To run again!

Good morning to all who may read this. I have good news! I have been running everyday this week. This is huge for those of you who have followed my ups and downs with running.

A little history. I used to hate running. It was painful, tiring, difficult and I usually thought I was going to die! About 5 years ago, a friend told me how she had lost weight after her babies. She ran. She said the fat would just "melt" off.

So, I became motivated by that. I wanted to run. It was hard!! I got up at 6 am and would force myself out the door. My knees immediately starting hurting. A little voice told me to start doing sqats. So I did and my knees stopped hurting. I got to where I could run a mile with out stopping. I became addicted. I would "itch" to go for a run! I loved it. It cleared my head and put me in a good mood. I lost weight. I was looking good.

I then hurt my low back. (weight lifting on a machine I did not know how to use) My sacrum to be exact. There were days I could hardly walk back from a run because I didn't want to stop. With the help of a great chiropractor, I got to the point where I could run again pain free. It took 3 years.

Then my right foot started to hurt all the time. It would burn in my heel. I found out I had Plantar Fascitice.(sp) That is where your arches fall and the tendon that stretches from the ball of your foot to the heel is being pulled too tight. It is not meant to stretch. Much.

I started to wear Birkenstocks to raise my arch. That part worked but because of the new position of all the bones in my foot, my left heel would roll a little bit. I did not know this for a long time. It would make the area under my ankle bone ache with excruciating pain. After one 5k I couldn't walk for a week.

I was starting to get depressed.

I realized the regular Birks weren't high enough so I started wearing high arch birks. These really were great. My arches and knees never ached anymore. My foot still did. I tried everything to fix it.

Finally a foot doctor told me it was the heel thing going on. We have taken more than 6 months to get a pair of insoles right that would feel good and correct the problems. I also roll a small piece of cloth and tape it with duct tape (of course) under the left side of my left heel to keep it from rolling. It has slowly let that tendon heal up and tighten to keep the bone in place that was causing all my misery.

To keep my long story long....It has now been 5 years since I first started to run (on and off). This week, I have run everyday. I run harder and faster as each day passes. Today I ran 2 tenths of a mile farther in the time I usually do it. My heel is doing great. A little achy (a little bit) but it doesn't hurt. My arches don't hurt! I am so happy.

I do feel like I am starting over again. ( which I have done more times than I can count in the last 5 1/2 years) but I feel like it is finally coming together.

I have prayed more than you can know to be able to run. I feel it is a righteous desire and we are promised we will receive our righteous desires if we pray and be diligent and work for it. I have!!! I also feel I have learned huge lessons in patience and perseverance.

I hope i am not counting my chickens before they hatch but I feel good. Maybe this this will be my year!

5 lessons

The last story made me bawl. Good thing I wasn't wearing makeup. May we always treat others as we would want to be. Hard to do sometimes.


Five (5) lessons about the way we treat people.

1 – FIRST IMPORTANT LESSON - Cleaning Lady.

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one:

'What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?' Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. 'Absolutely, ' said the professor. 'In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'hello.'

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

2- SECOND IMPORTANT LESSON- Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960's. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.
She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached. It read:

'Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away... God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.'

Sincerely,
Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3- THIRD IMPORTANT LESSON - Always remember those who serve.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. 'How much is an ice cream sundae?' he asked. 'Fifty cents,' replied the waitress. The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it. 'Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?' he inquired By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. ' Thirty-five cents,' she brusquely replied. The little boy again counted his coins. 'I'll have the plain ice cream,' he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies..


You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4- FOURTH IMPORTANT LESSON. - The obstacle in Our Path.

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

5- FIFTH IMPORTANT LESSON- Giving When it Counts...

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would
be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, 'Yes I'll do it if it will save her.' As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, 'Will I start to die right away'.

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.


NOW more than ever - Peace...

President Hinckley

I love this man.

There comes a prophet only once in a while that can touch you like this man did. Words can not even do him justice. The whole world loved him, whether they were members or not.

I will definitely feel a void now with him gone. I almost feel sorry for the next president of the church. How can anyone even compare? The apostles are all great men but I feel for who ever is next. What must he be feeling? How could anyone fill Pres. Hinckley's shoes like he did!? I know that who ever comes next is destined for great things but man, how scary!

I want who are out there to know that I know this man was a prophet. I would follow him anywhere he wanted me to. I will try throughout my life to do everything he told us to do. I want to be able to hang out with him someday. To make that happen, I have a lot of work and improvement to do!

