Stop the insanity!!

As if being deaf in one ear and dizzy all the time wasn't bad enough...now it won't stop ringing!! Ringing...buzzing...humming...there really is no way to describe the sound that my deaf ear hears! It's going to drive me bonkers!! One more day - I can live one more day. Hopefully the specialist I see on Monday will be able to fix something!!

I got to hang out with Krista today. Days like today don't happen very often. That girl is so super busy. She works a full-time job, a part-time job, and goes to school full-time. I don't know how she does it. I feel like my life is busy and I only have one job!! But, she seems to manage. I'm glad she still has time for us little people.

Still deaf...but functional

I didn't take my anti-motion sickness medicine last night. I wanted to see what I would feel like without - mostly so I could see if I was steady enough to drive. I woke up this morning and I actually woke up! I feel like I didn't even really wake up yesterday. I kind of just slept all day. I still can't hear at all in my left ear. It's still annoying. I hate to say it, but I kind of feel like I'm getting used to it. I do fine until I'm in a confined space with lots of different noises. I can't have the music on in the car. We went to Outback for dinner tonight and I felt really, really deaf in there. There were just too many noises. I really hope it goes away soon!!

Since I woke up feeling a lot more functional today I went in to work. It was a slow day. I had a bunch of catch-up work to do, but the rest of the day was pretty low-key. Melissa and Jill were gone today so it was pretty quiet. That also limits what I can work on. We have a bunch of stuff we need to get done, but it's stuff we need to do together. It will just have to wait for another day.

We got to go out to dinner tonight because it was report card day. Holly got all 3s and 4s (which is apparently a good thing? What ever happened to As and Bs?) so she got to choose where we went for dinner. Her first choice was PF Changs...the one in California!! But since that wasn't actually an option, she picked Outback. I love Outback! I'm a little bummed though. I only ate half my meal with the intent to eat the other half tomorrow. I left my box on the table!! I hate it when that happens! I feel like it's such a waste! Oh well. I guess it'll just help me remember next time.

Tomorrow will be yet another Saturday morning that I will not be running. :( Sad day.

Still deaf in one ear...and still hating it!

I took another sick day today. Last night was just crazy. Apparently I toss and turn in my sleep, but I didn't know because I just sleep through it. Last night I couldn't sleep through it because everytime I turned over, my whole world spin...and spin...and spin. Needless to say - I didn't sleep well. I decided at about 10:00 when I was still having a very hard time waking up that it would probably be best if I took the day off. So I called my boss. He was great and told me to take all the time I needed to get feeling better.

Today was weird - that's the only way to describe it. I don't feel sick. I'm annoyed that I can't hear out of my ear and I'm too dizzy to do much of anything, but while I'm just lying around I feel like a bum. But I know my body is fighting something because I easily slept most of the day...and I'm ready for bed and it's only 9:30. I'm debating about whether or not I should go to work tomorrow. I guess I'll just see how tonight goes and decide in the morning. I really hope this goes away soon!

Deaf in one ear...and hating it!!

I am not a happy camper today. I was driving to work this morning when my ear plugged up. It felt like it would if I had a really bad cold, but I don't have a cold. It was mostly just annoying. Then, the ringing started. Even more annoying. By the time I got to work I was concerned. Ears aren't supposed to just stop hearing!! So, I went to the urgent care to get it checked out. I secretly hoped that they would say there was just a build-up of wax or something - anything they could fix while I was there! But, that's definitely not what they said. The doctor told me that there is fluid pushing on my ear drum, which is preventing vibrations, which means I literally cannot hear anything out of my left ear (except of course the ringing). And, to top it all off, apparently that fluid is throwing off my equilibrium so I feel like I'm going to pass out if I move. The doctor said it's one of two things -

1 - The fluid is caused by an infection. She gave me some antibiotics to see if that would help. If it does it should start to get better in three or four days...unless of course I shoot myself before then!

2 - If it doesn't get better in three or four days I get to go to a specialist. The urgent care doctor told me all about how she suspects some condition called meriners disease. If that's what it it, I'll just lose my hearing and mess up my equilibrium every once in a while and there's really nothing I can do about it.

