RA Christmas RUN

When I started running 7 years ago I never dreamed of all the adventures and friendships this one little sport would bring me. Runners are just wonderful friendly people. I use to think it was a secret club one that I could never be in because I wasn't fast enough or didn't run far enough, often enough, I was mistaken. I have made life long friends and surpassed my goals each year with their encouragement and their examples to me.

So as I woke up to the alarm at 6 a.m the Saturday before Christmas in Provo to head out to a run with people I had NEVER met (other than Melanie who I talked into coming, in case they were scary people lol) I was not questioning my actions on bit!

Melanie and I had started to read blogs a few months back and stumbled on Susette's, I quickly called up Mel and said you have to read this! This women is amazing, the trials she has been through and the way in which she faces them is amazing and is she out running, ALOT. We knew we wanted to meet her, we saw that she would be running the TOU Half Marathon in August and we hoped to see her there. Through meeting her at TOU and becoming facebook friends she invited me to join a group called RA (Runners Anonymous.) They organize runs together in Utah and Oregon. This run was organized by Susette at Orem High Junior High, so when I asked if anything was going on the Saturday before Christmas knowing I would be in Provo, I was excited to learn about it. All I had to tell Melanie to get her to join me all the way from Layton was "There will be medals!"

 

                       It was Very cold!

 

 

 

We arrived to see them setting up a table with water, Gatorade, gu, muffins, the BEST caramels. The idea of the run was to just do whatever we wanted, we ran around the track and would stop each time someone else arrived and get introduced, take some pictures and then repeat. We would stop and walk if we wanted, run each lap with someone new getting to know them. It was perfect!

 

This awesome runner brought a camp stove and made us hot chocolate!

 

There was just not a better way to start off the day. I am sad I do not live closer to join in on more runs but will for sure follow them and if I am ever up North join in on the events.

 

 

 

Thank you RA :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Car Accidents and Life Decisions

Friday night I could not sleep, I have a hard time when the girls are out going to bed until they get home so I was on the couch watching TV about 10:30 Brad comes out of the room and says ...                       
                                   "Kyndall crashed"
                                
First your heart sinks.... and the slow motion starts, then questions start to fly "is she hurt?" "is anyone hurt?" "was there another car involved?"
We hurry and throw on some shoes and head out. Driving up to the scene is horrible, multiple cop cars and ambulance lights flashing and there she is sitting in the car terrified, and alone. She was leaving a friends house and lost control after swerving for a dog on a long dark gravel road, she tried to avoid a brick wall and instead went over a 3 foot berm which shot her into the air and about 50 feet into a field. Thankfully she was not hurt and besides the car nothing else was damaged.

This was the day she got her license only 5 months ago. PS they totalled the car :(


Torrie has wanted to move to Provo and live in the upstairs corner room at Grandma Shereen's since she was probably 8 years old. She would spend time there every summer and would cry when we came to take her home. The constant commotion and activity at the Gardner house was exciting and she loved being around Aunts, Uncles (some only a few years older than her) and cousins. As everyone grew up and things calmed down she didn't talk about it as much, until about a month ago.

She came to me and said "I have a feeling I need to go to Provo." Again my heart sinks.....
                         I know she needs to go.

 She has a great job here as a surgical assistant to an Oral Surgeon, she has put off the idea of leaving knowing she has an amazing job and needs the experience and longevity of it. But feeling like if she doesn't go now at 20 years old she might never get out and experience life, spread her wings and get out on her own, and someday will regret not following the promptings she is having.

It is so hard to watch her go through this time in her life, she says "What should I do?" my heart says "STAY HERE! don't ever leave, don't ever grow up" but my gut says "Its time"

My Sweet Tor Tor :)


Oh the joys of parenthood I am sure my heart will Sing and Sink for them many more times and I wouldn't change it for the world!

A little Motivation

I will be completely honest the holidays STRESS ME OUT! I looked out my window tonight and I think the Griswolds have moved in across the street. Then I go on facebook and see a status update saying "Christmas shopping done, presents wrapped, now to decorate the tree" (Jennifer Stickler you are my hero!)  OH my Hallelujah I just finished the freaking Thanksgiving leftovers! I was intrigued by a post on Susette's wonderful blog,
                                                                                                                                                                                             The   2012 Holiday Running Streak
 Stay fit and motivated during the busy (and calorie-filled) holiday season by pledging to run at least one mile every day, Thanksgiving through New Year's. ~~ an article in Runners World Magazine.

