I Am So Blessed

Earlier this year I blogged about some drawbacks to getting older. In September, I started thinking about how blessed I am to be getting older and how much I have to be grateful for. I had it in my mind to create this post early and schedule it for publishing on my birthday. - Yep, the day is finally here, I'm 30. - So, on 29 September, I started this post. I'm planning to add and edit throughout the next 41 days so it's all ready for publishing by the 42nd day. Here goes!

In no particular order (and not a comprehensive list)...

I'm blessed because -

- I have a family who loves me
- I have grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters, in-laws and 21 (soon to be 22!) nieces and nephews whom I love
- I have the gospel in my life
- I have the blessing of being able to repent
- I have been able to work at the temple once a week for a year and a half, and I work with some pretty great people
- I have had really good health for pretty much all of my life
- I have really good friends in my life
- I have had the blessing of being able to get two degrees
- I have two dogs who love me
- My natural hair color looks good on me (:
(that's what my mom tells me)
- I have a body that allows me to push it to do hard things and doesn't hold it against me
(for too long anyway...)
- 1 marathon, 4 half marathons, and multiple 5ks and 10ks, as well as 1 half-marathon relay
 - I have working senses that allow me to see, hear, taste, smell and touch beautiful things
- I had an internship that turned into a real job (with benefits!)
- I've learned to be happy in whatever situation I'm in
(it's a process, and sure I have harder times than others, but overall... I think I'm doing pretty well)
- I have never struggled with addiction to harmful substances
- I have a roof over my head and a bed to sleep on
(thanks Mom and Dad!)
- I don't know what it's like to really go hungry
- I have a car that gets me where I need to go
(even with it's recent repairs)
- I have a Savior who lived and died for me because He loves me that much
- I have had one dating relationship in which I learned a lot about myself
(hey, it's more than zero...)
- I learned to drive a motorcycle and got my motorcycle license
(again, thanks Mom and Dad)
- I am a certified SCUBA diver
(ditto to above)
- I have the ability to learn and grow from my experiences and mistakes
- I have the ability to feel joy and pain
- I know how to laugh
- I live in a place where I am surrounded by beautiful things
- I am happy

Happy Thursday (weekend eve!) Everyone!
I hope your day - and your life - is filled with reminders of wonderful and beautiful things around you.

God lives.
Jesus Christ lives.
And I am so blessed because of it.

I Did It!

#12 - go paragliding or hang gliding (or both) -- check!

practice flight -

flight number 3 or 4 (or 5?)

Soooo fun! I loved it. I almost always got nervous before take off (just a little) but I loved being in the air. It was awesome. It's way too expensive to become a hobby for me now (maybe at some point in my life...) but I would love to go on a tandem flight sometime. Alex - my instructor - offered to cut Annikki and me a deal if we ever wanted him to take us up. I'm probably going to take him up on it sometime.

Not all of my take-offs were as flawless as what's in the video. After that flight I hiked up the slope to go on one more flight. The wind was kind of picking up, but Alex said we could get one more in. I was all set to go, got the paraglider up, and the wind picked me up and threw me right back down onto my backside. It was kind of hilarious - and maybe just a little bit painful. He got me re-set up right away, and that time I got the paraglider up, and then the wind started shooting me way over to the left. I thought using the right brake might help compensate for that, and it kind of did... except I shot the brake down way too far, ended up falling down on my right side and getting dragged through the rocks and weeds a little ways until the paraglider decided to come down and join me on the ground. That one was a bit more painful.

Don't worry though, I did end up having a flawless last flight (after the two blunders) and it was awesome. It's not a sport for sissies, and I have the scrapes, bruises, and sore muscles to prove it. (:

Oh Yes I Did. And It Was Fun.

Here it is in the news:

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

And here's proof that I did it:

and I'm totally in it.
don't believe me?
check me out at 1:53 - that's the first time you see me...
(:

Still Sore...

Due to my rock climbing escapades, I'm a bit sore today. It's kind of strange because I don't feel it all the time, but only when I twist or reach in a different way.

I guess it kind of makes sense though because I used muscles that I don't normally use. So I'm not sore all the time.

I don't know if that makes sense.

But it's a good kind of sore.

And I like it.

The Season Comes to a Close

Since the first Wednesday in January, I've been playing volleyball in a local gym league. We haven't played straight through until now (we had a couple weeks off in between the seasons, and then another couple weeks off before out tournament game last night because of spring break and a major church meeting), but on and off, I've gotten a lot of volleyball-playing in.

I've loved it.

Ever since 8th grade I've really enjoyed playing volleyball, and I'll accept almost any opportunity I have to play.

After playing in an institute tournament - in which my ward won the championship (the same day I got dumped because I like dogs - it was a day of extreme emotions...) - some girls in my ward decided they wanted to play in this gym league and invited me to play with them. I'm so glad I said yes

In this league, these last two seasons, I can probably count on one hand the number of games my team has won (and we played 2, sometimes 3 games a week), but we had fun. We had a lot of fun.

In the first season, our team name was 'Victorious Secret.' This season - 'Some Spike it Hot.' We had shirts with our team name made for both. We may not have been the most talented, but our 'uniforms' looked the coolest. (:

During this season I had cheering support from three of my oldest sister's children for one game while they were visiting from Denver, and my younger sister (while visiting from Oklahoma) along with my visiting teaching companion for another game (my younger sister and visiting teaching companion are now sisters-in-law). It was a lot of fun to have them there watching. And we actually won the game that my sister and friend made it to. Which of course was more fun for them to watch. I'm guessing. (:

So, with some sadness, I'll say goodbye to volleyball and look forward to any other chances to play.

So Many to Choose From!

I picked up my packet for the Thanksgiving Point Half Marathon tomorrow (less than 9 hours to go!) and just now looked through all the handouts of upcoming races. Here are a few more I'm interested in...

• 5 May - Cinco de Mayo 5k Fiesta run/walk - I'm Mexican, I feel I have a duty to do this
  
• 21 May - Live Your Dream Charity 5k
  
• 30 May - Run of Remembrance - you pay for a shirt if you want to, it's free if you don't. they accept donations that all go to afflicted war heroes. I'm definitely doing this one. Read 'Unbroken,' and you'll want to do it to.
  
• 11 June - Utah Valley Half Marathon
  
• 25 June - Lehi Round Up 5k/10k
  
• 30 July - Timpanogos Half Marathon
  
• 10 September - Little Grand Canyon Half Marathon
  
• 8 October - Love Your Body 6k/10k - did this one last year with a friend, women only!
  
• 15 October - Chick-fil-A SoJo Half Marathon

Some of these conflict with others on my previous list, so I'll just have to make a decision about which one to do. I'll tell you this though, as cool as I think the State Capitol Half would be, I'm definitely running the Run of Remembrance instead.

Some races found here. I'll have to look through the website more to find others.

Things I Hope To Do This Summer

• 30 April - Thanksgiving Point Half Marathon
• 7 May - Komen 5k Race for the Cure - a friend asked me to do this one with her
  
• 14 May - Volunteer @ Girls on the Run 5k Fun Run
  
• 21 May - Armed Forces Day Challenge Course - I need a partner for this one, interested?
  
• 30 May - State Capitol Half Marathon
  
• 4 June - National Trails Day Dog Run - if I can talk someone into doing this with me, I may bring both the pups
  
• 2 July - Dirty Girl Run @ Wheeler Farm - mud runs are the best!
  
• 4 July - Freedom Run 5k or 10k (maybe because I'll be mud-running it 2 days before I'll stick to the 5k)
• 16 July - Bryce Canyon Half Marathon
• 29-31 July - Garlic Festival in Gilroy, CA - the garlic capital of the world

I'll most likely be adding (and possibly subtracting) from the list as the summer progresses. Stay tuned for updates (but only if you're interested). (:

Most races found here.

Not Seen on Above List:

• Finish my thesis. I walked in last week's graduation, now I just need to wrap everything up and I'll be done!
• Find a job.
• Hike. A lot.

Guess What?!

because for the next 4 minutes, I can

Midway Ice Castles

I heard about ice castles in Midway from a friend a few weeks ago. She got a group together to go see them, but I couldn't go. So I went this past Saturday (the last night it was opened) with another friend of mine.

They were beautiful, and we had so much fun walking around - and through - them.

Here are some pictures (that don't do them justice):

Polar Bear Plunge

Tonight for my ward home evening, the activity was the 'polar bear plunge'. The first counselor shoveled the snow off the pool cover, opened up the shallow end, and a group of us gathered around in swimsuits, shorts & t-shirts, and in one case - jeans & a t-shirt. I was one of the group.

I had done this while living in Vegas a few times, but didn't think I could use that as a way out while living in Utah.

Verdict: cold! But not as cold as I thought it would be. As soon as I got out I was feeling warmer and tempted to go back in and try it a second time. But I didn't.

I would definitely do it again.

Ouch

Last week I started playing on a community volleyball team. Tonight I earned the first skinned elbow and bruised knee that I've had in... a really, really long time.

But boy is it fun playing volleyball again!

A Good Month

On 1 October I went on a date with a guy in my ward. I enjoyed it and it seemed that he did too, but I had never been on a second date before, and didn't really plan on being asked out by him again.

That weekend (2-3 October) I emotionally ate all weekend - leading to the only weight watchers weigh-in I had where my weight went up.

On 4 October, he called - and asked me out again for the upcoming weekend. I was thrilled.

On 10 October he called me after church and we went to feed the ducks. While feeding the ducks he asked me out for the upcoming Wednesday and Saturday. That Wednesday he held my hand (a first for me). On Friday I invited him to a fireside my parents were giving on that Sunday. That Sunday, after the fireside, he kissed me (another first).