After I heard the news of his passing, I tried to imagine what it was like on the other side as everyone came to welcome him home! The emotion I felt when I imagined this made me cry. I wish I could have been there to see it. I imagined Jesus there with a huge smile on his face, his arms open wide saying "well done, my good and faithful servant!"

We love you, Gordon B. Hinckley! We can't wait to see you again!

New Meme

I was tagged by Yolanda. I am doing this just for her because I am truly not it the mood to expose myself!


10 years ago: I was pregnant with my second son. Jake was 3 years old. We were living in a teeny tiny house with a beautiful big yard and I loved it!

5 things on my to-do list today:
1. Take a Mucinex pill, eat breakfast, dress Wyatt, Take ibuprofen for head ache, then rest all day!

I enjoy:
Playing Warcraft with my friend Tash, Taking long, hot baths with a good book, blueberries on any cereal, and theater popcorn. (you need to remember that today, I am sick and am having a hard time using my brain.)



What would I do if I were suddenly made a billionaire:
I would buy everyone in my and Bry's family a dream home. Then I would do what Yolanda would do. Go after drug companies that are keeping people sick! And I would travel the world. And have a house keeper and cook. Definitely a cook.

3 of my bad habits:
Swearing, Laziness (sometimes), my temper.

5 places I have lived:
1. Eugene, Oregon
2. West Valley, Utah
3. Bountiful, Utah
4. Venezuela
5. BFE, Utah

5 jobs that I have had:
1. piano teacher
2. music store worker
3. Secretary for insurance agency
4. Diet technician at LDS Hospital
5. Secretary for Hubby's plumbing company, and foster mom

5 Things people don't know about me:
1. I have lots of birth defects. (won't go into detail at the moment)
2. I love action movies.
3. I am never happy with my hair. If it is short, I want it long. and vice versa.
4. I am an open book most of the time and can't think of anything else people might not know about me. That could be one of my faults I guess.
5. Oh, thought of something. I have issues with food. I don't know where it comes from but it bothers me and I am having a hard time changing that but am working on it.

I tag anyone who read this and wants to join in the fun!

Ryan Shay

Today I am remembering Heath Ledger. I have also had someone else on my mind quite a bit lately.

Ryan Shay.

Many people may not know who this guy is. He was young, full of life, had just gotten married and he LOVED to run.

He died at the November Olympic qualifying race. He had gone 5 1/2 miles and just dropped dead. Just like that. An amazing athlete who had run his whole life. His parents were both track coaches so Ryan grew up with it.

The thing that made him amazing was his drive. He never gave up, he never quit. He would run in any weather. He wanted to be one of the best and he was. He was amazing. He ran a marathon on the average 2 and a half hours.

They say he had an enlarged heart but many athlete's heart's are large just from fitness. Many normal doctors don't know this. If you are an elite athlete, go to a doctor that treats athletes. Anyway, He could have had a problem with an enlarged heart but no one knows. He just had a heart attack and died. Instantly.

It makes me think that when it is your time, it is your time. Sad, but I believe it is true. It is so hard to accept when it is someone young. How can you justify a child or young adult dying when there is so much they haven't yet experienced. It is not fair.

Someday we will hopefully understand it. For now, we cry, we feel jipped, we struggle and then we go on.

It's Sunday afternoon and I have to admit, I am surprised that no one has commented on my last post! Of course, people are busy but I am a yellow after all! I have changed my settings so anyone can comment now, so be nice!

I stayed home with Jake from church as I had a sinus headache this morning and didn't want to go to with it. I am feeling much better now though, so that is happy news.

I just wanted to say how happy I feel. I love my life. I love my beautiful husband who adores me. How lucky I am to have him. I am so proud of my kids and they are all getting such good grades. They play so well together and most of the time, our home feels very happy.

I am so glad I can run now with little discomfort in my foot. I am so grateful that I have a house that is a good one even if it isn't what I really want. My dream home is is a yellow, cape cod style with at least 5 bedrooms and a big wrap-around porch.

I am very blessed in so many ways. I wish my mom were around to talk to. I think she always worried about our (her 9 kids) future happiness. I know she knows but I would love to talk to her face to face and ask her about her life that I never really knew when I was a bratty teenager and selfish young adult (I really was). I never got the chance to know her as a fellow mother and friend. We didn't always get along but I am so much like her, I wish I could have known her better.

I love the gospel. I love how easy it is to teach to my children. It all makes sense. Thank heavens for simple things.

I hope you all have a wonderful week and we'll talk more later!

Terrible! Awful! Unbelievable!

