week of adventure

At the end of summer, my family and I planned for a week of adventure in Utah.
We started up at my aunt and uncles house in Logan.
Uncle Myron took Paige and I to do all sorts of boy things.
We took out the 4 wheelers (where I proceeded to smash into some things... typical woman driver)
We also visited the shooting range (where I swear I met the cast of duck dynasty, or close enough)
It was so beautiful riding the 4 wheelers through the mountains.
I'd consider myself somewhat of a nature girl, so I was swooning over all of the different flora and fauna.





Then on Saturday we drove back down to Provo Canyon to start our week off at Aspen Grove.
Our family had been going to Aspen Grove since I was a little girl.
6 or so miles off of the highway and up into the mountains you can really feel like you are in a different world.
I loved the walks down dirt paths, under starry skies, and amongst giant trees.
I loved the colors, the smells, and the sound of rain on our little wooden cabin.


Like I mentioned, our family has been coming here for ages.
& now that Paige and I are too old (or so we think) for the 'Teen Activities'
we decided to create our own agenda.

The girls went out zip lining down provo canyon.




The family (minus Kelsey the social butterfly) went horse-back riding through sundance.
(One of the most beautiful adventures, I HIGHLY recommend it, as long as you don't mind a sore booty the next day)





Mom, Paige, and I tried our hand at paint balling...
it wasn't until after that we found out we played against 3 military men.
I mean come on, give us a break.
For us, taking one for the team is getting paint in your hair.



In addition to the zip lining, Aspen Grove has its own ropes course that we do every year we go.



& to top it all off.
the ultimate adventure.
hiking Zion's during a flash flood warning.

we were determined to make it up to the narrows,
and I'm so glad we stuck it out through the rain because we loved it.
there is something about feeling so small that is refreshing.
I think we all need that every once in a while.






& why not turn the road trip home into an adventure as well.
Welcome to Virgin UT

(mom thought this was funny... get it... we are virgins)
p.s. yes, I know my outfit is to die for...
It's a long drive. Give me a break.

 

Saying goodbye to UT

& hello to CA

It was a long week & I think the Vegas traffic just put us a little over the edge. 

Don't you want to road trip with us?

week of adventure 2012

no regrets. 

you caught me

I don't usually check the stats on my blog

but every once in a while I like to see the google searches

that bring people here. 

these are the ones from this week.

I don't mind it so much. 

purpose

A couple of months ago, I had a lovely chat with Granny.

We were chatting about my time at BYU and she asked what I was going to do...

Thinking that she was asking about my major, I told her I was studying Humanities and Art History.

Not satisfied with my response, she tenderly patted my hand and said,

"Yes dear, but what is your purpose?"

The phrase seemed so much more to me than the usual response of "what do you do with that?"

All of a sudden I had a purpose in my education, not limited to a career path or an end goal.

Since then I've been pondering what that phrase really meant.

Purpose. 

The reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.

Asking myself this question lead to an onslaught of other questions. 

What is my purpose in gaining an education? 

What is my purpose in my relationships with others? 

What is my purpose in reading this book, or starting this project? 

What is my purpose in being here, on this earth? 

What do I want to achieve and why do I want to achieve it.

It's silly, really, that I hadn't thought about it this way before. 

I was getting an education because it was something I enjoyed. I love my classes, I enjoy learning, and I want to progress in this subject. But, what is my purpose in that? Knowledge for knowledges sake? What was I going to do with all that I have learned? 

Not only that... but what is my purpose in all that I do? Life without a purpose seems so, empty. 
What is heart breaking to me, is that there are people who truly believe that we are here without purpose, without a creator, and without potential for something greater than this world can offer. 
I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, not only because it gives me purpose, but it gives me that potential. As we seek purpose in our lives, everyday, and in everything, I know we are reaching for something more than human experience alone can provide, we are reaching for the divine potential that we were born with. Whether it is in our education, in our relationships, in our jobs, or in simpler things, recognizing our purpose will give us a marvelous strength.  

Mash Up

At the end of winter semester, I was talking to a friend about Provo summers. I had never stuck around Provo for a spring or summer term before and I was excited/nervous about it. As we were chatting, she said something along the lines of, "It will be the best summer of your life. You will wake up in the morning with no plans for the day and then go to bed having filled it with adventures. Then, at the end of summer, you'll look back and think that it wasn't really one thing in particular, but a compilation of incredible days". 

She couldn't have summarized it more perfecty. My time in provo was spectacular, not because of one singular aspect, but rather because of an incredible mash up of experianecs. Now that I wont be going back to provo until fall, I can really look back and say that it has been the best summer yet.


(follow me on instagram: kaitlinmoconnor)