tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83654382174771544482024-03-21T16:33:05.910+00:00.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-47094174600850629382012-08-17T17:24:00.000+01:002012-08-17T17:24:20.242+01:00Home, Sweet Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
After my surgeries I headed up to Seattle for about three weeks to rest and recover. It was a pretty great time filled with family and sunshine (believe it or not) and the lakehouse- you can't go wrong when all of those factors are part of a trip home! I owe a big thanks to my parents for putting up with my post surgical, lack of running complaining- you guys are pretty amazing! I am also thankful that they live in such a beautiful place that is so fun to visit. I loved seeing every single one of my siblings (except Kelly, way to not be there Kel!) and all of their children! It was busy and a little crazy but, I wouldn't have it any other way!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1ZpVzJ8CyhuvTHt33w9BKHOTvFg41-bvMp2VsXa7J3i6QBcOox_AuvUdZG540DgMdhh3qJ1590RAe_012669QB4yLWrYeb9o5bif1SRzMbZHUyczWcTd_TbrWLPxAlVaSH3WCJW8d3db/s1600/ferry2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1ZpVzJ8CyhuvTHt33w9BKHOTvFg41-bvMp2VsXa7J3i6QBcOox_AuvUdZG540DgMdhh3qJ1590RAe_012669QB4yLWrYeb9o5bif1SRzMbZHUyczWcTd_TbrWLPxAlVaSH3WCJW8d3db/s320/ferry2.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Ferry on our way to Crescent Beach where I am pretty sure I haven't been since I was really little.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xjAP1KfJWtzE0WJcqfUh823B-b8I8hMcH5ASIozk9L4KIwmcva4UbOMMe64HsllgUkcK4YtAoHlU-rXjkrYn1EDQJNzg2NgT0BAzR8gKtHdEGAi_7_JAWcFYdNyhEST4WdYdujxsrA0I/s1600/portangele2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xjAP1KfJWtzE0WJcqfUh823B-b8I8hMcH5ASIozk9L4KIwmcva4UbOMMe64HsllgUkcK4YtAoHlU-rXjkrYn1EDQJNzg2NgT0BAzR8gKtHdEGAi_7_JAWcFYdNyhEST4WdYdujxsrA0I/s320/portangele2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am sure we were having a very serious birthday conversation.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vA2znCe0BP74gVQCy7KNs7KF1AlBs_HLyoS2g1y8AB8km6u_s4FetneklhA1M_w_4sQTpI4ATmXdgvgkJgoK7H0qi1AExqYpfz__K6duGd4-wHQdhYzuXgYqzR6tNlnFNp9sDaCZM73Y/s1600/starfish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vA2znCe0BP74gVQCy7KNs7KF1AlBs_HLyoS2g1y8AB8km6u_s4FetneklhA1M_w_4sQTpI4ATmXdgvgkJgoK7H0qi1AExqYpfz__K6duGd4-wHQdhYzuXgYqzR6tNlnFNp9sDaCZM73Y/s320/starfish.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These starfish were HUGE! The tide was out really far and we got to see some pretty sweet creatures.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiNu6wsSFusKGd-SNvLjAuOTbBlKwqNPBr_vIWYW-zkhHfYUymUNjyeCNECprQESduuZLh6i5FRRboLiT7WbrcH4JzaODH_eE6c0KqFfuF5pMVgFUbg-0iChWbJEtxxaMzP5A3Ja2q9Hl/s1600/portangeles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiNu6wsSFusKGd-SNvLjAuOTbBlKwqNPBr_vIWYW-zkhHfYUymUNjyeCNECprQESduuZLh6i5FRRboLiT7WbrcH4JzaODH_eE6c0KqFfuF5pMVgFUbg-0iChWbJEtxxaMzP5A3Ja2q9Hl/s320/portangeles.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We seriously walked out on the rocks so far- it was pretty awesome.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6blTBdJ4_08ndShQhhsgOpwP_MjvpV5bz49KgzlZHxJ15ci8L53a-jek26bDzQLODUaAeWphiL_DzTZkGoiXOSnnHN1S6NHN1Lfoo_QUS2Hf9TtlqbvjMspNffSPJ0o6mk3b8EhViyvB5/s1600/yellowhoodie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6blTBdJ4_08ndShQhhsgOpwP_MjvpV5bz49KgzlZHxJ15ci8L53a-jek26bDzQLODUaAeWphiL_DzTZkGoiXOSnnHN1S6NHN1Lfoo_QUS2Hf9TtlqbvjMspNffSPJ0o6mk3b8EhViyvB5/s320/yellowhoodie.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture was taken at the cabin on a cold day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6v_MRrCKD_IJMH5XNT6g3ylsEhOoveTUD4v8QAw1SBsA4JeTO6tQ5rl82Z-1Zy6rcDQha508y8i5Ijd6ibbDGKljoew9r6wEfrFgQyBp7-HfprkbCUlaYt-VNxoS83DiCMTsK2fFY9UN/s1600/swimming.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6v_MRrCKD_IJMH5XNT6g3ylsEhOoveTUD4v8QAw1SBsA4JeTO6tQ5rl82Z-1Zy6rcDQha508y8i5Ijd6ibbDGKljoew9r6wEfrFgQyBp7-HfprkbCUlaYt-VNxoS83DiCMTsK2fFY9UN/s320/swimming.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture was taken at the cabin on a warm day- warm enough that I had to invent a way to be in the water without getting my foot wet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-24988042896021426122012-08-17T16:57:00.001+01:002012-08-17T17:00:23.432+01:00Surgery Number 2If you are ever wondering how to make your summer really fun, here is a suggestion, you could have two surgeries about a week and a half apart. Make sure one of them is on a body part that totally limits your abilities to do things for yourself and, of course, make sure you are given all kinds of good pain killers. This was my strategy this summer! This second surgery was on my foot which was a little bit more lame, for me, than my hand since I love running so much. The good news is, about three and a half weeks later, I am still alive and, I haven't even lost my mind yet!<br />
<br />
I have to give a BIG public thank you to my sister Becca for driving all the way from Logan to take me to surgery at 5:30 in the morning! While thank you's are going out, I also need to thank Sarah and Nat for watching Ella and Clay so Becca didn't have to bring them to the hospital at the crack of dawn! I have incredible people in my life!<br />
<br />
I think the surgery took a total of about thirty minutes and then it was on to the recovery room- not my favorite place since I spend most of my time in there making a fool of myself and asking the same questions over and over and over again. Becca was patient with me though, thanks for that! On the way home Becca obtained some necessary supplies for me- Jamba Juice, chocolate milk, Teddy Grahams and drugs- what else more does a girl need?!<br />
<br />
Recovery hasn't been too bad. It feel like sometimes I take a step forward and then two big steps back because I sometimes over do it... but I am trying to be smart and patient... it is a challenge though. Here is a little pictorial summary of my experience thus far. Enjoy!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwrneFb2RHunsxZ6MPD5H6i1GvcZlSrQBhdet_yTs9kzf-Yf-ZNPqm3u4_UybLPjMr9_PnwWhd0KWvg1KrNJZzV87msiJxSUPQ5stSlI2OIQ0_5jG1GGCbonuGDJ8Gn9K3tS7nHkhZGRb/s1600/footsurgery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwrneFb2RHunsxZ6MPD5H6i1GvcZlSrQBhdet_yTs9kzf-Yf-ZNPqm3u4_UybLPjMr9_PnwWhd0KWvg1KrNJZzV87msiJxSUPQ5stSlI2OIQ0_5jG1GGCbonuGDJ8Gn9K3tS7nHkhZGRb/s320/footsurgery.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pre-surgical collage. My surgery pager, kind of like a table pager at a restaurant, just different. My hospital bracelet. My post surgical shoe. Documentation of just how ridiculously large my hospital gown was.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllhOg-FpFrFLHycEOpaHJxOXaYywKYSCw6Asw45XU9_vh6B8JiVUoGJqyH1k4pZgZBwcDn9QxbEuB2CHD2ik8AeqBs-jV7bNz84TML1h6WOt7WsS1w7N49A7WV-XDUpjH8UEm6GKn5IAT/s1600/footsurgery2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllhOg-FpFrFLHycEOpaHJxOXaYywKYSCw6Asw45XU9_vh6B8JiVUoGJqyH1k4pZgZBwcDn9QxbEuB2CHD2ik8AeqBs-jV7bNz84TML1h6WOt7WsS1w7N49A7WV-XDUpjH8UEm6GKn5IAT/s320/footsurgery2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was what it looked like under my bandage three days later... sausage toes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnFKIK9Qaw8_gif98hmsgV6t2dMoM6ndO96TSPy9vFA-TeYSr5Kx3jirlA0V6sSl2VbYhCu-qpglWk3tB9Xdpqyta92QrFaSS-RAK1JlKK45UkfZmXjkOh3XZfrG5u8U8pbg_LR-dMhom/s1600/footsurgery3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnFKIK9Qaw8_gif98hmsgV6t2dMoM6ndO96TSPy9vFA-TeYSr5Kx3jirlA0V6sSl2VbYhCu-qpglWk3tB9Xdpqyta92QrFaSS-RAK1JlKK45UkfZmXjkOh3XZfrG5u8U8pbg_LR-dMhom/s320/footsurgery3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture was taken the day my mom and I took out my stitches... Yep, we handled that one on our own.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6x-aJG9eBXZmsyLm8t0yqPPkT_mil4elYvQHVDBTXNy1sxRO9b3B9NxVPRDrN7SVIV0iladQmDM64R8nV9YWktWZ4wYRsYL6Pr1ZTcTCYLjfItz31IHoFuFVGbH8V3x8sxOZVoxL8y9F0/s1600/footsurgery5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6x-aJG9eBXZmsyLm8t0yqPPkT_mil4elYvQHVDBTXNy1sxRO9b3B9NxVPRDrN7SVIV0iladQmDM64R8nV9YWktWZ4wYRsYL6Pr1ZTcTCYLjfItz31IHoFuFVGbH8V3x8sxOZVoxL8y9F0/s320/footsurgery5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my foot currently. My scar has definitely calmed down, my bruises are gone and my toes look much less like sausages- thank goodness! Now I just need to get my running back up to snuff and I will be a happy girl!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-62692177846417278502012-08-17T16:33:00.002+01:002012-08-17T16:33:37.335+01:00From Break Ups to Babies... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXYOe2UKFF7AKHCBqoVxW6CXfgLuzeIvJMdT3a-Z93XWi50bXyE17XWIGynlw8Ypp2bTZH_UBY39Fujvf595jz4uQrl9gl-BwHr3gx1PLzRzIBSOS-TTPlqetANJl997-ZlbidlQB5Vfz/s1600/B2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXYOe2UKFF7AKHCBqoVxW6CXfgLuzeIvJMdT3a-Z93XWi50bXyE17XWIGynlw8Ypp2bTZH_UBY39Fujvf595jz4uQrl9gl-BwHr3gx1PLzRzIBSOS-TTPlqetANJl997-ZlbidlQB5Vfz/s320/B2B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This was it- the last time our original six roommates were going to be together for kind of a long time. It was a bittersweet kind of reunion. I love these girls so much! I am so blessed to have them in my life and to have been around all of them for so long. We are losing Katie to Texas, actually she is already gone and I am already feeling her absence! Thanks girls, for everything! I love you... most ardently!Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-1458495976125148712012-07-14T02:44:00.002+01:002012-07-14T02:44:43.396+01:00Namesake LakeTo spice up my recovering I decided to go on a hike with some friends the other day. It was a really beautiful hike and it was not quite as physically challenging as my Lake Blanche hike which was a little bit taxing! The trail started at the parking lot of Brighton Ski Resort so it was beautiful even where we started! The hike was just a little over a mile and covered some really amazing scenery! It was a little difficult at first, hiking up the part of the mountain I usually take the chair up but I managed! The hike was completely worth it! And, one of the most fun parts of all was the fact that the lake was named Lake Mary AND! another 1/2 mile down the trail there was a Lake Katherine! All I needed was a Pickett Basin to complete things! There wasn't one but it was still pretty cool to have two lakes named after me because I am pretty certain they are named after me! Here is some photographical evidence of the activity- try not to be too jealous!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilT_laBpVhNJSiN-krk_qO13JXDFKq05PXXfes7WXx1AoGqzfS65_3HlZ8LcFrW5WxJIp5681D6Qyy_biLgD0qhKXuir2v7y25i28gqxEU30OIWkzAHTZUgtdibmMStrK9ongEesDWqYfh/s1600/Marykatherine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilT_laBpVhNJSiN-krk_qO13JXDFKq05PXXfes7WXx1AoGqzfS65_3HlZ8LcFrW5WxJIp5681D6Qyy_biLgD0qhKXuir2v7y25i28gqxEU30OIWkzAHTZUgtdibmMStrK9ongEesDWqYfh/s320/Marykatherine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DWPucNLKGWo-K_S5lz-vG26u1P3MCP5p_ZzTzzKJMPFex4rwiQf5Pwpkxfsnhd9SLyePyY5iahbcqyVWtMlzqfCmqrj6qchzXXuQAp-3NaB6tHAbmMvSeGxA4qDx3C0IzSENQQekRlTe/s1600/LakeMary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DWPucNLKGWo-K_S5lz-vG26u1P3MCP5p_ZzTzzKJMPFex4rwiQf5Pwpkxfsnhd9SLyePyY5iahbcqyVWtMlzqfCmqrj6qchzXXuQAp-3NaB6tHAbmMvSeGxA4qDx3C0IzSENQQekRlTe/s320/LakeMary.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpkX9WPEBUnc-8RimZAlexvQARJGGo66OCrnAKIJPKaHNsXobAocBthcUbBK3XUWbJzXkQ3aQFsZQZP_wXzoG1Hb_vppw0uoTI4Zgx-6ouuFfjuIM9CRzngFUYHIUUFLryWcKlUJO0oWD/s1600/LMcollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpkX9WPEBUnc-8RimZAlexvQARJGGo66OCrnAKIJPKaHNsXobAocBthcUbBK3XUWbJzXkQ3aQFsZQZP_wXzoG1Hb_vppw0uoTI4Zgx-6ouuFfjuIM9CRzngFUYHIUUFLryWcKlUJO0oWD/s320/LMcollage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-38610569792543003112012-07-14T02:34:00.001+01:002012-07-14T02:34:52.001+01:00Going Under the KnifeWell- my summer has officially begun! The first of my two scheduled surgeries happened this week and, thankfully, it went fairly well. This was my first experience being cut open so I am glad it wasn't horrible or turning around and doing it all again next week would really not be awesome!<br />
<br />
Thankfully, my saintly roommate Katelin, loves me enough to have taken me to Riverton Hospital at 5:30 in the morning so we could be there by 6 am- great way to start off the day! We got there, I got checked in, got poked by an IV, got a really great speech from my anesthesiologist about him injecting enough lidocaine in me to stop my heart and then got wheeled to the OR in my bed which felt a little strange. My poor anesthesiologist had a real hard time getting his needle into the veins in my hand- turns out they are small. The last thing I remember is crawling from my gurney onto the operating table and then I was in recovery. The doctor said it went well. He got the cyst and the scar tissue that was surrounding it so, hopefully, in a couple of weeks, I will be able to have pain free range of motion! Cross your fingers!<br />
<br />
Recovery hasn't been awful. Everyone has been really willing to help which I am not the best at accepting but I am trying! I have watched a lot of movies, napped a lot and, generally, tried to take it pretty easy. I had a friend tell me today that I am not going to have very many times like this in my life where people want to just take care of me so maybe I should live it up. I thought that was kind of funny- wise too I guess. So, my warm up surgery has gone well! I feel warmed up and almost ready for the next one! Here are some pictures of my experience!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYy7QWTnYjdUm39BLPe-9Ny0UtzUBcuZL1dzWji9puPx-bX5qaVx2-5mn8FftMhy7LVLsMrCaT5zPybafhgYbrbsvuXdiESRBwNp0YWMdIaBtd72YVJXa_4u-t93c21sFN4fheYv5zOSAi/s1600/309464_10150948385154538_679714063_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYy7QWTnYjdUm39BLPe-9Ny0UtzUBcuZL1dzWji9puPx-bX5qaVx2-5mn8FftMhy7LVLsMrCaT5zPybafhgYbrbsvuXdiESRBwNp0YWMdIaBtd72YVJXa_4u-t93c21sFN4fheYv5zOSAi/s320/309464_10150948385154538_679714063_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Showing off my hospital gown, IV hand- post surgery, pain meds, IV pre-surgery.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjx75mi3LZ7CDTzlgFvqByGh1OFWnEdYJrWKR2wf1FQM0PMMgRay-q0RgtyYfxlTHro4c7Wr2rpSJvluVe7Qz2F6Ck96uzEmfTruq2sk7CK2aATA83gteNZHaunqfxl1v3PSo1PzLDdQn/s1600/251811_10150949252834538_323080508_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjx75mi3LZ7CDTzlgFvqByGh1OFWnEdYJrWKR2wf1FQM0PMMgRay-q0RgtyYfxlTHro4c7Wr2rpSJvluVe7Qz2F6Ck96uzEmfTruq2sk7CK2aATA83gteNZHaunqfxl1v3PSo1PzLDdQn/s320/251811_10150949252834538_323080508_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The aftermath.</div>
<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-57621271494068228882012-07-07T17:14:00.002+01:002012-07-07T17:14:30.682+01:00Reasons to Celebrate<div style="text-align: center;">
I am so thankful for Independence Day and for the excuse it gave me to hop in the car and head to Logan for a couple of days. I don't get up there as much as I should. For some reason, the two hours in the car, by myself really stretches my limits. This time (and every time) the drive was totally worth it!! First of all- Becca always rewards me for coming up by feeding me yummy food. She had prepared for my arrival by purchasing a box of sweet and salty bars from Sam's Club. For those of you who don't know, those are my favorite thing in the whole world. Tuesday night, for dinner, she made me macaroni salad- another one of my favorite things. I was feeling pretty spoiled! Tuesday night we went to USU's version of Stadium of Fire to watch their fireworks. I have a thing about fireworks- I just love them. The show was pretty impressive and my favorite picture from the whole trip was taken this night- here it is...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3f6j8RLPWKDg6QONCw4fQ2jgxTvGB3JphomLqdjUX9bb_InGnPSXzJkJciDpKFEsjGBi73RSmgstxSc80mfa73tr5Kdg2mN3Shp3Ru7seFBhNmnxgLg7-PmaNGD82KOoFf85LtF9L0Epl/s1600/313897_10150935407884538_1562552470_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3f6j8RLPWKDg6QONCw4fQ2jgxTvGB3JphomLqdjUX9bb_InGnPSXzJkJciDpKFEsjGBi73RSmgstxSc80mfa73tr5Kdg2mN3Shp3Ru7seFBhNmnxgLg7-PmaNGD82KOoFf85LtF9L0Epl/s320/313897_10150935407884538_1562552470_n.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was taken as were were walking back to the car during the finale so we could miss traffic. The fireworks in the picture are my favorite- the ones that hang in the air... I love them! I also love Clay on my back- I just love this picture!! Good capture, Bec!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Wednesday morning started really, really early. I saw a five as the first digit on the clock and that hasn't happened for a while. Anyway, the reason we woke up so early is because Becca and I were running the Blacksmith Fork Canyon Freedom 15K. This race was actually the inspiration for me coming up for the Fourth. As many of you know, Becca was on bed rest in the hospital before Olivia was born for a pretty long time. Long enough for her to lose the majority of the muscle mass in her legs and that kind of thing. SO! Becca had the idea to sign us up for the run and to use it as her motivation to get back into shape. Watching Becca run this race you would have never guessed that she hadn't been training for months and months. She was awesome! She ran the whole time even after the big hill and I only had to be tough on her a couple of times :) Way to go, seester! You are pretty amazing to me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhA9yOdx3YoC6QKxGNnZwiHxnCX2oe6ca_ykLw2oxT1eAqPRwQXNz3iVNyGhCVMSVkZJu6R_FyBmhY4Sbbr4jFMJb3j00QYkW6Un6HRY_hiZocY4gmg80FtVEfcRr2wgAhL6Wczo4JIU-/s1600/FreedomRUn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhA9yOdx3YoC6QKxGNnZwiHxnCX2oe6ca_ykLw2oxT1eAqPRwQXNz3iVNyGhCVMSVkZJu6R_FyBmhY4Sbbr4jFMJb3j00QYkW6Un6HRY_hiZocY4gmg80FtVEfcRr2wgAhL6Wczo4JIU-/s320/FreedomRUn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">As if running nine and a little miles wasn't enough exercise for one day we decided that a hike would be a fun Fourth of July activity. Jake decided that finding beavers would be an even more fun Fourth of July activity so, we set out on the Spawn Creek trail in search of some beavers. Despite our best efforts we did not see any beavers but we did see a pretty impressive beaver dam which, I think, has got to be the next best thing. It was a fun adventure! For Fourth of July dinner I got to experience Fire House Pizza for the first time in my life and I was pretty satisfied. It was pretty good! The funniest part about our Fourth of July is that we were all so tired by the time the evening rolled around that we didn't even watch fireworks that night. I heard the kids did some sparklers but I slept through that part of life... on the floor... in the basement... We had put a movie on and you all know what that means- nap time for Mary.