Trek-Prep

Pretty soon I will be seeing something kind of like this . . .

A long line of beautiful people, pushing and pulling!

The countdown begins for Trek -- just a little more than a month away! Yikes and yippee! We have gathered our clothes, we have our buckets, bandanas for our family, and we are decorating our buckets and family flag tomorrow night. We still have a lot to do to get ready and many more items to gather: tents, a bunch of water coolers, first-aid kits, and a bunch of other this-and-that items. We should have it under control soon. My biggest concern is for our kids -- I hope they will be ready!

I have been doing a bunch of running, and purposefully going out in the heat of the day -- so I will not be so heat-shocked. I am also training my mind to just keep moving -- who cares if I am hurting, hot, tired, if I want to stop -- I just need to keep moving!

(Easy to say, not so easy to do!)

I am getting better at it.

My feet have been reacting to summer. I don't know if I am alone in my summertime, always-barefoot, cracked-heals, and nasty feet . . . but my feet recently started to do their thing: cracked, peeling skin, cuts at the base of my toes. The same routine as always. And running does not help them heal!

I do not want to go into Trek with already cracked feet -- so I am starting my "treatment". Every night, my feet have a date with vaseline. I rub it over my entire foot (I hate the greasy feeling at first) and then I put socks over my feet. I wear socks until the vaseline soaks in, and until I can't stand wearing socks any longer. It is lame to do, but it is amazing -- it REALLY helps!

Vaseline is a must-have for Trek. They told us we should bring it along, because you never know who's thighs/bum/other-crevices are going to rub.

Certainly not mine. ;-) wink!

I'll just keep a jar in my apron pocket, just in case somebody needs it. :-)

A Laundry Miracle!

No, I did not hire a maid. Though the thought is tempting . . .

A few posts ago, I mentioned how much I despised doing laundry. It drove me nuts. Piles and piles, everywhere. A few people agreed with me that laundry stinks, and others told me to

"just do it".

I was good with "just doing it" but it seemed like such a consuming task.

I mean overly consuming -- not normal.

Little did I know that I actually had a REAL PROBLEM. You see, I thought it was normal to have to run your clothes through the dryer more than once, always twice, sometimes three times. For the last 3 years I have had to do that, and my clothes would still not totally dry. Hence, laundry took FOREVER and (3 cycles instead of 1) made me really loathe laundry.

The Dryer.

Breath-in, breath-out . . . Shudder.

Recently, it was getting worse. I was on to drying clothes in a 4th cycle. I thought maybe my dryer was dying, but my dryer still got warm, even hot. Often the clothes would come out stinky and musty-smelling.

And then it dawned on me that maybe it was deeper than the dryer. Maybe it was THE DRYER VENT. Not the little vent on the actual dryer -- which I clean out faithfully -- but the vent that runs through the house.

I was right.

I called a professional vent cleaner. He came, he cleaned my vents AND the inside of my dryer. Apparently, I had an air-flow hole about the size of a quarter. He said something about the flow being about 5 miles per hour (which is horrid) and after he cleaned it -- 45 mph!!

Talk about an extreme fire hazard.

(I have seen lint catch on fire before in an apartment building,

and it is NOT pretty!) The vent-guy probably saved our home!

And at the very least, my sanity . . .

Guess what?

It is a MIRACLE!!!

MY DRYER DRIES ON THE FIRST CYCLE!!!

AMAZING!

I shrieked with joy as I pulled out my first DRY LAUNDRY after only 1 cycle!!!

Oh Happy Day!

Now, I smile instead of shudder when I walk into the laundry room.

Laundry is almost enjoyable!

Almost.

But that is progress!

Don't forget to clean those dryer vents. It changed my life!

Strange Storm

Last night we were treated to an amazing display of lightning! We were lounging in the backyard on a blanket, under clear-skies -- when an ominous black cloud came rolling in.

Video #1: Our first view from the backyard.

"Here it comes!"

Video #2: We went inside and moved to the front yard view.

"Woo!"

Video #3: After that, it just got weird. I have never seen anything like it . . . it just kept flashing, and going, and hovering in one spot.

