A Lot of Prayer, A Lot of Faith, An AWESOME Tutor, and Sunflower Seeds

About two weeks ago I took my second to last test in Bio Chemistry.  I failed!  It was as if I went in to take the test and just guessed.  16 out of 50.  However, guessing would've given me 12 out of 50 according to my professor.  That next day, I then received an email from my professor wondering if I was cheating.  Because I have done poorly on all the tests, but have been receiving 10's across the board for my quizzes (that are OPEN BOOK).  It did look fishy, because I will admit; my tutor was always with me when I took the quizzes.  He helped a little by telling me I might want to double check that answer, but mostly he was there to calm me down because I would freak out over the time limit. I may or may not have some sort of test anxiety, but that is a blog post all in its self.  When I read this email from my professor I was immediately shut down.  I saw no hope of passing this class.  The email also stated that if I were to pass the class at all (since I was sitting at a C-) I would have to pull at least, AT LEAST, 32 questions correct out of 60 on the final, just to receive a C in the class.  That Friday as I met with my tutor I had feelings of doubt, and thought all this hard work of studying, and meeting with my tutor every stinking day of my summer vacation for TWO HOURS was a big waste of time, and money - my tutor wasn't for free!  As I left the library Friday evening I was depressed, and worried of what my life was to become.  I had already decided that I was, a. going to be a college drop out, or b. transfer up to Logan and try, TRY to finish my degree up at USU - which wasn't sounding like a bad idea, but I just was so close at SUU I wanted to stay here.  I took the weekend to figure things out.  Friday, I was distraught, Saturday I was mad, and Sunday...well Sunday was a day of mourning.  I cried and cried, and cried some more.  At one point my mascara had ran down both sides of my cheeks making me look like a figure out of a horror film.  It was pretty much embarrassing.  By Monday I was deciding to at least give the next two weeks a try, what would it hurt?

Amongst all the emotions of the weekend I decided to go talk to my Bishop.  I am in a family ward, and feel that my problems are just ity bity, and the Good Lord above knows that a Bishop in a family ward has a lot more bigger fish to fry then my piddily little problem of, "why can't I pass chemistry!"  I sought out my Bishop any way, and asked if I could meet with him after church.  This isn't the first time we have met over this ordeal of chemistry.  Last semester when I was in this class for the third time I met with him too.  So we met, he gave me some great advice and council.  I took it with humility (hence, the tears all stinking day long).  He gave me a blessing, stating that I would get my rest and eat healthy, and that my professor’s heart would be softened when I spoke with him.  Okay, but I wanted to hear the golden words, "you will pass chemistry."  Didn't hear what I wanted, but I decided to keep the faith and trudge forward.  

Later that week I met with my Professor.  I had been nervous upon meeting with him since the "email."  I walked into his office and we visited for about 30 minutes.  Nothing but wisdom and hope came out of his mouth.  He talked to me about passing the class, and that he really believed I could do it.  He told me that all I needed to get was 32 out of 60 correct for a C grade, and that if I could at least (but let's not try for that) get 28 out of 60 it would give me a C-, and my advisor already had told me that she would take it to the head of the department of education and pass me if I ended up with a C-.  (Basically I am down to the wire and it's now or never!)  Just before I left his office my professor (who is not LDS - just saying) asked if I was religious of any sort.  I didn't say anything, kept a straight face and continued to listen, thinking it was rather odd having one of my professors talk to me about God.  He told me that he believed in a "higher power" and that maybe I need to try putting my chemistry woes into that "higher power."  I was kind of dumbfounded.  I'm a religious gal, why didn't I think of that?  I did of course think of it when it was down to the fact I may not pass this class.  Isn't that how we all are though, when it comes down to big decisions, illness, and major woes that is the time we finally turn to God.  That is how I am, sad to say, I need to be more active in going to Him all the time, not just when I am in complete desperation.

I kept moving forward with the tutoring.  During this time I had many dear friends and family come to me with advice and hope.  One friend in particular was my friend Jaime.  Jaime is new to the church, and hasn't been the best at being "active."  She knows I'm pretty faithful to church and all, so she got straightforward with me.  She said I needed to get all "Mormony" and go to the temple, fast, see the Bishop (for another blessing) and pray, pray, pray.  I was shocked, thinking to myself, are you listening to what you are telling me?  The weekend before the last week of school zoomed past me.  I didn't go to the temple, I didn't fast, but I saw my Bishop and prayed, prayed, prayed.  The Bishop gave me more advice on taking the test and telling me that 32 questions correct was very possible.  It wasn't like I was shooting for 60 out 60.  He gave me another blessing lasting about a minute, again saying nothing to the effect of "I will pass chemistry."  So, I kept trudging along with faith.

As Monday came and went I kept feeling that I needed to do what my friend Jaime said to do, go to the temple and fast.  Tuesday after work I asked my boss if I could have Wednesday off so I could "study."  He said I could, so I set off to study, both spiritually, and mentally.  Tuesday night I began my fast.  I hate fasting; it's probably the hardest principle of the gospel for me to live.  Me likes my food, and giving it up for two meals is difficult!  We all know that I should give up more of my food....ya know what I'm say'n!!!  Wednesday morning I struggled out of bed, but kept the goal of the temple in my mind.  It was my Mommy's birthday and I wanted to surprise her with her favorite chocolate peanut butter pie.  I had made it the night before and had planned to get up and go early morning to deliver it.  That didn't happen, and now I know why.  I finally arrived at my parent’s house to drop off the pie.  I wished my Mommy a happy birthday and headed to the temple.  I arrived a little after 12pm and was limited on time so decided I would do some sealing’s since they didn't take all day.  As I was heading to the elevator I see my Mission Presidents wife.  "Well, well.  Fancy seeing you here!" I said.  She gave me a hug and asked what I was doing here on a Wednesday afternoon.  I told her that I was coming to get some spiritual insight of some sort.  She asked (like everyone else who I don't ever see that often) how chemistry was going.  I told her, "That is why I am here - CHEMISTRY!!!"  Her and my Mission President are coordinators in the Temple on Wednesdays from 12-5pm.  I knew they worked there, but it used to be all day Thursdays.  I had no idea I would be running into them; in fact I try to avoid them...now I know to stay away from Wednesdays.  (Rude, I know.  I love them to pieces, dearly love them, but when you are in my shoes, not married, and failing at school they are not really the people I want to run into.)  She rode the elevator with me and just before I got off she said, "Will you come and see Robert and I in our office when you are done?"  "Sure," I say.  I finish up with the sealing’s and head to their office.  They are busy folks coordinating the temple staff, so I sat patiently and waited.  I hadn't eaten and I was starting to feel the effects - my emotions were askew.  They finally shooed everyone out of their office and sat down to talk to me.  I held a good face until my Mission Presidents wife made a statement that made my eyes boil over with tears.  Oh great!  I began to apologize, especially because every time we had "one on one" meetings on my mission, with my Mission President, I would cry.  Let's just say the spirit is really strong with me.  Yes, please think that. ;)  He told me not to apologize as his wife is hugging me.  His wife then asked if he could give me a blessing.  "NO! I don't need another blessing - this is not why I came here." I said.  He said he would be happy to give me a blessing and they found a room and blessed me with peace.  Once again, no words of, "I will pass chemistry."  I hugged them both and left the building.  I drove home in silence, wondering what my future was to be.  I had three days left until the final was to be taken.  I kept seeing my path in front of me, fork in the road sort of speak, which path do I take, which path does the Lord want me to take?  Both things were good things - depending on how I looked at it, but my hearts desire was for the path to finish my degree at SUU.  Passing chemistry was a righteous desire, so why couldn't he grant me this desire of my heart?  I continued to battle with doubt the next three days.  By Thursday afternoon I was full of doubt, so full that I cried some more.  I cried into the night, but with a little bit of faith still left in me I decided to pray.  As I finished praying I decided that if I want the Lord to talk to me I have to open up my scriptures.  I decided to not pick up where I was currently reading and just open the scriptures up.  I opened and the book fell to Ether chapter 4.  I thought this was kind of lame chapter, so I turned back a chapter, to chapter 3.  I read the heading and thought, oh yeah; this is some good stuff here.  I began to read.  By the second verse of Ether chapter 3 I was slapped across the face.  It reads, O Lord, thou hast said that we must be encompassed about by the floods. Now behold, O Lord, and do not be angry with thy servant because of his weakness before thee; for we know that thou art holy and dwellest in the heavens, and that we are unworthy before thee; because of the fall our natures have become evil continually; nevertheless, O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that from thee we may receive according to our desires.

