Peace and Quiet

Tonight is the first time in a very long time that I am all alone at home! Bob and the girls went to the Daddy/Daughter date night at the church. This is Lauren's first time and Erika's last time. So Bob decided to make it a really special night and take them out to dinner first. The girls were very excited to say the least. Nathan is in Raleigh with a friend at a basketball game. And well, Justin is at a cook out with a friend in Utah. So here I am in this wonderful peaceful and quiet house with a ton of YW work to get done, but instead of that, I am writing on my blog!! This blog is something I'm always going to get to when I have a minute and this is as close to a "minute" that I'll ever get. But really, the fun thing is to read everyone else's blogs. So, I feel like I have had a wonderful conversation with a lot of people and know what everyone is up to. I love it!

Does anyone else feel like the days are flying by? Is it the time change? I swear it should be only noon and it's almost 7:30. They say that time speeding up is a sign of getting older! YIKES

Before I know it Justin will be on his mission and the 2 year clock will be ticking. I hope the days go as fast when he is gone as they go now. Maybe those two years will seem short! I can't wait for him to get to Argentina and start to experience the joys and hardships of serving a mission! We got a letter from his mission president this week. President and Sister Argyle (like the sweater) are a fairly young couple with 4 kids. How fun to be a mission president when you are young and can still enjoy the missionaries! Not that older presidents don't, but you know what I mean. I think Justin is going to love his mission!

I really could sit here and type all day about stuff, but I really should be doing some church work. I'll be sorry tomorrow if I don't! But I have loved my few minutes of peace and quiet. Blogging is probably better than therapy. And cheaper too!

Myrtle Beach Marathon 2009

On February 14, 2009 I ran the Myrtle Beach Marathon. Running right by my side was my good friend Katrina Jayne, who by the way, did all the training runs with me too. What a great friend! We missed Kim Blevins who did most of the training with us, but got a foot injury on our 16 miler. (I'm sure she will be there next marathon!) My lifelong bestest friend, Michele Hansen came all the way from Utah to run it with us. And our other running buddy, Kelli George came with Michele from Utah and ran the half. We all crossed the finish line with no injuries, so I'm calling the day a success.

I had actually been sick for about a week and a half before the race and on Thursday, I still had a slight fever. I was so sad to think I couldn't run. But by Friday morning, I was feeling a little better and I decided to try it. I just thought if I went slow I could make it. So, that's what we did. Thank you Katrina for slowing down for me. I know she could've finished a lot faster without me, but it was so great to have her running with me the last few miles!

Thanks to Katrina for letting me have some pictures of the marathon so I could post them! We all had such a great weekend. I would say that it was a fun weekend, but there were times when it wasn't fun at all! But, the point is that running a marathon is a test in extreme endurance and is really hard at times, but there is no other feeling like crossing the finish line. And when you finish the race with friends who you have trained with and who you care about, it makes it even more awesome! The first picture is of Katrina and me before we started. And if you are asking yourself if that is a trash bag that I'm wearing, the answer is yes. Trash bags really help keep you warm and are disposable so you can toss it after a mile or two.

This is a picture of the new timing chip that they used this year. This little plastic thing records your time as you run over a computer pad at different points in the race. It is disposable so we didn't have to stop at the finish line and unlace our shoe to give it back. It sounds like a small thing, but right after 26.2 miles, the last thing you want to do is unlace your shoe! We love the new ChronoTrack timing chip!

At mile 18 it started to sprinkle and by mile 20 it was pouring down rain. (and it started to get cold) So I was thrilled to see Joy and Bud at mile 20 with my jacket and a pair of dry shoes. I wouldn't have made it without my support crew!! Thanks guys! Notice that Katrina was smart and carried a plastic poncho. I guess with a temp of almost 60 degrees at the starting line, I was in denial that the weather would turn ugly.

Here are the marathon finishers! They gave us heart shaped medals because it was Valentines Day! I can't think of a better thing to do on heart day than run a marathon. Well, maybe a massage and a pedicure would've felt better, but we did go to the hot tub at the resort and pamper our sore muscles.

On to our next challenge! I think Katrina and I are going to do a duathlon in a couple of months. You run 3 then bike 17 then run another 3. Anyone want to join us? The more the merrier!

Justin's Mission Call at BYU

Watch Justin open his mission call!

Justin Gets His Mission Call!

Last night we all sat around the speaker-phone and listened while Justin and a few hundred of his closest friends opened his mission call. We were all thrilled to hear that he has been called to serve in the Argentina, Buenos Aires North Mission. My sister Jill and her family were there along with many other friends and relatives. Thanks everyone for all the good wishes and support. Justin is going to have a great mission!

The New Lauren

Here is the new haircut! We just took these pictures in our living room so her hair isn't fixed or anything, but Lauren looks so grown up with her new "do". Too bad she wasn't showing the new earrings.

She told me that all of her is brand new because she is baptized now too.

Myrtle Beach Time

We had such a fun time going to Myrtle Beach with lots of friends. We played games, we shopped, we just sat around and talked. And the big outing was taking Lauren to the mall and getting her hair cut and her ears pierced. We had lots of people with us and she felt very special with all the attention!

The day we came home (Friday, Jan 2) Lauren got baptized. It was a very special night for all of us.