The Rest Of Florida and Then Some

The rest of my Florida trip ended up going wonderfully! Chad let me take the ranch truck and on Thursday I drove Northwest to explore Orlando. I decided I just wanted to do free things so here are bit of my adventures:

These pictures here are at Eola Lake Park. It is located right downtown in Orlando. The picture on above is on the east side near a Chinese pagoda (to the right) and a Confederate States of America monument.


On the west side of the park there is the Walt Disney Amphitheater and more of the "down town" area such as some cathederals, the library, the Citrus Bowl arena, etc.  I didn't go to all of these sites but I saw signs or I passed some as I was driving to the lake. This picture below is on the Southside by a little fountain that I liked.

I drove about fifteen minutes North to a place called Maitland and went to the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida. This was just a small museum with artifacts, videos of survivors, and facts about the Holocaust. There was also a library section. It was a lot smaller than I expected but it was still cool to look around.

Now I'm one for bargains so I thought it would be cool to take a small step and see what a flea market was like. I had been to China Town in Australia and it was pretty much like that! I drove up and seriously thought I was going to get shot or mugged. There were a lot of groups of people huddled together, smoking, playing gangster music. I was a little worried but I decided to walk around the parking lot and enter into a different area of the Flea Market. There ended up being a lot of similar shops but I found a couple of things to buy. I feel that I don't really need to go to a flea market again, unless I have a specific purpose!

 

 

This next place was called Black Hammock Adventures in Oviedo, FL. This time I started driving back South over Lake Jesup to find this place. It was gorgeous. They had some gators and birds. I just enjoyed more fresh air and gorgeous scenery. This first picture here you actually see Lake Jesup behind me.

After enjoying the view I ate at the Black Hammock Restaurant and enjoyed clam chowder and mozzarella sticks! It was just s small place but really yummy :)

 This was one of the gators that they had.

 Later that afternoon I circled back down to the ranch and Dale gave me a ride on the airboat. If you haven't riden one it is different than a normal boat. You don't rely on the water. The engine in the back powers it and air pushes you :) So we started out on land and went down a ditch onto the St. John river. It was weird to get used to. As Dale started to head toward some of the greenery, I got nervous, as we smoothly glided over it my grip lightened again and I was just in awe at the coolness and the beauty around me. It was cloudy so we didn't get to see as much wildlife but it was still super cool.

Friday night Trevor and I went to Denny's for Dinner and then we went to the new Abraham Lincoln movie. It was a really good movie!




















Saturday turned out fantastic as well with Trevor and I going to the Kennedy Space Center. Everything was massive! That was the thought that kept running through my mind. Trevor had such an analytical look at everything. He cared about the why and how, while I just thought it was cool. I'm glad that we got to go together.

 The picture above here is part of the new Orion rocket they are building.

This picture is of the VAB-just to give you an idea of how big it is-when you open part of that up it is as wide as an 8-lane building!

After the Kennedy Space Center, we drove to Cocoa Beach and played for just a little bit. It was so freeing to let the waves hit me over and over again. Trevor stayed more on the beach and put his feet in while I was getting hit head on by the waves. I LOVED it. I have this connection with water that I cannot explain. I just can't get enough of it and wish that it wouldn't have been getting dark so quick.

I'm heading home now for the long Thanksgiving break. I hope that we can all serve those around us and show how grateful we are for our big and small blessings. We have so much to be grateful for and we tend to make a bigger deal about it around Thanksgiving but it is important all year-round. I'm thankful for the gospel and for the Atonement that can make us whole one small step at a time. Sometimes the steps hurt but when we hold on to our Lord he can take some of that pressure off. This is the true Church.


Sorry this post was so long but there was so much to share about the trip! :)

A Few Big Steps

I have made a few big steps since my last post and had a few small fun steps. First, I mentioned that I felt I was going in circles with my decision about the Washington job. I decided NOT to take the job. I know what I'm worth, what I can offer, and what I want to do. That job did not fit any of those and I feel really good about my decision. I am job searching now. I'm looking for and focusing on an HR Coordinator or Assistant HR Generalist with an emphasis as a Recruiting Specialist or in Training and Development. I'm not completely blocking anything out but having a focus is helpful.

Last weekend I went to Logan again and went to the doctor. My doctor was very helpful this time and we're making some progress. We're going to do injections in my back at the end of this month-this should create the opportunity for physical therapy to help more. Also my migraines will hopefully be getting help by some progressive medication and a CAT-scan in December to make sure my brain is okay.




On Saturday I had lunch with a group of dear friends at Pizza Pie Cafe and then I met up with my old friend, Christina Bateman. She had me over to dinner with her family and then we went to a community show, 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, at the Old Rock church. It was a very delightful show.







I enjoyed my sister's and mother's primary program. I made some notes of a few things that I learned/was reminded of. One of the things that was said was something like, "I know that my Savior loves me no matter what and if I repent I can be forgiven." I believe this without a doubt. We make the same mistakes over and over, even when we are trying so hard to be better. But as long as I sincerely repent and recommit, I know that the Lord forgives me and I can try again.



When I came back to Salt Lake from Logan I found about 14" of snow at my home!! Lots of snow and very pretty :) Friday morning it was snowing before I left and of course I had to take a picture of the temple.

