the Overlook part II

Monday afternoons are free from school and work so we usually go climbing on those days. Hopefully you don't get too sick of climbing pictures because I like taking them and it keeps me entertained while it's not my turn! I have so many climbing pictures, you would think it's all I ever do! I really do go to work and school every day though I promise, they just don't provide good picture taking opportunities. I will have to take a picture of what I did in my class today though. It's pretty cool. I will surprise you with a post later!
This Monday we decided to go to the Overlook again since it warmed up and would probably be the last time with decent temperatures. Despite a longer than usual journey due to some minor car problems (Casey's car ran out of anti-freeze...luckily there was some in the trunk!) we made it and got what I think are some cool pictures. I think their favorite one to get was this one with the car. For some reason it was really fun to pose with a car that's overheating....boys :)

I wish you could tell this is Casey doing a dyno at the end of the route. It looked pretty scary! The cool thing about the Overlook is that when you get there you are actually on top of the cliffs. You have to hike down to be able to climb on them. There are good opportunities for cool angles! Zach was climbing this route and got to the 2nd bolt before he realized he forgot to take more quickdraws with him (FYI: quickdraws are what you hook to the bolt then put your rope through so you don't fall so far, or to the ground. Kind of important!). Luckily it was a pretty short route so he only needed two more. Derek tossed them up to him, he caught them, clipped them, and still got the redpoint! You could tell he was getting really tired and I wasn't sure he was going to get this dyno, but he made it. It was kind of cool. And I got this picture while his legs were swinging and his tongue was sticking out. Right at the perfect moment. :) I made it to the top! I'm so glad Casey is patient with me when I get stressed out sport climbing. He's a good sport. Sometimes I'm not very mentally tough and the combination of heights and exhausted arms leads me to be less than cheerful. I really do like it though! I'm glad he is so nice and willing to help me get better and conquer my fears.

I love to see the temple!

This weekend was full of spiritual rejuvenation. Yes I know we all paint perfect pictures of our lives on our blogs sometimes but let's face it, we all have rough days! Last week I just felt really tired for some reason. It's probably from being exposed to all the ailments of the middle school students, or maybe my extremely challenges classes ;) (too much singing, dancing, and project making can really wear on you! haha), but the reason is beside the point. The point is that no matter what may be troubling your mind, heart, or body, the temple can bring peace.
My mom and dad have been doing some geneology and found some ancestors who needed some of their temple work done. Friday we went on a family date to the temple. Cameron and I did baptisms for the dead and I wish I could adequately describe for you the sweet feeling of peace and happiness that I felt. It's hard to describe because I don't know if there is anything else quite like it, but it's good! All of the distractions and the worries of the world seemed to disappear and all I could feel was the Savior and Heavenly Father's love for me, my family, my friends, their friends, and all of his children! I felt so much peace and contentment. I love the temple so much!!! I've been taking an Institute class about the Pearl of Great Price and it has made me even more excited to go through the temple someday. I'm so grateful that I am blessed to live with a temple so close to me. I'm making a goal to attend more frequently so I don't forget that feeling. Just imagine how amazing it will be when we get to live with them again and feel that feeling forever! I know that we can be together forever and I am so grateful for the Plan of Salvation. I am so grateful for the Atonement that makes it possible for someone as imperfect as me to be able to feel those sweet feelings of peace. It's real and it's possible!
The General Relief Society broadcast was also this weekend. I love the leaders of our church. I felt so inspired and determined to be my best after hearing the words of the Relief Society Presidency and Elder Eyring. If you haven't had the chance to listen to or read the talks I would highly encourage it. They know what they're talking about!
Now I need to run to class but I wanted to put in this plug for the temple and the leaders of our church. Hooray for General Conference this coming weekend!

the Overlook

Like I said in my last post, I went sport climbing this week at the Overlook with Casey and Shawn. It looks amazing in the Fall! This time we were there in the day instead of the evening but it was freezing nonetheless. There was a very cold wind and I remembered why Spring always makes me so happy. I do love the colors and the feel of Autumn, in fact it's one of my favorite times of the year, it just hurt my fingers to climb when they were practically popsicles. It was an enjoyable afternoon though. This semester has been really relaxing, probably my easiest one ever! On Mondays and Wednesdays I get out of class at noon and I don't usually have obligations until 6:00 so I have plenty of time for homework and adventures. I love having the chance to get outside and enjoy nature!

Casey flashed (lead climbing without falling on the first try...just so we're clear on the climbing terminology :) ) this 5.12 b route called Dwarf Tossing. Climbing routes and boulder problems have funny names. But anyway, he did awesome!

Isn't the view cool?

I led a 5.10a route which is the hardest I've led so far! It was actually a pretty easy one, but fun.

It's such a relief when you finally clip into the chains at the top. Phew! I think the reason I like climbing so much is because of the sense of accomplishment it gives me. I never really felt that with any of the sports I played in middle school or high school. It's nice because it's just me conquering my fears and pushing myself to get stronger and better. I like knowing that I can do hard things that sometimes scare me out of my mind. That just reminded me of a talk I gave in Sacrament meeting a month or two ago about the scripture that says "if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." I used a little climbing analogy and ever since then I am just finding all sorts of metaphors between climbing and life/the gospel. :)

it's a beautiful view from the top

Last weekend we traveled to Logan for the Top of Utah Marathon. Casey's mom, sister and brother were all running it and I thought it was an awesome experience watching it! I'd never watched a marathon, or even a half-marathon, so it was hard to comprehend someone actually running 26 miles, but they did it! It was incredible to me seeing everyone running so far with so much determination. I was inspired. Matt and Parker eagerly waiting and watching for Ashley.You wouldn't guess from her face that she's been running over 16 miles would you?

