Beautiful Morning

I love fall. Tuesday morning I decided to go for a run down by the river. Amazing, amazing, amazing. As I was jogging through the leaves as they were falling from the trees I was pondering on the lesson I am teaching this Sunday for the Young Women. The lesson is on loving ourselves, forgiving ourselves and moving on. I think that we often forgive others and never truly forgive ourselves or spend our time beating up on ourselves. Have we forgotten who we REALLY are or are we not giving ourselves permission to let the full light of Christ shine through us?

The air was crisp and I was glad as I began to warm up on my jog. I pulled my sweatshirt off and tied it around my waist. I could smell fresh cut grass - I love that smell. The big lawnmowers were going over the grass and leaves, probably for the last time of the season. I run I pass old folks with canes, young folks with backpaks, dogs, and bikes. I chuckle to myself...at the beginning of my run I offer all who pass a "Good morning!" As I get more fatigued from my run my greeting turns to a hand wave, then to a hand raise, and finally just a nod with heavy breathing.

I realize I love to run. I have loved it because the music that I put on my ipod is inspirational. Between the beauty of the season and this beautiful music I feel like I can do anything.

Tagged

I have been tagged which means that you go to your digital computer file, go to the 4th file and the 4th picture and post it on your blog. So here it is .... ta da ... of my mother and me on the balcony of our cruise to Alaska. We are in glacier bay - my favorite part of the trip.
Now I tag Christine, Paige and Olivia.

Homecoming 2008

Sunday evening

This evening Jared, Christine and Carson came over. We made carmeled apples...always a must during the fall season! Obsiously Eric got bored :) Jared and Eric played a game of snapping the clothes pins to see who can get the most in a box on the table...Eric got a little distracted.

Today was my first day in my Young Women calling. I forgot how much I love being in the YW. I am very excited for this calling.

Eric and Michael went to their first homecoming dance last night. They were out very late (or early - depending on which way you look at it). They went with different groups and came home with smiles on their faces. They had a great time. Eric and his date, Kjersten Lewis wore black with cream. Michael and his date Erin ? (don't know her last name) wore black with royal blue accents. What a fun time for them.

Mr. Sunshine

Carson with Mr. Sunshine - his favorite

Mother's Weekend/Lava Hot Springs

I met up with Lori Pathakis at Lava Hot Springs. We had a fabulous time catching up on where the last 22 years have gone. It was so much fun to catch up on kids and remember what good friends are all about. Even though we have missed seeing each other for a few years, we can see each other without missing a beat. I love Lori and her energy!

One of my favorite seminars at Mother's Weekend was by Connie Sokol on Eliminating emotional clutter. She concentrated on 6 things:

1. Nourishing your soul: "I decide what goes on in my home". She talked about doing prayers, scriptures, and temple attendance on a level of being a woman and not as we did as a child.
2. Clear Vision: What do you see as your "ideal" life (emotionally, physically, spiritually)? If YOU DON'T KNOW - then you can't do/have it. Carp diem - make a "to become" instead of a "to do" list.
3. Great JUICY goals to creat vision: "What do you want or need for the next 3 months?" Discuss this with the Lord. Create a wall of inspiration. Achieve one good juicy goal a week.
4. Eliminate energy drainers: guilt, costic people, perfectionism (ask "who am I doing this for?"), inappropriate guilt. Guilt is like a rock dropped at your feet. Ask yourself, "is it mine?" If it is not yours - DON'T pick it up. If it is then pick it up and take care of it.
5. LAUGH
6. Increase energy gaines: magnify your gifts and interestes. PASSION, PASSION, PASSION, MOXY, MOXY, SAVY, LIFE WISDOM.

Mother's Weekend at BYU - Idaho

We are having a great time here at Idaho! Paige picked me up at the Idaho Falls airport and then we went to T.G.I.Friday's for dinner. We had a great time catching up on her boyfriend, Nathan, and her visits with his family. They sound like a wonderful family - they must be to have such a great son.

Next we were off to my sister Olivia's house in Blackfoot. We had a fun few hours before bed to goof off, laugh, tell funny stories, and try on clothes that I brought for Olivia.

This morning Paige and I were off at 7:45 am to get back to Rexburg. The seminars started at 9:00 am and we went to three outstanding talks. I have to run right now but I will post more on what I learned in each talk later....plus I have the cutest pic on my grandbaby!

Ah....the finish line. My heart is full!

Oktoberfest Half Marathon

"You have the GREATEST FAMILY!" was the cheer as I passed fellow runners in the Oktoberfest Marathon. I think I had the most and best support of anyone in the marathon! Welc had his dirt bike and went up and down the road cheering me on, getting me water, whatever I needed. Carson and Christine made this fabulous bright pink sign "Keep Going Mom! We Love you!" That pink sign kept moving down the road on the back of her car so I had a goal to get to every mile or so. Eric was hooting and rooting on the side of the road...he kept moving to different points along the trail. Then at one point (the bottom middle picture) Eric stood by the side of the road with my cell phone open. He had it on speaker phone and Paige was hollering "GO MOM! GO MOM!" Alas that is not all...my brother, sister in law, and sister were waiting around the 10 mile mark. What fun to have them come and support me. Oh, I can't forget my dear friend Terri Wynder who didn't want to run the marathon but she wanted to support me so she volunteered to pass out water at a water station.

I get tears in my eyes just thinking about the day and all of them at the finish line for me. This is a day I will never forget. The incredible beauty of Leavenworth this time of year, my family, my friends, and I made my goal! 2 hours 19 minutes!