Lucky for me, it was right outside our bedroom window! ;-)

"WOW!"

(The flashing went on for a good while so the kids all slept on the floor in our room.)

After that eerie-display there was a more intense storm behind it, with loud thunder and heavy winds. I started getting worried about my big umbrella in the backyard -- but I did not have the guts to go outside and grab onto the metal pole to take it down. (There was lightning ALL around!) So, I just kept an eye on it. As it swayed in the violent wind, it reminded me of the limited warranty if something were to happen to it . . .

Good thing nothing happened -- I would have been out of luck!

However, the umbrella-factory acknowledges "acts of God".

I personally think that is awesome. :-)

Glad we all made it through unscathed!

It was intense!

I loved every minute of it. ;-)

Just Keep Running . . .

Yesterday was a beautiful day. Just perfect. The weather was amazing and I wanted to be out in it. So, I loaded up the jogger-stroller with William and Sam and Dan were on their bikes (the usual routine for running in the morning). I told the kids before we left I wanted to go for a "long" run. I was not sure how far, just long. I brought 5 big water bottles in the stroller and a few sandwiches for the kids, just in case we were gone for awhile.

We headed out and it was so lovely. The sky was clear, and the smells in the air were intoxicating. My mental was in an unusually excellent place. I felt GOOD, really GOOD! I kept running and the kids kept pedaling.

I focused on staying super-hydrated because it was getting pretty hot. The water made all the difference for me, it kept my brain clear. (I sweat a lot and I NEED a lot of water!)

We ran our loop and kept going . . . around the golf course, to the zoo, by the college . . . we just kept running (kids biking). I had no concept of the time of day (except that we left around 10:30). I wanted to go as far as I could.

It was no longer morning, and it was getting hotter. I started pouring water on my head and down my shirt. I poured water on the kids, too. We stopped at an outdoor bathroom for super-speed potty-time. We refilled ALL 5 water bottles at the fountain (twice!). (We passed the same location by the golf course 3 times.)

It was super-important to stay hydrated in the heat!

I just kept thinking, I need to be ready for TREK. I need to do hard things. I need to do hard things and be happy about doing hard things. TREK is going to be hot and hard. I want to be ready for it. It will require being out walking ALL day in the heat. I need to get used to being hot. As I was running, little flashes of the future would appear before me like a mirage. Anytime I would go up a hill I saw -- the woman's pull. I want to be as ready as I can be!

While we were out, my mind was in such a good place -- I wondered who I was, and where the normal self-doubting Mari went? I could breathe fine the whole time, I could talk clearly the whole time (more like yell at the kids to slow down on their bikes and "stay to the right!"). I felt just fine. It was weird that I felt so fine.

I kept running.

And then, I knew I had gone farther than I had ever run. I just KNEW it. (The farthest I had run was 13.5 miles pushing the double stroller.) My legs started to really feel fatigued. I was not sure if I would be able to go the rest of the way . . . but seeing as how we were far away from home, I HAD to! There was no other choice. Just keep running, just keep running . . .

So, feeling a little desperate, I called the kids to me and I asked Daniel to pray for my legs (Daniel has lions-den faith, that I have come to rely on). He prayed that I would make it home, and that my legs would not hurt me. I trusted in Daniel's prayer. I kept running and I started talking to my legs, telling them they felt good and I tried to force energy their way. It helped, sort of. :-) I just kept moving.

It was hot. I kept dumping water on my head -- it helped, for awhile. I prayed and pleaded for some way to stay cool -- there was suddenly a cool breeze. I was not alone.

I kept pushing the stroller and answering William's questions, but I begged him, "please be quiet, for a little while." It was getting intense. If you have ever run with a stroller, you know it is not easy to find a comfortable position. I alternate arms, since I use my arms a lot to run. At one point I used the stroller as a kind-of running-gimp crutch. I was spent. My legs were spent. The stroller felt like a ton of bricks. It was loaded with William and water. It was a real feat just to keep it moving forward.

William had been sitting there for a LONG time, in the sun. (He has the red-skin to prove it!) The kids were exhausted and complaining. I begged them to stop complaining and help me by being positive, so I could make it, and not die on the trail. Not only did I have to keep me strong, but Sam and Dan needed my encouragement, too. But, again, for some weird reason -- I had unusual strength of mind. My mind was SO clear. I was able to focus not only on me, but on them, too. (I am not normally very good at that, when running!)

We were almost home -- my finish line. Because of the hope of the end in sight, my strength returned. Home never sounded so good to me (or the kids!). We were all spent, finished, done. We had been out in the hot sun and moving for what seemed a very long time!

Home. We made it. I walked in the door and sat down, carefully. I had the kids bring me the laptop so I could map out our miles. I was incredibly curious. I still had no idea how far we had run!

I went to www.mapmyrun.com and started plugging in our course . . .

19.63 miles.

We left at 10:30 and got home at 4:00.

(Yeah, it took a LONG time!)

A little farther than I had planned to go!

It was not planned. I woke up and had eggs and two cookies before leaving. I did not wake-up thinking "this day I am going to run the farthest I have ever run" . . . it just sort of happened. My mind did all the work, really. It was like someone had tweaked my "positive-thinking" button. My mind has NEVER been so clear or able to stay positive for so long. I just kept going and going and pushing and going . . . it was a very out-of-body-experience.

Some things I wanted to point out:

• It felt like the right way to do a long-distance run for me. The kids have ALWAYS been a part of my running (as well as pushing the stroller). They have always been part of my load to carry and it seemed "right" to have them along for the journey. They were an incredible motivator, having them in front of me.
• I ran fully covered. I wore a T-shirt and running pants past my knees. It is POSSIBLE to run far and be modest. ;-)
• When people saw me at gimp-running point, they probably thought, "Oh, that girl is really out of shape, poor thing" they did not know it was mile 17!
• The TREK theme is: "Some Must Push and Some Must Pull". I am a Pusher.
• I had not been training for this run, it just sort of happened. I do not consider myself to be in very great shape, or anything. I run almost daily. But it was not physical for me, it was mental.
• My kids are amazing. They made it the whole way and they are all sunburned and worn-out today. I love them so much. I am so glad they were with me. I told them they should never forget the day and what they can do -- and what mommy did, too.

My camera was out of batteries, darn it, or I would have taken a picture when we got home. If you do not believe my story, I have 3 witnesses. Sam, Dan, and William. They will tell you ALL about it. :-)

Nothing is impossible, that is for sure. 19.63 is close enough to my original marathon goal that I consider myself satisfied that I could go the full distance. That is all I wanted to know . . . IF I could do it. Running that distance, in the heat, while pushing a stroller with kids on bikes, has to be some sort of original accomplishment? Whatever it was, it was unplanned and unintentional. But I find myself amazed at me and what I am capable of when my MIND is in the right place.

I was not alone. I know that for sure. My mind is NEVER that positive. It was like all the gunk had been cleaned-out and all that was left was light. Someone else wanted me to do this. I was helped every gimpy-step of the way! I have a feeling this was preparation for what is to come. Trek-training. I am certain!

Not a recent picture, but you get the idea! :-)

Me, stroller, kids, running.

Oh, and how do I feel today? I feel great. I feel like I really did something different to my body, but really the only "pain" I have is sunburn and a little discomfort in my behind, but besides that -- SUPER! :-) I think I drank 4 entire (BIG) bottles of water along the way and it made all the difference for me, especially in the heat.

Also, my sister just ran a FULL marathon: www.karyskorner.blogspot.com. Check out her awesome story and pictures! She is my hero! Whether you run for fun or to accomplish a goal . . . just keep running! :-)

*Also, also . . . I saw two men from our ward out running along the way. Bro. Wenzel at the beginning of the run and Ryan Holden somewhere in the middle. They both recently did the Ironman. Seeing them made me want to keep running!

Sometimes we ask God to "give us strength" to accomplish the tasks before us. For me my "strength" has come from having an extra load to haul when I run. I have not become a sleek-gazelle-runner in the process ( like I would wish), but I am STRONG. And it is strength, after all, that I will need to pull/push that handcart!

Just keep moving forward . . . that is the way to the finish line.

The way HOME.

Pretty in Pink

That's right.

My Charles is manly enough to wear pink.

