Tomorrow, I Love Ya!

I am literally giggling with excitement!!!!

Tomorrow is the day!!!

Mckay comes home tomorrow! 

Novel Love

If only pictures could capture the breath taking views I have been seeing for the past week. Nothing beats seeing beauty with the human eye though (This is the view from my cabin window).

Today marks the end of my first week here at Triangle C Ranch in Wyoming. Boy, was I in a bit of a shock arriving here. 

This is my new home for the next couple of months. A 100 year old cabin made by Scandinavian tie hack men. 

These are my super cool cat ranch friends/fellow employees minus a couple of them. 

 Here is the Kids Cabin (Beaver Cabin) that I will be spending every waking second in. 

 

Here are the AMAZING Grand Teton Mountains that have most definitely captured my heart.

 And some more of the gorgeous mountains around here. 

I have fallen in love with the Wind River too! Just everything about this place. Watching the birds soar, the sun turn the clouds purple behind majestic rocky mountain cliffs, the wind blow through the sagebrush and tall grass, and the simple, work-filled lifestyle. 

Oh and this is happy, happy, happy me ready for some new adventures this summer! 

God has a funny way of putting us right where we need to be. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer break! 

Go, Live Your Dream

We are now down to counting weeks. Mckay has about 9 or 10 weeks left. I am not entirely sure because he hasn't said what his release date is yet. 

How has two years gone by so fast? I feel like it was yesterday that I got my first letter from him. Shoot, I feel like it was yesterday that we were just little guys pretending not to date in high school!

When Mckay left I was pretty much a huge wreck. The past two years have been...crazy, amazing, hard, etc. Honestly, to my surprise, my love for Mckay has stayed constant. Through my dating experiences my respect and admiration for Mckay has only grown. I really didn't expect that, but here I am two years later excitedly waiting for his return. 

A couple of posts ago I said that Mckay emailed me. In his email he asked me what my plans were and what I thought about us trying to date when he got home. You can imagine first of all my surprise and then my happiness! It took me a longer period of time than I would actually confess to calm down from reading that email. Since then my anxiety has climbed and there is always a constant temptation to give in to my fears, but with the help of my patient and understanding brother and my loving and encouraging mother I have been able to stay calm. It most definitely helps that my job right now is so fantastic and also that my job in Wyoming starts in one month! 

For the whole month of March there was a quote on a calendar in the payroll office in the Brewster Building. Every time I dropped off our shops time cards I would read it and just felt the truth of it. It said, "Courage is putting your dreams above your fears." It truly takes courage to follow and pursue our dreams. What I am learning is that with every dream that I have there will always be fear to accompany it. Faith in Jesus Christ and courage in his grace and power then become the solid foundation that my dreams can build on. 

So go...live your dream. :)

Let's Start With a Bang!

Oh, I just had the most amazing week!

School ended and then I headed off to Havasupai!

What an amazing place. If you ever have the chance to go don't let it slip by. 

Everything about this trip was choreographed by the Lord.

The people that I spent time with are just amazing.

Hands down one of the funnest trips I have ever been on.

A little bit about Havasupai if you don't really know.

This is a hike that you backpack down into the Grand Canyon and then camp by the river. There are amazing falls everywhere. April was the perfect time to go too. The hike wasn't scorching hot, but it was warm enough that the water was enjoyable. The rocks were surprisingly not smooth so it was easy to climb up the smaller waterfalls.

I wish I could go back!

On my way back I was dropped in St. George. My awesome brother-in-law competed in the half Ironman in St. George last Saturday so I stayed to support and cheer. It was amazing to hang out with my family. Most of the time I spent with my niece and nephews and I just love them so much!

I was also able to see my dear dear friend Adriana. What a blessing she is in my life. She continues to be an example and a strength to me in my life.

I am a blessed girl. I am so thankful for my life and for good vacations. I am also thankful to come back and start normal life again. Summer has started off real good!

Believe

Prayer and Fasting work.

God hears and answers our prayers. There's no doubt about it. 

Have faith. 

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God..." Romans 8:28

 

Heavenly Father’s interest in you does not depend on how rich or beautiful or healthy or smart you are. He sees you not as the world sees you; He sees who you really are. He looks on your heart. And He loves you because you are His child.

Dear sisters, seek Him earnestly, and you will find Him.

-Elder Uchtdorf "You're Wonderful Journey Home"

Choices, choices, choices. 

So many choices. 

It seems like just when you decide something, another something comes up and it twists and turns the things you decided. I know. Pretty confusing. 

Luckily, the Lord sent the Holy Ghost to help guide our way. 

I got a new job today. 

At this present time I feel like I am in a transition period and it is giving me a headache. There are so many things to think about and none of them are coming up yet. 

The Key Office has been an interesting experience. I have learned so much and met some wonderful people. Because of some changes the atmosphere changed drastically. So I will now be working at the Upholstery Shop. Pretty funny, I know. My boss is going to be awesome though. Just talking to them today I felt so grateful for their understanding of my situation. 

Fall semester is coming so quick. I know that seems silly since Summer hasn't even really started, but in less than two weeks I am going to Havasupai, coming back, starting Spring term, leaving for Wyoming before Spring term even ends, and by the time I get back school will be starting again. 

Do I go through school as quick as I can? Or do I slow it down and prolong this period of life. I am excited to start practicing as a Rec Therapist, but also feel extremely inadequate. Pretty normal considering I just started my major classes. 

Tuesday night was my concert for my choir class this semester. It was so fun. I just love music so much. Do I slow school down and extend it by adding a music minor? Would a music minor really be that beneficial for my field? But then again does it matter? Education is education. I am not just going to be a Rec Therapist in my life. I am hoping to be many things. A mother is included in that. Oh how I wish to bring music to my home. Some of my most cherished moments in my life have been with my mother singing or playing the piano together. 

When I return in the Fall I want to try to get a job at a Residential Treatment Center. There is just so much for me to learn and so much experience for me to gain. 

Today at work my friend Tessa said, "I am not afraid of change, but it is hard for me to let go." Way to hit it right on the head Tess. This is exactly how I am. Letting go of anything is the hardest thing for me. I get comfortable. Even if the changes are good and I know they are healthy I still have a hard time letting go of that part of my life. 

Growing up, man. It is pretty tough sometimes. 

This week I was contacted by Triangle C Ranch. I AM SO EXCITED!! 
When my sister first told me about Triangle C I looked them up online and that night I spent over an hour looking at their sight and day dreaming. Now several months later I am only two months away from being there living a lifestyle I have always wanted to experience.

What is it about this lifestyle that is so appealing to me you ask? Honestly, it is the type of work. Getting up in the morning to go outside, be with horses, fix up a fence here and shovel some poop there. Yes, even shoveling poop sounds exciting to me! The best part about this is that I get to work with kids. It will be a great experience to get my creative juices running for my career. I get to stay in a teepee once a week. I know, pretty cool. 

Provo is trying to decide if it is Spring yet or still Winter. Please pick Spring. I just want the sun to turn everything bright and vibrant. The rain is kind of nice though. It reminds me of Redding (my hometown). 

Havasupai! Can't wait! It's going to be amazing. 

Paradise+hiking+good company=one happy Joanie

Well, need to study for finals now. Work then play. 

Be happy. Tomorrow is Friday!