The Jacket

I am happy when I run.

A couple days after I got hit by the truck while running, Brad and I went to Costco.  I found myself hobbling over to clothing, in particular the exercise clothing.  I love the Costco running jackets.  I am very picky about them.  They have to have a full zipper front, zipper pockets, reflectors, thumb holes, hand covers, collar, inside pockets, the length has to be just right, and it has to be bright.  There I was, crippled in spirit and physically unable to run, and I found the perfect running jacket.  On top of that, they had one that actually fit me AND it was on SALE.  I tried it on, it was perfect and so cute and it fit like a glove around me.  I loved it! And then I took it off and neatly folded it, I sighed and put it back. I started to walk away, knowing that if I bought that perfect jacket, it may never go on a perfect run,  like it rightly deserved.  Brad questioned it.  I told him that it was a stupid time to get a jacket to run in.  He said, "Go ahead and get it.  Besides when you are running again, you will be easier to spot in this." He handed me the jacket and went on shopping.  I walked around the store, fidgeting with that jacket the whole time.  Mad I got hit.  Battling inside whether I would ever run again.  Would I heal? Can I face the streets after something so traumatic? I look at every truck to this day and think, "If I got hit by that truck, where would I grab to keep me from going under?" Brad confidently grabbed the jacket from me at check out and bought it.  I wore it the rest of the day, hoping the day would come that I could run in it!
  Well today I did just that.  I went for a 3 mile run at an 8 1/2 minute mile.  I ran on a trail, I saw all sorts of birds, and enjoyed every minute of it! It was one of those emotionally feel-good runs.  The mallard duck couples lazily gliding on the water. Flocks of seagulls flying and landing in the water.  My favorite was the Canadian geese that spook so easily away as I approach. They are so big and beautiful! I soaked in the single track trail, overgrown in grasses and stray branches.  It was just what I needed mentally.  Physically, on the other hand, it didn't go as well.  But I am so grateful for the fresh air, the freedom, the soul run! And I am thankful I got to wear the jacket Brad confidently bought me, confident I would be able to run again!

“When the Spirit of God burns in your soul, you cannot be otherwise than happy.”

– George Albert Smith

It's spring! We are so glad! There are lots of parks here to explore! And, thanks to my bro, we can ride our bikes to them! Dave tuned up our bikes for us! We are so grateful and we went on a fun ride tonight!

This week Paul did a choir concert that was super cute! I love how Paul is. .. he always has such good behavior and puts forth effort! I love who he is becoming!

 Bryan, Jared and I went on a walk to see the baby sheep.  They loved it and it was so fun to listen to the babies talk to their mama's! It was a windy bugger though! I guess spring time is just that way all spring!

Another wonderful thing: Jared is over his sickness! We ended up going to an instacare.  He had enterovirus. He had a mouth full of sores.  I forgot how big his eyes are and how mischievous he is :) I have been chasing him ever since!

We loved conference! I love my Heavenly Father, my Savior, the church leaders,  the Spirit and the messages shared!!!!

Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.

Helen Keller

Its been an interesting day.  Jared needed snuggles all day.  I decided to make the best of it.  Poor Bryan was needing more attention. He really surprises me at times.  He LOVES books.  He is my active, free spirited child.  So I am always amazed when he calms down when I open a novel.  Even after an hour and I'm falling asleep reading out loud and I have no idea what I have been reading, Bryan is begging me to read more.

We read the entire book while Jared slept in my arms.  I love this about Bryan and I love that Jared is comforted by me. It is such a privilege to be a stay at home mom to these wonderful boys!

Last night Jared had me and Brad laughing! Jared came in our bed, wanting to sleep in between us.  He laid there for a second then noticed this:

His eyes were glued.  Frozen with fear.  He pointed at the curtain silhouette and cried about a buck.  He was scared the curtain was a buck and it was going to get him.  Lol! He then went to his own bed and fell asleep :) it was funny!

Other great things today:

• I went to the store with Hyrum and Paul to get an armful of groceries.  I loved that without asking, after paying for the groceries, they each grabbed the grocery bags and off we went.  It felt so weird not having to haul my own groceries! I am so grateful for that great moment!
•  Hyrum and I had the best left overs for dinner.  I LOVE QUINOA! I have never had it until yesterday and I am in love!

