The Rodeo Romp

What could be more fun than an evening out with the girls in Preston, Idaho? I'm not sure, because this was sooo fun! We arrived in Preston about an hour and a half early for the rodeo, and just in time to see the tailend of their parade. Since we were so ahead of schedule, we went to eat in this charming little local pizza place before heading off to the rodeo. My friend Amber, a true rodeo groupy, purchased our seats ahead of time so we were front and center and had a great view of it all.

I was entertained by the fact that the girls around me kept asking me what the rules of certain events were. Being known to be from Montana sure does have a stigma attached to it. I paid attention to the announcer, though, and learned a lot about the does and don'ts of barrel racing, bull and bronc riding, etc. The mutton bust and barrel racing were by far may favorite events.

Bull riding still terrifies me as much as the first time I watched it 15 years ago. Do you remember the Boulder rodeo Lisa? We went and rode in the parade down main street with Chandra Obie and her parents (they were campaigning for some political position at the time, I do believe), and then they took us to the rodeo. The big bulls kept ramming their riders up against the fence near the audience, and it was rather frightening.

Afterwards the fairgrounds people paid Lisa, Chandra, and I $5.00 a piece to clean out the beer cans from underneath the stadium. We came back reaking of alcohol, and Mom questioned "what on earth have you been doing?" I'm pleased to remember that she wasn't a bit concerned that we had actually been drinking the stuff we smelled of. I now know that it was a job definitely worth more than $5.00.

This rodeo was a lot different from the one in Montana in that respect, though. There was absolutely no alcohol in sight. The biggest difference was that it was begun with prayer. I mentioned this to Mom, and she said she couldn't think of any other sport where prayer was more needed, than at this kind of event. I couldn't agree more. I loved the prayer, though. It was a true cowboy's prayer, comparing green pastures to heaven above, and other similar kinds of fun cowboy imagery.

I'd go to this rodeo again in a heart beat!

Pioneer Day

One of the fun things about Utah is that they celebrate the 24th of July. And although I've lived in Utah on and off for five years, somehow I've never actually been in Utah for this celebration. Well here I am! It's great: a holiday in the middle of the week. I love it.

When I was 9 or 10 I remember thinking that I had been born in the wrong century. I wished so strongly that I could have been a Pioneer. The idea of camping under the stars, cooking outside and doing the washing in the creek, walking in the sun all day long, while all along being headed toward a promised land was very appealing to me (the majority of these daydreams I do believe, occurred during math class...in particular the loathsome fractions unit).

Well according to Dalling H. Oaks, I can be a pioneer. I've been collecting quotes recently (and I have to say, Dallin H. Oaks says things so eloquently) and I really liked this one:

"It is not enough to study or reenact the accomplishments of our pioneers. We need to identify the great, eternal principles they applied to achieve all they achieved for our benefit and then apply those principles to the challenges of our day. In that way we honor their pioneering efforts, and we also reaffirm our heritage and strengthen its capacity to bless our own posterity and 'those millions of our Heavenly Father's children who have yet to hear and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ' (Our Heritage: A Brief History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [1996], 145). We are all pioneers in doing so." (Dallin H. Oaks, "Following the Pioneers," Ensign, Nov. 1997, 72)

Some of the great and eternal principles that I thought of were these: weigh the price, and decide if what you're doing is really worth it; when something's right don't hesitate, just do it; and once you've made all of these decisions, constantly press forward no matter what.

How great that I can still be a pioneer; it's not really in the way that I longed for 15 years ago, but sharing what I know with others has proven to be a pretty great way to be a pioneer.

Gardening Successes!

Today I was hanging clothes on the line, when I realized I haven't given much heed to my little garden patches as of late. I wandered over to take a peak, and discovered that despite the weeds and the lack of watering it is thriving! There are loads of beautiful looking tomatoes and banana peppers and despite the fact that I haven't thinned anything that needs thinning, the plants are growing bigger and bigger. Do you suppose that plants are like people? ... Adversity only makes them grow stronger.

I don't know for sure about that, therefore, I'm planning to devote my evening tomorrow to ensure their survival. I suppose the Savior is a lot like that in our lives, though. He looks down and says, "hmm, Kissy's been enduring a lot of adversity, and she's grown a lot stronger, but I don't want her to dwindle in the drought, or fall victim to the weeds so I'll spend some time with her tomorrow, and ensure her survival." That is a very comforting thought.

Graduate School

I've left you all waiting in suspense long enough. I was accepted into my preferred graduate school! I'll be going to Utah State University in Speech Language Pathology. I must only survive these last few summer courses (that means passing with a B- or better), and I'm in!

Recently it has just dawned on me how cool it actually is that I'll be in Grad School. Some of the best parts of Grad School include the things that I will not be doing: I will not be working at Utility Billing (I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to just focusing on school, especially after the hectic life I've led this summer...two part time jobs, three classes (that's nine credits), and don't forgot a very busy church calling), I will not be twiddling my thumbs idley as life passes me by, I will not be wishing, wishing, wishing, and never accomplishing, I will not be feeling sorry for myself, and I will not be worried that nothing ever good comes my way. I'm so grateful for the things I don't have!