Conference or Bust!

I made it, I made it, I made it! I'm so glad that I worked out my schedule so that I could take four days and travel to UT with my single's branch. Being with my family, seeing the Prophet, and hanging out with friends, what could be better? My favorite talk by far was the first one, or one of the first ones, about burdens. I also remember a talk while I was in the conference center on Sunday Afternoon, where I had tears streaming down my face, but I can't remember which talk! Just the feeling. I had lots of small answers to prayer, and just enjoyed the whole experience like never before.
Pictures

From October, Conference Trip!!

Trip there

Babies! Hair today gone tomorrow? We're going to General Conference :D I feel like a missionary. I don't know if I've ever worn the likes of this outfit. Friends This place is HUGE! I love Darren's face. Free Hug People- have you seen the Youtube video? A typical day at the Harrison Hotel Thankfully we were going the other way! Guess what was waiting for me when I got home... SNOW! Why the face? Yes, I still hate socks... And yes, I still pay for it!

I've noticed:

• Guests in October are much more calm when it comes to bad weather. For some reason fog and rain on the 4th of July makes people a little upset. Now everyone seems to take the SNOW in stride. That is nice, as well as the fact that we have some open rooms to move people to when they're upset! A full lodge is good and bad.


• Time is relative. I think the minute the clock turned to 12am this morning, I got excited. Suddenly, though yesterday it was only one day more, October is here, and there are only two tiny weeks until I am done with my job! I leave for conference after work tonight, spend a few days with my babies :D :D :D , get back and spend about 10 days working, and planning the trip home. Then it's off to UT, and where see where my life leads from there. I'm feeling the excitement rise as it gets closer to 2pm and I can be off.

Pictures!

It's been awhile, or at least it seems that way, so here are some pictures from the last week or so.

From September, chuckwagon, Jewel Cave, etc.

From September, chuckwagon, Jewel Cave, etc.

From a solo drive through the park.

From September, chuckwagon, Jewel Cave, etc.

From September, chuckwagon, Jewel Cave, etc.

From September, chuckwagon, Jewel Cave, etc.

From September, chuckwagon, Jewel Cave, etc.

A good bye party in the Rec Room

From September, chuckwagon, Jewel Cave, etc.

From September, chuckwagon, Jewel Cave, etc.

Eating Filipino/Indonesian food. The party and this meal = My first time eating trout with the head/tail still attached!

Faith Update

Unlike most times in my life, where depression/frustration can last for years from one subject, I spent a long time reading my scriptures yesterday, and when I was done I felt the spirit giving me comfort and joy! This might have to be a daily activity- reading longer in the scriptures, praying more fervantly etc., but I'm grateful to feel more peace after a short time. I know miracles happen, so I'll just have to hope for one in this situation as well. Until then...

Crisis of Faith

So, today I've probably had the biggest crisis of faith that I can remember. I've already cried three times today, and I rarely cry! Why are things the way they are? Why doesn't God intervene? I feel like Gideon, only without the angel.

Scripture Power

I've found these scriptures, in the last few days, not really looking, yet finding them just the same. I've been feeling much like my usual self, when it comes to plans, yet I read these and remember that 1. God is in control, even though it sometimes feels like life is spinning in an uncontrollable, cyclic spiral, and that 2. Somehow my life fits into His plan for me. I find myself once again wishing that I could see what He can. I guess that's where good old fashioned faith that He knows more than me comes into play.

During institute we talked about Gideon, and that the Lord saved his people with just a few hundred men against thousands (the grasshopper analogy worked well here, since it's been the "year of the grasshopper" around here).

Judges 6:12-
12 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him and said unto him the Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.
13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us [This could be any problem, I've said this many times]? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? But now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the land of the Midianites. HAVE NOT I SENT THEE?

It's interesting that it took a lot of convincing for Gideon to do what he did, so maybe it's not too awful for me to need a little reassurance once in awhile. I've also felt like him, when he says, where are the miracles that our fathers talked about? me: Why do I have such a hard time sometimes, where are the angels pushing my "handcart?" But then the Lord swoops in, somehow making things work out (not that they have yet, but they have in the past, so I'm hoping). How long is patience required? I guess asking this question means I need more patience.

Scripture Number Two
D&C 127: 4 (middle of the paragraph)
and Let your diligence, and your perseverance, and patience, and your works be redoubled, and you shall in nowise lose your reward, saith the Lord of Hosts.

How has my diligence, perseverance, and patience been lately?????