I'm really praying it's an infection! The only upside I've come up with is that it's really good there's just no hearing. I think it would be a lot more annoying if I could hear a little bit - then I would feel like it needs to pop and I HATE it when I can't pop my ears!

I left shortly after getting back to work from the doctor. I just wasn't functioning well. I feel like my head is in a fish bowl or something. It's really a strange feeling. I hope that things are better in the morning. I started taking a motion sickness pill to help with the vertigo, but I'm not really supposed to drive if I'm taking it. So hopefully tomorrow I won't be dizzy so I won't have to take it so I can go into work. I guess it wouldn't be so bad if I had to take another day off, though. It was kind of nice to know that I have sick days I can use if I need them. I wouldn't mind another sick day tomorrow. We'll just have to wait and see what happens.

Night time excitement!

Last night's excitement did not end when I went to bed. I am a light sleeper - I always have been. Every little creek wakes me up. I discovered that if I sleep with a fan on, I sleep so much better. The noise of the fan drowns out all the other noises. But after getting so worked up last night, I was jumpy - to say the least. I woke up panicked multiple times last night. It's kind of funny now that I think about it. One of the times I woke up in a panic it was because Wendee was calling me from upstairs. It was like 12:30 and she called to tell me that she was taking Jacob to the doctor. Apparently he was one unhappy camper last night. I slept upstairs while she was gone - just in case any of the other kids woke up. The noises were even worse upstairs!! But, even after not sleeping so well last night, I still got up to run this morning!

I've decided that I'm just going to run the half marathon in Ogden, not the full marathon. I was a little hesitant in the first place, but when I really thought about it, the decision was clear. It takes me a while to bounce back after a marathon and that's just not how I want to start the summer. I would rather run a half and bounce back and be super ready to run all my favorite races this summer. I'm a little sad I'm not doing the full marathon, but it will be worth it when I PR on the half!!

I did my laundry tonight. Every once in a while I get super grateful for something in my every day life. Today, for example, I am SO grateful we have a washer and dryer. I can't imagine what it would be like if they didn't exist. I'm sure we would make it work. But boy am I glad we don't have to. I can have all my clothes clean and dry in just a couple hours, and the hardest part is folding them when they're all done!

I survived the encounter!

I had a near-death experience tonight!! Well, not really, but it was definitely freaky! A couple weeks ago we had a training at work about the Insane Clown Posse. It was distrubing to say the least!! The police officer giving the training reassured us. He told us that we only need to worry if we see a bunch of these kids together with their faces painted. I rode trax and the train to and from work today. I got a few stops away from work on the way home when I saw a group of 15 or 20 kids running toward the trax train, in their clown posse gear, with their faces painted! I panicked a little bit, but tried to stay calm. I thought for a minute I should get off the train, but decided not to. After a few stops these kids came up to the front to see the map. I was riding towards the front. Evenutally the whole group migrated to the front so that they were sitting all around me. Apparently there was a concert or something because across the street from the Salt Lake Central station there was a huge group - hundreds of people all dressed up with their faces painted. I breathed a sign of relief that I hadn't decided to get off the trax train. If I had I would have had to wait at Salt Lake Central for half an hour for the next train. Instead I got right on the frontrunner train and left the group of scary people in Salt Lake. I did not love the experience. I kind of wished that I hadn't had the training I did at work - then I wouldn't know that I had cause to be worried. I'm grateful that the situation didn't turn ugly and I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father answered my prayers and kept me safe. I will probably not be riding the train again any time soon.

The best is yet to come.

Some days I get ready for the day and nothing works. My hair doesn't work, my clothes don't work, nothing works. Other days (like today) everything works just right! I was rather pleased with the way everything worked. That's probably vain...but what can you do?


Today was fast Sunday for my ward. We have stake conference next week, but I forgot. I didn't fast, but I still really enjoyed church. I bore my testimony. Krista was there with me and she told me to go. I told her to go. She said she would go it I go. I said I would go if she went first. She said she would go if I went first. Then she said she would pinky swear. So, I went up. I bore my testimony about how the training I went to at work about gang activity in Sandy scared me. I told them how I was scared to bring children into this world. And then I bore testimony of the safety and security and protection we have because of the gospel. I love it!

