Anasazi Update

Wow I don't know how to do this but I've gotten way too far behind so this section will be just a recap about my time at Anasazi - a wilderness therapy program located in Arizona! Which is actually better because I don't think I could adequately express it in words!

Week 1: Moving/Training/First Week as a Trailwalker

I have never felt more alone in my life moving to an area where I didn't really know anyone and really the first time I had left my solid support group of constant friends/family! Out in the field I actually wanted to get bit by a rattle snake so I could "honorably" leave the trail. But I learned that I had come to grow and progress and that usually stems from hard things so I stayed on - probably the best decision I could have made.

Week 2: A Name and a Place

Well I walked with just one girl young walker this week and it was great how we connected. The hikes were still difficult but managable and I realized it's not even about the physical challanges at all but really tackling the emotional and mental challanges that plague our lives. (The copy of my name will be listed above - and it's perfect!)

Week 3: The Boys

My first time walking with boys I was nervous but the second night I made fire and they really appreciated me. My trailwalking partner was so great and we communicated so well - honestly every week I feel like I'm in a psuedo marriage and learn so much about relationships and families. We experienced the coldest night on the trail (frost on our sleeping bags at 8:30pm) and almost slept cold the next night but one of the boys made fire completely in the dark and that whole process will be one of my treasured memories from the trail.

Week 4: Anything you can do . . . I'll probably break my ankle

I walked with the boys again, I love talking to them/teaching them to respect girls and to be motivated in the important things in life (seriouslly they feel like little brothers). Well we had one INTENSE day to put it lightly and the storm was rolling in so we were trying to hurry and the last mile they all made a jump from this rock shelf over this 6 ft pond to keep hiking down the stream bed. My turn last and I lept for it and hit the sand bar only to hear the loudest snap come from my leg and I immediately collapsed. I was 98% sure I just broke my leg and started crying because I knew how difficult it would be to get me to a hospital from where we were. However we waited a few minutes and I was able to continue limping the last mile while one of my partners carried my pack. Not broken just a bad sprain and the boys were able to help me those last two days which brought us all closer together.

Week 5: Bring on the awakenings!

Without a doubt a week to remember, I was hiking on a sprained ankle my partner had a hurt back and we were with 4 girls. However once we got started so did my awakenings and as I shared them with my group I recieved so many more including such a peaceful experience while walking down to fill up my canteens (to be honest it was an awakening on marriage!). This was also my first week to name one of the young walkers and what a great experience - these girls and this week I will NEVER be able to forget!

Week 6: All Girls!

My first time walking with all girls and rather uneventful week except I hiked them about two days worth all at once and so they really showed their strength as I was not LOST but took them "another direction". Actually the highlight of the week was when after one firecircle we started into an improptu compliment circle where everyone gave a real heart felt compliment to EVERYONE - what a night!

Week 7: On my own!

Well I started off with one trailwalker/ she got pulled from the group (we only had 1 sinagua women - 18+ age group) then I walked with Phil my friend from Spokane, and he got pulled and finally I finished by myself. But we had great discussions about life, sang a little Taylor Swift and worked on our books and skills.

Week 8: Rabbit Stick

This was my second week on a double (I had one day inbetween) and so I got to do the intake for a young girl. The food was more limited which was even harder but so rewarding to teach her how to make fire and use her knife safely and get her ready for her experience out in the wilderness - I got to walk with her two more times so very fulfilling to see her walk through the program.

Week 9: Unexpected Turns and Rattle Snakes

Well the week started off great (walking with just one sinagua women) and we had some great conversations. Then day 2 my trailwalking partner fell and really hurt his back so we rested a day but he still couldn't move well, so we split up his pack and backtracked to get him out and some medical attention (my pack probabaly weighed over 60 lbs. that day!). Then I finished out the week again by myself but the conversations were great and the alone time actually let me think about A LOT of things. Also I was able to ready Elder Eyring's book "To Draw Closer To God" it was so great and really inspiring!

Week 10: Double the FUN!

Well I got a surprise at the end of week 9 - a girl had to stay out and it naturally fell to me so I accepted, my first honest double! But it led into probably my best week ever. The girls (ALL 5 of them) were great and we had some pretty hard things to deal with but we made it to our destination completely on their determination to push through sprained ankles and vomiting, etc. My trailwalking partner was absolutely amazing - so positive, we really shared the responsibilities equally, had great communication, was in tune spiritually, and we were the BEST team! After 16 days out in the wilderness it was so comfortable and I was actually sad to leave that week but was so thankful for everything that happpened!

Week 11: SNOW - Really?

It had to happen, I had a week were I really struggled. I knew it was my last and I was trying to be ALL there ALL week but we had a girl decide to sit in the worst place we could possibly be, people got sick (including myself), and a storm rolled in where it rained all night and then SNOWED in the morning - that's right in APRIL in ARIZONA! Luckily we were able to teach the girls to play mafia and had fun with them and sill talked during the day and worked on skills so we were productive but it was a struggle I won't even start to lie. Eventually I left with the girl that was in her Dawnstar (or last week) so I got to take her to her family camp and then walk her parents into her - SO REWARDING! Also I got to do her final ceremony and take her back into civilization - it was great because it was also my last week so I felt as if I was concluding my walking as well.

Honestly this is all just the tip of the iceberg for this experience, if you have any questions please ask and anyone who had four months to spare, it is a bit intense but so worth it and I know it is an extremely inspired program and the families that choose to walk forward it can really make a difference in their life.

I am Good Hearted Willow and I have Spoken!

Quality & Sleep

Well it's that time Tuesday night right before I go back out to the trail to work for a week and of course I just flew back into town so now I'm running around trying to get everything ready and I haven't slept a lot in the past few nights trying to spend it with friends so I had to make an executive decision tonight I am going to sleep so I can actually do my job tomorrow and also so that I can ensure the quality of the posts that will follow next week when I get off. Hey I'll even add pictures to go with my updates to really make it worth it but here's the quick update:

- I got a job as a tour guide for the railroads in Alaska this summer and I'm moving to Anchorage beginning ish of May
-I am going on Kaiizen's April trip to Mexico (I've missed two in a row)
-April 17th I'll leave Arizona and I'll drive up through Vegas, St. George, Provo, SLC, Boise, and Portland before I head up to Alaska so if you have time and will be in any of these locations I definitely want to see you.
-I love you all very much, thanks for being patient and supportive!

A Long Time Gone!

Well this is just a real quick apology - I have not updated my blog in a real long time mostly because I was having a hard time adjusting to the new life I had kind of chosen for myself and didn't want my friends and family to worry about me, however I learned that I do not just always have to have it together and there is so much about the last few months that I want to share so in the next few days I'll be updating my life until about now and sharing some of my fondest memories (Good AND Bad)!

Arizona Here I Come!

Well it's official I've finally made a decision with my life (well for now). I just got the call this week and am moving to Arizona to work with Anasazi, a program that hikes throught the hills of Arizona with youth that need to head toward a new direction with their lives. I'll be working as a trailwalker so hiking with them and helping to guide them around 12-35 miles a week. I work 8 days on 6 days off and I've very excited to work with this program and spend some time outdoors (maybe a little regrouping for myself too!). So if you ever come by Mesa in the next 8 months give me a call and I'll keep you updated on my experiences. Thanks for all the love and support over the past month while I've been figuring things out. Love you all!

Oh for more information on the program visit www. anasazi.org!

Viva la Mexico

Well it was that time again to head down with Kaiizen to Mexico. This trip was great - we celebrated the Chinese New Year with activities, fortune cookies, and fireworks. We played with all the kids at the elementary school - jump rope, bounce houses, and tug-o-war!

Then at the orphanage we had all the boys go through this Ninja course and emerge with their own sword and bandanas, and we had activites to turn the girls into Asian princesses. Then of course we moved right into a marshmellow gun war which all of our shirts had these little residue circles and I'm sure I got so much spit on me - but it was way fun. After pizza dinner we headed out to the soccer court and lite off some fireworks we picked up in Nevada the kids loved it. Saturday we took the kids to see Beverly Hills Chiuchacha (spelling?) but so fun to listen to their little laughs throughout the movie. All in all it was a great trip and here are some pictures too - enjoy!