 V. 3 Behold, O Lord, thou hast smitten us because of our iniquity, and hast driven us forth, and for these many years we have been in the wilderness; nevertheless, thou hast been merciful unto us. O Lord, look upon me in pity, and turn away thine anger from this thy people, and suffer not that they shall go forth across this raging deep in darkness; but behold these things which I have molten out of the rock.

 V. 4 And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea.

 V. 5 Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men.

The brother of Jared had been asked to build some sort of boats (barges) - he had no idea of how to go about doing it, but he just did what he knew and left the rest up to the Lord.  I too, at this moment in my life felt a tiny bit like the brother of Jared.  I was told long ago by my Mission President to go to school, the Prophet tells us to go to school, and I just figured I should go to school - not sure why at times I am going to school, but like the brother of Jared I'm just trying to do what the Lord wants me to do and hope that He will provide the rest.  I was ready to just throw in the towel, call it quits, move on, but I took that little bit of faith that was still with me and went to the Lord, like the brother of Jared, and asked Him to show Himself through helping me pass my chemistry class.  The Lord showed Himself to me, not like the brother of Jared, but He showed himself to me by helping me pass my chemistry class.  

This story has a much anticipated happy ending.  I got up Friday morning rejuvenated and ready to take on this final chemistry test.  I went to work, and made sure I kept positive vibes going about passing my test.  My two flower girls I work with were darling, and kept telling me all day that I could do it, and I will pass this test.  At 2:00pm I left work thirty minutes early to meet my tutor for one final tutoring session.  We only met for an hour and just went over random stuff.  He told me I was going to do well and pass – he felt confident I knew the stuff I needed to know for this test.  I kept the confidence and said goodbye. The next hour, before the test, I walked outside on to campus and found a nice shady place to sit and relax.  (I feel like a lot of my problems with test taking are that I study up until the test and that causes me to freak out.  I felt like I knew the material enough and that a break before the test would do a world of good.)  With ten minutes before the test I said one final prayer and made my way to the classroom.  I was completely at peace and calmer then I have ever been.  I found a seat and waited for the test administrator to arrive.  The time had come, and I was ready.  I took the test, doing what my Bishop had told me to do.  I went through and hit all sixty questions, just answering the ones I for certain new.  Then I went back and hit the ones I fairly new.  Lastly I went back and hit the ones I didn’t even have a clue, but tried my best.  When the last few minutes of time were called I looked over my test, arose from my seat and confidently turned in my test.  I left the building feeling positive I had done my best and that is all that mattered.  I drove home, sat by my computer with the email open, waiting for my professor to inform me on the scores of the test.  At 6:12pm on Friday night, August 5, 2011 my professor sent me an email.  It reads,

Hey Liberty,

You did it!  Congratulations!!! You got 32/60, which places you in the 55th percentile nationally, and corresponds to a grade of 77.5% for the final exam. This brings your overall average up to a 72.19%. And it brings your ACS average up to a 72.5%. Based on this level of performance on the final, it is completely reasonable and justified to round this up into the C range.  So, you won't need to worry about getting special permission for a C-.  You earned a straight C!  I am so proud of you.  Way to not give up, and push all the way to the end.  It really paid off.  I hope you developed a better feeling about biochemistry.  It really seems like you did, and I really appreciate your positive attitude. Your change of heart is awesome!  Please also tell Mykel how much I appreciate him working with you this semester.

I am so happy for you!

Cheers,

My Professor

These kept me awake - I am now a professional
Sunflower Seed Eater???  And
Pickle flavor...HEAVENLY!

I have never in my life been more pleased with a C grade.  I will always cherish receiving a C in this Organic Bio Chemistry class.  It taught me more than just chemistry!  It taught me to trust in the Lord, have faith, reminded me that prayer works, gave me the opportunity to have a tutor like Mykel, who is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G – my miracle worker, gave me another reminder that the priesthood also really works, and most importantly that a bag of pickled flavor sunflower seeds keeps a girl like me awake during boring tutor sessions.  (It wasn’t my tutor, It was me and my dislike towards chemistry – it’s boring to me, but I had to learn it!!!)

I know that the last couple of years (ick – can’t believe it’s been years) have been rather rough for me with school, but now I can see all that it has taught me.  This experience will stick with me forever, for all that I have learned has been priceless.  Now I can finally receive that “piece of paper” as we are calling it these days.  Two semesters left and graduation May 2012…FINALLY!!! 

Finally I can graduate.  

It Ain't Easy Turning 29 Again

It's official, today July 18, 2011 marks the day of my birth 31 years ago.  (Am I doing the math right...maybe it's only been 29 years down...)  My Mother lay up in the hospital in downtown St. George, Utah.  Within minutes, okay maybe a few hours I popped out of her like a jack pops out of a box! Big eyed and bushy tailed I came a screaming into this world, and believe me, I plan on screaming on the way out!

It has been a roller coaster of a life I have lead, 30 years has allowed me to see and do much.  I sure as heck haven't seen and done it all yet, and believe me, I am not ready to go a screaming yet!!!

Tim McGraw sings, 

"I think I'll take a moment, celebrate my age

The ending of an era and the turning of a page
Now it's time to focus in on where I go from here
Lord have mercy on my next thirty years"

My Past 30 Years
1.  Grew up (and still growing) in a wonderful family with a loving Mommy and Daddy - with pretty good siblings too, I have my parents to thank for producing a wild bunch.

2.  Met, have, acquired, and grateful for many, many, many dear sweet friends who SERIOUSLY complete my life!!!

3.  Developed, and STILL developing many talents...like, I have learned how to decorate a cake, play the piano and guitar, cook, sew, crochet, picked up knitting (hate it), public speaking, gardening, blogging, etc.

4.  Traveled a lot, for me, but I still have a lot more traveling to do!

5.  Left the United States a couple of times, and still need to leave it a couple more times.

6.  Seen 27 out of the 50 States, and by golly I hope to see them all!!! (I'm a little more than half way there...)

7.  Worked and lived in Alaska - one of the main goals on my list "to do" in this lifetime.

8.  Served a mission for the LDS Church - loved every hard moment of it!

9.  Read a lot of AWESOME books, and watched a lot of AWESOME movies.  (Yes I still love Netflix, it was bound to happen - we made peace and life can roll on!)

10.  Have had a broken heart a couple of times, I guess, but I'm glad I have!  Only one regret, and he's married now, oh well he wasn't for me!

11.  Worked many, many, many jobs - feel very well rounded.  Tour guiding was my favorite!

12.  Graduated from a junior college with my associates degree.  At the time it was just "Dixie College."

13.  PLANNING ON, AND WILL GRADUATE a University with my bachelors degree in FCS Education in May 2012!!!  Bout FREAKING TIME!!!

14.  Am completely self sufficient (as self sufficient as a college student can be) and learned how to budget.  

15.  I know how to bake brownies from scratch!

16.  Went skinny dipping - see here!

17.  Tried, cooked, and have ate many wonderful and yummy things!

18.  Ran a half marathon - maybe one day I'll do a full marathon.  MAYBE!

19.  Sufficiently been humbled - numerous times, and yet, I still get humbled today! 

20.  Had a "booty call," mormon/christian style...won't go into to detail - email me if you would like the details.  It was clean - don't be thinking things - sheesh!
booty call
noun informal
a *Christian "Make-out" invitation or rendezvous.
   • a person regarded for this : to him, I was just a booty call.
    ORIGIN 1990s: from booty (slang for ‘buttocks’ ) and call.

*words have been changed.

21.  Visited almost all the National Parks - still have a few more to go.

22.  Made a fool out of myself more times then I can remember.  A couple of examples, see here, and here!

23.  I Have experience many struggles and trials that have only made me stronger.

24.  Developed a "Plan B" - that leads me to where I am now, I guess?

25.  Lived through many funny and disastrous blind dates - you know I'm always up for free meals!  (I actually don't say that anymore...I'm trying to mature - comes with age I suppose!)

