Terrible Terrific Tuesdays?

Tuesdays are a day I discover a great deal about myself and where I am weak, here is where I interject the big however, though! I'm also discovering Tuesdays are becoming a day when I see how truly blessed I am to be alive and that deep within there is great strength. Running makes me highly aware of every breath I take. It makes me aware of what a blessing it is to have a body, how strong it is, how blessed I am to be able to make it move, what a miraculous piece of equipment it is, and how lucky I am to enjoy a wealth of health. Running also fills me with a greater determination to be wise in how I care for it. We take our bodies for granted, and the old adage, "Use it or lose it." is no joke!
Tuesdays are also becoming my day to spend with God. It's a day when I'm under His Fatherly instruction. He teaches me interesting things when I'm out on the road, His spirit is with me in a unique way. As my muscles open up to the increased flow of blood, my mind opens to new ideas, new insights into the person He wants me to be, and new ways of assessing life. It's a day when I discover the greatest blessings in life are right smack dab in front of me. They are the blessings I've often times stepped over and disregarded as I frantically ran through life looking for them. I have learned when I'm on the road blessings are every where, all around me, they've been there all along, right under my feet!
Creativity strikes at the strangest moments in life. Like right as I was headed out the door on Tuesday and had no pocket to shove my Gu into. I hate packin' stuff, but if it's Tuesday then I'm not leaving home without this little package! and I've learned on Terrible Terrific Tuesdays Gu is life sustaining.
I thought of shoving it into my bra, but how comfortable would that be, metal corners stabbing the hell out of my lowly flat chest? That's when the ingenious idea struck my head like a thunder bolt and presto, I saw the perfect way to haul my precious packet of energy! I'm so glad I have two feet, twice the energy :D How awesome is that!
I hit the road a little late this last Tuesday morning and learned a very important lesson as soon as I reached the river bottoms. 400 kids driving to school create an enormous amount of carbon monoxide poisoning. I thought I was going to die breathing the pungent air for a quarter mile past Fremont. It was a steady line of cars and six yellow school busses that added to the gassy conditions. Cough, cough, hack, sputter, and spit! The only good thing was they were all headed in the opposite direction I was heading in and by the time I turned around all those rowdy teenagers were safely inside the school and the steady procession of cars had come to a screeching halt.
I had a new attitude Tuesday. I was determined. It felt good. There is something to be said about familiarity. The seven miles wasn't new and somehow knowing the road helped me process everything inside my head a lot better. I also knew the benefits of my little friend I was packin on my shoe. Love the Gu on my Shoe!
I got a few stares from the administration as I bolted through the halls at Fremont, now my official water stop 1/2 way through my regimen. After I left the building the run didn't seem so long anymore, but immediately after I left the school I realized I hadn't drank enough water, so into the seminary building I ran. I finished off my thirsty demands by sucking down a generous amount of life sustaining H2O and out the door I went. I was ready for the road again.
Fremont had just cut the grass and I have noticed running invigorates my senses, every single one of them. This is one of the things I love, but ironically the smell of the fresh cut grass was so strong I couldn't wait to reach the next block.
When I finally got to my last mile, I noted the time on my stop watch and kicked what was left of me into gear! Trust me it wasn't much!!! By this time in the game I'm trying not to trip and fall down.
I love all the people I pass out exercising in the morning. Bikers in they're multi colored sleek spandex outfits, joggers dressed in shorts and common t-shirts, men with big dogs, and women with strollers. I passed Dave McKellar just after the park, gave him a wave and thought of all the good ideas his family has given me. The McKellers are runners. I pushed on my way noting that fit people are friendly people.
Determination grabbed hold of me as I turned onto my road and forced myself to keep the pace the rest of the way home.  I looked at my stopwatch as I took the last step across my own personal finish line, my driveway entrance. One minute and 22 seconds shaved of the long seven mile trek! YES! Determination makes a difference.
I read a quote, "Your mind shuts down your muscles well before the muscles actually fail." I had to read that several times before it all sank in and truth tapped me on the shoulder. "Mind over matter!" That quote has helped me to push myself harder. I now know when I think I have to quit because I feel like I'm going to die, I can actually go a lot further without actually dying!  (LOL)
There is a feeling that comes over me every time I round the last corner and see my driveway off in the distance.  This feeling grabs hold of me even tighter as I take the last step, push the button on my watch noting I finished another run. Tuesday I walked up my driveway and paced back and forth trying to catch my breath ---I was exhausted and spent. Despite the pain though there was a feeling of accomplishment, a feeling of satisfaction, a feeling of having done what my body didn't want to do. My butt muscles ached, my right foot was throbbing a little, my legs felt like they weighed a thousand pounds a piece, but my heart, oh the emotion in my heart that rushed like the wind to my head. That is worth every ounce of pain I endure. That feeling alone cannot be measured.
I'm eight weeks into my official training and 10 months into the goal. I've been trying to run for ten long months, no easy feat for me. I have yet to make it more than one mile in a sustained run. I figured today that maybe just a little over 1/2 of my seven miles were spent in running. The rest was an intermix of speed walking. Good thing I walk fast.
Last week I ran with a friend, I learned one very important thing. My running has greatly improved and so has my speed walking. I had to slow down for my friend. She ran, I walked. If I ran, it was too fast for her. This put a big smile on my face. Not because of the fact I had to slow down for my friend because there are lots of times she's had to slow down for me. Nope! It had nothing to do with that. It was because for the first time I really honestly realized I am indeed getting stronger and that has been a hard thing to feel, see, and know!
I would like to know though why after my long runs depression strikes me so hard in the late afternoon. I felt good about my run, had no symptoms of being down at all until the late afternoon/early evening hit. I was so wiped out, I started balling and I could not stop. I talked to Man With A Drill when he got home, and I think it seriously has to do with the chemical levels in my body after so much exertion.  Has anyone else experienced this? I talked to some serious runners and they think I'm not refueling immediately after my run well enough. I also wondered if it had anything to do with the caffeine in the Gu. I don't normally have any caffeine. I did note, late that night after I ate two huge bowls of hamburger soup I felt so much better.
Now I have another added problem that's taking place. Two nights ago I woke up a 3:00 o'clock in the morning and I was drenched from head to foot. When I woke up I thought Man With A Drill had dropped me in the river. I've never seen anything like it. My night clothes, everything, my hair, all of it wringing wet. Night Sweats? I just want to run. I just want to be happy and run. Is this asking too much?
I'm a little fearful but, next Tuesday ---8 miles. I'm going to eat like a pig the second I get home, take sleeping pills when I go to bed and turn the air conditioning down to 55. Man With A Drill can sleep in his parka! Sheesh, there's a lot one has to do to run a 1/2 marathon. What's going to happen in a year or two when I sign up for the full shabang? I better think on that for a long, long time!

