A Grand Day in the Tetons!

So I decided to write a little personal blog post on my last weekend climbing The Tetons! Garrett and I had been planning this hike for several months, and the day finally arrived for us to hike Table Rock! Our plans were almost foiled when we heard there might be too much snow up on the mountain still to get to the top easily. Luckily though, we researched a bit more and concluded that we were going to make the hike anyways and see what happened!
We got up bright and early and drove off to Driggs, Idaho then across the border to Wyoming! Garrett's sister Bridget and her husband Brandon were joining us as well, and we were all pumped and ready to go!

The weather could not have been more perfect that morning, and that definitely got our adrenaline going, and we started off with all the energy we had in us. I love the mountains with everything in me, and I am so amazed by all the beauty that one can find in nature. We passed through some gorgeous meadows and beside babbling brooks and rivers.

What a view!

Before long, it was time to stop for lunch, so we found this beautiful little waterfall in the woods and ate  some PB&J (courtesy of me, thank you very much). The water in the river was crystal clear, so we filled up our bottles with fresh mountain stream water, which tasted like heaven. 

From this point on, the trail was getting steeper and more rocky, but we kept moving onward and upward! By now, the goal was in sight, so we couldn't stop yet! My legs were burning like nothing else! The views were worth all the pain though, and we could literally see for miles and miles in every direction. I was in awe.

Finally, after a brutal scramble along hundreds of yards of rocky terrain, we climbed up the side of Table Rock and were greeted with a breathtaking view of the Tetons! Nothing could have prepared me for that view, and it took me a while to snap back to reality. After several screams of "WE MADE IT!", we relaxed for a while on top of the world, took some photos, and drank in the endless view of Idaho and Wyoming landscape.

Of course, if you know me, you know I wouldn't be able to leave that spot without documenting it with some legit photos! Here are a few of my favorites:

Happy accidents ;)

Above: a marmot on top of the mountain! These little guys were everywhere.
Below: a stranger that I couldn't help but photograph.

Soon, it was time to make our descent, and we headed down the mountain, just as dark clouds began to take over the sky and cool down the trail significantly. We were so grateful for the change in the weather, and I smiled to myself as little droplets of rain fell down on my sweaty skin. It was just what I needed. Let me tell you, 14 miles can sure take it out of you!

It was such a perfect day, and I am so glad we decided to take that hike! I have always found so much peace and happiness in nature, and spending the day in the mountains was just what the doctor ordered. There really is something so refreshing about spending time in such beautiful places, and relishing in the time you get to just ponder. I'm even grateful for the pain in my legs and body, because it reminded me that I am healthy and alive. I have been blessed to see so many beautiful places in this world, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life seeing more.

***Be sure to check out the video I made from the day here: https://vimeo.com/69697052***

"I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing." -Agatha Christie

Josh and Jaden

A few weeks ago, I shot these lovely engagements for my friend Josh and his beautiful fiancé Jaden! These two were so cute together and we had so much fun taking photos around our small town. It's the perfect weather right now for shooting and the locations we used could not have been more picturesque.

Congratulations you two!

In a world of my own making

These past few weeks have been interesting ones for me.

All at once, the realization that I am growing up has never been more real. I've just celebrated my 22nd birthday, I graduate in December, and for the first time in my life, I have absolutely no idea what I am going to do after that. For the first time, I don't have everything all figured out. And that's both exhilarating and terrifying.
Suddenly, I have to make some huge life decisions and be responsible for the adult that I now am. I can't rely on my parents, or my friends, or anyone else--it's just me.

Sometimes I just wish I could go back to being a kid, and not have to figure out anything more difficult than which book to read before bedtime or which toy to buy at the store. Things were simpler then, and it's funny, because all I wanted back then was to grow up.
And now here I am, standing on the brink of adulthood, and I'm not sure I'm strong enough to jump. But that's how everyone feels from time to time, isn't it? I hope so.

I hope as I get closer to graduation and real adulthood, I'll develop that strength. I've always been good at taking chances--almost to a fault at times--and so I've got to be ready for taking more.

So here I go. I'm ready to jump.
And I hope life is ready to catch me.

*Take a listen to this song by Night Beds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDi-P9MMOCE

Jon & Liza's Summer Engagement

I had the opportunity to get to know Jonathan over a year ago when he and I were in the same church group "family" at BYU-Idaho. I'd always loved his spontaneity and humor, and we were friends from the start. We lost touch for a little while until he suddenly contacted me a few weeks ago to inform me he was engaged! I was so happy for him and couldn't wait to meet his beautiful fiancé.

I had so much fun shooting Jon and Liza's engagements, and the weather and location were just perfect that day. Jon definitely found a great girl in Liza, and I cannot be more happy for this couple. It is so obvious how much they love each other, and I wish them all the happiness in the world as they start their new lives together. Congrats you two!

P.S. Also, keep an eye out for the second part to the shoot, coming soon! :) (There will be floating candles involved!)