Back on the Saddle

Hello hello! This week was a busy one, but what's new?? So let's start with Monday. I had clinic and a plan to do lots of homework during the day and that night. On my way home from clinic I got a call from Madi saying if possible she could use some help moving a couch that night. SO I buckled up for a long night adding that to the to do list. But the plan was for that to only take like less than an hour - the couch was only about 15 minutes away from our house. Well it didn't work out to plan. Madi had rented a truck from Uhaul on the app because it was after hours. After a struggle figuring out the app and the process to get the key, we get in the truck to find its gas tank to be empty. So our first stop was the gas station a couple blocks down the road. The minute Madi started filling it up the gas went right through the tank and out the bottom of the truck spewing every where. SO for the next hour and a half we were stranded at a Maverik...

You can see our dang busted up Uhaul in the back. Welp I had walked back to the Uhaul place to get Madi's car and we waited for the road side assistance guy. He eventually let us know that someone had drilled a hole right into the fuel tank and stole the previous gas. So in other words it couldn't be fixed and this night was a bust. 

I had put a baked potato in the oven before I left so that I could have dinner once we got back to the house with the couch... scratch that plan - Mcdonalds for dinner it was while we waited on help. Anywho I didn't get any homework done this night nor did we get a couch. What a great night. But I'm glad Madi wasnt stranded alone. Memories. 

Tuesday clinic pic after my first full toenail removal!! It was a fun one and Im glad my preceptor let me do it by myself. Actually we kind of had no choice because the girl had to be held down by her mom and Mark had to hold the foot in place, especially while numbing her up. It was a success though. Wednesday I took off work because my back was still hurting and I was overwhelmed with all the stuff I needed to do so that's what wednesday was - A get the job done kind of day. Lots of homework and finally helped Madi get the couch haha. Thursday and Friday were busy charge days at work and I was grateful for wednesday off because just two days was enough for my body this week. I feel like a wuss, but three twelves just aint it anymore - my body can't handle it. 

Saturday was a day I've been looking forward to for awhile. It was another really early morning and lots of driving which my back also doesnt like, but it was worth it. My last Utah temple. 24/24 (as of right now). The Monticello temple is my 33rd temple overall and yes, it was tough to get to. 7+ hours of driving in total this day, but the drive was pretty. It is a super small temple. There isn't even a chapel. You literally walk like ten feet from the front desk to the dressing room and then across the hall is the endowment room and then the celestial room is just like ten feet from the dressing room too. So so small. There were 17 people in total in our session. 

This day was extra special because Tara and Katelyn joined me. Erin and I went to many temples together and I now if she was still here she would've drove with me to go to this temple, so it was fitting her family came with me. This weekend I was craving the temple a little extra - not sure why, but I feel like in the chaos of life (and I feel like my life/life in general is just crazy right now) the temple just seems even more needed. And it heals me almost immediately. Attending the temple helps me have feel closer to God and makes it easier for me to feel loved by him and have a special confidence in myself. It helps me see others in that same light as well. It motivates me to do and be better. It helps me reflect on life and the tender mercies Im blessed with every day. It allows me a peaceful place to feel the presence of my friend and those I love who are on the other side. It helps me feel happy in an otherwise dark world. The list goes on and on. That is why the temple is worth it and that is why people all around the world travel and sacrifice so much for it. A four hour drive is nothing compared to the sacrifice many make to go to the temple, but it's really not a sacrifice when so many blessings are received from going. Anyways - I achieved my goal of every Utah temple, but that goal will never end because the temples will keep popping up. People ask me what are my favorites. And if Im being honest they've all mushed into one and I have no clue which is which, but If I had to pick my top two they would be the OG St George and the Manti. 

Lunch in Moab was delish. I forgot how pretty Moab is - definitely a place I want to re-visit soon. 

Now for some cowgirl time - real cowgirl sh*t right here. Bootcut jeans and some twisted x shoes. Katelyn was nice enough to think of me and planned a little bit of riding in this busy day. I honestly didn't think we'd have time so I didn't bring my boots or any riding clothes (Hence my outfit being pulled from Katelyn and Erin's closet). 

Wyatt was already working up on the mountain with these horses so he let us take them out for a little ride. I rode peppy this time around. My old horse Mac is getting pretty old and doesnt ride very far these days. 

We thought it was going to rain on us but we lucked out. The last time I rode was summer of '23 with Erin. I didn't realize it had been that long, but it makes sense - we didn't ride once she got sick again that fall and I obviously haven't rode since she's passed. Oh how time flies. It was good to be back on a horse though. 

We finished off the ride helping Wyatt lead a few cows into a nearby corral. The cows have already started coming off the mountain on their own, but I think either next week or the week after starts the big cattle drive. I wish I could participate, but I think this ride is all I'll be able to fit in until spring. 

Wyatt and his family own the most cattle in the area - over 1250 head of cows. Pretty insane how much work day in and day out goes into ranching. They told me baby calves are born in February/march and Wyatt sometimes has to do emergency C-sections so you better believe Im going to come back and help out with the birthing season. Probably just an hour or so of riding and today my bum is nice and sore. The rest of the evening was spent eating some of Mama Tara's football food (wings, dips, sliders and treats) and cheering on BYU football. Oh and I was in charge of giving the family Erin's 9th month gift. I picked up a cute BYU gift with one of Erin's BYU jerseys, her BYU beanie and a necklace. She left a card and a part of the letter mentioned something to the fact of her always being there for them especially through the hard times when even BYU football lets them down ahah. We were hoping that wasn't a sign they were going to let us down that night. The first quarter we were a little worried, but it ended up being such a fun game to watch. One of the last plays of the game Colorado had the ball and we intercepted it which allowed BYU to keep their lead of 24-21. Frank immediately jumps up out of his chair and we all cheer and give high fives all around ahah. it was a fun night to say the least. Actually it was a really fun day. Erin, before she passed, told me she wanted me to keep visiting her family even when she wasn't there. I don't think she realized how much I was actually going to take that to heart. They truly have become my second family - even Erins aunts and uncles and grandparents. I attended her cousin, Kaden's, farewell today. And after church I said my goodbyes and headed back on the road for SLC. The canyon was beautiful - peak fall colors everywhere. I do really enjoy living near such beautiful mountains. Now Im home - back to the grind of school and preparing for another busy week ahead. There's a lot to be grateful for. And to note - president nelson passed away last night. I remember president Thomas S. Monson, but really president Nelson has been he prophet I remember most in my life. A good good man who lived a very good long life. Oh and just to say - finishing off my temple goal wraps up all my 2025 goals for the year being achieved. Yes, I know, none of them were that difficult or serious, but I knew I had a long hard year ahead of me and Im happy that I was able to complete some goals that I made, even if I made them up just for fun.