Happy Birthday To My First Born :)

It's just about impossible to catch Emy in a picture without a child. We've already discussed this. Emy is a nurturer! Always loving, guiding, and helping a little person! It's her nature. It's been in her since birth!
I'm starting a new tradition. I'm going to take the birthday person and take a nice picture of them. Some are more cooperative than others. Emy is a willing subject! I can't wait Emy to take your picture!

Emilyn is a beautiful girl, inside and out! She is a supreme peace maker and a loving kind individual. I took her shopping last night and had such a good time. It's always so pleasant, calm and a quiet joy to spend time with my oldest daughter. I really miss having her all to myself some days. She is a wonderful daughter, mother, sister, aunt, and most of all friend!

Jenelle, her best friend cried when she moved a block down the road. Emilyn has that effect on people. People just fall apart, cry and go nuts when she moves. Just ask me, I know! That's because she takes such good care of every one around her. It's that spirit of hers, when you are with her, you know you are loved!  

This Past fall Des and I got to take a trip to Disneyland with Craig, Emy and their family. It was the funnest trip ever. I still have to get some pictures on the blog so the trip and all of the fun is officially recorded. 

We had such a good time, stayed in a dream hotel that puts any other accommodations to shame, played and enjoyed ourselves to the max!  Emy got sick on the trip, but she held up like a trooper, and because she never complains, it was hard to remember the whole time she felt pretty lousy. And that's how this girl is, always putting others first, never focusing on herself, always giving, and always loving! You are a great example Em of what Christ teaches us to be!

