Church

You know the neat thing about being a Latter-Day Saint is everywhere you go in the world – you run into someone you know. We went to church on Sunday morning and I saw a man who looked so familiar. I asked Garity, "what's his last name?" (in my head I was thinking, “Cragun?”) and she said, “That’s Brother Cragun.” When I saw his wife walk in, I knew just who she was and I walked over to say hello. The Cragun family was a family I served with in Arlington, VA. They are on their way to Thailand, what are the chances I would see them in Mexico City!?

Church was amazing, the spirit was strong and the building was pretty neat. It was an old mansion that had been renovated into a church meeting house. Although we didn’t get pictures of the chapel – here are some pictures of the building:








I liked how the church had rooms that extended over the driveway! So not a typical UT church building.


After church my mom and I went to explore the Federal District of Mexico City. We had a lot of fun and saw some neat things. Stories and pictures to come.

Monarch Migration

Today we went and saw the Monarch Migration. It was INCREDIBLE!!! Despite a little vomit and car sickness traveling to the Monarch site (if anyone has ridden in a car in Mexico – I am sure they can comprehend) it was everything I imagined it would be and more! It is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I was so thankful I was able to witness.

We visited the forests of the Mexican state of Michoacán,the monarch's flight to Mexico has been compared to the migration habits of birds flying south for the winter. It is the only insect that can fly 2,500 miles to a warmer climate. Their unique wing structure and yearly life cycle makes it possible for the fall generation monarchs to travel thousands of miles (on those amazing little wings) to the warm nesting grounds of Mexico and southern California.

Each year, hundreds of millions of butterflies travel from the United States and Canada, to winter in forests of Fir and Oyamel trees. Those butterflies that survive the journey, which in some cases amounts to a 2,000 mile trip, cluster profusely in trees, creating a marvelous sight.

Starting in March, the butterflies begin to mate and the pregnant females start their journey north and the cycle begins again. What is amazing to note is it takes from 4 to 5 generations of butterflies to make the journey from the northern regions to Mexico. Those butterflies that do successfully arrive, actually are the great grand-children so to speak of the journey's first butterflies.


To see these amazing insects we rode short horses up to the mountain and then got off to hike in further to where the butterflies were staying. Each of us had a guide that led our horses, I was pretty pleased when my guide handed me the reins and allowed me to be in charge of my own horse. Although my Spanish has definitely gone downhill and I couldn’t understand what he was saying I know that when I made my horse go faster, he was a little worried. So don’t worry, I calmed it down.

When I was looking up the Monarch Migration before going to Mexico City I saw pictures where butterflies completely covered the trees. Imagine how excited I was when I got to see those very pictures in real life up close and personal. BREATHTAKING!!!!!

Here are some photos from the day (there is sort of alot so if you are like some people (ahem) who say once you've seen one butterfly, the rest are all the same - you can just skip the remainder of this post):


















The clumps on the trees that look like thick areas of leaves are actually bunches and bunches of butterflies. Their wings are straight up as they hibernate side by side on the trees throughout the forest.

Spur of the Moment Mexico

After a particularly emotional day at work I decided that I was in great need of a break. I e-mailed some friends in Mexico City and before I knew it, I had purchased a ticket and would soon be on my way to Mexico. I talked to my mom about the trip and was surprised but excited when she decided to come with me. (I always invite her but she rarely is able to come.)

This was the first trip I ever took where my “home airport” was Las Vegas, that in and of itself was exciting since the whole four months so far of living in St. George, I hadn’t visited Vegas once.

The Line family lived in Virginia while I was a missionary they were in the White Oak ward (WOW). We have kept in touch but it’s always so much more fun when you get to visit people and see them face-to-face. They have absolutely adorable kids and it was so good to see them again as well as to meet the new arrivals. The trip in and of itself was worth it just to visit and see them, but they had a lot more planned for us!

Flying into Mexico City was stunning in and of itself. The whole flight there we saw desert and instantly when we reached the city there was a clear line of where desert met the city. Houses packed in like sardines lined the city borders. The drastic change from desert to city was incredible while the colors of the houses were bright and reminded me of a box of crayons.


The airport was absolutely horrible. I didn't speak enough Spanish to get myself anywhere - not to where the Lines were meeting me and not to where my mom was patiently waiting. I kept going in circles and was literally lost without any form of communication. Thankfully we found Brother Line (or he found us) and we made it back to their place safe & sound.

Oak City

Mike's family had a funeral in Oak City so I drove up from St. George and met up with them. It was a pretty lax weekend. I had to finish a job application and spent a lot of time writing a sample paper (love those).

Mike knew how much I had been wanting to make coconut macaroons so we found a recipe online and added our own special chocolate dip to them ;) They turned out so yummy and everyone loved munching on them all weekend.

We were able to go 4-wheeling and we had so much fun. Mike drives SO SLOW and CAREFULLY so I had to talk him into letting me drive so that we could go fast and get some air. LOVED IT!!!! The sand dunes were AMAZING!

Oak City is a really fun little place; with cows taking up the whole road, clissic fences and a beautiful view. We loved it!

Home Sweet St. George

Well I haven't posted for a while... my bad. I have been busy getting beat up at work (literally.) In November last year I got a job that I felt good about accepting and I moved to St. George to start work as a counselor at a youth crisis center. It has been interesting to say the least and although I don't "know" if I am making a difference i am definitely "trying" and some days feel more productive than others. I have some good stories some of which are similar to getting a chair thrown at me (bruised leg, cut up finger), punched in the head, (pink) nalgene bottle thrown at me then stolen and thrown into the toilet... you know stuff similar to that (and maybe a little worse).

The best part of my job isn't the wonderful co-worker I now have as a dear friend or the times the girls try to manipulate me to get what they want. The best part of my job is having one-on-one conversations with the girls where they open up to me and tell me things that blow my mind because for the life of me I never would have thought those lives were real or that you could survive them. I like talking to the girls and having them appreciate what I say and thank me for listening and having them sit in silence for 5 minutes just thinking about what I had told them.

Overall St. George is a nice place. It is warm and it is beautiful. Right now, it is home.