It's about time! First, I have to make a disclaimer: there are a lot of pictures in this post! Now you can't say that I didn't warn you!!
There has been a desperate battle going on between facebook and the blog. I'm sorry to say that facebook has been winning- I haven't updated the blog for a long time!! This summer has been full of sun and fun-we've been on a lot of adventures this summer- as you will probably tell by the length of this post :)
This is Tom getting ready to go wakesurfing for the first time! Oh baby . . . .
Woohoo! Here's Tom wakesurfing- he's pretty much a pro by now. . . .
Tom was asked by his uncle Spence to speak at a youth conference at Zion Ponderosa Resort in Zion's National Park. We spend a few lovely days inspiring youth and enjoying some of the Southern Utah scenery.
Tom and I on the Cable Mountain hike. Lots of blisters and sweaty backs, but it was lots of fun!!
Tom looking down the canyon from the top of Cable Mountain (they used to cut down trees and lower the lumber down the canyon on cables). 3,000 feet to the bottom! A little scary when you look over the edge, but it's not like we were scared or anything . . . ;)
The next week we were lucky enough to go back to Zion's with my cousins from Vegas and hike the Narrows! This is the crew with our hiking sticks- (they were essential!!)
Here is a sweet picture of the canyon. It was so much fun hiking through the river, the rocks, and the sand, with the canyon walls towering over you.
Jenna, Tom, and I taking a break.
Going to a rodeo was one of the things on our list to do this summer, so here we are at the Oakley rodeo! It was so much cooler than I thought! It reminded Tom of how he is aspiring to be a steer wrestler, and it reminded me of when I was obsessed with horses when I was 5 years old. Suffice it to say, we really got back in touch with our inner cowboy/cowgirl.
Tom, Chris, and Marissa took a little trip up to Burley, ID to see our land up there, and came back with high hopes for it. I don't know about you guys, but I would probably want to jump in that canal and cool off . . . .
Another fun adventure was floating down the Provo river. Don't let this picture fool you, we were freezing! That river is so cold! Plus Tom and I capsized in one of the rapids, fully immersed in the freezing water, and had a fun time chasing our tube down a half mile or so of the river. Seriously though, it was a lot of fun!!
If anyone was to float down the river, I would recommend air mattresses as the preferred method of transportation. Although our misshapen tubes were lots of fun! :)
We were also lucky enough to take a trip down to Calilfornia with my sisters and my mom. We went to a bunch of beaches: Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Carlsbad, and Doheny. LOVED Huntington- (beach, great shopping, and Mexican food- what else could you ask for?).
Here is the lizard Tom killed on the beach- he threw a rock at it from 30 or so feet away. He felt bad for killing it, but also was proud to show his woman how if they were stuck in the wilderness, they would be able to survive with his honed and perfected hunting skills.
Jenna and I trying to look cool with our ten foot foam longboards. You think that if we could surf behind the boat, we could surf in the ocean. Well, almost! It's a little different and a lot more salty, that's for sure.
We got the chance to hang out with Tom's mission president, Pres. Middleton after Cherie and Eli Rhoads' wedding, while we were waiting for them to come out. Pres. Middleton is absolutely one of the cutest and most talented people I've ever known!!
Just waiting outside the temple- I love the flowers!!!! I can't wait until I can have my own yard and garden to landscape!
Here's Eli and Tom- so cute you guys!
Another really special time this summer was when we got to go up to Montana to Hairpin Ranch to hang out with the family. It really is big sky (or big guy?) country- the landscape is beautiful- lots of stars at night, grassy fields, four-wheeling, fishing, and LOTS of cows!! Here's Caroline-my little buddy- hanging out by the lake.
Hey Chris! Just hanging out on the patio enjoying the early afternoon . . .
Tom and Savannah looking at cows through the binoculars . . .
I wanted this picture to come last because I think it is so peaceful and relaxing! We had so much fun playing with the cousins; Montana is one of our favorite places!
So if you were wondering about the title of this post, I took it from John Keats' poem To a friend who sent me some Roses:
As late I rambled in the happy fields,
What time the skylark shakes the tremulous dew
From his lush clover covert;- when anew
Adventurous knights take up their dinted sheilds
I saw the sweet flower wild nature yields,
A fresh-blown musk-rose: 'twas the first that threw
Its sweets upon the summer: graceful it grew
As is the wand that queen Titania wields.
And, as I feasted on its fragrancy,
I thought the garden-rose it far excell'd;
But when, O Wells! Thy roses came to me,
My sense with their deliciousness was spell'd:
Soft voices had they, that with tender plea
Whisper'd of peace, and truth, and friendliness
unquell'd
I felt like this poem relates a lot to the kind of summer that we had. To me, the memories that we made this summer are like the roses, beautiful and sweet- this is really a golden time to make memories- with each other, of the beautiful places we've seen and the things we have experienced, and all made sweeter by the people that have shared it with us. Memories that we will be able to feast on and treasure, that will whisper peace and friendliness and good times.
(Sorry- there's more where that came from, but I won't push any more of my English poet obsession on you!! :)
This summer truly has been wonderful- and if you asked me, I would briefly and truthfully say that this has been one of the best summers EVER!!!!
Tom is part of a senior class that has never lost a game at home. Way to go Cougars!
Tom has come a long way, and I am very proud of him. From being a nationally ranked center in high school, to a freshman All-American and All-SEC Freshman Team Selection his freshman year at Vanderbilt, to playing here in Provo for the BYU Cougars, Tom has worked very hard. Although these past couple of years have been challenging, with knee injuries to overcome as well as shoulder injuries, it has been a special time in Tom's life that I have been grateful to share. Tom has grown and learned so much, made a lot of friends, and has been an example for not just me, but for so many people. He is so talented, and I am so proud of him.
We are now excited to continue on and explore some of our other talents, off the football field. We are both very happy and excited for what the future holds, and are very grateful for this wonderful experience. We are also grateful for the coaches and supporters along the way that helped Tom to become the great player and person that he is. Thank you for all of your kindness and support.
I know there are others of you who will be missing this cute butt out there on the field in those sexy stretchy pants . . . . 