I also really liked Relief Society. We read a quote and I can't remember it all, but the point was - the best is yet to come. I thought about it. I really love it. I love that not matter how good or bad things might be at any one time, I know the best is yet to come. Even if it means that I have to wait until this life is over - the best is yet to come.

I am so thankful for the snow that is falling right now. I am so excited for this storm to pass so I can look out my window and actually see our beautiful mountains!! And hopefully the air stays clean enough to give us a chance to run outside.

Short and sweet...

I went to P.F. Changs for dinner tonight...enough said! :)

Temple

Last night I got to go to the Draper Temple open house with Jared and Wendee and the kids. It was amazing. I just love the temple. I love everything about it - it's beautiful, it's clean, it's bright, it's quiet, it's peaceful, it's the Lord's house. I am so excited to be able to go through the temple some day. I'm sure it will be wonderful.

I'm glad it's the weekend. Wendee had planned to run outside tomorrow. But, the nasty air has ruined our plans again! It rained some today, but I guess it wasn't enough to clear the gunk our of our air. Hopefully we'll get a big enough storm soon. I'm so excited to run outside. It's killing me to look forward to it all week and then not be able to go.

I had a bunch of things planned for tomorrow. I wanted to hang out with my mom, buy some gluten free food, go out to dinner, and maybe see a movie. Unfortunately, it's just not going to work out the way I wanted it to. My mom is having headaches again so she's out. I have to take my car back over to Burt Brothers and hope that they can fix whatever is going wrong with my brakes. But, we're still going to go out to dinner (PF Changs...yum!) and Krista and I might go see a movie...or just watch something here. Either way will be fine with me.

Better night = better day

Last night was a better night and today was a better day. I knew it would be.

I am so sick of the inversion. I wake up every morning and it's worse than it was the day before. It's now officially unhealthy for everyone, not just those with weakened immune systems. It makes me so sad. I really hope we get a storm in this valley soon. I need some fresh air! And more than that, I really need to run outside! I hate the treadmill.

Bad night = bad day

I knew it was going to be a tough day before I ever got out of bed. I spent the night not feeling so hot. When I was actually able to sleep I had terrible, terrible dreams - the most vivid one included watching my mom die. Who dreams of things like that anyway? I didn't get out of bed when I alarm went off to run this morning. It was definitely a hoodie and pony tail day.

Really, my bad night is the only excuse I have for being in such a rotten mood today, but I really was in a bad mood all day. I tried to redeem the day by running when I got home. It worked pretty well - until the muscles on my shins (I really should know names of those muscles, but I don't) decided to get so super tight that I couldn't flex my foot any more. It was really annoying besides the fact that it hurt!

Today Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. I think it will be interesting to see how things go in this country with him in charge.

I am convinced that tomorrow can be and will be a better day!

I hate Monday mornings!

I woke this morning to my alarm. My first thought was, "It's the weekend...why in the world did I set my alarm SO early?" I quickly remembered that it is not actually the weekend - not for me anyway. A lot of people had the day off for Martin Luther King day. I did not. Instead of sleeping in in my nice warm bed like I desperately wanted, I woke up early and went to work at 8:00. I still hate Monday morning staff meetings.

Maybe it was the crude awakening, or perhaps it was the fact that I had to work when no one else did (at least that's what it felt like). Maybe it's the smog that's getting to me. Whatever the cause, I wasn't the happiest camper today. I was cranky and pretty sarcastic. Luckily for me, everyone I was in contact with today knows me and knew not to take offense. I'll have to put forth a greater effort tomorrow to be nice and kind. There's no reason to be cranky - at least not two days in a row!

Today was my dear friend Krista's birthday. Krista is not one of those people who like to keep quiet about her birthday. She's happy to let everyone know it's her day! I had a lot of fun with her today - it was probably the only thing that saved the day. I went to lunch with her and some of her co-workers. I got off work a little early and went to dinner at the the Outback and went to see a movie with her and her family. I hope that she had an awesome day!

I still love Sundays!!

Sometimes I wish every day could be Sunday. I love sleeping in a little bit. I love taking my time to get ready. I love getting dressed a little nicer than I usually would. I love going to church. I'm starting to love my ward (it's taken a while). I love coming home to make lunch. I love the lazy afternoons of reading, naps, church movies, etc. I love visiting my family. I love dinners at Oma and Opa's house. I love games with my Packard family. I love going to bed a little bit earlier than usual. And I love starting a new week. I love Sundays!

