Into the Wild

sunny day at the puget sound

2010-08-14T14:30:00.003-07:00

It's the kind of day where the sun makes all the leaves look neon green when it shines. It's the kind of day where everything looks happy because the sky is blue and the sun is kissing everyone. We went to the beach today, we being me, Sydney and Turkish. We thought a hot summer day was the best day to sit on the shore with a breeze blowing. Turkish played fetch and swam probably a half a mile just going out, getting ball and coming back. A girl in a green shirt and white pants said he looked like a little motor boat, he left a wake behind him because he was so excited to get his tennis ball. Sydney decided she would only play fetch when she didn't have to get wet. She is a little prissy that way...she will tip her toes in, but that's about it. Every now and then I threw the ball accross the beach so she could play too. I sat on a flat rock and sunned my ghostish legs while I studied.

At one point a big freight train came by (this beach is lined with three railroad tracks that are used often). Turkish dropped his ball and ran to me with his stub of a tail "between his legs". He jumped on the rock next to me and sat as close as he could possibly get. Whenever the train made a lowder noise he would shuffle and try and get closer. Sydney just sat there and watched as to say, "chill out man, it's only a train". It was really funny until after the train left I realized I was all wet and hairy on my left side. :)

We had fun and we got our fill of Vitamin D. I love summer here, it's the pefect temp and it's actually sunny. I hope it stays summer unseasonably long.

Day 367 or something like that

2010-08-08T21:35:00.002-07:00

It's been a while eh? The blog has gone unmanned, or unwomaned as the case may be, for sometimes because our computer broke, we didn't have internet and so many other excuses I could probably think of. Either way, we are about 10 months into our stay in Washington.

For a quick update, we have moved into a cute little house in Shoreline, about 15 north of Seattle downtown. We call it the hobbit house, but it has a nice big fenced in yard for the dogs and a plethera of herbs for me to experiement with. We have strawberry, rasberry, bluberry bushes, and a grape vine, we have three types of poppies, daisis and all sorts of other beautiful plants. There is a fire pit and a stone pizza oven in the back. There is a small studio thing (room, house, whatever) with a composting outhouse toilet. The dogs love the yard and I think they like Washinton, there are dog parks galor and human parks that we take the dogs to. There are great biking and hiking trails that allow dogs as well. This town was made for fun in the sun, er...i mean cloud cover.

It's a very bike friendly sitty, but I still have been yelled at, had a bottle thrown at me and other funny things while road riding. But there are plenty of bike lanes and paved trails to get around. There are plenty of off road trails and plenty of parks to practice drops and jumps. It's like a breeding ground for air crazed bikers. There are also a bunch of girls that bike, I've met a number and they've been cool enough to let me ride with them sometimes.

Ben is spending much of his time at Shoreline Community College, taking 12 credits this summer. He has that same love/hate relationship with school I think we all have. He is doing well and working at a care/rehab facilty about 5 minute from the house. He is also starting to bike and has found plenty of climbing around and a few friends to climb with as well.

Our ward is fantastic. We have made a lot of friends who we enjoy. We both have callings, Ben coordinates the building and I am the Laurel advisor and Personal Progress person. We have great girls in our ward, I truly love working with them. They are impressive young women.

My job is crazy busy, suprised? I can work normal hours sometimes and not others, just the way it goes I guess.

Well, here is hoping I can keep up with more blogging in the future, cool ideas and thoughts I hope, talk to you all soon.

Day 3

2009-09-30T21:09:00.003-07:00

That's it, day 3 at the new job, day 5 in Washington. Today I long lined for a hippotherapy treatment session. We went outside and on a huge dirt road. This road is gated off for cars and almost gated off for horses except for a small opening on each side. Apparently the horses are cool with this narrow way of passage and the sidewalkers are as well, the problem is if the driver is newer to these narrow ways of passage (me) then the steering is as great and some sidewalkers is smashed. :) hehe. Luckily the therapist and volunteers were very patient with me and understand that they won't get smashed every time. :)

Then I taught a private lesson to the cutest little boy. I feel much more in my element with the private lessons, that is what I have been mostly doing at the NAC. We had a pretty good lesson, it went by fast of course, but afterwards the volunteers said that I really connected with him and he was the most responsive they have ever seen him. They said for whatever reason he was way more focused then usual. So, just a little patting myself on the back because I have felt a little overwhelmed and under qualified. To have an obvious success made me feel much better.

On a lighter note...I found two pairs of my underwear on the bathroom counter this afternoon, folded and possibly cleaned. I'm not sure how they got there and whey they were clean. I set them in my room on top of my black duffel bag. I came into my bedroom the other day and my pile of dirty underwear, on top of my black duffel bag, was knocked over. I didn't think anything of it really because I could have done that myself. But now finding the loose underwear in a place I didn't put it, I think the dogs have been rummaging through my stuff to see if they found anything they liked. Apparently they like my underwear very much and have been wearing it around all day while we were out. :)

Things are going well and I am having a great time, my brain is working over time and it feels good. I miss my hubby even more and am just trying to keep myself busy so I don't have to think to much about missing him. I sure love him and can't wait to have him here.

Until we speak again...

New world

2009-09-27T20:33:00.009-07:00

First day in Seattle WA. This is a photo of Pikes Market, not a photo I took obviously...but one I stole from their website. Anyway, I met up with Tera today, after church of course and we went to Pikes Market in downtown Seattle. Wow, what a cool place. It was late in the day when most vendors were packing up their flowers, jewelry, purses, art, and lots of fish for the evening. The narrow ally of open air shops was crowded anyway with people coming from the Wildcats game...football. (Is it Wildcats? Now I am doubting myself) Either way, there were a lot of football fans on the street. Tera and I ate some dinner and watched a huge barge, full of large metal boxes of something important I'm sure, get pulled into dock by two tiny tug boats. For landlocked girls this was a very exciting event. We watched these tiny 'little engine that could' type boats haul this million ton barge, it was spell binding. We talking for some time, by the way, Tera is here in Seattle working at the VA doing her large internship for Rec. Therapy. She has the town tapped already and showed me around. What a fun afternoon.

