I got back to the Y yesterday and did a mile with the new inserts, they worked pretty good! I did 20 min on the elliptical after weights too, and my feet didn't go numb or hurt. I also loosened my shoes like Michelle (arf) suggested and I think the combo helped because today I did the same thing and got the same results. I also practiced putting my weight on the middle of my feet and felt like I was walking with my knees inward, but when I looked down it didn't look that way.

I have had two more occasions where I've run into someone that looks like she could be Julie's sister... it's so weird, that I keep seeing people suddenly that look like her, while for several months after her death I didn't. I am glad that someone is doing something in her honor.

At first lots of people talked about doing a bench at her church or something like that, but nobody did anything. As far as I know I'm the only one who sent money to our fellow photog who printed up our images for her funeral, to help him pay for the cost. Feels bad that so many people's lives were touched by her, but then they seem to have not been moved enough to physically do something in their lives in her honor. Anyway, to each his own. And I'm so glad someone is putting on the walk/run :)

Today my mom sent me a video that I just loved, but in it were words I've heard before... for some reason, today I heard their message and had a light bulb moment.

"Live simply. Love generous. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And leave the rest to God."

I know that often life gets very cluttered with all the things we have to do and then we pile on all the things we should do and life can feel overwhelming. Sometimes I get a glimpse that it's not all that complicated. I think of the words of President Hinckley that I've had on my fridge for ages...

“It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers.”

I think these words fit perfectly in the category of "if we live worthy of His blessings". In the end, it will all work out, it has to, that's the plan :)

ARGH! Setback.

Tuesday, last week, I walked 3 miles at the gym, just to check my time. I did it in just under an hour, but my shoe messed up my foot and it's STILL hurting today. I have been through several pairs of shoes, trying to find one that works with my high arches and how I put weight on the outside of the foot, putting a lot of pressure on the outside of my ankle as well. I've pretty much given up :(
I still want to be able to do the walk/run in honor of my friend Julie who died last year, but am frustrated on how to get myself to be able to do it if I can't find a shoe that doesn't mess my foot up.
I bought some new inserts for the shoes I have now, and will see if that improves my pain. I just need to get all my kids well again so I can get back to the Y.

In the title of another blog...

"God is anxiously waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can’t if you don’t pray, and He can’t if you don’t dream. In short, He can’t if you don’t believe." (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, CES Fireside, September 2004).

And now I'm off to find the talk :)

I have time!

WOWIES!
It's been so long since I've had a long stretch time to just do whatever. I love time, I wish I had more of it.
My laundry is done. My kids are playing with play-doh. My shopping is mostly done. I have no lesson for tomorrow. I have pictures I can work on, but I'm taking the day off of working on them. I have no kid to run around to sporting events, or meetings, or appointments.
I've been visiting blogs of people I know, who unfortunately haven't seen much of me in the last few months. It's so fun to catch up on them and what they are doing. Leaving a comment to let them know I haven't completely fallen off the face of the earth :)

Jake had wrestling last night up at North Branch. Often schools don't have kids in his weight class, but last night they did, and he was a dirty fighter. The referee wasn't calling fouls on the North Branch kids at all. This kid wound his fist back and clocked Jake right in the mouth, splitting his lip open and making the side of his face throb in pain. He thought he might have even loosened a tooth. Jake stepped back and put his hands up. The ref asked him what was going on and Jake touched his mouth and showed the ref the blood. The ref asked him what happened and Jake told him the guy punched him. The ref just sent him to get the bleeding stopped, but never called the kid on it. When Jake went back into the ring the kid kept working Jake's face over and all the ref would do was say, "watch your hands!". Jake was pretty mad when he got home last night, but he was honorable and didn't get back at the kid, and played by the rules. He's such a great kid.

I love revenge too much.

Dreaming about a happy time

This morning when I woke up, I laid in bed for a bit stretching and just enjoying how my bed was so comfy. And then in my head I had a memory from when I was little. I think Connie must have been babysitting me because I'm sure mom would have put an end to our shenanigans. But I remember sitting by the kitchen phone, making call after call to the local radio station to play "Queen of Hearts" by Juice Newton. I remember Connie telling me to disguise my voice, and me calling the radio guy for what seemed like the millionth time and in my best granny voice saying, "Hi Sonny! Can you play me the Queen of Hearts!?" The guy on the line didn't fall for it, but it was good for a big giggle for us! :)

War

In the last couple of days I've watched some movies we borrowed from some friends in the ward. They are called "Saints at War", one is about WWII and the other is about the Korean war.
Although I know that war should be avoided if possible, I understand that sometimes war is necessary to protect our lives and our liberties. But I also believe that war can be a blessing to countries when it allows walls to be broken down and the Gospel of Jesus Christ to spread among it's people.
These two videos are a really great watch. I loved hearing about the Saints that were in the military and how they were able to bless those around them, or how the Lord blessed them through these perilous times.

