For the Love of Little Things

One, my days home are still wonderful. I am learning that staying positive during your days help; even when everything goes wrong.
Some of you are thinking "Okay, yeah right. Life is not always so optimistic." And YES, I completely agree, trust me. But if someone can control their mood and help the situation, it is so surprising what change one person can do.
Here are a few methods to my "madness" :)
    1. Don't be the first to get mad.
        Now, I understand being upset. There are times when it is totally necessary to have your voice be heard and stand up for something. I believe in not letting someone walk all over you, BUT if being in a situation that someone has no control of, why not make the best of it? If someone makes you mad, evaluate the situation before you react. Don't be the first one to raise the problem, and don't be the first one to raise your voice. This sounds a little overboard, because there are times when your opinion needs to be revealed. I am totally for that. But if someone is having a bad day, or you're stuck in a situation, don't add to the fire. Be the water to cool it down and put it out.
    2. The time will pass...eventually.
        No matter what happens, the time will pass. Small, medium, or large; no matter how big something seems to be, it passes. Why waste time being bogged down? Don't let something effect your mood too long. Enjoy what is around you. Compliment your life, don't conflict it. Another thought...as harsh as it may sound, maybe if something is bringing a lot of unhappiness to someone's life, it might not be meant to be there. That seems obvious, but it is much easier said then done.
    3. OF COURSE, just pray about it :) 
         Knowing that your life is in God's hands and knowing that he will guide you through any situation that comes your way is an amazing feeling. He will NEVER put his children in a situation they can't handle, and when one door closes, another one will open. It just takes courage and trust.

So my last few days!
Tuesday=all morning with Kelsey (the best horse in the world. We sure do miss Sunny). Then it was a great movie day with a great friend Tarana! She is more like a sister to me. Watching How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days while drinking hot coco totally hit the spot. Later that night, I went to a Bible study at a House Church with Mariah. We then continued to karaoke night with a bunch of friends, including Tarana. It was a BLAST! When midnight hit, of course the seven of us didn't have ENOUGH fun, so we then went to Ihop. On top of the chicken caesar salad, a mini-hamburger, sliced potato appetizer, 1 fish taco, and a Shirley temple, I then needed a short stack of pancakes at 1:00 in the morning. Who doesn't need that..right?
 YES, I can eat..a lot.

Tarana (left) & I

Steph (left), Mariah (middle), & I ***..and it all started in elementary school!***

Wednesday morning came fast. A lovely day with my twin cousins was on my agenda. Nail party and movie day anyone? That's exactly what we did. Later that night I spent the night at my mom's and had a wonderful dinner with my sister, Vanessa (We also sat with Stephanie and Mariah! They were also at Applebee's for the second night in a row!). 

Again, morning came fast. That seems to be happening a lot! I can't believe there is only about a week left of Christmas break. It's nuts. Today I had a great start to my morning with Susanna (best morning!) Blue Sky Bagels for breakfast and her house for some relaxing time. Picked up Mom that afternoon and met Dad at her second job (Mom has two jobs. She is very hard worker and has done everything in her life for my sisters and I. She is amazing. AND Dad is here from Cascade for a few days!) Dad and I went to the track to do my track workouts. It was so much more fun with Dad running with me. Mom used to be able to, but ever since her motorcycle accident my senior year of 2009/2010 she can no longer run (That of course does not stop her. She goes to the gym with a personal trainer and does her own personal workouts. Nothing stops my mom). The workout today? 4x400 and 4x200 (My workout defiantly helped me run off Applebees and Ihop..just saying). More workouts this week to come. Of course Dad and I were hungry so we went to our traditional dinner spot, Sizzler. We always have great talks and catch up on just plain life. 

So what now? Now it is time for one of my favorite things at home; hanging out with my grandparents and dad in the bar (the mini bar in our house) blasting Poker Face by Lady Gaga. Granny Debbie made me a virgin margarita and I get to catch up with my readers! It is what I love to do. 

A few things before I publish: 

This is my Christmas present from Sus!

1. When you dream, pay attention..I believe they mean something :) 

2. Some prayer requests:

    My mom: Her stress level is way too high.

    Alija's Grandma: She is feeling sick today.

    Mariah: She got a call for a new opportunity in her life.

    My sisters: Let life start falling positively in their direction. 

3. I see in my stats and followers that I have readers from not only the United States, but also Russia,   Germany, Brazil, and Thailand! Thank you for reading :) I hope you enjoy.

The Day After CHRISTmas

Christmas Eve was the party, Christmas was church and family, today was crazy shoppers around here! 

Let me just say I found great sales with Susanna and Liberty.

Home is still WONDERFUL :) 

It is sure great to remember where I came from and remind myself how I came to be me. 

Tonight Gramps gave me his 50 year old picture Bible. This will come in handy later...and you'll understand that with a later post!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that you are also ready for the New Year! Lets make 2012 better than any other year

Home Sweet Home

Okay, so I am home!
That means waking up this morning in amazing Idaho.

Mariah surprising me last night by calling and saying "There's something in your yard! I have to pee...come out side!" is my reality. Now that is a welcome home!

Mama picked me up from the airport, Granny and Gramps are very excited I am home, Kelsey is nice and fuzzy with her winter coat, and Dad coming into town for a couple of days to his little girl back from college. I am very relaxed with the sense of just being here. It's a great feeling.

