Hawaii

At the end of June my parents were nice enough to take my little brother and i to Hawaii for a week! It was so much fun and probably one of my favorite family vacations I have ever been on. I loved hiking Diamondhead, playing in the ocean (which if anyone knows my family, it is a big deal to be able to go to do water activities), visiting the Pearl Harbor memorial, being able to go to the Laie Temple and so many other fun things!
My mom, Shaun and I with a veteran that was there when Pearl Harbor was attacked
At the Pearl Harbor Memorial with the moment in the background along with the U.S.S. Missouri
My dad and I on the the trail up Diamondhead with Honolulu in the background. Gorgeous, huh?
At the top on Diamondhead with Waikiki in the background, there was some amazing views up there and the hike was great!
At the Laie Temple, the temple and the grounds are gorgeous
Waimea Falls, we weren't allowed to swim because of the increased amount of rain they have been getting...bummer
My cousins and I with our tour guide (who was hilarious) at the Polynesian Culture Center (Shaun and Colton were trying to do their best haka faces!)
Beautiful Sunset beach
My parents along the beach at Waikiki...beautiful waterfall, huh?!
The Dole Plantation...I had to take one
The moment at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, also called the Punchbowl Cemetery
A great pic from our last day in Hawaii I love being in a more tropical climate than we have here in Idaho! It was so much fun and I will definitely being going back there but, probably on my own ticket rather than my parents. If you are ever thinking about going to Hawaii for a vacation....DO IT! It is gorgeous, the weather is wonderful and there are so many good sites to see and I only went to Oahu!

My Grandpa

So I haven't in quite a few months so, I thought I might update this blog of mine.

A few months ago my dear old grandpa passed away and I would just like to write a few thoughts about him here and the little things I miss about him. I am so happy that he is now with his sweetheart, who he missed dearly over the 18 months that they were separated.

THINGS I MISS ABOUT MY GRANDPA SMOKIE
-Driving on the freeway with him in my Ford Focus and having him wave at semis that clearly can't see him waving at all but he still did it anyways.
-His stories about him and my grandma's missions all over the world and the people they got to meet.
-Seeing him with his kids, especially his 4 daughters, who absolutely adored their dad and would do almost anything for them.
-How much him and my mom are alike especially when they are together.
-How he could become friends with just about anybody and could talk to anyone, a trait that my mom possess and hopefully someday that I can develop!
-Going to Burger King with him all the time and him complaining about how expensive his junior whopper, senior drink and small fry are getting.

I'm eternally grateful for him, for the person he was and how much he changed his life in the almost 80 years he was on this earth. Because as much as I think that I can't change things about myself. I will always have the memory of my grandpa and the fortitude that he possessed and know that I can be like him too.
I'm grateful for the time I was given to get to know him and the rest of my grandparents that have also passed away. I know I'm a better person because of them and the things that each of them taught me. And someday I know that I will be able to see them again

Grandpa and Grandma Denison

Life's funny moments

Some days you just need a laugh and right now I need one. So I decided that I'm going to post some of things that I find funny that have happened over the last few months.
So I've been working at Hertz in West Valley and if you want to have a good laugh go work there...in West Valley.
- A lady came into work asking if the Hertz was a mission...apparently she didn't notice the huge sign on the front of the building that says "Hertz"
- Any time I have to try to explain something to a customer who's native language is not English...then for some odd reason if they don't understand English my instinct is to start speaking Malay!
-The crazy guy who sings at the top of his lungs as he walks down the street between the hours of two to four in the afternoon.
-"If the lady doesn't accelerate three seconds after the light turns green I'm going to ram her!" -Banner, my manager, showing his softer side of the craziest road rage I have ever seen anyone possess. Most of the time when I ride with him I feel like I'm going to die!

Here's a few non-work related laughs...for me!
-"1B...they from my hood!"- Melissa, in her best wannabe gangsta voice
-"Natty...you're so silly!" -Cam in a voice that cannot be replicated!
-"...maybe she wanted to come over and meet me!" -A friend who will remain nameless
-"My buttback hurts!" - Melissa
-"Get off your phone and be a part of this family!" -Melissa R. anytime I was playing on my phone while we were hanging out
-Sarah-"What are you doing here...get out of my house!"
Me- "Sarah did you just tell to get out of your house?!"
Sarah- "No, no...you're fine!"
- Sarah is Melissa R.'s sister and probably one of the craziest, most hilarious people I know.
-Brooklyn- "Please bless the..."
Baylee- "FOOD!"
Brooklyn-"I know Baylee!"- Hands down one of the funniest blessings over the food that I have ever heard!
-"It's like an oversized rat, suited for war!"- Shaun's description of an armadillo

These may not be funny to anyone else but, to me they bring laughter and good memories back to life for me! If you want to leave any of your favorite funny quotes or experiences that we might have shared together, I welcome them wholeheartedly!