You go baby!

You rock that pink shirt! :-)

Look how adorable he is . . .

(He is talking on the phone with a client.)

We were laughing about it ALL day.

He said everyone seemed to be more friendly with him, people really "opened up" and seemed more comfortable in his presence.

(He normally wears black suit, white shirt.)

He said he had lots of compliments on his new apparel choice --

even from the prosecutors!

(Though I wonder if the men were snickering behind his back.)

"He, he. Pink."

I know I was snickering in front of his face . . . "He, he, PINK??!!"

I have to admit . . .

I was pleasantly surprised with his new color spectrum.

He looked dang good.

Pink.

Who knew?

Star-Gazing

I LOVE having grass, a new fence, and the SKY! Before, with the enormous trees -- we could not see anything! (Except tree.) Now we have a HUGE skyline and we can see beautiful stars at night! Yippee!

Here is the umbrella I mentioned before . . .

My mom wanted a picture.

I LOVE the night lights! I have been going outside at dusk and I bask in the still of the night. (With my Nat King Cole station playing in the background, of course.)

We have been able to see the moon, too.

Last night (not in this picture) it was almost a full moon and it was so bright and beautiful.

William and Mommy enjoying staying cozy together.

(Notice the sunburn? Yeah, I am going to die on Trek. I know it. I HAD sunblock on, too!)

The kids bring out their sleeping bags and books and at dusk we look for bats!

(They come out briefly before dark and they are really fun to watch!)

Daniel feel asleep last night, but Sammi and I chatted about the cosmos, life and eternity. It was a special time. There is something deeply spiritual about the stars . . .

Oh, and I found another "before" picture . . .

I am still amazed at what is possible with a little (LOTS AND TONS AND BUCKETS FULL-OF) sweat!

Happy Summer Star-Gazing!

(Unless you live in Alaska, of course!) ;-)

Can't wait until the meteor showers begin!

(I think in August?)

Yahoo!

Talents

The lesson in Relief Society yesterday was on "Developing our Talents". I really enjoyed the lesson, and I actually studied it for a few weeks -- just because the lesson intrigued me so much.

Talents. We ALL have them.

The manual stated:

We all have special gifts, talents, and abilities given to us by our Heavenly Father. When we were born, we brought these gifts, talents, and abilities with us.

I LOVE that. I love knowing that our special talents -- our gifts -- were given to us even before we came to earth! As I pondered that concept, I wanted to know . . . what is my gift?

I figure if I can hone-in on the thing(s) I am good at, or rather, magnify the gifts I have been given, then I can -- more or less -- use my super-powers for the greatest-good. We are meant to USE our talents to Glorify God and increase them -- NOT bury them in the dirt. We will be accountable for how we use out talents!

So, first, before I can use my gifts . . . I want to KNOW what it is that I do well, naturally, so I can focus my efforts. For example: If super-hero-strength is my gift, then I should spend time finding ways to use THAT gift, extending my strength-capacity to the very brink; Rather than, say, focusing my efforts on something out-of-my-league, like lightning-bolt-eyes or flying.

Not that anything is impossible, mind you -- but if you have a gift you have been blessed with, I believe that there is a REASON for it. And that gift -- magnified -- might just help you become the person that God wants you to be. You can ALWAYS develop new talents. But I also think within us there is a "core-talent" that can encompass a bunch of other talents. For example, maybe you are a goal-setter or super-organized, or amazingly kind. You can find a million ways to set goals and accomplish them, or a million ways to be kind to others.

Switching gears for just a minute . . .

In the book Twilight all the vampires have special gifts. They were gifts they had when they were human, but magnified when they turned immortal. Some gifts were more flashy/show-stoppers (super-strength, mind-reading, seeing the future), while others were more subtle (desire to help people, influencing emotions, super self-control) -- but each gift was powerful, depending on how it was used.

I think it is the same for us. Some talents and gifts are more subtle, while others may be more "showy" but each gift is special and unique and can be used by the gift-bearer to accomplish great and miraculous things.

So, what is my gift? What is YOUR gift?

