Were out of milk, so I guess I will blog.

[Preface: This post has nothing to do with its title.]

I have been trying to be better about taking pictures for the blog when we do fun stuff, but this is going to be a pictureless post. The reason for this is not because I forgot to take pictures-although I didn't take any-it was because we are finally starting to make friends in this ward and be social, and I would have felt awkward asking these people we just met if we could have their pictures so I could archive our hanging out haha.

So, on Saturday Lester had his last 24 hour shift for this semester. Of course, he still has several 12 hour and random ones, and is as busy as ever-but this is a plus! While he was gone though this weekend, my friend Catherine and I finally jumped on the bandwagon and saw The Help. It was as good as everybody said I thought-not better, not worse-but still very very good. I think I am going to read the book now, as everyone says its better and I love reading anyways. And yes-I would still eat a chocolate pie even after seeing that movie. Depending of course on who gave it to me haha...

On Sunday we finally decided it was time to stop waiting for people to reach out for us-we decided to make the first move and invite a bunch of people over. So on Sunday night, we had four couples from our ward over and played catch phrase & pounce. Then on Monday we had three different couples over for games and dessert. Both times it was a complete blast, and we finally feel like were getting to know a good amount of ppl and feel comfortable in our ward, like we belong here. Then today, I got to babysit a sweet baby boy for a few hours. It was amazing. Kids are so much a part of my life at home, and sometimes I forget how wonderful that is. Tomorrow morning, I have a job interview [keep your fingers crossed for me!] and then on Thursday I got together a bunch of the girls from the ward who I know are not in school or working, like me, and were getting together at our place for lunch and games. I'm super excited about this because I don't think anybody who hasn't been in this kind of a situation can understand how difficult it can be-you feel lonely and pointless and times, even though of course this is bull, but getting together with ppl can really alleviate that. So it will be great! Then, on Saturday, Lester has an EMT shift at the school where there having a carnival, so I get to go with him! I can't wait! I seriously can't say enough how nice it is to have a busy, fun filled week again. Hopefully, this will become the new norm! Anywho, hopefully I will have pictures for you later in the week! Until then, do some tricks AND treats!

This Just Gets Better and Better!

Breaking News: Several months ago, I blogged about the existence of an animal I had previously thought was complete fiction right here. The Narwhal, as mentioned by Buddy in the classic Christmas movie elf. Well, I kid you not, there is yet ANOTHER animal I thought was fiction mentioned in another movie many have seen. Napolean Dynamite.

It is a LIGER. And yes. It is real.

Although I rarely watch the news, I had the TV on in the background. They were talking about how animals from an exotic animal farm in Idaho had recently escaped or something [I wasn't really listening in detail at this point] and how some of them had been killed. As I looked at the animal I wondered for sure what kinda of a cat it was-and then he said a Liger. In utter disbelief, I watched it attentively from here on out. I called my family and told them-my Dad was still a skeptic so together we sifted through obviously doctored photos and websites, till we found some reputable news and sites. One of these reported that a year ago, a 1,000 lb Liger named Rocky had killed a man who tried to feed him up close and personal against the animal sanctuary's rules. There were pictures of the massive beast, and I have included one on here so you can see how crazy huge this thing is. Although I would think it was obvious, a liger is simply a cross between a lion and a tiger. There are very few in the world, but there you have it. A real life freakin liger.

This has been your exotic animal report for the day. Until next time, happy week!

PS: I should mention for clarification purposes that although the Liger does indeed exist, it does not in fact have magical properties, as Napolean so alludes, and as my brother asked me. At least....as far as I know....

The Ice Caves

This has been my favorite trip we've done this semester so far-maybe even better then Bear World! About a week ago, we mentioned to our friends that we were going to try to go to the ice caves this weekend. Luckily for us, one of them knew exactly where to go, and they all said they would love to make the trip with us! So Saturday morning, after meeting up at our place for breakfast, we headed out. After about 45 min or so of driving, we all parked our cars, and then a majority of us hopped in the back of our truck for some light off roading. Our friend Eric drove, since he knew where we were going and had more experience with this sorta thing. Even the ride up there was super fun, while we all talked, laughed, and bounced around in the back hitting a few mud puddles and what not.

Once we reached out final destination, I was amazed looking down into this huge canyon full of rocks to see the entrance to our cave, quite low. From here on out, it was a BLAST. There were parts with climbing, sliding, crawling, you name it, we did it! The most amazing part was that it was all literally surrounded by ice, both above and below us. For me, this was a complete first. I felt like I was in a mix of the movies Ice Age, Jurassic Park, and Star Wars. It was just all so unreal to think that this world has so many natural beauties I'd heard of, but not ever seen. They were worlds better in reality. In the end, when we climbed out way back through the caves, we made our way back to the surface and rested and tried to cool down since it was so much hotter outside.

