Missin America, 'ello England

I've been pondering the things I will miss about the United States of America while I'm in England for the next 6 months. Here are a few.

• Hamburgers
• Steak
• Fry sauce (Western US)
• Mountains
• 4th of July
• Halloween
• Wide open spaces (driving for hours without seeing much of anything)
• Blue skies
• Football games (BSU in MWC!)
• Hot summers
• Snow cones
• Peanut Butter
• Rodeos
• Camping in the desert

A few things I'm excited to experience in England

• Fish and chips
• Castles
• Rugby
• Horse Races
• Sheep
• OLD EVERYTHING!!
• Hannah
• Accents
• Cambridge
• Military base
• Fighter planes
• Seeing the places I used to go (school, church etc)
• Red Telephones 

Family Weekend

The weather here in Meridian has been pretty wet. In fact, there have been a few cases of flooding up north. It has been strange enough that there has even been a mini tornado. After a run to Walmart and Krispy Kreme (for National Doughnut Day) we came across theses clouds.

Thankfully, the weather decided to be nice today! We were off on an adventure with our cousins the Hampels. We went to the Old Penitentiary and got a guided tour. It was such a different experience to have a tour guide telling us stories and giving details about how things worked at the prison. We also got to go to places that are locked to the general public.

Memories of Church

Yesterday I was able to reflect on the good times and interesting memories I have had here in Idaho, specifically in a church setting. 

My family has gone through 4 ward splits and one stake split in the course of 6 years. Pretty good growth if you ask me.

Our first ward was the Locust Grove Ward which met in the old white church on Locust Grove and Amity. I remember showing up on our first Sunday there and being so surprised to see ward members in cowboy boots and suspenders. In Sunday School I could hear the cows and chickens that lived next door. I loved it.

In the past 6 years I've been here I've seen a pre-missionary pass-out while giving a talk, had the fire alarms go off during sacrament meeting and spent a lot of Sundays attending 3pm church. 

Yesterday my family was asked to speak (kinda like a missionary farewell).  I lucked out and didn't have to speak. Saturday before we heard that our stake center (where we have our meetings) was flooded (again... this happens A LOT and it is brand new!). There was a change of schedule. We were to have sacrament meeting at 6pm in the old white church. It was a very nostalgic to have our going away meeting in the very building we first attended. Our ward has change a lot over the years but there were a few people that were there from the beginning. It was quite touching.

Little Girls

I've been scanning photos for a while now and today I came across these. 

Four generations of little girls

Me - 1 year old

Mom - Phyllis Hampel - 1 year old

Grandma - Emma Lucille Bush - 1 year old

Great Grandma - Inez Whiting - 1 year old

Me - 4 years old

Mom - Phyllis Hampel - 4 years old

Grandma - Emma Lucille Bush - 4 years old

Great Grandma - Inez Whiting - 4 years old

Old Idaho Penitentiary

Idaho Bucket List

I checked something off.

I went with my mom to the Old Idaho Penitentiary in Boise.

The weather was gorgeous and the history was amazing!

The old cell buildings were a bit creepy with the paint falling off and the building creaking.

We got to see the solitary confinement chambers and well as the maximum security cells. There was also a dining room, laundry room, barber shop and women's jail.

The penitentiary is apart of the Idaho Historical Society so there were other museums housed on the property. 
An Arms Exhibit - It was a collection all from one man. He had collected weapons from almost every war going clear back to the early 1600s in England. I was impressed. I hope that someday I can have a museum for my stuff.
There was also a transportation museum.

I also learned how to spell penitentiary....

Table Rock Hike

May 15, 2010

Went hiking to Boise's Table Rock

The Rock that has a big Cross on it.

Story From the Past

This is a story written by my Grandma Hampel. I remember this experience and I had no idea what was going on. It was just a toy rat.

Long Time Coming

With summer before me with time to read for FUN, I have thought a lot about the books that I want to read and even the books I have read. One that I have read has really stuck out to me the past few months. I've thought about it a lot and have wanted to read it again. For now, I'll just talk about it :)


How to Win Friends and Influence People
I think it is a book that everyone should read. It just lays out people/social skills that are just so basic and fundamental. Things we often forget to do.


One of the most important things to do is to really listen to people. Listen to what they have to say. Ask them more. And even more. Remember, a person's favorite topic is themselves. You could meet someone new, ask them all about their life and never talk about yourself. You would come away from that conversation with the other person thinking you are a great conversationalist (they actually knowing nothing about you). Love it! Try it! Meet someone (new or an old friend) and just ask about them. You will find that they enjoy it. They will probably return the questions (like a good conversation should go). Listening is so important. 


To listen doesn't mean to be thinking of what YOU are going to say next. No, listening is to hear, grasp, understand, and hear again what they are saying and THEN think of a response. This is a concept I don't think many understand. Including myself.


Asking about how others are doing and really caring is also something that is often lost. We often ask just out of habit not really caring. It is an intro that lets us tell others exactly what we want to say. I find it annoying. It makes me care less when people don't care about me. 


Anyway - There are so many ideas in the book. It is a must read.