</span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiJv-GaAong26EOyPSFAovhY2Xqe3d9OHZaL44B77JxlHsRdjuBw02GgU-JF9ng02p8Vk-O3pl-XBhiWWpm65SFBfXpTTBLoyH78wqjlc0jQcYRlbeotsRU35iV6KyzINB1jDl-FZdngR/s1600/Beavering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiJv-GaAong26EOyPSFAovhY2Xqe3d9OHZaL44B77JxlHsRdjuBw02GgU-JF9ng02p8Vk-O3pl-XBhiWWpm65SFBfXpTTBLoyH78wqjlc0jQcYRlbeotsRU35iV6KyzINB1jDl-FZdngR/s320/Beavering.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Some picture from our beavering adventure (that would be the technical term for hiking with the intent of finding beavers)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So! From watching fireworks to running to eating too much puppy chow- I had a great Fourth of July! Thank you to the men and women who have sacrificed for the freedom that we enjoy each and every day. And a big thank you to my incredible sister and her wonderful family! I love you guys! Thanks so much for a fun Fourth!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnC1xuDsQFgy8t1W6f1SShsXB9TuhrDusvxNwk5u802E_4ugS5P0DyrW4mtHIwAS20lDoybGI1i0Z9IiMWipAA7G7v0uH5Od1fJI81NCMyTPZJ0JNh8FeURA0c3lhyphenhyphenlob2sNVvyxToqLbg/s1600/Fourth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnC1xuDsQFgy8t1W6f1SShsXB9TuhrDusvxNwk5u802E_4ugS5P0DyrW4mtHIwAS20lDoybGI1i0Z9IiMWipAA7G7v0uH5Od1fJI81NCMyTPZJ0JNh8FeURA0c3lhyphenhyphenlob2sNVvyxToqLbg/s320/Fourth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Happy Fourth of July to you all!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-71915561126369365302012-07-03T02:26:00.000+01:002012-07-03T02:26:47.863+01:00Lake BlancheThe great thing about requesting off of work for a surgery and then having that surgical procedure pushed back is that I ended up with a week of time that I can choose whether I want to work or not. Today, I chose not. Instead of being responsible and picking up a shift, I went on a sweet hike in Big Cottonwood Canyon. It was beautiful and a pretty good workout. We gained 2,700 feet in elevation over almost 3 miles- it was pretty steep, most of the time! I am looking forward to having some more great adventures this week with all of my free time- starting tomorrow when I leave for Logan. Conveniently this time off is falling over the Fourth of July, that might have been planned... Here are some pics from today!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHwq8JjMcQ1ZjxV3aEf-BfWPsjvvWvkoorQ1t5tLyTUp_pO40ElHGT8wdB6jbm6525YGWvuArcIivgd6HWe6yHlm2-k3OlfB4gr4DzGAIUlQjHlWtLx96dolDpUlbhM8eotth4qsFL5KU/s1600/LakeBlache2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHwq8JjMcQ1ZjxV3aEf-BfWPsjvvWvkoorQ1t5tLyTUp_pO40ElHGT8wdB6jbm6525YGWvuArcIivgd6HWe6yHlm2-k3OlfB4gr4DzGAIUlQjHlWtLx96dolDpUlbhM8eotth4qsFL5KU/s320/LakeBlache2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is just one of many breathtaking views from the trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0odxGjk9TJjOXa9AuUXSezBYhVsfBQbWlgod6AYmsqCTeToBCOfQ44SfKaB4M43RcoIYwgOtSfi64T5D97WB7dluDLLBBIWR2DRdx5U7d2Z8W8SlwYBZ1fm1slZpmNto6zydz7WAT-HH/s1600/LakeBlanche.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0odxGjk9TJjOXa9AuUXSezBYhVsfBQbWlgod6AYmsqCTeToBCOfQ44SfKaB4M43RcoIYwgOtSfi64T5D97WB7dluDLLBBIWR2DRdx5U7d2Z8W8SlwYBZ1fm1slZpmNto6zydz7WAT-HH/s320/LakeBlanche.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little collage of what the lake looked like... in case you were wondering what it felt like, it was cold.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFNvqPrLZiL9rI1jOF-nm51Jqw64eiIv2mtr-fLKym2P8Fp8vAVDKPmqi0SJHEe3_H6pnqhsjTs9ojubkmThcdPkbKudTBXKw7BWUPgfzk-ttlpBrDmFMLkahB5Y8aUxQUAvsj96uDIcU/s1600/LakeBlanch3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFNvqPrLZiL9rI1jOF-nm51Jqw64eiIv2mtr-fLKym2P8Fp8vAVDKPmqi0SJHEe3_H6pnqhsjTs9ojubkmThcdPkbKudTBXKw7BWUPgfzk-ttlpBrDmFMLkahB5Y8aUxQUAvsj96uDIcU/s320/LakeBlanch3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Lake Blanche</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-41585627973678939582012-07-01T23:40:00.000+01:002012-07-01T23:40:36.583+01:00Mormon Miracle Pageant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbY9DFxInfE0edlMjn0LBwigmRhXxoBTFdhYQKtqgzNDzUX9LXccvZ5hnbk1YbztW4ffboWgzA6y0BQqgZGCb1sPj7vmfD78E1fIHp2ATiuoAFy3x0IB9kMvZmJvhpBtkOsJK_4KCbJ-aU/s1600/Manti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbY9DFxInfE0edlMjn0LBwigmRhXxoBTFdhYQKtqgzNDzUX9LXccvZ5hnbk1YbztW4ffboWgzA6y0BQqgZGCb1sPj7vmfD78E1fIHp2ATiuoAFy3x0IB9kMvZmJvhpBtkOsJK_4KCbJ-aU/s320/Manti.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
On my list of things to do this summer was go to Manti. These last couple of weeks have been the weeks of the Mormon Miracle Pageant in Manti and so, I thought, what better time to go to Manti than when it is crazy busy and I get to see a great theatrical production? Last night was the night! I went with a friend of mine south on the I-15, through Ephriam (I pity EVERYONE who attends Snow College, I thought Provo was boring!) and into Manti. For those of you who have never driven into Manti, it is kind of spectacular how you can see the temple while you are still miles and miles away, that might have been my favorite part! The pageant was good too- a little cheesy- but good all the same! I am glad that I got to have this Utah experience and I look forward to, one day, being able to go inside the Manti temple because it is now on my list of favorites!Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-22757793771361617372012-06-25T01:33:00.002+01:002012-06-25T01:33:15.980+01:00Food for Thought<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know when you are struggling with something and then the lesson in Sunday School or Relief Society or both is about the very topic you are struggling with. I had one of those experiences today. I have discovered recently that I am fairly judgmental. This has not been a fun discovery but it will be fun to work on correcting this problem- or at least that is what I tell myself. This thought was shared in Relief Society today and I loved it and wanted to share it again and think about it always so that I can continue to work on improving myself everyday! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ' <i style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Let people repent. Let people grow. Believe that people can change and improve.</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Is that faith? Yes! Is that hope? Yes! Is it charity? Yes! Above all, it is charity, the pure love of Christ. If something is buried in the past, leave it buried. Don’t keep going back with your little sand pail and beach shovel to dig it up, wave it around, and then throw it at someone, saying, “Hey! Do you remember</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">this?</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">” Splat!</span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Well, guess what? That is probably going to result in some ugly morsel being dug up out of <i>your</i> landfill with the reply, “Yeah, I remember it. Do <i>you</i> remember <i>this?</i>” Splat.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> And soon enough everyone comes out of that exchange dirty and muddy and unhappy and hurt, when what God, our Father in Heaven, pleads for is cleanliness and kindness and happiness and healing. ' (Elder Holland)</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just LOVE this thought. Who wants to be dirty and covered in mud? Who wouldn't rather be clean and and kind and happy? I know I would which is one reason why I am going to actively pursue this non-judgmental kind of attitude and, hopefully, one day, I can be a little more like my Savior, Jesus Christ, by being a little less like the natural man which has been plaguing me recently!</span></div>
