The Uintas with the Boys.

As a way to break up the monotony of school and work,  Nick invited me to join him and his BFF's to camp up in the Uinta Mountains this weekend. Nick and Britton (his roommate) have a "secret lake" that they enjoy near Ruth Lake.  So, Nick, Britton, Rico, Tim and I hopped into the car and drove up to the good ole outdoors for a refreshing break from technology (most of these boys work heavily with computers) and the luxuries of Provo.

How to explain this adventure? Think, nerd-fest at an engineer's playground (the pictures will explain everything). Nothing short of typical boy-humor full of potty jokes and Dungeons and Dragons references.  

>>>For one who associates camping with girls, braids, testimony meetings, and treats, I was definitely in for a ride. 

We had such a great time chatting, fishing (or a good attempt--without the hooks--Rico made a homemade (relatively great!) hook out of his sunglasses and pliers), reading by the campfire, discussing doctrine, snapping photos, naming landmarks after ourselves, trying to stay warm during the night, building furniture, testing science over the lake, and using homemade slingshots to hit squirrels and trees. (don't worry, no animal was injured.) 

Nick and I at the lake. 

Nick ripped his jeans, so he had to wear his swimsuit the rest of the trip. 

What do you get with two computer programers, one engineer and one gym rat?

Behold, the Living Room! 

(that's really the name they picked out for this masterpiece.)

Living Room-360

We woke up at 5:30am and worked on carving out three wooden seats, followed by the rockcliner (Nick is sitting in^^).

(Ignore my hoodie, it's doing weird things--needless to say, we all looked like orphans)

A temporary tripod for all the pics going on FB^^

Whatever happened to singing "Sip n' Sider" and "The Cutest Boy" while braiding hair and painting buckets to sit on by the fire? 

Boys, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. 

Babies

I am back in Utah, as of a few weeks ago. I apologize for not updating my status; I have been living in my head the past few weeks, literally.

Blogging is hard to do when my heart feels heavy and thoughts are on pressing issues; however, I have been learning how to endure things well. I know I can do anything, but doing it well--now that is the hard part. Getting to point B from point A with hope in my heart, intentions to do good, and bravery to continue onward--now we are talking. 

The more I learn about sorrow and depression, the more I see and appreciate the simplicities of life. It is a twisted, interesting concept that may only make sense in my little mind, but I am relearning the value of choosing to be happy. 

i.e. I was feeling heavy and a little discouraged (...a mixture of accounting hw/projects/tests, matters of the heart, feelings of desperation while living as a nomad for a few months just trying to be happy). I was walking back home from an early morning meeting on campus, when I prayed in my heart to feel peace or comfort or anything good for that matter. And that's when I saw it. The most beautiful, pure sight I so desperately needed to see. I felt myself smiling, the smile that comes from deep within your soul. It is a smile I have been longing for, for quite some time. It was a father sitting on a picnic blanket on the grass outside the testing center blowing bubbles at his baby boy. This toddler was reaching for the bubbles near his face with an expression of pure joy. The baby was giggling and looking at his dad with pure admonition and wonderment, like how could such a fun, magical thing come from that little bottle in your hand.

---> It was then that I realized, think like a child. Children are easy to forgive, full of curiosity and love. They want to enjoy every moment, even if there is no apparent reason to feel joy. They give themselves permission to be happy every day. They believe the good things people say to them. They want to share their love and excitement with others. It is no wonder Christ talks so sacredly about the hearts of little children. 

Think how easy it is to become jaded and judgmental. To be angry at yourself. To be "realistic" and "educated" though it means diminishing your dreams and aspirations. To clam up and avoid communicating with loved ones.

So to bring out the inner child in all of us, I'd like to share a few gems I discovered over the weeks. I hope it makes you laugh as much as it made me laugh/smile.

1. One of the many things I am obsessed with right now is The Bachelorette. Maybe it's the thrill of seeing drama happen to other people--outside of my personal life--that is relieving or maybe it's just the shock that people would put themselves through such an experience. But after seeing Jimmy Kimmel's rendition, I'm sticking with the babies on this one. Needless to say, I watched ALL five episodes. 

2. Baby pictures all over Facebook and Instagram. The best part about having married friends is all the baby pictures that are sneaking onto social media. I never get bombarded by baby pictures---> babies are simply too perfect to stop obsessing over. 