I saw him at least three times a week for the two weeks following. On 26 October, while driving home from having dinner with him and some married friends of mine, he said there were some things we needed to talk about...

On 30 October we talked about them.

He didn't think we should date anymore.

I took it pretty hard, and the next day (Sunday) felt like an emotional wreck. Sunday night I wrote in my journal until almost 2 am. I felt a lot better after writing. I included an entire paragraph with almost all the sentences beginning with 'I'm mad because...' It was very healing.

I saw him tonight at a fireside and didn't get emotional. But I did want to talk to him.

I didn't.

He was a big part of my life for all of October. Sometimes things come up that I immediately think of sharing with him. And then remember that we don't have that kind of relationship anymore.

It kind of stinks.

Tonight when I got in my car and plugged in my ipod, the song 'Unanswered Prayers' by Garth Brooks came on. I hadn't really been praying about things with this guy. It seemed too early to want things to go a certain way. However, I do think I prayed a few times that things would keep going well. I was really enjoying being in a dating relationship - and he's a really good guy. But hearing this song reminded me that there's a reason behind things that we may never figure out. Or not figure out for a very long time. As painful as it was, I'm thinking that somehow, it was for the better. And maybe someday I'll know why.

this was the only version of the song that I could find.

The reason I can still look at October and call it a good month is because I feel like I can appreciate the experience for what it was.

- for the first time ever, a guy was actually interested in me at the same time I was interested in him (unfortunately my interest outlasted his)
- I held a guy's hand multiple times (and it was thrilling every time it happened)
- he's a good guy. sadly, things ended, but he's a good guy. it was a good first-time-relationship experience. he wasn't a jerk, or a creeper, but a really nice guy.
- coming out of it, I find myself wanting to be more social because I want to experience that again. I haven't felt a need / desire to be social for a really long time, so this is definitely a good thing.

An Awesome Way to Spend a Friday Night

Last night I finally went to the Billy Joel / Elton John concert. It was worth the wait. And worth all the pennies I spent to get there.

It was so fun to see these two men perform. They've been doing this for so long and you can tell that they love it. And they're so good at it.

Some fun surprises:
There was no intermission
- they started singing together, Elton John then took the stage, Billy Joel came in after, and they ended together -
(so they got their break, and I didn't want one)
I had no idea that Billy Joel played the guitar
I had no idea that Billy Joel played the guitar during "We Didn't Start the Fire"
Billy Joel looked as comfortable dancing around with a mic stand as he did sitting at the piano
Billy Joel dances while playing the piano sometimes (rocking in his seat to the beat)
Their voices sound the same as they do in their years-old recordings (this wasn't as much a surprise as it was just fun to see that they sound the same way as they did when I was a pre-teen)
Our seats were on the very back row (this may be seen as a negative, but we were sitting to the side of the stage and had a great view of the screen, plus, we could get up and dance - which we did. a lot. - and not bother anyone)
Though I'm not super-familiar with Elton John's stuff, he's amazingly talented and really fun to watch (again, the talent part - not surprising)
Billy Joel apologized for having to reschedule the concert
- thank you for that Billy
Elton John rarely spoke in between his songs, but Billy Joel would pause between almost all of them and talk to us

I would definitely go again.
I hope to go again sometime.

Question:

When is it okay to hug strange men and run out of a building screaming your head off?*

Answer:

When the

Cougars

beat the

Utes

in overtime!

*because I did both of those things

Puddle-Splashing!!!

Is it just me, or is puddle-splashing one of the most therapeutic things in the world?! If you don't have recent enough experience to answer that, then I'm sad for you. Although, in all fairness I should admit that I belonged to your numbers until recently... until about an hour ago, actually.

I was walking home from some friends' place with my roommate. It had been raining on and off for a lot of the afternoon and got harder in the evening. While walking there we had tried to avoid the puddles. I was barefoot (wearing flip flops earlier that kept slipping off my feet, I changed into slippers and somehow thought that it was a good idea. i ended up carrying them with me for most the way there, and all the way back because they got soggy pretty quickly.), and wearing an ankle-length skirt that I was trying to keep off the ground. When leaving their house, I walked right into a deep puddle. Figuring the damage was already done, I started jumping up and down. Esther tried to avoid it at first, but the fun was just too addicting. By the time we got home, we were both soaked. We had some good times kicking water at each other and jumping up and down in the puddles. My skirt was dripping water from it's hem, as was my hair onto my neck.

But, friends, it was so much fun! We decided it was a great way to start the week. It completely cleared my mind of last week's unpleasantness, and helped me relax. I recommend to anyone reading this that at the next opportunity, you jump in the puddles. Don't think about the soaking wet clothing, or the possible run-ins with mud, just grab a friend and enjoy the rain!

ps, obviously I'm not the subject of the picture, but I figured it was a similar enough with him being in a suit, and me being in my Sunday clothes...