Adventure Is Just Over The Hill

I’ve been waiting for the perfect day to use my free pass to go snowboarding. This past Saturday was it. The sun was blazing all day. If I knew I wouldn’t be falling a lot I would have hit the hill in only a jacket instead of my big thick coat. But because I’m still a beginner I decided to be safe rather than sorry. Looking back on the day I totally could have just worn a jacket…I’m getting pretty dang good. Even Gordon said he was impressed with my improvements from last year. It’s hard to perfect a hobby when you only practice once or twice a year (and when you’re paying for two it can be very expensive, especially when you can’t just go to any resort).

We had a blast up at Snowbasin. It’s just over the hill (aka mountain) and less than 30 minutes away from our house. One day when we’re rich we’ll have season passes so we can go whenever we want! The best part about the day was being able to forget about everything. Life has been a bit hectic for us. Being able to put all of my energy into perfecting my carving and teach my nephew how to not fall was wonderful.

Proof that Skyler was up and going for a little bit...then he biffed it.

On the way home we decided to keep the adventure running high. Gordon had mentioned ice fishing on the way up to ‘basin. We passed Pineview on the way there and on the way home Gordon “dared” us to walk on the ice that had formed on the dam. Walking on ice is something Gordon fears. He’s done it plenty of times before and each time he doesn’t like. Skyler and I had never done it before so we made a small pit stop to walk on the frozen dam. Gordon and Sky went much further than I did. I was deathly afraid of falling in, despite the fact that there were a couple of people fishing that were perfectly fine I still was full of fear. I also saw the ice separating from the ground…scary! After I saw that I decided it would be a good idea to plant my feet on the ground. Gordon and Sky made fun of me. Whatever.

Yes, that's Gordon beyond the sign

Almost in the middle of the dam

and he doesn't even look nervous!

Me, on the other hand, couldn't even pretend that I wasn't stiff as a board

That little speck is me waiting for the boys to decide they had enough fun making fun of me

See the ice seperating from land...no way am I gonna get stranded!

This has nothing to do with the dam or snowboarding but it's the Ogden waterfall all frozen. Pretty amazing!

Each of us had an adventurous day. We even have the goggle tan lines to prove it…pretty hot!

Faith or Fear

Lately I’ve been feeling like my life is on shaky ground. The shakiness stems back to my job and lack of job security (Gordon’s too). The other health educator who works for my same division has found herself a new job so now I have double the work and still no word if I will have a job after June. I think about this constantly. Lately I’ve had a lot of fear in my thoughts. I’ve only been thinking about all the bad things that could happen. Not a good thing to do…pretty much a downer. It shouldn’t surprise me that again in church the lesson was meant for me.

Arrienne gave a very simple and much needed lesson on faith this past Sunday. She told us about her grandma. Her grandma thought there were two emotions: faith or fear. If you went to her with a problem she would ask you first if you had prayed about it, then if you had faith or fear. She heard this ‘faith or fear’ question throughout her life. Are you going to be positive about the situation or negative?

You can’t just say you have faith. Saying you have faith doesn’t mean you have it. You have to exercise that faith. That was the other main idea Arrienne reminded us to do. She compared exercising faith to exercising your body. You can't just think about going for a walk and get the benefits, you actually have to get up and go on the walk. You can't just think about having faith, you have to build up your faith by your actions. That is something I need to work on constantly. Especially in times of trial. It takes me a little while to remember that I have to do my part and then He will do his.

I am so blessed to have a Heavenly Father who hears and answers my prayers. That lesson was meant for me. I need to exercise my faith more in everything that I do. By doing so everything will work out as He intends.

40 days...

I’m a big eater. I love food. I love food so much that I tend to overeat and make myself sick. However, I consider myself a very healthy eater. I know too much to eat crap food all day everyday. I read each nutrition label before I buy or eat food. I snack on fruit or veggies when I feel that urge for something sweet. Even though I know too much to eat crap food everyday it would seem like I know nothing about nutrition on the weekends. Weekends are hard for me. We always have a frozen pizza in the freezer (a good frozen pizza, not the $.99 any ingredient flies kind) or if we’re feeling rich we’ll go out to eat. When I do that I get whatever I want…big ol’ fat hamburger and fries, milkshake, Greek food, anything greasy and bad for me! Greasy = very sick Jessica.

All of this brings me to Lent. 40 days of preparation for Christ’s resurrection. I’m not Catholic. I am an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My Dad’s side of the family is Catholic as well as some of my very good friends. Many of my family members and friends participate in Lent. Of course they know all the “rules” that go along with Lent, but I will only be following a couple (again, I’m not Catholic; I’m just doing this for me). First item on my Lent list is no overeating. I tend to forget that I am in control. There are many times that my stomach is telling my brain that I’m satisfied, but I stuff in a few more bites, and in return, pain. Now I’m not going to be one of those nutrition people that take the fun out of going out to eat and never eat another French fry again (that’s just punishment). Instead I’m going to sustain 40 days from these foods and then introduce them very slowly and on occasion into my diet. Portion size is also part of this Lent item. Smaller sizes make for a happier and healthier me. I will also sustain from meat on Fridays. This is a Lent rule that I figure would be fairly easy for me to follow because I rarely eat meat. I am a fan of vegetarian “meat” products. I’m still getting my protein, just not all the fat…awesome! Fish is exempt from this rule which is great for me because I’m a big fish eater.

So what do I want to get from my 40 days of Lent…the reward of health (yes very lame, but to me very important and very worth 40 days).

Definitely Not A Luxury Vehicle

No doors, no windshield, no cup holders, no A/C, no airbags...

I don't understand the appeal of this hobby Gordon and his friends have of spending thousands and thousands of dollars to build a truck just to destroy it. Boys are strange.

We Missed You!

A "Hillbilly Weekend" is all I have heard about for the past few weeks. Gordon's best friend lives in St. George. He has been wanting to take a weekend to go visit him for quite some time so when his friend Rick called and wanted to plan a trip down to see him he was ecstatic!

Gordon is far from a hillbilly (or at least I hope he is). However, some of his hobbies are not. He loves to go wheelin' in Toys (and by Toys I mean Toyotas). He also just bought his first gun which goes great with his concealed weapons permit he got awhile back. This weekend was full of both of those hobbies...wheelin' and shootin'.

Whenever I talked to him this weekend his voice was full of excitement. He needed some time to enjoy life. He's been so busy with working two jobs, home improvements, and taking care of me and dogs that he needed some time for himself.

I did miss him terribly. I always do when he leaves. I also always seem to keep myself very busy while he's gone too. I started on a very big project this weekend...painting my house! Lucky for me I have a great mom and sister that pitched in some time to help! I'm pretty sure I would still be painting my living room right now without them. I still have A LOT left to do, but what I have done I love! It's amazing what a little color can do to a white house.

In between the mix of my project I was able to go to dinner a couple of times with my family to celebrate the big birthday that was coming up. Skyler had not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 birthday celebrations in his honor. What a spoiled turd. My favorite celebration was Friday night with dinner at Prairie Schooner. Only my parents had been there so we were all excited to pretend we were pioneers and eat in a covered wagon. The food was stupendous! The birthday boy got to order whatever he wanted so he got steak and lobster. Did I say he was spoiled?! He never fails to order the most expensive thing on the menu.

Along with home improvements and parties, I did something I never thought I would do. I stayed at my house alone! Whenever Gordon has been gone in the past I have either stayed at my mom's or had someone stay with me. Maybe it's because our apartment was in the ghetto, but I wasn't scared to stay by myself this time. I had the dogs for protection (haha) and a movie to cry myself to sleep with (watching P.S. I love you was not a great idea...especially because I hadn't heard from Gordon to tell me if he had made there safely, but in the middle of the movie he called). I can't give myself too much credit though. Last night I stayed at my mom's but only because we watched a movie and it was really late when it was over (and a little bit because I didn't want to go home to a dark house). I still impressed myself and Gordon.

Well Gordon, I'm glad you are on your way home right now. We missed you very much...especially Briggs. He has been moping around all weekend. He stares out the windows in anticipation that any car or person that is outside is you. I caught him laying on your shorts staring out the window. I don't know who will be more excited to see you, him or me! Let's say me...I love you!

Thirteen Candles

It finally happened...Skyler turned '13' today. It's a day that his mom, my mom, and I have dreaded since he was born. It's all starting...the girls, the coolness of only your friends not your family, caring what you look like, and physical changes...we have all been there (maybe not all of us were girl crazy, but I sure was boy crazy). Becoming a teenager is one of life's most exciting times, or at least that's what you think when you become one.

I'm excited for all the experiences and opportunities ahead of Skyler. I'm also very nervous for them too. He continues to be a gentleman. He also continues to become more handsome. That's what makes me nervous. The girls loves him. And he loves the girls. Scary!

He has great friends. We all know that friends make or break you. He's been very fortunate to have chosen to make friends with boys that are good boys. They include him in a lot of activities that otherwise he would not be able to participate in such as mutual every Wednesday night, and boyscout camp outs. They all seem to have the same standards. That's very important.

So as I tear up at the thought of what's to come I know that he will make correct decisions and become the young man he's suppose to be.

Happy Birthday to a strong spirited, smarty pants, football star, fun-loving THIRTEEN year old boy! I love you very much!

Putting Wal-mart Out Of Business One Coupon At A Time!

I consider myself a bargain shopper. I rarely buy anything unless it is on sale. So when my mother-in-law invited me to go to an activity her Relief Society was putting on about how to use coupons I couldn’t pass. I have heard about these classes and how people that incorporate what’s taught pay $1.00 for groceries that should have cost them $200+. Although skeptical, I went in with an open mind and willingness to at least try it.

During the class the gal that taught it had receipts that showed her paying under $5 for items that totaled much, much more than that. She also had a table full of items she had just purchased that week which included items she received for free or was getting money back for buying. You would think that would have been the selling point, HOWEVER for me it was a comment made by someone who has done the coupon thing faithfully. She said “I don’t even shop at Wal-mart anymore! I get better deals by using my coupons. They make Wal-mart’s prices look expensive!” I HATE Wal-mart! I do not shop there. I will do everything I can to stay away from that store and get others to do the same. In college I even did a report on how evil Wal-mart is. I suppose I know too much to shop there.

I've began to share the coupon concept with others. Wal-mart shopper or not, saving money is a wonderful thing.