Ready! Set! TROT!!!

Ah...the Turkey Trot. This one I have done each year since I started this insane sport of running. It's not my favorite race because it's a four miler and the route is repeated twice. Oh, and the last mile and a half is up-hill. I always hate it when they do that! I wasn't going to run it this year because I haven't been running as many miles each day lately due to the SWINE FLU I had in October. I am surprised how hard it has been to come back lung wise from that dang flu. So, I have been taking it pretty easy and only running about two-three miles. I have also done a lot of power walking when I didn't feel up to running. Last week when I ran, I thought I was going to kill over on a three miler and so I decided to NOT do the Turkey Trot this year. But on Thursday I got in a really good four mile run and felt good so I decided to go for it. Besides, the prizes are awesome! You win a turkey for 1st place and Pumpkin Pie for placing 2nd to 5th (Ithink) in your age division.


I was disappointed my Ipod's battery was dead but besides that everything was going great for the first two and half miles. That's when a lady in my age group passed me. It wouldn't have been so bad but I was in the lead for my age group as far as I could tell and I knew that was my turkey gobbling right away from me as she ran past. The same thing happened last year! And in the exact same spot! Last year I tried and tried to catch up and pass the thief, but to no avail. My turkey ran away from me right before my eyes. Therefore, I was more determined than ever to not allow that to happen again. The woman passed me when we were on our last downhill patch of the race, just before we turned the corner to run the remaining mile and half UP hill! But that didn't seem to register in my brain at the time. All I was thinking about was taking that turkey home this year. So I pushed it and I pushed it until I pushed my way right past her.

Big mistake.

I even got a pretty good lead on her. The next thing I knew my body was telling me in NO uncertain terms that I was an idiot! Feeling that pain, I knew it was right. This is usually a pretty easy race for me. I was surprised that my body was telling me to STOP running and walk. Walking in a race is something that I have prided myself on never doing. For some silly reason I don't feel like qualify as a real runner if I walk even a few steps in a race. Totally dumb I know. Welp, this time, I really had no choice. I had a killer side ache and my lungs were screaming for me to stop...that is nothing new really and I usually can just run through the pain until it subsides some, but this time I had weakness in my legs and arms and felt really light headed as well. Every part of my body was yelling at me to stop and walk before I collapsed. I was really hurting. I gave it all I had until I finally had to stop and walk or I knew I would be laying on the pavement.

No sooner had I done so when I saw my turkey thief run right past me again. At that point, I didn't care. I was trying to recover but it wasn't happening. The next thing I knew my two good friends Jen and Heather had caught up to me and were by my side asking me if I was okay. They stopped running and walked with me. I explained to them what was going on and to pleeeeeeeeease go on ahead and keep running. They just kept encouraging me and walking with me. Heather told me to run through the pain. I told her that was usually doable, but it wasn't happening today for some reason. Just then another one of my friends, Jody, drove slowly past us with her camera. She yelled out, "What are you walking for? This is a race!" She started taking pictures of us and so for the sake of the photo we knew had to start running again.

We still had about a mile to go - UP hill of course! As I ran I honestly didn't think I would survive that mile. I was still hurting bad, but I kept pushing it and held on to Jen and Heather's pace. I think that mile was one of the hardest things I have done in my life. If it hadn't been for my friends, I know I would have walked most of that mile. But with them by my side, I knew I could do it....maybe ---- somehow. I also knew if I stopped again that they would too and I was not going to allow that.

It was getting progressively harder with each step. I was feeling agony in so many ways. I dug deep and somehow found the strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other. And then... there she was! My turkey thief! Right in front of us. We had caught up to her! I received a burst of strength at that moment. As I ran past her, I was feeling like I might cross that finish line after all!

I kept repeating to myself the mantra, "I can do hard things!" It gave me what I needed to keep going. We were close now. As we turned the final bend we could see the finish line.

What a sight for sore eyes....legs, arms, lungs, head, knees, feet, heart!

Jen's daughter Abby ran up to us and encouraged us to the finish line with her chants of, "Go Mom beat Jodi" over and over. She eventually switched to "Go Jodi beat Mom!". That was exactly what we both needed to hear to get us to sprint to that line. We crossed the finish line together.

I am not sure the last time I felt such a huge relief as I did at that moment. I tried to get my race sticker off so they could write my time down but I was unable to remove it. One of the race volunteers had to remove it for me. As soon as they did, I dropped to the ground. That is a big no-no and I knew I needed to just walk until I had cooled down but I had nothing left to give. I was unable to stand let alone walk. At most races they provide water after the race, but not so this time. I could have used some water. I could have used a stretcher too! I recovered quickly though and was feeling completely normal within a few minutes.