While this isn't going to get the shopping done or the tree decorated it just might help me stay sane. It was decided for those that wanted to join in we would not be running on Sunday's, and we can start tomorrow.

 

So this may be a little dramatic it doesn't snow here in Southern Utah but if it does I have a back up plan.

 

 

 

Happy Running!!

 

A day of Thanks

Thanksgiving is my favorite Holiday. Its full of family, food, fun with no expectations of anything other than enjoying those around you. We decided to go hiking before the big meal this year, the weather was amazing and it was nice to be out in such beautiful scenery while soaking in the un-interrupted time with my family.

Zions National Park

 

 

The view as you climb up to Angels Landing

 

 

Heading up Walters Wiggles

 

 

The view from the top

 

 

My cute family!!!!

 

I hope everyone had a wonderful day.

 

May God Bless your family and loved ones this Holiday Season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pounding the Pavement and Back in the Saddle

The fall sports seasons are over, and its time to get back at it.

I started back running with a new friend. I have missed having someone to go with, to push each other, when you know they are out in the 25 degree cold morning air its great motivation to get the behind out of bed to meet them. We started  our training off with a series of hills to tackle hoping to build up some endurance for our "normal" runs. Brad calls this section of road "The Double D's" yes he nicknames everything! They really do earn the name being I believe a 8-10% grade one right after the other. I hope to keep this up throughout the winter, in years past this is when I take a break but for the mental sanity of myself and in return for my family I NEED this! As the saying goes.........

Torrie and I attended a Zumba class together last week, I am not sure she liked it but said she would go again, she was behind me the whole time probably thinking to herself,

"Wow my mom still knows how to Pop Lock AND Drop it!!"
Or this is why she was noncommittal to going back with me lol.

The thing with Zumba is the dang mirror stretched across the front of the class that gives you a great view of your coordination or lack of, and just how successful you are at shaking your thang. I am always reminded of this picture when dancing, but you know what as long as I "feel" like that hot zumba girl and don't look in the mirror to be shocked into reality, its GREAT!!!

Brad and Kydall have gotten out the bikes and done some great rides. Kyndall is one tough cookie on the bike. She did a 26 mile ride the other day with Brad and another friend around Sand Hallow even got a flat, thank goodness Dad was there to fix. I think for her she is alot like me and the bike is her time to be quite, be with herself and her thoughts, I am glad she has an outlet to use and takes advantage of it.

We are planning on hiking Angels Landing in Zion's National Park on Thanksgiving morning, its such a great way to get up and be active before the big meal. If you are ever in the park its a must check it out here >>>>>Angels Landing

Utah Names

We moved to Utah a very young couple a year and a half after we were married with a 6 month old baby, yes that's right I got pregnant 3 months after getting married. I was already your typical young Mormon and didnt even know it. While pregnant with Torrie I was sure we would name her Taylor, I thought it was original enough. Well then Garth Brooks had a baby girl (well his wife did) and sure enough Taylor was the hot new name. I knew I wanted something a little more unique so we started to play around with different names and spellings, I will never forget my mom's disappointment while saying..

 "She will never find her name spelled correctly on a key chain at Disneyland!"

I guess that is probably a problem for alot of people in Utah, I found this video on a blog I stalk. I find it pretty funny and amazing how many of the names I have heard of.

Enjoy~~~

Happy Birthday Little Man!

I will never forget the call I got on a November early morning from my dear friend Mindy saying "We have a little boy!" Mindy had helped to pull me through on of the worst times in my life that year, and I was so happy for her and her family as they welcomed a new baby boy into their family. Carter Brooks Mcnabb aka Little Man. It would be my time to help in what ever way I could as the reality for Mindy and Eric was that Carter had some health issues and the theories of what was wrong were flying fast but no one could say exactly what was wrong. All I knew as I got to hold him for the first time was that he was a little angel and had eyes that seemed to me mature beyond his few days on earth, there was a definite peaceful nature about him I had never experienced with any other baby. Carter was born on 11/11 in his 111 days on earth he was cherished, loved, nurtured, he was their EVERYTHING. Having a chance to watch this kind of love flow through this family was amazing.

We had the honor to hold Carter hours before he returned to his Heavenly Father, all I can say was that room, the spirit that was around us all, Carter's eyes were the Closest thing I have ever felt to the veil.