26.  Cultivated my own personal style - comfortable, casual, and kind of classy - I own lot's of argyle.

27.  Had my fortune told at age 18 in Balboa Park (San Diego).  She said I would marry later in life and have three kids.  She just might be right, except I want more than three kiddos?

28.  Grew a garden from scratch - it has taught me a lot.

29.  Dyed my hair an outrageous color - well it was outrageous for me - dark reddish brown.  I am definitely a blond, and should always be.

That's me in the middle...it was a late night with roomies?
You have no words right?
(This is my real hair - not a wig!)

 AND...............Lastly, but not leastly...

30.  I officially drink soy milk.  Vanilla is quite tasty!

"Hey my next thirty years I'm gonna have some fun
Try to forget about all the crazy things I've done
Maybe now I've conquered all my adolescent fears
And I'll do it better in my next thirty years."

Here's to some great years ahead.  I'm going to shoot for that thing where you find a man and make them your husband.  We'll probably be eloping...so stay tuned!  

HaPpY BiRtHdAy LiB-dAwG!!!

I Could've Found Love on The River...Possibly 4 Times???

To all my fans:  Sorry for the delay in blogging.  That stupid class I despise so much, CHEMISTRY, is taking all my stinking summer time, so I never get to blog.  And, I never get to watch Netflix.  Oh life stinks!  On a happy note, me and chemistry are doing well and this is going to be the last you will ever hear about my chemistry class because I am passing the class with flying colors!!!  Dearest fans, thank you for being patient.  Now sit back and enjoy the rest of the show.

I just did another totally awesome river trip down Deso Canyon (Desolation Canyon, Green River, in Utah).

I have decided in my search for a man - (which is becoming quite the search) this man I marry needs to be a true blue "river rat."  What is a "river rat?"  Found on this website, I think this dude explains it the best, on his definition of what a "river rat" is:   "What’s a river rat? 'River rat' is a moniker that some river paddlers have given themselves. It is a term of affection and best describes the sometimes grubby, relaxed and always fun nature of paddling on moving water. In most paddling circles, being identified as a river rat is like a badge of honor. The term river rat also describes the anonymous and down to earth nature of the paddling clan. You can be a high powered executive, blue collar worker or a struggling college student, but once on the water, pretenses are left behind and magically we are transformed into fun-loving, happy-go-lucky river rats!"

Why do I need a "river rat" because I have become one.  First order of business in the search for a man - when I find this type of man ("river rat") he can only see me transformed into a "river rat" after he has popped the question, or we are legally and loftily wedded.  Why do I say this...because when I am on the river all my dainty women stuff and acting that I portray (at times) gets thrown down the river.  I then get transformed into a smelly, grungy, hair like Medusa, along with hairy armpits, and just a plain wet mess.  A wet mess in a good way.  I wear the same clothes for days on end (but change the underwear cause that I can't handle), use the bathroom behind a bush and on a groover (army can with a toilet seat stuck on top), or I use the bathroom in my pants in the river - seriously I'm admitting this - it's how you roll on the river yo's!  I also pack down food like it's the last meal I'm eat'n, and lastly, when I happen upon a handsome "river rat" out on the river/campsite I forget about all that stuff I just mentioned and try to get my flirt on.  I mean really, who am I kidding, finding a man for me is truly going to be a lost cause when I'm sporting this "river rat" look!

How can I be looking this hot and be passed up by another River Rat???
This is why I normally wear makeup...

With all that said I had 4 possible opportunities on the river to find true love.  However, I obviously didn't know how to work it.

Possibility one.  Our first night of arriving at our launching point, of Sand Wash, we arrive to an over flooded beach, with stagnate water, and mosquitoes eating us alive.  We unload the equipment and begin setting up the rafts.  Within minutes of unloading, this tall, dark, and handsome ranger (who I guessed was probably 28) arrives to welcome us, and check us in for our departure the following morning.  I find myself glued to this young man.  Wow - he's a catch, I think.  So, after staring for some time I decide to get myself closer and try to talk to him like I am a veteran "river rat."  I do okay in faking it, but I soon get nervous and end the conversation.  I get back to unloading when the young, rugged, yet handsome ranger comes back again.  I later find out that he made several stops back that evening wanting to try to hook it up with me.  Nah - that's just what my Uncle's friend Kevin said later on as we were floating down the river.  Why wasn't he giving me pointers in the moment - seriously I could've got this guy's email at least.  I could've exchanged emails then tell information about the river at the end of our float trip.  I would then email him the status of the river.  That email then could've turned into a online romance, or something of the sort...Next time I'll know better?!?!?!

Possibility two.  As we are floating down the river stopping to see all the sights we happen upon a river group taking teenagers down the river.  On one of the scenic hikes to Native American Petroglyph's I scanned the teens when I found me a handsome young guide working the group.  He smiled and my heart skipped a beat.  Gosh, this guy is a cutie living out on the river.  I even think he might have been what they call LDS.  Just because he had that stupid "Returned Missionary" talk to him.  You know the "talk" that these missionaries bring home with them, where they have all these obnoxious pauses - some of you know what I'm saying.  (Side note:  they do not teach you to pause obnoxiously in the MTC!!!!)  I made sure to get some practice in with this dude and chatted it up with him.  Lucky me I saw him again at another hike/sight.  Basically, all "possibility two" was for me, was practice, but there is nothing wrong with practicing my river talk/flirt!

Possibility three.  Oh, possibility number three was interesting.  On our last night of camping at Nefertiti we happened to camp next to a group of people who knew how to have a good time using that stuff called beer and other hard liquor.  As soon as camp was set up I was helping to prepare dinner like I always do.  When three, VERY rugged men come to our camp to greet us, with beverages (sad for them since we are a “dry” camp).  I watched from our kitchen area as the two shirtless and one shirt man are chatting it up with a few of the folk in our camp.  I am completely jealous – I should be talking to them!  I so want to be over there trying to talk “river” with them.  I finish up what I’m doing and pass my cooking assignment over to someone else and make my way over to the epitome of “river rats” and get my river talk on baby!  These dudes were GNARLY!  All from Colorado (which is where I am currently wanting to move), and they were all veteran river runners.  Oh this is just perfect I think.  After about 45 minutes of talking and watching them I send them on their way.  (I was hungry and dinner was ready, and they had a hike they wanted to do.)  That night I laid awake thinking of my future “river rat” and wondering if one of those river dudes were going to sneak over to my tent.  No such luck.  As timing has a way with me, the next morning I had another opportunity to try to get my groove on with these river guides.  However, my Sis came along and stole my chance.  She literally slipped right under me and took a butt grabbing from me.  How RUDE!

My Sister - the future river guide! Don't you think she
would make a good female river guide?
Take a moment to vote - see side bar!

Possibility 4.  Can I just say my Uncle Ron's friend Kevin is a huge prankster and I will never be able to trust him again!  We leave the shore and head for home, four girls packed into a truck with Kevin (my Uncle's friend).  We are about an hour out of Green River when it's time for a potty break - that's what you get when traveling with four girls (me, Stephanie, Sister - Jessie, and Brother's Girlfriend Kali).  We stop at a rest stop and all get out to stretch and walk around.  Kevin let's us ladies take our time.  We finally get in the car when Kevin hands me a piece of paper with a phone number scratched on it.  I say to him, "What is this?"  He say's, "Some guy just asked if I was your Grandpa."  I immediately break out laughing hysterically cause Kevin is only old enough to be my Dad, not Grandpa.  When I get composure of myself I say, "Why did he ask you that?"  He says, "The guy asked if I was the blonde's Grandpa and if I could give you this piece of paper."  I open the piece of paper to find a phone number.  I don't know what to do.  I later on decided to text the number, and to know avail I never get a text back.  Sad, huh?  Let's move forward two weeks later now.  I am on the phone with a Doctors office in St. George.  I call to make an appointment with a dermatologist because I recently feel I may or may not have skin cancer.  I call my dermatologist and talk with the receptionist to make an appointment.  They ask my name, I say, "Liberty Williams" when the voice on the other end say's, "IS THIS LIBBY!"  "Yes," I say confused.  The other end of the line say's, "Libby, this is Janice Kirkham."  (She is a dear neighbor of my Aunt and Uncle, and she knows Kevin very well.)  She ask how the latest river trip was, and then asks me if I got to meet Mr. Kevin Lee.  I said, "HECK YES!"  One thing leads to another and I tell her of my receiving a phone number.  She starts laughing and say's, "Libby, don't you ever believe a word that comes out of Kevin Lee's mouth!"  What!  I know right, so I guess I didn't really get some guy's number - it was made up?  Turns out that Kevin is quite the prankster, and well, as most of you know, I'm just about as gullible as they come!  

