Spring Break 2010 Recap

These pictures are just too fun to not post! We had a very fun Spring Break just hanging around our place. With lots of friends and family, we had a blast! Here is a little sample of some of the fun things we did:

We invited our awesome friends and neighbors to go with us to the Old Folks home in Lehi. The kids put together about 1/2 hour piano recital for them. The old folks loved it and so did the kids. We plan on going back this summer.

Stopping at a random house in Lehi with a beautiful Magnolia Tree in bloom. I couldn't not stop! So pretty!

Jumping on the tramp with cousins, Aunt Alyssa and even Grandma Bell!!! I'm glad I got pictures of this because Grandpa Bell would never believe it!

Wheel-barrow rides down the hill in the back yard with Dad and friends. Let me tell you, Brett was the life of the party that night!!! Really, what night is he not the life of the party?


McKay is our little cook. Here we are making a dessert for "Super Stars". He wanted to help me with cooking a lot. Someday, McKay wants to be a chef/artist/astronaut. It could happen...........

Having dance competitions with cousins and friends on the tramp.

Even though it didn't feel like spring, having the break sure was a lot of fun!

My Blogging Friend: The Amazing Sonja

One of the highlights of our trip was the chance I had to meet one of my blogger friends. I stumbled across Sonja's blog a couple years back when I was researching good sport's bras. (Some of you may remember that post.) Anyway, this awesome woman is just a regular person like you and me. She's a wife, she's a mom and she's struggled with weight loss. In the midst of all this, she decided to became a triathlete.

Can I just tell you how awesome she is?

First of all, she is SUPER fast. She gives 110% to everything she does. She is incredibly inspiring, incredibly nice and totally down-to-earth. She is superb at everything she does. She doesn't give up. When I'm out for a long run or ride and I want to stop, I think about her. She keeps me going.

After discovering her bra-review post, I left a comment and told her I was going to be 'stalking' her blog because she is so positive and happy and inspiring. I invited her over to my blog and we became 'friends'. We ended up doing the Dave Ramsey money thing at about the same time, without even knowing it until we were both done!

On Sonja's blog she has a calendar of upcoming races. Come to find out, she was going to be doing a race in Moab the same weekend we were there. "What race?"you might ask. Well, she was there to RUN a 100 mile race.

Yes.

I said running 100 miles.

She, herself, alone......not part of a team. Not over the course of 2 days. She was running 100 miles.

Straight.

Crazy? Yes.

Awesome? Totally.

Inspiring? Incredibly!

So, I decided that if it was possible, I wanted to stop by and cheer her on. I wasn't sure how Sonja would feel about this. I emailed her anyway, and told her I was going to be there that same weekend. She was totally gracious and welcomed the visit. She even gave me her mom's cell number and her husband's cell number to coordinate the visit. They would be there manning her aid station. And she said, "We have to get a picture together!"

So, Friday morning at about 9 am I called her mom. The race started at 7 am. In order to be able to run 100 miles and finish this race, Sonja would slow down to about a 10 minute-mile pace. (Seriously? I know....that is a good pace fore me!) She's usually around a sub-7 minute mile. The race is done on a 6 mile loop out in the middle of northern Moab. She was coming around to the aid station about every hour. So, Brett and I decided to go out and cheer her on and say hello.

When we got there, of course, I totally recognized her husband, her mom and her daughter. I've 'known' them for about 3 years! They were super nice when I introduced myself. They said that Sonja was so happy to have a blogger friend come to say hello! We chatted for a while and then Sonja came running up the path. I started yelling and cheering! She had just finished her 4th lap-- about 24 miles-- practically a marathon. She was all smiles and so happy to see me! It was great to meet her and get a picture! Here we are:

Look how good she looks after running 24 miles! So peppy and happy!

After we took a few pictures and chatted a minute, she was off again. She still had 76 miles to go! Through out the day-- at lunch time I thought to myself, "She's still running." At dinner I thought, "She's still running." When we went to bed I thought, "SHE'S STILL RUNNING!!!!!!!" I couldn't fathom it. The next day I checked out her tweets for the results: She had come in 2nd place overall and was the FIRST PLACE woman! She finished in just under 22 hours. WOW!!!!