Gotta love a blind date!

So I went on a blind date tonight. It was a lot of fun. My co-worker Jill had been wanting to set me up with her husband's friend Tom. Tonight it finally happened. We met at Jill's house and made dinner, played wii sports, and went for Red Mango ice cream. I think blind dates are funny, but this one was especially funny. The only down side is that I feel like he and I didn't get to interact with each other very much. Perhaps we'll go out again? We'll see.

The day didn't go as well as the night did. I got a big headache this afternoon. I went away eventually, but I thought it might split there for a while. I found out that my car brakes are messed up. They've started to shake a little when I come off the freeway - not all the time, but enough to bug me. My rotars are warped, which is what happened 3 or 4 months ago. It's not really supposed to happen at all and the car place doesn't know why it's happening to my car. They want to take it for the day sometime next week to see if they can figure it out. I'm not too thrilled about it.

I feel like there should be a lot for me to write, but I can't think of anything else and I'm falling asleep thinking...so maybe I'll just be done.

Too funny!

If I wasn't watching the kiddos right now, I would be in bed - at 9:30 on a Friday night. I am that tired! I really did wake up this morning to run. But, I didn't get enough sleep last night and now I'm feeling it. Hopefully Jared and Wendee won't be too much longer so I can hit the sack!

I took Jakey upstairs to get him ready for bed. I changed his diaper, but I didn't get his pants on quite right. I got both legs in one pant leg. It was pretty much the funniest thing ever! He tried to walk and fell over quite a few times. He thought it was funny which made it even more funny to me! Next thing I knew the three other kids had gone into their rooms and put both their legs in the pany leg. They spent 10 minutes or so hopping around and waddling. Hilarious! And, the best part is that I have my camera back and it works so I was able to get some pictures and even some video. Those kids just crack me up!

Blind dates

Today just didn't turn out how I would have liked it to. I woke up this morning to run. But, I forgot that I had a meeting I had to be at work for. There's no way I could have run and still made it on time. I told myself that I would run when I got home from work. That's didn't work out. I didn't get home until 10:00!! Sharon had called me during the day to ask if I would take her to the Cricket store in Layton so she could reconnect her phone. I told I would. The trip to Layton turned into a trip to Salt Lake instead, which would have been fine, except that the store was in West Valley, not Salt Lake! We spent 2 hours in the cricket store in the Mexican market place. I was ticked. I would have much rather been home! It will be a while before I say yes to her again.

On the plus side, I have a date on Saturday. My co-worker is setting me up with her husband's friend. I'm pretty excited. Our other co-worker is coming with her husband as well. At the very least, it will be fun just to play with Jill and Melissa. But I'm sure the date will be fun too. Funny thing - I got asked out/set up on another blind too. I used to go to school with my niece's violin teacher, Rachel. She wants to hook me up with her husband's friend. She called me today to make sure that would be okay. I told her I thought that would be fun so she gave him my number. He called about 10 minutes later. Unfortunately, he had his date planned for the same time as the other date I already had planned. But, he said that he would give me a call the next time he's up - he's going to school in Provo.

It will be a miracle if I actually wake up to run tomorrow. The thought of being awake at 6:30 makes me want to cry! But, I told Wendee I would at least set my alarm. Who knows - maybe I'll wake up in the morning and be ready to go. We'll see.

I have "The Listener"!!!

I survived an encounter with the Utah National Guard today! I tried not to be nervous, but I have to admit that I was a little bit intimidated. I met with a few member of the National Guard and some other people in the community. They asked me to help put together a race to benefit the families of those in the Utah National Guard who are deployed. It was an interesting meeting. It was a little bit sad to me how many people there were there for their own agenda, and not there to really help the cause. It should be a pretty good race though. I'm pretty excited to see how it all pans out.

I got my picture (The Listener) today!! Wendee went up the Canyon Gallery where it was being framed. It looks awesome and I love it. I'm super excited to hang it in my room and see it every day!

