Take Time to Know

I am SO behind! I missed one week, and it feels like I have missed a whole year. School really has kept me busy and running around. But every other second has been nothing less than a party. So, with that, I will just give you the highlights of the last few weeks. Because they have been sweet bliss.

September 1st: Austin and I hit our one year mark. Crazy right? It felt like it had been forever, but also just yesterday. So much has happened, and so much has changed between us, but man do I love that guy. I have been so grateful, and so blessed because of his friendship.

September 3rd: It was a Thursday, and it was a really hard day. I don't like to believe in bad days, but I just remember this being one of them. All I needed was the outdoors, and really cute boy. And that was exactly what I got. There is this boy, and his name is Keaton. Keaton Briggs. He is the kind of boy that gives me butterflies like you would in the 6th grade. Anyways, he asked me on a date... And obviously I said yes. Even better, he asked to go on a night hike. So he picked me up, and hiked up this canyon, with nothing but the stars and the moon. We got to this big opening, and just laid down and watched the stars as we talked and learned all about each other. Not only was it a cute boy, but I was in my favorite place, outside. It was absolutely everything that I needed.

Labor Day Weekend: This weekend was a dream. The Lord knew I needed a break, and more importantly that I needed my Torri... so I caught a ride up to Provo. Friday night we just planned our weekend, went grocery shopping, and I bought a camping hammock. Saturday we woke up early and headed up to the Unitas. We hiked a freezing 7 miles to Mirror Lake. However, I don't think we actually ever saw Mirror Lake, but we saw 7 others. And they were absolutely beautiful.

 We were originally going to spend the night in the Unitas, but neither of us were prepared for such a freezing cold place. So we headed back to Provo, and we tied our sleeping bags to our small packs (we looked a little bit ridiculous to say the least), and Torri took me up her favorite mountain, Squaw Peak. We hiked, literally straight up, (it was one of the steepest hikes I have ever been on), and we made it to the top right at sunset. Colorado has some unbelievable sunsets, but the top of Squaw Peak that night was one of the coolest views, ever. And an extra bonus, we made the yummiest tinfoil dinners and cooked them and ate as we watched the day come to an end. Finally, we set up our hammocks and attempted to sleep. But little did we know that it too would be FREEZING cold. So really, we actually just laid there until 7a.m. and finally fell asleep until 12, when we had the sun to warm us.

We finally made our way down to the mountain, and rushed to Mem Mem, and Pep Pep's for dinner. It was so fun to see them, and to see the Simmons. They never fail to make you laugh. To finish off a perfect day, we went to see Grandma Greenwood. I am probably THE biggest fan of this woman. I never met someone so loving, so caring, so beautiful, and someone who knows her Savior, more than Grandma herself. I feel a little inadequate at times to be in her presence. Grandma is a woman of the Spirit. And I am so grateful I know her.

Monday morning rolled around... we played a game of racquetball, and went to the Latino festival and ate some super yummy tacos. To finish off the weekend, we went on one more hike up to Stewart Falls.

I don't think I could have asked for a better weekend. It was 3 days full of nothing but Torri, nature, and the Spirit. I always forget how much I miss Torri until I with her again. I am so grateful and so happy for her friendship, and for the fact that she is MY sister. I am grateful for a father who taught us to love nature, and how to be in it. I am grateful for the earth that our Heavenly Father created, and for the Spirit that can be felt there. I am grateful the Lord knows me. I feel completely overwhelmed with gratitude, and with love for my Father in Heaven. The Lord has had a hand in every single aspect of my life, and I am so grateful for that.

After a weekend of bliss, the last thing I wanted to do was return to reality. I made it home, back to the sweet City of Cedar. I went to school for a few days, and which seemed to be the longest 3 days of school, ever. 

Wednesday Night: After Institute, my friend Jerika and I went with the boys who live in apartment 27, (they are probably some of the most awkward boys having just returned from their missions), down to the sheep tunnels. They are just huge canal tunnels that go under all of Cedar City, but way fun and scary, with lots and lots of graffiti.

Friday: After a full day of school, and an exhausting week, once again, Keaton swept me away. He took me to get shaved ice, and then took me out to dinner. And then I got THE best care package. It had so many goods, and love letters from all my friends back home. I felt like it was Christmas all over again. Plus sitting and reading Miranda Sings with Keaton, was probably enough laughs to last a lifetime. Finally, we met up with Cory, Anna, Dani, and Jinni and headed down to 2000 Flushes. We went swimming, and had a bonfire, and roasted marshmallows. We lit tires on fire and rolled them down into the crater, and spun donuts in the dirt. It was once again, another perfect night under the stars with perfect company. 

Saturday: I slept in for like the first time in weeks. Me, Keaton, Nicol, and Cory played a few games of racquetball, which was so fun, and freaking hilarious. We then got ready for the next big adventure... Angels Landing! We left at like 6pm and started hiking at 7. We hiked through sunset, and were clinging to the chains under the stars. It is much, much scarier to climb at night. But once we made it to the top, we sat and laid and watched the stars. We started a fire, and cooked some delicious tin foil dinners (or hobo dinners as Keaton would say) once again. We finally all laid down cozied up in our sleeping bags, and slept under the stars. I slept like a baby, and for some reason, everyone else froze. But needless to say, it was one of THE coolest things ever. Such a perfect weekend, and a perfect night. 

This is Keaton. That way you all can put a face to the name.

Sunday: It was Stake Conference and I may or may not have slept through the whole thing. For like the 10 minutes I was awake during Stake Conference, Elder Ballard said, "Find time to be still. Find time to know that He is God." If there is one thing I could do better, it would be this, finding the time to do the things that matter most. This life is crazy, and it is such a whirlwind of emotion and changes, but in reality, there are few things that actually matter. We must take the time to be still, to be surrounded by the Spirit, and to be closer to our Father in Heaven in all things. We must take time to be closer to those around us, because they are the ones who love us, and they are in our life for a reason. We must take time to be more in tune with the Spirit, and to follow the promptings we get. 

We must take time to know ourselves better. We must take the time to know that we are not alone, that the Lord loves us, and that He lives. 

xoxo, 

ellie d.