Flames

OK, so the fast began yesterday, not too bad (so far). I have a bridal shower to finish planning for, and am in the process of moving in to Michelle’s old room. So I have lots to keep me busy and focused on food. I usually eat when I’m bored anyways. The medicine doesn’t seem to take too bad a toll on my stomach when there is no food in it. The face is starting to clear up VERY SLOWLY, but I can tell a difference. The thing is, the stuff I’ve been putting on my face must be reacting with the oral medicine, because my face is a river of fire right now. It literally feels like someone is stabbing me with a hundred little pins all over my face. The BURRRRRNNNNN.. It better clear this trash up fast or I’m going back for new Medicine. I don’t know how long I can stand my face feeling like it’s on fire. It’s Cephalexin that I’m taking btw. I only have three days left with it and then I go back to my old medicine. I’m probably switching dermatologists so I can start taking accutane. My current derm won’t prescribe it. Anyone ever taken accutane before?

Fast.

This morning I had a peach and a string cheese. I had to eat something along with the antbiotics I'm taking for a tissue infection on my cheek. After five days of intense antibiotics I have to get a steroid injection to my face and then a mild antibiotic for a couple more weeks. It started as a blemish (as always) and became so inflamed I went to the doctors. It's so close to my eye they were worried it could spread to it and possibly into the bone. All I can say is it hurts like Heck and I'm sick of it!!!! Perfect for my sister's reception next week. People will ask, "what's that red animal living on your face?" I've been cleansing it 3 times a day, four pills a day, a antibiotic cream slathered on every night. It hurts!

Anyway...back to the cheese and peach this morning. I was going well till I drove past a McD's. I've read everywhere that you are what you eat. Possibly a contributer to not having the clearest skin in the world in my case. So, hoping it will help with the healing of my face, and the general dislikes of my weight(as you are all aware) I am doing a juice/water fast until I leave for the MTC. Thereafter I will continue to eat microscopic portions of everything that goes into my mouth. Also My sister and I just bought a gym membership to the Magna rec. and I'll be going daily except sundays. I did a water fats before and it lasted 3 days. I don't know how much I lost, but I felt great.

so Here I go, hope all goes well

Moab Vacation June 2007

June 7-9 My family and I went to Maob Utah for a vacation before I leave. It was a quick small vacation, but a needed one.

We left thursday evening around 8 and drove our rental car (A nice 2006 Chevy SUV) to Moab. We stopped at one rest stop on the way, and five long cramped leg hours later we were in Moab. We stayed in a Hotel that the travel agency at my dad's work got us a discount at. Very nice place. My parents were in one room, the boys in the second, and us three girls in the third. We finally unpacked and made it to bed around 2am. All tired and exhausted from driving such a long way.

This is a short clip of a hand dryer in a gas stations along the way. It was SO loud and rediculously powerful, it almost blows your skin off. Makes for a cool movie though!!!

Rachel and the camera she inherited from me

Friday morning we woke up nice and early (7-8am) to get our free breakfast the hotel provides for all tenants. Lots of Sausage, waffles, yogurt, muffins, bagels, cereal, ........you name it, they had it. We stuffed ourselves silly , got dressed in our hiking clothes and shoes and piled in the SUV to go see some arches!!!!

My dad decided to go to the farthest part of the park and work our way back. Kind of like skimming through a magazine before reading it. I wish we had done it the other way around though. we drove past all the sites, wanting to take pictures, and by the time we were on our way back we were sick of all the red rock and wanted to go sleep. Oh well, it all worked out in the end.

Rachel didn't want to leave the dogs tp go to Moab. Me? EXCITED!!!

Me in a dead tree

See my creation? beautiful ain't it?

Looks like three guys having a council

Close up. Yikes

I thought this rock looked like a man's face....


Don't ask me, I have no clue what she was doing in this picture.

On the way to Delicate arch

Michelle & Lema

The warning

And the result of not heeding it.


Yumm, ROCKS!!!!

Here is a quick video of Rachel detroying the rocks and the scenery around us.