The best part of all was I took FIRST PLACE in my age division and WON that blasted turkey after all! Woot-woot! Or should I say, "gobble- gobble!" Even better was my age division was the largest and so they ended up dividing it into two groups when they gave out the awards. I was, of course, in the older half, but I still took first in both. I still do not know where the strength came from that took me across that finish line. But I know one thing for certain, I will never doubt again that...

I CAN DO HARD THINGS!











Starting to run again for sake of this photo! ↓ That is the biggest fake smile slapped on my face! The last thing I felt like was SMILING!




















Me and Jen nearing the finish line. Her daughter Abby and friend Maddy are cheering us on. The near turkey thief is in the rear with the sunglasses. Heather is in front of us.

We are almost there!!! WHAT? I'm smiling again? I think I was SO happy the end was in sight! Or maybe it's that I knew the potential turkey thief was not going to gain on us now! lol There she is in the back still trying to steal MY turkey! Ha-ha





















WE did it!!! My TWO good samaritan friends!!! Thank you guys!!!



















Accepting my prize! The turkey is mine!!! I worked hard for that sucker!

































Our a- "WARD" winning team! The cute kids ran the kid's 2 miler and they did awesome. Those are pumpkin pies they are holding. Cute Maddy got 1st and won a turkey too! Jen and Heather placed 2nd and 3rd in their age division (a much younger one than mine) and won pies! We could have had a ward party with all that food!

Gotta love this butterball! Although McKay was very disappointed I didn't bring home a pumpkin pie like I have every other year from this race. Maybe next year... Nah! I am going for the turkey again if it kills me!





















My sweet and very thoughtful husband Dave gave me a bouquet of flowers for winning. He's the man!

My next race is the SANTA RUN next week! I am sooooooooooooooooooo excited for this one I can hardly stand it! Everyone dresses up like Santa (you receive a Santa hat, shirt, and beard with registration) for the entire run. There are helpers (elves) along the way serving milk and cookies at the aid stations. I can not wait! Jen and Heather are also doing this one with me. We are wearing matching Santa pants and red and white stripped socks. It's all about FUN!!!!! HO HO HO!!!!

This is a photo of last year's Santa Run from their website.↑

Here's a cute idea for Thanksgiving ↓ GOBBLE-GOBBLE!

They are made with Ritz crackers, candy kiss, frosting, candy corn, and a carmel. SO CUTE but SO EASY!!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL!

Old friends...

Growing up I had some great childhood friends. Many of them I have lost total contact with, but there are still several that I have kept in touch with over the years...mostly through Christmas cards. I don't see any of them very often, but it is so fun when we are able to get together. The older I get, the more I realize those times are not often enough. I want to try and make those times happen on a more frequent basis, but it seems to be such a huge feat at times.

I was able to get together with one of my dearest childhood friends recently due to what appeared to be an amazing coincidence, though I choose to believe it was meant to be. My Mom's visiting teachers actually arranged this get together for us. It really was a miracle how it all came to be. Somehow my Mom's visiting teachers were also this dear friend's visiting teachers and they miraculously figured out the connection. They set a date and a time and arranged for us to all meet at my Mom's home for a reunion.

I hadn't seen this friend in at least 20 plus years! She moved during our Junior year in high school and though we still kept in touch with visits after we each had our first babies, we totally lost touch after that... with the exception of the yearly Christmas card greeting. I was excited to finally get together again!
Why is it that those that we have such a history with and great memories that go way back, always seem to get pushed in the background of our lives and we lose touch? I don't have the answer to that, but I do have the solution. Just do it! It only takes one of you to PLAN the reunion and if someone is willing to do that then the rest is easy! Everyone else just shows up!
I am so grateful to my Mom's visiting teachers for getting me and my dear friend Barbara back together after so many years. We already have plans to get back together for lunch when we have more time.



















This is Barbara and me. We became friends instantly when I moved to Washington Terrace in the 4th grade. We had some good times together...some REAL good times! Every single weekend we had a sleep over either in her trailer or in my camper. We always did the fun stuff like toilet papering the entire neighborhood (our friend Raylene's mom would drive us around in her camper and wait while we TP'd and then speed off after we all jumped back in the camper!), having a zillion slumber parties, playing truth or dare, going to the movies, cruising the "vard" and meeting boys from all over the state, making fools of ourselves in so many countless ways, taking a school trip to Calgary Canada, taking dance lessons together, babysitting her aunt's kids every Friday in Junior High, terrorizing the substitute teacher in band class, sluffing (with permission) our boring high school class with Mr. Van Velson, and on and on.