<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-43918036606175926492012-06-22T17:01:00.003+01:002012-06-22T17:01:56.847+01:00Mona<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_N_rPvZh0OwUNtUBfS-xzLhftqaSrdSGSQVSseOMBBXn6iNaj9Er3O29OGtqtzohr3eWG9rqxqETB1YKjjePYPE5-F9xKzIaBukiLMCh1hCw1OcXknB4lcMxDmZanxkKU1wGEi4fmN9eY/s1600/Mona11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_N_rPvZh0OwUNtUBfS-xzLhftqaSrdSGSQVSseOMBBXn6iNaj9Er3O29OGtqtzohr3eWG9rqxqETB1YKjjePYPE5-F9xKzIaBukiLMCh1hCw1OcXknB4lcMxDmZanxkKU1wGEi4fmN9eY/s320/Mona11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please ignore Ian and James in the front...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are a handful of things that everyone talks about doing in Utah that I have still not done in Utah despite the fact that I have lived here for the last almost five years of my life. Some of these things includ,e but are not limited to- driving the Alpine Loop in the fall, going to Lake Powell, going to Manti (ok, not everyone talks about this but I decided that it is definitely something I want to do before I leave), etc. Thankfully, yesterday, I was able to cross one of these 'everyone's favorite Utah activities' off of my Utah bucket list. After careful planning- or not- a group of us headed down to Mona yesterday to play on the rope swings at Burraston Ponds. The pond was just that- a pond, kind of dirty and such, but it was so fun! We brought all kinds of snacks and the boys brought fun activities like corn hole- if you have never played corn hole, you probably should. Best of all- even with all the shenanigans going on, no one got severely injured. We did have a minor foot injury but I am going to go ahead and count that as a victory. Thanks for a fun day everyone who came and thanks for keeping me entertained Utah, maybe you are not so bad after all.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX7QRPuvhtfUmkWT9YBQektSZNJhyphenhyphenhQvRIArIrczk6Vw9umfZMJJvZondRz7NQk7YTfNlWuL-zLgRsISfrMQ-mu4e0hpCEO7aE1pRtgOrLsAStvGn7e1sln1vzlhaiI9LIwELMEJw-Myd/s1600/Mona2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX7QRPuvhtfUmkWT9YBQektSZNJhyphenhyphenhQvRIArIrczk6Vw9umfZMJJvZondRz7NQk7YTfNlWuL-zLgRsISfrMQ-mu4e0hpCEO7aE1pRtgOrLsAStvGn7e1sln1vzlhaiI9LIwELMEJw-Myd/s320/Mona2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Rachel- She is great!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-20250391534374033302012-06-22T16:42:00.000+01:002012-06-22T16:42:05.055+01:00Her Majesty, The QueenThis last weekend was a pretty special one. There was a lot of celebrating going on in our family. We celebrated the end of one, incredible life and the beginning of a new life, full of potential to be just as incredible.<br />
My great aunt JoAnn passed away almost two weeks ago and she is already sorely missed. She was an amazing lady. The kind of person that you aspire to be like. I have so many memories of her house, her laugh, her sarcastic comments- I am going to cherish those memories for the rest of my life. Most people might ask, 'how well could you really know your great aunt', but that is the great thing about our family- I really did know her and I really did love her and I really do hope to be like her one day. I have to mention her girls as well and their families. I love that no matter how long I go without seeing them it is a happy reunion when we cross paths again. We hug and kiss and smile and chat and I can feel their love and that made this weekend even more enjoyable. I am glad to have known JoAnn and glad that she is now forever reunited with her sweetheart, Martin, who, I learned this weekend, referred to her as his queen.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVF8D4QpnttnLY0gwVP8u9hTcNrwja2H8WCZ-_rx53mkGp1P0UwP3_xpjPAXF4174Z-vm_0pxOjlGmmnBAz0AS7V3xG13RUPtxvgyM_1Fe_U65o6XDHXkkA_YmVKUfLXNfVanX-XguGu2N/s1600/Matthew&JoAnn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVF8D4QpnttnLY0gwVP8u9hTcNrwja2H8WCZ-_rx53mkGp1P0UwP3_xpjPAXF4174Z-vm_0pxOjlGmmnBAz0AS7V3xG13RUPtxvgyM_1Fe_U65o6XDHXkkA_YmVKUfLXNfVanX-XguGu2N/s320/Matthew&JoAnn.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I do think this picture may be the sweetest picture ever taken.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The contrast of the beginning of life and the end of life was an interesting one to watch and experience this weekend but I was thankful for it. I am thankful for the Plan of Salvation and for the knowledge that our families truly can be together forever. Watching little Olivia Mae be blessed this weekend and thinking of just how hard her parents worked and sacrificed to get her here built my testimony of the love of family and the love that our Savior, Jesus Christ, has for each of us. I am thankful for the occasions that bring us together. Grateful that I got to spend the weekend with my parents and my grandparents and with my favorite Youngs. It was busy and exhausting enough that I baked a metal spoon into a loaf of pumpkin chocolate chip bread... that is another story... I loved every second of it. I am thankful for the new addition to our family in Olivia and I will be forever grateful for my association with one of the backbones of our family- JoAnn, or The Queen. To quote the JoAnn and Martin Hickman family, ILYBATWSM.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAr-0WxMd-Zd9-Lmpmn0n2dyOXyB2zvG8s_6GfC4pwYELf9zk1Xm3euOB342gRBjtndq1GpPDRuZpRCtixOkYuJLkvR-eRlbX_UfKCJ04vcB4_WPYgdPHjODHZrxF7fXmchyphenhyphen-3lpeuJkP/s1600/BecandLiv.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAr-0WxMd-Zd9-Lmpmn0n2dyOXyB2zvG8s_6GfC4pwYELf9zk1Xm3euOB342gRBjtndq1GpPDRuZpRCtixOkYuJLkvR-eRlbX_UfKCJ04vcB4_WPYgdPHjODHZrxF7fXmchyphenhyphen-3lpeuJkP/s320/BecandLiv.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is a pretty momma and a pretty Liv.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldAGmu15z_Nn9KeECM9a-9-bMJiHkxZJmeFxTigaxykX-RibMyjkbVE8kB-R8UxhpA25galwrsFmTpBlWHxjxgxRpASam28Ml5PALobJK4LrJSQ39haVh_0QDYG1MpvVQBRfYCKGeaERl/s1600/PapaBob.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldAGmu15z_Nn9KeECM9a-9-bMJiHkxZJmeFxTigaxykX-RibMyjkbVE8kB-R8UxhpA25galwrsFmTpBlWHxjxgxRpASam28Ml5PALobJK4LrJSQ39haVh_0QDYG1MpvVQBRfYCKGeaERl/s320/PapaBob.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I seriously love this photo and I seriously love this man- my Papa Bob.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /><br /></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-82201477633463640072012-06-10T16:27:00.001+01:002012-06-10T16:27:13.626+01:00Blog SlackingSo... It has been awhile since my last blog post. Life has been pretty tame in the last little while, not a ton to report, I will share the highlights though- briefly.<br />
<br />
Upon finishing my semester in December I officially<b><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> graduated</span></b> from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor's degree in Athletic Training. Skip forward to the month of March which was riddled with job drama for me. I was offered a job at a clinic in Riverton but was waiting to hear from BYU about a position and had to keep Riverton waiting and was caught in the middle of all the<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> waiting</span>! For those of you who know me, you know I am not the most patient person and this particular situation was really hard for me! Thankfully, my waiting paid off and I was <b><i><span style="color: #e06666;">offered the job with BYU</span></i></b> and will start working there in the fall! So <b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">excited</span></b> about this! For the last couple of months I have been just working at Brick Oven and trying to have as much fun as possible! Now that summer is here that fun includes sunshine and swimming and hiking and taking full advantage of the<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <i>natural playground</i></span> that the state of Utah is.<br />
<br />
Looking ahead... this summer I am getting two different surgeries and following the second one I get to go home to<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Seattle</span> to hang out with the fam for a good couple of weeks- I am really looking forward to this, practically counting down the days!<br />
<br />
Like I said- life is not the most exciting right now but it is good and I have a couple pictures to share to help illustrate that point!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgK8TOoyXNCr76tPtDBDkelAGs0Hiu7VIo_545-U3XVnRrXVITtSsuBRKYLThyphenhyphenXQr_omPCbjisPNBalF9UNRb9wTsctAaQbuklJj1ptghINL9-gwKgIS4r-i00RX5F9VDxWwzxs54fa97/s1600/mdbbq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgK8TOoyXNCr76tPtDBDkelAGs0Hiu7VIo_545-U3XVnRrXVITtSsuBRKYLThyphenhyphenXQr_omPCbjisPNBalF9UNRb9wTsctAaQbuklJj1ptghINL9-gwKgIS4r-i00RX5F9VDxWwzxs54fa97/s320/mdbbq.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This picture was taken at our Memorial Day picnic in the canyon- sometimes I am AMAZED by Utah's beauty.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMMmzgaOCkcijJdrTTfIsSR2W9TCFMSTeap-xXxQbLCsfJS1cySWd6TjxAgNT_05cXSlw0AMCeeJTM5QFFK79zvSuRxDpTNQw1PvbWXtR8wCEEkfdMt853S9usk5DALjD_uEHTT1tjZhD/s1600/lakeday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMMmzgaOCkcijJdrTTfIsSR2W9TCFMSTeap-xXxQbLCsfJS1cySWd6TjxAgNT_05cXSlw0AMCeeJTM5QFFK79zvSuRxDpTNQw1PvbWXtR8wCEEkfdMt853S9usk5DALjD_uEHTT1tjZhD/s320/lakeday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This picture was taken at Lake Day- we are trying hard to find excuses to be in the sunshine!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9xUdqjUNEIDN03_2yCS4jNuS3zm-X9L16XG_L2QhxZk2p5yfJGaxCJfgXceSBOCbt-rJFvVl69Ru_erO0LhS67Y3jlg3mUj1kqgsc62ZTPKPro9kxvHNj_YdjwvV5rO4XBRZ-8y7dkDq/s1600/sfhike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9xUdqjUNEIDN03_2yCS4jNuS3zm-X9L16XG_L2QhxZk2p5yfJGaxCJfgXceSBOCbt-rJFvVl69Ru_erO0LhS67Y3jlg3mUj1kqgsc62ZTPKPro9kxvHNj_YdjwvV5rO4XBRZ-8y7dkDq/s320/sfhike.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This was another day I was amazed by the beauty of Utah- we hiked up Stewart Falls and I couldn't keep my eyes off of my surroundings, I was simply amazed!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtYdp3_3BIVihj6YcvkS0pdtwCAfgP8a44ZlPiFoXSUhCr_hg4AFe0n3ZpDFpifRQA3dsouXPot6JuCpmZDjMFLITHQ8irTt-l6ZQ7pDmUVqY8JHIp15b2YjtBNptqB-9bdE_x87_G8nW/s1600/P1040180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtYdp3_3BIVihj6YcvkS0pdtwCAfgP8a44ZlPiFoXSUhCr_hg4AFe0n3ZpDFpifRQA3dsouXPot6JuCpmZDjMFLITHQ8irTt-l6ZQ7pDmUVqY8JHIp15b2YjtBNptqB-9bdE_x87_G8nW/s320/P1040180.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Another picture from Lake Day... the water was FREEZING!
