Mahna Mahna..

It's hard to think that I'm graduated from high school and moving out to go to college up at BYU.
One of my best friends comes home from his mission in 70 days. He has been out serving in Manaus, Brazil. He left 2 years ago right as I was beginning my Junior year of high school. It's weird to think that 2 years have already passed and he's coming home!
I'm quite excited for him to come home. It'll be fun to see him again. But I can't help thinking if things will be different. We've both changed a ton in just 2 years..and I hope that we can still be the great friends that we are! I hope things don't change too drastically when he gets home.
I miss him, and I can't wait for September to come!!

Quote of the Day! :)
"Side by side or miles apart, friends are forever close to your heart."

A Beautiful Day

Life is a journey,

Not a destination,
There are no mistakes,
Just chances we've taken.
Lay down your regrets 'cause all we have is now.

Wake up in the morning
And get out of bed
Start making a mental list in my head
Of all of the things that I am grateful for

Early in the morning
It's the dawn of a new day
New hopes
New dreams
New ways

I open up my eyes and
I open up my mind and
I wonder how life will surprise me today

Early in the morning
It's the dawn of a new day
New hopes
New dreams
New ways

I open up my heart and
I'm gonna to do my part and
Make this a positively beautiful day

It's a Beautiful Day

Life is a challenge not a competition
You can still smell the roses and be on a mission
Just take a moment to get in touch with your heart

Sometimes you feel like you've got something to prove
Remind yourself that there's only one you
Just take a moment to give thanks of who you are

Early in the morning
It's the dawn of a new day
New hopes
New dreams
New ways

I open up my eyes and
I open up my mind and
I wonder how life will surprise me today

Early in the morning
It's the dawn of a new day
New hopes
New dreams
New ways

I open up my heart and
I'm gonna to do my part and
Make this a positively beautiful day

It's a Beautiful Day

Let's make this a wonderful
Let's make this a powerful
Let's make this a Beautiful Day
It's a Beautiful Day

Life is a journey,
Not a destination,
There are no mistakes,
Just chances we've taken.
Lay down your regrets 'cause all we have is now.

-India Arie

It Isn't Enough

It isn't enough to say in our hearts

That we like a man for his ways:
It isn't enough that we fill our minds
With psalms of silent praise;
Nor is it enough that we honor a man
As our confidence upward mounts;
It's going right up to the man himself
And telling him so that counts.
If a man does a work that you really admire,
Don't leave a kind word unsaid,
In fear to do so might make him vain
And cause him to lose his head.
But reach out your hand and tell him, "Well done."
And see how his gratitude swells.
It isn't the flowers we strew on the grave,
It's the word to the living that tells.

- Author Unknown

Pioneer Trek

I just got back today from the best experience ever. The Pioneer Trek.

Rachel & I before leaving for the Trek

My stake, every four years, does a Pioneer Trek. I went 4 years ago, and was lucky enough to come again! :) I loved every second of it and wouldn't trade it for anything!

Typical Kendall! :)

We trekked 11 miles the first day.

Dust from the games - it ended up making it a cool pic! :)

8 miles the second day.

And 4 miles the last day.

Dyllen, Me, and Michael!

The first day was the hardest for me, and most painful. I have a hurt knee, and so after 6 miles, my knee was killing me. I had to stop and ride the horses, for I could no longer trek for the day.
Then second day was probably my best day. We started off with the women's pull. The men left, and we were left there watching them go, tears streaming down our faces with a prayer in our hearts that we would make it.

All of the men leaving.

My knee had been hurting all morning, and I prayed to my Father in Heaven that I would feel no pain in my knee so I could help with the women's pull. I prayed for strength, so that I would be able to make it.

Me & Shayna :)

We trekked to where the hill was, and as we looked up, we saw the men in their white shirts lining both sides of the hill where we were to climb up. It was amazing, this sight was. To see all of the Young Women's faith and determination to help each other get up the large hill.

Corey & Me! We did it!

I felt no pain during this time in my knee. I was able to make the trip 3 times, helping 3 carts up the hill. I fell on my bad knee the 2nd time up, but there was no pain. All I could think of was get up and start going up the hill again. I knew, as we finished and as the Young Men cried, "Hoorah! Hoorah! Hoorah for Zion!", that the Lord had answered my prayer. I had the strength to keep going and help the carts up. I didn't feel any pain as I went up the hill and also when I fell on my knee. I felt like I was going to die and throw up, but I didn't feel any pain in my knee which was a miracle.

My brother and sister - Casey & Tianna :)

The rest of the day I was able to trek with no problems of my knee. The third day, we trekked to where our parents were waiting to pick us up. We did it! I did it! In spite of my knee, I was able to make it. I was able to trek 16 miles out of the 23 miles we did overall.