I'm grateful for the technology we have at our fingertips every day. We have been working to put together a comprehensive calendar at work. I was writing everything on a regular calendar, but it was starting to get crowded and little less organized than I like it. I spent 10 minutes creating a google calendar and now it's all better! And it's super easy to share the calendar with everyone in the office. It makes my life so much easier!

I've been studying about the Apostasy. I have read a lot of scriptures and some quotes, etc. I have come to the conclusion that I'm grateful that I live in the time I do. It makes me sad to think about living in this world without the fullness of the gospel. I don't know how people did it. It's comforting to know that we will never have to be without the gospel again. It's mine and I get to keep it!

Best day ever!

This morning I had a thought pop into my head. I remembered a devotional from my BYU-Idaho days. I don't really remember much but I remember hearing that there was a mother who had small children. Before this mother would let her kids get out of bed in the morning, the had to say, outloud, "Best day ever!" I loved that. I even recorded myself saying, "best day ever!" and used that recording as my alram clock every morning (because let's face it - there's no way I would remember to say that every morning). This morning, after I ran, I thought to myself, "best day ever!" And it really has been a great day!

Here are the things that made today a great day:

- I ran three miles in 30 minutes this morning, not fast, but much better than the 37 it took two weeks ago.
- My mom called me at work to tell me that she had made gluten free lasagna and she wanted me to come get some.
- Wendee made "The Best Meat Ever" for dinner.
- My camera returned to it's home after being sent in for repairs...and it works!!
- I got to go to institute.
- I got to do a project at work that took up a lot of the day and it was actually fun!
- I'm going to make it to bed before 11:00, which means I won't have a terrible time waking up tomorrow morning.

Oh I should have kept track throughout the day because there were so many good things that happened! It just goes to show that a lot of things in life depend on your attitude. I had a good attitude today - today had the potential to be the best day ever. Every day has the potential to be the best day ever and we just need to see the day for what it's worth! I'll have to find some way to be able to wake up hearing "best day ever!" again so I can remember that every day.

A staff meeting about gangs?

I don't think I will ever be a fan of our Monday morning staff meetings. I don't mind the meeting, and I love the people, but I just cannot come to terms with the Monday morning part of things! Today's meeting was not a pleasant one. We had an officer from Sandy City Police come and talk to us about a couple different "gangs" that they have seen in the area. The department head wanted us to learn about them so we could make sure to keep an eye out for the clothes, music, bumper stickers, etc. They want to make sure we're not hiring anyone with any affiliation. I can understand that. But, in order to learn about them, we had to learn about them. The officer had a power point with pictures, descriptions, music clips and even music videos. It was not pleasant. I heard very colorful language and lyrics that talked about killing people and why it was okay. It was disturbing to say the least. The end result - I'm scared out of my mind to bring children into this world. I will do it - eventually, but man! If it's this bad to go to high school now, I hate to imagine what it's going to be like 18 years from now. I'm going to have to dress my kids in armor or something! I guess, actually, I really will dress them in armor - the armor of God, right? That's like the cheesiest thing I've ever written, but it's true. That really will be their protection. And that really can be our protection right now.

We also found out at staff meeting that Nancy, our department head will be retiring on May 1st. I was shocked. I know that things will work out just fine, but I feel like we're in for a ride. Melissa is leaving, and now Nancy is leaving. It's just kind of unnerving to me to think about all the change and the pressure it puts on the rest of us! But, like I said, I know things will work out just fine. We'll all do our best and that's all anyone can ask for.

Rexburg

I got to go to Rexburg for the weekend. Hooray!! It was a lot of fun. I got to see some friends I haven't seen for a while. It kind of made me miss Rexburg...just a little bit. But, even though I miss Rexburg and especially the people in Rexburg, I am so grateful for all the wonderful blessings I have here in Utah. I know that I am where I need to be right now. Here are some of the things that happened this weekend:

- Dinner at Rodney's new house - delicious food and good friends
- Surprise visits to Corey, Euleza, Jen, and Trent - wish I could have visited way more people, but couldn't because of lack of time and lack of addresses/phone numbers
- Movie with Ri and Becky - resulted in my decision that I just shouldn't watch chick flicks any more. It just ruins the morale.
- Birthday dinner at the Outback for Riana - mmm, Alice Springs Chicken...
- Gluten free cinnamon rolls for breakfast - thanks Becky!!
- Chuch at the Rexburg 21st ward - always a treat
- Lunch at Ri's - sweet and sour chicken and apple crisp for dessert!
- Safe travels to and from...hooray!