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6QQdRoSELQN7TaTVqXEaO7QyF9W8JV56puK3k4YhRKP0NgF9QLxFlEzVQyeIkuVCGEASt-cL29JQUDhgK5vEEWVzfXCk8zCpsIEZyYiDlQpEThWvYkjbkoYlmI9yoWkuanS-sJMkVnIw/s1600/wipeout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6QQdRoSELQN7TaTVqXEaO7QyF9W8JV56puK3k4YhRKP0NgF9QLxFlEzVQyeIkuVCGEASt-cL29JQUDhgK5vEEWVzfXCk8zCpsIEZyYiDlQpEThWvYkjbkoYlmI9yoWkuanS-sJMkVnIw/s320/wipeout.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is my latest battle wound... I wiped out on a run in the canyon trying to avoid a run-in with a handsome mountain biker. You can imagine my embarrassment.... </div>
<br />
<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-86517372111338327032011-12-11T23:20:00.003+00:002011-12-11T23:32:40.216+00:00It Is Official!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For those of you not well versed in the profession of athletic training, let me give you just a little insight. As medical professionals, we are required to take a board examination before we are permitted to practice. This test is called the BOC and it is talked about from day one in most athletic training programs. I had the opportunity to take the BOC on November 18, just days before I went home for Thanksgiving. Taking the test was not that bad. Waiting for my results for more than two weeks was a little excruciating. This Tuesday, there was an email in my inbox telling me that the pass/fail results had been posted. This statement could not have been more true. Upon logging in to the BOC website I saw my name, status- passed. That was all, no confetti, no fireworks like when you win solitaire, just PASSED. This was all I needed to know. Although fireworks would have been nice, passing was all I needed to do! I am a certified athletic trainer, pretty cool feeling if you ask me!</div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbMJ2FXtGXisIwpVAX3UiPAhOYUDCkngTEhJjHhiqiDOg94_ZBsDWEeh7-9AKHUI65JbmQafSxcq_rx5eS3hIwfJ-CiWv6HEDngLRbQzBWz9tVZ4GHZNZZRs8Q369OV4QShf9Yn4WImed/s320/302450_275088835859320_183308481704023_876337_2118455603_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685017268388413586" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now I can help kids like Trevor for a living instead of just clinical experience. If you are wondering, Trevor is on his knees in this picture so I can better stretch his injured shoulder- something that would be extremely difficult for me to do if he were standing at his normal height of 6 foot something!</div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-13986395755582154712011-11-08T03:53:00.002+00:002011-11-08T03:59:37.659+00:00In Other News...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lUQ0CywQiL11RzKow1AJ2mMCdgSleOB0uiV6APSTRnT58zT5jY-Uhv7SkOtUNoFgL_poNSmMPt1dFA05Da_D2T1dym9AsSqkdVdZW7phzMlj9khdGE7cTJFnVANhYmQOtM_me1ZLW3DB/s1600/305724_10150356872494538_511579537_8324089_2127539942_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lUQ0CywQiL11RzKow1AJ2mMCdgSleOB0uiV6APSTRnT58zT5jY-Uhv7SkOtUNoFgL_poNSmMPt1dFA05Da_D2T1dym9AsSqkdVdZW7phzMlj9khdGE7cTJFnVANhYmQOtM_me1ZLW3DB/s320/305724_10150356872494538_511579537_8324089_2127539942_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672468584440854258" /></a>One of my very best friends, Christina, married a boy we all knew from freshman year in the beginning of September. It was a wonderful day complete with me driving my manual transition car while holding Christina's million pound bouquet in one other hand and trying to keep the other two bouquets standing up straight with my other hand... adventure, I think so! I recognize that this was a long time ago but the pictures were just posted and I wanted to share this one with everyone because I think it is a great picture! Congrats, Christina and Jackson! I love you both!Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-65089465186316086592011-10-23T23:43:00.004+01:002011-10-23T23:55:38.720+01:00Pleasant Grove and Pink<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82LkYcuq43JAdZr-pmQKNcTNnvUIWRMCEcI317z8M2R4NivfvxI4nH-RG3ob_fj0L0H7Vsavg1m9YnMvdrh1jWxGMGrO_cEUbLB85ZIfZVVMlHXR7JrROGC_s0pF2tuaOw_TgPAPJxYR_/s320/Copy.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666822205199672834" /><div style="text-align: center;">I have spent a good chunk of my time this semester at Pleasant Grove High School participating in the last internship of my undergraduate education. Working out at PG has been so great! I love my Clinical Instructor there- her name is Kristin and she is pretty much the bomb. I love what we do there. I love seeing kids- like the boy in this picture- come back from injuries and get to be able to play again. This boy broke his collarbone the second game of the season and was able to come back and play the last four games, something not a lot of people thought he would be able to do. There is nothing better than seeing these kids return to full play and love it. I also really grew to love my kids out there at PG. High school kids are so fun and I am so grateful to have gotten to work with them and know them and pretty much love them!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Our last game was this last Wednesday and it was definitely bitter sweet. So sad that it is over but so rewarding to get all the hugs and teary thank-yous from my boys.</div><div style="text-align: center;">For our Senior night we let the guys spat. Spatting is what it is called when you tape over your shoe. Not only did we spat but we did it with pink tape. For those of you who follow the NFL you would know that October is breast cancer awareness month and that the cool thing to do is to wear pink. We have a couple of guys on our team who's moms have battled breast cancer so, this one time, we let them spat, in support of breast cancer awareness. It was a ton of work but, I have to say, it looked pretty sweet.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3VL_PQ55J1IhqdbIjtk7gxNEuXTC6D1HtWpZ2n8uVzoXqncpvSzKZwEyr8_aD6Nm0_YD1phXQX3skSkovMUHz8Rp5D6J-Z1X2tspyVxkkPyJ_Tam4eTW2Z-WCZOwJHkPj9k7Qmgu2jir/s320/PA140983.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666824232620533154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><div style="text-align: center;">I am so thankful for all the awesome experiences that my education here at BYU has afforded me and I look forward to taking the next steps in my career and my education!</div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-28065991150014780692011-10-23T22:59:00.007+01:002011-10-23T23:41:23.616+01:00A Few of My Favorite Things<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBg0MqCHgRAI2tK9K6eg0rhAFqR4UuKca3rqi2_LGTuRJWAi_p20L9YKpyT5XDIyaQTu4e98ufpU2VU0QQLS7Rdr-VCulXc8323jMJPyBoqE9qbLi7Pu508jJOpjX67TwVmXgNTiPMvtl/s320/_DSC0001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666811370781468034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This post is a little bit late but, a couple of weekends ago I had an incredibly fun weekend and I feel like it needs to be blogged about so, here it is! For those of you who read Annie's blog, you know that in the Ditto family when you turn 8 you get to come to Utah for General Conference. Addison turned 8 in August which qualified him for a Conference trip! Kelly and Addy got to Utah on Friday just in time for a sweet tour of the BYU football team's athletic training facilities. This brings me to my first couple of favorite things. Kelly and Addison are some of my favorite boys in the whole wide world and, Kevin and Jeff and the rest of the football athletic training staff are some of my favorite people... Ever. I showed Addy and Kelly the training room and everything that goes along with it (the cool under water treadmill and the storage room with all the tape and Powerade and everything else there was to see.) One of the hosts that I got to know last fall took us up to the offices and showed us around, that was pretty sweet too! We ran into a couple of players which made the tour a little more exciting. We talked to Jamison Frazier for a while (#48) and, on our way out, we ran into Cody Hoffman (#2). Pretty sure Kelly started drooling, that was a little bit embarrassing but pretty cool!</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAeXjJ84puQz89Zrb0chbNZsgCnAo8POueFIIlJYwakEYlLdPYmRMz1VHZy9WMo82x7Ar3YpqoYqVzy0LtJFZaEHjNlw-MuEIPjoj980vbAdJwJSZaAbnMdJHVVgr16RrHKsSyPPE0NJQ/s320/_DSC0008+%25281%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666814297947213058" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /><div style="text-align: center;"> This is the door to the training room. I spent such an incredible amount of hours there last fall that it still feels a little like home to me and I find myself missing it sometimes- especially the people that reside there (or practically reside there).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0-pK4MbOt_karyCNDyW8QxA4bALb46Y0NfXtKygF61xi6wl7WRYV8h9mgpHHmX5NmKdN7xafMJGvBKAXhMj4l567yGMi2sB6p28YZro6EGUiZ7Ahezl8DLVkyqIh5-3t5ej_DoH3OP8E/s320/_DSC0073.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666816135573318578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Saturday was Kelly's birthday. To celebrate we decided to go to one of Kelly's favorite places, nature. We went out for a yummy breakfast at Magleby's and then hiked up to Stewart Falls up above Sundance ski resort. This leads me to yet another favorite thing, FALL! I love fall! I love the weather and the colors and fall. We had such a blast hiking and looking at the colors. It was seriously breathtaking. There were a couple of times when I made everyone stop hiking so we could simply look at the colors and admire just how blessed we are to experience fall! We might have missed the morning session of General Conference but Becca and I both decided that communing with nature was a wonderful way to feel the spirit. It might sound like I am joking but I really am not. Taking time to really appreciate the world and notice the beauty is an excellent way to feel the Spirit and the love the our Heavenly Father has for us as His children.</div></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEA09MXbuv9vl9OjGe4oo38fjweJS886aQRQC9aqm9_dRhX5r2OBipsTU0ZdAXiOfiBdYYR7E2871_poTXCKiv1HP3CZk78ULxYyQpHHe5neFrvgE8Qc7WRdTXK3hAiQ88VaTrD0DIF9-l/s320/_DSC0092.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666818053438851906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another favorite thing- Sisters!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Te39l_Ugn7qnlBhg_M-EHJKhAjEAFoC3EU5R8LO38mu8fqwzQO0V2KE_xixXWQpCpHO_LE7SeRPEdKlpO_DFI2bxtaoQrvUCIX962wlWJhvQj-GT_m0GKbzGKs_vUAXcpo_bHLvhdcTY/s320/_DSC0119.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666818702448564706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">I lucked out this year and got to go to two sessions of Conference in the Conference Center. I loved it! I love being there in person to hear the prophets and apostles and to feel the spirit there. I hope that one day I can have a kind of spirit around me that could fill up a building like the Conference Center. I saw Saturday Afternoon's Session and Sunday Morning. This has got to be another favorite. I love hearing Conference and knowing that the messages that are shared are what my Father in Heaven would have me hear. On Sunday Morning we (Addison, Kelly and I) we walking around the Conference Center trying to get wiggles out and we ran into a man with a camera and a press pass that asked if he could take a picture of our family. We told him that he could definitely take a picture of us so, keep your eyes open when the Ensign comes out... you might just see us somewhere in its pages. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Such a great weekend! So many great things, people, places, and experiences! I am so blessed and I know that and I hope that with every passing day I can become a little better at showing my gratitude for the blessings I receive.