In Relief Society, the teacher had us go around the room and we each had to say what we thought one of our talents were. It sounds easier than it is! Saying it out loud, acknowledging it verbally, makes you feel kind of arrogant or something. It was HARD. But it was fascinating!! As an avid people-watcher I was in heaven! ;-)

It was interesting to hear what others felt their gifts were, and as they would say it out loud, you could see that it was true. Here are a few things that were said:

Having a calming influence on others (She is a nurse)

Not judging others (Relief Society President)

Creating a beautiful home environment (Stake Relief Society Pres.)

Music (Ward Organist)

Good at teaching (Mother)

Ability to endure hardship (Experienced extreme hardships)

Cheerfulness (This lady has the most pleasant face I have ever seen -- besides my mother)

It was very interesting to observe all these women and their talents. I loved every minute of it.

So, after some discussing with Charles and family, I have determined what I believe my "core-talent" is . . .

Atmosphere.

I have the ability to create a certain atmosphere: in my home, when I sing, when I put a program together, when I teach, etc.

This is something I have done since I was a little girl. I would rearrange my furniture, I would set my lighting a certain way, play mood-music, light candles, decorate, etc. (I am talking constantly, and I would do it for fun). I would spend hours singing in my karaoke machine (I have painful proof!) trying to improve my voice. I have spent a lot of time studying people, so I could understand them better, and be a better teacher. My greatest desire is to do these things for a purpose, and with power.

Decorate a home with power? Absolutely.

The purpose of this gift? My great hope is that through the atmosphere that I am able to create (at home, singing, teaching, etc.) . . . I can invite the Spirit in.

That is POWER. I have seen it. I have seen hearts change. I have seen moods change. I have seen people change.

Just like preparing your home for a guest, you have to prepare your home for the Spirit, too. The same goes for singing, teaching, etc. It is in the preparation, in the creation, that allows the Spirit to come.

I have seen proof of this gift over and over. The greatest evidence that I have used my gift well is: tears.

I love to make people cry. Nothing gives me greater joy than tears. :-)

So, take some time to ponder on your own talents and finding out what gift Heavenly Father gave YOU. When you know what you are good at then it makes it MUCH easier to focus your energy in the right direction. Pray about it, too. Pray to know what your talent is. You might just be surprised!

We all have a bit of super-hero in us, after all!

P.S. make sure and call first before you stop by my home . . . atmosphere takes time! wink! ;-)

Are you brave enough to tell me YOUR talents???

Though, being the people-watcher that I am, I probably already know!

Trek Family Games

Last night we had a big Trek Family competition night. (Friendly competition, of course!) We competed within our companies for blue ribbons -- which we will attach to our family flag, that will hang on our Trek handcart. We are part of the RED company, so we competed against the other Red company families.

The games were as follows: (I forgot to take pictures of everything! I was having too much fun!)

The Wheel Roll Relay: (Keeping a Hulu-hoop rolling with a stick, back and forth down the gym.) I totally stank at this one, but most people were pretty lame at it! Some of our kids really had it down!

The Stick Pull: Our family rocked this one, and walked away with the blue ribbon! We have some tough and competitive kids in our family -- I LOVE it!

The Handcart Repair Relay: (Hammering a nail in a piece of wood, easier than it sounds in a hurry!) Our team was SO close to having it, but I need to work on my hammering skills -- my nail bent!

The Wagon Push: (Hauling people back and forth in wheelbarrows.) Again, super close for our team . . . the judge was looking the other way when we crossed first!

The Egg Toss: (Stand across from a partner and toss raw eggs, each time you catch egg you take a step backward.) My partner and I rocked this one, we were the last girls standing, and in the last 3 partners standing when our dang egg broke in Alyssa's hands. (She caught it perfectly, but we were chucking the eggs pretty far when it broke!)

This was the starting line . . . we ended up way far apart! Poor Alyssa was covered in egg!

Alyssa, my partner, is the tall girl in the middle on the right

The Bucket Relay: (Filling a bucket of water using a spoon passed through each member of the family.) WE WON!

It was a super-fun night. I LOVE our family!

Our kids are so good, and they worked really well together.

We walked away with 2 blue ribbons to attach to our flag!

I am getting excited -- only 2 more months!