Last year Mindy and I decided to run 11 races in 2011 in honor of Carter (can you get the 11's yet?) Finishing a few of these races there were definite occurances of Carter being with his mom. She would be 11th in her age group. Or her first 10k run ever she ran an 11:11 pace!. One 10k we were tired the course was alot harder than we had prepared for as we turned dow the final road , yep it was 11th street! I will never forget or change anything about our marathon experience, Mindy he was there for you that day! it was a long day and we were able to finish together.

"People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime"

“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.”

Mindy Mcnabb I am forever never the same becuase of you my sister!!

Ohtahara Syndrome

Torrie Shereen

I love October and November the summer heat has now gone the air is just crisp and clean the leaves have started to change color in Southern Utah. Its also birthday time me celebrating mine in Oct and Torrie's in Nov. It’s hard to believe that 20 years ago today I was a young 20 year old holding my baby girl for the first time. Torrie came into the world with the most precious smile and inquisitive look on her face and that has never changed. Her sweet spirit just beams outward to anyone she meets. I have always said that her and I did alot of growing up together, me a young mother and bride, I didnt always know if I was doing the mothering thing right but I do know I ALWAYS put her first.

Having daughters it has been very important to me to teach them that they are daughters of their Heavenly Father, that they can be strong empowering women that can do what ever they put their minds to. I hope I have showed them that.

This is my wish for them:

Haha I love this "not now" look mom :)

Torrie Shereen Gardner, I love you to the moon and back!!

Happy Birthday my sweet girl!

Back in the day.....Fast Forward to 2012

This entry is going to seriously date me, although I won’t be pulling out the old saying “when I was young we had to walk 5 miles uphill both ways in the snow to school!”

I will say

“When I was young and a boy wanted to talk to you he had to have the nerve to dial your phone number say hello to a parent that might answer and ask to speak to you”

The more I watch my girls grow up and how cell phones have literally changed the way these young kids have relationships with boys and with girlfriends it just makes me sad. They will text things they wouldn’t dream of saying face to face. All of a sudden there is constant communication with someone and we don’t know them. I consider myself on the social media bandwagon I have a twitter, instagram and check facebook WAY too much, I am also friends and follow my girls in these areas as well but I am not so naive as to realize there is direct and private messaging.

How do we protect these kids? Do we ban these things? Make them share their passwords?

Kyndall turned 16 in August and has been on 1 date that actually asked her out and came to house to pick her up, yet has at least a handful of boys who will text her a lot! What happened to asking a girl out and then driving to her house and knocking on the door? Is it just too easy for these young guys now a’ days?

(I only have the daughter perspective so feel free to chime in on the boy’s side)

Are the girls making it harder on the boys?

Relationships are being built and even ending over these outlets! And ones that should be burried cant becuase there is still a flood of, what seems to them, innocent communication through texting. Its NOT! I call it chatter and you cant find peace, sort through emotions or feel the spirit when you are being flooded with this CHATTER.

I had this very conversation with a friend who has a daughter the same age on the long drive to Salt Lake last week. The girls were asked to leave the cell phones at home for the weekend during their sports tournament. It was so refreshing to see them after a while relax and really enjoy the company of the friends they were with instead of texting those that werent there.

What different challenges our kids face in this day. I hope that we as parents can help manage this, using social media as a positive source teaching that communication, the old fashion face to face kind, is not to be replaced through texting, tweeting, or PM'ing. I want my girls to know they are worth more than that.

Ok so there is my rant. I would love to hear any of your thoughts (for those 2-4 people who might read my blog) Any and all perspectives appreciated and welcome.

Playing with a Purpose

Every sports team plays to win, and there is nothing wrong with that, but along with winning there are so many more lessons to be taught. Coach Mckeehan has made such a great effort in teaching our girls to play volleyball with a purpose. I have watched Kyndall grow this year as much on the court as I have in everyday life because of this. The past few weeks the girls have played with one little girl and her family in mind, Please click here and read / listen to Mia's story.

We have all been so touched by her story and send many thoughts and prayers to this beautiful family. They have been invited to the first playoff game Friday morning, and and our girls will all be warming up in their Mia shirts.

As I took Kyndall to school this morning to watch the school do a send off for the volleyball team I had noticed she still had the word "Purpose" on the inside of her wrist, this is something she has done for a few games, but this morning I caught a glympe and noticed she had added to it Mia's name.

