Monday, March 31, 2014

*Monday Memos*

*Monday Memos*
 

dear teenage girls, I always love it when I open the door and no one is there, but when I look down there is some kind of creative sign or object asking one of my boys to a dance, or answering one of them.  I usually make my boys let me take a photo of the invite before they clean it up and I really should go and compile all of those pictures that I've taken over the years.  Between my five boys, I would have to look through a lot of photos.  In fact, the picture below, I've probably got at least three or four photos of one of them being asked in a similar way.  Peas are a peasing pleasing way to say peas please.  One was really funny though and said something like, "I was so excited you asked me that I "pee"d my pants."  That was an answer to one of my sons.  I just love the creativity that some of them come up with.  So. much. fun.  This one was left on our porch last Monday asking McKay to Morp (prom spelled backwards - it's a very informal dance).
 


 I found a few that were on one of my computers and so I compiled some of them.  



dear mckay (aka my baby), I know you don't get this, but wow it's hard watching you grow up and turn into a young man.  17 already.  It just does NOT seem possible to me.  I do love seeing how handsome, funny, and how well liked you are by everyone, but I still long for those days when you were my little boy and wanted to be with me more than anyone else in the world.  You were a mama's boy and I loved it.  Out of all my five boys, you were the one that wanted to still sit on my lap when you were really way too big for me to even support you, and as your big bros would tease you about it, I always told you that you would never be too big to sit on my lap.  That always made you so happy.  I used to read you the book I'll Love You Forever and I always loved the part where the boy is a grown man and he is still being rocked by his mom...old as she may be... as she recites: 
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always;
As long as you're living,
My baby you'll be.
You really got ripped off this year due to prom being on your birthday.  You had to wait until the next day to even open your presents when everyone could be present with your presents and their presence to enjoy your presence as you enjoyed your presents. And then you had to wait again until Monday for your family party.  Hopefully you will love your new bow and arrows and all the other stuff you got.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be...


dear mother nature, you definitely have some bipolar issues going on that is for sure. I guess I should be used to it by now since I have lived here most of my life and it is really like this every year.  This week on one of my 10 mile runs, I experienced rain, thunder, lightning, snow, AND hail all in the same run.  It was crazy!  Or maybe I'm crazy to even be out there in that craziness!  But nevertheless I was.  There are two things I really hate to run in, and that is the wind and hail.  Hail is very painful especially when it is pelting down on your face.  It hurts!  And wind just makes you feel like it's pointless to be running because it takes so much energy to even get anywhere because it's fighting so fiercely against you.  Here are a few of the pictures I took on my run when I was blasted with your PMS and bipolar mood swings.


dear spring in utah, this photo that my son Bryce took yesterday (only a couple hours apart), pretty much sums you up:
Found this one online:

dear city creek and fun friends, oh what a fun time I had with you all.  Dawn brought us these cute little chicky head things to wear (so we could be some cute chicks!) and she brought us some jars filled with Smore Love to hand out to whoever we felt needed a little lift.  Isn't she simply amazing?  Seriously.  It was a fun day!  We ate lunch at the Blue Lemon and news anchors Michelle King and Mary Nichols were sitting right next to us.  I even ran into Russell, a boy in my ward that just returned home from his mission to the Dominican Republic the night before!  He was there with his dad looking for a cell phone.  We spent a lot of time at Sephora's getting beautimous and stopped in a couple other stores.  That was about the sum of the shopping we did.  But it was still a lot of fun.  Just being with others is so much fun.  All these women came to Gina's Relay for Life and so I had met them there, other than Lisa, who I went to high school with and I've known for 35 years,  but I was able to get to know them much better this time.  Life is good.  I am so grateful I have such amazing friends and such great opportunities to be with them and I'm so glad Dawn invited me to join them.  I enjoy being around her so much. She always makes every event a party!
Click to enlarge
Here we are in our "cute chick" attire!  Spreading Smore Love!  Top right photo is with Russell the newly returned missionary. Pam gave him Smore Love.  Dawn gave hers to the Sephora lady.
 


 This my person that I chose to give Smore Love.  I just had a feeling she needed it and when she said, "You have no idea how much I needed that!", I knew I picked well.


Some cute chick-a-dees!
Getting the works at Sephora! I am covering my face because I couldn't breath!  He was spraying so much of that hair product, that I am sure most of the contents of that can went into my lungs and NOT on my hair!

CHEESE!

How do we look?  Huh?  Not too bad for a couple of old chick-a-dees!

Ready for the town!
Michelle King and Mary Nichols sitting right next to us at Blue Lemon.  Normally I would have been the one over there, but Debbie beat me to it.  After she did, I decided to let them eat in peace. haha   I had the BEST turkey avocado sandwich along with some PURPLE potatoes!  Mmmm..........  Dawn keeping with her goal of visiting every men's room in the state.  hehe



A fun day was had by all!


I was grateful my car was still where I had parked it and bootless.  The restaurant where I left it where I met Dawn so we could ride together had a sign in the back saying you could get towed or booted up at your expense if you weren't a customer.  So Dawn wrote a note that I left in my window just in case!  It said to please let us park there because we love this place... haha! She cracks me up! Neither of us have ever eaten there, but we still love it! ☺ Even more so now, that they didn't tow my car away!


dear long run, I really hated you last week but this week I am so happy with you!!!  What a difference a week makes!  Wow!  I am still so psyched that you went so well for me.  I was really dreading you this week and worried a lot about surviving you and just was not excited at. all.  But now I am just so happy that I was able to have a great run and with some kicking trash speed too!  I started out on my own because I had to get in 20 miles and Jen was only going to go 15 because she is still building up miles due to her injury.  By the way, "only going to go 15" is meant for comparison purposes only because running 15 miles should never be preceded with an "only". ☺ 15 miles is a LONG ways!  Just sayin...   Anyway, I ran around the dam and a bit through town to get in 5 miles before Jen met up with me.  The wind was BRUTAL!  In every way!  And it was all head wind. Not sure how that is possible, but trust me, it was!  It was in the 50's but it felt much colder due to the wind chill.  When she got there, I had gone 5.6 and her husband took us up to the sheds at the top of Sardine.  We ran down from there back to the dam and around it. That made two times around the dam for me. The wind was still brutal.  It eased up a bit halfway around the dam, but once we headed back down the canyon, it was fierce once again.  We had planned on doing the last half of our miles faster than the first half (negative split) and we actually did it!  It was tough when we reached the hill on the over pass, but we kept pushing.  We kept it up and at mile 13.1 (for her) which was mile 18.7 for me, we had ran it at an amazing pace!  Our time was 2:05 for the 13.1 miles just like the last time we ran the canyon.  I was very surprised once again, but Garmin's don't lie. I was mostly excited because I was almost on mile 19 at that point!  We finished in the west part of town and called Dave to come and pick us up.  He had to wait just a bit and watch us run for a few more minutes because in order for her to get in her full 15, I had to go a little bit extra. When we had reached 15 for her, my watch was only .20 away from another half mile and so we just ran that extra half mile or so at a 8:30 pace.  When we finished we high fived each other and I think Dave thought we were a little whacked. Truthfully after running 20.5 miles, I was!  But more psyched than whacked!  I was soooooo happy I was able to run that distance at that pace.  Our overall pace was 9:30 for the run.   I just never thought I could do that before on a 20 mile training run. By mile 20 I am usually ready to collapse!  What made me even more happy is the fact that if I can run that pace during the marathon, I would almost qualify for Boston.  I have to get my pace down to a 9:10 in order to qualify!  Is it possible?  YES it is possible!  Can I do it?  I don't know.  I would love to! Running Boston is every runner's dream.  But to have it so close within reach is really exciting for me!  They changed the qualifying times a couple years ago and so now it's harder to qualify. If I wait until I'm 55, then I get an extra 10 minutes to finish.  I could use that now and then I KNOW I could do it.  Only time will tell.  And all this just when I was about to give up all my long distance running.  After last week's dreadful run, I was pretty bummed about running any more marathons.  After this week, I've never been more excited!!!   
After the second time around the dam

With Jen

Our time for that 13.1!  Yea!

