Quick Trip to the Copper Mine

One of my list of things to do this summer, was make a trip out to the Kennecott Copper Mine.  So, Monday afternoon that's exactly what we did.  The massive size of the entire operation is pretty incredible.

From the sheer size of the mine itself.

 

To the tires of the trucks and the machinery they use.

No wonder it is one of the few manmade places that can be seen from space!

Another Jampacked Weeked

I am still doing everything I can to ensure that I make the most out of this summer.  Friday night, right after Jason got off work we drove down to Manti to see the Mormon Miracle Pageant.  For those who have never been, there are 14,000 chairs set up at the bottom of Temple Hill.  With the majestic and beautiful Manti temple as a backdrop, 900 cast members (mostly youth) act out various scenes from the Book of Mormon and Church history.  It was a wonderful way to spend a fabulous summer evening...even if I did lose some sleep since we didn't get home until 2am.

With such a late night, you'd think I would have fully taken advantage of sleeping in Saturday morning, but I had other plans.  I told my friend Kirsten to come play and then we went and picked up my sister Jori and drove up Provo Canyon.  We were going on a hike.  Only the hike I had planned on wasn't easily found, so we drove further up the Alpine Loop and walked around Cascade Springs for a while.

Beautiful marshlands...

Mini Waterfalls...

Flowers...

Moose...

And Just Us Girls!

We finished up the Alpine Loop, took a nostalgic driving tour of Granite Campground and Tibblefork Reservoir.  We wrapped up the girls day out with some shave ice.  Yum yum!

After that Kirsten and I headed back to my place where we cleaned up, grabbed Jason and headed out for dinner at Red Robin.  Since this is probably the last time we will see Kirsten before she abandons us and leaves for Colorado, we decided we needed to do the evening right.  So we made a trip the Living Planet Aquarium.

We sure will miss you, Kirsten!

With such a busy, but fun, couple of days, it has been nice to have a relaxing Sunday.  This time next week we'll already be up in Yellowstone.  Yipee!

Book Review: The Last Lecture

Title: The Last Lecture

Author: Randy Pausch

Length: 206 pages

Adjectives: Uplifting, Thought-provoking, Humorous

Summary: While this book stems from a depressing motive, it is anything but depressing.  Shortly after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Randy Pausch was asked to give a "last lecture" at the university that was so integral in his life.  Realizing that this would truly be his last lecture, he contemplated on just what it was he wanted to share with the audience and, more importantly, his young family.  This book takes the meat of that lecture and adds a few more details.  It is about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment.  The examples he gives are poignant and to the point.

This was a very quick and easy read that rose a lot of questions in my mind.  It made me stop and think for a while about what is really important in my life.  I highly recommend this book to anyone, but perhaps especially to anyone who is in the midst of a trying point in their life.