Team Rocket Shots-Wasatch Back 2009

We had the best time this year! All of our friends in van #1 were first timers to the Wasatch Back and they rocked the house. Those of us in van 2 are now veterans in our second year ;) It was tough this year. They added some miles, it was raining for part of the time and just that whole exhaustion thing. But we were solid and we didn't give up despite hurt knees, upset tummys, and asthma attacks. No one could ask for a better team. We averaged a ten minute mile the whole way. And despite all of the pain and suffering associated with this race, I think everyone is still my friend.
My only goals this year were to 1) not throw up, 2) don't cry, 3) be nicer to Ross when he is trying to help me and 4) leave it all on the road, no regrets. I am happy to say I did all of that.
My mom even showed up with a big sign to cheer me on! (I almost cried then.) Thanks mom!
I love all of you guys! Thanks for letting me captain! You all inspire me to greatness.
GOOOOOOO ROCKET SHOTS!!!!!

If You Are A Hater, Then Beat It!

I grew up in the 80's and MJ was an icon for me. I remember listening to this "tape" over and over until it wore out. I remember watching him win grammy after grammy for it. I have moon walked, screamed, danced like a zombie and quite possibly grabbed my crotch a few times just to prove I had moves like him.

Not someone to pattern my life after but an icon never the less. Loved his music then and I still love it now.

I definitely think he was a misunderstood person. I hope he finds that happiness now that he always seemed to be looking for.

Happy Father's Day 2009

Happy Father's Day! What a great day to reflect on all those amazing men in my life that have been great father figures.

To Ross John- The. Best. Dad. Ever. I totally lucked out in this department. When I married him, I thought he would be a good dad but you just never know until you are there. He continues to amaze me in the parent department. All the things I lack, he more than makes up for. No boys on earth could possibly adore their dad more than mine do. We love you!

Glen- The perfect dad for me. Taught me to be strong and fight through adversity. Taught me to have unwavering faith. Taught me that nothing else matters as long as you have your family. Taught me to take the time to be silly and have fun. I think I get my sense of humor from him. I love you dad!

Dixon- The perfect father in law for me. I can't imagine not having him in my life. He has always made me feel like a rock star. I love that we can tease each other. I know that Ross treats me like a queen and the boys like gold because he learned to from you. I love you!

And most of all, my Heavenly Father. I know that my life and all that I have is a gift from you. I know that you love me.

Happy Father's Day to all of you. You make a difference.

Significance

I am having one of those moments in my life. I am not really in a funk, per se, I just don't feel that I am really making a difference. Don't get me wrong, I know I make a difference in the lives of Ross and the boys. I know they love me.

Sometimes I just don't really get where I fit into all the rest. There is nothing very extraordinary about me. I just do my thing and try to be nice and help out. But sometimes I get this longing for more.

It actually really bothers me that I feel like this at times. I know it's not all about me. And I know that this is my weakness. It's how Satan gets to me.

I guess I just hope for blue skies tomorrow and try to remember that inside, I KNOW whose I am.

Are You Preparing For The Rain?

Two farmers had a planting season approaching. There was a bit of a drought and so both of them had been praying for the rain to come. The first farmer waited to see if it would rain. The second farmer went out and prepared his fields as he usually would. Which do you think had more faith?

I have been pondering in my life lately what exactly faith is to me. I loved this story of the 2 farmers because I think it backs up the point that faith is an action word. We can't just wait for things to happen. We have to go and do and prepare for them to happen. I believe that only then can the Lord pour out his blessings.

The hard part for me is this: I think there is a fine line between having the faith and knowing that the Lord wants to bless me and an entitlement attitude (pride). i.e. Why wouldn't the Lord bless me with this? I DESERVE it.

Treading that line can be tricky I think. How do you do it? Do you prepare your fields or do you just wait for it?

Good Quote

"Sometimes the happy ending is just moving on."

A Little Perspective

I "borrowed" this from a friend of mine. It was written by a missionary but applies to life so well.

"The mission is not always joy and happiness in the way that i kind of imagined it to me before my mission. It is a roller coaster. and you never know when or where then next sharp curve is going to take place. however I have come to learn here in my mission that those curves are not necessarily bad things. In fact they all have a purpose and a learning experience behind them. If we can some how find a way to push through whatever trial we have to deal with, we will eventually will see what the Lords plan was for it all. President Smith had an interesting analogy. He used child birth. Child birth is one of the most excruciating pains than anyone can feel. I am blessed that I never have to feel that! haha Anyways his question was...even after all that pain, how quickly does the mother forget the painful experience? The answer is probably the same for most mothers. That pain that they felt is replaced with a beautiful blessing to their lives, a new born baby. I guess the moral of the story is that most of the time we can look back on our pains and see them as some distant past, the pain long forgotten, because of the beautiful and wonderful gift that we have been given for what we had to endure. I know that one day....maybe long after this life, but one day, we will be able to look back at how difficult this life was, and almost laugh because if will be almost like it didn't happen. We will be so blessed for our perseverance and faith that we had here on this earth, even when we couldn't see any end in sight." 

My Most Humble Apologies

I have to publicly apologize to my Kelly/Kelli club vice president. We were speaking yesterday and she reminded me of an incident in which I totally and completely, threw her under the bus. Actually, after throwing her there, I may have backed up over her again just for good measure. 

What is most sad about the sitch is that I wasn't completely aware of what I was doing. I thought my silence would make an awkward scenario go away. Chalk it up to being beguiled by tempura vegetables at The Happy Sumo.

Kell, I owe you one! ;)

Happy Happy Birthday Tyson Dear!

Holy cow! Can you believe this kid made it to 12?! We weren't quite sure for a while (he kind of has iffy parents). 

Tyson has become quite the young man in the last 12 years. He is a genius, has a photographic memory on things that he WANTS to remember, has a voracious appetite for learning, loves soccer, snowboarding, hiking and camping and most of all, loves his little brothers dearly (even though he will never admit it). Of all the boys at this point in time, he gives us the least trouble. He will do most of what we ask and understands that life is much easier when you listen to your parents and make right choices. He is over the top excited for the priesthood, junior high and all the privileges and responsibilities that go along with being 12. We are so proud of him and love him so much!

Happy Birthday Mr. T!