According to Phil Robertson, I might be a Yuppie.

But I'd like to think I'm not 100% yuppie. Click here for a better idea of what that is (according to Phil of course.)

Boots mean business

I LOVE going home. "Home" here refers to good ol' Star Valley, Wyoming. Even though I never grew up or lived there, the cliche "home is where the heart is" definitely applies to this place. My dad's parents and siblings all lived in or near Star Valley, and still do! Growing up, my family would try to visit every other year, and despite the 2,100 mile distance. My grandparents board and rent out horses, so we would go on long rides through the mountains and enjoy the country.

 I've gone home a lot this Spring and I can't get enough of being with my grandparents and family there. They've been so supportive during my time at Utah State University. A big part of the reason I chose USU was because it was so close to them.

It's only been a week since I've been with them in Texas for the wedding, but I'm homesick so I'm going up for Memorial Weekend and can't wait.

Here are a couple of pictures of a recent weekend up in the SV:

We spent one morning branding cattle. This was a feisty one so I sat on the fence and watched the whole time.  (Yuppie status.)

The newest member of the farm.

I sure love my grandpa. 

Rain.

And I always felt it before

That the world was filled with much more

Than the drowning soul I've learned to be

I just need the rain to remind me

I go silent when I have a lot on my mind and in my heart. The last few weeks have been one thing after the next: finals, performances, laying in my death-bed for 24 hours, graduation, senior recital, moving, work, wedding. But I've been with my family all the time and I have LOVED it. I haven't had this much family time since before I came to college so it was long overdue. Now I'm spoiled and all I want to do is spend all my time with them. I have lots of post coming with lots of pictures.

I got home Sunday night from from brother's wedding in Texas and I felt completely wasted. But it was raining and somehow that was exactly what I needed.

I can't really explain it, but I have always loved the rain. It rejuvenates me and cleanses my heart and soul. Weird, but true. Throw some thunder and lightening in there and I'm one happy girl.

I have a few weeks now to slow down and take in all the change from the last month or so before EFY starts (although, I wished that would start today). Thank you rain for coming in and washing away the things that needed to go and helping me prepare for the next step of this crazy journey.

Steamed Bum: The One Year Anniversary of Visiting China

Oh the children.

 This time a year ago I was in Beijing with Chamber Singers and was loving my life. I never posted as much as I wanted to about it because there are an overwhelming number of things to say about the whole experience, a lot of which are in my personal journals already. 

I will say this though: I was reading back in my journals from that spring to after I came home from China and noticed a change in myself. Towards the end of that school year I was feeling so small. I made some of the most difficult sacrifices I've ever had to make and it left me wondering if I would ever be deserving of good things. I didn't feel fulfilled and I couldn't get out of myself. 

Everything I experienced in China was what I needed to have a change of heart.

Even my family noticed a change in me. This new heart set the tone for the rest of my summer and it was one of the best I've had. I'm grateful for that opportunity I had to be there. It was a blessing really.

Changing gears now to reminisce about one of the absolute best memories of China times. The food. Now, unlike my siblings, I am not a picky eater. I'll pretty easily try anything at least once. I knew I wasn't going to have a problem with the food in China. Our hotel had buffet style meals for us every day complete with the english translation of what food we were eating. Here are just a few of such delicacies. 

Enjoy.

Acid Article Mutton - Tantalizing 

Onions Blasting Mutton - Divine

Chopped Garlic Rape(?!?!) - Scrumptious

Steamed Bum in Triangular Shape Stuffed with Sugar - Delightful

I'm not sure what pocket dictionary or online translation help they used, but I'm sure happy they did. 

For my other post on my time in China, click here