newness :)

So lately I've been doing a whole bucket load of thinking, pondering, introspection... (whatever word you may choose) about my life and about the things that I place importance and happiness on. Let's just say that it's about time for some dusting and rearranging in the brain room!! In this time of great thinking I've decided to sorta refurbish my blog!! Instead of focusing on the depressing things that happen in my life, I am making a goal right now to be more optimistic and happy about everything in my life. Even if it just that I get to see the sun rise each day (which is a HUGE blessing!!). So with that said... here goes.

I have been on this really random running fetish as of late. It may just be that I'm on vacation alone, and have nothing better to do with all the free time that continues to fall from the deeply blue sky here in the great state of Washington! But I have been loving every minute of it! Today I ran 18.5 miles! That is the most that I have ever run at one time!! I'd like to think that I want to train for and run a half or even a full marathon, but I don't think I have the .. what is the word... DRIVE. I like to run to vent, to release pent up emotion, and to feel the breeze (not to mention that I love to completely rock out to my music when I go on my long runs! ) People give me really weird looks, but I could care less!! On top of that fantastic news is even more glorious news! Tomorrow I am going to the BEACH!! :) WOOT! I'm going to spend a couple (or more) days at the beach to relax and enjoy before I head back to my hometown! It is going to be awesome!!! There is nothing better than sitting by the ocean, soaking up the sun, and doing absolutely nothing! And I will get to spend time with a group of people whom I love so dearly!

So with that said, I shall leave you with a photo! This is also going to be a new thing, I'll add a photo with every post. Some will be mine, but not all.... :)

This is a photo that I took on one of my outings to Big Cedars Park. Awesome park next to a great stream to swim in and soak up the sun! :)

Hope you enjoy!

Much love,

Rachel Lynn

'aint I supposed to be on my vacation?

This weekend has been a not so good one for me... I've spent the last two nights puking my guts out. I don't know why and I'm uber frustrated and grumpy about it. But other than that my vacation has been really great. Lot's of adventures, lots of thinking time, lots of relaxation. The weather has been great here and I've been loving it!! Lot's of hiking, running, etc... I've taken so many photos as well!!! I'm loving it so much that I might move here permanently!! But as much as I am loving it here I find my self more often missing home... Utah. I miss my beautiful Maple Mountain. I miss my backyard with lush green grass that I can lay on and take a nap. I do not miss the heat, but I do miss the fact that the heat keep most the bugs away. That is one thing that bothers me about where I am... great location, beautiful scenery, but it's just humid enough that the bugs are ALWAYS around. They never take a break! Even in the middle of the afternoon when it is very warm... I sit outside in the evenings to enjoy a good book and some lemonade and I go crazy because the stupid mosquito's and flies will not leave me alone... AGH!!!! Anyway, enough rambling about things that have no real importance in life... but I had to get my two cents in. All that said, I've had a lot of time to think about life. It has been a while since I actually sat down and thought about how much importance I place on the little stupid insignificant annoyances in my life. I've realized that I am very selfish, and it stops now. I know that I'm human and I can't be perfect at being completely selfless, but starting right now I am going to make a conscious effort to try my hardest to be more selfless. This world has enough rude, egotistical, selfish people... I don't want to be one of them. :)

This is Mt. Hood. This is my favorite photo that I have taken in the last m

onth. It is amazing!!!

There is beauty all around :)

This is the view I have on my morning runs!! :) It is pretty much the greatest thing ever!

Mt. Adams

I do a loop that is just under 7 miles. I go 1 mile up the road that my house is on and then take a right. The next road up it the Highway and I turn left and go west for 2 miles, turn right onto this dirt road that goes for about a half a mile to a little river called Trout Creek, and then it comes back.

It is probably the most amazingly beautiful place I have ever been. I love it here and I am loving it more everyday!! :) The only hard part is that I don't have cell phone service at the house so I have to drive a half hour to where I go to church to use my cell phone... the good thing is that there is a landline at the house so I'm not completely disconnected... and I have internet so I'm good. :)

Just thought you'd like an update... I LOVE LIFE!!! :)

Much love,

RaeLynn

rise from the ashes

I've been greatly blessed to have the knowledge of the Gospel. The wondrous blessing of being able to let go of all this pain. It truly is the greatest feeling. While the pain is gone, now comes that dreaded part of rebuilding... but it is not impossible. Broken trust can be restored, with time and much effort on the part of both parties... but it will come. Because of the wondrous gift that was given to me by my Savior, Jesus Christ, I can again feel whole... instead of having a gaping hole in my heart. With that comes the responsibility to share this blessing.

I am on vacation... :) A very good friend of mine needed help with her kids while on a trip because her husband was not able to go in order to do a kitchen renovation... so I got to come to Washington with her and her 5 kids. I LOVE IT HERE!!! Not only that, I'm staying here for the month of July, I've already been here for two weeks and it feels like home... :)

Being surrounded by such beauty, I am able to ponder deeply about things that I wouldn't be able to at home. There is just too much going on. I now have the chance to really discover something inside me that has been missing, even let go of fears and pain that have long plagued me. This is a chance for me to completely renew my mind, my strength, and my heart. I know that it will be hard and take time, but it will be well worth the effort.

Life is amazing. Remember.

Much Love,

RaeLynn

yet again...

Changes are afoot in my life yet again. The only thing is that bothers me is that these changes are unwelcome, unchosen, and emotionally very difficult. I honestly feel like my heart has been cut out of me, chopped up, deep fried, and served to the family dog. I've never cried so much in my whole life (which is saying a lot: I cry when I see rainbows and wind chimes). This hurt has been thrown at me by someone I love. My best friend. Never in a million years would I have expected this, or anything close to this. Truth be told, I feel like curling up in my bed and dying.
The beautiful truth is this: I know that I can turn to my Savior to help me get through these times of extreme heartache, pain, and confusion. The Savior is my best friend and He is the only one who can lift this pain. It is so wonderful to know that Heavenly Father loves me so much: so much that I cannot fully comprehend.
I have forgiven my best friend. But the trust between us has been broken. Over time I may be able to learn to trust again, and I really don't want this to be the end of our friendship. My sincere hope is that our friendship may be strengthened through this trying and difficult time.

I will continue to be the best person I can be, and allow the Lord to control the rest. For now that is the best that I can do.