Dirty Dash

Some people have been asking and I keep on forge ting to post my pics from the Dirty Dash race. I did the 10K last fall, which was really hard! I decided to sign up for the 5K this time, which was the perfect distance when you are tromping through the mud and obstacles. Overall it was a lot of fun, but I missed doing it with Brett and Steph. I am always entertained by all the creative outfits people wear, especially when I am just worried about being too hot or cold. I ended up being just right (well besides my Relief Society arms being in a lot of the pictures) in my outfit. The best part is always throwing mud at complete strangers and nobody cares:) Any takers next year?

The Adventures of Dating

I just went on two dates in the last week that I thought were humorous. One was a 13 hour date, crazy yes! I knew beforehand that I wouldn't like such a long date, but I told myself because of the activities we were doing it would be easier. I enjoyed his company, BUT never again will I do an all day thing. The entertaining part of the date was when we were running late and he decided to speed up so we would be on time. Funny thing is he had been going about 10 mph below the speed limit most of the drive, which was driving me nuts, but as soon as he went over the speed limit he got pulled over, LOL!

Long story short, I told him to be overly nice to the officer, I would drop that I work for the police, and then hopefully we would get off with a warning. Luckily we did and we were on time. This guy also had a lot of "interesting" comments, especially on philosophy, which got a little old. I'm not even going to share all his opinions on eating foods with the appropriate PH to lose weight.

Date#2 was a lot of fun, well actually both dates were, but I am not interested in more then friendship with either guy. On this second date I think the humor was all about the comments he said about me. Keep in mind these are not exact, but he said things like... -Are you a light brunette or a dark brunette? Oh well, doesn't matter...I love your hair. -You have the best legs. They are the perfect shape and tan. (OMG, I cannot believe he said that!)-I think when you talk it's cute because you mouth or lips do sort of a crooked thing. (Again, really?) And lastly or the comment I was the most surprised by...-I think you have lovely fat rolls. This guy now affectionately refers to me as "Legs." DO I JUST MAKE GUYS SO COMFORTABLE THEY FEEL THEY CAN DIVULGE EVERYTHING TO ME???

Likes and Dislikes

I think it's great that they have a "like" button on Facebook. Sometimes there are no words for your friend's comments. I also think that they should add a "dislike" button for the horrible news or just plain stupid comments. With the good in life there is always the bad, opposition in all things right? So without further adieu here are my "Dislikes" and "Likes."

Dislike:
*When a certain roommate leaves me notes or texts pertaining to things I have nothing to do with...like I would want to touch your sweaty hockey stuff, NOOO!
*Hair everywhere, human or dog!
*When people cannot communicate face to face...enough with texting, emailing, notes, and phone calls replacing the real person.
*A one-sided friendship, as in one person is doing all the calling and planning
*LONELINESS!!!
*Impatient people, especially when waiting in a line were we all knew there would be a line (Walmart). Surf your phone, call a friend, talk to the stranger in line with you for heaven's sake:)
*When people don't want to improve. I just don't get it???
*When people are late. I think that shows a lack of disrespect.

Like:
*Warm Summer Days, especially at dusk. I think summer is my favorite now!
*Amazing Parents, don't know what I will do without them!!!
*Garden produce, yum. I am loving that I don't have to buy a lot right now.
*Luv, luv, luv Segolilies. They are even better when you are top of a mountain.
*A full night of sleep. I have never experienced one until this last month. The day goes so much better when I am rested.
*PB Fudge Oreos, nuf said.
*Plane rides, especially when you get to watch a movie in flight:)
*Giving and receiving love. I thrive off of love and don't understand hatred.
*A book that is so good you get sucked in and everything else in life doesn't matter for awhile or you neglect a few things!
*Fireworks! The 4th of July is my favorite holiday, after Conference of course;-)

Quack, Quack....Help!!!

This morning on the police radio I heard a call for an officer to help 11 ducklings that had fallen through a sewer grate. Mommy Duck was frantic standing on top of the grate. As silly as it may sound I immediately thought of my Mom and myself. The difference was I placed myself in the mother duck role and ALSO the baby duckling role.

I am pretty sure that everyone who reads this blog knows that my Mom is dying from cancer. IT SUCKS! I am really struggling with it. How does anyone deal with somebody dying? I talked to her a couple of days ago and asked about her recent trial chemo treatment. I am just glad I held it together during the phone call as she told me they packed her hands and feet in ice so her body wouldn't get overheated. I see myself as the mother duck because I am frantic and don't know what to do! I stand around quacking (crying) wishing anyone could help me! I do have faith that things will work out, I believe in Heavenly Father's will, but losing someone is still hard.

I also see myself as one of the ducklings. I am so lucky to have two Mom's who care about me, because right now I feel like they are the ONLY ones who care about me, besides Heavenly Father. I am lonely, at my lowest in life and just can't climb out of the gutter by myself. Is it gonna take a police officer to pull me out of the gutter, lol. Well, I guess my rescuer may be the Savior, but I have a hard time when people are not physically there for me. Quack!

