Goodbye Summer....

This post has been difficult for me to write for it has become so dear to my heart. It is difficult for I struggle to find the words in which will perfectly describe and memorialize the events of this past summer. For you see, after four amazing months I have grown, I have changed, and I have had experiences that I wish to never forget. This summer so much has taken place, so much has changed, and I pray that I will never forget any of it.

After four long months of living in the beautiful Utah mountains, my summer has come to an end. It has been a summer full of wonderful memories, wonderful friendships, many wonderful adventures, and lots of laughter. It has been a summer of growth and change. A summer of love. A summer of life. A summer of firsts. A summer of friendships. And a summer that I will never forget. This summer I experienced the greatest of joys and the greatest of sorrows. I lived, I loved, I laughed. I made mistakes and I fell. However, I picked myself up and learned from those mistakes. This summer I realized who I was, who I am, and who I can become. This summer I changed. I become more open, more confident, more independent, and less afraid of what others would think about me. I became loud and I pushed myself out of my comfort zone. This summer I made more friends than I could have ever imagined. This summer I found a best friend. This summer, the summer of 2010, I will cherish in my heart forever. Thank you Aspen Grove for giving me this wonderful opportunity to live, to love, and to laugh. To grow and to change. And most importantly, thank you Aspen Grove for blessing me with such wonderful friends.

First Week of Aspen Grove:

Last Week of Aspen Grove:

Top 10...

As the summer has begun to come to an end and the beginning of a new school year looms ahead, I have taken some time these past couple of days to reflect on all of my summer adventures. The late nights playing games, watching movies, playing basketball, going hiking, going swimming, etc. This summer has been one of the best summer's ever and I never want to forget it. For this reason I have come up with a top 10, the top 10 adventures I had this summer. The top 10 adventures in which I experienced the most joy. The top 10 adventures in which I spent time with the people most important to me. The top 10 adventures in which I laughed the hardest, played the hardest, and truly lived life to its fullest. So here it goes, my Summer's Top 10 (in no particular order):

#1. Participated in the World's Largest Water-Balloon Fight at BYU

#2. Spent a wonderful weekend in Park City with my family.

#3. Went to Salt Lake City's Gateway Mall with Albert

#4. Had the opportunity to meet and shake Elder Holland's hand.

#5. Had a "So You Think You Can Dance" party with my girls.

#6.Broke into the kitchen late at night to make pazookies with Albert.

#7. Floated the Provo River with all of my Aspen Grove friends.

#8. Went to the midnight showing of "Step Up 3D" with two of my best friends.

#9. Became best friends with Jessica.

#10. Watched "The Big Bang Theory" all summer with Albert.

I cannot find the words to explain how incredibly fun this summer has been. I feel so blessed to have had such an amazing summer and am truly grateful. As I have reflected on this summer and all that I have done, I have come to realize that this summer has been so wonderful because of the friendships that I have made and the people that I have been blessed to work/live with. This summer has been a summer to remember and I will forever cherish each friend and each memory.

Life....

Life is a funny thing. In life one can experience the greatest of joys, yet at the same time or in the same moment, one can also experience the greatest of sorrows. This summer has been full of joy, laughter, friends, and fun. However, this summer has also seen some difficult and trying times.

Someone once told me that the hardest decisions in life are more often than not the most important decisions. This past weekend I had to make a hard decision that I wasn't ready to make, and yes it was a very important decision. However, it was a decision that needed to be made. Though I was unsure, I went forward with faith knowing that in time everything would be o.k. Knowing that whether it was the right decision or the wrong decision, life would go on and in time my heart would heal. In the moment, it doesn't make sense. In the moment it hurts. And though it may seem like your whole world is crashing down around you, know that you made the right decision. Know and believe in the choice you have made.

Life is a funny thing. One moment you can experience the greatest of joys, then in the next you can experience the greatest of sorrows. However, if it were not for sorrow, one could never come to know any joy.

National Dance Day...

The first blog post I ever wrote was about a beautiful young dancer full of life and love for dance. Her commitment and dedication are inspirational and her love and passion for dance are beyond description. She represents the millions of dancers who hold that same love and passion for dance. To watch a dancer is an experience that cannot be described in words. It is beautiful, touching, and inspirational. It expresses those feelings that go beyond verbal communication and it brings life to not only the dancer, but to those in the audience as well.

Though I am not very good at it, I love to dance. However, seeing as I am not very good at dancing, I more often than not choose to watch others dance and/or choose to photograph the intricate movements of a dancer. Last Saturday, here at Aspen Grove, we celebrated "National Dance Day" by performing a hip-hop routine at the opening show. So, of course I was there in the front row with my camera ready to capture the performance. As I watched two of my good friends, who are dancers, perform in this dance routine, it only increased my love for dance and my desire to learn how to dance. In the photographs below it is evident the joy each one of these girls receives from dance.

"Dancing is the loftiest, the most moving, the most beautiful of the arts, because it is not mere translation or abstraction from life; it is life itself."

~Havelock Ellis

Week #13:

National Dance Day:

Jess:

And Jess:

Aspen Grove Staff: