Friday, August 1, 2008

The 22 mile "5K"

I have been meaning to update the blog – but life has been a little crazy around here. It has been a time of reflection through all the chaos, if that could really happen.

First – the chaos.... work projects, corporate politics and pressures, Girl's Camp with the Young Women, 5K races, a trip to Idaho and a family reunion back in Utah. What does this all mean? Well – I am not going to go into the details of work, but just know that the project that I am working on has had its fair share of challenges. I hope to have it back on track now and able to hit the original target set, so we will see. We just keep going, even when we hit bumps in the road, but I am confident that we can correct our course and go the distance.

I had one especially frustrating day on Wednesday this last week. The funny thing was the song that I heard on the radio that seemed to say it all...

Bring on the Rain
Another day has almost come and gone
Can't imagine what else could wrong
Sometimes I'd like to hide away somewhere and lock the door
A single battle lost but not the war ('cause)

Tomorrow's another day
And I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain

It's almost like the hard times circle 'round
A couple drops and they all start coming down
Yeah, I might feel defeated, and
I might hang my head
I might be barely breathing - but I'm not dead ('cause)

Tomorrow's another day
And I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain

No, I'm not gonna let it get me down
I'm not gonna cry
And I'm not gonna lose any sleep tonight
'Cause tomorrow's another day and I am not afraid
so bring on the rain.

Tomorrow's another day
And I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain

I had to laugh... it was sooooo appropriate! I went back to work and had to look up the lyrics on the internet and save them off. I printed it and posted it on my refrigerator so it would remind me to take a deep breath and move on. Tomorrow is another day – and so when we get feeling down, we should put things in perspective and know that we can face whatever comes our way. Don't let it get you down... there is hope just around the corner. This is my new theme song-- call me up and I will sing it to you! ;-)

OK – now on to the FUN stuff!
Mid-July is Girls Camp week! I work with the Young Women (ages 12-18) in my church, and Girl's Camp is the big week in the summer when we escape to the mountains to clear our heads and have an opportunity to feel closer to our Heavenly Father. I was not able to participate the full week (due to the lovely work project!) but did get away on Thursday-Saturday. It was a great break and I had a wonderful time with the girls. We even went on an early morning hike to see the sunrise! It was awesome!!

This is the "lone pine" that we hiked up to see the sunrise!


The beautiful view from the top of the mountain...


The BRAVE souls that got up at 4:30 AM to go on this hike!!


Angie on top of the mountain with Mom! This is the first year that I have gotten up early for the hike... (3 years running at Girl's Camp) This is Angie's last year as she is now ALL GROWN UP and moving on to college! It was nice to have this memory!



On the way home from Girl's Camp, I called Dan as soon as I got out of the canyon and had cell coverage. We were scheduled to leave for Idaho to visit family and hear a nephew talk in church about his mission experiences, and I wanted Dan to know that I was on my way and that I would be there shortly. He answered the phone, and said that he was on his way home from a 5K event that he had participated in that morning (he was on his bike). He was on Geneva Road which is TOTALLY on the other side of town – and down a steep hill – and he had been out to Vinyard (I don't even know where this is...) to bike in a 5K race with his Neuroworx buddies! Hello?! I didn't even know he was planning on doing this..... anyway, by the time he got home, he had clocked 22 miles on his bike!! I had to look this up, but 5K is a little over 3 miles, so Dan road 19 miles round trip to get to and from the race and 3 miles for the race! He is an amazing man... he is not afraid to go or do anything.

I got off the cell phone and my friend in the car commented that you would never know from listening to the phone conversation that he is disabled. “Hi Honey... oh you have been out riding in a 5K this morning?! Cool...! Well, I will be home in just a bit... love you – bye!”

Dan with his 5K racing buddies... Ashley, Abby and Sandra.
(This was a fundraiser for Sandra)



Here is Dan with his medal – he took 2nd place in his division (the over 50 crowd!). I know he wasn't pushing it because he was just keeping pace with his Neuroworx friends who were running.


I guess they have another 5K coming up in September that he wants me to run in with him... (can't I ride my bike?!) Dan likes to ride his bike with me – because is it so easy for him to keep pace with me! Kudos to Dan-the-Man and his amazing spirit that keeps us all going!


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Welcome Home Elder Brady Jardine!


This is our nephew, Brady Jardine that just returned from an LDS mission to Texas. He is 6'7" tall and is standing two steps below Dan and I and one step below everyone else! Brady will be playing basketball at Utah State University this fall -- We wish him the best in his future endeavors!

We look up to you - Brady - in more ways than one! We are so proud of you!