</div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-15610411662663146092011-09-25T06:03:00.004+01:002011-09-25T17:57:41.295+01:00Down and Dirty... Literally<div><br /></div>I did something today that I have never done before. I ran a race where the goal wasn't so much winning as it was getting as dirty as possible. That's right. It was a 5k course laced with all kinds of obstacles- the obstacles all involved mud. The race started up a hill that had been sprayed down with water all day long. We had to run through puddles that were up to my thighs. We had to crawl through tunnels that were buried in mud. We had to jump walls into mud and crawl under walls in mud- there was a lot of mud! It was crazy but so fun! I was with good, my amazing little sister came to be our official photographer, it was a beautiful day and I ended up with a free shirt after getting punched in the face by the race coordinator. The mark from his hit matches the cut on my eye I got during my intramural Frisbee game this week (don't worry, we won the game). Just to clear up any kind of confusion about my injury... we were lining up to take a picture in front of the Dirty Dash truck (the race was called the Dirty Dash) and, as we were grouping ourselves, the race coordinator came and jumped in our picture. I was completely <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ok</span> with this because I find him very attractive and he runs ultra marathons- talk about really attractive- anyway, he jumps in our picture and goes to stick his arm in the air to strike a pose but, instead, his hand met my face, hard. He felt really badly about the whole thing so he gave us a free entry to next year's race and, after I told him that a free shirt would probably help my face feel better, he got me a shirt! The worst part about the race was having to go to work when I got home. I had a great time getting in touch with my 'pig' side today! Here are some pictures for all to enjoy!<div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NoODiuYE9LiMPA1ClfTllQjzKKKGdTYhImfPZXx-SZePH88kXZUffn7Qsy4IRacSQDSGkEXSXQ3jrHg5DNVgB7nF3Qp_MdMosUORGiGCOD2zabWPTc493nDg9AnZTdC9OW0oFc6GAuax/s1600/304892_10150292920236503_650921502_8155596_216543608_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NoODiuYE9LiMPA1ClfTllQjzKKKGdTYhImfPZXx-SZePH88kXZUffn7Qsy4IRacSQDSGkEXSXQ3jrHg5DNVgB7nF3Qp_MdMosUORGiGCOD2zabWPTc493nDg9AnZTdC9OW0oFc6GAuax/s320/304892_10150292920236503_650921502_8155596_216543608_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656164145320520850" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">We really were clean before we started... Here is proof.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVBBceh5s0tSX5587nAooPby7dmiPvEHt6u5Rd8hkJ7l3_zQY6M1zEOAtK8thN1mJQHZdIqPxjG_tvwkNgZLyCE6iUzKDA-prt0MvtsL24j5WJe-oNiD_nJ4leq8LaSkEf1k5s8BmBGJ6/s1600/298855_10150292923976503_650921502_8155650_1447384160_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVBBceh5s0tSX5587nAooPby7dmiPvEHt6u5Rd8hkJ7l3_zQY6M1zEOAtK8thN1mJQHZdIqPxjG_tvwkNgZLyCE6iUzKDA-prt0MvtsL24j5WJe-oNiD_nJ4leq8LaSkEf1k5s8BmBGJ6/s320/298855_10150292923976503_650921502_8155650_1447384160_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656163792551977250" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We were not quite as clean when we ended... These are our pig faces...</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBz27LJgJO4s3TIscStexe_TLDUpvjGDiN-H8hPiRaYW0bkQCv4BeBaqJ3fgXZ_q3iw4ASIySk5XwIu5nuxoa9dL4FQ41d5wBFEpu3ChP4wZj-PIwC_BssOwIMapoOLnw0k7aZH4P1b0L/s1600/292732_10150292921241503_650921502_8155612_1114823326_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBz27LJgJO4s3TIscStexe_TLDUpvjGDiN-H8hPiRaYW0bkQCv4BeBaqJ3fgXZ_q3iw4ASIySk5XwIu5nuxoa9dL4FQ41d5wBFEpu3ChP4wZj-PIwC_BssOwIMapoOLnw0k7aZH4P1b0L/s320/292732_10150292921241503_650921502_8155612_1114823326_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656163792781511282" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">This was the final obstacle before the finish line, a GIANT mud puddle!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUBYVSUxqOhs3QCQ92egpnPMZnSmG26CTTu7rogmFaB9YdJVrPJxAOXtE4ILitUdPglYilmxtTrT_5bknjcjwZAH-qQtK1QcK5DNEUB7O46-Z4KHrNW0lsV3l3x-ckIbHijI1MIOTNUu7/s1600/299679_10150292924461503_650921502_8155661_766043950_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUBYVSUxqOhs3QCQ92egpnPMZnSmG26CTTu7rogmFaB9YdJVrPJxAOXtE4ILitUdPglYilmxtTrT_5bknjcjwZAH-qQtK1QcK5DNEUB7O46-Z4KHrNW0lsV3l3x-ckIbHijI1MIOTNUu7/s320/299679_10150292924461503_650921502_8155661_766043950_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656163787821830226" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Classic jumping picture. Unfortunately, Kelsey's old man knee was not letting her jump at this juncture.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dvAWbV-W3ouOoC03WzVaz9T8F7BDNglLMsWInRy2pbPUWUWHxGv_TZ4pWNmIB8vNHoc5W8OFQoJC44SnnJvTqhvn6JQmRrVfo3r9pAaFDT1IkTMybTrgelXBD0ShLmFqOpOnehz2JLbr/s1600/297811_10150292924746503_650921502_8155668_1275684470_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dvAWbV-W3ouOoC03WzVaz9T8F7BDNglLMsWInRy2pbPUWUWHxGv_TZ4pWNmIB8vNHoc5W8OFQoJC44SnnJvTqhvn6JQmRrVfo3r9pAaFDT1IkTMybTrgelXBD0ShLmFqOpOnehz2JLbr/s320/297811_10150292924746503_650921502_8155668_1275684470_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656163786984794866" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">This would be right after I got punched in the face- note the scared/hurt face.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRcnZIAsdJ82q-GpSBnjuVn8cR8Xx_dkBVoLGKbnlAvCUMCOWiyALNmr6a53EwqW7TgxPpbMH3HPJhVBeteNp63R4tQRv5WaD5XOqy_myHz9CHVpxmUF1tUYFzD_QpW-ELJBg5Chq8_ye/s1600/293982_10150292925311503_650921502_8155679_424728160_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRcnZIAsdJ82q-GpSBnjuVn8cR8Xx_dkBVoLGKbnlAvCUMCOWiyALNmr6a53EwqW7TgxPpbMH3HPJhVBeteNp63R4tQRv5WaD5XOqy_myHz9CHVpxmUF1tUYFzD_QpW-ELJBg5Chq8_ye/s320/293982_10150292925311503_650921502_8155679_424728160_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656163784838170178" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">This would be the devolution of running- Kelsey represents a human and I would be the pig.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>We were clean and then we were the opposite of clean- really, really dirty! It was a blast running through the mud and wading through puddles up to my waist (they weren't up to anyone else's waist but they were there on me). Thanks for inviting me to be on your team Kels! Fun day girls, fun day!</div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-34043058592716807752011-09-11T23:35:00.002+01:002011-09-11T23:50:05.223+01:00Remembering...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIb8WR81Mp1lX7pDOsvrAI6KhqXqJ6jUFJOr_Z9cdaHAHXu98PVKS7-eLQ1QGPG3Gw_E5sYZxvMeiwz9wso2z80pqJGDREnx62UREubITHyw129bPye_Rp4stGtZoUerIliCNxkRRsMs9H/s1600/sept+11.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIb8WR81Mp1lX7pDOsvrAI6KhqXqJ6jUFJOr_Z9cdaHAHXu98PVKS7-eLQ1QGPG3Gw_E5sYZxvMeiwz9wso2z80pqJGDREnx62UREubITHyw129bPye_Rp4stGtZoUerIliCNxkRRsMs9H/s320/sept+11.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651237981378111410" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Once upon a time, ten whole years ago, I was sitting in my middle school art class and our principal came on the PA system and announced to all of us that we were being sent home early due to a national emergency. There had been rumors flying around school all morning that airplanes had crashed into buildings in New York but I did not want to believe they were true because my Mom, older sister Becca and my Dad were all flying that day. I didn't know what to think in my 12 year old mind- I was terrified. I eventually got in contact with my Dad who's plane never took off and he had simply gone back to work. That made me feel a little better and then we heard that Mom and Becca were safely on the ground in Omaha, NE.- not where they wanted to be since they were headed to Provo to take Becca to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">MTC</span> but they were safe.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Today, ten years later, I think back on this same day when I was twelve years old and I am so grateful that day went the way it did. I am also mindful of the families who did not receive good news like I did. So many lives were changed that day and I am sorry for those who's lives were changed for the worst. There is a scripture that comes to mind every time I think back on September 11, 2001 and it is Jacob 3:1. I read this scripture that day and it says that, '<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 237); "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"> He (God) will </span></span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 10px; vertical-align: super; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 1; ">b</sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/3?lang=eng#" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=bofm&bookUri=jacob&chapterUri=3&noteID=1b&lang=eng" id="footnote1" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 22px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: underline; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; ">console</a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"> you in your </span></span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 10px; vertical-align: super; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 1; ">c</sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/3?lang=eng#" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=bofm&bookUri=jacob&chapterUri=3&noteID=1c&lang=eng" id="footnote2" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 22px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; ">afflictions</a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">, and he will plead your cause, and send down </span></span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 10px; vertical-align: super; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 1; ">d</sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/3?lang=eng#" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=bofm&bookUri=jacob&chapterUri=3&noteID=1d&lang=eng" id="footnote3" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 22px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; ">justice</a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"> upon those who seek your destruction.' This scripture comforted me then and continues to comfort me today. I am so thankful for the gospel. I know there is a plan and a reason for things that happen to us in our lives. I also know that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and wants what is best for me in my life. It is this knowledge that inspires me to continue on even after tragedies like that of September 11, 2001. </span></span></span></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-41115669053506116542011-09-11T18:53:00.008+01:002011-09-11T23:24:52.025+01:00Running Southern Utah<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRiH38GBXUbpCdNnQfbbM-sd_NaKzN6ZJwD4zm4f-cqf4KpY4JN6UIhX7IpinhpGfe8BrC1wmM_TL8Da0qIpr7xQ99Xvip6d0VGcV0Bg5rRo-WeFqsUPLAYO8HWcNC3KHqBLF23fgvSC_/s320/297024_10150365639337915_677077914_9716683_1846027652_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651161800716886306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> <div><div style="text-align: center;">I have been looking forward to this weekend with anticipation and a little bit of dread since my friend Kris asked me to run on his<b><span class="Apple-style-span" > Red Rock Relay</span></b> team in early May. The Red Rock Relay is a running relay that goes from Cedar City to Zion National Park. We started at the top of Brian Head ski resort and ended at the gates of Zion. The race is <b><span class="Apple-style-span" >175 miles</span></b> (or something like that) in all and we ran with a team of twelve people. The picture above is a shot of the "Snow" van. Teams were divided into two vans with the first being called the Snow van since it started at the ski resort. Not long after this picture was taken, our first runner jumped on the lift and rode to the top where the race began with a nice jaunt down the ski hill at 11,000 feet- talk about thin air!