Pres. Uchtdorf

This weekend was very exciting. President Uchtdorf came to stay at the Palmyra Inn. We were all very excited, but had to make sure that we were professional and didn't chase him down like some of the other guests at the hotel. But, I did get to listent o him speak in sacrament meeting. It was so incredible. He talked about how neat it was to be in the sacred grove and how beautiful it is, but then he talked about ouw we could have the same experince anywhere we are because what matters is what is in our hearts. He also talked about the importance of asking questions. he said that the gospel invites us to ask questions, and it provides the answers, as long as we ask in the same spirit that a forteen year old boy asked in the sacred grove in 1820. Then he talked about the hymn that we sang, "America the Beautiful." he was so funny about it. He said that we have it memorized because we are american. but that they have a different passport. then he went through the last two lins of the song and applied it to the gospel. It seriously was the coolest thing.

I just checked him out, and it was a little intimidating. I wasn't quite sure what to say...its funny because he sort of holds star status in the lds community, but lits like a holy status, so you can't eract in the same way...I wanted to be respectful and business like...so I think I ended up saynig something along the lines of "have a safe day" You know have a good day, and safe travels all rolled into one. Smooth byers....real smooth. Oh well. It still was the coolest thing ever!

Do you know what the most amazing sight is? The beautiful twinkling lights in the sacred grove at night. Yes, lights in the grove. You've seen those white Christmas lights...well that's not what it is, but what it looks like. There are thousands upon thousands of firefly's lighting up the night. We took a walk to the grove last night, and the firefly's were out in full force. We stood at the edge of a field looking into the grove and it looked like an audience taking pictures--flashes going off everywhere. I want to try and see if my camera will take a video of it, but I am guessing that the effect will be lost in translation. So...you'll just have to picture it in your mind, then realize its about 100 times cooler then you are picturing it!
As far as other news goes, we decided yesterday that next Saturday we are taking a bit of a road trip...to one of my most favorite places on earth. KIRTAND OHIO! yep...I am going to Kirtland. We are going to go see the play they put on there every year and I can't wait! I am already picturing what it will be like to pull up to the visitor center. I won't lie--I'll probably cry. (Now there's a big surprise!) I know it won't be the same as being a missionary there, but it will still be incredible.
I am so glad I took the opportunity to come out here. I feel like this has been an amazing summer. Not only have I got to see incredible things...but I have also learned a lot of important life lessons. Now some of those, I wish I didn't have to learn the hard way, like I did, but hey, that's life. I just think it is amazing how each experience that I have had thus far in life has added on to those previous. It makes me curious what my next step will be....

Da Beach and More

It has been an interesting week! Thursday night I worked the 8-midnight shift, then turned around and worked the 7 am-3pm shift of Friday. And let me tell you...anything that could go wrong on that shift did. So you can imagine that I was pretty excited when Saturday came and it was time to head to the beach. And by beach, I mean the beach of Lake Ontairo--the smallest of the great lakes. (Yes, I did have to look that up...but I was pretty sure it was the smallest!) We had a blast...till the rain came. There were many sail boats ou, and I thought this would be Dad's dream! The wind help keep things cool, and so it was a beautiful day. Except the water is still FREEZING! so I did not go in. I don't think I would ahve wanted to anyway. There was this beautiful green moss all along the shore that pretty much turned me off of jumping in. Apparently there are days when the water is clearer then that...we'll see. We may be going again this weekend! On our way home we stopped at a cute little store that sold Strawberry Shortcakes and Sundays--with freshly picked strawberrries. Yum...one of the reasons that I love summer! We're going to go back to that place in august...when they have fresh peaches! Well, thats about it for this week. I will be adding pictures of the beach soon--when I am not at work and have my camera!

