Wrong Turn

Lately I've been thinking about "wrong" turns. Monday's 3.8-mile backpacking trek into camp turned into 9.7 miles because of not one but two wrong turns that led to a nearly 6-mile detour.

We didn't miss any deadlines, didn't really have any place to be soon, so it was okay to wander around for hours. We ended up seeing some really cool pictographs, ladders, slickrock bowls, towers, blooming cacti, winding streams, mountain views, and so many other things. We covered trails we never would have otherwise seen.


We pushed our limits and enjoyed the journey: after a while, another few miles didn't even seem like that big a deal (maybe we just reached that point where you can't get any more exhausted. lol) We got into camp with plenty of time to relax and explore before we even needed to cook dinner. And all those long miles toting heavy packs added up to a good night's sleep (for most- I seem to have developed this odd inability to sleep outside. I'll have to get over that soon...)

So if the detour led to such an amazing journey, why were we bummed to realize we had taken a wrong turn? Why did we kick ourselves and mourn the added miles?
After all, they were only wrong because they weren't originally where we'd planned to go.

How often in life do we feel a little panicky when something comes up and changes our plans? What of our mistakes that lead to detours? A little time, a little patience, and you'll get there in the end. That's one thing I've learned: things work out. Life goes on. The only real failure is failure to keep moving. Likely you'll learn things along the way that you'd never have considered had you stayed on the original course. You may even be stronger for it. And you'll surely be wiser when you finally reach your destination.


(After 15 miles, two blisters and a very raw patch of skin, Joe decided that flying would be less trouble than walking. ;)

Day 14

A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.



My best bud Athena! She is one of the happiest, sweetest, most talented and least selfish people I know. We've had a lot of good times through high school and beyond. Laughing until we cry, staying up way too late, doubling up for dates, going out for lunch & hot chocolate, talking about boys, dreaming and planning out our futures, teasing each other, hiking and rafting, goofing around at Girls' Camp, cheering each other on, and of course SINGING together! I miss her sweet voice and the way we blend so well together.

I can't imagine my life without her because she's taught me that it's okay- and actually a whole lot of fun- to be a hopeless romantic, among other things. ;) And she is just such a good friend, good at listening, gentle and loving always- and so giving! I just received a card in the mail from her a while back, and it totally made my day. Athena, I love you!

Day 13

A picture of your favorite band or artist.


I don't know if I really have a favorite band or artist. Like food, I like many kinds of different "flavors," depending on my mood & situation. Lately I've been doing a lot of nice easy jogs and housecleaning, which call for fun, upbeat tunes with meaningful lyrics. The top songs on my playlist at the moment include "The Ballad of Love and Hate" and "January Wedding" by The Avett Brothers. Their music is described in their biography as "a rootsy amalgam of folk, country, bluegrass, rock and pop – even a jab of punk-style dynamics here and there."

Whatever that means. I just know that I enjoy the real-ness of their voices (so many performers sound like they're just putting on a show, forcing it, not singing from inside out- but their imperfect voices bring out their humanity and add such depth to their music) and the thoughtful well-written lyrics. I enjoy getting caught up in a story and singing along :D

(And you've got to admit- at least if you're a girl- that they're rather attractive in this picture ;)

Day 12

A picture of something you love.


Yup, I love food. Cooking food, trying new foods, experimenting with recipes, arranging colorful & tasty meals, being creative with leftovers, sharing food with other people, and most of all eating food! Especially fresh fruits & veggies and hearty grains like brown rice or quinoa. The above picture is a tasty lunch from a few weeks ago: braised kale with sesame seeds, steamed short-grain brown rice, red grapes, and tacos filled with buttercrisp lettuce, refried beans, corn, salsa, spinach, and garden burger crumbles. Mmmmm!

New favorite tastes: Thai peanut sauce, pesto, curry, falafel. Growing up I was a bit turned off by such strong and unfamiliar flavors, but I have since grown to really love them. It helps that I recently gave up most meat, cheese, egg and dairy products and began exploring all kinds of other food options. I've even started enjoying mushrooms!