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjk7oOFb0w7j0dzbjL2-3Xs7T_mAFaoxUcR066uqnpUG5qRVkj8DrwTf_r3PsnoJ8xsOLGqm46rBXD5mz8yn-8pkWOq7sR_Iq4scrC4q_snjTmRT0iaoJjDhch6rZ5_fF31-wES_ye-Ep/s320/296309_10150365650172915_677077914_9716855_918140592_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651163036687516402" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Since it was a relay race and we all took turns running there was a good amount of time when each individual was not running. Our van was the first van so, the six of us in the van ran our legs and then we got a break while the six in the other van ran their legs. While the runners in our van were running we acted as their support car. We would stop ever mile or so to give them water and cheer them on. One of my favorite things about this race is that all the teams cheered for each other. This picture is our team and a couple of other teams making a tunnel for a runner to run through- it was so fun getting to know the other teams and cheering for them!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffTU8Cik6hhnLxorbOPmQppb-gXABgLnovFQut5Dim1vViJpyICjw6rh5qnRVWsmlkBy4hpH5UcNPFYOn1aC22krJ0V1qPwd-q5S12d81RqvsP32zXe-ts5EqpPgQZ5QOWQZI5LNNybbb/s320/320399_10150365642107915_677077914_9716722_971134106_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651163043296599234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">One definite perk of being in the support vehicle most of the time was the scenery. Southern Utah is definitely <span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>beautiful country</b></span>! This was a view along on of my friend Hilary's routes- Lauren and I could not pass it up so we put on our best Asian tourist faces and took a picture!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBxBVKwuyQC_gZpDFzL2o54wOlsmFeoMr_DaDVqOTJBKW0gqHXrPniQgQtw0XxZz-bbKaHIIcfPMetbQmIUhRx0LpRxfGGWymzofPvONHc2t49p9yIFbz1U9NMF5PMtGUufGPeDw1t81t/s320/315851_10150365648597915_677077914_9716822_792778893_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651164696419093362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If I told you this picture was taken at<b><span class="Apple-style-span" > 3:30 am </span></b>would you believe me? You better, because it was! After getting about 2 hours of sleep in a church parking lot it was our van's turn to run again. The worst part about this was that I was having a wonderful dream about being asleep in a nice soft bed when the other team called to say they were coming in and the realization that I was not in a nice soft bed was pretty harsh!! While I was trying to fall asleep in our van in the parking lot I thought to myself, 'why in the world would anyone sign up to do this?' The thing was, it was not just crazy college kids running around southern Utah and sleeping in the grass outside of churches, it was grown ups, moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas- intelligent people who probably don't usually do crazy things. There is just something about running, and I think about this race in particular, that calls to normally sane people like myself and makes us do borderline insane things, and then tell all our friends we had a blast doing them.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOq1B-6LDk4Jk8O3D5lSgt6XqjaV-gFoLsJTxcfiVv51-pVci1WfB5IO5nQKCje_l5s8Ti-dNuaGyH0VH4d7eEX3wRSllHVTV9KH53XbTI-GTgBeq5UOq5XM3Da-U4GJGpvJNDTzLMtGs/s320/319589_10150365648352915_677077914_9716818_1105219903_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651166932292178338" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Here is a quick summary of my three legs...</b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Leg One: I ran my first leg in a <b><span class="Apple-style-span" >hail storm</span></b>. I currently had a large number of tiny bruises on my legs from where my legs and the hail met. I do not recommend running in hail. My first leg was also almost entirely uphill. Running uphill for 5.8 miles in hail at 8,000 feet is not my idea of fun and I love running so... that is saying something! I managed to finish and pass seven people on the way. How did I do this, I have no idea.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Leg Two: My second leg was about as different from my first leg as it could have been. It was not hailing, it was all down hill and my shoes were completely dry the entire time! I ran my second leg at about 10:30 pm in a reflective vest and a head lamp, two things I have never before worn while running. During this leg I passed ten people and managed to run 5.6 miles in about 35 minutes but, like I said, it was all down hill so don't be too impressed.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Leg Three: My last leg was a breeze. It was only two miles and it was mostly flat. At this point (6 am, running on 2 hours of sleep) I was feeling incredibly grateful to only be running two miles! Before running my last leg I was tied for the most kills in</div><div style="text-align: center;">our van with one of my teammates. (Kills are what we called it when we passed someone while we were running) For those of you who don't know, I am a little on the competitive side. This competitiveness is what made me have the desire to get at least one more kill during my last run so I could be the kills leader in our van. During my last leg I got two kills and ran my two miles right around 14 minutes which was a pretty satisfying way to finish off my Red Rock experience.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The picture above this section is Hilary 'marking' me. We got to put a mark on our leg for each leg of the race we ran. That particular mark was put on my leg after my 5.6 miles that I ran down hill the whole way. The picture directly below this section is me and our van's kill count. Since I was the leader in kills, our van affectionately christened me <b><span class="Apple-style-span" >'The Slayer'</span></b>.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDA59MAR5IChZzOBvQLzgj6dgrUHg0N9ETY9c4QDWyNsT3ff9MyDAjq0tkx0ppdZJyAlmy7tJblEIsWEMyktplhrSomSEbGaDeMBmyCFcXeqYw0ftmUvEGDbyKjN8mWmFu3Gt1rB7di51v/s320/314649_10150365649917915_677077914_9716848_187387281_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651166954549143266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaA7hfycYWRZyedCqCa4uPcxXeYdFmzOdkQv_W9jPjMtGmyb9iGT0z8L6U7RmbIBAgNAtQNHLHNvY-hSPlA85j-BG8UlO2AKyRC_Rg6-_VId5LWHUfawgL403dke1TIqHIvOTc_VPrtQop/s320/297839_10150365651322915_677077914_9716877_60291132_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651170447701155842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">The girl in the blue shorts is Kelli, she ran our last leg and just happens to be my dad's cousin's daughter so that makes her my second cousin (or something like that)- we found this out one day at work, really randomly, but we have ran with it and now call each other' cuz' and are pretty much planning the next family reunion! Kelli is a beast of a runner and ran our last leg into Zion. A couple of us started to run with her and we were all able to cross the finish line together- it was a pretty sweet experience. I really think that finishing the Red Rock is definitely on my list of times that I have felt most<span class="Apple-style-span" ><b> legit</b></span>, in my entire life.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiadv3X0uTpa1W1D-XFnTebw-TyJZ7kTLyW1LzPUe7Y9AeG1Oav_lELKpF6yxOQECLg1JuOPsyiEDR71VSGviDcJQ2mrqE8SF6ovjyF4_ERa4Dd6E-qJG-dpGvVfuTK2HtYG3VU8vD-C9l/s320/311734_10150365650622915_677077914_9716862_2100090010_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651226139703535378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Incredibly enough, by the end of the experience, this is what our van looked like, all <span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>smiles</b></span>. Ok, there was definitely some soreness and body aching situations but, other than that, everyone was pretty happy at the end! It took us just about 26 hours to finish the 175 miles and we finished somewhere in the first 40 teams. Most importantly, as cheesy as it sounds, we all had a ton of fun! Even through the hail and the rain and the hills and the lack of sleep and everything else that came our way, it really was a blast! If you are ever wondering if you should run the Red Rock, do it! It will change your life... ok, maybe not quite change your life but it will definitely be worth it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-86713261303758027792011-09-04T16:11:00.004+01:002011-09-04T16:27:42.079+01:00Hello Seattle<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Directly after the fake graduation festivities we jumped in the car and headed to Spokane. It was a big weekend in Spokane! Addison got baptized and Maren got blessed- like I said, big weekend! It was definitely fun to be there with everyone and to celebrate those two great events.<div>
<br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBI28_tPfh7wnSk9aBD2L-c09VNV5LmJsliuR_sygEvUH8dU_D3-Gxbz6AxjVN4HsxRYhCxqzGR9KksGn8Zd1bm4vZO8szG_oXv6xu2gstcAPO6EH1aipOEogkutM82JLhOY7-Orc6OLA/s320/Baptism.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648523495920625186" /><div style="text-align: center;">The group was pretty large and consisted mostly of Dittos but we tried our best to represent and the Dittos aren't so bad :)</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After the baptism and blessing festivities were complete, we jumped back in the car (there was a lot of time in the car) and drove over to the west side of the great state of Washington. So many good things happened on the opposite side of the state, maybe not quite as good as baptisms and blessings but I went to Panera (twice), I got to see my parents new house, I got to see grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins, and I got to lounge around at the lakehouse for a solid three days doing only things I wanted to do- best vacation ever!! I also got to spend my whole time at the lake with my amazing older sisters and their adorable children and one of my very best friends, Katelin, who I dragged along! The highlights include, reading an entire book, laying in the sun (yes, it was sunny), running around the lake, playing with the kiddos, helping Laynie jump off the highdock for the first time and being the designated jumping in the water-catcher. It was a wonderful week that ended with a date with my parents and Katelin to see The Help in the cute Edmonds Theater, get frozen yogurt and walk along the beach. I think, with this vacation under my belt, I will be able to successfully survive my very last semester at BYU.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3P8k8-O-olStUdelf9b43zwS-qwDpk8ySealhP0FVu1islWG7b2wSHrFWCOiujuolERGWmWoAWlqHDg5CSEl2LavgmMgm7uK0SPDLQHftJSUz8ygl2fm5FQSzteWSapEH1wEftlPd0D1E/s320/highdock2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648525526356138818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px; " /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNy-kQg11IUuaaLX2ZnyBCY7zn6zSNKqa-HUl4Bx3nf406uEnc1d53VVbmq3SFJRIMtE4Rias1AZmpYcm1Qj43HKqOB8NK8TLF4a3mDSXbpI5rbDvPRbMFowznQJF1F7UCuv0ZVS3dijas/s320/highdock.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648525518300524018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /><div style="text-align: center;">I wanted to provide photographic evidence that Laynie and I both did some serious highdock jumping!</div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-76334933348031042352011-09-04T16:04:00.003+01:002011-09-04T16:10:24.588+01:00Ungraduation<div>