How we felt and STILL do!!!

dear muscles, thank you for not being too mean to me after making you run that far.  I am very appreciative!!! I can NOT believe I am not more sore.  I didn't even have to walk down the stairs backwards this time. YEA!

dear general women's meeting, you were incredible!  It was such an amazing meeting with such a strong spirit. I was holding back the tears numerous times.  Even though I don't have a daughter to take, Mona was happy to go along.  It was truly a wonderful meeting.  So glad I could attend.


dear fast sunday, why did you have to come after I ran a 20 miler?   After a long run I always get the "runchies" for a couple days.  And I also get so thirsty after running that far.  But since we were asked to focus our fast this month on showing gratitude for the moisture we received after fasting for it a couple months ago, I had to do it to show my deep gratitude for prayers that were answered.  And I survived.  What a wimp I can be!  haha

dear elder wilding, you are one amazing missionary and I am so proud of you!  You write us amazing letters and are so faithful to write each week.  You are getting transferred this week to Barcarena and so I am anxious to see how that goes for you.  I know with your positive attitude about everything and anything that comes your way that you will love it no matter where you go.  Change is always hard, but you have proven that you can do hard things and continue to do them.  Being the Zone Leader for a zone that got 25 baptisms in one week is a pretty good feat!  The people love you over there and it's easy to see why.  Of course, I am biased, but not too much!  ;) 
King of the wedding!
 Macapa Zone -  Elder Wilding is on back row 6th over from the left, right behind President Scisci.



dear week, I survived another one.  Onto the next! ☺
 

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Then Wake Up! and Do Something More

I found this gem online and you are going to love it!  It's very catchy and hard to stop listening to.  It's a beloved hymn with a new twist performed by Alex Boyle and Carmen Rasmussen Herbert.   

And the lyrics are really one of the secrets to being happy.

Have you done any good in the world today? 
Have you helped anyone in need? 
Have you cheered up the sad, or made someone feel glad? 
If not you have failed in deed!
Has anyone's burden been lightened today...
Because you were willing to share? 
Has the sick or the weary, been helped on their way? 
When they needed your help, were you there? 
THEN Wake up! and do something more, 
Than dream of your mansions above. 
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure, 
A blessing of goodness and love.
 
There are chances for work all around just now,
Opportunities right in our way.

Do not let them pass by, saying, "Sometime I'll try,"

But go and do something today.

'Tis noble of man to work and to give;

Love's labor has merit alone.

Only he who does something helps others to live.
To God each good work will be known...THEN Wake up! and do something more, 
Than dream of your mansions above. 
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure, 
A blessing of goodness and love.

Have you done any good in your world today?
 

*Thoughtful Thursday*

 
 It's up to us


 Love this!


 About to head out and run in the snow, wind, and rain. 
Bring it on!  I AM READY!
I keep saying it and I'm still here inside. =)



 

Yes it is.




 Because nothing really is...




 Just when I thought it was spring, it's snowing and freezing again.
Oh wait, that IS spring in Utah!




 Choose happiness!




 Yes- the world does need more of those!




 And they only last a few months.... =(




True...
Cheaper than therapy even at $120 a pop! ☺




 Friends make the miles go quicker!


Monday, March 24, 2014

*Monday Memos* (Junior Prom Edition)

*Monday Memos*
 

dear st. patrick's day, you kind of snuck up on me this year!  Luckily the Leprechaun's mind hasn't completely left and it remembered to color the milk green.  I pretty much threw together our traditional GREEN dinner in a quick rush of little preparation and quick thinking this year.  Thankfully Dave was around so I could send him to the store - let's see... two times...or three!  He's a good sport.  This year I made it easy and fast and made a Shepherd's Pie with green mashed potatoes on top and then lots of green veggies and of course our favorite Key Lime Yogurt pie.  We invited Dave's parents over at the last minute and it was fun.  I figure you have to cook dinner anyway, why not make it have some pizazz with a little green food coloring!

dear mr. cat, how I wish I could relax like you do.  And, anywhere you happen to be for that matter.  Oh, the life of a cat.

dear talk, I am happy to report I survived you!  You can read more about that here.  It really was a great experience to go back to my old ward and reunite with sisters I haven't seen for 20 years!  I so admired and looked up to these women and still do!  It was fun catching up a bit.  My awesome friend Dawn went with me and I really appreciated the support.  My friend Colleen that just moved from our town, also came and brought her two daughters.  It was so fun to see them!  The talk went well. I hope, anyway.   You just never really know as a speaker because people would tell you that you did a great job even if you didn't right?  But I felt good about it and I guess that's all I can go on. And I got a really nice PURPLE wreath out of the deal, so that made it worth it! Thanks Janice!