Yippee!

P.S. I NEED A BONNET

Anyone want to help me??? Please?? Pretty please??

Home Sweet Home

Our home now

Below is what our home looked like when we first moved in. Notice the crazy trees in the back, and the huge bushes to the left -- all gone now! We have done a massive amount of tree trimming. It looks to me like our house was being eaten by trees (and lavender bushes!).

The people who lived here before us were tree-huggers/let nature happen people.

There was just dirt and mud next to the house

We added a stone pathway

And tamed the yard a bit

A few recent improvements:

(The front has also been a three year project!)

Added grass (sod)

Finished stone pathway

Filled in square of dirt with paver stones by front door

Mulched the garden area

Pathway lights

Planted a Japanese Maple tree (the red bush in the left corner)

Bordered tree with stones

Flowers

It is coming together.

I love driving up at night and having the pathway lights lit up, to greet us.

(Lights are my favorite!)

It takes a heap of living (and sweat!) to make a house a home!

Backyard: Before and After

We have been working, like crazy -- trying to tame the wild that was once our backyard. When we moved in it was out-of-control. There were thousands of box elder bugs, spiders, piles and piles of debris, hundreds of cinder blocks, fallen branches, and rocks, rocks and more rocks! 3 years of perseverance and a lot of back-breaking work, our vision is beginning to unfold . . .

Our yard was once this . . .

A SCARY AND DANGEROUS JUNGLE!!!

And now . . . TA DA!!!

I know, night and day, right? It does not even feel like the same place!

(Not in the picture is the umbrella for shade, with lights for night-time conversation and relaxing.)

It has been a HUGE undertaking -- but that is how we roll. We see the potential and we work hard to create it.

Here are some in-progress shots . . .

Our fence blew down in a wind-storm.

The holes where the trees once were will soon be filled with new, smaller trees and grass.

The kids use to play in the mud and rocks . . . you do what you gotta do!

Do you see all those rocks?? We picked them up, by hand, each one, so we could plant grass!

What a beautiful yard it was . . . :-) If it rained, it flooded.

Debris and plants, and junk everywhere you turned.

We had to have our huge trees removed. Every time the wind blew we would lose a branch and one time we lost a really BIG branch that landed on our home. I LOVED our trees, and I even miss them, but they were a hazard and had to go.

Can you find the tree-trimmer in this picture??

He totally freaked me out with what he would do!

Now, it is time to PLAY!!!

It took a lot of hard work and long days, but we have finally tamed our jungle. :-)

Look for the potential . . . and you just might find it!

Rain

It has been raining here in Boise . . . for a LONG TIME. When we wake-up in the morning, it is shocking if there is sun. I must say, I like rain, generally, but it is really cramping my style --especially when it comes to running/being outside. I do not like running in the rain. My shoes get wet and ruined.

This video was taken about a month ago, when the tree-removal guys were here. (That is another blog entry -- LOTS of yard-improvement projects, before and after coming soon.)

That hail was pretty darn big . . . bigger than pea-size more like milk-dud size. ;-)

Anyhow, enough whining from me. There are some GOOD things about rain. I love the smell and the green that it brings. My grass is growing like crazy and a rarely have to water it. I love the sound of rain, it is very soothing . . . a little too soothing. It makes me want to stay inside and curl up with a good book. Run in the cold, wet, rain? Or stay warm inside with a good book?? Tough one.

The other night, we were treated to this beauty.

In the back of our home we had a storm . . .

And in the front yard we had the brightest sun I had ever seen. It was so clear and blinding -- it was breathtaking. Especially since it was still raining over our house. I had to grab my camera.

I have enjoyed the moisture, but I do hope for a bit of a dry-out over summer. I miss the beautiful sun, even if it turns me into a lobster and makes my skin fall off.

The sun will come out tomorrow . . . bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow . . . there'll be sun.

When I'm stuck with a day, that's gray and lonely

I just lift up my chin, and grin and say . . . Ohhhhh . . .

At least I can hope.

Wait, what is that? I hear something, outside?

Oh, never-mind, it just started raining, again. Hard. Really hard.

*Sigh*.

Where is my book . . .