Get this!!! Last night Bry and I were headed out to grab a bite to eat as it was date night and I live for date night. We had just been arguing with Jake because he was being a little brat. You see, we lock our bedroom door when we leave since we can't trust our kiddies to stay out! We don't want them on our computer without supervision and the tv in our room is the only one in the house that doesn't have blocks on it. That was what made him mad. He wanted to watch OUR tv.

So we left and I threatened him that he would be babysitting for free if his attitude didn't change. (We pay him a little when we do fun things like date night. It helps him be a better sitter). Anyway, we had driven about a mile down the road when my cell rang. I answered and there was screaming on the other end. I finally had to yell at him to get him to stop and tell me what was wrong.

He said he had hopped off the kitchen counter and caught his bottom on an open cupboard below and he was bleeding. We quickly turned around and came home, I took him into my bathroom to check it out.

He had taken a chunk about a half inch around out of his bottom. It was very close to his vital parts. I called Bry in and we quickly decided to take him to the emergency room. Bry took him and I waited. And waited and waited!!! I could have killed him. He left his phone in the car and never called from the hospital. What an awful feeling to worry and not know what was going on.

To make this long story short, he got 4 stitches and is in quite a bit of pain. He's on some nice pain killers and has to get the stitches out in 10 days. Poor thing. He's supposed to keep flat for the next 2 days and try not to move too much. Ya, tell that to a 12 year old who is feeling the effects of the drugs and thinks he doesn't hurt too bad anymore!

Drama, drama, drama. We attract it like flies to honey! The moral of this story is...don't climb on your counters and for Pete's sake, don't jump off without looking where you are going!!!

Update on life

The latest news is that the birth mom of Wyatt wants to relinquish her parental rights but the birth dad won't. The judge won't sign for one to relinquish and not the other, so it goes to trial. What a pain. There is no way the judge will let him get the 2 kids because he is so screwed up, so a lot of money is just going to be wasted over the next few months.

I have a new church calling. I now teach the sunbeams. What an easy job. I have a partner I team teach with and I LOVE that! Bry was called to be an Elders quorum teacher so he'll do that once a month. Nothing like growing and learning.

The kids are all doing great. No body is sick which is a nice change from December. I haven't seen nor heard from my family much which is weird. We used to all be so close. Now we go weeks at a time with no communication. At least I do, living far enough away that I don't see them like they probably see each other living 5 min. apart. I guess we get busy with out lives and don't take the time. At least that is what I do. Sorry K, for missing Z's b-day! I had planned to call him when the kids all got home from school. I forgot once they came home. Happy 6 Z!!! I have a present for you!

So there it is. Even though I use a day timer, I still forget things! No excuse. Just an airhead. Yellows tend to be that way. Thank heavens for friends and family who love me anyway!

From the mouths of babes.

I was in the car yesterday afternoon taking Heidi and a couple of other little girls to dance when Heidi blurts out....."I used to be a baby in my mom's tummy and I came out of her bottom and it hurt!"

Ya, that is one of those things that is far better left unsaid. When she was in the tub yesterday with Gabe, she said this, as I was picking up their dirty clothes, "I love your bottom, mommy. It's big like a dinosaur's."

Ok, so....we sit down and have a little talk about what is appropriate to say out loud. She is at that lovely age that all children never seem to skip where any thought comes pouring out of their mouths! Yikes! Heaven help me. I will have to go through it 2 more times after her!

Please keep me in your prayers.

I have entirely too much drama in my life. I would actually prefer, as I have said before, to lead a quiet, boring life for the most part. But it does seem like, as life happens, that drama may be inevitable.

Yesterday Seth had outpatient surgery for a curved "private" part. He was very brave and my sister who works at Primary Hospital, came with us on her day off. What a nice way to spend your day off.....at your job! lol

Anyway, she knew all the doctors and was able to go in with him as he was put to sleep and while he woke up which they don't let parents do. It made a whole world of difference for him.

I sat in the parents waiting room mostly just reading and wondering why it was taking so long. As a parent, we sit there and get more and more worried the longer it takes. We start to let our imaginations run wild. It is very stressful.

All went well, everything went perfectly. Now he is home and is just very sore as he was circumcised besides the straightening. Poor thing. But better now than later I guess. He has stitches all around and on top to keep it straight forever.

It is pretty wild the technology we have now. What did those people do a long time ago? Just never have a healthy sex life? Never have kids? Always uncomfortable? Sad. I am so grateful for the science we have that makes our lives better. I am so grateful for my little Seth who did great and who charmed everyone at the hospital. He thought it was great to be able to play Nintendo at a hospital.

Now he gets to stay home and be pampered for the weekend! He thinks that is great too!