The one thing I have learned from Sonja is to not limit yourself or put physical boundaries on yourself. It doesn't matter if you're overweight or out of shape or can only walk to the mailbox. It doesn't matter if you have a family history of heart disease, diabetes, or obesity. If you decide to do something, YOU CAN DO IT!!! Don't tell yourself no. Ever. Sonja taught me the truth of the saying: "If there is a will, there is a way."

She has inspired me to ride in my first century ride this summer.

You have got to check out her blog post about the run and then watch the video. For anyone who wants to be inspired to do anything, this will help you do it. Click here if you'd like to be uplifted and inspired. Be prepared with tissues. (For all my running friends, you will LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this!) Heck, even if you're not a runner......if you're looking for inspiration and that extra boost to help you overcome anything.....WATCH IT!!! Let me know what you think!

Moab 2010

Every spring we go with Brett's whole family (all 30 something of us) to Moab. We stay in one big house. And let me tell you, each year, that house seems smaller and smaller!!!! But, we have so much fun. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful 'in-law' side of the family!

Ella, Kiki and McKay in Goblin Valley. I think Kiki and McKay look more like twins than Makenna and McKay do.

An awesome view on the way to "Double O" Arch. This was the first time we'd done this hike. It was a little strenuous, but well worth it!

Michael with a bloody nose after the annual dirt clod fight in Goblin Valley

View on the hike to Double O arch.

Kiki was my hiking partner. I had tons of fun chatting it up with this girl. We pretended we were spies the whole time. What a trooper.

We finally made it! Check out that double arch!!! Pretty amazing!

Basking in the sun in the lower arch at "Double O" Arch

Landscape Arch

Connor and Livvy pulling some 'tude. Rachel is just along for the ride...

I love this arch. It is my favorite.

This is an actual hand cart made by Studebaker. It was at a trinket shop.

This is the first year, of all the years we've been to Moab (we go the same weekend every year) that there has been snow in the park. That is attributed to the very long, cold winter, and a very wet spring. Mickey is 'eating' snow encrusted in the reddish/brown sand. He thought it looked like a s'more.

Mick and Ken seeing how far back they could squeeze!

Kenna (and Connor in background) at Sand Dune arch

Some of the dads exploring

Mickey found a 'cave'

Connor and Brandon conquering a hill


All the cousins in Goblin Valley

Mick's carseat must be really comfy.........He has made this sleeping face since the first day he was born! What a cutie! Love this boy!

Thank you family for the wonderful trip! We love you all!

Easter!

You've all heard me blog about our lovely aunt Renee. WE LOVE HER!!!! Every year, all year my kids (especially McKay) look forward to the annual Easter Egg hunt. Right after Christmas, McKay starts asking, "How many days until the Easter Egg Hunt?" I got so tired of answering him, we made a chain this year so he could count for himself!

This is not your normal, typical easter egg hung. We're not talkin plastic eggs and candy. We're talkin more eggs and candy than you can comprehend; eggs with money; eggs with toys; different games to play and prizes to win, 2 huge bounce houses and more cousins than you can count!!! Fun, fun, fun!!!!

Sorting out all their spoils!

The happiness on that face cannot be beat!

Quarters, quarters, quarters!

Mick's pooped after a long day!

We love Renee and her sweet family. They do so much for everyone; always! Renee is such an example of love and service to me. I want to be like her someday!!!

He's In!

Brett is officially a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force!

I can't believe I am actually writing that.

My husband is a member of the United States Air Force.

My family is part of the United States Military.

I am proud.

A few weeks ago, Brett was officially commissioned into the Air Force. They officers in charge asked Brett if he had anyone in mind to perform the ceremony. We had no idea that we could choose who performed the ceremony. Apparently, the Air Force allows you to use a family member or friend to read the oath, but they have to have been a commissioned military officer.

Brett's maternal grandfather was a Naval Captain. Captain Louis Kent Payne.

Brett chose him to perform the ceremony.


Here is the official oath: "I, having been appointed a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter, so help me God."

Here we are putting on Brett's shoulder rankings. Since he doesn't have an official uniform until he's graduated, they have you put these ones on. It really adds a lot. It kind of took my breath away when I saw him like that.

Brett and I with Brett's parents and grandfather.

Brett and I with my parents.