When she moved as a junior in high school, she made a big splash at her new high school and was nominated as one of her new high school QUEENS. Can't remember if it was Prom Queen or what. Me and my other friend's piled in my Mom's car (hardly ANYONE had their own car when I was in high school!) and drove up to Morgan High to watch her be crowned. We were so proud of her! I remember on the way home we ended up in a total white out (blizzard!) in the canyon. That was scary!
Moving as a junior was really hard for her as well as for us, her friends. I don't think I would have done it, but she did. In fact, I KNOW I wouldn't have because my Dad actually put our house up for sale at almost the same time and I told him if they were going to move that I was NOT going with them. I made arrangements to live with one of my friends if they did. He took the For Sale sign that day. BUT, it went up the day I graduated from high school! Moving in the middle of your high school years would be so tough, but she did it with a smile.


Here's to good friends, good times, good memories, and good reunions!!! Love ya Barb!!!
ImageChef

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Sidenote: I actually wrote this post almost a year ago and had it saved in my drafts file. I was waiting to find some old photos before I published it. Since writing this we have also reconnected on Facebook too.

~~~FRIDAY MEMES~~~

Food 4 Thought Friday

A little feast without the calories!!!

Feel free to play along for some yummy fun! I will post a new one each Thursday night for those that are on a different time zone. JOIN IN!!!

Food 4 Thought Friday ~ This week's questions:

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Breakfast
What is your favorite menu item you will eat at your Thanksgiving feast?

Lunch
What are you most grateful for at THIS moment?

Dinner
What will be different about this year's Thanksgiving?

Midnight Snack
Where are you spending Thanksgiving this year and what part of the menu are preparing?

Recipe of the Week (instead of your recipe for life, what is it just for this week?)

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
MY ANSWERS

Breakfast
What is your favorite menu item you will eat at your Thanksgiving feast?

I LOVE the candied yams! Thanksgiving would not be the same without those! YUM!

Lunch
What are you most grateful for at THIS moment? The health and safety of my family.

Dinner
What will be different about this year's Thanksgiving? All my boys will be here this year and next year Bryce will be on his mission. My nephew Trevor will not be here this year because he is in Mexico serving his mission this year.

Midnight Snack
Where are you spending Thanksgiving this year and what part of the menu are preparing?We are spending it at Dave's brother Scott's house. I am taking Green Bean Casserole, stuffing, and fudge.

Recipe of the Week (instead of your recipe for life, what is it just for this week?) I can do hard things.

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1. We need to focus on Thanksgiving BEFORE Christmas!

2. An old memory of my past popped up and it made me smile.

3. If you want to be happy, then be grateful.

4. I love Thanksgiving because of the delicious food and seeing family I don't always get to spend time with.

5. Massachusetts has a proposed 5% sales tax on elective cosmetic surgery; I think it is a sneaky way to get more money for the government, but I'm not really opposed to it. The ones having the surgery obviously can afford it and won't really miss it.

6. Family all gathered together makes for a happy holiday.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to spending some time with my college boys in Logan after my American Mother's State Board meeting. I am taking them out to lunch and shopping. Helping McKay get ready for his overnight campout (brrr!), and then I am attending Taylor's first basketball game (sophs vs frosh) and watching him play with his cast STILL on, tomorrow my plans include running the Turkey Trot (a four mile race), attending a baby shower, writing a talk for Sunday, getting everything ready for Young Women in Excellence tomorrow that I am still in charge of and Sunday, I want to relax a little in Young Women's since I am no longer "in charge". Attend YW in Excellence tonight (that I am in charge of) and hope it comes off without a hitch.

To play go: Here

Change is Inevitable...Dang It!

Although change is inevitable, that doesn't mean it is something I like. My husband Dave has served as the 1st counselor in our Bishopric for six and a half years. That means McKay had just barely turned six when he was called. My little family of five boys was very young at the time. However, I more than supported and sustained him in this calling and I was very happy to do so.

In August this year, he was released as the 1st counselor and called to be Bishop. You heard correctly...Bishop! When the Stake President interviewed us (yes, US) he asked me if I could support and sustain him in this new overwhelming calling. He didn't use the word overwhelming, just me. In total and complete shock, I answered in the affirmative. That was until he mentioned that I would have to be released from my calling as the Young Women President.

WHAT? Excuse me... RELEASED? From YOUNG WOMEN? MY GIRLS! MY LIFE SUPPORT?

After that shock hit and a very forlorn look appeared on my face, I had the overpowering urge to withdraw my previous answer. I knew the reason was because of the time commitment it would require of Dave and the Stake President thought it would be a hardship on the family with both of us serving in big callings. But, although it is definitely not the norm, I still thought to myself that it wouldn't be too hard or difficult for me to continue serving even with Dave as a Bishop. There had to be a way to continue as President, an exception to the rule somehow. I had been in the calling just long enough to have finally figured it all out and was now gung ho with lots and lots of awesome plans for the future. It was just now getting really fun. Even with all the meetings and the time commitment, it has been my favorite calling that I've have ever had.

I was determined to find a way to make it work. That was until I was shown the letter from the first Presidency that stated in no uncertain terms that if the new Bishop's wife is serving as an auxiliary president, she would have to be released. There is great wisdom for this because the calling of a Bishop requires enormous amounts of time away from home. And as I said above, serving as an auxiliary president also requires enormous amounts of time. But that didn't make me feel any better. I ♥love♥ my girls. I love how much they lift me and I love hanging out with them. But, I couldn't argue with the first Presidency.

I took a deep breath and submitted to the will of those who knew best. But, I immediately began to pray that if it was right that I might be able to remain in Young Women's serving in another capacity. I would even be willing to just come and be the hymn book passer outer. That isn't a calling, but hey, it could be!

I am happy to report that I was sustained last Sunday as a Mia Maid advisor and will be teaching the girls ages 14-15! Yea! Yippee! Hurray! I am feeling so blessed to be able to still be uplifted by these amazing girls. I know I am supposed to be the one teaching and helping them, but it has always been the other way around. I was put in Young Women's as a Mia Maid advisor three and a half years ago after my son Tyson passed away. I have to say that those girls were what got me through many of those very hard days. They had no idea, but their amazing spirits were very healing to me. Some weeks, those few hours I spent with them was the only time I even felt human. It was the most incredible thing for me to be around them and feel so uplifted.

Now I have the best of both worlds! I still get to be in Young Women's but I no longer have the huge weight of being the responsible one! I can pass all the stresses and worries of all the millions of little details that come with the calling of President along and I can be ME again and act like one of the girls! (or worse! haha) My body may not look like it, but inside I AM only 15! Gosh, some days only 12! Oh how I love being just "one of the girls"!

