happenings of late

how is it the end of July and I still feel like summer hasn't quite started? I'll tell you why, I haven't made it to a pool or the lake yet, I've only ridden my (road) bike once, I've only played sand volleyball once; pool, bike, and volleyball have been my summer staples for the past several years. oh, and I haven't planned any summer adventures which means I've been stuck in the office a lot.

it's not my fault, I like to think. I haven't been any busier, I still have great friends that like to do fun things, it's just that I haven't been feeling well since the middle of May. It all started because I got the stomach flu and then dehydration and just couldn't get back to normal. after lots of blood work (followed by passing out), doctors visits, and various scans in May and June the general consensus was, "Everything looks normal, you're okay." Then why oh why did I still feel sick? Like sick enough to miss about 8 days of work and only want to lie in my bed all day everyday.

after being fed up with doctors and blood work I decided to visit with a zonologist my aunt Wendy knows (who has cured her of so many things) because what could it hurt? we drove to Logan to see Sharla and after the most painful foot massage ever (you feel serious pain when she rubs your foot in areas that correspond to trouble areas in your body) she gave me some answers that just made sense. the things she pointed out were things I've been concerned about, however, none of them have shown up in any doctor's visits. she gave me a few things to try with eating habits, supplements and essential oils and even though it's been slow-going, I feel like progress is being made (finally!). I get super tired most days, but the pain is almost gone and I can make it through and I can even have some fun. I'm finally making some summer plans (small plans) because I feel like I can actually stay feeling good for enough hours at a time to be active or have some fun.

so thanks to my health (or lack there of) summer has had a slow start. not all has been lost though, these are the summer activities that still happened even if I wasn't feeling awesome:
- laying out in my backyard with my cute little puppy
- evening walks or cruiser bike rides (Utah summer nights are the best)
- Strawberry Days Rodeo with the friendsies
- outdoor concert on a Provo rooftop
- annual neighborhood on fire celebration complete with homemade ice cream and star sugar cookies
- watching fireworks whenever I can
- smores over fire pits with friends

- and maybe the biggest event of all (which I hope doesn't become an annual summer activity) the wedding of my beautiful little sister. I can't believe she's married, I still see her as a 16 year-old girl but she was a beautiful bride whose crazy (good crazy) style made for one awesome reception (see pictures here by the cute Tracy Hill)