Cowboy time!

Well, the rest of my Winter semester at school was AMAZING and VERY busy! I was able to do alot of things! I went hiking, went to the Kokua Festival concert where Jack Johnson and Dave Matthews played, I made an AMAZING Easter Dinner, had a blast at my two jobs, I went to the School Ball which was held on a cruise ship over by Waikiki, played tourist at the Polynesian Cultural Center, at breakfast at the REAL Hukilau Cafe, went snorkeling and got to swim with turtles, and MORE! It was awesome and I LOVED it. I even got okay grades!

When I left school to come home I still wasn't sure if I wanted to go back or transfer to Utah State. As soon as I landed in Idaho Falls after more than 12 hours of traveling, I KNEW I wanted to go back. While I was at home for the month of May, I received an email from BYUHAwaii stating that I once again would be receiving the same scholarship for this next year at school so I will be lucky enough to not have to pay for schooling again! It is such a blessing! I am very excited to go back!

During my time at home I spent time at home and went to Utah a few times. I was able to finally meet the new babies in the family! Stan and Aub's twins and my dad's new baby boy. It was so fun! It was really good to spend time with my friends when they got home from school also. We had alot to catch up on. It was nice to have my friend Sheena and Billy in Blackfoot so we could spend time together. My friend Alana left after just a few days after I got home for Jackson Hole to work on a ranch. The first few days I was home was exclusively spent with her because I didn't know when I would see her again.

After searching long and hard for a job something came up at the ranch that Alana is working at in Jackson Hole and they were hiring a few extra hands. Alana called me and referred me and I was able to talk to the owner and get a job. I found out last Friday that I was hired and Monday I drove up to Jackson Hole and here I am! I am working at Bar T5 Ranch right in Jackson Hole. I am a dutch oven cook and I help prepare food for the show at night. In the evenings, I put on my cowgirl attire, my real RED cowgirl boots, levis, belt with the big buckle, western shirt, wild rag around my neck, and my levi jacket, and SOON a real cowgirl hat, and I go help load up the covered wagon with food. We drive up to the mountains to a place where the show is and we start cooking in dutch ovens. The guests are pulled in covered wagons and horses and when they arrive, the show starts, and the food is served. Then we haul everything back down and clean up and do it again the next day. VERY LONG day! But it is alot of fun! We all live in the house on the ranch and everybody gets along and we have alot of fun. It's fun to be with all these cowgirls and cowboys.

My first night on the job, there were some people that were from Hawaii and my boss told them he had an employee that went to school to BYU Hawaii, so when they had a minute during dinner, the lady came and found me and talked to me and told me how much she was enjoying herself. She was from Pearl City and she was thrilled that I was able to experience Hawaii and Jackson Hole. She gave me a large tip and wished me success in life. It was an awesome experience. It is amazing how some people can share such sunshine. It was really neat.

I live in the same room as my friend Alana and another girl Shanae from Blackfoot and we all get along great. I don't know how we all fit our things in one tiny room, but we do. I sleep on a homemade bunkbed, and I'm definitely getting a workout getting in and out of it if not anywhere else! This is such a different experience. It is so much hard work and I am so tired all the time, but it is very rewarding. I think this summer is going to be alot of fun!