Cameron pushing to the end!

Ashley approaching the finish!

Barbara making it to the finish line!

They all did an incredible job and I'm so glad I got to go watch them! It was definitely worth the long drive.

Of course we made a quick stop at Logan Canyon for some climbing after the race.

The following Monday we had a cookout with my family at the other end of the state on Cedar Mountain where Grandma and Grandpa left their trailer for the hunts. The leaves were incredible and we had a great time despite the freezing weather. Fall is officially here!

There was a cool little shelter someone had built near the camp. I wonder if they actually camped in it?! I checked it out for evidence and the only thing I found was a Utah Hogle Zoo map....? The only explanation we could come up with is that big foot was being held captive and made his way to Southern Utah after escaping. There is no better way to eat a hot dog than roasted over a fire. Mm mm mm.
After dinner Mike tried calling in some elk in preparation for the hunt this weekend. Unfortunately we didn't see any elk, but I did get this great shot of my mom's face. :) heehee. It's a classic! Don't you just love those pictures that catch the perfect moment we would never even know happened if we hadn't captured them right in time? I do. They are probably my favorite kinds of pictures. I laughed for at least 15 minutes when I uploaded this picture to the computer and saw it zoomed in.


We went to the overlook and saw the most beautiful sunset!!! My camera didn't even come remotely close to doing it justice. I have daytime pictures to post later of the view (we went climbing at the same spot today) so you can sort of get a taste of what it looked like. It was truly awe inspiring with the fall leaves, the glowing sky, and the fading mountains in the distance. In other news, I'm a mom! Not literally of course. I got a calling in my singles ward as a Family Home Evening mom. I'm excited to get involved and feel more comfortable in my ward. I think it will be a good opportunity to get to know people and to plan some fun activities! I am also hoping it will rejuvenate my enthusiasm for ward activities. Sometimes I feel like I've been in the singles ward scene forever.... Speaking of singles wards, I should watch that movie again. I don't think I've watched it since I actually started attending one. They are definitely full of quirks. :)

I'm thinking there is one other thing I wanted to post about but I can't remember.....If I think of it later I will let you know. That's it for now!

Wierdos!

One night last week a friend of ours threw a back-to-school "wierdo party." We dressed up as wierdos and we got some free toast (there were wierd games at the party as well but unfortunately we got there too late). It was very random but also very entertaining dressing up and taking pictures. Casey did my hair and I did his. haha. The toast was quite delicious as well! There were all kinds of bread. And that is the story of our wierd night in a nutshell!

loving the Labor Day weekend

This year for the Labor Day weekend we planned a fun trip with friends and family to Maple Canyon. It is a beautiful canyon full of cobblestone cliffs that are perfect for sport climbing.

Box Canyon is a slot canyon that is a branch of Maple Canyon and I thought it was really cool because I've never seen anything like it. There were huge cobblestone cliffs with lots of caves and overhanging places. Very cool. Casey is working his way back from a finger injury this summer but he is still an amazing climber! This route is a 5.12 a/b that he and Matt (his brother-in-law) were working on. They are really good. I tried climbing it and only made it to the 3rd bolt which was less than halfway up and the easiest part! Casey got really close to redpointing it (climbing the route without resting or falling) but fell on the last move. He'll get it next time for sure. Matt ended up redpointing it! Ashley and I worked on lead climbing together. It was fun having someone climb the same routes as me.

Sunday Aubree and I practiced our culinary skills and ventured a roast with vegetables for dinner. It turned out quite good we decided! :) The next morning we made biscuits and gravy (a favorite of mine). It was so fun cooking with her in her cute little apartment! We were proud of our accomplishments.
Sunday evening when it cooled down we went to campus for some slacklining. For those of you who may not have heard of it, it basically involves tying a rope between two trees and walking on it. It actually is really fun. And really challenging! It takes a lot of balance but it is very entertaining. Casey is a pro.

I definitely haven't reached the pro status as most of my time spent slacklining looks something like this:
Go Aubree!

Did any of you read the Where's Waldo books? This will be a similar experience only we will call it Where's Casey?

hint: remember his love for climbing things...

Aubree took us to her favorite homework spot, the Manti temple grounds. The Manti temple looks incredible at night when it is all lit up. There is a beautiful place I didn't know about behind the temple where there are rolling grassy hills with lots of trees and it is so beautiful and so peaceful! I wish I could go there every day and do my homework with Aubs.

I decided I really like Ephraim and Manti. Going there brought back lots of fun memories from when Grandpa and Grandma Heap were on their mission and lived in Ephraim. We ate at the Malt Shop in Ephraim that was just around the corner from where they lived when they were there. It was just as tasty as I remembered it being! I only wished they could be there too. I think we're going to have to plan another trip there with more of the family involved. Plus, there is a drive-in movie theatre there and I have yet to check that off my bucket list so we've just got to go back!

Monday it was back to Maple Canyon for another fun day of climbing. I worked on my fear of lead climbing by doing three more routes and I feel a lot more comfortable now. Aubree also came on Monday and I loved having her there!

Maple Canyon is beautiful! I am hoping we can make it back in the Fall when the leaves are all changing colors. I can only imagine how pretty it will look then! Casey's nephew Parker is the most adorable little boy!