Positive Attitude

Really! It has been 4 years since I have even looked at this blog or written something. I guess no matter how little and how long it has been since I posted something its always good. New Year and new and exciting things to think about. Always good to go over and see how I can improve on things. This last year the the two things I strived to work on and still am striving is to be more positive and less negative and to focus on the good of each person. It is hard as even when you pass someone a not very nice thought comes into your mind. But the key is to push it out as fast as it came in. I remember awhile back as I was thinking about how to see something good in everyone. I was in Broulims and as I came around the end of an isle there was this very obese woman in one of the scooter carts. My first thought was oh how sad and wonder how she got this way and then I shifted gears she looked down and avoided me but something inside me said make eye contact. So as I deliberately walked slowly, she looked up at me and I gave her my best smile. The look on her face was one of shock and then came a beautiful smile from her as if to say someone really noticed me and not my size. I am grateful for the lesson I learned of "not judging a book by its cover". This was a daughter of God whom he loves. That day made me more aware of to smile to more people not knowing if I had made a difference in their day. I know how it makes me feel when someone I don't know smiles and says Hi to me.

Mid January

Each year when December comes around I look forward to getting all the friends and family news letter and photos. Its my once a year that I can see how everyone is doing. Love the orginality of some of the letters. Then there is me I say I am going to get a picture of Scott and I and do a recap of our year. When I start thinking of what exciting adventures I had. I can't remember them all and when I did them. So this year I have a plan. Just keep up on this blog.

My daughter Tiffany is my inspiration. I can't believe how she keeps up with her personal blog, her babes and kids blog and go to school with two active boys. This format seems so much easier to go back and check then writing in a journal. I still write in a journal. The goal is not so much daily but at least weekly. Here it is half way through January and I can say I have done good so far on some of the things I want to work on this year. But that is always how it goes. I just hope I can say that in March.

Last weekend we drove over to Jackson with Geoff & Cheryl. Since we have had no snow and the skiing is not good. We walked around had lunch at Billy's and then drove out to the elk refugee. We then drove on up to Jackson Lake and stopped a lot looking at the tetons. It was fun just to watch Geoff pointing out areas and naming peaks. Scott knows his peaks pretty good also. I guess I have never stood back and really looked at them from a distance on the Jackson side. We wish he had our bincoulars. I could see areas where I have hiked. I am just hoping I still have a few years left in me to hike. Geoff wants so much to go backpacking with us this summer. So we just need to get in shape. They left on Sunday to go back to Moscow.

This last week has been pretty quiet, waiting for it to snow.

NEW YEAR 2012

Another year has finished and the years seem to fly by. Spent a wonderful Christmas with 5 of my 6 children. Totally missed Jeralee and her daughters. Times like this I wish we all lived closer. But totally enjoy every minute I have with family. I realize that there will be a time when my children's families will have grown and they will opt to stay at home.

I am looking forward to a new year and to see what exciting things and adventures I will have.

New Years Eve was our third year spending it with Geoff and Cheryl, they have been here since the 17th and will head back to Moscow this next weekend. Dinner and a movie home by 10:30 and I wasn't feeling the greatest went to bed 10 min to midnight. Ok that was a first for me, must be the old age settling in. The last three days have been really laid back putting away Christmas decorations and cleaning. How did I collect so much stuff. I am thinking more and more that less is better. The weather has been so spring like. I really would like some good snow so I can go skiing.

Summer 2011

The older I get the faster time seems to fly. Scott has told me to slow down you move to fast. Mostly because when I am trying to get things done I make big mistakes. I like driving my Tahoe but I have to be careful as it is big. It just barely fits in the garage and when I back out I go slow to make sure I don't bump the mirrors. There I was in a hurry and caught the passengers side mirror. It popped the mirror out an broke the little plastic that holds it in, $200. Then two weeks later I left the back hatch up, with the garage door open and got busy and then had to hurry to a hair appointment. Yep you guessed it. The garage just needed to be a few inches taller and then it wouldn't of tore off the back emblem and put two small dents. $1,000 for that repair.

In April I did another half marathon, Thanksgiving Point. Didn't realize it was a timed marathon and had to be done in 3 1/2 hours a 16 min. mile. It had snowed that morning so it was cool. It was around Thanksgiving Point and the golf course, up and down. Avry, Lia and Tiffany also did it. I did a 15 min mile. They had give aways and I won a night at the hampton $50 to the restaurant and $20 to Pollo Loco. Not bad for coming in towards the very end. I am still walking and have taken up Zumba. You would probably laugh just to see how bad I am, but I do get a good work out.