dear tyson, thank you for being such an amazing example to me and to everyone.  You always found something to be grateful about no matter what your circumstances were.  You were my inspiration for this talk and I hope you know how much of an impact your short life had and will continue to have on others because of your strength and example.  You were the epitome of choosing to be happy no matter what life throws at you.  I sure do love and miss you!  Thanks for 17 years worth of incredible memories.

dear dick's bakery, oh my how I've missed you!  I do frequent you whenever I am in town, but it's not often enough.  Your chocolate fudge donuts and mini eclairs speak to me.  They say, "Eat me and indulge yourself because your taste buds will never experience anything better on the planet!" And I speak back to them saying, "I will, I will, I will.  I will until I can no longer see straight or move because I can't stop indulging in your delish-ishness!".  I had to take Dawn there on our way home so she could experience the best treats ever to grace the earth as well. 

dear duplex we used to live in, wow how things have changed in 20 years.  There is now a road and houses where we used to plant our garden right east of you.  You gave us some really good memories.  Two of my babies were born while we lived there.  We only lived in you for a few years, but we made some great friends and great memories that will last a lifetime.  I will never forget one day when I was gathering the laundry out of the laundry hamper, as I was bringing it up towards me, I saw a snake laying right in the bottom of it.  I screamed so loud, I'm sure I could be heard in Idaho!  Probably not my best memory of you. 

dear taking dinner to a friend in need, why is it whenever I make a really nice dinner to take into someone who is sick or needs some help, that it never seems to turn out quite like it would if I was just making it for my family?  There must be a lesson in there somewhere, unless it's just Murphy's law.  But whatever it is, I just do. not. get. it.
 
dear mandarin, I can't believe we had to cancel again!  This time it was because of us.  Dave was asked by the Stake Pres. to attend the caucus meetings and so we had to bail.  I'm glad our friends decided to wait until we could all go and reschedule it again.  We ARE eventually going to get there.  And I can't wait!  I love you!
 
dear longhorn steak house, we decided to try you out and we were not disappointed!  The bread was very good and the steak was one of the best I've had.  Maybe not the best meal for me to carb load on, but it was worth it!

dear long run, you challenged me today.  You ALWAYS challenge me, but today I'm not sure I met the challenge like I usually do.  Jen couldn't go with me today and so I was out on my own, left to my own head and thoughts for 18.5 long miles.  It was not pretty.  I did great until about mile 10 and then I just wanted to walk.  I don't usually allow myself to walk much when I'm running, but today I did.  Out of the 18.5, I bet I walked at least one of those miles if added up.  I'm not sure why I felt so dead and tired (and so slow), but I did.  I think I'm still recovering from last week's long run!  That was a killer.  Or maybe it's because I didn't listen to my music, but instead chose to listen to the Mormon Channel.  I listened to the section on adversity and heard all kinds of life stories of how people dealt with their trials.  I really thought that would help get my mind off of the distance, but it didn't really give me the motivating boost I need on that far of a run.  Next time, I will listen to music and save the talks for shorter runs.  I ran out in the boonies and so I called Dave and asked him if he got a break at work if he could bring me some water.  I really don't like carrying water if I don't have to and I usually remember to hide some before my run, but forgot.  He was able to bring me some about mile 11 and I was so grateful.  When I got home, there was no time to rest, but just get myself in gear and get going for the busy night ahead...including McKay's prom and birthday.  I told Dave to never let me sign up for another marathon again.  They are just too time consuming and take over four months of your life! He just said, "Yeah, I've heard that before.".  But I'm serious this time.  The intense training kind of takes the joy out of running and makes it more of a "have to" kind of thing instead of a "want to".  I basically have to plan my life around my training schedule right now.  I prefer to have it the other way around. Two more months!  
Sights along the path.  The goats were in the forbidden field again.  haha  As far as the sign, at that point I'd be lucky if I could do it in 5!
Dave bringing me some much needed water!
dear deer, oh dear, you deer are dear.  I love having you right in my back yard.  So does Mr. Cat. He likes to have some pals to hang out with.