Well, I hope you have a wonderful birthday today Em! I don't know where the years have gone, the time has gone by so quickly, but you are the best daughter a mother could have! I love you so much and I am so proud of you in every way! You bring out the best in life and I'm thankful to call you my first born!

Happy Birthday!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Prosciutto Chicken

It's been a long time since I posted a good recipe, and it just so happens, the other day a a coworker of mine gave me an award winning one.  I'd just like to stop right here in mid-thought and ask while it's at the fore front of my brain, where in the world are all the good recipe posts from all of the other girls in the family.  Am I the only one who cooks? Come on girls,  S-H-A-R-E!!!

This recipe is for Prosciutto Chicken. When my friend was telling me about it, I was wondering what in the heck "prosciutto" is? Listen, I was raised on a farm, I can tell you everything you want to know about hamburger and how to cook it every night, prosciutto is not made of beef or I would have been eating it on Sundays when I was a kid.

I decided to do a little reading and for those of you who are as lacking in knowledge as I, prosciutto means ham in Italian. It's made by salting and pressing the ham for about two months. After all the blood has been drained and pressed out, it's rinsed well and left in a cool dry place to age. This process can take up to 3 years depending on the patience and quality of the producer. This will explain why you are going to pay far more for this thin slice of pork than that plain old bacon you bought last week, but when you taste it, you won't be sorry and everyone will think you are an amazing cook.

Before you read any further though there is a spice you simply have to run out and buy! I'd tell you where I bought mine, but for the life of me, I can't remember. I'm just so happy though in some moment of sheer genius I was enlightened and made the purchase. This spice is a winner!

Blazin Blends has created the ultimate spice to go on fish or chicken. I never cook without. It gives chicken the best flavor ever. You'll want some for this recipe! You will want some for any chicken recipe!

Now for the Instruction:

Take a 9/13 pan and drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil back and forth in the bottom of the pan and make sure it's fairly well coated. 

Now heap the spinach up high. Layer the baby spinach in the pan until it nearly fills it to the top. I used a little Chard on top of my spinach just because I had some and needed to use it up. But the baby spinach is what the recipe calls for. The spinach shrinks horribly when it's cooked so there is no such thing as too much spinach ---the more the better. Season it with a little Italian seasoning and salt and pepper as you layer. I also snuck in a little lemon juice. Ok, so I love lemon!

Now take about six or so Chicken breasts and pound them out flat. Place these on top of the spinach. I season the chicken with salt and pepper and my Blazin Blends spice. Yum! 

Now for the Prosciutto. This ingredient can be difficult to find at the store, so make sure you shop ahead for the day you are going to make this divine recipe. After searching at Lee's Market and not finding any, I went over to Smith's and got the last package. Lucky me! The Prosciutto is very fine and delicate. Carefully separate each thin piece and cover the chicken with it. 

Now for the Provolone cheese. Mozzarella tastes good on the recipe as well. I chose the Provolone. Layer it so that it covers the chicken generously.

Last but not least are the tomatoes. I personally think the tomatoes are what makes this recipe so delicious. Even family members who don't necessarily care for tomatoes loved them in this dish! Slice them thin and layer them on top of the cheese.

Now for the finishing touch. Take your olive oil and drizzle it back and forth all along the top of the tomatoes. Now season the entire dish again with salt and pepper, the blazin blends, and the recipe calls for Thyme but I used Italian seasoning and it was perfect. Be generous. 

Bake uncovered at 350 until chicken is well done, about 45 min or so. Serve with a nice brown rice or a yummy pasta covered with marinara, then prepare yourself for the rave reviews!

Everyone loved this recipe. 

I loved it because it looks elaborate, 

but was a piece of cake to make! 

That's my kind of recipe!

Des and Goose said it Rocked!

 And just to let you know, I highly doubt you are going to have left overs!

The 1/2 Marathon Must Haves

Thanks to Susan Wade and her Hopscotch Designs business, I now have a new way to carry my iPhone on my run. I got tired of the arm band that I had been using to hold my iPhone and wanted something that felt a little less restrictive. Goose had this pouch that sort of fit my iPhone. I kyped it and started wearing it, stuffing my iPhone in it and pinning it to my sports bra. It wasn't long and the pinning of the pouch got old. An ingenious idea struck me one day and I called up Susan, told her my ideas and she designed this little pouch that works like a charm and it's cute to boot!