We want to win, dont get me wrong!! But I am beyond proud that they will be "Playing with a purpose"

Friday night our football team will start their playoff rounds against Delta, on Monday we attended a benefit night for Brian Scott, as I listened to a boy sing a song by Kenny Chesney holding back the tears as the lyrics talked about the "Boys of Fall" and "You mess with one of us you mess with us all" as the football team walked out holding a banner. I thought  "this town, these teachers, parents and coaches have done an amazing job in showing and teaching our kids a bigger purpose and how proud I am to live here and have my children apart of it."  I know our boys will also be "Playing with a purpose" for Brian.

There are so many good causes out there, so many people in need. I urge you to find what or who you are passionate about and play with a purpose!

Bike4mia


P.S GO TIGERS!!!

Big Brother, Little Sister

My earliest memory of my brother growing up, who is 2 years older than me, was when I was about 3 to 4 years old, crazy huh just hear me out you’ll understand why I can remember this!

“It is like a ride at Disneyland! Just climb in and it will be fun” as he opened the dryer door and I climbed it. The door shut and it was dark, and fun, he was right it was like a ride! As I started to turn and tumble I seriously remember thinking ok this isn’t fun anymore, my back started to hurt as it hit the sides and it was getting warm.

And that’s it, that is all I remember.

The story continues with my brother going back into the house (I guess the dryer was in the garage back then) and my mom asking him where I was, he said something about garage and dryer as she bolted out to find me in and it on!!! Great ending to the story is I survived.

Throughout the years he coerced me into doing many things, including eating dog food once. I know seriously!! There were many fights, he picked on me and contstantly pestered me. We traveled in the summers in our motorhome, I was a perfect target while the parents up front with the music blaring, usually Abba, the windows down, left us unattended in the back. He would sit on me until I would do something for him. One of those trips he pinned me down and sang the whole David Bowie song White Wedding to me, I cringe everytime I hear that song.

He was my ultimate protector, my biggest ally, and someone I knew was always there if I needed anything. I cannot tell you how many times he said to me “Do as I say not as I do”. He had his own struggles. Growing up with Dyslexia was hard for him and he often chose things that were not good for him but if I even looked in that direction he was the first one there to turn me around and march me far far away from it.

His love of the ocean and surfing has kept him right on the California coast where he belongs with his dog Rocky. What a wonderful family of friends he has made there, thanks to all of you for loving my brother like family and I hope some day to meet you all.

Mike left Sunday morning he is a computer networking specialist and works for a company that contracts computer services to the Marine Corps. He will be in Afghanistan for 5 to 7 months. I am not afraid for him he will be fine, I am so proud of him! Love you Big Brother!! And remember.... "This is living!"

I love this Town!

I grew up in a small town in Southern California, yes back then they did exist. I went through the same school district and had the same class mates from Kindergarten to Graduation. This I believe in so many ways grounded me everyone was related to someone everyone knew I was Michael Hennessy’s little sister and that my mom worked at Summit Elementary and most importantly I knew I was a Beaumont Cougar!

I wanted the same for my kids raising them in a town with a sense of community, family, and belonging was very important.

We were settled in Washington City and thought our kids would go to Pine view and this would be “our community” even though Brad had been coaching basketball in Hurricane for 7 years and we had lived there for 2 years when we first moved to Southern Utah. We decided to look for a bigger house, and really focused in the same area we were in. Torrie was in 4th grade and Kyndall Kindergarten and had already put down some roots where we were. We got a call of a house option in Hurricane, of course it was an easy consideration we still had many friends from there. On a Friday night Brad and I got a sitter and went to look at the house and just drove around, We popped in on the Homer’s (Brad had coached with Chris for about 5 years at this point) who we discovered were in the same neighborhood and went to find the Hurst’s who we had been very close with when we had lived there years before. I had the most peaceful feeling of coming home, this is where we needed to be, suppose to be. I worried about changing Torrie’s school for the 5th grade , this is a pivotal time in a young girls life the friends she had already become attached to, and starting over was something I vowed I never wanted to put my kids through.

Everything just fell into place and 2 months later we were residents of Hurricane Utah.

Brad took a year off from coaching that year and when Chris Homer was announced as the new Football coach I knew it was only a matter of time before he would be back at it. They went from that first year being 0 and 8 to having a winning streak right now 8 years later of 20 games straight!