Kids

For some reason Joshua has decided that it's way cool to have a blog. So, he had me set him up with one the other day. He's posted a picture that he colored at school, told a story about some funny smelling napkins and wrote to his grandparents on it. He also had me set it up with some music. Now he comes home from school and wants to hang out at his blog. Sometimes he invites his sisters to it, which means really that they get to come over to the computer and dance to his music with him, lol.
I'm going to try to help him keep it up by posting his cute art stuff from school, and stories. I'm not sure he understands right now what it means, but I think after time he will appreciate it :)

This is just a little late..

Sorry Michelle! My excuse was I was shooting a wedding all day on Saturday and Sunday I slept in and went to church late because Joy was throwing up all night and now I've had no brain for two days to remember to wish you a

I hope you had a really great day and that your family treated you special! Wish I could have been there to help you celebrate! I'll have a chocolate bar in your honor.

Turtle Joy

So the other day I was working on the dishes when I turned around and notice that my laundry basket was moving around on it's own. I just had to grab my camera and capture the action!

Then it started spinning around and I could see better what was going on...

Busted!!!

Isn't she so stinking cute?

And I love these little feet. That's not a crumb on her foot, but her only birthmark. ♥

Shout out to Heather!

My sister Heather is having a birthday! I am so happy she is here, on earth, to celebrate her birthday! Some of you may remember that almost two years ago Heather suffered a hemhorhaging stroke that almost took her life. But thanks to God and all the prayers and miracles that happened, and Heather's hard work, she has survived and bounced back beautifully.

I love you Heather and am so proud of you and all the progress that you've made since your stroke. I hope you know what an inspiration you have been to all those who know you. You are loved more than you know.

Uncertanty

I hate uncertainty. I'm one of those people that like to live by a plan. I want a plan for everything. My husband likes to just take things as we go. Neither of us is wrong or right. There's a time for each way to be the approach to things. Sometimes my way bugs him, and sometimes I find it hard to be patient for his way.

I just wish we had a better plan right now.

We've received new information that makes it most certain that my husband's company may close it's doors soon... sorry that's so vague. That's all I can say for now.

I've been spending some time reading a book of ancestor's biographies. It's always been a fascination of mine, ever since I was a little girl, to hear about my ancestors and their lives. I get that from my father who faithfully shared these stories with us when we were children. It was such a blessing and inspiration to know the people I have descended from.

I find their stories a bit more valuable these days. Especially in more recent times, with our country in a recession and troubling times ahead. I don't foresee anything Obama doing will fix this problem and I am very concerned that his ideas will only worsen the disease that our country is ailing from.

But I look around my home. I look at the objects that we've collected over time. The clutter. The extra. The luxuries and un-necessities. My ancestors who gave everything they had, crossed oceans and plains to join the Saints in Utah and those that lived through the great depression, never had so many things as I have today. My grandmother, married in the early years of the depression, didn't have running water in her kitchen until after being married for a couple of years. She wrote about finding a wash board, which was hard to come by at the time, and how excited she was to have found it.

I may go through some hard times in the coming years, but they will most likely never be anything like the generations before us have gone through. As I am sure they could never imagine the things that I and my children have to face each day, in this world.

It's just interesting to look back. And although it may not be the same, it seems very familiar. I hope that I am made of the same stuff as they were, and I hope that their stories they've left behind for me will help me through whatever things I have to go through in my life, be it now, or fifty years from now.

Well, the economy has gotten to us

I know that the last 8 years we've been blessed, and I have a testimony that it's because we've been paying a full tithing that my husband's job has not taken a very hard hit since 9/11. I know that the business has been blessed for our benefit.

But I guess God has something in the plans for us now. Just as soon as my husband finished up his associates in accounting and is 5 classes away from his bachelors, his boss has started laying off people. My husband didn't get hit in the first wave, and his boss said he'd "take care of him", but he wants his hours cut back to 30 hours (3 nights) a week. Ouch! We've been living the last few years off of 50 hour weeks and barely making it.

Dh is putting out applications now in his new field, so I hope he finds at least something part time to supplement what he's losing at the other job. Or perhaps I might have to take a part time job while he picks up a third class and finishes up sooner than later.

I'm going to do it!

I'm going to do a 3 1/2 mile walk/run in honor of my friend Julie who passed away last year in a heroic effort to save another girl's life.
I'm going to keep track of my progress in preparing for this at my workout blog if anyone is interested in cheering me on or helping with any advice or information as I progress that will be helpful!

I love green jello

It's so comforting when someone is sick.

But please leave the fruit and veggies out of it... gag!

I wish there was a group on facebook for green jello lovers (that wasn't gross).

Sickies!

My head is hurting so much today. I was up in the night twice with Joshua. Once at 2:30, then I called Joel to come home and watch him while I slept, and then again at 6 something, when Joel left to pick up Jake from seminary Josh had to throw up and screamed for me.

I hate the winter sickies!!!!

Snow!

And more on the way tonight!

It should be a crime for a boy to have such beautiful long lashes!

Two days ago I stopped by a golf course to check out the reception area a bride is using in two weeks that I've been hired for. When I walked in the receptionist was on the phone and I had to wait for her to finish her conversation. I was taken aback when I realized how much she looked like my friend Julie who died last spring. Same eyes, eyebrows, color hair, similar facial features. She could have been Julie's sister (if she'd had one).
It set me into a spin of sadness.
It's been hard to let go.