This was the sunset at Subway at the end of the day. Looked better in person





Michelle & Lema again





Our happy little car





The valley right as you go up the mountain




Anyway, our first stop was the area of pine tree arch. I guess they call it that because there are tons of oine trees around it. Really weird because it's in the middle of the desert. We saw a smaller arch on the hike down and got some pics of that too. Pine tree arch is quite large and you can walk right under it. we stopped and rested in the shade for a while and got a bunch of pictures








After that we made out way to the landscape arch. this one had a bit longer hike to it, but worth it just the same.




On the way back from the landscape arch, their was a group of people just staring at the ground and taking video, so we stopped to see what was going on. This little(actually large) lizard was digging a hole for a home or something. Really cool to watch. Sorry for the shaky video, I was being attacked by bugs. Kind of reminded me of antelope island, but not that bad.




Finally it was time to see the famous delicate arch. you know, the one on all the postcards? We had to hike up this monsterous hill (reminded me of rocky ridge from the pioneer trek) that almost killed us all. I just had to tell myself to keep going, keep going, you can do it. all the while hoping someone on the trail had an inhaler or knew how to do CPR. We finally made it to the top and took a breather. Turns out we had about another mile to go, all up hill. Thank goodness it was in the 80's that day. The next day it was in the high 90's. Then I really would have died.

the Devil hill we had to hike (WAY steeper than it looks)

Rachel dying from the hike






Michael Dying from the Hike





anyway, we finally made it to delicate arch and got some great pictures. Although you have to walk acroos this steep side of a cliff practically and if you fall it will be to your death, but worth it for a picture under the arch right???.




The steep cliff you have to walk across. Looks like form Star Wars, No??

Delicate Arch

Me and Rachel under Delicate Arch

Amazingly my mom and dad made it up the hill too (about 30 minutes after we did)

Everyone had blisters and sunburns after the hike to delicate arch and we were all starved, dehydrated and ready to go home. We piled in the SUV and headed for the hills.




We stopped at Subway for some dinner, at amazingly fast, went back to the hotel and crashed for the night. I didn't even change my clothes, I hit the pillow and was out.


The next morning we were all pretty sore and groggy, but woke up bright and early for the free breakfast. We were still hungry from the night before as we proabably burned 2000 calories on just the last hike. Once we were all nicely fed, we hopped in the car and went to see the last of the arches.




We came upon balance rock (it think that's what it's called) and had to get out and take pictures. though none of us could walk more than 3 feet without collapsing from the day before, we still got a lot of pictures.

Rachel would if she could



Look! I'm holding it!!!!

We ended our trip with a quick lunch at McD's and went off to search for some souvenir shops. We found called "The T-shirt Shop" that has tons of blank shirts and walls covered in designs of what to put on them. we all picked one out, and while we were waiting for the pictures to be screnned on the shirts, we found some awsome sunglasses and goofed off a bit. Rachel and I even found a squishing penny machine that puts a print of the arch on the penny (we collect the squished penny's from every where we go) so we had to get one of those!!!

My hand was backwards, I'm such a dork

We decided to take one last site seeing to Dead Horse Point. Its on the top of a mountain you drive up that has THE most spectacular views I've ever seen. The red rock in layers and layers as far as the eye can see. It looked like a painting. truly amazing.

Here is a panoramic view/video

Then came time to leave. We were sad to go, but happy to be done hiking in the hot desert. moab is a fun beautiful place to visit, but too small of a town for me to ever want to live there. So we made it home safely and nursed our wounds healed and had a great vacation!!!!




FYI, I have about 150+ more pictures from this trip, all worth checking out. They are all in My Photo Album (link on the right at top) Go see!!!! (All these were taken with my new Sony 7.2 Megapix camera. It's sweet!!! I have video from this trip as well, will try and get it on here if I can figure it out!!!) UPDATE: We have videoo!!!!(as you have probably noticed. This started as a draft about a week ago, so now we have video even though it's all new to you guys!!!)

