Moab Rocks!

Excuse the pun, it was just too easy.

I want to visit all 5 national parks in Utah this summer. So at 2am, we jumped in the car and headed south. We decided we wanted to be under the Delicate Arch at Arches National Park to watch the sunrise.

The sign at the trailhead said the way to go was marked by stacks of rocks.  So we followed them, or at least we thought we did. Our first clue that we were going the wrong way is that all the people that had started the hike near us were nowhere to be found. We hiked way too far, and the sun was about to come up, so we stayed where we were. And that was probably the best decision of the trip. Here's why:

We had the best view of the whole valley (and we could see the arch!).

Once the sun came up, we made it to Delicate Arch.

Note the jerk who ended up in the background of everyone's photos. Unless you works for National Geographic (which you don't), move it, buddy.

After a lunch stop and a quick nap in Moab, we drove a couple miles to Canyonlands National Park.

And what's a good road trip without making a really stupid decision along the way?

I couldn't have asked for better adventure buddies. At no point in the trip did I want to push them off the edge of the cliff.

Overall, I learned two important things:

1. Sometimes, not following the crowd gives you better results in the end.

2. Don't trust your guy friends to take flattering pictures of you.

Two national parks down, 3 to go. Any suggestions for things we have to see or do in Zion, Bryce, or Capitol Reef?

Thank You

Today, I cried in the grocery store.

For anyone who knows me well, this probably isn't surprising; I cry everywhere. But this was different. As I wait to check out, I see a little boy, probably about 8 years old, carrying a couple things to the register next to mine. I couldn't see an adult with him, which I didn't think was weird because it's Provo, which means at any given time you are surrounded with at least 50 small, unattended children. Anyways, the little boy gets to the register, and the cashier told him his total: $7.24. The little boy hands him his money: $6.  The cashier tries to explain to the boy that he needs some more money, while the little boy says, "I have to go ask my mom. She's in the car with my new baby sister." As he turns around, the lady in front of me stops him, and hands him $50 and tells him the rest of the money is for his mom. He walks out of the store, the lady in front of me pays for her own groceries and leaves, and I'm left standing in line wiping tears off my face.

I wish I would have thanked that woman for reminding me to serve others.  I don't think I say thank you enough, actually. So....

Thank you to the woman who helped the little boy and his mom.

Thank you to the man who grabbed an extra cart for me when I walked into the store.

Thank you to the boy who helped me grab the jar I couldn't reach off the top shelf.

Thank you to the sweet special needs girl who bagged my groceries and asked about my day.

Thank you to the guy who held the door open for me at school.

Thank you to the girl who told me my lipstick was pretty.

Thank you to the professor who told me I did a good job on my homework.

Thank you to the stranger who smiled at me today.

The smallest things can turn someone's day around. What did you do today?