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!

Cross Country

Of course Dad was there at the finish line. What a great pic. I didn't show you the picture that during the race Welc was on a bike with a bubbly black helmet pedaling from spot to spot around the course to yell out times for Michael at certain distances so that Michael could pace himself. :)

Michael's cross country

This season cross country running Michael has done exceptional. He has already met his season goal as of today in Yakima...he ran a 16.58 5K!

This weekend I am going to run a half marathon in the Leavenworth Oktoberfest. It was this race last year that got me going with a goal to start exercising. I realize now that I need a goal or I don't have motivation.

Last year I ran the half marathon in 2 hours and 31 minutes. My goal this year is to run it in 2 hours and 25 minutes...I figure one year older and 6 minutes faster is good! I am very excited and it is wonderful that so much of my family is coming to support me :) Yippeee for families!