I LOVE TO TRAVEL!!!!! If I am not on a trip, I am planning one. Right now I am lucky enough to be on a trip. We have just concluded Day 7 and I am in one of my favorite places in America. I am in Bluff. It is my first time back in nearly 7 years and I am so glad to be here. J and I shared a Navajo taco at the Twin Rocks Café pretty soon after the sun went down and right after checking in with our AWESOME hostess Elda. Perhaps I should give a short rundown of the trip so far.
Day 1 –(Friday March 20) – WICKED!!! This show is AMAZING! If you have an opportunity to see it – GO! I got chills and tears and I left the show wanting to be a Broadway star. J and I went to see it with some of my Vancouver peeps. It was the perfect end to a crazy finals week.
Day 2 – Cannon Beach. Ginger and I had a photo shoot. I read my book on the beach for a bit and then worked for a couple of hours. This means that I got a delicious meal prepared by my FAVORITE chef and the best father I know – MY DAD!
Day 3 – Sunday with the family. We had a pseudo-impromptu birthday party for J, since she is leaving to go to school and won’t be home for her bday in May. She received gifts such as dishwashing soap, cleaners and tp from Costco!!
Day 4 – driving, driving, Multnomah Falls, driving, driving, driving, driving, driving, breakfast at the last Burgerville for 24,000ish miles, driving, driving, driving, driving, driving, sighting of the Boise temple, driving, driving, driving, driving, driving, SURPRISE CASEY in Rexburg!!!!!! We talked to her when we got to Idaho Falls and through some sneaky investigative conversation we discovered that she would be at home studying. We text messaged her a pic of Multnomah Falls and one of the Welcome to Idaho sign and the last was a pic of J and I standing in front of her door. Much to our sadness she had left and was not home for the surprise. We got to see her about an hour later and visited until curfew.
Day 5 – Enjoying all that Rexburg has to offer! We went to visit C at work and then her boss let her off early (thanks Ryan!). We enjoyed Bajio for lunch and went to Brother Baron’s Book of Mormon class where J got to tell everyone her favorite movie from each genre and I admitted that if I could be any Disney character I would be Ursula the Sea Witch ( I think I scared them. Really). We went to the Spori Gallery where there was a VERY COOL show about creativity where they featured senior projects from the year. I found a book I wanted at the bookstore and resisted buying BYUI paraphernalia. We met C’s roommates and friends and relaxed at the apartment until some of us went to Craigo’s for pizza buffet (Oreo pizza = yum!) then off to the cheap theater to see He’s Just Not That into You. It was pretty funny how interactive that movie became. For example, one of the characters cheats on his wife and every time he came on screen, several people were heard to say “CHEATER!” and at the mushy parts, there were audible sighs.
Day 6 – J, C and I went to JB’s for breakfast where C’s hot chocolate smelled like play dough. Erika had told me to go to the cupcake place. WOW! We got 5 different kinds of cupcakes and they have all been delicious so far. The pictures will say everything. After saying “later” to C outside her job, J and I drove to Salt Lake City. We met up with Russ and watched an episode of Wife Swap. What a weird show. Dinner was Crown Burger, which happened to be delicious but made me feel not so vivacious. Jen and I got to use Mike’s tickets to the Utah Grizzlies hockey game!!! We were on one end about 7 rows from the ice. There was some pushing and shoving, 2 broken hockey sticks and a few almost altercations, but no full on fights. A little disappointing.
Day 7 – TODAY!!! Thursday March 26th. We took it easy this morning and I got my rear end kicked at Dr. Mario. I am not as good at the game as I remember. Jen’s youngest, Ryan, really wanted me to come say hello so we stopped by on our way out of town. Then we drove and drove and drove. We had a miracle and this is what I will conclude with. We were trucking along on the mountain and there was some blowing snow, but nothing serious. I was coming up pretty fast on this semi, so I pulled into the passing lane. It was at this point that I had to turn on the wipers and wash the windshield of the road spray from the truck. I did not see that there was ice on the road, but I sure felt it. I lost traction and I was VERY afraid that we would slide into oncoming traffic. At exactly the right moment, I jerked the car into the other lane and after a slight fishtailing maneuver the tires found the blacktop and we were safe. My senses were on full alert by this point and my heart took several miles to calm down. While some may say that they are exceptional drivers and can handle anything that comes, I know that our recovery was due to a higher power than my own. I am grateful for a Heavenly Father that is mindful of his children and the times when he needs to direct specific movements of theirs. I know that I was guided on the road today.