Third Scritpure
While reading a slightly Christian novel (yeah for clean and funny books, Read Kimberly Stuart's "Act Two.") a scripture was mentioned. It was in the NIV version, so I'll find the King James Version. I like reading the Old English, because it makes it much more meaningful...

Jeremiah 29:10-14
10 For thus saith the Lord, that after seventy years [please don't let it be that long until my prayers are answered] be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place [of peace etc.].
11 For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord [Isaiah 55:8-9. We don't always know, or understand... we only see a piece of the pie], thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give you an expected end. [footnote: Jeremiah 31:17 AND THERE IS HOPE IN THINE END]
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you...

And one more, from Emily's blog. Why did I get teary eyed as I read her "relationship" post? :
Alma 38: 5-6 “ …
5 I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

6 Now my son, I would not that ye should think that I know these things of myself, but it is the Spirit of God which is in me which maketh these things known unto me…”

This week's happenings

• I shaved today! Definitely a noteworthy topic :)

• The leaves are already changing colors here, so I'm hoping that they last three weeks so Seth can see them :)

• Brittney, look what song I found! Remember singing this all the time when I lived with you???

• Exactly three weeks from today will be my last day of work, I'll be headed home to UT, and we'll see what happens then.

• My roommate Erica left about a week 1/2 ago :( I'm all alone in my dorm room, but it actually hasn't been too bad. Phone calls have helped!

• I'm the new Relief Society President in my branch. I love the sisters, and the branch here. If I end up living in UT, it'll be sad to leave them :'(

• Monday I taught the FHE lesson on reactivation. I have heard that there are 200 or so single people in the stake- since I got here, so I tracked down the list, went over it with the branch presidency, narrowed it down to just those in the Rapid Wards, then cut up the list, giving everyone people to contact within the next week. I hope it helps! We also had some amazing caramel apples that we were supposed to make two of, one for us, and one for a friend.

Countdowns: 3 weeks from today, done with my job. 1 week from today: Going to Rapid to sleep over, before leaving for UT for General Conference !!!!! on Friday :) 2 days from today: Relief Society Broadcast, leadership meeting, and dinner at the church :D 1 day from today: Serving at a wedding instead of going to Spear Fish Canyon to see the waterfalls :( 1 hour from now: it'll be almost 5 pm? I draw a blank. 1 minute from now: I'll publish this post.

• I've come upon a few great scriptures lately, more to follow on the next post...

That's all for now. Have a great week!

Good News Minute

Happy day, the horrid wedding guests left, and it's been pretty nice and calm around work for the past two days. I hope it lasts for the next 3 1/2 weeks!

Here's the thing.

I hate my job with a passion lately. I don't know why it's so much harder than it used to be, because now every complaining/yelling/demanding guest makes me want to QUIT as in RIGHT NOW. I used to, in my previous resort gigs, take complaints like nothing else, then go on like nothing had happened- we had more in Yosemite because we charged more for the rooms, and had about 5 rooms that EVERY DAY we'd hear from guests about... why is it so much more difficult now? 25 more days, 25 more days... how is that supposed to help, when I dread coming into work, and each day seems like an eternity? It's a good thing the plane ticket has been paid for, because I really would quit if not, or if the front desk didn't need me... ugh.

My assumptions:
1. I am old, and the whole "work for dirt, and get treated worse than dirt" isn't so adventurous anymore.
2. Maybe I'm more soft and wimpy now? I don't know about that, because I know I can still pack a punch, when it comes to saying mean things to the people closest to me. Too bad that wimpy-ness hasn't reached the other areas in my life.
3. It must be the air up here!! Though it's only about 700 feet above Cedar City in elevation, it must be the thin air.
4. After working with people in real need, spoiled tourists annoy me.
5. There aren't bears here, only deer. Who wants to handle rude people, when you can't even go bear searching? lol

My blog is too self obsessed, so here's the scoop on my familia:

Sheri: She was supposed to come visit me, but it looks like she'll be traveling to the East Coast instead :P Oh well. I'll try to live without them... but everything is closing anyway, so it wouldn't have been as fun as during the summer anyway. She's still homeschooling her three kids, and they're still the most energetic kids I've met.

Kathy: Dealing with lots of bumps and bruises lately in her family. Bryce biffed it on his bike and had to get stitches, Elina fell on/off? her bike and knocked her teeth, hopefully not making them dead permanently, and Aaron fell out of his stroller right before I called last. Too bad you can't child/adult proof the great outdoors! She's the most stable one of any of us, and even makes her own bread :)

Kristy: Is moving to their own house soon! Her babies are growing up too fast for my liking, but are oohhh so cute. Kristy's house is going to be, if it isn't official yet, the family gathering place any time we go to the Provo area. Thankfully she's moving into a big house, just for the occasion :D She still takes care of our family shared Verizon plan, which isn't too easy seeing who is on the plan. :D Go Koo ris E tae!

