I've Still Got Alotta Fight Left In Me

http://youtu.be/xo1VInw-SKc

Sunshine

Just living is not enough … one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.

-Hans Christian Andersen

Keep Calm

At school today my friend Jen showed me her countdown. 43 days - Keep Calm. That's 43 days left of a 1,095 day trek called Nursing School. I will finish. 

Because when I'm gathering hope,
I'm patient.
When I'm gathering strength,
I'm quiet.
When I'm gathering resilience,
I'm unnoticeable.

In the face of transition, challenge, and uncertainty, sometimes the best thing I can do right now is just keep calm and finish.

Because in this time I am better able to hear the most important callings on my heart. And in some round about way, in some time period beyond our control, many of those voids will be filled in ways I could have never imagined.

16 Happy Thoughts!

Fireflies

Friends

Music

Glitter

Home

Surprises

Worn in skates

Brownies 

Kittens

Walks in the park 

Daisies 

Your Birthday

Water Balloons 

Licorice 

French Fries

All Stars 2015

Moab

Rule #1

Is that you've gotta have fun! 

It's a ride not a race

Races I have completed:

• 12 5k
• 15 triathlon
• 2 marathon
• 9 century bicycle ride
• 2 relay
• 1 first place finish 

{Today was a ride not a race however]

{I love staying with my sister Ivy in Preston the night before the ride}

{Along with my friend Sharon, and her friends Emily and Taura}

{This was the eighth year in a row that we have made the trip}

{And for the first time in forever Ivy rode with us}

{I am so glad that she could get the day off from flying and spend it with us instead}

{She rented a bike and we talked along the route}

{Stopping along the way to photograph the poppies}

{Ivy turned off at the 70 mile route as she needed to be in Salt Lake by 4 to fly out to Nashville}

{I kept going and finished in just under 7 hours}

{Not my personal best but considering how much I have trained I was glad I made it!}

{Sharon, Taura and I = 100 done}

{Saddle up and ride!}

Little Red 2015

Carpe' Diem

On Wednesday Markus left elementary school. I had fantasized about being there to pick him up but I had school until right before he left his favorite teacher. So I met him at the door after our carpool dropped him off. 

-Ms. Weiss, sixth grade, who taught Markus how to analyze literature when they read “Kingdom Keepers.” She sat down and wrote him a letter and put it in his memory book. I am amazed at the time she took, because Markus is at the top of the class, and it would have been so easy to ignore him and his needs. But she did not; She challenged him and expected great things from him. I credit his innate aversion to “your” instead of “you’re” and “it’s” instead of “its” to Mrs. Weiss. And, more importantly, I credit his initial interest in writing to her as well. She is a sweet lady and listened to Markus tell her all about hockey. She even bought him a statue of a hockey player. She was so kind to let him know she was thinking of him and she did what I believe the best teachers do: created a community from the class. They read journals aloud to each other, the sixth graders had second grade buddies to help with their cursive letters and times tables, they worked on group projects, and at the end of the year Markus felt so at home there, like he had twenty-five friends.

But his years in elementary school have come to an end, so all my fantasies about giving her a thank you letter evaporated. I got all emotional on my already emotional son. “She was a really good teacher,” I sniffled. I handed him a tissue and we stood in the doorway and hugged. 

She was a really good teacher. And I have plenty more from earlier years of school, and my older sons have been blessed with wonderful teachers as well. But this week my heart turned to the teacher who helped my youngest love school when he was small and eager. In this season of spring, I am so thankful for her. 

Tell me about your favorite teachers. Have you ever had a teacher you learned so much from?

Bad News Bears?

Markus' team has not won one game this entire season...

Until today in the season tournament. 

Morgen came to watch and was telling me about his new job that he is excited about. 

Markus had an RBI every time he was up to bat

Max came to watch after he went to his weight lifting class with his friend, Landon. He goes there M-T each week to get stronger for hockey. And life.  

Markus also found out he made the All-Star team this year

He was pretty excited!

As he had waited all day to hear from his coaches who didn't call until after he went to bed and then I got an email and told him the next morning!

{When Markus started pitching in the bottom of the 4th inning, his team was winning 10-5 with the bases loaded and the home-run king of the league up to bat.}

{He struck him out in three pitches! The Hornets win it 10-5 to go into the semi-final game of the season!}

{Markus' coach said that he couldn't have been prouder of his team if they had won the World Series!}

{Of course Markus was glad his brother's were there to cheer him on.}

I've Got A Thing For You

My little nephews, Jax and Grey, will be three months old on Friday... 

Today IS Your Day

Sixth grade promotion 

Was held today 

Markus had many friends that wanted pictures with him...

His "me" page said: 

#leader 

I am a leader. Being a leader comes really easy to me. I do not hesitate to do what is right. My friends trust me to be a leader and that is a big responsibility but I can handle it because that's just who I am. 

Congratulations! 

Today is your day, boys. So go out there and take it! 

Ms. W and Mrs. H were both crying as of course I was as well. They said it was allergies. Lol

#brightfuture

At the end of elementary school days for both me and him. Where ever one door closes I know that one more opens. 

I'm so proud of my son. These smart girls asked for this picture. Now they're off to Classic Skating. 

Summer is calling

Fun Morning To Run