For anyone living in Utah, you know how cold January and even February were this year?
Well, by the time Spring Break rolled around in March we (meaning me) had had enough. I needed some warm weather to get me through until summer! :) So we decided to head south, and visit Trev's sister, Megan and her family in Gilbert, AZ. With a few stops along the way...
First stop, Bryce Canyon National Park to hike the "Hoodoo's." This place was really pretty, but I struggled a bit. My anxiety was pretty high with my kids who were trying to run every which way next to huge cliff drop-offs! I wasn't a very nice mommy. But once we got down into the canyon I relaxed a lot. I have my mom's tendency to get anxious. And although I try to fight it, sometimes it gets the better of me. And drives my kids and husband a little nuts. Better safe than sorry right? ;)
By the time we were back to the car we were all pretty dirty. The kids just wanted to go to the hotel and swim so we headed back, ate dinner, swam, and went to bed. After a 3 hour drive to get there, were all pretty wiped out.
The next morning we got up, and while we got packed up in the van (aka Lighten Family Truckster), the kiddos perfected their scootering and rip-sticking skills.
They are all getting pretty good at those things I tell ya!
Before leaving Bryce and the beautiful Hoodoos, there was one more hike we wanted to hit. Mossy Cave. This was much more enjoyable for me. Not scary cliffs, just fun outdoors.
These kids sure love to explore. I love that they are developing a love of the outdoors. I hope it sticks. :)
The next place we were headed was Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. We decided to take a "shortcut" and wound up traversing a dirt road with a few little hiking spots along the way. It was supposed to save a lot of time, and it did, but all I could think about was that I was taking my new car on a dirty, rocky road. I was just counting the minutes until we got to pavement. :) But I have to say, the views were pretty spectacular and the route saved a couple of hours.
I don't think I have ever seen the sky so blue than it was out there! Breathtaking.
Favorite thing about Part 1 of our trip? Hiking and having great family time in the outdoors.
Next stop: Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, and Sedona...ooh Sedona! :)
Thinking about thoughts this morning.
Thoughts are ideas, concepts, and images in a person's mind. The ability to think is a gift from God. We are free to choose how we use this gift. Our thoughts affect our attitudes. Our attitudes affect our behavior. The Lord knows our thoughts. We will stand accountable for them.
I often have random thoughts. I often have rude thoughts. I have judgmental thoughts. I try to keep these at bay. I try to push them out. But if I am not standing at the ready to dislodge them, they settle. They sprout. They pop up. Again and again. Sometimes before I know it, I have to do some major deep cleaning.
I have realized how powerful my thoughts are. Positive thoughts lead to satisfaction, happiness, compassion, desire to better myself. Negative thoughts lead to judgment, impatience, heaviness of being. When I let those negative thoughts fester it just brings me down SO fast! Positive thoughts uplift in every aspect of my life.
This was why I my "word for the year" last year was POSITIVE. :)
While reading my scriptures this morning, I came across these verses.
"Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not."
-Doctrine and Covenants 6:36
And this one.
"...cast away your idle thoughts..."
-Doctrine and Covenants 88:69
And this one.
"...let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God..."
-Doctrine and Covenants 121:45
I can do better here. I can look to my Savior in my thoughts. I can cast out idle, random, pointless thoughts. I can train my mind to guard my thoughts.
My thoughts have great power. I can access and develop this power. I can use this power.
Just a little food for "thought."
Life has just been racing along here. It is crazy how I realize a month has gone by every time I unload the pictures off my camera.
So many fun memories! I KNOW there were hard times, but you sure wouldn't know it by the pictures. :) I actually like that about pictures. They record the good, and seem to seamlessly ignore the bad. I should document the bad, but that is the part of often want to forget. The pictures make me remember. I want to remember the good. :)
So here are a few memories encased in photos.
1. Game Night and Creme Brulee with our friends the Farmers - Matt, Erica, and Hali.
2. Burgers and fries at JCW's with dad.
3. And who wouldn't want to remember this? Maybe I do document the bad sometimes. :)
Gotta love these little moments.