Another Tag
Normally, I wouldn't do this...but I was bored at work today...so here is more about me then you should ever want to know.
ABC's "getting to know you" TAG. Complete the ABC's of you. Then, each player tags 3 people and posts their names, goes to their blogs and leaves a comment letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog
.A- Attached or single: Single....and loving life.
B- Best Friend: My sisters. My brothers are pretty cool too. And my mom and dad. Pretty much my family.
C-Cake or Pie: PIE! I have eaten way to much wedding cake in my day. Love ya mom, but I don't want any more cake!
D-Day: um...today...What kind of question is that anyway?
E- Essential Item: My head....most days anyways...somedays, I think I leave it at home...
F- Favorite Color: Yellow...its such a happy color!
G-Gummy Bears or Worms: Bears...with ice cream...yum
H-Home town: Rangely Colorado.
I- Indulgences: Chill and Grill Ice Cream!
.J- January or July: July.
K-Kids: Have none.
L-Life is incomplete without: Family and the gospel
M- Marriage Date: May two thousand and something.
N- Number of Siblings: 5 sisters & 2 brothers
O- Oranges or Apples: Apples all the way. Oranges
P- Phobias or Fears: Getting struck by lightening. OR getting caught in an elevator. The weirdest...someone hiding in the tub. I think we played hide-in-go-seek-in-the-dark to much. (I still maintain that Dad cheats at that!)
Q- Quote: "We have a don't ask, don't tell policy here at the Palmyra Inn." ~An-Hoa
R- Reason To Smile: Because LIFE is BEAUTIFUL!
S- Season: Spring or fall. I don't like extreams such as summer and winter. Give me the in between. They are prettier!
T- Tag Three: I tag Melissa, Anna and Natalie
U- Unknown fact about me: I secretly am a rockstar undercover....wait no, thats not me...I don't think there is anything "unknown" about me. and if there is...I probably want to keep it that way.
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: If I thought about it, I'd be a vegitarian; the thought of what meat is grosses me out. But since I choose to believe that my meat comes from the store...I am not a vegetarian.
W- Worst Habit: Sleeping too much...no you can't sleep to much. It must be compulsive snacking. Thats what I'll claim...I probably have lots of "worst habits."
X-Rays or Ultrasounds: Neve had an ultrasound.
Y-Your favorite food: BREAD!
Z- Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius.

ch-ch-ch-changes

Remember this picture? This is the sacred grove when I first got to New York--two months ago. I can't believe that I have been here two months already. It has flown by.


But, as I looked back at the pictures of when I first came to the P.I. I realized how much time has passed. So, to show you what I mean, I thought that I would get some more pictures of the grove to show changes around here. I did not realize how green everything had gotten. Just take a look.









Wow! Look at all that GREENNESS!


























As a side note, today I woke up and was just amazed at the beauty of the earth, and this incredible place I where I get to spend my summer days. It was gently raining as the sun rose over the inn. I sat and watched, and an amazing peace washed over me.


As I walked to the grove, I felt amazed at the incredableness of what took place in this grove, and how lucky I am to get to walk through it whenever I want. It truly is a beautiful day. I realized how blessed I truly am. I may not have all my ducks in a row yet, but I have a great life! Thus, I am happy!

Welcome to the school of hard knocks

Occasionally I find my self considering the complexities of life--especially my own. For a hopeless dreamer/drama queen such as myself, I tend to believe that life is going to go smoothly and just fall right into place.

"Hello Rachel, here is your life." handing me a silver platter, everything neatly in place.

The words "And she lived happily ever after" flash happily across the screen.

Ahh...its a such a beautiful dream.

Then, I wake up, and instead of my life being handed to me, I feel more like I am being thrown five different peices of my life at once. Since I am not good at juggling, I watch at least one of those pieces slip to the ground and shatter. So now all that I can do is pick up the pieces and keep moving on, looking to the day when I can see that Happily ever after. After all--I am still a dreamer.

To One GREAT Grandma

Today as I contemplate the life of a woman who has touched my life deeply, I can't help but feel a sense of loss to know she is no loger with me. I feel selfish thinking how much I will miss her, so I turn my thoughts to the life she lived, and the happy memories I have with her. I won't go on for pages at a time, but stick to one that has hit me today. My Grandma loved her plants. She loved planting flowers. Today, I felt close to her as I helped plant flowers around the inn. It may seem silly, but to me it was a reminder that life goes on. Death is not the end. Flowers may die, but they come back the next year. We die, our mortal bodies fail us, but our spirits live on, and we will see those we love again. So, Grandma, while I will miss you, Thank you for your example and your love. I will miss you, but will see you again.