swimming

I am trying to upload a video of Kate swimming.
She is a fish.
A self taught fish.
A fish with no fear.
Favorite: underwater tea party.

Not like me at all.

Today I watched a video by my favorite artist. I guess I had an epiphany, or her words led me to remember or realize some things my soul really needed. I don’t write like this ever but I feel like I need to keep these feeling someplace I won’t forget them again. What better place than facebook, my blog and our adoption website.


I am not one to share my feelings with others not even my husband most of the time. They are very private and I do not want to be judged or told what to do by others, funny because I am a coach by profession always telling others what to do. I live my life as a coach, observing and fixing and offering up unsolicited advice when I think I know the right way to do something. That is probably why I am sharing this, incase it helps someone else’s soul too.

So here is what I don’t want to forget: “Be where your feet are.” My above-mentioned favorite artist did a series of paintings to go with that beautiful phrase. (She is my favorite and I am being selfish by not sharing her name. Someday my garden-shed/retreat/happy-place will be filled with those paintings.if you are computer savvy you can figure it out.) No more focusing on where I was, what I could have been. Having goals of course but not taking for granted the chapter of life’s book I am currently in. Cherishing it, loving it, soaking in every moment good and bad.


“I am who I am, an individual.” As a new clueless mother I looked to those around me for examples of how to be a good mother. I have a lot of really great examples all around me; friends, neighbors, a sister, my mother, my mother-in-law, sisters-in-laws etc. Yes I am watching all of you daily. Unfortunately I have gotten caught up in my flaws and how I can never do what so an so does, or listening to conversations thinking I don’t do that, and letting it all just crush how I feel about myself as a mother, a wife, and as a person. I often felt lacking in so many ways. (If you don’t please tell me your secret.)

So when my favorite artist said, “ …I used to think that there was a thing I was supposed to be that I didn’t quite fit, …then I realized I totally made that up. God wants me to be an individual, but doing that with what I have been given.”(MFA)


Duh. It pierced my heart.


I do not have to be anyone but who I am right now in this minute. I will learn, I will fail, I will be judged, I will grow, and I will get better, I will take notes. That is all I can do. I want to say I will never forget these pearls of wisdom, but I will. (that is just me, forgetful.)

Thank you favorite artist. I know you will never read this but today you saved me.

Boulder Ride 2010

Troy did it again the 23rd annual Boulder Ride. Started by Monte Bledsoe and a few others 23 years ago. From what I have learned they took a pair of flip flops and a credit card and rode about 240 miles. Circleville Utah to Torrey to Escalante back to Circleville. There are some serious climbs, decents and sprints to the city, I guess town signs. It is some of the most beautiful parts of Utah. I would recommend driving it if you are not up for a bicycle ride. Some train months, others not at all but they do it. All I can say is I hope to do it someday. I really do. But until then my sister Raegan and I are one of the wives following in the trucks, or the SAG wagon. This year I took Kate with us. She did great. There is a lot of stop and go for the SAG so she could get out and play. This year was a lot cooler in temp than last year. They had rain and hail, thunder and lightning and perfectly cool sunny mornings. From what I hear and true to this years trip we had the cop pull them over and cause a pile up. One biker lost from that due to a bent tire. Thank goodness it wasn't Troy or he would have lit into that cop even more than I imagine he did.

There was a little detour adventure this year taking another road to Antimony and then back tracking to Circleville. Again gorgeous county but rough road. It had less traffic which was safer for all especially the fearless, teenagers riding with us. Those boys were really nice to Kate. She was flirting a lot with them. (oh great) there was 15 riders total and 13 finished or did the whole thing. Arta was the only woman and on day one she ripped open her knee on a newly rocked road. She was amazing.



the pelaton



Activities in the truck.

coming up calf creek.


Beautiful glowing sister and baby whipple

right in the middle is a gray spot, that is the road.

Escalante river

Blake...gotcha!

Our family at the Boulder mountain summit.
Activity: drawing on rocks with markers.


Don is who all the riders want to be.



My little model.

Kate really wanted to go with the riders this morning in Torrey.

Some of the boys, they dressed the same that day Moapa Valley jerseys.


Don, Chad and Monte

Activity: glitter tiaras


Circleville start

THe BIRDS

I look out the window this morning and see these cute little birds...awe. So I take a picture...cute.
Then I realize they are pooping all over the deck...yuck. They must think it is a party on my railing because a few more join them...then I realize if they think it is a party they will be back. So I go chase them off... I am clapping my hands and talking to them like they are going to listen to me...Go away little birdies, they don't just fly away they start to dive bomb me, closer and closer...what the.. this is creeping me out. The movie The Birds comes to mind and I think this is going to hurt if they hit me and what if they have some disease...(I take after my mom)...Holy crap they are getting really close so I pick up the ice cream maker and start waving it around yelling like a crazy lady...sorry neighbors.

Well it turns out they just wanted to keep eating the dried out sunflower heads I left on the deck that never got planted this year. I moved the sunflowers and haven't seen the birds again...unless they are off getting all of their bird friends to come attack me when I don't expect it.

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This is what one looks like after a fun day full of adventures: a walk to Edens (well a ride in the bike trailer), a Movie: Flipper, Lunch, falling on your head, then 3 hours of the pool, a stop at the snow shack and then home. Whew. I am tired too.




Although her face looks like she has blood on her mouth it was the melonberry shaved ice. It doesn't give it justice, her mouth and lips were seriously blood red. The red circle above her eye was a running accident and a swim noodle, luckily she bounced on the noodle first or we might of gone to the ER and not the pool.