It was a fun weekend and now it's back to work!

Fruits and Veggies (I almost typed weggies on accident!)

Occassionally I get cravings. I can usually figure why I am craving what I am. Most of the time I crave terrible things like ice cream (because my body needs dairy) or Snickers (because my body needs protein). This week and especially today my body has been craving something better. All I want to eat is produce - apples, oranges, grapes, tomatoes, broccoli - I want it all! The reason - I do not do a good job getting me 5 a day! I went to the store on my way home from work and bought lots of produce. Hopefully it will help me turn a new leaf - more fruits and veggies! Hooray!

I almost didn't get out of bed to run this morning. I don't know why but every morning this week I've woken up feeling a bit sick - not sick enough to stay home from work or even keep me from running, but sick enough that I consider not running and even staying home. As the day goes on it gets better, mostly. I figure I must have caught a touch of the stomach bug that Jacob and Wendee had. I'm glad it's not as bad - maybe I got off easy because I got my flu shot.

I went over to help Sharon tonight. I helped her make dinner, do some dishes, do some laundary, etc. I was happy to help, but more than that it made me ever so grateful for the health and stregth I have. I have been so blessed to be so healthy. I hope that Sharon has a quick recovery so she can eventually feel the same.

Listening

I love the prompting of the Holy Ghost. I love that you have to be listening for them. And I love that most of the time when I get a prompting, it doesn't make any sense to me...until I follow it. I had planned to stay later at work today. I want to watch some of the basketball games, but I haven't been able to do it much lately. Tonight I didn't have anything else planned so I figured I would stick around and get some extra hours. But, at 5 or so, something said, "Don't stay later...go home." I thought to myself, "Okay...why not?" When I decided to go home at my regular time, I also decided I didn't need to stay too much later tomorrow like I had planned. Sharon wanted me to come hang out with her and I had given her work as an excuse why I couldn't. I called her on my way home to see if I could go hang out with her tomorrow - help make her dinner and maybe watch a movie or something. As we were talking she told me that my mom had been at her house and together they stripped Sharon's bed to wash the sheets. Shortly after, my dad called and my mom went home...with Sharon's bed not put together. Sharon was saying how she would just have to put it back together herself. I knew she would definitely hurt herself if she tried, and it just so happened that I was 3 minutes away from her house on my way home. I stopped for a few minutes and helped her get everything situated so that she could lay on her bed. It wasn't anything big, but I'm sure it helped her.

I went to see Marley and Me with Krista tonight. It wasn't my favorite movie. It was funny, but it was also really sad. I cried...and I don't even like dogs!

Queasy

My tummy has been a little queasy all day. It started this morning. I woke up early to run. I walked on the treadmill for 3 or 4 minutes and then started running. I had run maybe an eighth of a mile before I had to stop to keep myself from throwing up. I walked a bit more and tried again. It was better so I finished the run. My body is still struggling a little bit to remember how to run...but I'm sure it will get there eventually.

I rode the train and trax to work this morning. I was afraid I was going to miss the train, but Jared got me there at the perfect time. I ended up sitting across from my old soccer coach - from the 4th grade! It was crazy. Small world.

I went to institute tonight. It was good. I sometimes struggle in that class to know what the theme for the day is. We seem to jump around from topic to topic, but the instructor does it in such a way that it doesn't feel like we're jumping. Today was talked about: getting to know people, marriage, patriarchal blessing, Kirtland, Ohio, and the Law of Consecration. I felt the Spirit and I feel like I learned so I guess that's what's really important.

I think Sharon and Chris might just kill each other before too much longer. They are not happy with each other and I think they have a hard time talking to each other. They're too much alike and they're too irrational. I think it would do them a world of good to sit down and talk through a bunch of things - but they would have to do it without getting defensive or upset or dramatic. I just don't think they can do that talking to each other. Maybe they need a mediator. I won't do it. I'm torn again - I want to help because they're my family and I love them and I hate to see them upset. But, I just don't want to have to deal with it. They got themselves into this mess. I don't want their situations and their attitudes to bring me down. And they do bring me down. I get frustrated and sad and I just don't feel like it's a good thing for me to be in that environment. I need happy, positive, uplifting environments. Maybe that's selfish of me...but maybe I need to be selfish a little bit to protect myself.