Twin babies are the cutest:)

3.  Mr. Old St. Nicholas Homer (Aka, Santa!) Since I don't have any babies of my own (or even near me), I manage to entertain myself. I couldn't resist:)

The Notorious "Cronut"

Mia and I decided to join in on the fan craze and get in line, literally, to buy New York's latest craze, a Cronut. A Cronut is a hybrid between a croissant and a doughnut. They are only sold in one bakery: Dominique Ansel Bakery. The chef, Dominique Ansel, sells about 200 doughnuts each day. With that in mind, it's best to get in line ASAP. Generally speaking, people start lining up as early as 5am. By the time the shop opens up at 8am, there is a line wrapping around the block. 

I must admit, I have never been much of a foody; but with all the hype, I couldn't resist to taste what has been deemed as the most delicious treat New York has to offer. I mean, for goodness sakes--people are scalping them for at least $100 a Cronut. WHAT!?! This is remarkable knowing each Cronut is only $5--people are crasey. 

The best part about this remarkable bakery is Chef Ansel's humility. He welcomes his guests at the door and greets everyone with a smile. You can tell he thoroughly loves what he does (which is perhaps the best part of this adventure). 

Many people wonder, why doesn't he close his bakery and just open a Cronut stand. After all, Chef Ansel is getting so much media coverage with his new creation--that took him two months to create. Reporters line up each morning, not for a Cronut, but to capture this madness happening on the quiet streets of SoHo. Chef Ansel said that he loves his little bakery too much to produce only Cronuts. He claims he puts the same amount of love into the Cronut as he does into his wide repertories of pastries. There is a lot of love going on in that bakery, seeming how each Cronut takes about three days to bake:)

the line^^

 Mia and I were 15-20 people deep into the line (close enough for a guaranteed Cronut).

If you look closely, people are wrapping around the block.

Chef Ansel, himself.

Bakery^^

The Cronut came in this beautiful golden box---> I felt like Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory--we got the golden ticket.

The Cronut!

You can only buy Cronuts in pairs--unless preordered in advance.

It was well worth the lack of sleep; though, I do recommend bringing a buddy to wait with you in line--it's a long morning! Thanks Mia for humoring me and joining me along the Cronut journey!

Humbling Past

Today, the Petersons and Joneses decided to take Mia and me to Gettysburg, the venue of the most iconic battles endured on American soil. Getting out of the big city into the countryside soothed my little soul. I love my job!

AH! where to begin on such a monumental day. Although I watched a brief documentary on Gettysburg, nothing could have prepared me for this tour. We signed up for an auto-tour, meaning our tour guide, Roy, joined us in our vehicle as we drove around to the many battlefields. Roy has been touring these fields for 45 years--since he was 19 years old. His passion for this country and American history is inspiring and definitely reignited my love for history, especially American history.

Today we beheld battlefields with the highest bloodshed known to America. We talked of battles where 20, 000 soldiers' lives were taken in the matter of hours. We are talking of men walking blindly into harms way as a result of the orders of imperfect generals. One mistake equates to thousands of men lost in a matter of minutes. No turning back. Everything to lose. We learned of heroes like John Reynolds and General Warren who saved the Yankees many times.

It is bewildering to think that the beautiful, peaceful fields we were venturing once held hatred and death only few will ever comprehend.

As a result, Gettysburg is forever living in 1863. Monuments line the horizon and cemeteries pave the roads. Confederate and American flags hang from windows in commemoration for the lives lost. There is a humbling spirit resting at Gettysburg--one in which I hope never to forget.

Mia holding a bullet shell. 

A piece of cannonball

New York Memorial 

(one of many memorials commemorating the lives of Union soldiers)

New York Memorial

 

Overlooking the peach fields and Gettysburg's bloodiest battlefield (day 2). 

20,000 men lost in four hours. 

Statue of General Warren--the man responsible for protecting Little Round Top. (The crucial position for the Union soldiers!)

Overlooking Pickett's Charge

Roy explaining Pickett's Charge, the last battle of Gettysburg.

Loving on Lincoln--what a man! 

The Gettysburg Address

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Enough said. 

the city: a little more beautiful

i love my family. 

