Missionaries!

Last summer I thought I was done saying goodbye to my friends while they left on their missions.  I was dead wrong.  In the last month we have said goodbye to Zach and now to two more.  Last night we said goodbye to one of our friends, Stephen.  He is leaving for summer semester and we won't see him before he leaves for his mission.  He is going to Boise, Idaho and couldn't be more excited to serve.  He will do awesome!!

We also said a temporary good bye to Brock.  He is going to Guatemala in a few weeks and since he lives in Idaho Falls we decided we couldn't miss the opportunity to go to his farewell.  So excited for him.  We got him and Stephen both journals with their names engraved.  We also got Brock a Spanish hymn book (also with his name on it), a t shirt of the Guatemala flag with a message from each of us and a key chain with the flag on it. Like Javi told him, "Guatemala better be ready for the big white man!"

We had a little bonfire for him last weekend.

Speaking of Javier, he will be the last good bye to missionaries (I hope, because I am sick of having to say goodbye to people. But it is SO good that they are going.)  He just started his papers and is so stoked!

I am excited for all these guys and I can't wait to hear all the stories they have.  They are/will do amazing.  One thing that has been pointed out to me in the last couple months is it isn't where you are serving but what your assignment is.  It is such  a good mindset when getting callings because certain places aren't as popular as others.  When Stephen got his mission call everyone kind of laughed but Javi pointed out to him that he is going on a mission and that alone is one of the greatest opportunities.  I have kind of been thinking about that lately.  For the past few years I have been wanting to go help somewhere in another country and do some service.  I have been kind of stubborn about it and not understanding why it wasn't working for me.  Hearing these guys talk about their chance to serve the people in Boise, New York or Guatemala makes me feel guilty for wanting so badly to go out of the Unites States.  I have had many chances to serve and they have helped me grow in many ways.  I haven't started yet but when my background check clears (which it will, promise) I am going to start volunteering at the Women and Children's shelter.  I eventually want to join the Rape Crisis team.  Also starting in September I will be volunteering once in awhile at the hospital.  I am really excited and will not longer complain about not being able to travel and help somewhere else.

Small Lime Rickey-Sumo Style

3 things that I have been stressing out about lately:
1. Getting a job
2. Anatomy finals
3. Physiology midterm and final.

I'm happy to say that I am employed and don't have to worry about number one on that list.  It's not much, but I am now working at a Shave Ice stand called Sumo's Shave Ice.  It  is not a high stress job and the owners are super cool. Perfect summer job when I have other things to worry about.  I have already worked 2 days and just got my schedule for the next 2 weeks.  :)

"You'll know when I don't have enough air when I stop breathing."

While we were stressing out about tests, homework, work, school and all our personal lives we decided that a vacation was needed.  Stacey, Javier, Pepe, Marissa and I headed down to Moab. None of us have ever gone so it was an adventure for all of us.  We headed down Saturday afternoon, checked into our (tiny, gross, spiders in the pool, women's flip flops under the beds) motel room then headed down to the arches!!!

We first went to see Cache Valley.  There was a cut in the rocks that kinda looked like a unfinished heart.  Marissa decided to finish it.

Stacey got attacked by a bush and decided to fight back by falling on it.

After cleaning her up we went to the Balanced Rock.  Which looked like a fish. Just not in any of these pictures.

Then we made our way to the Delicate Arch.  This is where we first got a taste of the wind. And yes, we did taste it. Well, all the dirt that was flying around.  We also said goodbye to Pepe's hat which was taken by the wind.  We just hope some kind of rodents are enjoying it as a new home.

We went out to eat in downtown MOAB.  I was being tortured by all the jeeps and Javi was being tortured by all the motorcycles.

We were going to wake up early to get some sunrise pictures.  We are college students on vacation, you really think we would? Woke up just in time to get ready and check out before noon and headed back to the arches.

First was the Sand Dune Arch which Javi and I climbed on top of.  Don't worry, mom, I was careful.  This is where we had tons of sand in our shoes.  Not smart enough to take off our shoes.  

Further past this arch was the (not very broken) Broken Arch which Javi and Pepe climbed to the top of.  A lady there reminded me of mom because she had to look away because she was so worried.  They were careful too and survived.  

We then headed out to hike the 17ish mile hike around the rest of the arches.  It was so much fun.  The beginning was a paved walkway that just seemed too touristy.  Once we got up higher we got to climb random rocks, get scared we were on the wrong trail if on one at all, were by ourselves for a majority of the time and got to see some sweet sights.  We were like little kids jumping around the rocks and getting excited about different places to climb and explore.  Marissa peed on me, made me throw up my Crystal Light by making me laugh and jumped up and down clapping her hands when we met people from Washington.  She is glad I am her sister because if she peed on anyone else they probably would have cried, no one else laughed at the joke she made when I threw up my Crystal Light and I am the only one who understands why she got so excited when we met someone from Washington. 

The trip was so much fun!!

Zachary S. Scoffield

I absolutely HATE saying goodbye to people.  Especially when I have seen them pretty much everyday for the past four months and I have to say goodbye for two years.  I have had many friends go on missions but I have never been this close to someone that was outside of family leave.  Yesterday was our last day to see Zach before he headed into the MTC (which will be a brutal 2 months because he will be a mile away from us still).  We had a nice small bonfire planned for last night with our little group of friends for a last hang out.  Zach had errands to run so he wouldn't be down until 7.  I was at Junior's at around four when the door opens and in walks Zachary.  Junior and I were so excited.  He had been in Fresno packing for the last few days. What a great surprise.  We met and talked to his parents while he showered.  They are so sweet and I could tell they were having a hard time letting him go like we were.  We had a great time at the bonfire and took plenty of pictures, but it seems like we will still not have enough to hold us over for two years.

Zach will be a fantastic missionary and the people of New York better know that they are lucky.  I will miss him tons!

Good luck Zachary!!!

Just got burned.

Is it sad that I have been down in Provo for two years and have never once done the BYU thing of hiking the Y? Well, I finally made my way up there.  I headed up there with Marissa, Zach and Stacey on Saturday.  It was such a nice day! I thought I put enough sunscreen on. Nope. Not at all.  (I looked like I wore sunglasses, but I didn't.) Zach showed us "his spot" that is a little above the Y on a sweet rock.  It was tons of fun and we can't wait to do it again.

Zach isn't as mean as he looks in this picture... haa

Javier brought us some brownies after he got off work at the Creamery.  Super sweet of him because they tasted sooo good after the hike.  He gave Zach a ride home on his bike. So cute.

When we got back I realized that I definitely needed some Aloe Vera.  But, we were out.  So I headed to Buy Low to pick up some.  I couldn't find it so I walked up to this guy that was stocking the shelf.

Me: "Hi, do you guys happen to have some Aloe Vera?"
Employee: Turns around... "WHOA!..... uhhhh ya."

I was super burnt and he could tell.
Thanks jerk.

After I couldn't get real Aloe Vera at Buy Low Javier sneakily went to Walgreens to get me some Menthol Aloe Vera that made my burns not hurt so bad.

Now two midterms this week and home!!!! :)