After heading back, we all went to our homes and saw each other again that night at our Stake Conference [which is a church meeting for those reading who don't know] and most of us picked up some G's Dairy. In talking, one of the girls mentioned how with our little group, it never gets old hanging out with each other-we do it again and again and it is always so fun and we never get tired of it. I think she's right. Now that we are all scattered and not in the same complex anymore, it would be easy to lose touch since its less convenient. But we are so lucky that we have friendships that last, and that we genuinely enjoy each other. I think to have an entire group like that can be rare. I am so lucky to have the friends any experiences I do!

Anywho, this is way longer then I intended it to be b/c I have a million pictures I wanted to share [courtesy of our AWESOME photographer friend Emil]. I am just so glad that we are making the time to enjoy and experience Idaho in ways we never have before! It is like a whole new world.

PS: [After uploading bazillion pics, I realized I put them in exact opposite order! So remember that your gonna start with the pictures of us LEAVING the cave, and end with the ones of us driving to it. I'm not technologically savvy enough to figure out how to switch them in the right order, and I'm to impatient to try to redo it in the right order. Still-they are amazing so enjoy!]

[I just thought this picture was cool-you probably noticed were wearing head lamps b/c its pitch black in the caves, so this is what we saw on our way out...doesn't light just make everything so much better? haha!]

[if you look in the very bottom of this picture you can start to see the entrance to the caves..]

[This is the group that was heading in before us-we didn't bring helmets which Lester and I both have bruises to prove on our heads HAHA!]

[can I just mention how much I love this picture? We were hitting a big bump and so I naturally rammed my arms up against the poor girls so they wouldn't go flying and their faces are priceless! Good times!]

The Ropes Course

So remember how I said that we are trying to do more fun things in Idaho before we head out next year? Well, this is one of those things that was on the list. Monday night for FHE, we hooked up with some friends [all of whom went on the ski trip we went on last summer] for a ropes course. For those of you who haven't heard of one, its supposed to be series of obstacles and thrill things that inspire team work. Of course, like I mentioned previously, the weather here has been super sporadic, and we were still dealing with the freezing rains that followed the snow from a few days before. Because it was both dark and raining we had to limit the things we did, so we mainly just did what they called 'the swing'.

I don't know how to describe it, other then referencing amusement parks. A person climbs up onto the top of a ladder and then gets hitched by means of a harness to this rope thingy. Then the ladder is moved and people the rest of the group pulls them up in a pulley system till they are a few stories high. Then, they release. And you free fall. And its CRAZY. After you get over the initial drop, its like you are flying. Its like drop zone without the restraints. Very scary, but VERY fun and 'free' feeling.

It was a cold, wet, but VERY fun experience. Afterwards, we headed over to our friends place for dessert and games. Over all it was a great chance for some outdoor fun and some social interaction before the week began. This weekend, we will be hooking up again for some ice caving! Good times!

PS: I forgot to mention that I officially got a job as a substitute teacher! I am both nervous and excited, and will be starting soon..just waiting for the background check to finish up..haha lets hope I pass!

[these were the two towers the ropes were strung between when you were hoisted up.]

To Be Sensitive

A few semesters ago, I was working in my church's primary program. This meant that I got to work with two sweet toddler age girls. Both were adorable and they were easy both to love and learn from-the same could be said of their parents. One Sunday, one of the little girls Father bore his testimony in church. One of the things he said was that now that him and his wife had just had their second baby, their daughter was so sweet and attentive to him as an older sibling. He mentioned that she was, and always had been extremely sensitive to the needs of her new brother, and her parents. If the baby cried cried, she was next to him in a second touching his hand, looking worried and calling in her few words to her parents. If her Mom was tired or stressed, she could tell and would try to bring her blankets and stuff. Again, the word he kept using was that she was 'sensitive'.