If I had to live off of just one "ethnicity" of food, it would be Mexican food. I grew up eating tamales, Spanish rice, corn and beans, tortilla soup, and chips & salsa thanks to my mom's Arizona childhood, and I love them!

Grossest thing I've ever eaten: fish sauce (I lost a dare. Shudder. Closest I've come to throwing up besides jumping out of a plane at 10,000 feet. )

Tastiest thing I've ever eaten: oh man, that's a hard one. I've had some really really good curries and pilafs and even casseroles in my day. Veggie fajitas are among my favorite foods. I've always been a sucker for soups & salads, and pasta makes a hearty base for all kinds of tasty dishes. It doesn't get much better than garden-fresh fruits and vegetables. And let's not even get started on desserts... ;)

But for all the adventuring and trying new things and enjoying bold tastes, I have to admit that tonight I just had PB&J on a pita and an apple for dinner. Sometimes I go hiking instead of cooking an actual meal:P

Day 11

A picture of something you hate



Don't roll your eyes just yet: although it's frustrating to rake out endless social trails, it's not people stepping in crypto that I hate. ;)

I really don't hate a lot of things- hate is such a strong word. But I do strongly dislike people disregarding beauty or innocence or natural things. I also don't like when people do damaging things out of ignorance. I can't get mad at the people at those times, though. Even those with good intentions and good hearts can hurt things just because they don't know how fragile it all really is and what is really going on in the background.

In this day and age I feel like we are distanced from so many things, sheltered from reality by quick trips to a well-stocked market and a fix-it pill. We just don't see the consequences of a lot of our choices and actions. It's hard to know what is truth and what is advertising. This leads us to support practices that might actually cause harm in the long run, harm to our personal health and the health of our societies, our global community and our environments. No, we don't mean to. But this ignorance isn't bliss, it's just blindness. I guess you could say that I hate the quick-fix mindset, the short-sightedness that comes along when you add greed, money, waste and power to narrow minds.
And I hate the helplessness of those who are on the other end of the deal, who know exactly what is going on but feel nearly powerless to fight it. Getting stuck in a rut is worse than stepping in crypto any day :P

Day 10

A picture of the person you do the most adventurous things with.


This one was a no-brainer. Who do I do the most crazy, spontaneous, HILARIOUS, cute and/or memorable things with? Chris Andrew!
Here are just a few of the many adventures we've have had together (not particularly in order):

Prom, talent show skit, river trips, gutter rafting, lots of hiking, first kiss (for us both :), backpacking, slot canyons, rainy camping, skydiving, fancy dinner in a trailer, sledding, butterflies, crazy family events, Halloween, making lemon bars at 2 in the morning, pranks & practical jokes, that first hug when he got out of the hospital after two weeks of uncertainty, rafting down the gutters, Christmas Eve canyoneering, cheesy stuff, half marathon, chalk-tagging, ice cream and wisdom teeth, snowshoeing, weekend visits while I was up at BYU, midnight snacks at Denny's or the Diner, chocolates & frogs, late night conversations, climbing through windows, mountain biking, knee boarding, babysitting, slacklining, Sunday breakfasts, road trips, climbing, inside jokes, long phone calls, tar-line-tag, moonlit walks, and a summer fling that turned into the best two years of my life (that's right- two years next month!).
Yup. I've got a pretty awesome boyfriend.

And as cheesy as it may sound, I've discovered that love really is quite the adventure even by itself :)

Day 9

A picture of the person who's gotten you through the most.



This one is a no-brainer. Where would I be without my Savior?
This post is timely, especially appropriate to think about during Easter when we celebrate His Resurrection. Not only did Christ suffer for all of our sins, feel all of our pains, endure all of our grief, he also gave His life and took it up again so that we might live with Him forever. I have definitely felt His guiding and reassuring influence in my life. Following His commandments has saved me from a lot of grief, and turning to Him in tough times has carried me through. Yup, it's all about love, and I am grateful :)
I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me... It is wonderful to me <3