First

It is snowing here in Utah today. The weather here is fairly unpredicatable and likes to take wide variable turns within a fairly short period of time. Yesterday it was 77 degrees. Today it is 35 degrees and snowing. Kid 1's soccer game was cancelled because of it. Bunch of wusses. It was 45 and barely drizzling when they made that call. If we would have been in Idaho, we would have played and half of the players would have not been wearing protective clothing. The cold blistering weather is nothing short of what Idahoans are used to. And to think, the snow isn't even sticking. I don't know if I can really consider that a true snow or not. Atleast the leaves in the mountains will all be beautiful for our Conference Weekend Drive.

Ready to Rock, Already Rolling

Kid 3 and her many personalities. She really is a fun little girl, although a little needy at times. She started getting up on all four's a couple of weeks ago, and is about ready to take off crawling. She gets frustrated because rolling just doesn't quite get her everything that she wants. She has learned to push off of all four's and slam her face into the ground. That doesn't make her very happy either. As much as I am not looking forward to having her crawling around, I wish, for her sake, that she figures it out soon enough.

Kiev, Ukraine: In Case You Were Wondering

A slight change in plans.

Last Season, Kid 1 playing Soccer

The Big Moment

Kid 1 started his second season of soccer on Saturday, his first being in the spring. I don't know if he grew a ton over the summer, or if the rest of the kids are just that much younger, but he looked huge compared to the others. Then there was the total domination that he had. I really don't want to sound like I am bragging, but that is exactly what it was. He played the half of each half and had 8 goals. It was pretty embarrassing. Every time the ball was kicked off it would be in the middle of a pack and he would emerge with it and go and score a goal. After the 2nd goal, we tried to tell him he needed to pass. Hard concept for a 4 year old. It was fun to watch one kid get so excited after he kicked the ball once and throw his arms up in triumph, and then stop. It wasn't until about goal 7 that the coach finally told him to pass the ball, thanks coach, we needed some help in the listening department. I went and stood down by the goal and every time he got down there, yelled at him to pass. And then we had the big moment. The one where I was so proud. He passed the ball right down by the goal and the other kid kicked it in and scored. After that, every time he could of scored, he tried to pass the ball. It didn't always work, but at least he wasn't scoring. I don't even know the final score of the game, but I do know the other team had at least one goal. It didn't matter that it was a wide open shot and our coach told the kid to kick it in the goal and he picked it up and threw it in. At least it wasn't a shut out.

Mission Call

My parents retired this summer and have been busy visiting grandkids, coaching soccer, having family visit, and cleaning their house out. That alone could be the most daunting task they face. Years and years of stuff, collected over a lifetime, not to mention 8 kids and 21 grandkids later whose stuff inadvertently has ended up there as well, has left them with a "few" things.
Today they received their mission call. They have been called to serve as the area medical director of the Moscow, Russia region. They will be leaving on January 7th. I don't know if they go straight to Moscow or have a few weeks in the MTC, but the countdown has begun. Only a few more things to do.

Dieting 101: Back to the Basics

It has been 3 weeks since I had my tonsillectomy and I would say I am about 90% recovered. My throat still is sore, but nothing I haven't dealt with for the last year. If I eat something that goes down wrong, I feel it. I have small remnants of scabs still and occasionally I think I peel them off with food. The kids did great while I was present, but absent. The fog lifted around day 10, and that is when I felt like I could start to eat a variety of soft foods.

The results of starving myself for 10 days weren't quite as dramatic as I would have liked. I was hoping that it was the miracle diet we all hope for. I pushed myself to drink lots of fluids and drink protein shakes so I wouldn't lose my milk. That was my top priority, and it worked. But what I wanted to lose, and didn't, was more than 5 blasted pounds of my "baby" weight.

I guess I need to revisit dieting 101. I know what the basics of dieting are. I have studied nutrition and understand the mechanics and physiology of food, metabolism, and if you want to get down to it, the Krebs Cycle. But the bottom line is: a combination of a moderate exercise program coupled with healthy eating. I am a firm believer that exercise most be consistent and somewhat strenuous. But, I also believe, that without a strength training program, aka lifting weights, resistance training, etc, that aerobic exercise, just won't cut it.

It makes me sick to look at the way Americans have turned out. We are lazy, we want things now, and we don't want to have to work for it. When I look at pictures from the past, I am reminded how modern day conveniences has made us virtually obese. A little hard work on the farm, and basic cooking helped prevent the epidemic we are facing today.

So, having said that and getting a little of my soapbox out there, it sure is worth it to have a few extra "baby" pounds for the 3 beautiful children that I have.

Well Worth It

The Passing of a Truly Great Man

I just found out that the director of the BYU Jerusalem Center when I studied there passed away after a battle with Leukemia. He was one of those quiet, awe-inspiring sort of men. He would look each student in their eyes, and touch them in their hearts. He was one spiritual giant, inspiring and inspired, beloved, kind, gentle, and truly caring. This day has been spent in reflection. Remembering the days I had the chance to walk the streets with him, in both of our favorite city-Jerusalem. It has brought many fond memories, ones that only now hold that much more meaning. Odd how it just so happens to be the 10 year anniversary mark for our study abroad. Death always brings to pass the thoughts of just what our own lives will be remembered for. . . http://www.legacy.com/DeseretNews/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=93878534

Going Pro Vs. Water Boy

My husband has two great dreams in life. I often wonder if I should indulge him in either one of them. His first dream is to quit his job and go pro in golf. He would take lessons for a year before attempting to enter the PGA. It isn't that I don't think he is good enough to do it, because he is a pretty good golfer without the extensive training that some have, it is just that I think he missed it by a few years. I don't know how it would work with 3 kids and their mothers expensive taste. He tells me that if he were able to make the tour, he would make atleast $100,000 just for some of the tournaments he would enter into. Hey, I could make that work, but there is always the question: what if? We went to St. George this weekend and he shot some decent scores (76,79). Not bad, but he still doesn't hold the Nelson Belt, his dad beat him out with a tie (goes to the winner of the last day of the challenge). His second dream in life is to be the water boy at a restaurant. Go figure. He wants to do it just for fun too. He says he doesn't even care if he gets paid, he thinks it would be one of the greatest jobs in life. Just to go around waiting for people to finish off their water and to top it off. They would always be happy with him. I am not sure when I say: "Go for it", but I'll let you all know if I see my life taking a very unpredicatable turn.