MY RANDOM DAY

Bread is baking in the oven so I guess I'll blog while I wait for the timer to go off.

Last night was a sleepless night. I tossed and turned then popped the vertebrae in my neck. Ya, it doesn't take much. My neck is always stressed, the slightest wrong move and I am sent running to the chiropractor. Which was exactly where I turned as soon as they opened this morning.

Pro-Health Chiropractic, Mark Bentley to be more specific, worked miracles with his machines and I was restored to normal health again. But normal doesn't mean without pain. That usually takes a good massage treatment...which I think I will schedule for tomorrow night.

I'm way overdue...

This October weather in St. George is so perfectly gorgeous. Crisp evenings make for perfect walking weather and daytime heat is always wonderful.

After work I went to the gym with Isaac and Ammon. Working out is good for me. We treated ourselves to an Orange Peel afterwards then picked up Hamilton and Asa from soccer.

So there you have my random day.

BEST EVER OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Ammon and I made cookies. He was a little worried about putting oatmeal in the batter. He said, "that was a healthy item and cookies are not supposed to be healthy." But once he tasted them he was cured of that thought.

One day I will live on an Island and bake cookies for the locals. My Cookie Cabana will be a gathering place and we'll eat cookies and milk all day long.

ANSWER THIS

Everything is the same as it was yesterday but my attitude. Some mornings I can face the day with hope and encouragement and others with doubt and dispair. Today is one of those days when my reality clouds my vision. It seems as if nothing in my life is as I want it to be.

Is it possible to always feel good, to look at every day as if it will be fabulous - a constant positive outlook? Or are we, at times, entitled to feel overwhelmed by the negativity that consumses us?

EPIPHANY:

a comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization.

I experienced this today at church.

Today I sat among the pews of the chapel looking at all the people around me. The judgemental thoughts were replaced with an unconditional love for every person within my range of site. I was completely overcome with the realization that every person around me is facing challenge, trial, chaos - call it what you will - we all struggle with something. Every person there is an imperfect person full of goodness just trying to be the best they can with what they've been given.

It's a simple thought and has previously crossed my mind but never with the strength of emotion that I felt on this day. I want to always remember the power of this epiphany so that it guides my appreciation for the people I love and associate with.

WAKE UP CALL

Most nights I am in bed before my children decide how their morning routine is going to go so they find ways to get messages to me. Sometimes I wake up to writing on the mirror, notes inside the fridge, or sticky notes on the microwave. On this particular morning I had to watch my step. This white board was laying just outside my bedroom door.

In case you can't read it...

"Mother Dearest, I would love it so much if you could possibly wake me up around 7:10 am. I am outside on the balcony. Love you very much. Love Ammon, you're favorite son."

FYI - Ammon doesn't really talk like this but he does like to write wacky notes like this to me all the time. Ammon does have an alarm on his cell phone and he sets it every night. But more often than not he sleeps through it. Must be that poly blood running through his veins...

My children are my greatest gift!

PLEASANTLY DELICIOUS!

A small village in France, delightful scenery, girl power annnndddd chocolate. What could be better?

To quote the pastor -

Humanity...Kindess...Tolerance..."We cannot measure our goodness by what we don't do, by what we deny ourselves, by what we resist and who we exclude. We need to measure our goodness by what we embrace, what we create and who we include."

SPIROGRPAH

Does anyone remember this? When I was young this could keep my attention for long periods of time. The explanation from somewhere in webland goes something like this...

"For those who have never used one, the toy was made up of plastic geometric shapes with gear teeth along their edges. One of these pieces was pinned (yeah, real pins - like they’d ship those in a kids’ toy today . . .) to a piece of cardboard and another, with holes inside it at various points in its interior where the artist placed the tip of a pen, was moved along the edge of the fixed shape so that the gears meshed as it moved. This caused the moving shape to rotate with the pen leaving behind interesting mathematical curves."

I loved Spirograph! Now you can play online. Somehow it's just not the same.

FROM MARATHON TO SENIOR GAMES

Tonight I attended the sponsor appreciation banquet for the Huntsman World Senior Games, another inspiring event.

Participants of the senior games must be 50 years old to enter. This evening ambassadors of the games were honored. These are men and women who have participated for more than 15 years. Some things are simply worth being there for...

Now I am enjoying the quiet of the evening out on the patio with Asa and Hamilton. The stars twinkle and half a moon shines brilliantly upon us. It is a perfect moment in time.

MARATHON MEMORIES

There's nothing quite like being immersed in the energy of a 26.2 mile marathon. Last year I experienced it by helicopter, this year at the finish line. Both are "things you should do before you die."

Writings from last year...

As we sailed north I saw various recognizable landmarks and then noticed the marathon in full force. The pace car, the first of the runners, police escorts, more runners, wheel chair participants moving alongside those on foot. Glancing further north I saw the highway. The road well traveled by car was now filled with runners. It was awe-inspiring; thousands of people running together with one purpose.

Alongside the road were cheerleaders – the support crew – cheering the runners on as they passed, holding out water, being there to catch the fallen runner. Emergency and first aid officials ready to do their job.

And this year I stood on the ground mesmerized by the vast emotions of those around me. Marathon participants filled with joy and pain. Family members waiting in eager anticipation. I struggled to stay composed and do my job.

I was wet and chilled from the rain and wind, but warmed by the inspiration of the show before me, the will to finish the race.

I expect I will not ever have a desire to run a 26.2 mile marathon. But I will always have a desire to be a part of one. These are memories that will not soon fade.

PAIN!

I thought I might blog my marathon moments but the pain of a migraine is consuming my ability to think. I need some reflexology, aroma therapy and a dark quiet room.

Maybe tomorrow I will add some pictures and speak of the finish line exhilaration of the St. George Marathon.