My Carter The Cleaner...

I LOVE THIS KID!!! xx

Humble Pie Anyone?!?!

so remember when we did THIS???

and then we made it to HERE???

welllllll. weeee. freeeaking.WON!!!

you can also GO OVER HERE to watch the other winners....

i am still in utter shock that we won. honestly. when jason sent me the text, i about died. how awesome is this opportunity?! for the church to use "my story" to help those all over the world is truly humbling. the way that i feel is impossible to describe in words. i never would have thought that i'd "be" here. another testament to being in the right place at the right time and to doing the things that you personally know to be correct.

thanks jason and jackie! without both you and your idea, this wouldn't have happened!
xxx

"love is not a selfish need
it is not a hunger that needs to be fed
love should not exclude
it should make our lives broader
our hearts wider..."

~~~flora thompson
larkrise to candleford

"i wasn't even trying to make a joke but I guess i've always been sort of quirky, off-beat,....twisted."

~~~the office

hmmmmm. LOL
;)

Good Idea....

Deja Vu Times Twenty...

i swore that i'd NEVER do THIS again in THESE conditions but it looks like i'm going to have to take that vow back pronto. yeah. can you say anxiety?!?

this is part of the email that i got last night...

Marathon Monday in New England can offer a variety of weather conditions, and Boston has seen its share of variables throughout the years. Occasionally, New England weather can be cold and rainy in April, so runners must dress properly.

Weather conditions in Hopkinton can be very different from what you will experience in Boston once you cross the finish line. Even along the course, at the 17-mile mark (entering Newton) when crossing Route 128 and when descending Heartbreak Hill at 21.5 miles (leaving Newton), you make experience strong, cold, crosswinds. Keep in mind to factor in the wind - wind chills can significantly increase as you head towards Boston and the coast.

Protect Your Hands and Feet

As much as 30% of your body heat escapes through your hands and feet. Mittens are a better choice than gloves on colder days because your fingers will share their body heat. You can also tuck disposable heat packets into your mittens. Add a wicking sock liner under a warm fleece or wool sock, but make sure you have enough room in your running shoes to accommodate these thicker socks.

Don't Forget Your Head

About 60% of your body heat is lost through your head. Wearing a hat will help prevent heat loss, so your circulatory system will have more heat to distribute to the rest of the body. When it's really cold, wear a face mask or a scarf over your mouth to warm the air you breathe and protect your face.

so basically PLEASE pray for NO RAIN! just sun. please just sun!

xxxx

How It All Started...

Watch This...

and

Listen To This...
(it's close to 30 min btw)

Yep. CNN!!!

FIRST of all, take a LOOK at THIS. read down to minute 16 of this transcript....
and YES! the KSL story made it to the desk of Robin Meade from CNN's Morning Express! holy crap i was dying. i found it odd when i started getting emails from all over the country saying that they'd seen me on something called the morning express. then i got texts asking why i had not told them that i was going to be on CNN. wait...what?!? yeah. can you say dying and in utter shock!?! honestly though? SO COOL!
(here's her actual words)

00:16:11	Every 21 minutes our next possible leader is aborted.
00:16:39	>> She's really inspiring not only for other women but for her two kids.
00:16:45	That's why I love this story.
00:16:47	The next time you go I'm too tired to go to the gym.
00:16:54	This woman refuses to make excuses.
00:17:05	She is a single mother of two, both kids have special needs.
00:17:09	She wanted to show them great things can happen despite having a disability.
00:17:24	She is going compete in the boston marathon.
00:17:28	Good luck.
00:17:29	>>> Is shaka smart is headed into the biggest basketball of his career.

another first for my carter...

"i'd like to give my testimony. i love my family. i am thankful for my mom and dad. i love the temple. i love the book of mormon. i am glad that i got baptized. and i know that president monson is the coolest prophet ever! i love jimmer. i say these things in the name of jesus christ. amen."

if you are a parent, then you understand the feelings that come when your child has another first. yesterday i had one of those.

i have always felt nervous about when carter goes up to a microphone because i never know what is going to come out of his mouth. it's not necessarily a good or bad thing, it just makes me nervous. i worry for him that then he won't know what to say and that he will get his feelings hurt.

but lets be honest, this is MY issue, not his. i understand and get things about how cruel that this world can be. he doesn't. and slowly, little by little, i am understanding this myself and learning to let go. i know that my "protection" is only hindering him. i know.

yesterday when he said he wanted to go up and share his testimony, i said ok and that i'd go up with him. (he had NEVER done this before OR had not even asked to do it)

"no mom. i want to do it by myself."

eek. the fear set in but i listened to my inner voice that said i needed to let him go, ALONE.

"ok carter. oh i can't wait to hear it. make sure you wait your turn, ok?"

and up he went and he did AWESOME! i was so proud and of course shed some of my "happy tears". he is getting so grown up and realizing so much! he is always surprising me with things he says and does. things that he feels are important. and i see his self esteem growing which makes my panic become calm. i love it.

it was another "quickening of my spirit" day for sure!

love you carter...so much!
xxxx

Kindra and Her Jokes...

kindra..."why did the cookie go to the doctor?"
me..."why?"
kindra..."because he was feeling crumby!"
oh my lol

exactly. we're only ONE WEEK away!

"faith is believing that the universe is on our side, and that the universe knows what it's doing."

"adapt yourself to the life you have been given; and truly love the people with whom destiny has surrounded you."
~~~marcus aurelius

love this!!!

hahahahahaha

"I Want To Go To The Olive Garden"---

i know that i'm 2 months late in posting these pictures but it's been a bit chaotic around our house. between kindra's surgery and my boston "stuff", every time i sit down to put all of our pictures up, i turn into "the tomorrow" lady again! seriously...
kindra's favorite place to go is "the olive garden". i have yet to understand why but every now and then we give in. we told her that for her birthday and before her surgery, we would go. ;)
pretending to be a server...???

Kindra's Birthday Party---

the "Surgery" party---