Damon and Nathan as they go through their Ninja training!

The battle lines are drawn for the Marshmellow war!

And the girls (with the help of Morgan) are ready to go - check out their costumes!

Me, Miriam, and Rachel walking around Ensenada after the movie!

Missionaries

Today was bitter sweet, I got to go to the Missionary Training Center here in Provo and drop off my cousin (& best friend) Amy who is headed to the Texas McAllen Mission. She is going to be an amazing missionary but I'm not going to lie often times when I need to talk to someone or vent or tell someone how funny I was I call Amy. That's going to be the hardest part of these next 18 months is just not seeing her or being able to visit with her. Although I know the time will fly by and I'm so excited for her to embark on this experience - she'll help a lot of people.Hey it's me Amy I'm now officially at the MTC and leaving on my Mission!

Callie, Amy, & I - and yes we have plans to skydive summer 2010 when she's back!

Also since I was traveling when Ryan went into the MTC and since Wednesday is his Preparation Day where they get to do Laundry and write letters and what not I may have told him to look for us around a certain time so that I could see him one last time before he left for Mexico. And since his birthday was on Monday I may have brought him and his companion Cafe Rio and Mt. Dew. Happy Birthday Ry!

So good to see Ryan - he's just so grown up and really coming into his own - LOVE HIM!

Hermano Grimmett and Hermana Kolb I'm so proud of the both of you and I wish you the very best in your travels and experiences. I know Heavenly Father will bless you both greatly and I can't wait until we're all together again. Love ya!

The whole group at the MTC today Ryan, Me, Pam Holmes, Kaleb, Amy, Callie, Audrey, & Don

Girl's Weekend

Well after coming home from all my travels I decided to drive home for the weekend to spend some time with my family (especially before Amy left on her mission) and the first weekend in October my mom's side of the family was having a girl's weekend so I drove on home.

I left Thursday afternoon and stayed up in Rexburg with Natalie & Keith and was also able to see Rachel & Heath who had just moved back and all of us girls met Stephanie J for ice cream that night. It was so good to visit with them but I was having such a good time and totally forgot to even snap a picture - but thanks girls for spending time with me that night.

Then I drove home on Friday headed to a hockey game with the fam and talked about what I want to do with my life (I constantly have about 3,000 thoughts racing through my head about this). Saturday we headed up near Priest River, ID to my cousins house for our girl's weekend. By 6pm everyone was there my mom and all of her 5 sisters, 9 of us cousins, and a few of the kids. It was so much fun we made dinner and just visited - looked at pictures and told stories, laughed at jokes and Amy and I got them all to watch Baby Mama at 1am. The next morning we made breakfast and visited some more and let me tell you my family has some great stories. It was actually so great and I realized this weekend that although every family is different, we are actually a pretty good time. So thanks Charity for sharing your lovely home and thanks to every one who made it a priority to come - this could be a great tradition!

Sunday after we headed home Amy and I hung out for a while until our lack of sleep caught up to us and Monday after she left I went over to visit my friends and their kids. First to see Celeste and her kids, they are getting so big. We watched a couple SNL skits laughed just like old times and had some lunch, by the way I LOVE the dresser that you stained. You are just amazing! Then Katelyn was in town visiting her mom with the girls so I got to go over and see them before they left - thanks for waiting. Lauren is so big now (3 yrs.) and just has so much energy and Brooklyn has this amazing red hair and was a bit shy but it was still so good to see them.

Celeste, Ben, & Me - Below is a picture of Lucy!


Katelyn, Brooklyn, Lauryn, and Me

I ended up driving back down to Utah through Boise and stopped for the night to see my Grandparents and some family. Then made it back in Utah just in time for Sarah's wedding reception and got a chance to see a bunch of the girls I went to New Zealand with. All in all it was a great trip and just helped me to kind of collect myself as I prepare to make some life decisions. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to visit!