Over and out-Bec

Yesterday I recieved my Endowment 6.14.07

All I can think of right now is, WOW. You think you know what to excpect when you go through the temple, but you can't even comprehend the feelings you experience when recieving your endowment. I wish I could write down every little detail and how I felt about each part. It was an awe inspiring event that I will cherish my entire life.
I chose to go to the Salt Lake Temple as they have the live endowment session. The Salt Lake and Logan Temple are the only two in the world that have the live endowment. All other temples have the videos. I also chose the Salt Lake temple because it's where my parents were married and is where I promised myself when I was 12 years old that I would be married in that temple.
There is SO much to learn in the temple! You wouldn't believe what a learning experience it is. I now understand completely why we need to go to the temple and return as much as possible. It pertains to our Eternal Salvation to recieve our endowment, be sealed in the temple and return often to learn everything in the temple.
I have never felt so at peace in my life and so happy that I knew I was clean to enter the temple and then come out an even better person with such a strong desire to do my best in this life, which desire I never thought possible for me. You gain an awesome understanding of the plan of salvation. You just have to go to the temple!!!!!!!!
When the session is complete, you end up in the celestial room. A ton of people came to the session I was in, as it was a live endowment. Even my coworker who's brother in law was going through for his mission was there. Anyway, the Celestial room, you can stay as long as you want and ponder, read scriptures, pray. whatever. The room is so GORGEOUS!!! I could stay there forever. It's on the top floor of the temple, so there are stained glass windows the sun shines through, and a magnificent chandelier in the center of the room. You see everyone in the same clothes, all there for the same reason. It's amazing how you feel a sense of belonging and that everyone there is your brother and sister. It's just amazing. I can't wait for all of you to eventually go through the temple (I believe all of you will one day be it this year, or 20 years away) and experience the spirit and power. I can't wait to go WITH all my friends. I wouldn't want anyone left out of it. My family came, Lema (Michelle's Fiance), and my grandma. My little sister of course couldn't come, but I will be able to go through with her. Randy also couldn't for his own personal reasons(He screwed up) and that was really sad. I felt real sorrow that he couldn't come. not the sorrow that is a pity "I'm more righteous than you" thing, but that he is my brother and I wanted him to be there, as well as with our family for eternity. I hope he gets his life in order and things taken care of. As I want all of you to partake in the blessings of the temple. You are all my brothers and sisters and I want you with me in the nest life and to have everything I've been able to experience. Make yourselves worthy and make this a main priority in your lives. It changes you and your outlook on life. I love the temple and am going to try and go once a week before I leave on my mission. I know I'll get to go to the Provo temple while in the MTC as well as the Manhatten Temple when I get to New York.
Holy Cow!! check out my mission countdown!!! I can't believe how time is flying. I'm not ready yet!!! A month and 2 weeks. Get your backside in gear Becca!!!!
Oh, I just remembered. I mentioned my grandma came, turns out she recieved her endowment 50 years ago to the day I recieved mine. Wasn't even plannes that way!! My Grandma and my mom both recieved a Spanish woman's name to go through for. Coincidence? I think not.
Right when we were about to leave The woman who played Eve through the session came up tp me and said, "You must be a missionary" turns out she just got back from the Palmyra, New York Mission with her husband. She said they learned to spot out the good missionaries after three years of being in the mission field. *grin* what a compliment!!!
Before you go through the session, they brief all the new people on the session so you're not completely confused about it. Their were a couple of girls getting married, and Me and another soon to be missionary. The other missionary leaves the same day (Aug 1st) to Pennsylvania, and the lady doing the talking said a girl went through a session before us that was going to the SAME mission as me and it was spanish speaking, and leaves August 1st!!!! That was probably one of my future companions!!!
Yesterday was quite the day. I came home exhausted and crashed on the couch for the night. I managed to survive going to Denny'swith everyone for dinner after the temple and stay awake. It was a three hour long session!! I was still pretty sick from my tea drinking day. I went thorugh a box of the temple tissues in the time I was there for the session. I didn't even go to work yesterday in hopes I would feel good enough to go to the temple by the end of the day. Today I'm at work still nursing a cold/allergies type of thing. My eyes won't stop watering and everyone thinks I'm crying. Oh well, only 3 hours left, and I am so far behind in my work I'll be nice and busy to make it go by fast. Then, the loverly weekend. YAY!!!
When I was getting ready my mom gsaid she had a flower for me kind of as an endowment gift (other than all thr temple clothes she bought me which was gift enough!!) She said sh wanted to give it to me now because it would go bad if we left it in the hot car during the temple session. She came out of her closet with this 2 ft tall tube of candy/chocolate covered sunflower seeds that had this big sunflower at the top. If you haven't seen or tried these little candies, you HAVE TO!!! they are so DELISH, possibly becoming one of my favorite candies next to Gushers and Hot Cheetos. Sad thing is, they are about 3 bucks for 4oz. Worth it though if you like them as much as I do!! My camera battery died last night so I have to charge it for a full 12 hrs before it will work again, I have pictures of all of yesterday and post them as soon as I can. Still working on the MOAB pics, please have patience.

