I love America

No, don't worry... you haven't forgotten about an important national holiday or anything. I just couldn't keep the American pride that has been running through my veins inside any longer. Russ's mom was born and raised in the great country of Mexico, the country that she has been a citizen of until Wednesday.

Me, Russ, Argelia, Marcella, and Natalie after the ceremony

I had the opportunity to go to an official Naturalization ceremony where Argelia, my wonderful future mother-in-law, denounced allegiance to Mexico and is now an official citizen of the USA. I walked away from this ceremony with a renewed sense of pride in this amazing country. Here are some of the main thoughts and emotions that were running through my head:

• I take this country and the opportunities it provides for granted
• Every person who was born and raised in this country should see one of these ceremonies--they really will look at their situation in a different light
• This country, despite recent events, has so much to offer
• Just like Lee Greenwood, I am proud to be an American
  

A Trip to Zions

At the beginning of my Super Senior year here at BYU I made a list of things I wanted to do before I left Provo for good. Going to ZIONS NATIONAL PARK was at the very top. This weekend Russ and I and a couple friends took a trip that helped me check one more thing off my list.

I absolutely loved Zions. I have always been such a huge fan of Moab, but I think Zions now reigns supreme. The combination of red rock with lush green trees was absolutely beautiful, not to mention the towering cliffs that sorround you at all times. The weather was kind of iffy, so we didn't do a couple of the hikes we had originally planned on for fear of flash floods and all kinds of dangerous stuff.

One hike we did was Angels Landing, which is absolutely unbelievable. WARNING: Do not attempt if you are afraid of heights. After doing some pretty steep switchbacks for a while, you reach a narrow walkway that climbs another couple hundred feet. Except this walkway is 4-5 feet wide with a 1,200 foot plunge on one side and a 900 foot drop on the other. You use chains for this narrow section. I loved this hike, though! Another fix for the adrenaline junky.

Russ climbing the chain section
Victorious! Just don't look down...

Making the Bed

Was I not the only child who hated, no let me rephrase that, who loathed making the bed? I would do as I was told and make sure everything else in my room was spick and span, but for some reason being told to make the bed was like a death sentence to me. And ironically enough, it was the part of a room my mom most wanted clean.

Well, like most things in life, it took me a while to realize that, again, my mom was right. I moved to college, got my own room, and now I love making the bed. That's right, mom, you read that correctly. Maybe it's because my room is a 9' x 14' space and so any mess you have makes it feel as though a bomb has gone off, or maybe it's just because I'm more like my mom than I thought. But if you read my previous post, you'll know that that really isn't a bad thing.

To my mom

On this Mother's Day, I just wanted to let my mom know how much I love and appreciate her. Words don't do it justice, but she really is one of my biggest inspirations. I love my mom for a lot of things, some of which include the following:

• She is funny, like really, she makes me laugh really hard
• Her love of Diet Coke -- I think I appreciate this for a few reasons... maybe to jusify my own addiction, or just because she could care less what everyone else thinks
• Her love of the gospel, and how she has taught me
• The sacrifices she has made for me and my family
• How she loves my Dad
• Her dedication to staying healthy and in shape -- definitely helps me stay motivated (cause really, she could probably kick my butt)
• She is the best listener
• Always supporting me in my choices and aspirations in life
• For being my best friend

Thank you Mom, for everything you are. I hope that someday I can be half as good of a mom as you are to me.

I love you.

So it turns out Australia is pretty cool...

Here is a quick preview of some of the sights and sounds of Australia thus far. I still have two more days until I return back to good ol' Provo, but I just had to share.

At the "Three Sisters" in the Blue Mountains.

A sheep named Sally

View from our hotel balcony in Darling Harbor, Sydney

Jenolan Caves

Jace-face and I at Bondi Beach. This is Australia's winter, by the way. Tough life, eh?

Missing Russ. Ok, sorry for the corniness. Everyone has the right to be corny once and a while.

To finish it up, a hike to a cute little light house at Manly Beach. My parents and I are the tiny dots in front of the white fence.

By the way, If I randomly disappear from the US, you will know where I have gone.

I've Gone Down Under

G'day mates! I think some people may be wondering why I am not responding to texts/voicemails/messages, etc. Well that's cause I am in AUSTRALIA! My family and I are here for vacation for 10 days and will be back on May 9th.

I'm pretty disoriented, as I officially got robbed of my Thursday, April 30th and just arrived from travling for nearly 30 hours. We are staying at this amazing farm for a few days that is about 3 hours outside of Sydney. We are sorrounded by rolling hills and the breath-taking scenery of Australia. Modern transportation is a true miracle--the fact that just 30 hours ago I was in little ol' Provo, Utah, and how I just got back from a "safari-esque" tour of the farm where I held a sheep named Sally and helped run off the pesty Kangaroos.

Ah... the land down under.