Visit to My Old Stomping Grounds

When I was in high school I volunteered at Timpanogos Cave with the BATS program (Behind a Tour Specialist). Basically we stayed at the back of tours to make sure no one fell behind or broke rules. I loved it and even got to take over a couple tours. I planned to work there summers during college but didn't because I would have to work Sundays (which is very ironic considering I worked almost every Sunday at The Charleston). David had never been to the cave so of course we put it on our list of summer activities.





We made the 1.5 mile hike up the paved trail in about 45 minutes. My record was 25-30 minutes as a Bat so I was a little sad. I need to get moving while hiking the Y if I'm going to run it by the end of the summer!

We got up and drove up the canyon which was absolutely beautiful, only to realize we forgot our camera, again. I was not deterred and took pictures like crazy with my iPod. I have been in that cave dozens of times and never taken a picture, and I was not about to let it happen again. Here are a few (sorry about the poor quality!).

Entering...

...THE CAVE!

Cave Popcorn

The Heart of Timpanogos

Cave Straws 

Cave Bacon

A little bit of everything

Stalactites and Stalagmites  

Flow Stone 

Stalactites

Lots of Flow Stone

More  Cave Bacon 

Cave Bacon that looks like bacon

Cave Bacon 

Yes, I worked in a cave for 2 summers, listened to half a dozen tours 5-6 days a week and I don't remember the technical names, just the common names. If you don't use it, you lose it! 

Timpanogos Cave is an awesome place to go if you are looking for summer activities. Its $7 an adult to go through the cave and $6 for a car load to gain entrance to the canyon for 3 days. If you are in Utah you should do it at least once. 

Life Means More

My morning conversation with my husband went something like this today:

"Please don't leave me! I don't want to be all alone!" I said half teasing, half serious.

"Call someone." Replied my husband, matter-of-factly.

"Love, I don't know anyone! I have no friends!" I said in feigned agony. 

"Yes you do. Call someone." He said resolutely. 

"No, Love! Please, don't make me!"

This went on for a while, half serious, half teasing until we came to the agreement that I would indeed call someone this very day and do something. 

I don't know why, but I have a fear of calling people to do something with me, stemming from some childhood insecurity. I can throw dinner parties, I can hangout with other couples as a couple, I can meet for school or work, and if I try really hard I can even be social at church. But asking someone to 'hang out' with me one-on-one is terrifying. Period. 

 But, as I agreed to this morning, I did call someone. While scrolling through my phone to find the number of the friend I had promised to call I came across my cousins phone number. I hadn't seen her in forever even though we literally live on the same street two blocks apart. I asked if she wanted to come feed ducks with me at Utah Lake,  and she said yes and even offered to drive. 

 I was still so nervous. For crying out loud, we've known each other since we were in diapers, played together as children, and even went to high school together, what was I so nervous for! I don't know, but I  couldn't think of a thing to say half the time, and when I did I stumbled over my words and wished I'd kept my mouth shut. I was sure she would want to go home as soon as we were done. 

When we got back she walked home with me to see where I lived and I invited her to sit down. We chatted about things as only cousins can. About life as we see it, about family, friends, childhood memories, crazy life stories and our thoughts on it all. We talked for hours and then went out for frozen yogurt before saying good-bye.

When I got home I felt wonderful. My burdens felt lighter, I had new goals and things I wanted to do, I was excited and my life had more meaning. And then I stopped a minute and realized that this is what I had been missing all this time by being too afraid to call. There are many lessons that can be learned here, but the one that stood out the most to me was that people are meant to be in our life. Sometimes with all the complications, drama, stress, and chances of hurt and disappointment that come with relationships it is scary and difficult to be around people, but because of those relationships life means more.

Thank you to all my wonderful friends and family who are here for me to make life meaningful and sorry to all those who I have neglected because of my own insecurities. You are all the best!

I dedicate this to my husband who is always willing to push me to do and be more while always loving me just the way I am. 

Fancy Fort

Dinky Playhouse 

As a child I always was building forts. Couch forts, weed forts, blanket forts, box forts, hay bale forts. Any type of fort you can think of a child building I've probably built. The ultimate dream fort that I always wanted was a playhouse. Not just one of those dinky pathetic things. I wanted a miniature house.

Dream Playhouse

It was a little beyond my skill set, so I petitioned my dad. Being the oldest and the only girl I had him wrapped around my finger and he promised he would build me  playhouse.  We even went to the equivalent of the Parade of Homes for playhouses so I could get ideas for my grand fort. However, I gave up up on getting one when I reached high school and there was no playhouse in sight.

This past fall when David and I were looking at apartments we found one in our price range, walking distance from campus with just one minor flaw; There was no bedroom. The front door opened up into the front room and there was just enough room for a king size bed, maybe. I wasn't that excited about having the front door open to my bedroom so we got creative. 

The 100 year old house has 9 foot ceilings. Prime vertical space for a fort. So, I drew up plans for a loft bed and presented it to my dad. He added some of his own touches and in a matter of a couple weeks had built me my fort. 

Our Fort

Our couch under our fort
(help up by food storage)

Bookshelves
 

The custom designed stairs/ladder
(my dad's invention)

Office

Our fort has many functions. Sleeping. Lounging. Living room. Library. Laundry sorter. Next to it is a built in desk (custom to fit the unsquared corner) that serves as our office and it is soon to have physical therapy hookups so I can do physical therapy from home for my neck. 

The next improvement for our fort is a white coat of paint. Apparently when my dad built it he offered to paint it using his auto body paint sprayer (which would have taken 15 minutes) and I refused. I'm not sure what I was thinking. In my defense I was engaged. So, for the past few months we have had a plywood and 2x4 fort. I did paint the front white (which took 2 hours), but the rest is begging to be painted, which should happen this week. Next the top will hopefully be carpeted. Most of it is covered by the mattress but there is a small walkway on one side and the bottom of the mattress and carpet would be a nice, homey touch. 

Over all it is a very functional, practical fort and we've enjoyed getting a lot of use out of it. The crowning moment for my fort was when some Relief Society sisters came over to welcome me to the ward. One had a 4-5 year old little girl and as soon as she walked in the door she screamed "Woah! Cool fort!" and promptly explored every facet. Yep, I've got a cool fort. 

I would like to give a special thanks to my dad for building the fort and helping me with all my many crazy projects.