Monday adventures

Monday morning came all too quickly! This morning I had a really hard time getting out of bed. I even pushed the snooze button...I NEVER push the snooze button. I have a strick no-snooze button policy. I think that if you have time to push the snooze button, you might as well just set your alarm 10 minutes later in the first place. But, this morning I had to push it for one reason - I was cold! Somehow I managed to get my arms out of the covers during the night. When I woke up they were numb! So I pushed the snooze button so that I could have 10 minutes to warm my limbs back up! Yeah, I was a little bit late, but it was worth it!

Monday morning continued to follow a not-so-pleasant trend. I usually don't have a problem getting to work - especially since Legacy Highway opened. Not the case today. It was stop and go traffic from Beck Street to 5300 South! Why? Because there was a car on fire at 5300 South and everyone needed to see it! Annoying. The spectacle made me late for the Monday morning staff meeting. I still don't know why we have a staff meeting on Monday morning - but such is life.

After our meeting we had to go to another office to pick up some stuff for indoor soccer. Three of us girls spent probably half an hour digging our trucks out of the snow and pushing them out of their parking spots. Water had collected around the tires making it super slippery! But, we eventually got them out.

The rest of the day was good. It was good to get everything all organized and back on the regularly scheduled programing. Breaks are nice, but I kind of like the predictability of the normal schedule.

Monday night became quite the adventure. It started snowing in the early afternoon, but it never got too bad in Sandy. I was about ready to drop something off at a basketball location and head home when Wendee called me. She said the roads and the weather were pretty bad in Kaysville. So I embarked on a grand adventure. I parked my car at the Trax station in Sandy and I took Trax and the Frontrunner home. It was actually pretty fun. It was so not-stressful. It wasn't relaxing, per se, but it was not-stressful. I'm glad I decided not to drive home - which would have been stressful. I get to have another adventure tomorrow when I have to take the Frontrunner and Trax back to Sandy. And I hope that my car is still there in one piece! I'm super glad I have family willing to come get me from the train station!

Back to real life...

I feel like I'm saying goodbye to a good friend. I suppose I actually am saying goodbye - just to my holiday vacation instead of a friend. It's been an awesome break. I've had some good times and I have thoroughly enjoyed the break from work. Hopefully it won't be too bad to go back full time this week. I'm sure I will have plenty to keep me busy.

I love Sundays and I especially love fast Sundays. There's just a different spirit about fast Sundays. Today I fasted for something in particular. I love that there were so many answers to my prayers today and not one of them was direct. The answers came as something someone mentioned briefly in a testimony, or something someone said in a prayer, or a line in hymn. Not one of them was huge or revelatory. But there's no way I can deny that my prayers were answered. I most definitely have a Father in Heaven who loves me and clearly answers my prayers!

Ice cream cones!!!

I feel like my vacation has just slipped through my fingers...sniff...I have had a great break from work. I have loved the break from all the drama of high school boys playing basketball. Even more than that I have loved being able to spend lots of time with my family and friends. It's easy to get all caught up in work and forget the important things. It's hard to work all day long and then still have the time and motivation to do the things I want to do and see the people I want to see. That's why holidays are a good thing! Hopefully it won't be too hard to go back to work on Monday!!

Jared, Billy, Jimmy and I went to play racquetball this morning. It was a riot! I love playing with them. My stomach muscles are still sore from laughing so hard this morning! I accidentally hit Billy in the family jewels...I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants! It was awesome.

I went to Against the Grain today with my mom. I spent a lot of money!! But, it's just so fun to find things that I can eat! I found gluten-free ice cream cones!! I was so excited. That's kind of ridiculous, but I love ice cream cones! I took a cone to Arctic Cirlce and asked them to use it to make me an ice cream cone. It was delicious!