Made a trip over to Oregon in June to spend some time with Jeralee and girls, took a day trip out to the coast. Beautiful sunny day sitting on the beach, hiked up to Hacita Head Lighthouse and had the last tour of the day. Finished the day with clam chowder. Helped her with some yard work and watched a two day swim meet. The last day we sat huddled under an umbrella in the rain. We did get some RZR riding, but not as much as we would like. We did get to do 3 new trails, Continental Divide, Spring Mountain & Stoddard Creek. Found that we need to be careful when we go by ourselves.

Lewis Reunion at Lava Hot Spring, Family Reunion at Bear Lake with boating, beach, hiking, cave exploring, raspberry shakes, crafts, games, and lots of food. Hoogle Zoo, flat tire, Gardner Village, Hawaiian Birthday Party, Quilting Garden Party, Office Party, winning at AIA Golf Tournament, golfing at Huntsman Springs. Drive with Scott for work up to Havre, Butte, Deer Lodge, Great Falls, Corvalis, Montana. Tearfully moving Geoff and Cheryl up to Moscow, Idaho for both to get their Masters. But on the other hand excited for the new experiences they will have. A new flagstone path and House concert. To round off the summer Sun Valley, drive up to Stanley and golfing. Now to keep this up at least on a monthly basis.

My kids

Grrrrrrrrrr! This is the third time that I have started this post. This is one of the many reasons why I do not update my blog. An hour later and things to do. I am so handicapped with technology, if it wasn't for my kids and Scott I would still be in the dark ages. I finally figured it out that I was in Edit Html instead of compose and I couldn't get it to do a copy paste. I always check my kids blogs through mine and think I need to update. Here it is April 2 and it has been since September. Yesterday was the first day that it really looked like Spring was coming, sunny, 65 and warm. Scott and I got in the yard last night for an hour to start the lawn cleaning. Today is overcast and in the 40's and 60% chance of rain.

4 of my 6 kids are in school. Jeralee is doing prerequisites for Nursing, Clint is working on his Bachelors of Music, Tiffany is in her second semester of Ultra Sound. Geoff is graduating next Saturday from BYUI with his Bachelors in Construction Management and his wife Cheryl with her Bachelors in Music Education. They both got accepted in to the masters program at University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho and will be heading up their in August. Jason and Avry have been busy working on their houses and work. Avry moved into her new home last fall and I am always excited to see what Jason has done on his home.

My kids have given me some of my greatest joys. I have always thought that their success is my success. I am truly grateful for the technology that we have so I can keep in touch. I would love to hear their voices but realize how busy they are. So thank goodness for facebook and their blogs and an occasional text.

Where Did Summer Go?

First of all thanks Tiffany for the new facelift on my blog. I really have good intentions and want to upload pictures but as you all know it takes time. I keep putting off as I see all the cool things my daughters are doing but alas the time is flying so here is a quick overview of the last several months.

I feel like Dick and Jane. See mom go, go mom go. For some reason I am constantly going. I have to say I am glad I still can go. I hit 61 in August did some first. Half marathon in June in Provo with 4 of my children. 13.2 miles at a 13 min pace. Not bad. In August I did the bike portion of the Rexburg Rush sprint. My friend Gay didn't have a biker for her team and so she asked me. I said I had to see if I could do it as it is 14.2 miles starting at Rainbow lake going up past the temple up pole line road and on top of the farm lands then down to the old High School. It took me 3 tries before I could go up the one steep area with out getting off my bike. I use my comfy bike with the big tires. I did it in 1 hour and 10 min. There was only 5teams and we came in last. Our runner was Lana Wise and so Gay called us "Wise Choice" Which I put on the back on my t shirt Wise Choice?

Did very little golf once a week 9 holes with friends. But did do go RZR riding alot. Went to Mackay for two days with our group and was the leader, alot of pressure being in charge hoping everyone is having a good time. Have seen some new country as well, Stinking Creek, 8 mile, Copper Basin, Stuart Coral, Crooked Creek, Fall Creek. I really wanted to play some tennis after taking lessons in the spring.

Big highlight was going to northern Calf and Oregon Coast. Jeralee rented a Beach House in Lincoln City and all of our family was there. Had a good time, Geoff and Cheryl drove with us and we went to Mt. Lasson, Mt. Shasta, Redwoods and came up the coast of Oregon before we got there. We also made it to the Lewis Reunion in Farmington.

Where has mom gone?

So I'm up revamping mom's blog to maybe give her inspiration to blog. You see, blogger gives me updates on the side of when people blog, and it's been almost 3 months for mom. I think she's due. Mom, are you out there?