Right on Track

Today while folding towels and wiping bums at the assisted living center where I work, I had a moment of self pity wash over me as I realized that I am about 25 years behind where I should have been.  Most people start off as a CNA as a stepping stone to the bigger, better, more glorious profession of nursing.  I do it just for fun.  I thought about all the young girls I work with who are going to college, will probably get married within the next 5 years and then start their families.  In mid-lament, I realized that the reason I am a CNA NOW is because I had my family first, and enjoyed being a young mommy to four beautiful girls, starting with this one:

Happy Birthday, baby girl!  Thank you for making me a first time mother 23 years ago.  I am right where I need to be:  a young mom with grown and almost grown children who has the priviledge of working as a CNA because I think it's fun.

Patience and Endurance

Words of Wisdom, as quoted by a Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson:

"A Yard is hard,

but an inch is a cinch."

On Matt's 41st birthday, he gave himself an incredible gift:  he successfully crossed the finish line of his first 100 mile race, beating his anticipated time of 24 hours by a half hour.  He came in 12th out of 52 runners.  I am so proud of my baby brother!

What a great example to his two boys, Asher and Spencer.  This race, like so many hard things in life, are accomplished inch by inch, with patience and endurance, as well as the required preparation.  There are a great many life lessons to be learned from training for, and completing, an event such as this 100 mile run.  Look at him!  He looks so happy!

I have had to remind myself, over and over, to be patient with my current quest to eat right, get back into shape, and meet my weight loss/body fat goals.  Sometimes I get so mad when I step on the scale and it doesn't read what I think it should, especially after some great workouts.  Usually that's when Steve, or Jody, or Reid will reassure me that I am on the right path, that my body is slowly changing and transforming.  Now that I am eating better, and including weight training into my physical exercise routine, I have gained a whole new appreciation for the wonderful body that Heavenly Father has blessed me with.  I love having body systems that work and function properly: legs that run and lift, a core that supports everything that I do, arms that "perform all that is required for good." I love having lungs that work, and a heart that pumps at a good, steady beat.  I sleep better, my mind seems more focused and clear, and I feel a calmness.  When I get a little discouraged, especially when I see massive weight loss in others who are going the "quick fix" route, Reid reassures me that for true, sustainable weight loss you have to EARN IT.  I think that is an eternal truth that applys to anything worthwhile in life.

Celebration of a Life

Heavenward they float

Messages of love in pink

for our Lily girl

At 5 p.m. on March 9th, if you looked up into the sky over the Salt Lake Valley, from Farmington to South Salt Lake, you may have seen a battalion of pink balloons released in honor of Lily's 3rd birthday.  The Mordue family and their ward released balloons in Farmington, while the John Henry Smith Insurance family released them in Bountiful and Salt Lake, and the extended Smith Family released them in South Salt Lake.  I'm pretty sure there were balloons sent up in the Arizona sky as well, from the Farr Family.  It was a special moment, followed by beautiful words from Lily's mom, Kim, and then we all helped plant a tree next to Lily's grave in Farmington...a flowering plum.