I wanted to thank all our wonderful family and friends who came to support us. We had quite a large group come to this ceremony and it was wonderful to have that kind of support. This is going to be a wonderful adventure, and I also know it will be challenging, too. I am so thankful to have supportive friends and family who love us so much. We couldn't do this with out you!

Change: It's the Spice of Life

Well, it's been long enough since I put off posting this.

For those of you who didn't know:

Brett is in school again.

Yes, again.

Brett got into a very elite Anesthesia program at Westminster College in Salt Lake City. It's the only program in Utah. He started thinking about going back to school in the spring of last year. He found out that it was too late to apply for that fall (Sept. 2009) but could apply for 2010. About 1 month later, the Westminster called and said one of their 15 students had dropped out because of a family emergency and asked if he would like to apply.

We had a big decision to make.

Going to Westminster meant paying the big bucks. It's a private school and very expensive. Going to Westminster also meant Brett being gone off-and-on for 15 months for clinical training.

On the other hand, going to Westminster meant starting now-- and being done a whole year earlier. It also meant being able to stay close to my wonderful family, friends, ward, and neighborhood. It meant the kids get to go to their great school and stay with their awesome piano teacher, family and friends. It means having the support of all of those wonderful people in my life while Brett is gone off-and-on for those 15 months.

So, we prayed about it.....

And, we felt good about it.

So, we did it.

Brett started school in September 2009. Talk about intense!!! There are only 15 people in his whole class- 15! Those who want to stay in the program have to keep above an 84% in each class or they get put on probation and have to retake the whole semester. No pressure, right? On top of all this, Brett was still going to work half-time. He's the only one in his class with a job.

Well, at no shock to anyone who knows Brett well, he passed his first semester with flying colors and did wonderfully. He met a couple of good guys to carpool with that live down in this area and has become great friends with them. We even had them over for dinner over the Christmas break and it was nice to meet them, their wives and their families.

Before school started, Brett talked a little about the applying to the Air Force. At first, I was not so hip with this idea. But, after seeing how excited Brett was about it (and thinking in my own mind that it probably wouldn't happen-- I know: LAME!) I went along. He decided to go out for a medical scholarship they offer to 5 people in the nation.

Yes, I said, 5.

In the nation.

This medical scholarship is pretty sweet. They pay for your school. All of it. They also give you a monthly stipend to help with expenses. In return for this scholarship, we would agree to work for the Air Force for 3 years after Brett graduates. We would go where ever they needed us.

This in itself, was not something I really wanted to consider.

Moving was not an option.

But, it was a long shot at even getting the scholarship. And plus, we both love this area and don't really want to move. And come on......., 5 in the whole country? Brett's awesome at what he does, but doesn't flaunt it. The odds were stacked against him. But his resume packs a pretty mean punch, too. It was a long shot at getting this scholarship. But, to appease my worry-wart mind, I just pushed the thought of moving away and focused on just getting the scholarship, and then going from there. In my mind we had a good chance of getting it and a less of a chance of not. But, to be quite honest, I was glad it was a such long shot. Not getting it wouldn't devastate me. We would have to give up too much. Even though the scholarship was a slammin' deal, the price we would have to pay was just too high.

Let me explain:

First of all, when you're in any part of the Armed Forces (bless their souls), there is a higher chance of death. That is just the way things go. Of course, Brett would not be fighting on the front lines, or flying any airplanes.....He might be flying in an airborne hospital......(I'm trying not to think about that right now). He would go into the Air Force as a Captain, working in a hospital somewhere.

But, there are psycho's at hospital's too.

So, that was my biggest worry about the Air Force.

Not to mention:

1)- Us HAVING to do whatever the Air Force tells us to do, go where they tell us to go, no questions asked.
2)- Brett possibly getting called up. He would serve 6 months at a time. He could be called up once a year for those 3 years.
3)- There is not really a chance of us being able to stay here after school is over. Our 3 years will be spent in another state.
4)- Remember all those things we'd be leaving that I listed above? Ya. It's a lot to leave behind.

On the other hand.....

1)- If we funded this schooling all ourselves, by the time we were done, we'd be in debt about $130,000. I know. Ridiculous.
2)- I have secretly always wanted to move away and be out on our own, but.....not enough to actually do it. The opportunity has never really presented itself.