It only cost 15.00 dollars and is the most practical piece of equipment to carry my tunes and a phone in case I need to make an emergency call. The back of the pouch has a velcro strip that attaches around either side of my sports bra. I love it so much I'm going to have her make me another one to leave in Bear Lake.

Thanks Susan! Check out her cute purses and all of the other cute things she makes @ Hopscotch Designs!

Packing stuff when you are running gets to be a pain. If I'm doing serious milage though, there are those items that are a must-have! I just have ta' have it with me. I thought about ordering this shoe wallet the other day because it's convenient and the best part is it carries the Nike iSport sensor. Since I can't wear Nike shoes and I have a sensor, I think I'd like one of these. Check out the shoewallet.  I've decided I'm going to call Susan and have her make me one. I'll post it when she gets it done!

Here's another little goodie you might want to try. Its called the "Measure Up Bowl." Portion control is such a huge part of losing weight and keeping it off.  In fact, portion control is what allows me to have a little bit of what I want and stay sane. Portion control is NOT easy, nor is it always convenient. That's where this little bowl comes in handy. The serving sizes (1/4 cup, 1/2 cup, and 3/4 cup) are clearly marked within the bowl! The bowl is microwave and dishwasher safe and is made of porcelain. Check it out the Measure Up Bowl.

Now I scoffed at the next item until I fully realized it's potential. It's the Record-O-Clip. Imagine my surprise when I discovered this magnetic clip that holds up to 16 seconds of audio sounds or spoken word. Now you can put your own audio reminder on that irresistible bag of chips. Imagine the potential? You could put some clever message on it like, "PUT THE CHIPS DOWN! BACK AWAY FROM THE CHIPS! NO CHIPS FOR YOU FATTY!" I thought of buying two one for the chips and one to go on the fridge door. INGENIOUS! Check it out, Record-O-Clip.

                                             

The last thing you simply must by and this is for reals --- Neutrogena Sport Face spf 70. I hope people realize Bear Lake Sun is WICKED sun, so come prepared or you will most certainly return to your home ---burned! And I mean burned! 

I recently went to the skin doctor to have some pre-cancerous patches taken off my face. This is what living in the sun as a kid did to me. Mother's put sun screen on your kids everyday! The effects of the sun are brutal on us, but often times we don't realize it until the damage has been done. The point is my skin doctor (a woman) told me her number one choice of skin products is Neutrogena, she said (and I quote,) "It's what I use!" I took her word for it and tried Neutrogena sport face and I love it. It doesn't sting, burn, or run. I use it all the time now when I'm out on the road! Check it out in any of you local stores.

