty sure we were both going to die as she jumped at the last possible second. All I remember thinking was that if I fell off, those spikes were going to go right through me. And so, I held on with everything I had until Sunny had landed safely on the other side and finally calmed down.

You would think such an experience would be traumatic for a young girl but instead it made me feel like I could handle anything. I rode Sunny a lot more after that.

So many fun memories on Sunny. Not-a-shows out at Vista farms. Tag. Barrel racing. Jumping -- Sunny hated jumping, she would always pretend to be afraid of it. When you did finally get her to jump she always made sure she cleared the pole by a good 3 feet. No sense in risking hitting it. -- Horse shows. Camping up at Payson lakes. Riding up the river. Running through fields. Laying on her back and reading books on lazy summer days. Endless trail rides through the mountains. Teaching friends how to ride.

It may sound cheezy but Sunny was always there for me. To this day whenever I got stressed or sad or frustrated I would go out and jump on Sunny. We would have good chats about all the things I was struggling with and she would just listen as we mozied along. Sometimes I would just lay on her back for hours contemplating life and where it might take me. She would lazily eat grass as I took the time to figure things out. Other times I would jump on her and we would just go on a run as far and as fast as we could. Those never lasted long though as Sunny, like most horses, never liked to wander too far from her other horsey friends.

I remember one night when I was a young teenager I got into a huge fight with my parents. We just so happened to be keeping our horses at a friends house in the neighborhood that week and so after my parents had gone to bed I grabbed my sleeping bag and snuck over to the horses and laid next to Sunny as we watched the stars. Eventually the anger subsided as I was filled with awe at the beauty of Heavenly Father's creations. Sunny always made me feel closer to God.

One of my favorite things about Sunny was even though she did eventually mellow out a little she never lost her zest for life. She loved to run and I loved to let her. I probably shouldn't have, I know I spoiled her which made it harder for other people to ride her but I just couldn't help myself. There's nothing like that feeling of just taking off and letting the horse go. It's something you have to experience to understand.

I also love how Sunny was always such a little stinker. She could always tell if you knew how to ride or not. If you did, then she was an angel for you 95% of the time. If you didn't though, man she loved to have fun with that. It's not that she would go crazy, she was still the most reliable horse we had for friends to ride, she just liked to do her own thing and show the experienced who was really in charge. I always found it very entertaining.

With Sunny being gone I can't help but being full of regret. I wish I had made more time for her instead of allowing myself to get so busy. I had great plans to go on a long trail ride over Christmas break and yet I never made it out there. Last spring I had the idea pop into my head to hire a professional photographer to come out and take pictures of Sunny and I. I had this vision in my head of a picture of Sunny laying in a spring field filled with dandelions and desert flowers. As Sunny lay there enjoying the fresh spring day I would be sitting against her belly reading a book. I never got the picture. Maybe I'll commission Andrea to paint it for me. Most of all I regret not ever being able to take my bridal pictures on her. I know that probably seems like a stupid thing to be sad about but ever since I was a teenager I've had visions in my head of me taking my bridals on Sunny. Running through a grassy field in my wedding gown. Standing there as she reaches over my shoulder to grab a carrot. Me in my dress on Sunny with my fiance in a tux on a different horse, walking away into the sunset our back towards the camera. I'll never have those pictures either.

I try not to focus on those things so much though. I try to remember all the good times we had. There sure were a lot of them and I don't ever want to forget them, I want to be able to tell my children stories about Sunny just like my mom tells us stories about Natani and other horses from her childhood. I'll keep those memories close to my heart until one day on the other side Sunny and I will be reunited and together we can run through the fields of eternity.