2011-My Word For The Year

My word of the year for 2010 was "Push". There were a couple of different reasons I chose this word, the main one being that I wanted to push past any barriers I have created for myself. I wanted to go above and beyond what I thought I could do, physically and mentally.

After the 2009 Wasatch Back, I decided that was retired from running. I had been so totally focused on running for the previous 5 years and I was ready for a break.

In February, I did my first organized road bike race with Ross. It was only 25 miles but I had only ridden the bike once previous to that and for only 10 miles. It was so fun. We had a great time. I am now officially a road biker.

In May of this year, my mom ran the Ogden Half Marathon and Tyson decided to run it with her. I had told her I would run her the last 3 miles in but I was a little worried when Ty decided to do it too. I was worried that it would be harder for him than he thought and that he might mentally give up a little. So I met them at the top of the canyon instead, thinking that I would throw him in the car if I needed. He was doing GREAT when they got to me so I just decided to run the canyon with them instead and they could run the last 3 in. Now, remember that I have not been running AT ALL for almost a year now. We ran down the canyon and as we were getting to the parkway (the last 3 miles) I told Ty he could take off and finish it at his pace if he wanted. He practically sprinted those 3 miles and beat us by like 35 minutes!

Anyway, at this point, I was going to jump off but all off a sudden, I remembered, "Push". I was feeling it a little because I hadn't trained but I knew in my heart that I could do it if I decided I wanted to. So that day, I ran 8 miles with my mom and my son and I was happy. One day later, a good friend of mine bullied...er...nicely asked me for the second time to be the final member on her Wasatch Back team. I had shot her down earlier in the year, reminding her that I was retired. The race was in 1 month. What the heck! I mean, who trains for these things anyway?!

It was one of the most fun times in my life. I had such a blast on that race.

I ended up doing 1 more 1/2 and the Ragnar Las Vegas Relay. Another friend invited me at the last minute to do that one too. It ended up being my best race ever. I had so much fun and I did things there that I never thought I would be able to do.

I did ride my bike all summer long and I love, love, love it. My over all point? Through all of these things, when things would get tough or I thought maybe I couldn't do it, I would tell myself to push. I knew I could do it if I wanted to. I pushed through any and all barriers I had created for myself. I am so happy with the strength that the Lord has blessed me with.

So after that long winded post, we come to my word for 2011.

The word I have chosen is "Holy". If the Lord can bless me with that much mental and physical strength, then imagine what could happen if I am focused on my relationship with Him and the plan he has for me. Wow. I am so excited!

P.S. I think I may have to stop claiming that I am not a runner since I blew my retirement.

Thoughts on 2010

I can't believe another year is coming to a close. Remember when we were kids and time seemed to drag on forever? I never thought I would be over the age of 20 and here I am, closer to 40 and time seems to be speeding up on me.

We had a great year. Not without it's challenges for sure, but is it ever? Here are a few highlights:

*Corbin learned to ski. Which means, we FINALLY have all of us on the mountain. A dream come true.

*Our big trip this year as a family was to Washington, D.C. for 4 days. We decided we need to go back for 2 weeks.

*Ross was called as Elder's Quorum President. I was called as 1st counselor in the Young Women's Organization.

*Alison and Koa got married!

*Tyson ran junior high track. He got the award for most improved.

*Tyson also ran the ENTIRE Ogden half marathon with my mom and smoked it!

*Kelly ran the Wasatch Back and the Las Vegas Ragnar to get the famed, Saints and Sinners medal.

*Jaden's soccer team took 1st place in the High Valley Shootout.

*Ross completed LOTOJA, a very grueling 208 mile bike race.

*I became a substitute teacher this year. I sub for the elementary and junior high. I love it.

*Kami and Mike got married too!

We continue to have so much fun raising our 3 boys and seeing the amazing young men they are becoming. Looking forward to 2011 and everything it brings!

O Holy Night

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born!

Merry Christmas!

Praise To The Man

"Millions shall know Brother Joseph, again!"

Happy Birthday Joseph Smith!

(December 23, 1805)

Drumroll Please.....