It's the end of 2011, and 2012 is soon to come.
Our annual Christmas Eve party is right around the corner (holy cow) and I can't wait.

Memories are in the midst of life's happening, and I am ready!

break starts...NOW! :)

Finals week! But first...

Okay, so it is finals week. But first I want to share fun!

So it is near Christmas. It really doesn't feel like it...1: The city around this time last year was a mess with rain, rain, and more rain. 2: Everything just has been so busy and everywhere, that I just have not felt the spirit. Maybe it will feel more like Christmas when I go home? All I know is that time is going by so fast. I guess it is true that "the older you get the faster time goes by." Mom told me the other day to stop thinking so much about the future. I think I will listen to her and just enjoy life..It only happens once :) But anyways! So it is near Christmas, and I gave Alija his gift; a jersey from his favorite soccer team and a night out to Zoolights with dinner. It was great! Wednesday I gave him his wrapped jersey with an invite to Zoolights (on the card it said TONIGHT -as in Thursday night- so I crossed it out and put TOMORROW NIGHT because I just couldn't wait any longer). He LOVED his Arsenal soccer jersey. He put it on right then and there.

 

The next night we went to Zoolights. The entire Zoo is decorated with lights. We drove around for 20 minutes for parking and eventually was blessed with a close spot, bought hot chocolate and popcorn, rode the train around the zoo, ate dippin' dots ice cream, walked around hand in hand, and enjoyed our time together. We then left and ate at Olive Garden to top off  our wonderful evening. It was amazing :)

After all the times we have been through, and how many days that have gone by, he walks into the cafeteria today and still manages to stop by heart. It's unbelievable. 

Now it is finals week and I am actually feeling great! I had one final today, two finals papers to turn in tomorrow, a final to turn in Wednesday, and also an in class final Wednesday. Not bad! It feels so much easier than last year. Lets see if I can pull off my 4.0 again! 

Just some thoughts before I go...

• Deb introduced me to Pinterest.com. It is amazing, but at the same time so evil because I CAN'T STOP LOOKING at my computer screen
• I am learning that I love being spiritual, and the word "religion" is something I may never understand. 
• I already have three New Years resolutions planned out (That's weird because I have NEVER had any New Years resolutions in my life)
• AND I am leaving to home Thursday afternoon. Wow. I cannot believe it is already Christmas break. 

Jackson's Invitational (Boise State track meet)

The Jackson's Invitational track meet went great. I am very happy with my performance!

The team and I left Friday morning at 6 a.m. I slept almost the entire way to Boise (about 7 hours of driving time). It was great! We arrived at the Idaho Center to watch the pentathletes. I got to see my friend Marie from high school. She was the anchor of my 4x100 meter relay senior year (we took second at state and still hold the record at Capital). The teams that were there to compete were Boise State, Nevada, Portland State, Stanford, Northwest Nazarene University, St. Martins, Academy of Arts, and some attached runners. The competition was awesome and a lot of the girls looked like men...I'm not kidding. Later that night we left the Idaho Center to eat. My mom joined us at the Golden Corral and the team had a blast with the dessert section (there was a new chocolate fandu machine!). We then settled into the hotel. Deb and I managed to lose the first key to our room, then lost the spare key, and finally found both :) We are blaming it on a ghost.

This is what athletes do in their spare time in their hotel rooms...

I haven't gotten any pictures of me running at the invite yet but I am sure I will soon.

I was signed up for the 60 meter, 200 meter, and 4x400 meter relay. I pr'd (personal record) in my open events breaking both of my own school records for my college and ran a great second leg of the relay. 

Last years times: 

60 m: 8.34 sec

200 m: 27.7 sec

This years times: 

60 m: 8.26 sec

200 m: 27.2 sec

I know that does not seem like a lot of time shaved off, but in sprints, when you are pushing your body to the max and it cannot go any faster, no matter how hard you try you cannot exert any more energy, it is a huge deal to pr. Now, they are not the times I am wanting by the end of the indoor season, but I am on the right track. I still have about 3 more indoor meets to go so my plan is to meet my goals. I believe we have 2 indoor meets at the University of Washington and 1 indoor meet at the University of Idaho (both NCAA Division one schools). 

My Indoor Goals: 

60 m: 7.9 sec

200 m: 26.9 sec

My Outdoor Goals: 

100 m: 12.4 sec

200 m: 25.9 sec

400 relay split: 59 sec

On top of great races, I had my great fan club. My Dad was able to come! This was his first time being able to see me run in college and I am so excited that he was able to see me run such great races!! :) My mom has never missed any meets until last year since all but one of them are out of state (and even then she has flown to many), Susanna, Mariah, my 2 pastors; Pastor Tom and Pastor Gary both made it, and so did my Aunt Cindi. I had great support. Thanks everyone!! and I love you :) 

After a long day we headed back to campus. I was in bed by midnight and woke up at 8:30 after an amazing 8.5 hours of sleep (I am learning that keeping a schedule makes me a happier person!) Alija took me out to Starbucks since he was unable to go due to his hip injury and we shared our weekend excitements (he text me during the meet saying that he was dancing around the house when he heard that I had broken both of my records! It made me extremely happy to hear that). Now it is time to continue with my finals and get ready for dead week; it starts tomorrow. Finals start Monday, December 12.