C.V.P.

Code for....Castle Valley Pageant. 

If you know me...I've probably mentioned it once or twice....

Mostly because I love it! After all....it's been a part of my summers almost every year since I was a wee little girl with no front teeth. And even though it's been exactly the same every summer....it's still so great!

Seeing a video of it this morning made me so excited to watch it this summer.

With wagon rides, making pioneer yo-yos, milking Bessy the cow, snuggling up with piles of blankets, Abe and Nieva, and a flashback to pioneer times..what could be better?

One of my favorite scenes! 

 

So if you haven't seen it..or heard of it....you should probably fix that this summer.

It's kind of a big deal.

Once in a Lifetime...

First of all....I have some of the greatest friends [and family]. I was already excited to have existed for a whole two decades...but they made it even better. They definitely succeeded in making me feel incredibly loved. So here is a shout out to all of the amazing people in my life...Thank you for all you do! And for being such great influences in my life. I'm very blessed to know each of you! 

Here is also a picture from that day....(courtesy of Cheri...since I'm slightly camera-less and she tends to be a photo genius..and looks great in her hat)

(I'm certain I look much older then the day before...)

Secondly...This is my first post all summer! Oopps!

Anyway.. back on track...

Yesterday, we watched the great, spectacular "Once in a lifetime" solar eclipse. It was pretty incredible (though sadly..I don't think I received any super powers yet..) . And a perfect night....even aside from the eclipse.

However...I got to thinking....how often do you hear the words: "This is a once in a lifetime experience...A must see! Don't let it pass you by!"

But couldn't that be true for everyday of our lives? After all...there will never be another May 21, 2012 in my life...and what have I done so far? Read part of a book...and doodled. Everyday is a once in a lifetime experience.... yet we're all so good at waiting for some big, spectacular moment to be that "experience."

Maybe it's about making those moments yourself...or finding them at least.

I'm not implying that every second of our lives should be action packed, spectacular, thrill seeking moments of craziness....that would be borderline insane...and probably not doctor recommended. I just think, for me anyway, that it's about finding those things that are worth it...and not giving up because it may seem scary. It's about not letting days pass by without doing something that makes you happy or excited. Most of all...it's about not sitting around waiting for something great to come around.

So that's my new goal, to make this a summer a great Once in a lifetime experience. To take a chance. Find new adventures. Eat lots of snow cones. And everything in between.

Miles all begin with...

I tend to be a planner...but a lot of the the time, looking at the big picture of things or figuring out the future....sort of scares me a little bit...and.. makes me slightly want to hide under my blankets eating ice cream instead.

But I've realized...I don't have to have it all figured out right now. That's the point. After all, even if I did manage to figure everything out and have a plan...knowing myself it would all change again in a week.

Sometimes...it's just about taking things "one step at a time"

Because you never know.....One step can make a huge difference. 

In the mean time, amid the craziness of finals week...and moving...I'm thankful for the [simple] joys that never cease to make my day.... Things like:

-pull through parking spots
-sunsets
-finding surprising little notes from good friends
-snoozing my alarm for an extra 10 minutes (ok ok...maybe half an hour..)
-warm weather! 
-great picnics
-green grass, flowers, and the smell of lilac bushes
-hugs...the good long ones
-catching up with my sister....and talking to my nieces and nephew.. (cutest kids ever!)
-walks (or running in a 5k!)
-accidentally reading a book instead of doing all my homework..
-finding a new favorite song...and listening to it a mazillion times
-water being back in all the ditches!
-walking home barefoot

So if finals week ends up being the death of me....at least I'll make it an enjoyable death. And as to everything else...I'm sure I'll figure it out at some point...

And Somedays....

School is pretty cool.

And learning makes you excited. Giddy almost. (Alright don't laugh...we all already knew I was a nerd..)

Like when you get to use a bone saw to cut into the thoracic cavity of a cadaver...then further proceed to slowly take out the heart.. (Few times in my life can I say that has happened...today is one of them!)

Yep...days like that are 100% pretty exciting....even if they result in lingering goggle lines for a few hours. Too bad more people don't realize how incredibly cool, fantastic, and mind-blowingly awesome and their bodies are. Maybe they wouldn't be so hard on themselves.

And somedays... 

*on a different note*

I wish more people would be willing to take a risk (myself included..) 

Wouldn't that make life much more interesting?

After all....what is the worth of a handful of "What-ifs?"

Surprise yourself.

Take a risk.