Seven Miles

Tuesdays are my long run days. This past Tuesday I did 7 miles. One thing about being out on the road running, once you go 3 and 1/2 miles in one direction, there's only one way home, unless you call a taxi. This is where I want to remind you, I am not a runner, remember at all times, I've never been a runner, and please never forget for over half my life, I hated running.
There have been so many people who have helped me literally learn how to run. I have painfully learned that running doesn't come naturally to everyone and not everyone's body is designed to run. It's taken several months for me to feel comfortable in my form and I still battle daily to sustain that form. Thanks to Jason McKellar and his direction to study Chi running my form has gotten much better. This has been the greatest advice I've gotten thus far and it's made such a difference in my endurance, my overall speed and my self-confidence.
However, I have to laugh when I read what I just wrote, because to the average joe who passes me out on the road, I look like one of those fat slow sedentary joggers plodding down the road! I definitely look like an old woman trying to run. I try not to look at myself if ever I pass anything that can reveal my true form. I think it's a ghastly sight.
Monday night I was apprehensive about Tuesday's run. I didn't sleep well in anticipation of the agony of trying to run seven miles. I'm not joking when I use the word "agony." When I run it takes every ounce of stamina I have and it's not easy by any means. In fact most of the time it's just down right torture. Things always grow bigger in my head than they should and for some reason I fretted all night long about the distance.
After looking at the clock, getting up wasn't hard since sleep was no where to be found in me. I dressed and plugged in my ear phones. Just before I headed out the door some little voice gave instruction. Thankfully I listened to it and stuck some GU chomps in my pocket. The Lord is always helping me, even in trivial matters like running. It was just a little after six when my feet met the road. I started my stopwatch and so it began.
The soft early morning light was beautiful. Maybe this is what drives me to run. Something in my soul loves the road, the resistance as my feet strike the pebbles buried in the tar, the lack of barriers, the lack of confinement, the wind sooner or later at my back, the sun always high above me. I love the exhaustion when my heart is pounding. I love the efforting, the challenge to conquer parts of myself that resist being altered.
I busted my butt the first mile and was pleased with my time. The second mile was ok but the third mile started to wear on me a bit. I nearly got plucked off by two yellow school busses speeding past and contemplated finding a new route for future long runs. I was happy when it was time to turn my frame around and head towards home. Now my feat were feeling the road. They felt heavy, and my muscles were pleading with me to stop or at least slow down. As I passed through the river bottoms I noticed my shadow. It was a mile long, stretched out to the west of me. The dark figure was a stark contrast against the green alfalfa now a glow with the morning dew. I spoke to it, something like, "Get a move on it would ya?" I noted how much I love the earth, how much I love nature.
It wasn't long though when I realized I was growing tired fast. That's  when the little seeds of discouragement started to enter into my head. Thoughts like, "I've got to go all the way home, and I"m getting slower not faster." quickly took root. Stark condemnations started to flow, "What in the hell were you thinking, signing up for this?" Then as always, that familiar voice that knows me, loves me and understands my plight whispered, "You can do this!" It reminded me of the GU in my pocket and encouraged me to use it. I hadn't brought any water and I needed to wash it down. My mind immediately thought of Fremont and the water fountains. I was only a half mile away. I pulled out the Gu chomps and shoved them in one after another until the whole bag had been consumed. I finished the last gummy chomp as I crossed the parking lot. I headed for the school, pried open the big heavy doors, ran my way through a million kids changing classes, found the nearest fountain, drank like a fish and bolted out the back door with a new attitude.
"I can do this!" "I will do this!" became my mantra until the GU kicked in and it wasn't long until I rounded the the last familiar corner leaving me only one mile left to go. As I finally approached my house, I cut the time on my stopwatch, noted how long seven miles took and tried not to think about how pathetically slow I am as I walked up and down my driveway with the aches and pains now forming in my hamstrings and the rest of my lower limbs. I kept telling myself, "It takes a long time to learn to be good at something." I wondered why this is so hard to remember? And I thought about how I've been trying to run for almost one year now and questioned, "Should it take this long?"
The rest of the day, I was tired, down, ornery, and discouraged. Why do I dwell in the negative? At one point during the day I sat on the kitchen bar stool and couldn't hold back the tears of discouragement. Man With A Drill came home that night and reminded me of all the good I've experienced. He reminded me that walking two miles takes him three times longer than me running seven.
In the scheme of life, being 53 and running a half marathon really isn't earth shattering. Some people might even ask why all the bother, after all lots of people have done it. But somehow this goal I set one year ago is a personal challenge that lies deep within, and is a challenge no one understands but me. It encompasses a powerful experience I traveled through a year ago. It is tied to my goal I set of strengthening my own personal self both physically, mentally and spiritually and it is meant to be a learning experience that will teach me in ways nothing else can.
All of us have our own inward personal mountains to climb. There are characteristics embedded in my being that make this goal of running a half marathon a unique challenge personally for me. And there is something extraordinarily powerful about learning to discipline myself!
Everyday running is more than just physical, it is always mental, always spiritual, and attacks the lazy that lies within.
It took me a week to write this, but I want to record the challenge. the emotions, the experience. Tomorrow is Tuesday. (Uuuugh) I'm going to remain optimistic. That's my goal for the day.

There Was An Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe!