~~~FRIDAY MEMES~~~

I cranked out THREE posts again today ~ so keep scrolling down!!!

Food 4 Thought Friday

A little feast without the calories!!!

Feel free to play along for some yummy fun! I will post a new one each Thursday night for those that are on a different time zone. JOIN IN!!!

Food 4 Thought Friday ~ This week's questions:

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Breakfast
You wouldn't be caught dead, where?

Lunch
Was there ever a time you were frightened for your life?

Dinner
What are you passionate about?

Midnight Snack
Have you ever won a trophy?

Recipe of the Week (instead of your recipe for life, what is it just for this week?)

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
MY ANSWERS
Breakfast
You wouldn't be caught dead, where? Bungee jumping. Well, actually if I did bungee jump then I would be caught dead because I would die from FEAR! I also wouldn't be caught dead in a voting booth voting for Obama, or in a gay bar, or in one of those old run down motels that when you turn on the lights coachroaches scatter everywhere!

Lunch
Was there ever a time you were frightened for your life? Yes, when Dave and I lived in St. Louis. My friend Shauna came to visit me and I took her shopping in the big city. We lived in a little suburb and on the way home I took the wrong exit and we ended up in East St. Louis (well known for it's high crime and murder rate). We were lost and driving in a very scary part of town. Bars on all the windows and rough looking men walking the streets. It was when car-jacking was popular and I ran several red lights (safely) in order to preserve our lives! I'm sure we looked very vulnerable...two young white girls, in a car with Utah license plates, reading a map! The worst part of it was when we found ourselves in front of a store that had just made national news for a ghastly murder of 10 people! It was scary! We ended up somehow at the Zoo- which was good because I knew my way from there, but it was one scary night!

Dinner
What are you passionate about? ♥ My family, motherhood, lighthouses, purple, chocolate, and PURPLE!!! If I really like something or someone, then I am a very passionate person.