I got to hang out with some friends tonight - Krista, Heather, Laura, and Matt. It was fun to see them, and it was fun to get together with such a relaxed atmosphere. We all brought our own food, played guitar hero, got ice cream cones, and then went back to Heather's house and just chatted for a while. It was fun. I hope we can do it again soon!

Change in plans

Things did not go the way I thought they would today. I had planned to go to Rexburg and see some old friends. There was a group of us that were supposed to get together, but one by one everyone backed out. This morning a few more people backed out and I questioned whether I should really go. Pretty much the only people that would be there would have been people that live in Idaho anyway. I eventually decided to stick around here and go up to Idaho on a weekend when I could spend more time up there. I am sad though, that the whole reunion thing didn't work out.

I have a calling - visiting teaching coordinator. I am one of those people who has a calling because they need to learn. I just really struggling with visiting teaching - especially in a singles ward. I know it's important and it's something the Lord thinks is important. I just struggle because it's super hard to get everyone to buy in. I'd be surprised if even a quarter of the girls in our ward did their visiting teaching. I've been trying to think of ways I can encourage...but I've got nothing. I just need to remember that there's no way I can do it all for everyone. I just have to do the job that's been asked of me and be happy with that. I actually am really happy with the effort I've made today with the calling. I made a lot of phone calls and I'm feeling better about the calling than I did yesterday...or the past three months for that matter.

My favorites

Jared and I were driving in the car today and he said my next blog post should be called my favorites...followed by all the things that are my favorites, so here goes - My favorites:

- When Jakey puts his hand on my arm when we drive in the car
- New socks
- Clean sheets
- Fresh painted freeway lines

I have to say that the first day of this new year 2009 has been rather productive. I woke up this morning and worked out with Wendee. Thanks go to her for knocking on my door this morning to get me out there. It was good. Then I made a list of all the things I wanted to do today - and I got most of them done. My list consisted of: scriptures, clean car, visit Sharon, take movie back, start a book, laundry, write down new year's resolutions. I got most of them done. Jared and I took Sharon home from the hospital. She pretty much hates her life right now. Poor girl. I didn't get to do my laundry. I had the opportunity, but I chose to go play instead. I was going to do it this morning, but Wendee was using the washer/dryer because Jakey puked everywhere again today. I hope I don't get what he has!!

The last thing on my list of things to do is go to bed early. I have to work tomorrow morning. I was supposed to put up a little kids' basket before I left work yesterday, but I forgot. That means I have to be there before 9:00 tomorrow morning to get up for the kids to practice. I really should have done it yesterday! Oh well. I only have to work a half-day tomorrow and then I get to go up to Rexburg! I was supposed to see a bunch of old friends from college. A bunch has turned into a few...but I'm still excited. It's supposed to snow, but hopefully it won't be too bad!!

Welcome 2009!

How does this happen? Every year it seems like I just get used to writing the new year and then it changes. I feel like I recently got the hang of writing 2008 instead of 2007 and now I have to switch to 2009. Maybe by October I'll get the hang of it...just in time to have to switch again!

I went back to work today. That was just so much fun I couldn't contain myself (said in my sarcastic voice). It was actually really boring. I did get a few very important things done, but for the most part, it was super slow.

New year's has never been one of my favorite holidays. I'm hoping it will be a little better when I have someone to kiss at midnight! I spent tonight with Krista. She had surgery today and I told her a long time ago I would hang out with her tonight. We didn't really do too much. We ate dinner, made cookies, and watch a movie - except I kind of slept through the most exciting parts of the movie. I should have known that would happen! The movie ended almost exactly at midnight. We said happy new year to each other and then I left. Now I think I might be in trouble because I feel like I have a second wind - not really tired anymore!

I have high expectations for 2009. I have a few different goals in mind, but they're not put together enough to write them down. That's on my list of things to do tomorrow. That list has gotten kind of intense - I actually had to write everything down so I would remember it all. I hope I can get everything done!

Today I'm thankful for my health. I haven't been at work for a long time so today when I went in my co-workers were asking about my dad and Chris. Chris had just had surgery right before I left for the break. I told them that they are both doing good and that since then Sharon has had back surgery and today Krista had surgery. There really is never a dull moment in my life! I'm am super grateful that through all the non-dull moments, I've never had to be the one sick or having surgery. And I hope to keep it that way!