I have this problem, ok, maybe more like a bad habit. I like to kick my shoes off in the bathroom. It seems ridiculous that I'd only have to walk two more feet to put them away inside my closet, but for the life of me, I just can't make it that far! The sad thing is, I could walk in my closet every day for a month and pull out a different pair of shoes and even if I never put a single pair back, I still wouldn't run out of shoes to kick off at the end of the day. I'm a woman, a woman with a lot of shoes.
Today I walked in my bathroom, took one look at the floor and started laughing. I decided to count all the shoes that were strewn in front of the tub. I'm surprised Man With A Drill hasn't tripped and fallen, breaking some serious part of his body. It had to be dangerous trying to climb through and step over all those shoes to get to the tub. Man With A Drill is a patient guy! He hasn't said a word to me for well over a week, and it had to have been painfully annoying. I love him for that!
I decided I should record the day in living color before I put them all away. The sight could be seriously shocking to anyone who walks in and sees my clean floor. I was so ambitious I even vacuumed and shook the rugs.
I wondered if someone could tell what kind of personality I have just by looking at my shoes? Part of me wants to get every shoe I own out and take a picture! For now though, just know tonight my shoes are all safely tucked away in their boxes, at least for a day or two, and then I'll probably start the whole process all over again!
 

Good Old Fashioned Gorp

I've been researching foods that help with energy. I don't know about anyone else, but all this training makes me tired. The other day I stumbled onto a great recipe for gorp. At first glance I was like, "What in the heck is gorp? Are you wondering what gorp is? Gorp is a high energy blasting food designed to be portable. The fact is, gorp is just another word for trail mix. Some of you are not going to like this recipe. It's designed closer to the old fashioned kind of trail mix, the one with fewer fat and calories; the one "WITHOUT" chocolate. You can make your own energy-blasting gorp that's far healthier by combining the following.

1/2 cup Multi-Bran Chex with
2 tablespoons of dried cranberries and
a dozen almonds )about 1/2 ounce).
Makes 1 serving. Per serving: 229 cal, 5 g pro, 41 g carb, 8 g fat, 0.6 g sat fat, 0 mg chol, 6 g fiber, 196 mg sodium.
 

And The Winner Is!

 I couldn't resist posting these pictures.  Especially when I have great news!!! In case you are wondering who won the elections, Des is one happy girl!! Congratulations Des, you are going to make a great student body officer for the wolf pack!

The other night Des got all ready for Morp. Morp is a crazy, crazy dance held every year at the school. It's a girls choice dance so Des did the asking.  This year the theme for the dance was, "All Geeked Up."

When Des came strolling downstairs all dressed in her "Geek" outfit I thought I was looking at me thirty years ago. Those glasses on her face belong to me. I wore those big honkin' things everyday! Just so you know, they make a great bug shield if you are on a bike!

 I think they're cute, what do you think? I think I was a geek . . .

Well Des, you look cute no matter what you wear. The Pocahontas book bag was the finishing touch! Des thought this up. She carried all of her necessities in it. Way to use your noggin' Des! You are a very smart geek!

This is Desi's bestest' friend in the whole wide wonderful world. Aubs and Des have been bosom friends since the beginning of time. I just know from watching these girls they fraternized in heaven! These two girls are seriously joined at the hip! Where you see one, you will always see the other. As Anne of Green Gables would say, "They are kindred spirits!" Amazingly enough, they also will have served together as officers for all 6 years of their junior high and high school experience. I think that is really a complement to the both of them and to the way their piers view their friendship. Not even a school would split these girls up!
There is nothing better than to travel through life with a best friend, someone you can always count on through thick and thin! And as you can see from the picture, when they're both together there is a lot of giggling going on!
Congratulations to both of them for winning office, more so I'm so proud of how they treat each other as friends! They are a great example of caring for the other more than caring for themselves.  Have fun at the dance you silly geeks!

How To Kill A Tree Fast!

I wish I could tell a different ridiculous story of how a perfectly beautiful flowering Pear tree died, but I can't. No, sadly enough,  I'm required to tell the truth about how this beautiful tall leafy Pyrus Calleryana lost her life. Which by the way makes me look like a complete idiot!

So prepare yourself when I tell you I killed this lovely shade bearing, oxygen giving, 17 year old, faithful bird loving friend, with . . .(gulp) . . . gasoline.

I know, (with greater emphasis,) I KNOW! The sad thing is I wasn't trying to kill the tree, I was trying to kill the damn ants!  I was at least five feet away when I poured the liquid fire on the pile of crawling insects that were preparing to march right into my house and take over. I looked for the ant killer, I found it sitting behind where the gas sat when I went to put the gas back.