Skot: is as crazy as usual- the only one in college right now. Weird. Maybe I'll join him soon, which should be easy, since he has about 4 years left. He went skinny dipping!!!!!! This might be normal for other families, but I come from a practically puritan-prim -mostly girls- family. I remember when he got back from his mission and walked around in a towel- I still can't get over it.

Cindy: She's dealing without her Ryan for awhile :( She's become my errand runner for birthdays, because I've had her get things like flowers, balloons, and gift certificates for birthdays in Cedar. Thanks Cindy, you're a strong person- keeping up with Jenna, baby #2, Ryan being gone, living at Kathy's, and of course listening to me when I call. Hugs and kisses :*

Annie: is going to be a nanny in New Jersey!!! Nanny Annie, nanny Annie. She's dead if she even thinks of leaving before I get home... of course if she leaves, that means I'll simply have to visit her soon, so maybe it's all right if I only see her at general conference. The family seems nice, and hopefully not psychotic :)

Emily: she's as crazy as usual, adding more stuff to her already full schedule. Someday she'll slow down, but probably not until she's 100 and has to use a cane! She's the most "normal" American Teen that our family has seen.

Darren: Loves being back in UT, boo hoo :'( but good for him. He's still in Success, so he can get his Associates' when he graduates high school, he's also in track and cross country, and in a couple of choirs I think. I miss him.

Other "family" : WE MISS AND LOVE YOU GRANDYs!!!!!!!

Caving- The story of me not knowing I didn't have to work until 5 :)

After waiting a few days for the surprise factor (not that I'm lazy or get distracted at all), here is what happened:


The front desk manager and two of us clerks have been planning a trip to Jewel Cave, which is the second longest cave in the U.S., for a long time. Ruby set up the schedule specially so we could go at the same time and were supposed to be leaving at 1 so we could get there by 2 for the tour. I forgot all about it, thinking it was the next day, so I went jogging behind the lake that morning... I ended up going on the Sunday Gulch hike, which is a whole lot longer than usual, and I didn't have my phone with me... I went to eat in the employee dining room, and Ruby was down there. We talked for awhile and finally she asked, "are you ready to go?" There I was in my work out/hiking, sweaty glory, and I really hoped she was joking. "Isn't it tomorrow?" No, we're supposed to leave at 1! It was already 1... so I ran back to the dorms, showered, changed, and picked up the girls. We barely made it to the cave in time, and when we got there I had to run back because we had purses that aren't allowed in the cave. After the adventure underground, we got back just in time for me to go to work, at 5pm instead of the 2pm I expected. It was a fun but tiring day :D

From September, chuck wagon dinner.

From September, chuck wagon dinner.

From September, chuck wagon dinner.

From September, chuck wagon dinner.

From September, chuck wagon dinner.

From September, chuck wagon dinner.

Well, you could call it caving, but we went on an official tour, with a ranger to guide us. We didn't go through the miseries, which is so narrow that you have to military crawl for about 1/2 mile, taking your waste out with you, gross! Jewel Cave is a pretty neat cave, very long, and it has some large rooms to view... but I don't think I'm really into caves as much as others. I would've been fine with the 20 minute overview, but we were there for 1 1/2 hrs, and it seemed long. It was fun, and different, so all in all it was a good day.

Some Days- or best/worst of times

Some days it's hard to wake up at 5 am after working until 10 pm the night before.

Some days I really want to quit. Today it's because we're offering a special for 1/2off the price if you stay for two nights, BUT groups don't count. Guess how many spit-fire-mad wedding guests we get? Why would the park do this to us???? The extra money is not worth the stress. Whoever decided to not include groups should sit here at the desk when people refuse to sign that they'll pay, yell across the lobby that they'll be contacting the governor etc. etc. etc.

Some days I just want to move on...

...

Some days the sunrise is pretty :)

Some days my hair works with me, even when I'm bleary eyed with sleep.

Some days I get sweet guests who check out- loving their stay, and spend a few minutes talking about New York with me. :D

(I had to stretch back to previous days for the following)
Some days I get to talk to friends and family, and they keep me laughing throughout the whole conversation.

Some days I get to visit tourist spots for free with my VIP card

Some days I go with friends to said tourist spots, take silly pictures, then share them with the world.

Some days I even remember that I work at 5pm instead of 2pm! But that days wasn't Wednesday (story and pictures to follow)