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I recently looked at the calendar and came to a somewhat sad realization that the summer is setting. While it is nice to be able to start outdoor movies at 8:30 instead of 9:30 at night, I wish that summer would continue on longer.
This summer has been especially amazing and is easily one of the most memorable of my life. There was no one single thing that made it amazing, like in 2006 when I went to Germany, or the summers spent working at the Ponderosa Resort. No, this summer's amazingness is a compilation of seemingly endless activities spent with great friends. I doubt I could list every single thing we have done, but here is the beginnings of such a list to give an idea.
I hiked the Crimson Trail with friends from the ward Jeff, Jon T., Shannon, Brittany, Alex L., and Kyle. I hiked the Crimson Trail again with other friends Camille, McKenzie, and TJ. I hiked the Beirdneau Trail with Kami, not able to conquer the peak before time ran out and we turned back. I then returned on a full moon night hike with Alex G. and Justin. We conquered the peak and waited to watch the sunrise as dawn broke over the beautiful Cache Valley below. After camping the night in a grove of trees on a small island surrounded by mountain streams with Liz, Alyssa, Blake, Tiffany, Karl, and Anthony, I hiked a short mile past delicious wild raspberries and blueberries, scenic waterfalls, and majestic mountain pines to a spring, where I drank from the earth as she generously shared her pure water with me.
I sat around campfires and shared stories, s'mores, and the spirit of God's Chapel with ward friends, work friends, and new friends by the dozens.
I rock climbed the cliffs of Logan Canyon with Kyle and Steven.
I became a runner and ran a 10k, a half marathon, and the almighty Ragnar with Camille, Corey, Laurel, Aubrey, Sabrina, Kari, Simon, Steve, Chad, and Lindsay.
I played days and days of volleyball with Kayla, Lizzy, Jamie, the Adams, Anthony, Dawna, and my Canadian friend Chalmers.
I ate more snow cones than I can count with everyone already listed and probably least ten others, including Daria, Chelsea, Krystal, and Shyla.
I went shooting a few times and tried out my brother Mike's new gun.
I unleashed my sense of adventure and explored mines, caves, and mountainsides with Paige.
I swam at Bear Lake thrice. First with Keean, Tami, Shannon S., Eric, and Mattea. Second with Paige after exploring the Minnentonka Cave. Third with Jamie, Lizzy, Adam K., Tyson, Morgan, Dakota, Liz and her sisters, Anthony, and others.
I have hosted a dozen or so outdoor movies with at least fifty different people attending on multiple occasions.
I went to a Real Salt Lake game with Dawna, Lizzy, Mike, Camille, Cameron, Adam K., Kayla S., Shyla, Krystal, Chalmers, Colby, and Anthony.
I floated the fast current of an irrigation ditch in a huge trough over the highway...a redneck pastime known as fluming.
I floated the Oneida Narrows in the rain.
I watched two firework shows and put on one amazing one myself.
I blew up my ear.
I played loads of Ultimate Frisbee, capture the flag, sardines, and more card games than you would believe.
I could go on and on with all the friends and activities I have been a part of this summer. There is such a variety of things we did and things we continue to do. Tonight is a farewell party for someone moving out and we're watching the Real Salt Lake game. Friday, I'm going backpacking. Monday, Utah State starts up and things have to slow down for those in school, but there is still a huge ward camp-out coming up and with fall comes more opportunities to do new things, like corn mazes, pumpkin carving, costume parties, football parties, meteor showers, hikes to see the amazing colors in the canyons, and Pie Night. Then comes winter and out come the sleds, the hot chocolate, the snowball fights, skiing, ice fishing, maybe snowmobiling, and so much more.
There is always something to do if you are willing to do it. I am very, very grateful and humbled by the amazing number of friends I have made this summer who have been willing to just get out and have fun. Our summer was one of the best ever.
This summer has been especially amazing and is easily one of the most memorable of my life. There was no one single thing that made it amazing, like in 2006 when I went to Germany, or the summers spent working at the Ponderosa Resort. No, this summer's amazingness is a compilation of seemingly endless activities spent with great friends. I doubt I could list every single thing we have done, but here is the beginnings of such a list to give an idea.
I hiked the Crimson Trail with friends from the ward Jeff, Jon T., Shannon, Brittany, Alex L., and Kyle. I hiked the Crimson Trail again with other friends Camille, McKenzie, and TJ. I hiked the Beirdneau Trail with Kami, not able to conquer the peak before time ran out and we turned back. I then returned on a full moon night hike with Alex G. and Justin. We conquered the peak and waited to watch the sunrise as dawn broke over the beautiful Cache Valley below. After camping the night in a grove of trees on a small island surrounded by mountain streams with Liz, Alyssa, Blake, Tiffany, Karl, and Anthony, I hiked a short mile past delicious wild raspberries and blueberries, scenic waterfalls, and majestic mountain pines to a spring, where I drank from the earth as she generously shared her pure water with me.
I sat around campfires and shared stories, s'mores, and the spirit of God's Chapel with ward friends, work friends, and new friends by the dozens.
I rock climbed the cliffs of Logan Canyon with Kyle and Steven.
I became a runner and ran a 10k, a half marathon, and the almighty Ragnar with Camille, Corey, Laurel, Aubrey, Sabrina, Kari, Simon, Steve, Chad, and Lindsay.
I played days and days of volleyball with Kayla, Lizzy, Jamie, the Adams, Anthony, Dawna, and my Canadian friend Chalmers.
I ate more snow cones than I can count with everyone already listed and probably least ten others, including Daria, Chelsea, Krystal, and Shyla.
I went shooting a few times and tried out my brother Mike's new gun.
I unleashed my sense of adventure and explored mines, caves, and mountainsides with Paige.
I swam at Bear Lake thrice. First with Keean, Tami, Shannon S., Eric, and Mattea. Second with Paige after exploring the Minnentonka Cave. Third with Jamie, Lizzy, Adam K., Tyson, Morgan, Dakota, Liz and her sisters, Anthony, and others.
I have hosted a dozen or so outdoor movies with at least fifty different people attending on multiple occasions.
I went to a Real Salt Lake game with Dawna, Lizzy, Mike, Camille, Cameron, Adam K., Kayla S., Shyla, Krystal, Chalmers, Colby, and Anthony.
I floated the fast current of an irrigation ditch in a huge trough over the highway...a redneck pastime known as fluming.
I floated the Oneida Narrows in the rain.
I watched two firework shows and put on one amazing one myself.
I blew up my ear.
I played loads of Ultimate Frisbee, capture the flag, sardines, and more card games than you would believe.
I could go on and on with all the friends and activities I have been a part of this summer. There is such a variety of things we did and things we continue to do. Tonight is a farewell party for someone moving out and we're watching the Real Salt Lake game. Friday, I'm going backpacking. Monday, Utah State starts up and things have to slow down for those in school, but there is still a huge ward camp-out coming up and with fall comes more opportunities to do new things, like corn mazes, pumpkin carving, costume parties, football parties, meteor showers, hikes to see the amazing colors in the canyons, and Pie Night. Then comes winter and out come the sleds, the hot chocolate, the snowball fights, skiing, ice fishing, maybe snowmobiling, and so much more.
There is always something to do if you are willing to do it. I am very, very grateful and humbled by the amazing number of friends I have made this summer who have been willing to just get out and have fun. Our summer was one of the best ever.
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