The first summer only half the leaves turned brown and died. I prayed for a merciful kind heavenly being to take pity on me. You can see from the picture the answer was "No." But the first summer after the dead ants were washed away, and I (not thinking) soaked the gas right into the roots. I thought maybe I was going to get lucky!
"Isn't that interesting", I told Glade,
"I only killed every other branch. Maybe it's going to make it?"
I totally forgot about how when it comes to any living tree, I'm the designated tree killer. If there is a tree anywhere in sight, there is well over a 99 percent probable chance, I will kill it. I'm not going to go into how many trees I've killed in my life time.

Hey, I just want you to know however, I'm not the only one with tree killing power. Don't just point your finger at me. Man with a drill killed our finest peach tree last fall. Huh . . .huh, how bout' that?

"Man with a drill" sometimes masquerades as "Man with a saw." Make sure you know what tool he has in his hand if you find yourself sitting in his dental chair! Now, I am sad to inform people there will be no shade, no chirping, no beautiful red leaves come fall. Say goodbye to the Pear tree. I'm so sad I could cry. I do however have some lovely firewood, and the plastic pool will be hot and leaf free this summer! Somehow that just doesn't cut it. I miss my tree already!

Mother's day and father's day is coming up. Maybe some new trees would be nice. Could you please buy the fully grown kind. Two big enough to shade our house would be awesome. I promise not to kill them. :/

What Do Your Children See?

Now, where am I going to file this post? Should I file it under, "Behind The Camera", after all I did take the picture with my next to perfect Nikon? Should I categorize it under, "Pure Inspiration", because the quote written truly is thought provoking? A very serious part of me wants to stuff it inside, "For Your Information", because we as parents ought to pay a little more attention to what our children see in us. Maybe I'll start a new category today since life revolves around all that is mental, "Psychology (Life Is 100% Mental)", yup that's where I'm filing it!

The photograph is of my nephew's cute baby girl. I had so much fun taking her picture. I just want to inform you that this little girl's greatest weapon is her eyes. She's going to be able to get just exactly what she wants every time she flutters those big brown beautiful peepers of hers!

I snapped this picture because I loved her expression as she was intent on not letting her mother out of her sight. And that's my whole point today, our children never let us out of their sight. Even when they are married and grown they still see us clearly and they still observe!

Our children are always watching us. I don't know about you, but that thought scares the hell right out of me, and it should. What bothers me about my children always watching me is not so much what I know they can see in me,  after all I can see that too. What bothers me about my children watching me is what they can see in me that I can't see in myself! There's where I'm seriously worried! Now I want to add a note here for children who are reading this. Your parents also see your blind side. The road runs both ways!

All of us have parts of ourselves we are blind to. It is everything in us that is unconscious, repressed, undeveloped and denied. And yes, both good and bad. Why we are blind to these parts of ourselves intrigues me so deeply. Why do others see in me various attributes, characteristics and ways of being I cannot see in myself? We look upon ourselves and think upon ourselves in a certain way, but others can often see things in us we have no clue exist. How is this so?

Well, I'm here to tell you, your children are going to see these traits, characteristics, ways of being, what ever you want to call them, and they are going to come to know them well no matter how hard you try to hide them, and the scariest part of all is your children are going to take them on and wear them like a new dress, sometimes without even knowing. One day suddenly you'll see a behavior in your child that will make you shudder and shake, and just in that moment your mind will start mulling over one single idea, "Where in the world did he learn that from"? That's when you need to turn around, walk your self over to the biggest mirror you can find, and take a long hard look in it. Don't be like every other parent and live in denial. You are really a bona fide idiot if you haven't figured out by now he or she more than likely, learned it from YOU!

So like the saying reads, "Don't worry that your children never listen to you; Worry that they are always watching you!" And from here on out you might want to pay a little closer attention to your blind side. The parts of yourself you really don't want to claim.

My question for the day is, "How do I come to know the parts of me I am blind to?" Some one tell me that today!

I stumbled on a great article well worth reading. It's title, "The description of the shadow". Give it a read, you might find it as interesting as I did! One thing is for certain, if we want to be effective people, effective parents, we need to see ourselves clearly. We too need to see our whole self! One of the greatest things a child can witness in a parent, is not that the parent is perfect, but that the parent is indeed imperfect, and as they see us climb over "all" of our imperfect parts, they too can learn that imperfections are normal, can be worked on, talked about, and conquered in an open healthy accepting environment. One of the greatest things we as parents can role model for our children is how to own, accept, and conquer ourselves!