I must say though that I can't wait to come back and experience all these things with Ben. It is hard to see all these cool things without him. He has been getting a play by play via text message. Whether he liked it or not, he got my whole days events. I hope that makes him miss me less, I know it makes me miss him less.

Tera also showed me a really RAD bike part, downtown Seattle located under Interstate 5 (I-5), you heard me correctly, under a freeway. Check out this link for those who don't believe me. evergreenmtb.org/colonnade/

These photos don't really do it the RAD justice it deserves, but hopefully when I ride it, you will all get to see RAD photos of me. :)

All is well here in Seattle and the Xterra is a champ, can't wait until you are here with me Ben.

Until next time...

2009-05-31T23:24:00.004-07:00

Some new material...

2009-05-31T23:17:00.003-07:00

Ben went on a great trip down in southern Utah. This is the leprechan canyon area...

The end of a good thing

2009-04-11T08:32:00.013-07:00

Two nights ago, in the morning hours, we pulled into our driveway groggy after a long tired drive. Two days ago, at this same time we were snuggled in our warm sleeping bags in Moab Utah up Kane Creek road. We had found a great camp site Wednesday afternoon where we could fit 16 people and still be comfortable. After we staked out claim we went exploring and hiked to the top of a few mesa's in our area. We took the dogs on this hike and needless to say, wore them out by the end. Poor 11 year old Bailey tore her front two pads and was out for the rest of the trip.

That night many people arrived, one worth mentioning...a silver Toyota pickup truck blaring it's high beems throughout camp and yelling. "Rae!" There was no mistake who had arrived. :) Despite a few interuptions sleep outside was better then any sleep recently had at home. The next morning we split up, a group to Arches and a group to bike Amasa Back. The best story to come of this bike ride is Pete's murdered shorts. They slit from bottom to crotch in the first 5 minutes of the trail. Pete had a breezy ride. The trail was fun and the new fork gave a new meaning to smooth. :)

After the bike ride and Arches trip we decided to hike to a obvious mine across the valley. we hiked up about 20 min to a large wooden structure that looked ancient by desert standards, fairly new by more wet climate standards. The structure took form as a tower of wood and nails that once used to transport some mineral to those waiting below. The mine attached to this structure was not extremely deep, but it split into many fingers and went far enough back to keep me away. Ben explored of corse and found nothing too exciting. The way down was more exciting then anything else, we went straight down a huge boulder field, hopping like mountian goats, trying to keep up with Ben. The puppes came along and did great.

That night we all went into town and ate at the best Moab Mexican restaurant then had a fire and played capture the flag with lanterns. Joel sprained his ankle and Garrett lost some skin on the rock somewhere, the usual carnage of night games.

After sleeping in, we all went climbing just down the road at the Ice Cream parlor. I was quite impressed with theis adventurous crew, they all wanted to climb, so they did. We found a couple good routes, a 5.7 and a 5.9 just 10 min from out camp site. I led the 5.7 and Josie led the 5.9, a first for Ben, not leading anything. After a few hours, everyone got a turn and we headed down the rocky approach trail and on to Goblin Valley.

Getting to Goblin Valley proved to be more of an adventure then actually being there. Ben, Pete, Joel, Andrea and I all went back to camp first to pack up and the others went on to Goblin Valley. Needless to say, we got there only 5 min after they because they all missed the big brown sign that pointed to Goblin Valley. Everyone in different cars, not even traveling together, ended up in Hanksville, about 30 miles south of Goblin. Anyway, they all called me and we got them to the right place. We all explored the little HooDoos and at the end ate So Cupcakes. Thanks Amanda and Josie. ;)

Captain Morgan

Roommate photo, cute! (Andrea, Garrett, Amanda, Ben, Sydney, Rae, Turkish)

Moab trip cont'd

2009-03-30T18:19:00.004-07:00

BIKING: There has been interest in riding bikes so for anyone who wants to rent...Poison Spiker Bicycles has daily rentals for $40, that's the cheapest I could find, you can reserve them and I would suggest it (435) 259-7882. You can get rentals cheaper at the ORP at the U, but you would have to rent them for multiple days and haul them down, then its way more expensive.

If you are going to bike you should bring closed toed shoes (tennies are good), shorts, biking shorts if you have them, a breathable t-shirt, a helmet (if you don't have one you can get it with the rental), water bottles (at least 2), sunscreen, sunglasses, gloves (i have a few pair if needed), food (energy bars or pbj).

CARPOOLING: Anyone who can drive and is willing to drive please say "I". This will help me plan carpooling because yes, we should carpool for sure.

I also need an accurate count of who is coming, please say "ME" if you are planning on attending. :)

Here is the list of everyone going so far: Ben, Rae, Josey, Amanda, Andrea, Garrett, Cendy, Katie, Pete (Ben's bro), Desi (Rae's sis), anyone else is invited, who did I forget?

Cendy, you can park in our garage.

Moab Trip April 8-11

2009-03-28T11:00:00.002-07:00

Okay, many people have asked for details and a gear list. Here it is...

