Fun LOTOJA training

In September of 2008, as I was riding LOTOJA, a 200 mile bike race from Logan to Jackson, I was feeling miserable.  I'd ridden over 100 miles and still had 100 to go.  I thought,  "Why am I doing this?  I'm exhausted and in pain.  I don't need to put myself through this.  I can enjoy riding as much as I want without training for LOTOJA."  I didn't think I'd ever ride the race again.  I was wrong.  Dan has wanted to do it for years and this is his year.  He convinced me to ride it with him, to be his riding partner.

Yesterday we did a ride together.  I was reminded that Cache Valley is cyclist heaven.

We headed north on 1600 east

and enjoyed the views riding into Hyde Park.

The sunshine was nice after a stormy morning.

We rode up Smithfield Canyon.

Here, with the canyon behind us, we looked to the valley where we headed next.

This bird posed for us on the West Valley highway.

The valley was beautiful as we headed towards Mendon.

I love taking in the views and riding with my man.

We rode 47 miles and had a great time.  I'm not sure how I'm going to feel as I ride LOTOJA in September but I know I'm going to love riding and training with Dan all summer.

A taste of Heaven

I have to admit,  I was feeling stressed.  All the wedding plans had taken a toll.  Even though the open house was over I still had worries about  money, jobs, children's jobs, children's schooling, feeling inadequate and on and on.  And then I went to the temple.  Tom and Megan were sealed for time and eternity. 

President Bachman performed the sealing.  He talked about all the blessings and promises with covenants.  It gave me pause.  All my worries, the knots in my stomach, were insignificant.  Sealing, family, eternity, exaltation-that is all that matters. What a joyous day.  I truly had a taste of heaven.

Tom and Megan are so happy and so in love.

 Mark and Jenn were there.  They were sealed 7/7/07

                          Mindy and Jake were there.  They were sealed 9/1/07.  

Cash is 8 months old.

                     Jim and Sarah were there.  They were sealed 7/17/07.  

Grace is one month old.

I'm going to enjoy my time with these three, Karen, John and Dan, the only ones left at home with me.

I am blessed with 2 wonderful parents and I love them.

 I love Dan's parents. ( The man on the left is Megan's grand pa.  He's wonderful too)

So, when all is said and done, yes, I have worries and stress, but, yes, I have it all- a blessed eternal family.  I tasted Heaven and I'm going to remember the flavor and keep it with me.

Grace and miracles

Birth is a miracle and part of God's plan.  Two people love each.  As they express their love they are blessed with conception.  The mother lovingly carries that child, sometimes sacrificing much and giving so much of herself, for 9 months.  Labor is painful but when the baby is born the pain and sacrifice are forgotten.  Love envelops the mother and father.  All of the sudden the parents understand a love that they knew not before. They love that child more than life itself.  They will do anything, sacrifice anything... anything for that child.  Because of that love they are ready to raise the child and give the child the love that she needs.

That is God's plan.  He loves us the way we love our children.  He wants to send His children into this life to people who will love and protect them.  It's a miracle and it's beautiful.

If Sarah sees this photo she will not be happy with me.  This was taken an hour after a long and difficult labor.  I think she is beautiful.  So is my son, Jimmy, and their baby Grace.

I am amazed how I can instantly love this child.  I really do.  I LOVE her.

 I have a feeling Dan loves her, too.

 Shell shocked but in love.  Grace is 4 days old and Jim and Sarah are oh, so happy.

Grandma Betty loves holding her great grand daughter.  Grace seems to like Grandma Betty, too.

 Gracie is blowing us all kisses.  I think she is happy to be in this world.  She should be. She has two amazing parents.

Sarah's shower without Sarah.

Last night my mother and I gave a baby shower to my daughter in law, Sarah.  Fifteen minutes before it was to begin my son, Jimmy,  called to say Sarah had been to the doctor and had a stress test.  The baby's heart rate dropped during the test and so, as a precaution, they needed to go to the hospital to be monitored for 2 hours.  Needless to say, Sarah would not be attending her shower.

The invitations had been sent, the food was ready, the guests were about to arrive.  What could we do? We did what we had to do.  We had Sarah's shower with out Sarah.  We ate, talked, laughed, and shared what we were giving Sarah.  It was the best shower I've ever been to without the guest of honor.

The baby and Sarah are fine and enjoyed opening the gifts later, with Jimmy, alone, at home.

PS to previous post

Dan said that if I had awakened him he would have hooked the battery up to the charger.  What?  We have a battery charger?  Oh maaaaaan (in a very whiney voice.)  At least I learned how to pop the hood.

Helpless female? HA!

It's 5am.  I get in the car to head to the sports club to have a nice run on a treadmill.  The car won't start.  Nothing.  Nada.  Dead battery.  The other car is in the shop.  The truck is at the sports club already because Tom works there and took the truck at 4:30am.  Dan is asleep.  What do I do?

I want to exercise.  John needs a working car by 7am to go to school.  I don't want to disturb my wonderful husband's sleep.  I form my plan.  Here's what I did.
1.  I ran the 2 1/2 miles to the sports club.
2.  I got the truck from Tom and drove it home.
3.  I jumped the car with the truck.  (I had to read in the owner's manual to find out how to open the hood.)
4.  I drove the truck back to the sports club.
5.  I ran home and had enough time to run a couple more miles.

Above you can see how tired and lousy I look after an early morning run.

Results?
Did I get exercise?  Check
Did John have a working car in time for school?  Check
Did Dan get his beauty sleep?  Check.  He didn't know what had happened until it was all over.

It feels good to take care of a problem, especially a car problem, all by myself.  I had a good morning.

Spying on a marriage proposal

 

The ring is ready.

So is the painting of the place they met (and where they'll get engaged)

Dan and I got to help set it all up-candles, roses, ring, painting, and our son, Mark, set a camera to take a picture every ten seconds.  Here I'm getting a text from Tom to say they are coming. 

  

We get to the car, our hiding place, and realize we forgot to set out the roses.  In this picture Dan is running a mad dash to put the flowers in place.

Phew, he made it.  Dan set the flowers down.

Sixty seconds later, here comes Tom and Megan.  Megan is now suspicious.

And, Ta Daa, the proposal.

  

Tom didn't get the text to let him know we had the camera set to take pictures every 10 seconds :-D

But I'm glad we did.

One can't get engaged without a kiss.

The happy couple.