Getting Geared Up!

Soon I'm going to be posting a list of some great 1/2 marathon tips by some super/duper diehard marathoners! One of the tips you are going to be reading about is centered around not making any changes come the actual day of the marathon. 

Translation: This means you should train in whatever you are going to wear come the day of the race. In other words you don't go out and buy new clothing or new shoes just a few days before you show up for the race. You train and wear just what you are going to wear that day. You put some serious milage on it so when you find yourself on that 13.1 mile trek you know it's going to fit, be comfortable, and work perfectly.

Here's where I'm going to get all giddy over something so simple as SOCKS! What you are looking at in the above picture is the greatest pair of socks known to man or woman in this case. I wear these socks faithfully on my feet every time I slip on a pair of running shoes. My feet love me for it. I now own about 12 pairs. I would be more than willing to give them a five star plus rating and so would my feet. And this is where I'm going to put a plug in for my work, because these socks are made by none other than Eddie Bauer baby! Show up on a Tuesday and I'll sell you a pair! No you can't have my discount!

These are "Cool Max" socks and the first time I tried them on my pink fleshy little feet it was just for the simple fact I needed a pair of running socks and I was working, so I thought after reading the label, I'd give them a try. Immediately I discovered two things,  1- Take a look at the sock just above the heel ---that little fat part you see keeps those stupid little rocks that flip up in your shoe, from flipping up in your shoe. Isn't that brilliant? Trust Eddie! 

There is nothing more annoying than when you are running down the road to have to suddenly stop and take your shoe off to get out some dumb annoying rock the size of a molecule, that decided to hitch a ride in your shoe. It doesn't matter how small the rock is, it will do damage if left to grate and rub on any part of your foot. And 2nd- They really do keep your feet cool. They wick moisture away from your foot and I've never had a blister yet with these hummers! After running in a pair I went back and bought another, then another, and now I have 12 pairs, not counting the 6 pair I have in Bear Lake. Ok, so I've gone "Cool Max" ballistic.   What can I say, it's a great sock and now I only have to do laundry every 12 days. 

Try some, you won't be sorry. 

Happy shopping!  :)

Nachos Baby

For The iPhone Lover!

Just the other day the Church released its own official iPhone app that's compatible with the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, called Gospel Library, spelled Lbry at the app store.

This is such a great app! It has a whole range of features and the Gospel Library may seem basic as a 1.0 release but it has everything I need.

One thing I really love about this awesome app, besides the fact that it's FREE,  is how they did a great job of getting the buttons out of the way, allowing the most screen real estate for just reading pure scripture!

Another feature I like is that the newly downloaded app is basically an "empty shelf" which allows you to then download (and later delete) whichever books of scripture you want as well as all the awesome General Conference reports, and other Church books. What's more the app even promises weekly updates to the available library.

Check it out! You're going to want this app.

For those of you who don't have an iPhone ---get one silly!

Good Luck Des

Today I completed another last. I got up at the crack of dawn, (that's 6:00 a.m. for those of you who aren't really sure just what time the crack of dawn is), and I loaded up the truck and off to Fremont we went. Time to hang the posters!

And the video is finally on the Weber Tube web site which doesn't work half the time, which is exactly what the students told the administrators when they tried to boycott having to do a movie in the first place.

"Don't Horse Around! Vote for Deserey Crowther for SBO!"

Read the first poster.

Des, decided to go all out and draw some wolves for her second poster.

Well she is crazy about being a 

FHS Silver Wolf!

After six years of running for office we decided to go with an old cliché, for poster number 3.

"Vote For Deserey Crowther,

She's 'OUT STANDING' In Her Field!"

I wonder how much money I've spent over the years on duct tape?

I was so proud of myself in 6 years of hanging up posters for Des, I finally took a ladder with me.

I will miss taking all these silly pictures of you Des, to plaster all over your posters!

Friday she will know the outcome. She's nervous Nelly, having to wait clear till Friday to hear the news. Going to be a long week Des? Well, just remember Elder Wirthlin's advice in all things, "Come what may and love it!" Good Luck Des. The Crowther Crew is rooting for you! We love you!!!