More of my fam! L to R: Rachel, Jordan, Timmy, & Kyler

I loved this experience.

Me & Tianna! :) I love this girl!

My family was amazing. They also were completely and absolutely hilarious! I about died laughing every evenging and night! I couldn't have asked for a better family!

The fam! You can't see everyone though.. :(

I loved this experience, and hope to never forget it.
Believe.
Hope.
Endure.
Hoorah! Hoorah! Hoorah for Zion!

Houston!

Playing with my sister and brother-in-law all week was a complete blast! Amelia and Jon are da bomb! :)
We went swimming of course!
We went to the BlueBell Ice Cream Factory and had a tour!
After this picture, an old man told us we were milking it from the wrong side! Oops!
Kickapoo Rd. How did they come up with that name??
And got free ice cream afterwards!! :)
What's a trip without shopping!? We did a ton of shopping! haha We hit the Galleria in Houston, which is HUGE!! Holy cow, I have never been in a mall that big!
Then we also went to another mall after our Ice Cream Tour. :)
We went and checked out Rice Universitie's campus and had a picnic with Jon one day. :)
We went to the Miller Outdoor Theater and watched a Contemporary Dance show. It was pretty cool. But I was just soo pooped, I was nodding off near the end. :/
We went down to Galveston
and went on a ferry!
We saw dolphins too on the ferry ride! Woot!
After the ferry ride, we went to the beach!
We had previously bought a floatie surf board...it was pretty fun! haha :)
We went on some paddle boats at Hermann Park! That was fun!
There were some crazy ducks with the best hair ever! :)
We went to The Chocolate Bar!
I think this was probably one of my favoritest things ever! Everything was CHOCOLATE!! :D I was in heaven!! It was delicious! Rachel asked for a fourth of some of my chocolate bars, and when I gave her about a sixth, she complained saying that she was being nice because she was going to ask for a half! haha it was the best! I wish Meli would've gotten it on video. :)
We went to an alligator park! It was sooo cool!!
Do you see the alligator?? :)

We saw a TON of alligators and a bunch of other animals!

There was a HUGE green froga ton of birds, some annoying fly/bee things which tried to dig in our hair..

and there was an awesome vine hanging down from a tree which Rachel and I swung on! :)
After the alligator park, for lunch we had fried alligator.
Yikes!! Scared to try it..
It was interesting...that's all I can say.
We did more swimming and relaxing, and playing the wii.
And at the end, Rachel and I had our first plane ride!!
It was the coolest thing ever! It totally beats driving. Hands down. :) I loved it!
I miss playing with Amelia all of the time, but I'm glad to be back home and away from that humidity!
Thanks again Amelia and Jon for letting us come and play with you guys! :)

Trip to Houston - Driving...

So for the past week I have been in Houston playing with my older sister Amelia and her husband Jon! :) It was a BLAST. I completely loved it! Except for one part. The humidity. ICK! I hate humidity. I can stand dry heat, but when humidity is added, I just die! :)
So we started our trip after my graduation on Friday. We went to the Heaton Ranch for a day where we fished
talked with relatives, and ate a TON! :)
Saturday we woke up at 6 and left for Tuscon, AZ where we would stay with cousins for the night and Sunday. The drive was alright. It was about 8 hours, but it didn't feel too long. We had to stop in Phoenix where my brother lives, so he could look at my eye, which was swelling and hurting (because he is a doctor! It's nice having a doctor in the family!). We didn't know what was wrong with it, and it had been getting worse of the course of 3 days. He diagnosed me with Phlebitis. He got me some prescriptions, and after that we were back on our way down to Tuscon.
We stayed the night in Tuscon with our cousins, the McCowns. They are super fun! It was a good break from driving, and a fun stop.
We went swimming Saturday evening

Cutest little cousin ever!

Lounging after swimming :)

Josh loved Jon! Jon just has a way with kids! :)

and then Sunday after church we played a lot of games!

Mainly Just Dance 2 on the Wii.
It was a blast! :)
We woke up early Monday, and started our loooooooooooooooooooong drive to Houston. We left at 6am and got into Houston at 11pm. :( The time change made it 11 instead of 9, which it was in Arizona. Not much to report on the drive. Rachel and I slept a TON.
Amelia and Jon drove a TON.
I almost threw up on the side of the road. I was getting car sick. That wasn't fun.
We saw a lot of road kill once we got into Texas. It was sad.
And we stopped at the famous rest stop Buccee's! haha That place is HUGE!!! :D 47 bathroom stalls..or something like that! It is insanely awesome. You don't have to wait in line to go! It's great :)
After all that driving all we could say was that we were glad to finally be in Houston!! Now time for play! :)