We Love You, Dash

So much has happened since I wrote last. Many good things, and some sad things, for this post, I’m going to tell of the sad, and then I’ll write a good one. Yesterday, I was really gloomy all day, I thought that it was because it was cloudy and gray outside again, Rexburg weather and all. However, Mom called me last night with the answer to why I was gloomy. One of my first horses, Dash died last night. He was a great horse, and taught me many things. It’s hard to believe he is gone. He was an older horse, and died of old age, but it was still kind of sudden.

Dash has had a swollen leg for the last 2-3 years, (it’s been a while). We couldn’t figure out why, and finally decided that it was a protein build-up and that he needed to be exercised more. Soon after we decided that, I started teaching lessons to two little kids, and because he was getting ridden for at least an hour every week, it went down some. That summer we didn’t ride as much as we could, and it built up again. Then last winter he kicked the fence and tore a tendon in that leg. It took him a while to get better, and his leg has been really swollen since.

My little sisters still rode him, and would fight over who got to ride Dash, because he was the one that they weren’t afraid to ride him. Then a few weeks ago, DelRay built a pasture to keep them in so they can get more exercise, and his leg has getting better. Yesterday, the girls got up and went and checked on him, and he was fine. DelRay was down there until 2:30, and said that he was running around having a grand day, but when DelRay went down to feed last night, he was not breathing. I’m so glad that it was last night and not this morning when the girls would have found him. It’s a miracle that he was fine when they went down yesterday, and didn’t have to find their favorite horse dead when they went to check on him.

I’m so glad that he had a great day yesterday. He was running around and playing. He wasn’t in pain, and he was in the sun. My Great-Grandma Mary died a couple years ago square dancing, and we always said that she danced right into Grandpa Harold’s arms. Grandma Mary and Grandpa Harold were farmers, and always had horses. I’m sure that Dash and Lady (my other first horse that died a few years ago) are running through the green grass in heaven. I’m sure that they are both really pretty horses now that they aren’t skin and bones because they wouldn’t gain weight, or have a swollen ankle, or skin problems, and Grandma and Grandpa are taking great care of them.

Dash has taught me a lot in the 5 years I had him. I learned how to ride, I gained confidence in my riding when I was able to transform him into a good horse, he was a friend when no one else was, he was a great trail riding horse, he was the horse I did 4-h on, and he was the one that taught me that I could be a good horsewomen. But he also taught me responsibility, hard work (among other places I learned hard work), accountability, and trust. I’m grateful for the opportunity that I have had to take care of such a great horse. He will always have a special place in me heart.

Oh the Places You'll Go

I can't believe I haven't posted here since may. I have a private blog that I have posted to since then, as well as a journal, but I have sadly neglected this blog. It seems I have been everywhere this last few months.
My summer was really good, and really busy. I went on a 4-day trek with my Stake where I was a big sister to a family of 5 boys and 3 girls (all teenagers). It was a great experience, and a strong testimony builder.
I have been to a Music camp at BYU where I learned a little bit about the Organ. It was a fun-filled week with many new friends in the music world.
I got the opportunity to attend EFY in Hawaii. Memories of those 2 weeks are my reason for writing today. I am part of a Women's Choir at DSC, The Director, Merrilee Webb taught at BYU-Hawaii for a time. This semester we start our concerts with an Hawaiian Chant. It goes like this:

Hiki Mai E Na Pua I Ka La'ie
(Come forward and appear you precious flowers arising in the calmness of this special day)
Ke Pi'i A'E La Ka Mauna Kie'Ki'E
(Each of you are taking up the challenge of not simply climbing a High Mountain but you have chosen to climb the Highest and Most Majestic Mountain of all)
Ha'a Mai Na Kama Me Ka Makua
(Dance forward you children of your Heavenly Father)
He Wehi Pulama A'o Ke Kupuna
(For is it not so that you our children are so very precious, in fact, you are the most precious adornment worn around the neck of your ancestors)
E Ka'i Mai Ana E Ka'i Mai Ana
(Come Forward come forward for there are many roads for you to choose
E Hahai Ka Leo O Ka Haku E
(Be sure to follow the voice of the Good Shepherd, for he will always keep you, protect you, and show you the way)

This chant seems to be just for me right now, I leave in a few months for Idaho where I will go to school, but more on that later. We also sing a song called "Waika" That is Hawaiian. Today one of the student body presidents from BYU-Hawaii came and danced Hula while we sang. The spirit was so strong in that room. It brought back memories from those two weeks in Hawaii.
While we (Me and my 16 year old brother) were there, we had the opportunity to not only make many friends, but to stay with a local man. between our new friends from the islands, Brother Lolofie and others we meet there, we were able to learn tons. Many of the stories and things that Kiekie (The lady that danced for us) shared with us I have learned from that trip and from Merrilee. The best part of this trip was after EFY where we know people who lived on the island and got to know them. The people there are the ones that make all the difference. I could have enjoyed it without meeting anyone, but it would have been an entirely different experience. I would have a good time, but It wouldn't have been as memorable. The people make all the difference.

