An Exceedingly High Mountain.

     After a month-and-a-half-long hiatus, I'm back! And I have a tale to tell.

     This is the Red Mountain that resides on the outskirts of where I live. It is a massively tall mountain (well...not in comparison to real mountains, but it's still quite large) and this picture doesn't accurately grasp that. Nor does it show the entire trail.
      I, my friends, climbed that. Need proof? I got dat:

     I did not climb this beast alone. I got to climb it with one of my very best friends. None other than the phenomenal...

     Clarke Farnsworth!
     This stallion has, by now, entered the Provo MTC to prepare to serve in the Independence Missouri (Spanish speaking) mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This was one of the last things I got to do with Clarke before he left. It was a crazy difficult week. Not only because one of my best friends was leaving, but because Clarke demanded we participate in psychotic physical escapades like climbing this mountain, playing fugitive three days in a row (keep in mind that Farnsworth fugitive is approved by the United States Army as adequate training for elite military squadrons), and snow boarding (which was absolutely INSANE).
     Clarke's little brother Preston (who is equally as cool) also came. Here's a fun picture of him:

Ehr mer gersh

     Here's some more pictures from the top 'o the mountain:

     And of course, here are some sand hill jumping pictures:

     Also, for those of you who know the story, this is the cliff Clarke fell off of and hurt his wrist:

LOL. JK. But he did climb up this

during this hike up here.

     It was so great to be able to spend time with Clarke before he left. He is an inspiration to me. I hope to be as great a missionary as he is. See you in two years Clark.

Walkabout.

     Once upon a time, there was a guest speaker in my photography class. He was a really cool guy and he was very kind and very inspiring. What I liked about him was that he was successful, but he wasn't overly successful. It was just nice to see a guy that was really good at what he did, but wasn't a cocky, uber-successful, franchise-owning multimillionaire.
     I'm getting off-topic.
     In his presentation that he gave to the class, he told us that one time he got really disheartened. He was uninspired and he did not know if what he was doing was worthwhile. He then proceeded to tell us that when he felt this way, he realized he needed to just force himself to create things. So he went for a walk and decided to find something beautiful every fifty steps. He began to walk and every fifty steps he stopped and took a picture of something that he thought was beautiful. By the time he finished his walk, he remembered why he loved what he did and gained a new resolve to be a part of it. Then he told us, "When you realize what you really want to do, you make sacrifices."
     This has always been really inspiring to me and I have always wanted to try it. So about a month ago (I am really behind on my blogging) I went on a walk and I stopped ever 100 (50 was too short for me) steps and tried to find something beautiful:

     I offer the same challenge to you. It doesn't matter if you are a photographer or not, but go out when you feel down and find something beautiful. Something that reminds you why you love life.

When life gets you down, remember: shift happens :)

Late.

     Fourteen days ago I had the amazing opportunity to go through the St. George, Utah Temple on December 22nd, 2012 at 5:10 pm. It was the most beautiful experience. The Temple is place of peace and calmness. It is quiet and serene. It is holy.

     After that marvelous Christmas present came Christmas! It was (no exaggeration) the best Christmas ever! It was so much fun watching my adorable nephew open his presents and it was so great to stuff myself with food and to just sit and be with my family.
     Right before Christmas (the 21st to be exact), my brother Kyler had to have surgery on his knee. He was down for quite a while, but it has been so much fun watching LOST for hours on end and helping him figure out how to use his new wood lathe. We have really grown close these last few weeks.
     And now for some Christmas lights pictures:

     Christmas was wonderful to me. As was New Years! For New Years Eve, Meredith Walker (pictured above with Michael Erickson) threw a wonderful party with food and games and sparklers. It was a jolly good time. Here are some pictures from that event:

Lots of food

Michael, in his natural habitat.

Gathering for the lighting of the sparklers.

And what's new years without some sparkling cider and toasts to the New Year?

     2012 was a magnificent year. 2013 will be a phenomenal year. I look forward to what challenges I have yet to face and to the things that I am yet to learn.