Ben and I will be leaving Wednesday morning by 7:30am so we can be in Moab by lunch time. We will secure our campsite (its 4 wheeler weekend so its going to be busy) then we will most likely go on a hike.
Thursday will be bike day, please reply if you want to rent a bike or have your own and want to bike with us. Depending on who's coming will determine where we go. For those not biking you will do arches and hike the delicate arch then we will all meet up in the afternoon and see Canyon lands.
Friday will be climbing day and everyone can do this, we have enough stuff and we will most likely hit up wall street or the ice cream parlor (I think thats the name) Friday night we want to travel to goblin valley and camp around there and Saturday morning either hike Little Wild Horse or play with the goblins, then we will leave about 1:00pm on Saturday to head back home. Friday is still up in the air a little so, there are other options for play that day.

Here is the gear list, if you don't have any of these things, let me know and we will find it:

Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Tent (we have some and can share)
tennis shoes/hiking shoes
water bottles
backpack/daypack
shorts
pants
t-shirts and longsleeve shirts
sweat shirt/jacket (it will be warm in the day and cold at night)
socks (clean pair for each day)
sandles or flip flops
toiletries (we will try and get a campsite with a bathroom but no garuntees)
towel/face towel
pj's and underwear :)
swimsuite in case we can poach a hot tub
hat
sunscreen
flash light or headlamp
pillow (optional)
any gear you have (bike, climbing shoes, harness, stove, lantern, etc)

We can either go in together on food or fend for ourselves, I would appreciate some feedback on this before Monday the 6th so I can plan and go shopping at Costco if I need.

If you are going to bike let me know, I can tell you the best places to rent and what you will need to bring for that. Ben and I want to do two rides, one advanced and one intermediate...so just let me know who wants to do what.

This is going to be fun. I'm excited. Just respond to this post or give me a call. 801-520-6658.

Saturdays events

2009-03-22T20:56:00.002-07:00

Yesterday we took part in a long standing outdoor gear tradition in Salt Lake, we sold and bought at the Black Diamond swap. This is a parking lot teaming with Subarus, Tacomas and beard laden men, dogs on leashes of webbing and carabeaners and lots of old and new killer deals. If you haven't attending this wheeling and dealing event it is a fun thing.

We (Ben, me, Mike and Mieken) set up some camping chairs and threw out our unused stuff in hopes someone else could find some value in it. We sold my old Yakima bike rack, some ski poles and pants and some skis and boots for a friend. We made sold enough to buy a few items and come home with cash. It was a good haul after all. Most exciting I have some more cash for the fork...

Heelers really heel, go figure

2009-03-15T20:39:00.003-07:00

www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/dogwalk.htm

So we have had some issues recently with our puppies. Apparently they do exactly what they were bred to do, they heel things that run from them. This desireable trait in this active bread is amplified when there are siblings living, eating, sleeping together. They work as a team to heel and without training to hone their skills, they heel people and other dogs and anything that moves.

I found this cool website when researching our puppy breed. This particular page explains how to walk your dog and use it as a tool for training. I have been doing this such walk for a while with the puppies and I see it's benefits. I have also read a book by Cisar Milan, "The Dog Whisperer". As much as his title makes me gag, he does understand the canine and he has great words of wisdom to help creating a happy life for your pup. The biggest mistake we all apparently make is to humanize our animals. They are not humans, they do have emotions, but not like we do and their reactions to this world do not come from the same place ours do. So, remembers you dog is a dog, not a human.

Anyway, I have made a new resolution to make sure our puppies get at least one long and vigorous walk/run a day and hope to fit two in, they need as much exercise as I can give them. When you see me or pass me on the street, ask me how this is going. If you all hold me accountable it will be easier to reach my goal.

If you are a dog owner, check out this website, it was very useful.

Cold ride

2009-03-15T11:43:00.002-07:00

This obviously isn't me, but it gives you a good visual of the freezing nature of the following story.

Friday I went on a road ride up a little canyon next to our house in Heber. Needless to say it was a good ride, uphill about 9 miles. It was a bit chilly, understandably because it was about 8:30am and it's still winter up here. But not so chilly that I was turned away. I decided not to wear a second layer of tights because it was sunny and looked so warm. So finally I got to my ending point up the canyon, time to turn around. So we all know that after you go up you must come down right? Well, I started coming down and very quickly all the appendages that were not thicker then a couple inches started to freeze. My computer clocked me at 55 mph at a couple points and going this speed in that temperature was probably the coldest I have been in years if not ever. It was so cold it was painful, I pedaled as much as possible to keep warm, but it didn't help much just kept me from going numb. Near the bottom I just started to groan and make funny noises, somehow that it supposed to help.

So when I got home and undressed, my toes were completely numb, my fingers were stiff and in pain, the skin on the front of my legs was red for at least an hour after and the tears streaming from my eyes ware practically frozen to my face. It was a great little ride, but I hope our world starts warming up. I'm ready for spring.

My love...

2009-02-09T11:54:00.003-07:00

My husband is beautiful. Do you ever just look at the man you love and realize he is just amazing and really really good looking? He's got the face of a model, if he fixed his teeth of course, but I guess that is why you have photoshop eh? Anyway, he is beautiful. (He's the one on the right)

He is also very smart. He figures people out after just spending 5 minutes with them and he then has this way with social strategy. He is my management guru, I go to him with all my work issues and he has great advice and can usually see things that I can't. He is a born leader and in all his jobs seem to rise quickly to managing people. It's amazing how that works. He not only rises, but he gains the respect of everyone he works with and they all will work hard for him.

And have you ever seen Ben climb? He's a gifted athlete and can pick things up right away. He has started to telemark ski and he is better then most people who have been doing it for years. Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know how great my husband is...

random streams of thought...

2009-02-01T16:48:00.004-07:00

Today is one of those days that remind you why we live in Utah. The sun is out shining on the crystallized snow making it look like the sky has flipped upside down and the stars are sparkling in all their glory under your feet. The air is dry and crisp, easy to inhale (here in Heber anyway, don't know what the Salt Lake valley may look like right now) easy to exhale and is like a fresh cool drink of water to your lungs, it's cleansing and pure and makes your body go "phew". I was just outside for a while with the puppies and they fell the same way. They were running around in the snow, jumping, wrestling, digging, the happiest I have seen puppies in a while. They seem to have an instinctual switch inside them that gives them joy when they are free to just run and play.

Maybe that's why we like the outdoors so much, because there is an instinctual switch that begs us to be in nature around our beginnings and around other life forms that may be more sensitive then we humans are to mother nature and God himself. I would think that a pine tree is somehow more connected to God then I because the tree automatically fulfills the measure of its creation, whereas I may not. I hope to and strive to, but may not if I choose otherwise. Or does that make me closer to God, more like Him then the tree. I am given the choice therefor when I do choose to follow Him and fulfill the measure of my creation or the potential of my creation then I am closer to Him because I have consciously made the choice. So the question is, who is closer to God, the automatic and the choice less or the choosing. That is what separates us from nature anyway, the ability to choose, agency.

Where's Bennie?

2009-01-31T22:43:00.002-07:00

What is my husband doing right now? He could be providing dinner to an innocent old lady, he could be wiping an old harry bum, he could be giving a sponge bath to the toothless and wrinkly. Really what he is doing is helping those people that we will all become someday. The boobs will sag, the double chin will wobble, the knees and back will be weak and the memory will be spotty, this is where we will all be someday, maybe 50% of you will not have saggy boobs, but you get the picture. Either way, Ben has a cool new job and he is working a 12 hour graveyard shift as I write.

A CNA is a Certified Nurses Assistant, this job is paying for him to get the certification while he is taking 4 classes at the Utah Valley University. This is a great thing because he makes a good hourly rate, they will work around his school schedule and it will be a great bonus to help him get into nursing school. That is his career choice at this point anyway.

Finally some new stuff

2009-01-29T23:15:00.005-07:00

Went skiing in the backcountry for the first time last week. It was amazingly fun and amazingly hard. I almost died, not really, I almost threw up though. I didn't eat enough, wasn't in good enough physical condition, and kept slipping because I'm an ameteur so all my energy was wasted just trying to get up the hill so the down was less the rewarding because I was beat. But it will go down as one of the coolest days ever. Thank you to Adam and Mike who saw me through. I'll do better next time, i promise. Can't wait to go again. Here is some footage.

This makes me look like a really crapy skiier, I'm really not that bad, but had no energy or muscle strength left. I haven't been that drained in...well...ever. It was great! Great motivation to get my butt in gear that is.

This next clip will give you a little chuckle, hehehe.

Christmas getting to know you...

2008-12-16T19:21:00.003-07:00

I generally don't buy off on these things, but this one is cute and I thought it might be fun to get to know me better...don't you all want to get to know me better? Who wouldn't right? ;)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Depends...when I have little time, bag, when I have planned ahead and given myself time...paper and cute bows for sure.

2. Real tree or Artificial? No tree right now...really, it's a waste of money for us at this point, especially when we are at our families houses for Christmas. I have two 1ft. tall fake trees we decorate. :) Someday we'll chop one down.

3. When do you put up the tree? Refer to above answer

4. When do you take the tree down? Refer to question # 2

5. Do you like eggnog? YES!!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Hmmm, ponies, saddles, horse stuff.

7. Hardest person to buy for? I would agree with Cassie on this one, Mom

8. Easiest person to buy for? Distant friends and relative you send cards to.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? A miniature one, compliments of mom Sorensen

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Email? Good idea.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Hmmm, I may offend someone.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Not soon enough

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Everything, I'm kinda a little piggy during the holidays

16. Lights on the tree? Little white ones

17. Favorite Christmas song? I have to answer that with favorite Christmas artists: Harry Connick Jr, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and there is this one song by Faith Hill that I love, I don't know what it's called though, maybe 'Where Are You Christmas?'

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Hmmmm, both sound great. If we travel though, it will be somewhere fun and warm. :)

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star of course, what angel wants that prickly tree top up their butt?

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? On on the Eve and all the rest in the morning. You can't open too many on the Eve because Santa hasn't come yet. duh!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Stress!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? My mom has purchased an ornament for us each Christmas, usually something that resembles what we did that year, I like those ornaments.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Funeral potatoes

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Vacation time. Oh and bike stuff, always bike stuff. :)

Christmas ramblings - read at your own risk (you may want that 5 min of your life back)

2008-12-09T21:15:00.005-07:00

Oh the joy of the holiday. I have two favorite parts of Christmas, the first part is the best and most obvious, hanging out with the fam, but the second part is a little more misunderstood...Anticipation! The anticipation begins about a week before Thanksgiving when the first bold radio station plays a Christmas song (They only play one or two though, because everyone knows that Christmas music belongs after Thanksgiving) Then the Thanksgiving holiday gets you warmed up for some time off. You enjoy that day or two of not going to work and doing what YOU want to do. When you are back to work with a full lunchbox of turkey leftovers you have that taste of freedom on your tongue and realize that another brake is fast approaching. Now, back into the swing of real life you have Christmas surrounding you. Everywhere you go you hear bells, jingles and manger songs and everywhere you look is red, green and gold. Every store is on sale for gifts, buy this, buy that. You have a list in your head at all times, get this, get that. And although you have months to prepare, those last three weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are when you get all your shopping done anyway. If you are like me, you work and play very hard and leave little time for practical things, like shopping. This stress or adrenaline only adds to the anticipation. After Thaksgiving you also set up your tree, decorate your house and join the church choir for the Christmas program, because everybody knows that Christmas songs are the greatest songs anyway. That brings up church, what a great time to go to church. I love Christmas lessons. The entire month of December you get to hear about Christ, sacrifice, birth, love, Christ and Christ. I wish we could have these lessons off and on all year round, the true meaning of Christmas.

Anyway, my mind starts on one thing and ends on another, that's the way this grey matter enclosed within my scull works, it's odd sometimes.

I would like to say something quickly about my beef with the Christmas season. Why do we give gifts to people? Really. Why do we walk up and down aisles of clothes, gloves, candy, candles, toys, why do we subject ourselves to hours of indecisiveness for a gift for that one person you know with get you something so you have to find something for them, but unfortunately you don't even know them well enough to have an idea of what they may really want. We've all been there, admit it.

here's an idea, next Christmas lets not give any gifts. Let's plan ahead and give our Christmas gift to those we love and care about before Christmas, at a time when they seem to need it most. I would like to give gifts when its not expected, when there isn't a million gifts under every tree in every house. I want to give a gift that will suprise someone and really be special. So maybe next year, instead of raising my blood pressure one more notch to find something for someone who will be getting a million other gifts, so mine won't be as special anyway, I will give a gift in July and attach a note that says..."Merry Christmas, I thought this gift was perfect for you and I hope it brings you the spirit of Christmas when it's least expected"

(But we all know I will still give Christmas gifts in December)

2008-11-16T00:02:00.002-07:00

Look at me, I'm jumping a bike...oh wait, I guess this isn't really jumping. It's dropping without getting mud up my nose. Anyway, this is what I did on my last day off. Thanks for the video Adam and Christine.

Real Life

2008-10-26T08:46:00.002-07:00

Ben and I seem to be getting an extra helping of real life lately. Things seemed to be looking up, Ben's classes got reinstated, all of them and he is doing well. So the money issue is yet to be worked out completely, we have to go through an appeals process to get stafford student loans due to some past problems in school. Ben has some great help with his academics and this student loan issue, the Dean of the UVU Wasatch Campus has taken Ben under his wing and his showing him the ropes. So that should go through and hopefully we can get the loan.

In the mean time, we bought a car. My mom and her X-boyfriend offered us a great deal on a Nissan Xterra. We took it because it was a killer deal and to get in and out of the cabin in the winter we need a higher clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle. So I have been trying to sell my Subaru for the last couple month, had some bites, but last weekend I found a guy who wanted to buy the car for sure. We made a deal and on the way to meet him and get the check, the car broke down. No joke, it stopped running. It's at the mechanic now, the buyer is still interested if we can get it working again. Thank heavens for that. Hopefully its just the fuel pump like we think.

So the moral of the story is, patience. This has all been a lesson in perseverance for Ben and patience for me. I think we are coming out of these experiences better then before, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger right?

Some old fun reborn

2008-10-12T00:01:00.010-07:00

Found some old pics, thought I would give the vast numbers of readers a few new things to feast their eyes upon. Hope you enjoy...

Road trip photos in Oregon.

Ben doing what he does best.

A dream come true

2008-10-01T20:11:00.004-07:00

So, I can't believe I haven't posted this yet...for anyone who knows me even a little bit, you know I have been needing and pining after a new bike for sometime now. And if you know me really good, you know I have been wanting a Santa Cruz. Well, the heavens opened about a month ago and devine providence brought me to little website called KSL.com and I randomly decided to check out the bikes. I found what is now known as the best find of the century. I found a 2002 Santa Cruz Bullit frame, medium size (my size), black and hot for sale for $325. That alone is a steal but after visiting this awesome seller with my buddy Adam, he offered up his titanium bottom bracket, XT front derailleur, carbon fiber cranks, Chris King head set, seat post clamp, rear fox float lockout shock and the frame for $350. HELLO!! I snatched that up as fast as I could manage. My dream come true right?

Well, to make the story even sweeter my said buddy Adam and his lovely girlfriend of seven years, Christine had the rest of the parts for this dream bike just hanging around their humble home. I took the frame there and next thing I know I have a full bike, huge fork, disc brakes, complete drivetrain, wheels, handlebars, pedals, everything! How do I ever repay these two for letting me "barrow" all their stuff? These two are amazing and we worked on this bike together many late nights to get it rolling.

So slowly I will buy up parts, I have recently purchased a wider handlebar and tomorrow will order a longer seatpost. I have to be searching for a good deal on a fork and get a drivetrain soon enough. What a killer deal and THANK YOU THANK YOU to Christine adn Adam, they are amazing.

This looks a lot like my bike, without the coil shock in the back, mine is air, sweet and plush! The fork isn't this big either and this bike has new really nice parts, mine are good, but working on the new part. Trying to set it up to be as cross country as possible, one bike to do it all. Gotta get in better shape though to lug it uphill. :) Love it!

2008-09-01T16:28:00.001-07:00

Little Syndey after swimming in the water hole at the ranch. She is soooooo cute! Will hopefully get photos of Turk up here too.

Update

2008-08-07T18:01:00.004-07:00

Hi all, Ben and I have been living in a cabin that is south east of Kamas, Utah. We are loving it, but there is no internet or phone service up there. We do have running water and heat and stuff though. So we have been a little out of touch. A few good things we have been doing include a rafting trip in Jackson, a pioneer trek reinactment in Wyoming, Rae getting West Nile Virus (or a similar virus) and being sick for forever then getting better and doing a 40 mile mountian bike ride. (A first for me) We had our third anniversary, we ate at Ruth's Chris (Thank you Steve and Wendy) and we watched the Dark Night (WOW! What a movie). I have been working a lot and summer is almost over. :( Good because work will slow down, but bad because I need to play more before the weather gets cold.

I hope everyone out there is doing well and enjoying the good weather. Get out and play!

Moving Sale

2008-05-26T06:36:00.002-07:00

So we are having out Moving Sale this Saturday, the 31st. Just wanted everyone to know that they are welcome to come sell stuff or buy stuff. Desi will be brining over some stuff to get rid of, but we have a big yard. Let us know if you want to come.

Oh, and we have two new little additions to our family. A red heeler girl pup and a blue heeler boy pup. Both 8 months old, brother and sister. We have been looking for a heeler pup for a month or so now and we went to look at these, not thinking anything of it until Ben saw them. :) It was love at first sight. They were the last two pups of the litter and we had to take them both. There was no choosing between them. They are both already comfortable in our home, they toured the family homes and were excited to be in new places. The little girl, although she is the runt, is a smarty and very brave, she has stood up to all the big dogs she has seen. The chunky boy is big and loves to explore, but he's no dummy, he sees the big dogs and runs for mommy or daddy. They are both very different and very cute.

We have yet to get really good names for them, so come see them and help us decide on perfect names. Stay tuned for photos. I will try and get some in the next couple days.

I finally did it...

2008-05-18T11:50:00.002-07:00

I cut my hair. I drove to Lunatic Fringe, by recommendation of my good friend Cindy Maudsley, and chopped off 13" of hair, two pony tails...ah! Nichole did a great job and when all was said and done I really like the cut. It's funkier then I have ever been used to with me and my plane jane looks. But it's fun and light and easy and great!

I would love to post a photo, but as many of you know, we dropped our camera in a sand dune at Cannon Beach in Oregon thus I no longer have the photo posting capability. All photos come from gracious friends who have cameras. If anyone out there feels bad for me, you can donate to the "buy the Sorensen's a new digital camera" fund.

Anyway, Ben and I have decided to move to the Ranch in Woodland. It's huge for us because we can live rent free and pay off some of our debt before Ben hits school in the Fall. It's huge for the fam because Ben and I will do some repairs on the cabin and be around to keep it safe. :) Big changes for us, we may even get a dog!! Yeay!

That's it for now, both of us are still working hard...as always and will need all the help we can get to move our stuff. But we are excited for the new local.

Another St. George trip

2008-05-09T07:31:00.006-07:00

This report is a little slow, we went to St. George about 3 weeks ago. :) But, it was so fun that I still had to share. Ben and I traveled to St. George Friday morning to climb at Moe's Valley, a bouldering field south of Green Valley Gap. Then Josalyn, Danny, Mike, Mieken, Jeremy and Sarah met us at our Green Valley camp sight late Friday night. Saturday we woke up, ate bagels and climbed at Chuckwalla. Our plan was to climb at Black Rocks, but the climbing area was closed due to turtle mating...interesting, I know. Then we went to a park and hung out, did some slacklining and playing frisbee square. Sunday morning Josalyn and I rode THE coolest trail, the Zen trail. The Zen trail starts just south of the Green Valley gap and follows the mesa up to overlook the valley west of the gap. The trail is fairly new and so there were many trail spurs that almost got us lost. The trail is very technical, at one point we rode through a cave, way cool. We had a blast, the trail's one shortfall is that it's only 6 miles long, a little short eh?

Anyway, moving on, then Josalyn and I caught up with the group at Turtle Wall. This was the best climbing we found in St. George. It was way fun and Ben had the chance to challenge himself in the cave. He climbing the famous 5.12 Banana Dance with no problem.

This weekend was awesome, can't wait to do it again.

Running Group

2008-04-14T20:47:00.003-07:00

Hey, anyone out there want to hook up and run in the mornings? I am needing some extra motivation to get up and run. I want to run 2-4 miles 2-3 times per week for now to train for a tri. I live near the capitol, so it would be more convenient if in that area, but not necessary.

Let me know...I need the help to get going!

Nothing thrilling to report...

2008-04-06T21:23:00.004-07:00

Doesn't that title just scream excitement? Well, yesterday I got a little sun in the shape of a goggle tan. My cute little red nose reminds me everytime I touch it that I got to be outside on the snow for a couple hours. I actually taught a couple lessons for the NAC at PCMR yesterday. It was a great time and I got to teach on my teli's. I have bragged yet at how cool my skis are. I will try and post a picture of them on here. Anyway, it was nice and I also went to an NAC BBQ the attended a short get-to-gether for a friend flying back to London. Here's to Johnathan, be safe, have fun with Sarah while you have her and don't forget to give her back. :) Can't wait to see you again next season if not sooner.

Today was general conference for all those out there who are not part of the LDS throng. I have to say it was a great day of insightful and enlightening talks, but for some reason, whether I was listening better or the truth is such that the second session was amazing. I had many "have to write this down" moments and filled a couple pages in the leather bound journal with inspiration. One such inspiration was the necesity to couple prayer and action hand in hand. Prayer is great, but prayer followed by action shows true faith and we all know that blessings come after the trial of your faith. What a great time we live in to recieve this direct revelation from prophets of God.

That's all for tonight, it's past my bedtime. Gotta wake up early tomorrow. :)

First trip of the season

2008-03-12T23:21:00.005-07:00

The day was Friday Feb. 29th. Ben and I hopped in the car after loading it full and drove south. It was my birthday weekend and all i wanted was a trip away from everyday life. We decided to head to St. George, best bet for weather and awesome climbing of course. We invited some friends who would be meeting us later that night. So we started our climing at Chuckwalla Wall. I climbed a 9 adn a 10 and Ben climbed his 12, first he lead it with a couple takes then he top roped it with no takes at all, he's my hero!