This week I'm in Florida for work. I found out that a friend (Trevor Nielson) was a Cattle Intern here and so we've planned to get together a bit throughout this week. I've been learning about training, HR, safety, and touring the ranch. I've also eaten some of my favorite food. Chad took me to an Italian place for lunch yesterday. Chad and his wife took Trevor and me to dinner last night at a sea food place last night and today for lunch we had a company lunch where they cooked steak! YUMMY! Everything has been so pretty, even though it is winter so it isn't quite as green as usual. Today was cloudy so we didn't get to see very many aligators but I did see two of them.






Tomorrow I'll either be going to the beach or go explore Orlando a bit-not sure yet. Then in the afternoon I will come back to the ranch and we're going to do an airboat ride. Then Sat Trevor and I are planning to do Kennedy Space Center. I'll be able to tell you more about that later! I'm going to go to Trevor's for dinner and go to Institute with him then do some job searching tonight. Life is good, my skin is clearing up in this wonderful humidity, and I'm sleeping well in this amazing amazing bed.

Big Steps, Small Steps...as long as I'm taking steps forward it doesn't matter what size they are.

Feels like a Circle

Today is going to be pretty brief but I wanted to write for just a minute. First I have to share this amazing picture. As I left work tonight the sunlight was almost gone but looking back at the temple I had to stop and take a picture. It still doesn't give it justice but still beautiful.












Bonnie and I decided to go to the Cheesecake Factory today-it was just one of those days. We each got a slice of Cheesecake and it was divine! My slice choice was "Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough"...seriously, SOOO good! :)




This last weekend was slightly eventful. Bonnie invited me over for a girl's night. We had pizza and then we all went and saw Taken 2. That was pretty fun! One of Bonnie's friends, Holly, was from Nibley. I found out that she is Katie White's sister. Small world.

On Saturday, a friend of Bryce Smalley's, called me and we went to lunch. Her name is Hayli. We went to City Creek and had lunch at BlueLemon, then walked around to some stores. She bought a dress and I bought a couple of $5 shirts. Then we were both desperate to clean out our cars so she showed me this place she always goes. We got car washes and then vacuumed out our cars. Not your typical hang out activity but very productive! I loved it!

Now for the circles: I've been tossing and turning about a job offer for Washington. At first it was a job offer, then it was the process of being interviewed, then they didn't know if they had a position anymore, then they had the position but she didn't know if I was still interested. I finally interviewed again today and I feel like there were a lot of circles going on about some of her reservations and my reservations and I'm back to not knowing what to do. I am praying and trying to understand and trust what the Lord is telling me. I know he will not let me make a wrong choice but that doesn't make this an easy decision. I want a straight line, no more circles!

I'm so thankful for the friends and family that I have that love and support me, no matter how far apart we are. I have great examples on missions across the world, I have friends locally, and I have friends all over the country. Thanks for your prayers, your kind thoughts/messages, your encouraging words, and your influence for good. I love having people to turn to when I feel like my small steps aren't taking me very far.

Making the Most of Now

My newest album of pictures on Facebook has been titled "Making the Most of Now." I'm not going to be getting any time from the past back, so why not make the most of now? I'm trying to embrace each step I take.




This past week I've finally made a break through on David's quilt. I kept getting stuck on part but with Aunt Sue's brain we figured out the piece I was missing! Hallelujah!! Halloween night I had an enjoyable time eating air popped popcorn, watching Once Upon a Time and Castle, while working on David's quilt.

I paid special attention to the colors around the city as I was driving today. I LOVE LOVE LOVE fall :)

Lunch today was fantastic because I got to spend it with two new friends. Ashley and Bonnie. We all work together and we walked over the Church Office Building, on Temple Square, to ate lunch in the cafeteria. It is so nice having a temple close. I love walking over there on my lunch and having a break from the world. I can breath and think in a way that is different than normal.






I also took a step as a good citizen to vote early. After work I went over to Trolley Square to vote. I waited in line for quite a while. I ended up running into a dear friend from Utah State. His name is Sam and I also met his friend Crystal. Crystal and I are now friends are we are going to tie some fleece quilts together. That should be great. This was Trolley Square-it was dark when I was leaving.

The past few days I've been paying close attention to those whom I communicate with and what their needs are and I've been trying to make sure that I'm making contact with the people that I love and care deeply about. As I've been studying the scriptures I'm trying to make connections on how I can come closer to Christ. I just want to share part of what I wrote in my journal a few nights ago:

I was reading 1 Nephi 11, the end of that chapter talks about the life and ministry of Christ. His entire existence was for us! His earthly ministry was about teaching others, serving others, healing others. He used the power of God to provide miracles to all those around Him. He prayed for others and he suffered torture, persecution and eventually death for others. For us. For me. Now I'm asked to put aside my pride and selfishness to fight against Satan because my Savior and Redeemer loves me. Why is that so hard sometimes? Christ gave EVERYTHING for me and I am trying to live my life in a way that He will be proud to call me His daughter. I can set aside myself, devote my time to others & Him, and I can make him proud. He has given us the path; if we follow, we will come closer to Him on earth and eventually live with Him again.

My life is what I make it and I'm making the most of my small steps!