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.