So we met up with friends and ate at Iceberg with the Highland Rugby team, they are definitely not a quiet bunch. After that, the Riley's, the Katelers, the Bates and us drove to our flat camp spot at Green Valley Gap and got ready for bed. It was a perfect night for camping, not a cloud in the sky. We woke up, made pancakes and eggs then hiked up the gap to climb. Everyone got to climb and hopefully had a ton of fun. Ben climbed another 12 and me, Josalyn and Danny tried it and made it up with a little belayer help.

We had a big fire that night and cooked tin foil dinners. It was a great evening until the wind decided to do it's own thing and try to blow us away. So we all dove for our tents and tried to sleep through the gail. It blew all night long, I woke up a couple times, but most everyone else didn't sleep much. The next day we tried to play and do some fun things, but the wind was so cold and really caused issues with fun. Josalyn bought me a cake from the Mexican mercado. We ate is as fast as possible so we could get back in the car to drive home. It was too cold to hang. So poor Katelers had to squish in the back of our little subaru because we decided to bring a boulder pad we didn't really use for it's intended use. Oh, well, sorry kastelers, sorry we squished you. We had a great time and I can't wait to go down there soon again to bike. I can't wait to bike period.

vocation or avocation

2008-02-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

i don't write too much about my job, but I really have a cool one. I worked on Saturday and have some really fun lessons. For those who don't know, i teach horseback riding lessons to people with disabilities, I also manage the program. So back to Saturday, it is such a great feeling to work and work to teach someone something and finally, at last, they understant. Something you said or did, finally made it click. I have had a couple lessons like that lately and they really keep you going when the work is frustrating or hard. Moments like those really make me grateful for a job that is stimulating, exciting and makes a difference in some people's lives.

I am sick today, my brain doesn't seem to be working very well either. So forgive the things I say that don't make sense.

2008-01-30T21:20:00.000-07:00

How bout that snow? It's cold and makes for interesting dirving, i'll tell you that much. It's been sad though that I haven't been skiing much, those poor skis are sitting in the corner of our front room oh so lonely. At least they have eachother, at least i'm not a boarder cause then it would really be lonely. I love my new skis by the way. I have figured out this season how to utilize their talents. For those who don't know, I ski on the LINE prophet 90 ski with the BD tele bindings. They are so much fun...

I am wondering who you all are going to vote for and why? I am not so sure.

The holidays

2008-01-06T23:22:00.000-07:00

We had a great time, how about you? Ben did a fabulous job shopping for his wife for Christmas. He's always so worried he's not going to get less for me then I get for him. He was right on the dot this year and one of the bigger presents I bought for him got lost in the mail somewhere. Still working on finding it. Thanks to all our families and friends who were so generous in thinking of us. Thanks to Ben's parents for letting us sleep on their buffalo rug...that's a quality night sleep right there. Thanks to my Dad and Colleen for making Christmas mean a little more this year with our homemade gift Christmas.

New Years was a hoot, we hung out at "The Ranch" with Ben's fam, my sis and boyfriend and some of Libbi's friends. We stayed up late, ate a lot of food and played in the snow. Life is good.

We made goals for 2008. I don't like to call them New Year's resolutions, I don't believe in those...you should be making resolutions all year, but all that said, we did make new goals. Guess they are kinda the same thing. I do believe we have a steady resolve in these goals. We have been successful so far...6 days straight. :)

What type of resolutions or goals were made out there? Here's to a great new year!

Just waiting...

2007-11-22T11:17:00.000-07:00

Waiting for snow that is. This has to be a record or something, Thanksgiving and not even a trace of snow. What's the deal? I've been a good girl, don't I deserve a little powder? Guess I shouldn't get into it too much, it's not like I get to buy a season pass to Snowbird this year, that's right, cry a tear for me. I am skiing at Park City this year. Gotta go where the pocket book dictates.

Speaking of pocket book, man are we bad a keeping a budget. We set it and even post it in visible places, I have even gone to the extreme of having cash envelopes, but we have no self control. I see a good deal for something we or I have needed and I have to get it, that deal may never come a long again. I usually wait until I find a deal to buy things, so when I find that crazy deal, I have to snatch it up. And Ben eats out like a mad man, its hard to eat a peanut butter and honey sandwich when everyone else is getting Wendy's. Ah, well...if anyone has advice on how to conquer the over-budget spendings, let us know.

Happy Thanksgiving to all and "I hope you Gobble, gobble, gobble until you wobble, wobble, wobble." (Quote curtousey of Jenn Carpenter)

The floating island strikes again...

2007-11-13T00:40:00.000-07:00

This is one of the many trips up to Chalk Creek. We camped and woke up to fishing...as you can see we did a lot of fishing. Ben loves it, I don't get that though, fishing (from my experience) is about as exciting as watching snails argue. Anyway, dislodging and flipping floating islands is much more fun. I got quite the sunburn from this day, I know its hard to believe with my year round golden tan. The other couple with us is Danny and Josalyn and that's little Wesley in her belly. Jake and Becca also came on this trip but they are already mommy's and daddy's so they stayed on shore.

2007-11-05T00:39:00.001-07:00

No new photos to post, wish there were, but dropped my camera in some sand. A little word from the experienced...don't do that! The camera won't work later.

We just got back from Moab. What at trip. Ben finally biked with me and he kicked butt! I hate how he is good at everything he does in a fraction of the time than any other human. Not only is he a natural, but he's hot when he bikes too. We rode the all famous slick rock trail, its a lot more fun then I remember it. We hooked up with Theresa and Kyle down there and hiked delicate arch then ate at La Hacienda, mmmm, them's good eatin'. We had a blast and then hooked up with Mike and Mieken to camp down in Cane Creek? (Can't remember the name) After the extra hour of sleep we hiked Amasa Back and headed home.