Soon, sooner than I think, I will be moving to go to school in BYU-Idaho where I will live in a dorm, and be hours away from my family. I start school on January 4th, 2012, It is the first step to achieving another dream. I want to go to BYU-Jerusalem Fall 2012. In order to be accepted I have to have attended 2 semesters at a BYU, not be married (not much of a worry now, I'll only be 18 at the time of the trip), and not have my Bachelors degree. I will finish my degree in Web Design the semester after I get home from Jerusalem. I can't wait to see were this road will take me as I get my education and come closer to my Savior Jesus Christ.

School, Work, and Play!

Well, I think I forgot I had a blog! It has been forever since I posted. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get in!
Anyway, lots has happened since I posted last, so I guess I'll just do bullet points again!
- Big J is on his mission in Taiwan, has been for about 10 months. He is a Senior Companion, and is doing great with the language. A few weeks ago, he taught 28 lessons in a week! How awesome.
-Little S was born. She is now about 9 months old, and is mobile. She crawls everywhere, and is liking paper.
-Little J is 4, and is as cute as can be. If he wasn't so cute, I don't know what we would do with him.
-I graduated as an Honors student with my Associates degree. I finished in December so I could be 16 when I finished, then walked on May 6th, 5 days after my Birthday.
-Even though I only go to Seminary at the High School, I have managed to get a date for every dance this year.
-the horses are doing great, I just wish I can get down there more.
-I am applying to go to BYU-I in January! I am so excited. I'm pretty sure I will get accepted, I could enter as a senior! I want to major in Web Design and minor in Music.
-I have finished the 4 semesters of music theory, but I am not ready to be done, so I will find other classes like it to fill next semester.
-Trek is in 2 weeks! I am SO excited! Mom is in charge of the music, and so I have been helping get that prepared. I am also a Big Sister. all the big brothers and big sisters got a harmonica and was told to learn it for trek! I can now play most songs in G, Including transposed. I can play "Come, Come, Ye Saints" "Praise to the Man" "How Firm a Foundation" "The Spirit of God" and "I know that My Redeemer Lives" just to name a few.

Anyway, there is no way I could get a whole year in detail, but these were the highlights. I will do my best to post again soon!

It has been forever since I have posted. I don't even want to because I have to much to catch up on. I'll just give some highlights.

~I turned 16:) I am so excited, and glad to have a car:)
~Jed has got his mission call to Taiwan Taipei and leaves on July 21st.
~Jed also got home the first week of May
~ another on Jed is that his team in nationals in their division in Basketball.
~I just got back from an amazing week at EFY and made lots of friends.
~I am almost scuba certified, and am planning for a trip in a few weeks.
~This summer is jam packed.

I have been busy lately, having just finished with school for the school year, but I only have 1 more semester left until I get my AS degree:)
got to go, but i try to keep things posted:)

Brinley's Baptism Invite

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

Today was to Oquirrh Mountain Temple Dedication. It was really neat, as the 2^nd on this summer that I have had the opportunity to attend.

We made it there but the doors were already locked, although Bro. Christensen was there and let us in. we were sent to find a spot in the high counsel room, which I think was one of the better seats. They showed a lot of pictures of the temple while were waiting, especially of the "Mirror room", as my little sister likes to call it.

There were a few speakers, most of which talked to the youth in attendance, I thought that it was really cool that they would direct there attention to the little kids, to prepare to enter the temple. They talked of the importance of the youth programs like the Personal Progress, Faith in God, and Duty to god, as the pathway to entering the temple and getting your endowments.

One of the speakers encouraged the youth to write in their journals, and record how we felt during the dedication. I felt the spirit throughout the meeting, I know that there are where ever there is a temple there is a house of God. Although there are temples all around the world, I believe that there are also other holy places, When Moses saw the burning bush, he was told to remove his shoes because he stood on holy ground, I believe that where ever Heavenly Father resides is holy. That could be in your own homes, in the mountains, and in nature itself.

I was once told that the sacred Grove in New York is to far away, you need your own sacred grove. Although there aren't any wooded places close by, there are place that I can go to talk to my Heavenly Father.

Quick Catch Up:)

When ever I work on designing my blog, I usually don't postL so I am trying to make that not so.

I don't even know where to start. So I guess I will start with Basketball tournaments for Jed. Jed played in 2 recruiting tournaments and got 2 Major scholarships. He got more than 2 but the ones that he his trying to pick between is Houghton University, and Southern Virginia University. I am excited for him, but school starts in like 3 weeks, that means that he will be gone in two!!! It also means that he is leaving next week to go and tour them, another few days without my brotherL.

Work with the Horses is doing well, but we will see what happens when school starts (yikes!). However I left for a week, only to find that I am now in charge of only 6 horses including my own 3 in my section, as opposed to the 11 that I had when I started. There were 3 that moved in the last week!!!

We went to spend 2 days in SLC 2 weeks ago and wouldn't you know it, we stayed for a week and a half! So it has put us behind in a lot of things, including seeing my BFF who has been here all summer and leaves next week, but she is far enough away that I haven't seen her yet! I hope that we do get to see each other.

While we were in SLC we got the news that my Great Aunt Janet, died of a brain tumor last Mon. She was always friendly and happy, but has been battling cancer of one form or another for a few years now. Her Funeral was Sat. and even though it was under sad circumstances, it was fun to see all my cousins that I don't get to see very often, I think we made a record, and saw some cousins that we haven't seen in forever twice in the last 3 months! Although the first meeting was betterJ