I guess the reason this hit me so much is because I have been called sensitive on a number of different occasions-and usually I think the word carries a negative connotation. I think the stereotype this word carries is that of being 'easily offended.' This little girl's Dad reminded me that this isn't the case. To be sensitive means to be feeling-to have an awareness of other people's needs in many situations, and to truly care about that and try to meet those needs. It means to be in touch with ones own feelings enough to think about how your actions and words affect others-and to try to make that a positive thing. Its true that in being sensitive you have to make sure that you don't take things to much to heart-I know that sometimes I am guilty of taking things to seriously. For example, I know that when it comes to politics I cannot take a joke and usually engage in a serious discussion because I feel like it to quickly goes from the casual conversation to the confrontational argument; it usually ends in hurt feelings and misunderstandings. People tell me I'm to sensitive, and that it doesn't always have to be this way-but typically experience has taught me otherwise, be that in schooling, with friends, but especially with extended family. I don't understand why anyone would like to make a joke or start a conversation that would intentionally bait another person or at most likely hurt someone, or lead to risen tempers. To me, it is the opposite of sensitive-because sensitivity requires us to look at how our words affect others for the better, not for whose words or point can shut the other person up the best. Don't get me wrong-I believe that the freedom of speech is one of the best and most important things that our country has and it is important and to be protected. But another thing that our country is known for, or at least should be, is our willingess to allow other people to believe what they choose and to respect each other for it-I believe that we should all be more sensitive to that. Just because something CAN be said, does not be it SHOULD be.

Again, walking the line between being too sensitive and Christlike sensitive is important and sometimes difficult. But it can be done. True, we need not to be quick to offense and I can and will work on thats. But at least for my part, I am going to try to be more sensitive like this little girl. I am going to try to be better about looking to the needs of those around me, whether those are spoken or unspoken. I am going to try to think before I speak or act, and to do all that I can to make sure everyone knows that they are loved and important, and not hurt by my words or actions. I am going to continue to say I love you to people who maybe don't expect it, or don't hear it that often, because I do love them, whether I know them well or not and because everyone needs to hear it sometimes. I am going to try to be more sensitive to the Spirit of the Lord as we whispers to me what I can do and how I can help. Because you typically can't be sensitive when your shouting out what you think or what you need, instead of being still and listening to what others say-I know.

So I will no longer apologize for being too sensitive. I will just try to make sure that it is the RIGHT kind of sensitive, as this sweet girl and her amazing family was in that ward.

To My Favorite Brother

Dear Luke,

HAPPY HAPPY BDAY LUKEE POOKEE POO poo poo!!! All our lives are ten times better because you are in it, and we are so glad you came to our family! It truly wouldn't be right without you. We miss you ALOT, and wish we could be with you on your awesome day, but instead we are stuck here in Idaho as you know. But in honor of you, we did the only thing we could-made you some delicious cupcakes [they are cookies and cream & butter beer] and are getting ready to throw you a part-ay! Mom says you won't be able to make it in time to eat them, and Lester says they don't ship well-so we'll have to eat them for you-but just know that they were delicious and they were for YOU! We'll do it again when we come home haha! I can't wait for that! HAVE A GREAT BIRTHDAY!

Love,

Julia & Lester

PS: Lester says he still has to give you your bday hits when you get home-watch out!

Yellowstone Bear World!

Today, Lester and I did something I have been wanting to do since I moved to Rexburg. We went to Yellowstone Bear World! It is a drive through nature park, with lots of things to do, but the main attraction is-you got it-BEARS! Typically, its pretty expensive, but since the bears are going into hibernation soon, they had a huge discount and a thing called the 'hibernation hodown.' So we figured we would seize this opportunity and go for it!

[Warning: Lots of pictures coming!]

They had the cutest, friendly baby bears..

who liked to climb...

much like their parents and family..

and their affectionate parent bears! There were far to many to count, and it was amazing! There were times where they literally came up to our car, and we had to wait till they moved! They were so close and so cool!

They also had a bunch of fun interactive and informational stuff...like measuring yourself to see how tall you are compared to a bear..and a petting zoo.

The petting zoo had some very friendly deer..

like I said...VERY friendly haha..

and they liked both of us until they found out we had no food haha.

So did their sweet babies.

There were peacocks...

goats..

Elk...

Bison..

and moose's! [You cant tell but their antlers were MASSIVE!]

We finished the park by stopping in the gift shop, to warm up a bit, since it was freezing. It was a BLAST, and we loved every second of it! We had so much fun on this little date, that we didn't want it to end, so we hit up cocoa bean and headed over to the cheap theatre to see Captain America, which we also loved. So overall, it was just a great GREAT day! Lester and I have decided that we need to take advantage of more things like this, since its our last year in Rexburg! Were doing a ropes course on Monday, Slaughter house and a corn maze at some point, and were thinking about hitting up Jackson hole sometimes soon-and that's just this semester! Can't wait for more adventures like this one!