In the midst of us trying to make this decision without knowing if we had gotten the scholarship, we got a phone call.

Brett got the scholarship.

Yes, he got it!

Wow!

Flattered? Yes.

Scared? Yes.

Excited? Brett, yes. Me, not so much.......it's the whole pro's and con's thing...I know, I'm a wimp!

So, after heavily weighing the pro's and con's and many, many talks we decided not to take the scholarship. Brett would have jumped at the chance to do it if he was a single guy. But with a worrying wife and a family to support, it was just to much stress-- for me. Then I felt selfish for 'robbing' Brett of something he really wanted to do because of my being scared. After agonizing over this decision we decided that the price we had to pay to accept the Air Force scholarship was too high. It was a wonderful thing, but we would just be giving up too much. So, we decided to fund it ourselves, do it on our own.

Now, this is the wonderful part of this story. How awesome is it that we can pray to the God of this Universe? How incredible is it that he hears our prayers? And even better: he answers them! Brett and I knelt down together and prayed about our decision to not take the Air Force scholarship. We ended our prayer and felt fine.

That's it. Just fine.

And fine was ok with me. I was ready to go eat dinner. But then Brett said, "Let's test it out. Let's ask about the Air Force and see if we get a 'no' answer."

I said, "No."

Is that horrible of me? I said, "No, I do not want to pray about the Air Force." Then the flood-gates let loose-- I was afraid of the answer we would get. I was afraid Heavenly Father would tell us to take the scholarship and join the Air Force.

All of you women have to know the dilemma I was feeling in my mind at that moment:

I know that Heavenly Father knows all. I know this. I know he wants us to be happy. I know he wants us to grow. I know he wants to bless us. I know he wants us to bless and help others. I know he loves my husband and my children and wants the best for them, too. I know all of these things and so if he said to take the scholarship, with all those things in mind, of course; YES! I would do it.

But, I have my pride. What about what I want? I don't want to move. I don't want to leave my parents, my grandparents, my wonderful in-laws and brothers and sisters. I don't want to leave my friends, ward, neighborhood, school, piano teacher, mountains, snow at Christmas-time, nice neighbors security bubble.

But, He knows all and He knows best. I know this.

So, after I let go of my pride and could really pray with real intent (which includes being willing to do whatever the answer to the prayer is) we knelt to pray again.

After the first few sentences of that prayer were said, I felt an overwhelming amount of peace. I felt comforted, I felt love and I knew that my husband was going to be a Captain in the Air Force.

And I was going to be an Air Force wife.

Brett and I both felt so much different from our first prayer, we knew that taking this opportunity and accepting the scholarship and joining the Air Force was the right thing to do.

And guess what? I am excited about it! Of course I'm sad to think about leaving everything we'll be leaving, but after receiving and answer like that, I cannot feel too bad. Heavenly Father told us that this was the right decision. I know that doesn't mean this is going to be easy. But, I know it will be best for our family and that is a good thing to know.

This gives our family a great opportunity. We've never been away and we've both secretly wanted to in some way. We will have a wonderful experience where ever we go and we're excited to be in the mission field. We will be sure to have a guest bedroom where ever we move, so please come and visit!

Brett graduates in 2 years, so we're still around until then. Don't write us off yet! In the meantime, Brett starts traveling for clinical rotations this fall. This has nothing to do with the Air Force, but is with his school. See, IHC has a huge monopoly over all the larger hospitals that do the higher trauma level cases. All the Anesthesiologists belong to the same group. They have a clause in their contract that says that no Nurse Anesthetists can learn there or even work there. I guess they're threatened by them. If your a hospital and trying to cut costs and you can hire a Nurse Anesthetist for 1/2 of what an Anesthesiologist makes, but they both do the same thing, who would you hire? So, that is why Westminster is the only school with a program in UT. That is why the U of U doesn't offer a program. But, it will all be worth it in the end. He'll be in TX for 4 months, American Fork, UT for 4 months, Blackfoot, ID for 2 months and Ogden for 4 months and a handful of other places a few weeks and months at a time.

So, yes.....change it the spice of life. Sometimes too spicy for my liking, but our tastes can adjust and enjoy a little more spice than we're used to. That is my way of saying that I am excited for this new chapter in our lives. We'll see what it brings.