My Pay It Forward winner is Annette! My son drew your name out of a hat, literally! LOL!

Annette gets my main prize but I think this is so much fun so I am giving a smaller prize to all of you who commented and were so insanely kind to me. It wasn't my intention to have everyone say such nice things to me but it sure made my day!

I love you all! You inspire me to greatness! Let's pass it on to everyone around us!

Pay It Forward

Today is the day! If you leave me a comment here, I will pick a random person for a sweet surprise!

Pay It Forward Day

Tomorrow, December 1st, 2010 is national Pay It Forward Day. What are we gonna do people?

I want to hear stories. I will post mine as well.

Impossible?

"Always use the word impossible with the greatest caution."

Nice Matters

There was a time in my life when I really felt like I hated people. Or I wanted to hate them anyway because I felt like everyone was constantly letting me down. They weren't living up to the standards that I was placing on them.

It wasn't until after Ross and I were married that he helped me realize a few things. #1, I don't hate anyone nor do I want to hate anyone for that matter. #2, It's not quite fair to hold people to a standard that they don't even realize is there. They will fail 100% of the time. Once I realized these things, my motivation changed a lot. I became nice because that's what I wanted to be.

Still, sometimes it is difficult for me if I feel I have given so much of my heart and soul to someone simply to see them smile and have it appear to make no difference. I don't do things to be praised or rewarded but it's nice to feel that it mattered somehow. At times I feel like I am smaller than I want to be. I think I must be selfish.

Regardless, I will continue to try and make a difference because nice matters. Even if the only one it changes is me.

Consequences

With every decision comes consequences. I know that most of the time we don't get to choose the consequences we get but I think it's fair to say that sometimes we can predict what they will be.

Here is where it gets tricky. I recently made the decision to do something that would end up hurting 2 people in my life. I weighed it out in my mind for a few days so I didn't do anything rash. I determined that it was for the greater good and that it had to be done. I knew what the consequences would be and I decided I could live with the fallout because I had to.

I did it and found out that I was mistaken in my thinking. I still stand by what I did though because it was quite literally, a life or death situation. I took it like a man (so to speak) and apologized profusely for the damage I had done, knowing it can never really be undone.

The fallout for me has been a lot of turmoil. I know I did what was right but in a very wrong way. I did not handle it at all like my Savior would have and that is the agony I am in right now. I hate the moments in life when you realize you are not a very good person. It hurts.

Maybe next time I will take a little more time to really consider how He would handle it. I am sure that those consequences don't hurt nearly as bad.

Character

Stormy Seas

We all know that life is a series of tests. Every day I hear about someone going through something new and terrible. I was talking to a friend the other day about a situation someone is in. My friend said to me, "At least you don't have any trials Kelly. I never have to worry about you."

I wanted to start laughing. Really? EVERYONE has trials. Sure, I am not living in some obscure part of the world with no food and no money, I don't have a life threatening disease, I am not growing up in a war torn government. But I sure have things that are very challenging for me. I guess my battles are a lot more internal most of the time so they are not so obvious.

Don't get me wrong. I live the fairy tale life. I have the greatest husband and kids, a great house and live in the most beautiful valley in the world. I have so many people that I love dearly though that struggle so badly with very hard things daily. I was blessed with a measure of empathy and I can feel every hurt they have. That is a challenge for me.

I could sit here and find everything that makes me mad or makes me feel bad and create ways in my mind that life stinks. I CHOOSE not to. I choose to see the miracles around me every day. I choose to see the hand of God in everything. (because it's there, people.)

In the Book of Mormon, in the book of Ether, it talks about the Jaredites being locked up in their barges out on the sea, with the storms raging all around them. They could have been mad they were locked up in the barges and mad that there was a storm but they had faith that those storms were blowing them TOWARD the promised land. Do we choose to just feel the storm or do we see that we are being pushed where we need to be?

The Lord has never let me down. I know that I am one woman living in Utah and that my influence will most likely never reach the far corners of the earth. I can, however, make a difference here, everyday, by choosing my attitude and inspiring others around me to do the same. Bottom line, life is not always easy. But for me, it sure is good.