Every year my grandmother hosts a girls retreat of some kind. Whether it is a trip to Salt Lake City or near the coast to San Francisco, my cousins and I get spoiled. lucky for me, they decided to come visit me for a few days. i was so excited for their arrival, I could hardly sleep. 

preface: i am a home body. 

i love my family so terribly much! 

moving so much as a child, my sisters truly became my best friends. we would entertain ourselves for days at a time in our unfinished basement without even the slightest thought that there was life outside of our little world. 

needless to say, i thoroughly enjoy the time i spend with my family. even though we are all growing up and going our separate ways...i always seem to become a child again when they are around.

early (i mean early, 6:45am) Sunday morning my phone started making noise. thinking i was turning off my alarm clock, i quickly realized Hannie was calling. they had landed and were traveling to the hotel. i quickly got dressed to meet them in Times Square. fortunately/unfortunately they had taken the red-eye flight. by the time i reached the hotel, everyone, with the exception of my grandma had fallen asleep on the hotel beds. 

after sneakily charging our phones in the nearest AT&T store, we went to church at the Lincoln Center. let's just say there were many a bobbalin' heads on our pew--luckily there were cute babies to keep some of us smiling and awake. 

we followed sacrament meeting how every meeting should end, with the most delicious, wonderful creation--wafels and dinges. 

yum. everyone experienced the goodness.

Joyce, Claire and Emily (my aunt and cousins from Connecticut) met up with us later to explore the city and contribute to the overall party. 

i love my family, did i mention that?

Our four days together consisted of lots of giggling, shopping, reminiscing, people-watching, reality-TV smackin', and everything girls do. it is so fun to see my mother with her sister and mother. this generational thing we have going on is quite remarkable. i am grateful for the relationships i have not only with my nuclear family but my extended family as well. 

Some of my fondest moments over the course of their stay, here in good ole NYC:

• Discovering the joys of Uniqlo--what an amazing store with the softest, most modest clothing I have seen (outside of Utah)--and it's designer, what!?!
• Running through the streets like mad-women as the rain came pouring down all over our unprepared heads. 
• Renting boats in Central Park--and failing miserably for the first half hour. (we only hit three boats.)
• Disappointing our waiter at Carmines because none of us drink alcohol...then making a mess all over the table cloth because of the "oil bottle." 
• Watching Abby frantically gather her shoes at a crucial moment of exiting the subway.
• Dragging everyone around Central Park--empty bellies, bad shoes, and no shade=not a very happy Jackson family:) 
• Being startled by the "vulnerability" of some people's children--paint just won't cover it. 
• Hosting our very own Bachelorette party--Marriott style.
• Shniking ALL of the cookies from the Marriott's lounge--i'm talking plates full. 
• Being swarmed by all the PacSun employees who are being paid on commission--guaranteed.
• Seeing the city from a double-decker bus--it's always good to get a different view.
• Robbing H&M for all it's worth.
• Eating fruit cups (worth as much as a good meal at Stardust) on the side of Times Square while watching the Tony's live. 
• Sharing rice pudding from Rice to Riches in SoHo--butterscotch was surprisingly a favorite.
• Watching Grandma dominate several New Yorkers--don't mess with g-ma.
• Finding out about Abby's love life.
• Finding out about Hannie's love life. 
• Finding out about Liza's hipster lifestyle.
• Nightly fashion shows in the hotel rooms.
• Watching Cinderella--FRONT ROW--close enough we could see touch the bald spots on the conductor's head. 
• Eliza wondering if the conductor would be attending the whole show.
• Receiving, "I can be whatever I want to be," shirts from Grandma-->great motto to live by.
• Going to Kelly and Michael's Morning Show--> AND getting some airtime.
• Mom and I's kiss goodbye--"Hey Claire, me and her, we kissed on the lips." *the good accidental turn.
• Watching Rach take pictures like a pro--she's in a photography class. (*some of the pics below are hers.)
• Having a missionary moment in the taxi with the cab driver.
• Causing scenes wherever we go--> that many women in one place can do no less.

living in the "city that never sleeps," surrounded by thousands of strangers every day, i have learned a valuable lesson--it is the people that make the place. in a city where there are more people in one square mile than anywhere i have been before, i still long to find a place that makes me comfortable and at home. although i have never felt more loved than i have while living here (with all the messages from home), i have also never felt more alone.

lucky for me, i have had the privilege of hosting many visitors while living out here. i love them dearly and it is always refreshing to see a familiar face amongst the usual crowd of strangers.

so please excuse me while i reminisce of my family in my little apartment so very far from home. i could show you the many wonderful places we went together or the wonderful things we saw and ate, but to me the best part of their visit was being surrounded by their beautiful faces. 

{it's bun time}...

dinner at Carmines went well...

snuck a pic. for Cinderella^^

window shopping in SoHo

Rach--the photographer--took this beaut.

{lucky for us, we are all obsessed with little babies--->NYC is a great place to people (baby) watch.}

{Unfortunately i missed this party (i'm a workin' girl) but this is exactly why i love my family}