I sat at a football game one fall night a few years ago, as I watched Torrie in her Cheer uniform and Kyndall with friends doing what girls do at games, and just realized, this is “Their town”, their memories, their legacy, they are Hurricane Tigers and all that goes along with that. I had a peace that I had been able to give my girls what I had and so wanted for them.

Hurricane is a small community about 20 minutes from St George Utah which has in the surrounding areas 4 High Schools. It has grown from the once step child of the region, to a serious contender in all sports.Its been such an amazing ride to watch and be apart of this. But aside from that what I have learned over the years is much more; this is a community of family, friends, and tradition. One that welcomes people in, goes into action when someone is in need, and bands together to raise and teach our youth. There’s always going to be drama in a small town and we aren’t lacking but people always seem to put aside differences for the kids and when someone is in need, they come together in ways I have never seen.

I realize that 99% of our involvement has come through sports, this is just who we are, and once our kids are raised we might need to find another way to be involved in this town we love. But I love that on a Friday night in fall it doesn’t matter if you have a child playing or not hundreds, possibly thousands fill the stands and cheer on “Their” team, the Tigers.

Tonight our Volleyball team is having a "Pink" game, all wearing a pink jersey with a name of someone close to them that is or has battled cancer, Kyndall will be wearing her jersey in honor of her Dad, you can read his story in this post We will also be fundraising for Brian Scott a young man that has touched so many people in Hurricane. Brad had the opportunity to coach him and his brother and is just beyond sad with this news. The town will again come together tonight on a Thursday for one of our own, many of our own. A post and pictures of the night to come...

I will always be a Beaumont Cougar! and I am sure had I stayed would have the same amazing things to say about my home town, but am beyond proud and content with being a Hurricane Tiger too!!

Games, Games, Games...

Fall is very busy for us, with football and volleyball season in full swing and not to mention just normal stuff like that little thing called WORK. It all keeps us going full speed, Ill be totally honest I dont remember the last time I cooked a real meal!I know I am not winning any awards for that, but I wouldnt give up the memories that are being created for slaving in a kitchen.

Brad has been coaching at Hurricane High since Kyndall was 4 months old, she is now 16! He loves it, loves those boys, and loves the sport of Football! (pictures by Chris Edwards)

This is Adam and Jared, Brads running backs.

Kyndall has been playing volleyball since 6th grade, she has come so far. She sets her goals every year and has grown so much, this year she has been able to start varsity every game as a junior, but more importantly has made some great friends and memories. Go #14! (Huge shout out to Lynnette Quilter for her amazing photography)

Kyndall, Breanna, Shania

Torrie is working working away at Dr Davis's office as an Oral Surgeon's assistant and learning so much, we are SO proud of her!

Me, I am my families BIGGEST Cheerleader and trying to get those runs in, in hopes for Half Marathon in November.



"This is LIVING"

Goals

At work this week we presented a "Goal Setting" session during a meeting. Everyone was asked to write down as many goals on a piece of paper they could think of, kinda like a Bucket List. We then worked on dream boards, using magazines to cut out pictures or words to represent what we want to achieve within our goals. This sure had me thinking and I had a hard time getting past the standard: Lose weight, go on a cruise, run another marathon.

They said to

What does that mean?

Go to Italy, buy an Island in the Bahama's, travel the world in one year, visit an Ashram in India for a month. Is this what this means kinda like the saying "Go Big or Go Home". I quickly realized I can set or make high goals then execute the heck outa them, then totally rock my expectations in regards to work! But I fall extremely flat in my personal life.

Why is this? I am afraid of failure? of embarrassment? I often feel like once I put it out there, there is no turning back, so I simply dont put anything out there. We have all said these things to ourselves I am not skinny enough to.... I am afraid of hieghts..... what if they dont like me..... what if I CANT...... I could never do that...... shes just got it all together...... I am not organized enough........

Simply put I am playing it safe in my life. The presenter encouraged us to take some time each month to sit by ourselves, with ourselves, and really think about things we want to accomplish. It is important to write them down along with a plan of how you will achieve it, or by what date.

So think about this, what do you want to do, REALLY WANT TO DO?

Life is to short, tragedy can happen so fast.

Lets Dream Big, and Play Hard! Dare to dream crazy goals and then put them into action.

I promise when I figure mine out I will share them with you. And please feel free to share your's with me.