The Mudding Adventure

So this has got to be the funniest adventure I've gone on this year. My good friend and fellow widow Jennifer and I decided we were going to go mudding with a group of mid-singles. It was very cold, very snowy, and VErY slick! We drove out to Leslie Gulch State park in Oregon (very beautiful out there) We did pretty well until we stopped at this little area where everyone met. The rest of the group went on to find a better spot and Jen and I decided we would stay just for a little bit to let the kids stretch their legs before we moved on. I think that was our mistake. 

We loaded up the kids and started the direction of everyone else slipping and sliding all the way. We got to a hill that we need to try and get over and by the time we got to the top it was so slick we didn't want to try and get over the slick side. Not to mention there was a little cliff and water at the bottom. Super scary.  So Jen decided she wanted to turn around and go home, which was fine with me since I was her passenger and didn't want her to feel uncomfortable.  So as she turned it around I took all the kids out of the car and hiked them up the hill so they wouldn't be in the car if it decided to slide. Those kids taught me an important lesson about prayer. They were up there praying like crazy that their mom wouldn't die...and we would be safe. I can't even describe the spirit that came over me at that moment when I listened to those kids pray. Needless to say, we made it down the hill safely and slipped and slid all the way out of there. We had lunch at a cute little pizza place in Marsing and called it a day. 

What did I learn from this? Pray, stay with people who know what they are doing, listen to the spirit, and looking back I would say do I give up too easily? Would we have been just fine if we would have pushed a little farther. Did we miss out on a great experience because we were too afraid to try something hard? We found out later that someone came back to help us and we weren't there anymore. We didn't stick it out with patience. 

Yes we did have fun with what we did do, but there was more fun on the other side of that hill if we would have pushed on and not given up. I know I will not be afraid to move on and push forward from now on. There is something great for me if I'm not afraid to take risks and jump in feet first. By now you probably know that I'm not talking about the mudding experience anymore. This is about my life. I've held on to what is comfortable not allowing myself to experience more in my life. It's easier to be considered the widow and hide behind the "I'm not ready" phase. I'm ready to jump in feet first!

Thanksgiving...

Yeah I thought I'd better write about Thanksgiving BEFORE Christmas comes...
So I was really worried about Thanksgiving this year. I've been doing so well with my diet and I was afraid I was totally going to blow it! Since mom is doing this with me we did our homework and made it so that we didn't blow all the hard work we've done. The food was amazing, we watched our portion and I enjoyed a piece of chocolate cream pie...all the day before I was set to go weigh in and get measured. I was so nervous...but I lost 4 lbs that week!! I'm so glad my family is on board and doing this with me. Mom has lost 30 lbs. and is doing an amazing job. So proud of her. I was very thankful this year at Thanksgiving for my supportive family!!

Veteran's Day Program

It's not hard to figure out which one is Melissa. She has found her place in the front row just like her mother. I really enjoyed watching her in this program. It's her first real program in front of the school and she did an awesome job. I love the Veterans Day program and the feeling of patriotism it brings to watch these kids sing and honor those who have fought for our freedom. I love that this school does this every year and hope they continue to do it every year. What a great tradition!!

Halloween

This Halloween was full of fun parties, costume changes and CRAZY HAIR!!! I don't think I've ratted my hair that many times in a short amount of time ever. We had a great time though, at all the parties, and I thought Melissa was an AWESOME Pippi Longstocking! Mom did an amazing job on my June Cleaver hair, and I loved having an excuse to rat my hair really crazy and spray fun colors in it. I loved being a pirate this year. It was exciting to wear fun costumes and be comfortable in them. We had so much fun this year!! I didn't even steal any of Melissa's candy...so happy!!

October 21st

5 years...it's been 5 years. It seems like yesterday...and felt like yesterday. It was a very hard day for me. I still had to go to school and take a test, I worked out like crazy and took Melissa to the cemetery after school. She doesn't quite understand yet what that day really means yet. She had a hard time understanding why I was so upset that day, and decided she should push my buttons. I ended the day sitting on the couch alone because I just sent her to bed.
We had a good conversation about being sensitive to people's feelings, especially those painful feelings. I think she will eventually get it, but it is hard for a 6 year old to just get it. I love that going to the cemetery is such a treat for her though. It's our bonding time, she gets to bring things to her dad and talk to him. She loves it. She plays, she talks to him, we eat snacks together, she brings him things she makes or finds just to share it with him. This year, she left him a lady bug in a jar and wrote all sorts of things on a pumpkin for him. Every time we go to the store and she sees flower displays she begs to buy some so we can take them to her dad. I'm glad going there is such a positive experience.

Catch up!!

Wow...did not realize how fast time has gone since August, you are all probably DYING to see what I've been up to...or not. (-: It seems like as soon as a semester starts, I don't breath until it is over and some things just get put off, like my poor blog. Sorry to neglect you. I will do my best to recap the last 2 months the best I can.

I have been hiking, running, working my butt off this last couple of months and seeing some great results. I know that is the only way I have energy to do what I need to do. It's been a very busy couple of months. I've done 2 5K races in the last couple of months that were a LOT of fun. 

This was a great group of ladies to do my first 5K with. The DIVA'S!!

Madisyn and I did the Barber to Boise race in October. That one was a lot of fun!!

Besides all my running, the semester has been really busy. I've been busy with cub scouts, activities committee, school (Heaven help me get through poetry writing and education foundations), Getting Melissa going well in school, and work. It feels like I need more than 24 hours in a day to get it all done. I have a lot more active in the singles activities and believe it or not, went on a date for the first time since Joe. It only took me 5 years to take that step, but I did it. The 5 year mark was on the 21st of October and I think it was the hardest year for me yet. I have such great support though. I am so lucky to have found the friends I've found in the last year that understand what I'm going through. It's been a long road,  and will continue to be a long road, but I know I'm not alone in what I go through. 

Just for an update for the fun of it: Weightloss since August 1st-- 25 lbs. 

Fabulous Fair Fun!!

I am officially faired out this year...I spent most of the day Monday the 23rd with Melissa. I worked from 2 to 6 the 24th and 26th. I took Steve and Melissa on Saturday the 28th. Oh what fun we had. This is the first time Steve had ever been to the Western Idaho Fair. He had a blast, and it was nice to have someone else take Melissa on the rides while I took pictures. He was terrified to go on the ferris wheel, but Melissa held on to him and he realized it wasn't that bad...after a while. hee hee hee. He loved all of the kid rides that Melissa dragged him on...no complaint, just smiles when he was done. We loved the dinosaur exhibit, and Steve and I got superman tattoos on our arms...(airbrushed of course) We ate a lot of food, and enjoyed EVERY bite!! I think I'm good for now...at least until next year!

Cascade Camping

This has to be one of my favorite memories of this whole summer. Melissa and I went camping with a group of "mid-singles" in Cascade. There were about 70 people that attended and it was a really good time. I spent most of the time swimming in the lake with Melissa, taking pictures with Melissa (she took pictures on my little camera, while I took them on the big one), and either hanging out in the tent, or with friends. We had a great time!! I would definitely like to take the rest of my family there for a camping trip just to hang out...so relaxing, great view, and great swimming!

Goodbye ToNsIlS...Hello SLEEP!!!

The progression from that morning to the aftermath of surgery...she was a trooper! It was a quick procedure...He took her tonsils and her adenoids...her adenoids were actually BIGGER than her tonsils! Poor thing couldn't breath out of her nose. Her tummy was upset afterward, the ride from the bed to the wheelchair made her lose what little stuff she had in there. She fevered, she puked, she ate lots of popsicles, but mostly ice water...she never let go of the dog that Grandma picked out for her though. Her voice changed, but the biggest difference...she can breath!!! I listen to her sleep because she doesn't snore anymore and she is so quiet, that I have to check on her! YEAH!!! She was a little freaked out that when she puked it actually came out of her nose...that had never happened before!! Just wait until she laughs so hard it comes out of her nose, that will be a new one for her! I'm looking forward to seeing if her getting restful sleep is going to help other matters, like behavior and focusing...time will tell!

AUGUST 1, 2010 THE BEFORE PICTURES

I am putting this out there...I know it's brave...no more like absolutely CrAzY!! These are my before shots. My family is doing a "Biggest Loser" type challenge. I'm in it...I'm going for it...if I put it out for the world to see, maybe I will keep my motivation to just keep going and change my life. I don't think I'm quite brave enough to reveal the starting number, lets just say unhealthy weight in ratio to my height. I need all the support I can get!! Positive comments are always welcome, there are too many other factors that are already discouraging me and dragging me down. I will do the best I can, and hopefully come back a year from now changed for the better and healthier than when I started!! Wish me luck!!

July 19, 2010 FAMILY FUN at SaNdYpOiNt!!!

Awww good times!!! It is always fun to take a family night and go doing something fun like go to Sandy Point and swim!! Super fun, very refreshing, and always good company. Joe tried to teach me the basics of how to stay under water and let yourself sink...yeah that didn't go so well. I am very challenged in that area. I panic too quickly and can't stay under water for more than two seconds. He gets an A for effort in trying to teach me though. fUn was HaD by AlL!!!

Grover Reunion

So yeah the Grover reunion...this is really how many pictures I took at the reunion...very unusual for me! Actually there are more pictures on my phone because Melissa walked around taking pictures on my phone. Thank you Melissa!!! It was a good reunion...I did the crafts which kept everyone busy for quite a while and successfully dwindled my craft supplies (that's a good thing). I enjoyed camping with just Melissa in our own spot, although after 3 weekends in a row sleeping in a tent, I was kind of done for a while. It was windy one night, and Melissa woke up with a bloody nose the other night. We saw a snake, which did not make my day...and over all I just needed a break from camping. More than anything, I was just shocked at myself for not taking more pictures.