Midnight Snack
Have you ever won a trophy? When I was a kid I won a softball trophy and many trophies for baton twirling and drill. I'm sure there are some others but I can't remember. Many plaques but no trophies in my later years.

Recipe of the Week (instead of your recipe for life, what is it just for this week?) Gratitude is the central key to true happiness. You simply can NOT be happy without first being grateful. Even in the worst situations there is always something to be grateful for.

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1. The last band I saw live was

at my high school class reunion. Not sure what they were called.... :)

2. What I look forward to most on Thanksgiving is being together with extended family and of course the wonderful food! Mmm...getting excited already!

3. My Christmas/holiday shopping is barely begun and I am feeling stressed already!

4. Thoughts of a warm fire fill my head. I'm freezing!

5. I wish I could wear shorts again because then it wouldn't be so cold!

6. Bagpipes are something I love to listen to.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to attending a marriage retreat with all the stake leaders and Bishops and some great friends of ours, tomorrow my plans include listening to some awesome speakers at the marriage retreat, eating a yummy lunch, and getting in some Christmas shopping on the way home, and Sunday, I want to attend my young women board meeting as a Mia Maid advisor instead of President. Be in the Mia Maid class at church instead of Laurels, and hopefully make the adjustment smoothly.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Spooktacular Halloween!

LOVE♥ LOVE♥ LOVE♥ Halloween!

It is my favorite holiday for many reasons, the main one being that it really doesn't have any stress involved unlike Christmas. It is just fun and enjoyable without any pressure.

I am all about TRADITION and so I have many associated with Halloween. One being our Halloween dinner we have each year the Monday before Halloween. It has been the same menu for years. It wouldn't be tradition if it wasn't! We eat by candlelight and listen to the classic Halloween music CD's that I have collected over the years. The faves are Monster Mash, They're Coming to Take Me Away (my personal fave....some days I WISH they would!), Purple People Eater, etc. And of course we lots of dry ice is MUST! There is something about boys and dry ice that just blends so well. lol

With Bryce and Sky off to college, there were just the two boys this year. Kinda sad, but we still had lots of fun!

Notice the LOVELY cast on Taylor's hand. ↓ He broke it the day AFTER football ended. As soon as his last football game ended I breathed a sigh of relief and remarked how happy I was we got through the season without any broken bones this year or serious injuries (though McKay did have stitches TWICE!). I was very surprised to get the text message the very next day that he had broken his hand. He did it in his weight lifting class. His teacher had them go out and throw the football that day and while they were playing, one of his friends accidentally turned and kicked his hand. It is a pretty bad break. The worst part of it all is basketball tryouts were just around the corner! Sheesh!

The good news is he tried out this week WITH A BROKEN HAND AND CAST and made the team!!! Whew! Even more amazing is the coach really cut the team this year and five or six that were on it last year were cut but Taylor made it playing one handed! Only 7 sophomores made it this year so we are feeling very fortunate. Shows he can play with one hand behind his back!

This display of Halloween pictures is one of my favorite things about Halloween. Being able to reminisce through the years is so heart warming. I have lots of photos of the costumes from when they were tiny to now. It is so fun to be able to enjoy them each year through the photos.

They love that dry ice!

On Halloween night my parents always come up to eat dinner with us. I usually fix hot soup served in pumpkin bread bowls and some spooky other things to go along with it. This year I ran out of time and didn't make as many creepy things as I had hoped.


My cute mom and the PURPLE SPIDER CAKE!!!

McKay had a party this year (too old to go trick or treating I guess---waaaaah!!) and they all couldn't get enough of the dry ice either.

Mom, Dad, Taylor, Dave

My cute Jaida!!! It wouldn't be Halloween if she didn't stop by! I always have a very special treat for her when she does! We are chocolate sistas!!! She has been my little chocolate pal since she was practically a newborn! LOVE THIS GIRL!!!

Isn't she beautiful? She looks like a model already!

She is with her adorable brother Levi and sister Kiela.

Some of the fun eats this year!

Here are some real cute ideas for you for next year...

CUTE CUTE CUTE!!! ↓ So cute they aren't even scary!!!

Doesn't look so appealing (hey it IS Halloween!) but tastes delish!!!! I share recipes if you want any of them!!!! Just give me your email address.

Hope your HALLOWEEN was as SPOOKTACULAR as mine!!!!

Did I mention I ♥♥♥♥♥LOVE♥♥♥♥ Halloween?