The prankster Kevin Lee - how do I end up with these people who end up
getting me and making me believe their antics???

This trip did not produce a man for me, let a lone a RIVER RAT, but I know I always have next summer to try again on the river of LOVE!  He's out there, we just haven't had the chance to be on the right river at the right time.  Wouldn't it be radical if we meet on a river where we flip the raft and he happens to be right there in time just to sweep me up into his arms.  A girl can dream, a girl can dream.

If you would like to read more and see even more pictures about our trip go to my Sister's blog.  I also want to put in a plug for my cousin's totally awesome river rafting blog, Paddle Oar Die Rafting - go check it out!  

I Graduated From LDS Institute, and Other Nonsense....

I can't seem to graduate from that thing called college, BUT I was able to graduate from the LDS Institute program.  Yeah for me!  It was actually kind of exciting.  I had decided about a year ago that maybe I should try to graduate from Institute.  I talked to one of my teachers and he pulled up all my information and classes I had taken.  He then tells me I am really close to graduating I just need to take a year of the "Book of Mormon."  In all my institute years - there has been many years - I had never once taken a "Book of Mormon" class.  I have taken the "Dating and Courtship" more times then I can remember (and obviously it hasn't helped), but I had never taken "Book of Mormon."  I asked my teacher if going on a mission would count for that year of "Book of Mormon" and he could just pass me through.  No such luck!  I had to sign up for a year of "Book of Mormon."  I signed up, and took a full year, along with my "older singles" institute classes.  I was taking two institute classes a semester along with my regular semester of classes, including chemistry.  You would think that doubling up on the spiritual institute classes would also  help me to pass all my chemistry.  Hmm...Let's not go there....By the way did I mention I took the "Book of Mormon" class...not sure if it was said or not.  ;)

Since I would be out of town on my Institute Graduation I was told to go pick up my diploma sometime after I got back.  I obviously never did get around to it, and now I wish I would have.  Last Sunday, I was surprisingly on time to church, let this be a lesson - stick to coming late!  I had gotten to Sacrament meeting even before my aunt, who I sit by each week.  Totally SHOCKING!  As they we were making announcements I was talking to this senior couple next to me in my ward (who I have buddied up with) when all of the sudden the Bishop calls my name,  "Can I have Liberty Williams come up to the stand?"  What the heck, as I am in full conversation with my senior buds.  The Bishop continues, "Libby has been called to serve in the Mongolia Mission...."  Okay, aren't you just funny Bishop.  I start the long walk to the front - never sit in the very back - not good!  I get to the stand and the Bishop continues..."Libby has actually graduated from the LDS Institute of Religion, and has completed her four years.  The program has presented her with this diploma and we would like to present it to her today."  As I was standing up there completely embarrassed I went on to act like a "sunbeam" (a 5 year old child labeled in the LDS church), and I made some face, rolled my eyes, then shook the Bishops hand and quickly walked back to my seat.  REALLY - HOW OLD AM I - now the face making and eye rolling was embarrassing?  Why did they have to present that in Sacrament meeting?  Well, it's now official - I graduated Institute, and now it's off to get my advanced certificate in Institute.  I mean really, if I can't graduate college I might as well try to graduate in my religion.  Does this mean I have a degree to bash with people of other faiths???

That was exciting?  However, another exciting bit that happened in the month of May was that we celebrated a holiday known as Memorial Day.  I decided on the Friday before the holiday that I would actually celebrate this holiday correctly - meaning, go visit those who have passed on - pay my respects to the dead.  I know, that sounds kind of tacky - "pay my respects yo, to the dead!"  On Sunday, I went to the cemetery and said hello with my parents in toe.  Then, once again on Monday amongst the normal holiday activities of hiking and BBQing my family again went down to the cemetery and walked among the spirits of those who have passed away.  It was a sweet feeling being at the cemetery.  We all took a moment to remember our dear Grandparents, who were so kind and loving, and NOT forgotten.  I'm so glad we took a few moments out of our day to do that.

Of course, as the holiday of Memorial Day has turned into a much needed day off from the busy work week we planned a hike, and an annual BBQ.  It's how we roll in the Williams family.  Around noon we all met up and decided to hike Spring Creek again, since that is exactly what we did last year.  We wanted to hike Kannarra Narrows, but because of all the rain and snow we have been receiving we decided it would be really wet and cold.  Not that Spring Creek was any dryer.  We did a lot of crossing of the creek, and luckily nobody got extremely wet.  It was fun to take all the kiddos, and to be up in a beautiful canyon hiking.  The best part about it was that the hike was free, and right in our own backyard.  SCORE!  After the hike we got back to my Bro's house and fired up the grill for our typical hamburger, and lot's of eat'n BBQ.  I think we all had a great time - it really seemed like everyone had a great time!  The weather was perfect, a little bit on the chilly side, but nothing a jacket couldn't cure.  I have come to love the holiday of Memorial Day, but now as I am older, I have decided that even though it has been made to be just a day off work for people to BBQ I'm still going to make it a point to go visit those who have passed away.

The little Sister trying to make fun of me - so sweet, isn't it!

Some other nonsense....I'm doing my summer of chemistry.  Holy Freaking COW - so much for having an enjoyable summer.  I've met with my tutor already, and had my first quiz.  Passed it - got 10 points out of 10 points.  I'm going to say this is my summer of chemistry.  I may not get to have the summer of fun like I always want/get, but by golly I am going to pass this class.  I'm putting it out there into the universe - I AM GOING TO PASS CHEMISTRY!  I AM GOING TO PASS CHEMISTRY!  I AM GOING TO PASS CHEMISTRY!!!!!!  It's actually not so bad, kind of interesting too.  What?  Did I just say that?  Sure did - you heard me right yo's!

Got Flowers?

I mentioned my summer...well that brings me to working the grounds of SUU, yet again.  All summer long I get to be a "flower girl!"  I started about two weeks after everyone else because I was out on a very long road trip.  I'm now back to the manual labor, digg'n in the dirt, breaking my back, and still screaming at those things called worms.  It still doesn't get easier with time - worms are still gross, but I am grateful for the little guys because it shows that the soil is in really good condition!  

(Our cool shirts we made for our crew full of flower PoWeR!  I came up with the slogan - "Got Flowers?")

However, I'm totally bummed because I don't have an iPod anymore.  Here's the sad story.  Around the first of April my car stereo when kapoot!  I have a dear sweet friend in the car stereo business, he hooked me up and got me thugging once again in the Honda.  Well, about a week before that "very long road trip" I dropped my iPod in the toilet.  I KNOW, I KNOW!  It was completely (and still is) devestaing.  The funny part is I came out of the bathroom just screaming...of course the Bro was like, "What is all this screaming about?"  I say, "I just dropped my iPod in the toilet and I'm hoping a bowl of rice will fix it!!!" (side note:  the iPod got dropped before anything else got dropped if you get my drift...)  He say's, "Who the HELL takes an iPod into the bathroom with them - you take a book!!!  I don't feel sorry for you!"  I say, "Oh just be quiet.  And, yes, I take an iPod in the bathroom, so I can play games!"  It has been that blessed iPod that gets me through my summer job of planting flowers.  What am I going to do?  As mentioned to some of you, I am taking donations.  I've got a plan...if everyone who reads my blog sends me $5.00 each than I should, for sure, have enough money to buy me a new iPod and then with the leftover money (I'm assuming here) I can buy songs off of iTunes.  Totally have a plan...

Please send money via check or money order to:
Miss Liberty Williams
P.O. Box 420010
Kanarraville, UT 84742.

My birthday is also coming up in July (the 18th to be exact), so if you would like to send more than the $5.00 donation please feel free.

Thanks for all of your support!  (I am really not expecting any money - but in all seriously, do think it over.)

That's all my nonsense.  Now get mailing me some money yo's! ;)

Road Trip - A Very Long Road Trip

Caution, warning, whatever you do in reading this blog post, know that it is very long.  V-E-R-Y L-O-N-G!  I mean seriously, the title tells you I just went on a very long road trip.  If you want a quicker blog read, then read about our trip go to my Sisters blog - she has the condensed version, and she also has pictures.  Not sure when I will get my pictures posted...but they are coming.  Also, I don't know if I will have much time to blog this summer since Tuesday is when I take the second chemistry of mine for the umpteenth time.  Dear reader, I'm giving you, the reader several days to read about my trip.  If you are willing?  So, read some, stop, come back, read some more, stop, pick up the reading again, and then in a few days you will have read about my very long road trip.  :) :) :) Grab that popcorn and let the road trip unfold...

Day 1 of VERY LONG ROAD TRIP!

My Sis and I just got home from a VERY LONG, but oh so wonderful road trip!  We did it all, and then some!  We started out on a quiet Thursday afternoon.  Took my last final, worked a few hours, loaded the car, and then headed south.  Our destination was a lot of different places, and different people.  First it was off to Phoenix, but before getting there we took the long route - don't ask me why, we just did!  We headed down to Vegas making a sharp left turn south to the Hoover dam.  I haven't been there in years, okay, I was there two years ago but it was dark and you couldn't really see anything.  My, my how that dam area has changed.  They now have this huge bridge that goes over the dam and then some.  We took the scenic route of course, then back tracked (which is a "no no" in my book) to the bridge and headed south.  According to our itinerary we were supposed to end up in Flagstaff for a night of camping but decided to stop short, ending west of Flagstaff; we stayed in a historic little town called Seligman which is on the historic Route 66.  After a VERY LONG night of listening to trains going by every 30 minutes the campground host presented Sis and I with a key chain saying, "We survived the night of 1000 trains!"  (That will make a nice mailbox key chain.)  We sure did survive a night of SERIOUSLY 1000 FREAKING TRAINS, and I only wish I would've drugged myself up with some Tylenol PM.  But then, I wouldn't have this awesome story to tell now would I?

Day 2 of VERY LONG ROAD TRIP!

After an early rise it was time to get back on track with our itinerary and get our butts to Flagstaff.  Since we were behind schedule some, we decided against our activities in Flagstaff and headed south towards Sedona.  I have always wanted to go to Sedona, and was sadly disappointed.  If you are from the Southern region of Utah and surrounded by red rock then Sedona is nothing new.  We saw a few sights, drove around, but thought it was a drag and got back in the car so we could get our butts even further south to Phoenix.

Now Sis has been to Phoenix before, but me, nope!  Can you believe it, I can't.  Now know that on this really long road trip my Sis and I did some major researching for what we could see, do, and of course, EAT in all the different places we tripped through.  One thing that helped in our planning was these two totally cool websites, Tripadvisor and 10best. In planning Phoenix they said to do the Mystery Castle tour.  After driving all through most of Phoenix, cause it’s way big, and way spread out, we made our way to this dumpy castle.  This castle was some man’s house that ended up being a collector of junk.  We paid the five dollars and walked through the NO AIR CONDITIONED "castle" and then were on our way.  It was cool, I guess?  Seriously though, it's in Phoenix, and they need to add air conditioning to that place - especially if it's a "tourist attraction."  After we cooled off we found the Mesa temple and a hotel nearby.  Showered finally, and then went to the temple.  Sis did baptisms, and I did some sealing’s.  The night was beautiful, the temple was beautiful, and our trip was becoming more beautiful.  After temple time it was off to bed because we had an extra-long day ahead of us.

Day 3 of VERY LONG ROAD TRIP!

That morning we arose into our third day on the trip.  I became more and more dumb with traveling, and was able to receive a phone call from my dearest cousin Summer trying to figure out what is going on in my head!  Apparently when traveling to different states there happens to be a thing called a time zone.  Hmm.  Well, I apparently couldn't get this time zone thing into my blond head....so, to make a long story (kind of) short.  We were at a race to get from Phoenix to El Paso with a stop in Tucson to see the Saguaro National park, and Old Tucson, where they have filmed a whole bunch of movies - westerns mostly.  Oh yes, and we had to eat at a little French cafe cause heaven forbid we eat something out of our cooler again.  And, of course, I am thinking that we can do all this and arrive in El Paso at let's say around six, or did I say four in the afternoon.  Gees, give me a break, I'm on vacation I shouldn't have to use my brain. ;)  However, we did see Saguaro National Park, toured Old Tucson, saw dumpy Tucson, and ate at a little French cafe.  Then we drove like a bat out of hell to get our butts to El Paso so that my dear, sweet, cousin and her family who so graciously came to meet us in the border town of El Paso to let us follow them the two hours back to their place in Carlsbad (New Mexico) so that my dad could rest easy miraculously happened; with a pedal to the metal we arrived at 7:00pm, had some dinner and with the TIME CHANGE arrived at their home around midnight.  (And yes, I got over being scared at my cousin...I didn't dare talk on the phone with her after she yelled at me over the phone at the little French cafe.)  And P.S. a week after getting home from the road trip I received a phone call from the cousin telling me that El Paso was actually on the same time zone.  I knew it!

Day 4 & 5 of VERY LONG ROAD TRIP!

Then next few days were spent hanging out with my cousin Summer, her hubby Klinton, and their two sweet kids who I have missed dearly since they moved.  We went to church with them, had some good food, watched movies, relaxed, and just hung out.  Two of the days spent in Carlsbad led my Sis and I to another National Park, Carlsbad Caverns.  They were pretty neat stuff.  It was just the two of us since kids weren't really recommended for the caverns.  You can't take strollers, and you have to be quiet - that doesn't really work for kids.  The Sis and I took off for our journey to the center of the earth, so it felt like it.  We took the natural entrance which is hiking down to the bottom then taking an elevator to the top.  I told one of the rangers that I wish every hike we ever go on would have an elevator at the end.  We were pooped when we got to the bottom.  Our knees were sore and our hair humidified.  It was a fun park to see, but really, once you have been in one cave, they are all pretty much the same.  Although, I wish that I could have been there the day the person who found the caverns - what were they thinking when they stumbled upon this huge hole, and traveled in with probably just an old oil lamp.  FREAKY!  I will give some props to the National Park, the whole trail was lite with lights and then some of the cool features throughout were also lit up.  It reminded me of something out of the movie "Labyrinth" I kept thinking we would find David Bowie at the end of the cave to sing to us or something???  (Side note, when we left the caverns my DJ Sis put in some Bowie music and my day was complete!)

Day 6 of VERY LONG ROAD TRIP!

The next day in Carlsbad we decided to head north an hour and hang out in Roswell, NM.  Does that town sound familiar to anyone...anyone who has been abducted by alien’s maybe???  Roswell, NM is a very controversial town where aliens or the air force once roamed.  I'm not very much into politickle stuff so this whole alien hoopla sounds like a fooey to me.  But, we had to go see all the hype and tour the UFO Museum and Research lab.  Now remember, we had small children with us, so in preparing to see this alien stuff we had to keep telling the little kiddos that aliens are "cute and funny."  Summer's oldest who is 4 agreed with us completely.  The minute we walked into the museum there was a small alien to greet us, and little Trace went right up to the alien and embraced the little guy.  It was the cutest thing I have ever seen!!!  Okay, so even after touring the museum, I think maybe there just might be something out there, and that something might have landed right here in the grand o'l USA, even in Roswell, New Mexico.....you decide.....let the music of X-Files take your mind into deep thought....

Day 7 & 8 of VERY LONG ROAD TRIP!

The next few days with the cousins was just spent hanging out, celebrating Trace's birthday, playing at the park, and just enjoying our time as much as possible before leaving.  The Sis and I did have an interesting experience one night at the park.  I'm just as smart as can be, and have always left one of my memory cards for my camera in my little camera bag.  I am usually the only person to use my camera bag, but upon being on this vacation many people were in and out of my camera bag.  One of the nights at the park my camera was getting passed around.  During the passing around my memory card (with pictures of our trip) fell out as were down by the river.  I didn't realize it until we were about to leave the park.  I became frantic because that card had pictures and memories from our trip.  Those are not replaceable, and since I don't feel the need to ever spend money on souvenirs my pictures are all I ever take from any trip.  I was truly sad, but apparently not as sad as my Sis.  We immediately set foot to retrace our steps with my little camping flashlight.  We obviously didn't retrace all of our steps, and gave up.  We went back to our cousin’s house thinking that maybe I had dropped the card there before we even left for the park.  No luck.  After some major discussing, we decided to go back to the park (around 10:00pm) and retrace our steps once again.  My Sis and I said a quick prayer and started out separating and retracing.  After just a few minutes I hear my Sis yell, "I think I found it, but it's broken."  I come running over to her and sure enough it was on the sidewalk in pieces.  We fumbled around with and put it back together.  We got back and she put it in her computer to retrieve the pictures and sure enough it let her get the pictures.  It was quite the frantic evening, but a small miracle was placed in our life at the very moment, and I was ever so grateful that I got my pictures, my memories, my souvenirs.

Day 9 of VERY. LONG. ROAD. TRIP! YO!

Making it a full week of being on our trip it was time to leave our family down in Carlsbad.  It was very hard to leave, and we didn't want to leave.  Our itinerary got way off schedule because I and the Sis just couldn't bare leaving.  We finally got on the road around 2:00pm about three hours off schedule.  We cried, and cried, and I wondered why I even did my makeup.  Why do loved ones have to live so darn far away!!!  We took off with our destination for Albuquerque.  On the way we were driving north to Roswell, then even farther north to Albuquerque.  Once we got to Roswell the plan was to get gas because it seemed cheaper there then Carlsbad.  After driving the main road there wasn't much of a difference in gas and we still had a half a tank so I said let's just get gas at the next town.  Now my Sis and I are pretty prepared and pretty familiar with traveling the roads (since we have done our fair share of road tripp'n), however, one would think we learned from driving to Alaska that you never let your gas tank get under a half a tank of gas.  I was thinking a little different because, "Alaska is different - you go miles without seeing anyone let alone a gas station."  Well, just because we are hanging out in the lower 48 doesn't mean there aren't roads that go miles and miles without seeing people, or gas.  Well the road from Roswell to the small little town of Vaughn went miles and miles without anything.  I should have known there wasn't going to be gas after Roswell.  We had an atlas, and we were constantly using/looking at and a GPS ("Geeps" - what we call her).  I guess I thought the town of Vaughn wasn't as far as it really was.  My Sis was driving and about 40 miles from Vaughn she mentions to me that the gas light just came on.  At first I was like, "Vaughn is just up the road, we'll be fine."  Then as the road just kept getting longer and longer and no town of Vaughn was appearing I started to let the panic sink in.  What were we going to do!  I have never ever run out of gas.  I have come close, but never have I had to pull over and walk, or call someone for help.  What were we going to do!  Inside my car the book we were listening to got turned off, and the silence made it evident that we weren't going to make it to Vaughn.  I started to play situations in my head of us pulling over because the gas ran out and starting our walk.  I even at one moment thought about hopping on the train, traveling parallel with the road, and heading north, then hopping off in the town to get gas.  I know, I know, my mind was a mess of ideas.  Then as the miles kept creeping longer and longer I started to pray in my head, "Please let us get to Vaughn, please forgive me for being stupid and not filling up when we had the chance, please let us meet some nice people if we do run out of gas, please don't punish my sister for my stupidity..."  Well another miracle was wrought.  Just as I was about to lose faith we came up over the hill and there in the distance was the small little town of Vaughn.  I have never been so happy to see a gas station sign with the cheapest price of gas being $3.98, and I literally ran into the station and told the lady working that I have never been so happy to see this gas station!!!  I'm sure she thought I was nuts, but I was incredibly grateful for another answered prayer.  I guess that is what I get for wanting to wait for "cheaper" gas.

A few hours off schedule we made it to Albuquerque.  One of the tourist attractions in this town is the Sandia Tram which is the longest tram in the world.  Taking you atop the mountains, that sit to the east in Albuquerque.  We got there just before one of the last tram rides.  We hopped on and headed to the top of the mountain.  I didn't really freak out since I was crammed in the tram with about 30 other people and couldn't really lose my cool.  I didn't look down much, and tried not to think of us breaking and falling to our death.  There must be something about getting older because the older I am getting the more scared I am becoming of heights?  When we got to the top I had wished I wasn't in shorts because it was freaking cold - close to 30 degrees!  We took a few pictures watched the sun set which was absolutely beautiful, and chatted with some other sightseers until we could catch a tram back to the bottom.  When we got to the bottom we found out we were only three miles from the temple so we thought we would do a drive by.  They had major road construction and we had quite the struggle to just see the temple.  We decided to call it a night, so we found a hotel, got caught up on our latest Glee show, and went to bed with hopes of getting back on track with our itinerary the next day.  That morning we arose early, got breakfast, checked out "Old Town" in Albuquerque, went and had a better look at the temple and then headed north for our next destination - Santa Fe!

Day 10 of VERY. LONG. ROAD. TRIP! YO!

I loved Santa Fe!  It was everything and more.  People had told me how beautiful and artsy Santa Fe was and is, very true to their words.  First on our agenda in the cute little town was to see one of the oldest and most historic churches in the USA.  The church (which is the oldest in the USA) was under some construction, so in all my research of the town we had another church to attend that was known for a very unique staircase.  The Sis and I paid $3.00 each to walk into this pristine chapel and take a picture of the stairs.  But don't you worry; the Sister and many other folks in the church got their money's worth at this particular time.  In wanting a very different photo of the staircase I started to walk up towards the front of the chapel.  I was walking backwards and was facing a congregation of people who were sitting and praying to their Lord.  I thought I was being very quiet and cool when all of a sudden I fall backwards landing on my BUTT making a loud crash, thinking I was about to take down the pulpit with me.  People look up from their prayers, as I am sprawled out on the floor trying to get a hold of myself.  As I'm just chilling on the floor I start to ramble off stuff to whomever would listen, then I suddenly see my sister walking towards me laughing so hard I thought she was going to pee her pants.  "Quit laughing and help me up so we can get the HELL out of this church."  I get up and dash out when this retired looking couple comes up to me and ask if I'm okay, "physically" of course.  I tell them I'm fine, when at the same time I was bugged that they would even ask me.  Basically all that was hurt was my pride, and that I just wanted to get out of the chapel as fast as we could.  The Sis continued to laugh at me all the way back to the car - making a stop for the restroom so she could relieve herself otherwise my fall was going to make her wet herself.

Upon falling for every ones enjoyment pleasure we also stopped at a super yummy restaurant in Santa Fe that was featured on the show, "Diners, Drive Inns, and Dives."  Lunch was incredibly yummy - dessert, not so much.  I had ordered me a polish dog with onions, pinto beans, relish, mayo, and tomatoes.  It came with onion rings, and I was momentarily in heaven.  The Sis and decided to have the dessert that the host from "Diners, Drive Inns, and Dives" ate, bread pudding custard.  Apparently the Sis has never had a custard.  Her face was priceless when she took her one and only bite.

After Santa Fe it was several hours of driving before we would get to our next destination, Colorado Springs.  Before getting to Colorado Springs we drove through the trashy town of Las Vegas, New Mexico, and the cute towns of Trinidad and Pueblo, Colorado.  Once arriving to Colorado Springs I had fallen in love with a new city.  First on our itinerary was to go to Seven Falls.  Seven Falls is a hike up against the Rocky Mountains.  We drove through a beautiful canyon landing at the end of the canyon were seven water falls came cascading down the mountain side.  We got ourselves together and started up the many stairs, 224 to be exact, and straight up the side of a mountain.  Once upon a time I was not afraid of heights, but seriously the older I am getting the worse I am getting with heights - I hate it.  I started up the stairs and made it to the first ledge.  I tried not to look down much, and tried not to think about the fact that I had to go back down.  The Sis and I sat on the ledge for a while so we could let other people come down.  One set of people in particular came down and had very small children with them - I just about had a freaking panic attack for this family.  I couldn't believe they would bring such small children on a hike like this.  However, I watched this family and luckily they safely made it to the bottom.  Seriously though, they should not let small children be allowed on such hikes like that.

When we finally made it to the bottom of the falls my knees barely stopped shaking with nerves.  Next we took off to the "Garden of the Gods" which felt like we were in Southern Utah with all the red rock.  But, it was beautiful area of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak at the horizon, and seeing the "kissing camels" in the sunset.  (Apparently this state park is one of the most photographed areas in the world, or maybe USA...not sure???)  Since we were kind of on schedule we went to our restaurant that we had planned in advance, a brewery that had great food, but terrible atmosphere, and their homemade brewed root beer was a huge disappointment.  Couldn't tell you about their brewed beer - fo sho, I don't know Yo!

Finally we made it Denver, found our cousins Aaron and Kim and there sweet little kiddos home, and were ready to make it a day.

Day 11 of VERY. LONG. ROAD. TRIP! YO!

The day in Denver.  Okay, I know I say this pretty frequently, especially when I get to a new big city.  I really love Denver, I really think I should move there, and I really want to move there!  It seems to be that lately when I travel I have to go to some sort of garden.  First stop on our agenda for the day was to see the Denver Botanical Gardens.  Good thing we started out there first because just as we left it started to rain. Now I have been to some major awesome gardens in the last couple of years.  This was pretty fabulous, and right in the heart of Denver.  The Sis and walked around in the cold admiring the pretty flowers, statues, and of course, I took lots of pictures.  After the garden touring it was off to eat some lunch.  We of course found our restaurant because of (once again), "Diners, Drive Inns, and Dives."  That should be every one's "go to" for restaurants!  We found the quaint little restaurant and I decided I would try what the host of the show tried, so I had the meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and peas.  YUMMMY!  Then of course we had to try the same dessert he tried, which was a spice cake with real whipped cream.  This time around the Sis actually enjoyed the desert and helped me finish it up.  After a fulfilling lunch it was back to more touring.  Our trusty little websites, as mentioned, said the Denver Art Museum was a must see.  That museum sure was fun, but before enjoying the fun, the fun police (museum security) pulled me aside and got very stern and straight forward with me about having water in the museum.  Well shoot, I should have listened to the SISTER - as I am slowly learning to do.  She is much wiser for her younger age.  After the water got stashed away we started our long journey through the museum.  I enjoyed a lot of the art, but was rolling my eyes at some of the stuff that is apparently art?

We had enough of the cultural experience of looking at art so we decided to go get a little spiritual.  We were supposed to go to the Denver Temple on Friday before we got to our cousins house, but because we were a little bit behind schedule we decided we would go on Saturday and had more time available for Saturday.  We made our way in the rain to the temple, found the beautiful structure, changed our clothes in the car and walked up to the doors.  As we go to the entrance I pulled on the door to find it locked.  I thought it was rather odd, but just kept pulling on the door.  Finally someone was leaving the temple and I was able to enter.  We got to the front desk only to find out the last time they let people in is 4:00pm on Saturday's, and it was sadly ten minutes after five.  Now I have been denied at the temple several times - and not because I was bad, just because my timing was off.  It has been sad when this has happened, but it teaches me to be better prepared, and gives me much ambition to get back to the particular temple that won't let me in.  So, I took a few pictures of the beautiful structure and made a mental note that when I live in Denver I will attend this temple often.  After our sour experience at the temple it was time to eat again, and fill our sadness with food.  Off to find another restaurant from that show I keep talking about, "Diners, Drive Inns, and Dives."  The next restaurant was only a few miles from our cousin’s house so we ended the evening eating at a Native American restaurant where we had some amazingly huge Navajo tacos loaded to the brim.  I decided to get a little gutsy and try bison.  It was really tasty, and a whole heck of a lot better for you than any other meats - even better for you then fish.  How do I know this?  They had a fact sheet about their products and meat.  It was very interesting to read and very nutritionally beneficial.

After we were full of food it was off to the cousin’s house.  We hung out, visited, played with the kiddos, and then turned in early because we still had several more days of road tripp'n ahead of us.  Will this trip ever end.....Keep reading, you're almost done!

Day 12 of EXTREMELY LONG ROAD TRIP!

Sunday morning we arose and got ready for church.  The cousin's church started at eleven so we went and attended Sacrament meeting, said our good bye's and were off to Boulder.  I was so excited to go to Boulder.  I heard that just entering the town would cause you to get high...  First stop of the day was seeing and touring the Celestial Seasoning Tea Factory.  My Sis and I are huge into drinking herbal tea and particular this brand of tea.  The tour started out with a tea tasting where you got to taste all kinds of different teas.  We did not break the word of wisdom, but we did break the Sabbath by attending.  (And, don't get me started on, "to drink tea or not to drink tea" - that is the question?  I will do a blog to back my tea findings up, look for it at a later date.  Thank you.)  After a long tea tasting, our tour began.  We watched a video, suited up and began walking through the factory.  Boulder is actually where they founded Celestial Seasonings back in 1969 and is one of the biggest tea companies in the United States.  One of my favorite stops in the factory was the room where they store the peppermint for the peppermint tea.  We were warned before entering...let's just say the peppermint was incredibly strong that as soon as I walked through the door my eyes started to well up and spill over with tears.  It was like you were inside of an "Altoids" container.  Crazy!!!  When the tour was finished we ended up in the gift shop - imagine that.  I finally broke down and bought my first/last/only souvenir of the whole trip - a teapot.  I have such a fascination with teapots.  They are just darling, and I apparently HAD TO HAVE ONE.  After my cute green tea pot was boxed up it was time to eat.  Seriously, I think this trip was just about eating.  We found, yet again, another restaurant from that show I can't stop talking about, "Diners, Drive Inns, and Dives."  The one we really wanted to eat at was hard to get to since there was some kind of bike race going on so we went to our second choice.  It was okay, but the waiter messed up on my order and put mushrooms in my crepe, so I had to go through and pick them out.  Otherwise, it was just eh.  After our kind of sour lunch experience we went to the main drag in Boulder and toured the weirdo’s, and shops.  It was starting to get really cold, and we were planning on camping in Rocky Mountain National Park so we said goodbye to Boulder and headed for the mounains, yes the mounains.

Arriving at Rocky Mountain National Park was rather disappointing.  I need to get my timing for these major National Parks figured out.  Tried going to Yosemite and was closed for snow, Lake Louise - snow, and now Rocky Mountain had snow.  We drove through as much of the park as we could but didn't get to see much since the fog was so thick and snow was starting to fall.  We did get to see lots of huge elk roaming everywhere, even in the little town that was at the entrance of the National Park.  Because of our lack of preparedness we weren't extremely prepared for the weather in the park and decided not to camp, but to just drive through the evening to Cheyenne, Wyoming.  We arrived in Cheyenne a little after nine and found one of our favorite types of hotels, Holiday Inn Express.  Once again my blond hair shown through and what was left of my mind got left in Colorado...maybe I did get high in Boulder???  I go into the hotel, ask for a room, a cheap one, even one I could share a bed.  He sets me up in a room and tells me it's cheaper to just do two beds.  Whatever, I think?  I get the key, get the Sis, and get our stuff.  We get in our room, get ready for bed, watch some TV, and then the Sis asks the question, so how much is this costing us tonight?  Huh?  Oh my gosh - it finally dawns on me I didn't even find out how much this stinking nice room is costing us.  Who does that?  That would be me!  Finally, room service comes knocking on our door because I was once again so bright to put a "do not disturb" sign on our door that I run to the door to tell her we are here and will be out shortly.  I stumble to the door as I see our bill on the floor.  Gosh, what is the damage?  Well, too much to share on here.  Let's just say, I need to be better about some things, okay, a lot of things.  This trip sure has taught me many lessons.

Day 13 of EXTREMELY LONG ROAD - IS IT EVER GOING TO END - TRIP!