Musings

Perception is a funny thing. I ponder over it a lot. It's funny how a situation can happen and the viewpoints of everyone involved are totally different. I am always analyzing and over analyzing things that happen in life based on these parameters.

Earlier this year, while running Ragnar with the Valley Babefest, I had one of those paradigm shifts in life that cause you to go, "Really? I couldn't have figured that out before?" It all had to do with perception. Without going into detail, let me just say it changed my life in the most positive way. I don't know if I would have had that experience otherwise. I am so thankful that Jamie peer-pressured me into doing it. ;) These women don't know the impact they had on me in that very short time. Just because it looks like I am sleeping, doesn't mean I am not listening. LOL!

Let me end this post with something I consider very profound and has lent to this new found passion in my life,

"Don't believe everything you think."

Love to all!

Winner!

The winner of the contest is........Sheri! Yay!

I will bring you your loot soon! Congrats!

It's Time Again

**I am going to extend this contest until next week! Keep commenting!**

It has been a while since I have posted so I thought I would do something fun. I am going to have another give away. It's a secret what it is but as always, I promise it will be good.

Just leave a comment on here to this question:

If you could go back in time and live in any era, what would it be?

I want to hit a lot of them but mostly the wild, wild west. But I want to be an outlaw or a train robber, not some boring saloon girl.

Good luck! Winner will be selected next Tuesday night and posted Wednesday morning.

Good-Things-to-Come

Good-Things-to-Come

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

Free Hugs in Sondrio, Italy

I love this! They made so many people smile!

There's A Teenager In The House

13. A teenager. Moodiness. Rebelliousness. Independence. Responsibility. Pure torture. Pure joy.

13 years has flown by. I never though I would be the mom of a teenager.

Tyson is so smart. Like genius smart. He remembers everything he has ever read in his life-yet he can't (or won't) remember to brush his teeth in the morning unless I tell him. He would read for 12 hours a day if we let him. He has really grown up a lot this year. It's fun to see your kids start to become comfortable in their own skin. To realize that they are someone special, even when not everyone makes you feel that way. Ty is starting to get little glimpses of that greatness in himself.

He is an accomplished musician that loves to sing, play the piano and the drums. He is the deacon's quorum president and understands the scriptures on a deep level. He ran track this year. He struggled a bit because he was the smallest kid out there but the life lessons he learned cannot be replaced by anything else. He knows a lot about perseverance. He got an award for the most improved in track. And, on a whim, decided to run the half marathon with his grandma this year and smoked us all!

The list of accomplishments could go on and on, but the bottom line is, I never realized that 13 could look so good. We adore you Tyson!

Happy Birthday!

I Am NOT A Runner

You need to read this.

Positive Affirmations

If only we could all be like this every day!

Happy Mother's Day

I am so thankful for my two mothers and my grandmothers who have taken such great care of me through the years. I love you so. Have a wonderful day everyone.

Inspirational Woman

I Can Do Anything

The Big 1-0

Why is it that we blink and 10 years goes by? It seems like just yesterday that I was freaking out because I was about to have my 3rd baby in less than 3 years. I couldn't have imagined what life was going to be like...

Corbin is my little artist/inventor. He can take something ordinary and make it fantastic. He turns things to gold. Including people. I was with him on a field trip this year for school. A boy in his grade that he really doesn't like was being made fun of by another kid. Corbin totally stood up for him in front of everybody. The look on both of those other kids faces was priceless. One because he had been totally rebuked and the other because he had been renewed in an instant. And Corbin just went on his merry way like nothing had happened. That's part of what makes this kid so special. He doesn't have to think about making the world better, he just does it.

Ross is right, though. Corbin takes his own sweet time at everything! While sometimes it infuriates me, it has also taught me a lot. Not everything needs to be a 5 alarm fire. I need to slow down and see all the beauty that our little Bill sees every second of every day.

I am so happy that Heavenly Father sent us this kid. He is the best kind of son, brother and person that there is.

Happy Birthday Billy Bones! I love you more than life.

He is not here: for He is risen

“Because our Savior died at Calvary, death has no hold upon any one of us.” -Thomas S. Monson



The infinite power of hope. Happy Easter!

Keep On Keepin' On

When the adversary reminds you of the past, remind him of his future.

I Am In Love With This World

(Borrowed from a friend.)

I have nestled lovingly in it.

I have climbed its mountains

Roamed its forests

Sailed its waters

Crossed its deserts

Felt the sting of its frosts

The oppression of its heats

The drench of its rains

The fury of its winds

And always have beauty and joy waited upon my goings and comings.

~ John Burroughs

Kellys Birthday

This is Ross (Kellys husband) posting today. Today is her birthday and I decided that today is also the day that the truth comes out. Read it all at this post on my blog.

Help Us If You Can

In light of the recent tragic events in Haiti our family is going to put together a few hundred humanitarian kits. We usually do this in the summer, but obviously the help is needed now. We also thought it might be great if we got more people involved this time, hoping maybe we could make an even bigger impact. We are reaching out to you for a hand. Can you help?

There are a few different ways you can help, please feel free to chose one and let us know what works for you.

1- Donor / sponsor / connection. The kits contain toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and washcloths. Do you know someone or do you work some where that could help us get these supplies? If we could get a donor for any one of the supplies that would be great, but even if we could find someone to help us buy them at a cheaper cost is wonderful. (see prices listed at the end of this post) Who do you know?! Dentist, medical supplier, wholesale warehouse? Will you please ask them about a donation?

2- Financial Support. Our cost has gone up just a little since the last time we did this, but really still very cheap to bring such a huge help. At current cost each kit is about $4.37. Please feel free to donate ANY amount. Your help will not be reducing our costs, but adding on more kits to the whole order. We are hoping to get enough donations from others to double our order.

3- Elbow grease. These darn things dont assemble themselves. We have it down to a pretty good system now, but its still quite a bit of work. There is the pickup from the warehouse (sometimes 2 trips). Carrying all the boxes into the hose and setting up ‘the line’, assembly, finding more boxes to pack them all all, loading into trucks again and delivery to Salt Lake. My boys would love to see someone else come join the assembly line with them (misery loves company). Its actually quite fun to put them together. I would love the help toting around all the heavy boxes, my kids cant lift them and there are quite a few to carry.

4- Pass it on. Please pass this post on to anyone you know. Coworkers, friends, family, neighbors all might want to join in. Help us make this great.

What a great feeling it is to know you have brought some relief to someone who just faced a natural disaster.

Humanitarian Kit details/prices. Each kit contains:

• Two 7” plastic combs (.11 each)
• Four toothbrushes (.16 each)
• One 180gm tube of toothpaste (.85 each)
• Two bars of soap (.37 each)
• Two hand towels 15x30 (.79 each)
• All contained in 1 Gallon ziplock bag (.05 each)

The tax comes down to about 0.29 on each kit for a total of $4.37

Would you like to make a big difference? Let us know.

My Word for 2010

I decided that it would be a good idea to choose one word that I could live by this year. A word that I could call to memory to inspire me when I need inspiration.

I chose the word 'Push'. I am going to push beyond whatever limits I think I have this year. I am going to try harder, do more, be better and 'push' through whatever I think is holding me back.

I think it's a good choice for me. What about you? What's your word?

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly-2009

2009, where do I start?
-got a puppy
-lost a puppy :(
-took our first trip to Disneyland with our boys
-had two nephews added to our family
-Tyson turned 12 and was ordained a deacon
-Jaden's comp soccer team took 1st in the High Valley Shootout (undefeated)
-Corbin raised his first sheep for 4-H
-the Weber County Fair
-got our butt kicked by asthma
-gained new friends
-lost good friends that we know we will see again one day
-Ty started junior high (holy crap)
-ran the Wasatch Back again
-did multiple bike races
-swimming lessons
-50 mile boy scout adventure
-indoor soccer
-skiing and snowboarding (we are ALL finally on the mountain! yay!)
-grew closer to our Savior
-changed our lives forever

I know I missed some but through it all, we continue to love life and are thankful for each day that we have together. And for all of you that we love so dearly.