God sees the ocean in me

Lately I have felt everything that this song by Cherie Call says. It is called "The Ocean in Me." I love the lyrics and the tune, if you want to listen... http://www.cheriecall.com/albums/ocean.html It also reminds me of another song I love by Amy Grant called "Cry a River." I think I have realized that when everything feels like it is falling apart around me it is okay to just cry! I am getting really good at it too:)

I know when a storm is coming on, and I can tell when tears are gonna fall
And I know what it's like when disappointments seem to make you feel so small
I've become the extra when I wished to be the lead
And I have been the friend when I wished to be the girl
And sometimes all the faith in the world
Can still never change what isn't meant to be

Chorus:
But if I feel like just a teardrop in the rain when I meant to be a river
God sees the ocean in me
And in the depths of all my sorrow and my pain, when I ask to be delivered
He shows the ocean to me
He sees the ocean in me

He sees all the things that I can't see, and He dries every tear that falls down
And sooner or later He opens my eyes
And finally I turn around
And find that as a servant I had really been a queen
And I had been a diamond when I thought that I was glass
And I know every heartbreak will pass
Just when it seems the hardest to believe

Cause if I feel like just a teardrop in the rain when I meant to be a river
God sees the ocean in me
And in the depths of all my sorrow and my pain, when I ask to be delivered
He shows the ocean to me
He sees the ocean in me

And I'm an ocean drawn to the light
Reaching for the sky
Pulled by gravity
And after every storm, I take another shape
Landing on a shore far beyond my dreams

And if I feel like just a teardrop in the rain when I meant to be a river
God sees the ocean in me
And in the depths of all my sorrow and my pain, when I ask to be delivered
He shows the ocean to me
He sees the ocean in me
He sees the ocean in me

Butterflies

Do you ever wonder why Butterflies are not called Flutterflies? That makes so much more sense to me. Were did the butter part come from? Random tangent I know!

Anyways butterflies do relate... I stare at a framed picture at work everyday that my Mom gave me. It reads, "Happiness is like a butterfly, the more you chase it the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder." Don't get me wrong, I love this quote, but I have never had a butterfly come and sit on my shoulder. Maybe they have landed on my finger, but I can't remember. My Grandma caught one, then it died, and she glued it into a jar to show us whenever we visited. I always wanted to have my own butterfly jar because of that. The point is I have had them flutter along my side a lot while I run, never caught one or had a landing.

A lot of you or maybe even most of you know that the last few months have been very hard for me. In fact I would say the last month was harder then my mission experience or anything I have been through thus far in life. I have been dealing with some pretty heavy stuff or multiple trials and I felt at my lowest emotionally. I am doing a little better, but still have my days, like today. So I ask myself, "Don't I deserve to catch a butterfly?" Yet, I know the answer to my question. Nobody can keep a butterfly forever. You can put it in a jar, but then it isn't living. I am pretty sure nobody is happy all of the time, but dang it, is it too much to ask for that butterfly to land on my shoulder a little more often?

Mountain Run

One of my favorite things about summertime is running in the mountains. I love going up on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and seeing all the different types of flowers. I even have dogs to run with now for safety. They warn me of snakes, which I see on a regular basis and they also have fun chasing squirrels, rabbits, and deer.

Today I probably saw at least 20 types of flowers, but I didn't take pictures of them all. My favorite is the Segolily because as a child I thought it was cool that my Dad and Grandpa taught me how to eat them like the pioneers. I could at least name the Mountain Shasta, Snapdragon, Phlox, and Indian Paintbrush. I will have to check out a book to figure out the rest.

I love the views from every angle. The grass and brush are really high right now, which in turn makes me run right down the center of the trail to avoid snakes like the one I saw today, which I am pretty sure is NOT a rattlesnake. Regardless of what kind of snake it is they always scare the crap out of me. I also had an Air med Helicopter fly right over me! All in all my 2 hour run in the heat of the day was paradise to me:)

A bit of Earth

As most of you know I love to garden. My roommates used up all the gardening space this year and never asked if I wanted to plant so I felt like Mary from the Secret Garden when all she wanted was a bit of earth. Luckily I have a friend who wanted to share some of the earth with me and needed help too! She had already planted a lot before I could get over, but now we have staggered planting with things coming up at different times.

We are already harvesting radishes, beets, lettuce, onions, basil, thyme, and rosemary. We have also planted beans, potatoes, peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, pumpkins, squash, strawberries, rhubarb, currants, and dill. We have never tried watermelon or pumpkins so we are excited to see how those turn out! We also want to share our harvest and invite people over for dinner every so often. I plan on posting pictures every so often to show the progress.

Aunt Mindi

Yep, you read right, I am finally an Aunt! It's about time! I have been waiting for years for another girl to be added to this family. Although I am states away from Eleanor and her parents I was so excited and instantly fell in love with her. She is the most adorable thing alive, that is until I have a kid:) Her full name is Eleanor Rosa Zobell, born June 10th and she weighs 8 lbs 13 oz, 21 inches. I am so excited to see her in a little while. Most of all I hope to be an example to her! The best picture of her is the one below with her long eyelashes!

Purging Emotional Me

I am starting a new or second blog. I have too much to say all the time for heavens sake! I guess I just don't have somebody to share all of my thoughts with either. I am like a person with the stomach flu...until I get my thoughts out, whether through talking, typing, writing, etc... I don't function, LOL!

Now the Emotional Girl part. Ever since college I have loved the song by Terri Clark called Emotional Girl, specifically the line "Sometimes I laugh, sometimes I cry, sometimes I do both and I don't know why! I'm an Emotional Girl." I can totally relate! I used to never be that way and was ashamed to be emotional for any guys sake out there. Now I say "I am woman and proud, ha!"

Essentially this is my personal or very opinionated blog, unlike milkbeforemeat.blogspot.com I want that one to remain my testimony or spiritual thought log so to speak. This blog is only for those I deeply trust, because I plan on sharing a lot of emotional stuff, lol:) However, in the beginning, you will just get this, I don't wanna overwhelm ya:)