Cheyenne Wyoming is the capital of Wyoming.  Yeah, that's pretty much all it has going for it.  Guess what though, we found us a restaurant among its capital building.  That show, "Diners, Drive Inns, and Dives" hasn't made it to Cheyenne yet so we had to use one of our websites that have been so helpful throughout our journey.  We found a funky little burger joint and had some great tasting burgers, and bottomless steak French fries.  With more help from the website we found some things to do in Cheyenne, one being, seeing the Air Force base (drove by it), the cemetery (drove by that too), and a historic train (stopped, looked at it, and took a picture).  Pretty much our first part of the day went by rather quick.  Bored of Cheyenne it was time to head west to our cousins in Rock Springs.  Before arriving we had a lot of driving still ahead of us.  On our way we saw some interesting land marks, and memorials.  My Sis was really into taking the scenic route and had found us a very scenic route that took us off I-80 and over the mountain to Laramie.  As we traveled about 30 miles, we were heading towards snow, before we knew it we were on a road that had snow piled up higher than my little car.  We kept drugging along and came to a sign that said "road closed."  Do you think we turned around?  Nope, we kept going until the road was completely blocked.  That didn't stop us, there was even a man in a big snow plow and I asked him if we could keep going.  Pretty dumb question to ask...well, I asked it anyway.  He said no, and told us to turn around.  EW!  I hate more than anything backtracking and we had done this whole trip without any, okay a tiny bit, but still, and now here we are backtracking - a lot.  I guess it's going to happen at least once on a road trip.  So, we turned around and dove another 30 miles to get back on the freeway.  I tried to sleep for the next 30 miles so I wouldn't think about the fact WE WERE BACKTRACKING.  Sleep worked. I slept for about 20 minutes or so, and when I woke we were on the freeway, once again, traveling to Laramie.  It was as if our little drive never happened and I only dreamt we had to backtrack...maybe this was all a dream???

We made it to the quaint little city of Laramie (where the only University in Wyoming is) and found our next little tourist attraction.  Laramie has a historic jail.  We payed the lady five dollars and they sent us on our own little self-guided tour.  It was totally awesome.  Well worth the hour we spent there and if anyone is ever traveling through they should stop and check it out.  After the touring was done we were getting munchy for something rather than our cooler of stuff, and set out to find a dairy freeze.  When seeking this certain type of eatery out the Sis and I got into a little bit of tiff.  Finally, our first little fight on our journey – bout time.  I made sure that I had my camera ready because I have peeps out there who would like to see her temper.  The Sis is really a sweet person, but for some reason I make red hair of hers catch on fire and she can really blow her top.  Hmmm...imagine that?  The poor girl had had it with me and whatever I was doing - all I remember is it had something to do with the iPod playing a song I really liked, and basically just ME, ME, ME.  I wouldn't stop pushing her to her limit, as I was being annoying I secretly pushed record on my camera; before I knew it I had caught her driving and hitting me at the same time...with both of us laughing in the background.  Then I piped up and said, "YES!  I finally got you on camera hitting me and losing your temper!"  Apparently I had done it.  The crocodile tears started to spill over her cheeks, and turn her eyes such a lovely color of green.  I love it when she cries cause her eyes become even more pretty.  Don't think I am completely heartless, I do have a little bit of a heart in me, and after some apologizing (which was really hard to do on my part) I deleted the video.  It's a shame because with a title like "Sister hits Sister while driving in a car" we would've had 1,000 hits or more on YouTube.  So it is, the video is gone and all that is left is the memory of me being a bratty, bossy, always want my way older sister.  Props to the younger Sis, for putting up with me for two weeks in a cramped car.  Bravo, Bravo!

After my apology we made it to the mining town of Rock Springs, Wyoming.  Our cousins, Lucas, Shellie, and there two darling kiddos greeted us there, and were sweet enough to let us stay with them the next two nights.  That night we stayed up to all hours chatting about everything - it was totally fun!

Day 14 of ALMOST DONE, REALLY LONG ROAD TRIP!

After a much needed "sleep in" we got up, got ready for the day, and then went and saw the sights of the bustling city of Rock Springs.  The town had a cute "down town" area, but after a few minutes of seeing the sights we headed west to the town of Green River.  Don't they have a town in Utah called Green River?  Sure do and they (to me) actually have a lot in common.  As we saw the cute town of Green River we saw a museum and decided to go check it out.  It had a lot of history of the Mormon Pioneers, and a man named John Wesley Powell.  In fact, the town of Green River, Wyoming is where the river rafter/explorer started his journey - and traveled all the way south.  Kind of cool to me since I have done two river trips exactly where he has rafted.  After our touring and sightseeing we were extremely hungry so we went to this AWESOME bagel shop in Rock Springs, and had an amazing lunch.  It was so good that when the Sis and I left town we stopped on our way and got breakfast.  I can't remember the name of the little bagel shop/bakery, but it was freaking amazing.  Later we hung out with the kiddos, watched a whole bunch of Glee, and then watched the latest Glee show that night.  I am so glad Shellie, and Lucas (even though he may not be a fan, but watches it anyway) LOVE Glee.  It was fun to watch with other fans.  We then stayed up late again talking into the night.

Day 15 - FINALLY OUR TRIP IS ENDING!!!

That morning we snuck out early, got our bagels, and hit the snowy scenic byways.  We decided to go home through Flaming Gorge (which the Sis thinks is a dirty name for a lake, but whatev), down through Vernal, and then more small towns of Utah.  We started out into what just seemed like a wet day.  As we inched further and further to Flaming Gorge the landscape became white.  It's the middle of May, how can there still be snow.  As we reached the dam of Flaming Gorge it was pretty much a wet down poor.  We saw the dam, which looks pretty much like any other dam, and started over the Uintah Mountains to Vernal.  The higher we crept the more the snow fell, and it felt like we were back into the months of January and February.  The scenery was completely white, but very beautiful and picturesque.  Finally, as we came down the mountain and into a lower elevation the snow turned back to a wet mess.  The Sis and I had never been to Vernal - I thought it was such a cute quaint little town.  There was even one of those Mormon Temples.  Of course we stopped to take pictures, but didn't go inside because we were just hell bent on getting home.  Such a lovely temple though.

After Vernal we hoped back on the road and headed towards Price (the butt hole of Utah).  Little did we know that snow would soon be upon us as we traveled the windy, steep canyon known as Indian Canyon.  It was white knuckle for part of the trip, but we soon found our way to Price and had to stop for lunch.  After Price it was more hours of driving and patches of snow.  To keep us entertained we continued listening to our NEVER ENDING book on CD (or iPod) that felt like it was never going to end.  We had started listening, somewhere at the beginning of our trip, to a book I had heard nothing but good things about.  It was called "The Life of Pi."  Yeah, it was interesting, but seriously it was about a boy on a life raft with a Bengal tiger, and it went on forever.  In fact we even got home and still had about 20 minutes left and decided to call it finished - we finished it on our own time.  Because we were finished with everything, and the trip was done, over, complete, F-I-N-I-S-H-E-D, then so was the book!  We unpacked our bags, my Sis said, "I don't want to see you or hear from you over the next month.  We need a break!"  Umkay!  Ten minutes after she left I was calling her telling her that I missed her already and I wanted her to come back to just hang out with me for another hour.  (I did that as a joke - calling her - cause I couldn't agree more with her.  We need a good long break!)

Our road trip was a very long road trip, but one I will remember forever.  I'm glad I have my Sissy to travel with me.  If it weren't for her I would have been a complete mess.  I mean really, I was already a mess, but at least she was there to pick me back up.  Give us a month and I know we'll be ready again to hit the open road...

Libby Loves Her Salad Spinner!

Santa was good to me again this year.  I got my salad spinner, or a new one since my last salad spinner had a freak accident!  It's an OXO brand, and now I will say this is my favorite brand!  The last salad spinner I had was a Kitchen Aid which wasn't bad, but this OXO is SOOO much better, in my opinion.  I'm pretty sure I know my salad spinners.

I got a little bored a couple of weeks ago and I took some video and pictures of my salad spinner at work spinning a salad.  Laugh, as you may at my silly video, but I, Libby, loves my salad spinner!!!