<br /></div>Just as the title suggests, I did some fake graduating a couple of weeks ago. BYU does not have Commencement Ceremonies in December when I am officially graduating so, I decided to walk in August with some really good friends of mine. It was a little bit of a crazy time between trying to get finals done and working, starting my internship for the fall and having my family here but it was fun! Thanks to my Dad and his awesome photography skills we have great pictures to document the fact that all of us, minus Sam who actually graduated for real, fake graduated!<div>
<br /><div>
<br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJLY2owKXMjE4lMOG303hWDsoX0najshmi6TD6mCCv4BtfXE4tP5Sx0zTbgRtPt9_AbgcjIwo-u1b6BMAs6jnZrH4yJWU2Ri9s2ZGJlEPaTG6TYiLVWFAMZwQBjsbtXyK2cbBnfI_rjMz/s320/Grad4.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648521376606549026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLQ_KPH-gHP422bQeeTcRS8z71Hh3se0ysXigVA-qmZSNX2-KU3GQileWRqqG2juxFchJVQLqGTCU-L6r-Y9SAxcelNSQYgaO04HHfwP_4h3QMg1oXCokkgZmKtBMidzq3-3Wc-by5F9V/s320/Grad3.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648521372365292882" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIfJpTSNRJdhraS1nvAD40CFhPEn-E6lbfxoxyWkRhKxb-x7ZVztIQZt03j6db3gF7H-0PPjSkARTFMsqFodFcxvcu_gogPjCJn4aelA0JXTO2Zxo8C09kVDb0P7Mjqus2jSoAtrIUU-0/s320/Grad2.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648521371805822546" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5x8eyPa7J1F5EkoKZfPMiPHqwn13bT-n8h4H3B6v6S0LRhvHdcy5voV7l4zPuDgJbAkU4_QkHnYztdR-pUk9UxHaqi7eXi_WCJQvErZ7oSfYdNLk6thHt5R4LXvYrUwWCPihfTvmes2xq/s320/Grad1.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648521364767621154" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosqEYN77VAaCVlQtWGglnGqV7uzW-gcXAJ8RzxP9U6RdYClKbeEqd_jKGknKjN29NSJCh789e6Esqd6ujmC3uc3Px6XNLRBlToASycu_eV5K5Ju3NCAbeSzP6kpqakF7VtNtCcYV9d9dd/s1600/Grad5.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosqEYN77VAaCVlQtWGglnGqV7uzW-gcXAJ8RzxP9U6RdYClKbeEqd_jKGknKjN29NSJCh789e6Esqd6ujmC3uc3Px6XNLRBlToASycu_eV5K5Ju3NCAbeSzP6kpqakF7VtNtCcYV9d9dd/s320/Grad5.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648521374546513490" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-73506846227578033262011-08-05T00:36:00.009+01:002011-08-05T01:43:52.802+01:00He Got Her<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">To quote my best friend Jill, who was quoting Colbie Calliat, while singing to her new husband, Mike, at their wedding reception, "He Got Her". Last weekend was full of fun and love and happiness as my best friend Jill married her Mike. They are a great couple and this event was a great excuse for all of the original Fugal girls to reunite. We were all there minus Sarah who is in Colorado on her mission. She was certainly thought about and missed! Especially at our girlie sleep over the night before the wedding- I am so thankful to have to have the friends that I do!!! It was so so fun to see everyone and to be there at the temple to see Jill and Mike emerge as a married couple!! After the temple there was a dinner at a stake center near by- catered by Cafe Rio- yum! The next day (Saturday) was the road trip to Lyman, WY for the reception. It was a great party and, with a lot of praying, we even managed to hold off the rain that wanted, so badly, to fall on us. Thanks Mike and Jill and the Hansens and the Jaggis for a wonderful weekend! Can't wait to do it all again in September for Jackson and Christina!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwG6MpCKZpK-nJVtAoHkJZ5y12jZkbhv5b9TaZrN879oZGaDlii97vDvLW8awNLei6fFRBrLOGkn5S7fsVYUu_F93W0h-usyIRQfsJbhWe_RcxySi-yhZjrhZU906nMqWQD82iK8BRtB0h/s320/IMG_0692.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637153768037077282" /><div style="text-align: center;">Here it is, the girlie sleep-over. We painted our finger nails and toe nails, we watched a girlie movie and talked until too late- perfect night!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3CWk9VUegkhvmS7rTG6W1oDxlW98XvhO6vIU7L310OTQ-SdM_pcI8qLwheIXn8QNUVoXvwsHx2jjZXS1P1qKyFekPPyYCO-UcuGM9NxxuaqkHwa0SsGWTBzol8vcy0vPmQiI89_7Y5x6/s320/267365_10100127117193099_17830850_43494397_2154569_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637154760036259026" /><div style="text-align: center;">This was the next day, at the temple. It was real hot outside- just to throw that out there! Just to show how small the world is, or how many people get married in Utah County, especially over the summer... While waiting for Jill and Mike's sealing to end I walked outside the temple and ran into one of my football players. He had just gotten sealed that day in the very same temple as Jill. It was fun to be able to congratulate him and even to receive a proposal from one of the coaches- He said to me, "When are you getting married?" I replied that I didn't know, upon my reply he grabbed my hand and said, "Let's go" as he walked toward the temple- pretty funny.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinl11R-FuntriHuKMj6MBc7y3ENBZe0-X63lT2N3pUuaMatSnxzSpXXmA3IObWGZy3jLPVejckbhgqo89IZfqhWYkgrSwYV1aonHB2POI1yYrD4bfp3RrPoZJ_UTZI2UVXZkYt_5UoA3wt/s320/IMG_0722.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637160425692993170" /><div style="text-align: center;">Here we all are, minus Sarah. I know that I have already said this but, I LOVE these girls! I am so blessed to have them in my life and I am so glad that we are all going to be friends from break-ups to babies and beyond! Just to make a public apology- Katelin, I am really sorry for stomping on your foot in my spikey heels right before this picture- I love you.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMp94Zx2JdXDmxIEngq0jf9U6wwtPug6-hcK_KLB2l4OS69akqWz-_JzWw13OSHIdRjjsqF5OuxQInMcaTBkZ8c8ZqwNvZL4zs91pssfxuTY8QjaQdQ8AdBrtwfTnaNjuZMfyIcLw3QU2L/s320/284935_10100127126215019_17830850_43494538_1431963_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637161624818702770" /><div style="text-align: center;">Lyman, Wyoming! A little piece of heaven! The party was beautiful with lights and paper laterns- it really was gorgeous!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5CscmdT1EywrRqKWM0pqHscBb01UJxeTUfqjDV2l4D-hn74gZW0AflAwewx2iIQCmq1vk1whyphenhyphenhyphenhyphen2Zb-GE6M0eqpwB5lhvPY4FNY9GyUi7vijzJfsyIYI5kxtC_SeVgTLHCMt6921o8hw/s320/IMG_0759.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637164280961119106" /> Me and Kathe being good bride's maids, helping to tear down the party. I really am so thankful that I got to have such a wonderful weekend with so many wonderful people that I just love!!!Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-21402071451874629142011-07-07T01:55:00.003+01:002011-07-07T02:08:15.180+01:00Happy Birthday America!<div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1vcXUfmehuZ18xNS52YNDIOvviXU9xFRwpwT5e_E0gpnZ-s7khnfYwvVKSEgj3ePsbvIxXEBhbqSgURiluMsnVmeSbzeIKQMSiqfPSpNHaHwSvP7MO6qtmdhK0m_a45dOdEa5u2GO81V/s1600/DSC_3942.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1vcXUfmehuZ18xNS52YNDIOvviXU9xFRwpwT5e_E0gpnZ-s7khnfYwvVKSEgj3ePsbvIxXEBhbqSgURiluMsnVmeSbzeIKQMSiqfPSpNHaHwSvP7MO6qtmdhK0m_a45dOdEa5u2GO81V/s320/DSC_3942.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626409516869084034" /></a>My Fourth of July was very low key but, that was just the way I would have had it this year! Between taking a full load of classes and working, low key is definitely appreciated! I had to work a double on Saturday and the Monday morning shift but, this weekend proved to be very profitable at work. In two days at work I made right around 200 dollars- not bad if you ask me. My weekend also provided me some time to spend with Becca and her family. The Youngs had me over for dinner on Sunday and let me hang out with them for the entire evening! I love having family around and other people's family who treat me like family. Thankfully I also had a little bit of time to squeeze some fireworks into my weekend. We watched the Stadium of Fire fireworks from the grass in front of the Hinckley Center on campus and they were pretty incredible. So, my low key Fourth weekend was pretty great! Happy birthday America!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuWHNQQ3rwbNij_nJ6PUQ2VOddCJbmc6R6FpeVwuh8J52IzWet1qRn5esOk3AVUbvCIQfTqIYU3XrnriKchIwmYcpESCJTGDQLIumFKrZSuxFC0omErx8hFz6GSdi4ZHz2HWxZUojzoUJ/s1600/DSC_3949+%25281%2529.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuWHNQQ3rwbNij_nJ6PUQ2VOddCJbmc6R6FpeVwuh8J52IzWet1qRn5esOk3AVUbvCIQfTqIYU3XrnriKchIwmYcpESCJTGDQLIumFKrZSuxFC0omErx8hFz6GSdi4ZHz2HWxZUojzoUJ/s320/DSC_3949+%25281%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626409514178095250" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-39223866321334455062011-06-27T06:34:00.003+01:002011-06-27T06:49:53.880+01:00My Spokane Family<div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div>I have been a pro vacationer lately. St. George last weekend and this weekend was spend in Spokane with the Dittos! I am so glad to have such wonderful family members and friends who fill my life with happiness and love and make it all worth while! To hit some highlights of this weekend- we made sweet tye-dye shirts, now that I am a pro from my St. George trip, I shared my knowledge and skills and every one's shirts turned out pretty awesome! On Saturday, I got to go out to lunch with a good friend from PA and her husband. Brandi and Ashley were out here because Ashley did the Couer De'Alene Ironman- he was pretty awesome, I know, I went and saw him race (well about 30 seconds of his race) on Sunday morning, before church. To top it all off, my dad and little sister came over on Saturday night so I got to spend some time with them which is great because Emily is running away to Ecuador to change the lives of all kinds of Ecuadorian orphans and my parents are so busy with their remodeling that I won't see them again until August when I walk at graduation. This was another great weekend, filled with family and friends and some pretty sweet memories! Thanks Dittos!! I am so glad I was able to come stay and especially glad I was able to meet new baby Maren!!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622771245292969538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37tAyvohU52YmlZS7Qwzj8zIclqx8cuzP3WHbeB9WFSUb9qy-fK4KFWdCui4EgKCPRldjRgL9P1s8JBkrhkw2bdYSb9bGoa5n8miOAFJonelKzy1zDWWfHq5-QQ1kzymGVEbJ5_G1mpfX/s320/TIEDIE1.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 229px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622771249403193922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbaTzS1JT1yCbE4un9F9JAsu1hMBTvUoUNrQJp2NAD2WHmJ-9uzA0o8BVms1xQYMVb9nPC138mrJWtxDP_y9ZFvtD8vT1ETzuhBIbs4uXDOZi_ryo_1ASjJ3KGABRcfxFaATdFKdbqENo/s320/TIEDIE3.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 229px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622771236384137522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvFYomTu61LkD1c5yWFukvlP-JsfILYXUF7ZTVwu1IYqw5X9W_jpq2E4siEW71_y13lyNfK-goQ0GDeaDD28ea3sGkCNaQRObh057tvhc6T0nNAFMARMWx9NBM91gx6Z-SQRPpenhPOMa/s320/TIEDIE2.jpg" /></div></div></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8365438217477154448.post-81883645649851697332011-06-22T07:35:00.001+01:002011-06-22T07:36:20.241+01:00DisclaimerReading through my last posts, I found some typos... I posted my last post with a concussion, that is what we will blame it on!Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790350524936210372noreply@blogger.com0