Moab has a way of refreshing the mind, body and soal. I love it down there and don't go enough. I love biking as well and can't wait to go down there next summer with the new Santa Cruz or Ellsworth bike (we can all dream right?) that I will somehow come up with the money to purchase.

Anyway, it was a great weekend. I love Ben and am very grateful he decided to marry me despite my crazy family. (hehe)

I am up late tonight cause my thoughts about work woke me...I would like to pose a question. How do you make something good into great? A service organization specifically, and how do I figure out how to be the leader to take it to the next level. (That's the hardest part)

So, good sleep to all and to all a good night.

Here's some fun things we did this summer...

2007-10-19T19:37:00.000-07:00

Ben on Chuckwalla Wall in St. George

Ben doing some type of dive...not sure what kind...something graceful I'm sure...into Wall Lake, Uinta Mountains. We did some climbing there as well...but you can't go to Wall lake without jumping in.

And me, from the top...this is my favorite Uinta lake so far. I definitely haven't seen them all, but you can't get much better then this.

2007-10-19T19:28:00.000-07:00

So I'm trying to sell my Honda. Anyone know anyone who wants a

good reliable car for a fair price that's getting up there in miles? It's in good shape, we bought a new car. Not so new I guess, but new to us. We bought a 96 Subaru Impreza with only 118K on it. It was a screamin deal and I wanted something with AWD to go up the canyon and down each day.

So let me know if you have any leads to sell the good ol Accord.

Weekend Update - a love hate relationship with nature

2007-10-07T16:25:00.000-07:00

So, big plans this weekend. Big Moab plans. anyone who know me know that Moab is one of my favorite places and I was looking forward to this trip for months, all i wanted to do was bike pocupine rin, is that too much to ask for? But as we all know, the weather did not cooperate. So instead we stayed home and did stuff.

We did get to climb at the new gym Momentum, that was the saving grace of the weekend. It's very tempting to pay the extra loads of cash to get a membership there, what a cool place. The walls are high and I can practice my lead climbing...the bouldering gym is packed with holds, that is good and bad, I kept hitting my knuckles on holds. It's an impressive place, although it is in Sandy and very far from our home. i also found a car i want to buy, a subaru with way lower miles then my Honda...i put the Honda up for sale and one guy has already come to look at it. If you know anyone who wants a cute black Honda Accord, tell them to give me a ring.

Overall life is good. General Conference was great, i'm glad we have conference once a month, it gives new umph to the daily struggle to be a better person. i stuggle with the daily studying right now...but Bro. Oaks talk inspired me to remember the difference between good, better and best. What is most important in our lives, our relationship with the Lord and our families. I need to work on both relationships. Each moment is a chance to make that choice, good, better or best.

Some pictures

2007-09-27T21:11:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would embarrass my husband a little and show you how cute he is even when he makes a weird face. (Good thing Ben doesn't look at this blog, he would kill me for posting this picture of him...shhhh, don't tell him)

And here we both look really hot! We were at Ben's cabin, "The Ranch" and it was probably like 2:00am or something...you're not supposed to sleep at the ranch by the way, its not allowed.

And a little blue steal. He won the much coveted male model of the year award for this shot.

This gets addicting

2007-09-26T21:46:00.001-07:00

I'm hoping the addiction subsides...maybe it won't and I'll just keep writing. I have checked this blog every night and spent countless wee hours reading about all my friends. I didn't know that the whole world was blogging and I was oblivious in my own little blog less world. Now I can be named among one of the proud many with a blog...just got to figure out how to make mine look cool, like Rae style.

Anyway...I want to tell you all that I have a fabulous husband, we had quite the heart to heart last night and he is such an amazing man inside all that "I'm cool" exterior. He is cool, don't get me wrong, but he is so many other things that even he doesn't realize yet. I hope all you wives out there can get a glimpse at least every now and then, if not every day of the amazing thing that men are. Ben is so different then me, yet completing in some way. His weaknesses are my strengths and my weaknesses are his strengths. Its amazing how God has everything planned out, man and woman shall cleave unto each other and become one...their talents, skills, life experiences and personalities shall come together to make a more complete, whole person; then they together will have children and raise them in a complete home, with a complete set of parents who have complimenting skills just because they are man and woman. Nurturer and protector together...Husband and wife, mom and dad...that's God's way. Divorce destroys God's way, parents don't think about that before they give a marriage up. Maybe they should.

I DID IT!

2007-09-24T22:16:00.000-07:00

It feels so good to do something you keep talking about and saying, "oh, yah, i'm totally going to do that someday." I finally did my first Triathlon and I say first because I loved it and can't wait to learn to swim so I can do another one. I really enjoyed the race and I did alright for my first time, and for sucking at the swim. I have to tell you, the swim nearly killed me...I came in 41st out of 52 in my age division after the swim. I was 4th in the bike and somewhere in the 20s for the run, needless to say I was 17th out of 52 overall. Not too bad for minimal training and a flabby mid-section. I hope this small step for mankind can help me be more go-getter about other things in my life. I have so many "somedays", now its time to make them into TODAYS!

2007-09-02T21:55:00.000-07:00

Welcome!

2007-09-02T21:28:00.000-07:00

I thought it might be fun to start a blog...what do you think? You having fun yet?

This is a good place for me to spout my ideas and thought and to tell you what we (Ben and I) are up to. Also a good place for you to do the same. Think of the possibilities that lie within an empty page.

Although, please be warned...this blog will be unsensored and odd at times as I will show little constraint and you all know how crazy I can get. :)