• I talked to Carolyn today! I miss that girl and her family! She had been such a great friend for so long!
• I drove to the rec center and was completely awe struck by how beautiful the world is.  The sun had set and the shades of the sky faded from dark blue and sapphire and turquoise to greens and a hint of orange on the black horizon. The stars were coming out in the east and the sliver of the moon was bright. The sky is so much bigger here. It made me realize how small we are, how small our problems really are.  And how amazing it is that God still watches over each and every one of us. 
• I tried to swim today for the first time since the accident.  I loved being in the water! It felt good! But I did get dizzy, so I decided to just stick with kick boards. I am grateful I still can do that!

"Cultivate an attitude of happiness. Cultivate a spirit of optimism. Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine."

Gordon B. Hinckley

Truth be told.  We are all going through hard times. That's why I have started blogging often about those perfect moments I have everyday.  I trust what this great prophet once said.  It has been good for me to focus and look for those moments all day and then keep remembering them till night.  I am thinking it might help my boys as well. So this morning I asked them to tell me their most fun or happiest moment of their day:

Hyrum: creating possible problems for my realistic fiction character.
Paul: Oscar came back from Texas! Today we played soccer together!
Bryan: got signed up for gymnastics.
Jared:snuggling with daddy and mommy.

As for me:

• I loved joking with the boys this morning on the way to school about how stupid it was that Cinderella wore glass slippers. Seriously, glass? What was that fairy godmother thinking? They are asking for stitches. 
• Listening to Bryan sing "Brave" in his best singing voice.  I figured out he says "I wanna see you Big Brain" instead of "I wanna see you be brave." Then finding out that all my boys thought that! 
• I snuggled a lot with sweet Jared today.  He had been so sick with a fever.
• Today we got a dumb game called candy crush and played in on my bed, as pictured above, for longer then the 15 minutes I usually allow. We were having so much fun!
• I love when Brad comes home for lunch!

Brad got in an awesome workout that he is pretty happy about. :)

Relax and rejoice in our divine differences.

What a great day! I love starting out the day snuggling Brad and our boys, one by one, hopping in our bed as they woke up.  Other great things:

• Brad told me, "you are my everything." This means a lot coming from Brad :)
• We went on a nice drive to Utah to run some errands.  We cranked up the music and sang the whole way!
• We had some extra time after getting our oil changed and we walked around the Bountiful temple.  The boys each touched it and we're amazed that the grass was green :)
• Jared learned to chew gum today :) he was so happy with himself :)
• I went to dinner with Michelle and Andrea.  We had great Chinese food and then went to Women's Conference. 
• The musical numbers were amazing!
• The talks were inspiring!
• The company was fantastic!

I was given great advice after questioning what is the best way to raise my boys.  Here's what I was told, that I liked:

• Teach your boys responsibility and accountability from day one. 
• Teach them that at times it is just the way things are.  We go to church.  We do homework.  We are kind and loving. 
• Treat your home like an MTC.

"Folks are usually as happy as they make their minds up to be."  -Abraham Lincoln

Jared, already decked out in his jammies, handed me his coat to put it on him.  As I zipped it up I noticed what shoes he was wearing.  It made me smile. 

Yesterday we got to have Remi over!  We just love this girl! Bryan made a home for them.  He is such a great boy! Jared misses this "Rummy" girl. He followed her around everywhere.

I am so glad Brad is home and so glad Nancy came up to help while he was at a conference.

 Jared loves when Hyrum gives him piggy back rides! They are so cute!

I love that the boys play together!

 I love reading together!

happy happy joy joy happy happy joy

Today started out with a little guy in our apartment complex who was lost.  Bryan and I looked and looked for him for a half an hour.  That poor grandma who was watching him! A few calls were made and policemen showed up and at last Michelle Steineckert found the little lost 5 year old! That made me so glad! 

I loved working with Bryan on his letters.  He is doing a great job.  He drew a picture of our family that was adorable.  He also said something that was funny to me: 

"I'm unforgettable, right mom?"

I full heartedly agreed, "uh huh!"

"That means I forget a lot. .."

I think he got unforgettable mixed up with forgetful :)

Today we went with Michelle and her two kids to the bear River walkway.  It was a nice walk and We really enjoyed the sun.  The boys played with sticks in the water and even found a few crawdads claws!

In the evening, Hyrum and Paul and Bryan all ran a mile with me!!!!! I couldn't run fast and a mile might have been too much and it hurt like crazy, but Bryan ran the whole thing! I am so impressed with my 5 year old!

Happy

Happy

Joy

Joy

Happy

Happy

Joy.