Where the time go...

I am down to my last week in the Gila Valley and I can't begin to explain how I am feeling...I am beyond excited to go home and be with my family, but I am pretty sad to say goodbye to my friends in Arizona and to the Gila Valley. I never thought I would grow to love this Valley, my plan was to just come here to go to EAC for 2 years then move on to either Utah or back home for good....little did I know, I would end LOVING it here and not wanting to leave.

As I pack up all my stuff, I am so surprised at what I had gained in the last 2 years...seriously where did I get half this stuff?? haha let's hope I can fit it all in my car! I have gained a new passion of hatred for moving and packing, just the thought of having to do it all over again in a few months makes me sick to my stomach. This has been my home for the last 2 years and it really feels like I am leaving a piece of me behind here...but as much as I love it here and grown to be comfortable here and as scared as I am to move and start all over again, I am ready for the next adventure and chapter in my life....I can't wait to find out what happens..

Here is a few of the major memories I have had in the Gila Valley that I love:

My start!! The little 17 year old small town girl moving away from home....haha just remembering how I was when I first moved here cracks me up...talking to Max we laugh just thinking how shy and timid I was, it didn't take me long to bust out of my shell...
I'm 18!!!!! WOOHOO!!!

These inlcude the dances and activities at the institute and EAC that I had the best time at...Sadie Hawkins, dress-up dances (Everything from favorite movie character, high school stereotypes, and halloween) then of course there is the famous Mudd Bowl!!! I remember each of these nights like they were yesterday, I remember laughing A LOT and seriously having the greatest time!

We can't forget Sring Break '08!!!! We went to Cali and had a great time...sorry Mom I know you worried the whole time I was gone.

Some of my Family came out last Feb to visit for the weekend, it made me sooo happy and I had the best time!!! I have the BEST family in the World!

Allyssa came out to visit me for a weekend also and we went to Apple Annie's ....I loved having her here...then there were the many EAC Football & Basketball games...we went and cheered our hearts out! Then of course there were the MANY parties we had as friends...of the most famous was Sarah & Krystal's Pirate Birthday Bash!!!

You can't forget all the many weddings that I attended and I learned that growing up partly means losing friends to marriage..haha I am so happy for all my friends who have gotten married! I could never forget my 401 girls!!! Lyndee, Mary Anne, Molli and Emily...I pretty much lived at their apartment my entire 1st year..I love these girls!

The Amazing "kidnapped double date", long boarding, Dee's Big Birthday Bash (Which looking back at pictures, all the friends that I hang out with now were there, I just didn't know them then...crazy!) Learning to drive the motorcycle on Mt. Graham, going to a D-Backs Game where we witnessed an-almost streaker then got our picture with her..haha and of ocurse horseback riding, I'm still scared of horses and little, they are big animals..haha but it was a really fun night!!

"We Got Spirit..YES we do!" Our Famous dressing up for the 1st EAC Football game of my second year! We will go down in history haha The oh-so-many times we had the "making faces" game, Dee is the champ, but I think I won this one for sure lol and then of course the Phoenix SUNS!! I am HUGE Fan!! And one of the best experiences I have had has been the opportunity to serve as the Relief Society President for my Single's Ward...I learned so much about myself and am truly grateful for the opportunity to Serve my Father in Heaven and so blessed that He had trusted me with that calling!

EAC Graduation!!! I did it...I graduated with an Associate's Degree in General Studies, the whole purpose of coming to AZ was for that accomplishment and I made it!! Then one the most recent has been hiking in the Grand Canyon, I was so sore for a good week afterwards, but I am so proud that I did!!

Looking back has made me realize just how much fun I had in the last 2 years, I am so blessed to have had this opportunity. I have been lucky to do everything that I have here, I'll never forget the late crazy nights with friends, laughing, having dance parties, watching movies, playing the craziest games, and having so much FUN!! I have met some of the greatest people and have made lasting friendships!!

More Grand Canyon pics

Taking a break to take a picture

Soaking our feet in the little stream after the long hike (Only half done though)
The start back up...We Did It!!!! The group after we succesfully hiking the 9 miles :) we were sooo proud!

Grand Canyon!

I had the opportunity to go on a hiking trip to the Grand Canyon this past week. I went with my sister-in-law's 2 sisters, one of their daughters and another friend of theirs (hopefully that's understandable) haha we left monday for the grand canyon, went to see the AMAZING view and see where our trail started monday night. Tuesday was the BIG day for the hike. The plan was to hike down to Indian Gardens (4.5 miles down) rest for a few hours then hike back out. Let me tell you, there were a few times I thought..."oh heck, I'm done!!" But I did it!! I finished, very sore and tired I might add. Total of 9 miles is no joke (well for me anyway) but it was so worth it all. The grand Canyon is amazing and breath-taking.

don't mess with the grand canyon!!

Funny story...I am still laughing at it actually. The animals in and near the grand canyon are very very friendly (due to the fact that people feed them) well we joked when we first started about what will happen if we see a coyote...all I said was that I needed to be able to outrun everyone else and I would be good. hahaha we all had a good laugh at that, well turns out coyotes were the lest of our worries, instead squirrels!!! We laughed the way down how friendly the squirrels were, however, when we were down in Indian Gardens we were eating lunch and a squirrel jumped on the back of my bench and I really thought it was going to jump on my back to get my apple! I jumped off the bench and the squirrel came after me, I nicely kicked it away, but came at me again...this time with its mouth open and little arms up....seriously!! This time I was not so nice, I gave that squirrel and good boot haha and even had to play baseball with it with a hiking pole...and I was not the only one to do this. haha honestly these squirrels are messed up!! The rest of our little rest was spent dodging and scaring away squirrels...and what made it even more funny was when we started hiking back up. I was ahead a little from Nat and Michelle when Nat started laughing and said, "Jen the squirrel is gonna get you." I turn around and the squirrel runs off the trail, Nat said that it was following me on the trail...hahaha and it continued to follow us, when we stopped for a rest the squirrel sat and rested on a rock just watching us. All I can say is that squirrel wanted revenge from me kicking it!!

Only missing Michelle...Our group!!

All in all, the trip was so cool. Thr grand canyon still doesn't look real to me even when I was in it..haha it really does look like a picture standing there overlooking it. I am quite proud of myself for finishing the hike, I am so very sore, but I am so happy I did it!!

Picnik...I'm addicted

Well thanks to some friends on good ol' facebook, I found this website and let me tell you how addicted I am. It is the coolest thing ever :)

yes I know...a little addicted right?? haha I had fun with them too!