dear mckay, happy 17th birthday!  WHERE has the time gone?  My BABY is 17!  It's just unreal how fast that has gone.  You are such an amazing son.  I am so blessed to be your Mama.  You have such an amazing confidence that you have always had.  Even with four older brothers to pick on you, you never would have known you were the baby.  You are one tough and confident kid.  I'm so proud of how you read your scriptures on your own each day for an hour!  That is just amazing to me.  You are a very determined person and once you set your mind to something it happens.  You do well in school and study hard.  You are so fun to be around and know how to have fun too.  I love teaching you in Sunday School.  You and your pals keep me laughing.  You have so many friends and you are a leader among your peers.  I am still not ready for all the girls that like you either!  But I guess I should be happy about that right?  As long as you don't like them back...haha.  JK.  You are just an all around great kid in every way and  I love being your Mom!  Crazy to think in just a little over a year, you will be on a mission! 

dear mckay and prom night, wow!  You look great!  I didn't even have any say in what you picked out to wear like I did with your bros.  You just went and did it on our own.  You have good taste I must say.  I hope you don't mind sharing your junior prom with your birthday.  Considering your date won Junior Prom Queen, I guess that was a good birthday present for you and will help compensate some. haha  You obviously have good taste in girls too.  I am still a little miffed though that you didn't even tell me she was up for Prom Queen.  One of your friend's moms told me at the Promenade.  I'm actually surprised you even told me she won.  I doubt you would have if I hadn't text you (after your friend's mom told me) to take some photos of her if she wins.  But you forgot.  Oh well, maybe one will show up in the yearbook or somewhere.  I'm sure there was just too much excitement at the time to remember.  And after all of the photos I took at Promenade, I think you were tired of pictures.  But, I hope it was still a good way to spend your birthday.  "Spend" is the key word here.  Most birthdays are where you get money, not spend it.  But after the tux rental, corsage, dance tickets (luckily those were free since your date is a class officer), Limo rental, dinner at the Timbermine, tip, dance pictures, the day date (movie tickets- bonfire), Crystal Hot Springs and all the other little expenses, I'm glad you had so much fun and I'm glad you are such a handsome and outstanding young man.  I wish I could have been a fly on the wall the whole night!  Oh, to be young again!
(click photos to enlarge) 
McKay with his beautiful date Natasha, Junior Prom Queen!
Promenade at the high school.

Cute couple!

McKay and Olivia.  She is Allie's sister and so I had to take this for Taylor.  Isn't she gorgeous?  They have good genes in that family for sure!

McKay with his parentals

With his grandparentals
With his best pal Cooper
 (click to enlarge)

Limo group

Inside the Limo!

Bye bye! That's Tasha waving!  Off to the Timbermine in Ogden for dinner and then to Hyde Park for the dance.

One of their official photos.  Isn't she gorgeous?!  She definitely deserved the honor of PROM QUEEN.  She is beautiful inside and out!  Congrats Tasha!

dear sunday, you are NOT a day of rest.

dear self, get your biscuits to bed before midnight for crying out loud!  I know you have a hard time settling down, but you pay too high a price for being a night owl come 5:00 a.m. each day when your body wakes you up and doesn't want to let you go back to sleep.  Listen to me and get to bed by at least 11:00.  You will thank me later.

dear high school, it never ceases to amaze me when I am there (selling prom tickets this time for the PTA) the diverse group of kids that attend you.  Just watching so many different types of kids go past and seeing the segregation of groups for all those types, made me think how unique every soul is that has ever lived on this planet or ever will.  It is mind boggling to me to even imagine that Heavenly Father created so many different individuals - no two the same - and that he actually created us to be who we are no matter how diverse we are from someone else and the fact that we didn't really have a whole lot of choice in the matter as far as which "group" we fit in.  When I watched the kids that were walking alone in your halls with their heads down and no confidence and without any friends, it nearly broke my heart.  I wonder how those souls can actually survive living a life so alone.  But, I also know that there is a reason that each person was created as they were.  Everyone has something to teach us and everyone has just as much worth as everyone else.  Even though segregation happens, it doesn't change the true value of anyone's worth. I just hope those lonely ones understand that.  Sigh...

dear monday memos, I am really trying to get you done on Monday, but it's already Wednesday and I'm just finishing.  I will use the schedule app to have you posted as if on Monday since Monday IS in the title, but it really should say Monday Memo's published on Wednesday LATE again!  haha  Oh well, at least I DO get you posted!  I'm going to be proud of THAT instead of beating myself up that you're late.   

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails