Homesickness

Can you believe that summer is over and fall is already in the air? Me either.

This week has brought on a homesickness that I haven't felt in a while. However, not the homesickness that you would think.

I've been home to Manti almost every other weekend this summer. Which has been great but this homesickness is different.

I am homesick for a beautiful town and college campus in Southern Utah.

Yes. Cedar City I am missing you dearly this week.

It's been 2 1/4 years since I was a student on your campus and I didn't think I'd have this feeling again. But here I am. Homesick for Cedar.

Homesick for a little of this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

This beautiful sister of mine fell in love with Southern Utah when we made a little visit last summer.

She started her first week as a Thunderbird Freshman on Monday. We've chatted more in the past 4 days than we have all summer and it's been wonderful. But boy, it's sure made me long for my second home.

So dearest Cedar City, as luck would have it (and blessings too, I'm sure), a dear friend texted me yesterday to invite me to
play in Cedar City this weekend. Absolutely. I'm in. And I can't wait!

Ragnarian

Remember last summer and my first Ragnar adventure?

Well, of course, like every other runner, I was hooked.
However, this year presented much more of a challenge.  
Ragnar Hill.
1700 feet up to 9000 feet elevation in just 4 miles.
Kill me.

Let's just say that in preparation, I'm pretty sure my quads doubled in size.

 Proud day of training run up Squaw Peak. Check out those quads. 

FYI--all my jeans are too tight in the thighs and too big in the waist. Oh the joys.

Then our Ragnarian adventures began:

 

Van 2 in Eden, UT

 Beautiful Wasatch Mountains

Ready? Set! Go!

 

Run #1, Done!

Snow Baisin Resort

Sleep anywhere you can find a place on the floor.

Run #2 was in the middle of the night. Pitch Blackness. You can imagine it, I'm sure.

Run #3: I was hyperventalating all morning long. Finally it was my turn to conquer this beast of a mountain. I got started and pushed it way hard up the first mile--much harder than I should have. I was dying after only going one mile. This sweet girl named Ashley, caught up to me and said, "Man! I've been trying to catch you this whole first mile! I feel like we're at about the same pace. We need to stick together to make it up this hill."

And stick together we did. We pushed each other, encouraged each other, and built it each other up. We ended up finishing it faster than both of us had even planned on. As we topped the hill and the finish line was in sight, Ashley was exhausted. I had a burst of energy in anticipation of finishing. She said, "You can just sprint ahead and finish!" I said, "Absolutely not!  

We're finishing this together!" And finish together we did.

I have no idea what this wonderful girl has been through in her life, I have no idea what religion she is, I have no idea if I will ever see her again. 

But that day, on that mountain, we conquered something incredible together. 

And I will never forget it.

Conquered and Survived!

It's funny thing, Ragnar--the actual time that you are running is never really that ideal. Actually, sometimes it's completely miserable. But the times in between and especially crossing the finish line, knowing that you just did something amazingly crazy and hard, is beyond description.
The elation and sense of accomplishment continues to hook you year after year.
Are some of us really crazy? Yes. Absolutely. But you won't know how crazy until you try it too!

Oh right. It's Summer.

Summer? What is that again?

sum-mer

1. The usually warmest season of the year, occurring between spring and autumn and constituting June, July, and August in the Northern Hemisphere, or, as calculated astronomically, extending from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox.

2. A period of fruition, fulfillment, happiness, or beauty.
(http://www.thefreedictionary.com/summer)

Aww... Summer. Yes. (If this were a movie, insert frolicking children running through a meadow.)

Hold it! Stop the tape! (yes, you just heard the "tape stopping" sound in your head)
Welcome to adulthood. Frolicking is done ONLY after 5pm and on Saturdays.

Funny how my personal definitions of summer have changed over the years.

Age 0-3: Same as the rest of the year
Age 4-6: The only days spent inside were rainy days. Even then, it was rare. And my playmate/sister didn't have school.
Age 7-11: Summer was great but I loved school. Summer almost seemed too long. I was ready for school start in mid-July.
Age 13-17: Half my summer was consumed by "Pageant" and the other half by summer jobs.
Age 18-22: My summers became longer! (May-August + no "pageant"). However, the stress of finding summer jobs was greater.
Age 23: Oh right. That just happened. 23. Real life. Real job.

What's so different about this summer compared to last? This summer I actually have to track and report my vacation days. Don't get me wrong, paid vacation days are great! Problem is, I only have so many of them. (**Sigh**)

So. 2 weeks of summer have already passed. And what have I done with it?

Spent every moment possible with this girl before she leaves! 

(June 5th, Portland, OR Mission)

Had sleepovers with my mom, among Women's Conference classes.

Turned 23. (Oldie.)

Played in the mud a little bit...















And waterskiied!
This is how we waterski in March, April, May & October:

• Full wetsuit
• Gloves
• Watersocks

The only thing missing is a beanie.

Here's some Hokulia Shaved Ice to toast to a fabulous-use-up-all-my-vacation-days summer!

Celebrity Look Alike

Throughout our lives, we get told, you look like so-and-so or you look like so-and-so. Over the years I've gotten Kiera Knightly, Angelina Jolie, Beth Richman (from the new show Ready for Love) and others.
Although I'm flattered, I've never thought that I look like any of them.


Over the last few weeks, a bunch of people have told me that I looked like this girl off of American Idol.

Of course, out of "idol" curiosity, I had to look her up.

Angie Miller, American Idol Season 12. 
Other than her hair being lighter and bigger and that little dimple, I could totally pass for her on stage.
Maybe. Oh wait. Have you heard her??

Ok. So I probably couldn't pass for her on stage, but we're definitely closer in genetics than any of the above mentioned.

Woulda thought?

Letters

Dear Sunshine:
I am so glad that we have been able to spend more quality time together lately. My skin has desperately needed that bit of color that you so willingly provide. However, I wish very much that you would rise earlier in the mornings (I know, it's hard for all of us to do), but I really love it when it's light outside when I run. 6:00am would be ideal. Thank you.

Dear Clean Eating:
We don't have a perfect relationship but when I'm good, you make me feel so great! And boy, there are so many options for delicious meals:

1. Celery with homemade natural peanut butter! So delicious and incredibly easy! (And we all know how much I love Peanut Butter. After having REAL peanut butter, I can never go back to the store bought kind. Seriously.) Celery is also wonderful with homemade hummus.
2. Yummy Lunch Salads: Lettuce, red peppers, chicken, carrots, celery and oil & vinegar dressing.
3. Cucumber Salad! My favorite! Cucumbers sliced, red pepper, chicken, 1 spoonful of plain yogurt and seasonings! (I used black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.)
4. Stuffed Red Peppers: red pepper stuffed with cooked and seasoned barley, topped with mozzarella cheese and broiled in oven until cheese melted. Tomatoes added on top. Could also put in cooked chicken or beef with barley.

Some of my other favorites have been: hard boiled eggs, Peanut Butter Quinoa Bites (sweet enough for me without agave or chocolate!), green smoothies, Plain Whey Protein Isolate (add to oatmeal, green smoothies, fruit smoothies, etc.), carrot chips, Cinnamon Quinoa Bars, and Banana Egg Pancakes.
And can't wait to try: Raspberry Eggs and Lemon Crepes!

Dear Weekend:
I want you to come faster. Conference, home, family, sunshine, sleeping in, and home cooked meals.

Dear Rue 21:
Although you drained a good chunk out of my bank account last week, I sure am loving all my new summery outfits. Most favorite--white pants, plaid shirt, tan flats.

Dear Race Training:
Unfortunately my sanity is not allowing me to run the Utah Valley Marathon (thank goodness I can defer my registration to 2014), but Ragnar here we come! I am ecstatic!

Dear Thyroid:
From the signs, I'm assuming that its you that's been giving me all the troubles lately--dry skin, breaking nails, falling out eyelashes, fatigue, and worst of all, forgetfulness--not acceptable in my job. Something will have to be done soon.

Dear Lake Powell:
I am desperately missing you these days. I can't wait to try out my new water ski on your beautiful blue waters this summer. Please don't miss me too much.

Dear Y Awards:
You are coming up so quickly! Amazingly, I am not feeling stressed yet. We have definitely done a good job of prioritizing our tasks. Can't wait for you to get here April 10th! Miss Gillian and I will be grateful when we pull you off successfully as the event of the century!

Dear New York:
Our plans to see each other are going to have to wait another year and a half. Some changes have come about. However...

Dear San Francisco:
I am now hoping to see you sometime soon instead!

Sincerely,

 

An Ode to My Closet

Dear Closet:

Do you see how full you are?
Do you know how much I love shopping?
Do you see how we have a problem?
Do you know that most shopaholic girls would just go buy more hangers?
Do you see how you are chock full and another hanger would not fit?
Do you know that I love having new clothes to wear?
Do you see that I have also bought a lot of the clothes on great sales?
Do you know that you also have to spend money to save money?
Do you see that your hanger rod might come out of the wall someday?
Do you know that all my dresser drawers and under-my-bed-totes are also full of clothes?
Do you see that I have more than 50 pairs of shoes?
Do you know that I pay lots of money for my tiny room and tiny closet?
Do you see how I have to get rid of older-much-still-in-style-shirts in order to fit the new ones?
Do you know that most of the time I don't really even miss those shirts?
Do you see how I have an absolutely first world problem?

Thank you. I appreciate you listening.

For the Love of a Simple Life

It's crazy how the first step of a daunting task sometimes gives you great clarity.

As I began my first run in training for the Utah Valley Marathon, this morning,
my mind was very far from the pounding of my feet.

In one of my favorite movies, You've Got Mail, Kathleen Kelly writes:

Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave?

I have a friend who is always traveling some place or another, seeing this and that, and always having crazy adventures.

I feel as if my life is somewhere in between. My life isn't small but nor is it one string of adventures after another.
My life is simple. Wonderful and simple with bouts of adventurism.


I don't have a million blog followers, but I have many incredibly wonderful friends.
I haven't been on a mission to convert hundreds of people, but I try to magnify my calling and make a difference in my sphere of influence.
I am no sports hero, but I love to run and love the challenge that it presents.
I haven't traveled the whole world, but what I've seen has taught me a great deal about how blessed I am.
I don't have millions of dollars, but I am self sufficient and hard working.
I have very little claim to fame, but I have wonderful supporters and rocks in my life.
My life is by no means perfect, but it's perfect for me. Simple and wonderful.

Simplicity is perfect for me.
Whenever I complicate life and get frustrated, I miss out on the finer things of life--time with family, beautiful sunrises, reading a book, making a new friend, having a good hair day, singing along to a great song, beautiful sunny days, laughter with good friends or achieving a small goal.
And aren't those the things that make life beautiful?

Whatever kind of life you live, be sure that it is the life that you've always dreamed of.
There may be circumstances that you can't change, challenges that are difficult to overcome, but there are many things that you do have control over.
Enjoy the finer things of life. Simply the things that you can.
Have some crazy adventures. Be brave. But because you have the power, make it the very best.

At a Years Beginning

At a years beginning, it is time for reflecting, laughing, crying, remembering, savoring, pondering, and resolving.

As long as I can remember, my sweet mother has had me write down News Years Resolutions at the beginning of January.

Through the years, some goals, were achieved. Some were not.

Through the years, I've learned that setting goals is important in this life. Some goals are small, some are huge, some are life changing, but all are important.

Through the years, I've learned that setting goals sets in motion habit forming which can potentially set in a life changing attribute.

Through the years, I've learned that goal setting needs to be realistic but stretching and strengthening.

Some set goals with New Years Resolutions. Some set goals with "100 things to do before I die" lists. Some set little goals every single day.
But however, the goals are manifest, they are imperative for mortal progression.

In carrying on a good habit:

Christmas via My Phone

I finally did it. I got a smart phone. And I love it. Obviously.
Christmas was full of great entertainment, parties, friends, and adventures.
(Sorry for some Instragram repeats...)

1. Snickerdoodle hot chocolate. Nuff said. --with April Cazier
2. Temple Square --with Saryn Haynie
3. Mexican Train --with the fam
4. Ugly Sweater Friend party, yep. The party that I wore a University of Utah sweater too...
5. Tis the Season for Fuzzy Socks --with the fam
6. Frigid Manti
7. Loving my new flats from Christmas!
8. Family love
9. To Run or Not to Run in the snow. Yes, we did run. --with Kelli
10. Beautiful Christmas Day --with Kelli
11. New Waterskis for Christmas!!! Can't wait to use them! --with Kelli
12. Beautiful Manti is in the middle of no-where.
13. Christmas dinner table setting, courtesy of pinterest
14. Gorgeous Manti Temple. Miss this place already.

Happy Christmas!