Bec
Hey, I'm coming down to the Provo/Orem area on saturday FYI. My mom, dad, sister and I are coming to see the museum @ BYU with all the paintings of Christ. I plan on taking tons of pictures. Also we are stopping at IKEA on the way home, just to scope out the place..

Ahhhhhhhhhhh........Tea

This morning I woke up with a very sore throat.
As is the kind where you can just tell you're getting sick and there is nothing you can do about it. I hope it's not strep. Strep just kills you. I can't afford to miss work either. I've already been missing like a day a week doing mission stuff. I think my boss hates me, but he just isn't saying it to my face. He just kind of ignores me. That's ok though. I only have 21 days left of work. But who's counting??

I've had a box of unopened herbal tea in my desk for about a month. I just never got around to drinking it. The tea and a box of instant oatmeal packets are my emergency food supply. I only eat those when I forget to bring lunch, or when I don't have a car to go get fast food. Today was the first day ever that these two circumstances intertwined. So, strawberries & cream oatmeal with peach tea for lunch. I have to say though, the tea helped my throat immensely. The hot liquid calming my throat all the way down. So nice. Not only that, tea just seems to calm your nerves. Like yoga without all the pain. sweating, and looking ridiculous.

I can't remember the last time I had tea. For a while there I was going though a tea craze and couldn't get enough. I've started a collection of teapots as a result. I have an entire tea set from Martha Stewart, and three other teapots that I adore. That's what I'm going to have in a china cabinet in my kitchen instead of dishes. Teapots.

This was just a quick post of a thought I had and wanted to get down on paper (well, computer). I have about 100+ pics of my family trip to Moab this past weekend and am working on captioning and uploading all of them. It will be a huge post. promise!!!

Bec

Memorial Day

This Memorial Day we had a family BBQ. My grandma came as well as Lemlea, Michelle's Fiance. We made WAY too much food!!! We had 7 Steaks, an entire bag of Chicken Breasts, 2 bags of Hot Dogs, 10 Hamburgers and a Big bag of shrimp. We cooked them ALL!! and that's not including all the side dishes!! We were all uncomfortably full the max. It was Delish!!!! My dad bought a new canopy as well. Went very well with the barbeque we got him for fathers day two years ago.
After we had all digested for a while we decided to shoot off the canon to commemorate the purpose of memorial day. those who have gone before us the the next life. My dad and brother built our canon for New years and the 4th of July, but we decided to use it for this!! Pretty much you put calcium carbide(?) and water together and it explodes really REALLY loud without projecting anything out of the canon or causing damage. It's awesome!
After that Michelle and Lema showed us their engagement photo's and we helped pick out a picture for the invitation. I will post that on here as soon as I get a copy.
Then.. I went to see PIRATES!!!!! Everyone else took naps and discussed wedding plans, but we rushed off to see good ol Johnny Depp. A very fun ending to Memorial day, hope your's were all great!!!!

A rose from our front yard. How sultry.....

Dad & Michael

The inside of our New Canopy

An outside view of the canopy

Shrimp. SSOO GOOD!! (cooked by me!!!!)




Yummy Food!! Notice that Randy and Michael have on the same shirt? they bought them at different times. Kind of fun




Some of the goodness and Grandma




The BBQ Master




Lema & Michelle. How cuuute!!!




These were PART of the Leftovers



seeting off the cannon. Our neighbor freaked out and thought it was a bomb. Hilarious!!

Remember those Heros, family and friends.

Lema wanted to set it off.




Wedding prep. The guys enjoy it SO much....I'm sure.....