empathy

There's this thing that happens to me where I get super emotionally attached to what I'm reading. Not even to the characters themselves, I just put myself in the situation so completely that I start to feel that the story is happening to me.
I don't think it's very healthy.


On Sunday night, Kevin went to bed at 6pm so he could wake up at 3am to do homework (I know right? How amazing is he??). I decided to pick up a book I'd been procrastinating starting, "P.S. I Love You". I've seen the movie, I liked it, I thought it would be one of those "good cry" kind of experiences. I seriously read 28 pages and started SOBBING hysterically. I had to wake up my sleeping husband because I was so distraught, and he had to hold me for like a half hour, reassuring me that he wasn't going to get a brain tumor and die. Yeah, I'm taking that back to the library, unread.


Today one of my classes was cancelled, so I've been reading a book for my Adult Development and Aging class called "Life with Big Al." It's a woman's journal that she wrote during her time as a caregiver for her husband who had early onset Alzheimer's. It is an incredibly depressing book. It put me in a pretty foul mood for the next few hours.
It's interesting that this happens, that our emotions can be so swayed by something that has nothing to do with us.
Or maybe it's just me.

Playing catch up

There is a really big part of me that wants to blog regularly. I love reading blogs, especially blogs that are updated frequently. I'm not entirely sure what's been holding me back lately on blogging. Part of it probably has to do with the fact that we don't have internet at our apartment. I don't know.
So this post will be all about catching up. This summer has been so much fun. It's been busy and hard sometimes, but we've really packed in a lot of awesome things.

We've been camping three times and we are looking forward to another couple of camping trips before it gets too cold.

We've hiked a lot (obviously!)

Stewart Falls

Squaw Peak

Angel's Landing

Mount Timpanogos! 

Biggest hike of the year!

Kevin turned 24!!

We've enjoyed the bounty of Grandma's garden and fruit trees and we've done a lot of experimenting with using those fruits and veggies (smoothies, homemade salsa, fruit leather, stir fry)

We've been to Seven Peaks a handful of times

We've read a lot of great books

I got to go on the annual girls trip with my sister, mom and all of her sisters down in St. George!

We (and by that I mean me) have been running a lot! (Kevin has been running too, but I have been a machine lately. It's awesome!)

Pioneer Day 5K

After an awesome 5 mile run on the Provo River Trail

 We've been going to the temple as much as we could! And speaking of the temple, we just got set apart to be temple workers starting in September! We are so excited.

Yep, this summer has been pretty fantastic. But we are dang excited for what is in store for us! Next week we are heading on a cruise which we are very excited about. We didn't take a honeymoon after our wedding so that's what we are calling this trip. :) Then school starts and with it a new job for me (today was my last day at Wavetronix!), and totally different schedules. We have a lot of exciting things in our future and we are just loving our little life together!

busy bees

My poor little blog has been neglected. We have been participating in other interesting pursuits such as:
Spending a short weekend down in not-so-sunny St. George for the Dixie Red Rock Relay.
Having a combined FHE with some of our favorite people.
Accepting a speaking assignment in church.
Reading, reading reading. I am on a reading binge right now. It's insane.
Watching LOST. We are addicts.
Running. Every day. All of my runs since the race have been pretty much terrible. But at least I'm getting out there.
Experimenting with food-stuffs for dinner. Last night it was stuffed peppers. Next time I'll do it a little differently.
Staying on campus way later than we want to.
Ecclesiastical endorsement interviews.

Oh yeah, and school and work and stuff. We are busy people. Trying to maintain balance.