Bun in the oven

Jared and I are happy to announce that we are having a baby! I am currently 12 weeks, the due date is set for March 10. We are so excited/nervous/grateful..... We know that are lives are about to change, but we are so excited for this new chapter to begin. I get emotional thinking about graduating college and having a baby all in the next 9 months. We planned it out pretty well, I will be done with school (have my bachelors degree) in December, therefore my last trimester I will be able to rest and nest and prepare for the little one. So far my pregnancy has been pretty good...I haven't had any morning sickness!!!! I think being sick was my biggest fear. It is definitely a journey that I am trying my best to enjoy. My body is definitely changing, but I accept those changes because I know my baby is growing and getting stronger. I am anxiously waiting to find out whether we are having a boy or a girl. We will keep you posted and up to date on our progress.

Loved this poem

While I was stumbling along stumbleupon.com I came across this poem written my a man named Steve I believe.?. Really makes you think about what your thankful for. Makes you reflect on the little things in life that we take for granted.

Im Thankful For

...the mess to clean up after a party

because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

...the taxes I pay

because it means that I'm employed.

...the clothes that fit a little too snug

because it means I have enough to eat.

...my shadow who watches me work

because it means I am out in the sunshine.

...the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot

because it means I am capable of walking.

...all the complaining I hear about our government

because it means we have freedom of speech.

...that lady behind me in church who sings off key

because it means that I can hear.

...lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing

because it means I have a home.

...my huge heating bill

because it means that I am warm.

...weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day

because it means that I have been productive.

...the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours

because it means that I am alive.

Half Marathon

Representing my junior college HARTNELL

Start Line

Jared and I ran the Utah Valley Half Marathon 2 months ago, and.....I am finally going to blog about it. Jared and I signed up for the half marathon as an incentive to keep up in shape during the winter. We did our best, but neither one of us is a die hard runner who will go run through snow and rain. (My coach would kill me if he heard that). We managed to get a few long runs under our belt before the day of the race. We had to get on a bus in provo at 3:30am and get bussed up Provo Canyon. The starting line reminded us of some post apocalyptic scene where everyone has gathered in the wilderness huddled around fire pits. The race started at 6:30. It was a beautiful run down the canyon. The slight downhill really helped too. Jared and I had planned on staying around a 10 minute mile, we ended up going with pace of the other runners and feeling good running between 9 and 9:30 pace. We both finished and ran the whole way. Jared finished about 2 minutes before me. Gosh we were both so tired! I had the happy/tired tears lol. It was a great accomplishment for Jared and I and we had so much fun training and racing together. I was very proud of Jared, beings he isn't necessarily a "runner" but I think he is hooked now.

Springville Track and Field

As most of you know I was an assistant coach for Springville High School this last season. It was a fun experience and I feel I learned a lot and formed some great relationships with the athletes. Last weekend the season came to an end at the state championships. We had quite a few qualifiers and most of them made it to finals. The weather was absolutely terrible on Friday, it was raining, windy and cold. Luckily on Saturday for finals the weather cleared up and it was beautiful. The day was suspenseful to say the least. Our fastest girl runner pulled out of the 100 meter and wouldn't be unable to compete the rest of the day due to a hamstring injury. She was suppose to be on both of the relay teams so the team realized they would have to win without her. The girls responded and performed above and beyond. With an alternate on the relays they still managed to win the 4x100 and second in the 4x400. The day was filled with exciting races and unexpected performances. By the end of the day we knew that the points for teams standing was close. The Springville girls have placed 2nd for 3 or 4 years in a row. Well not this year.....We got 1st place!!!!! I cant even explain how excited I was for these girls. I think I was more excited and emotional for these girls than I was when I placed 3rd in state, lets just say there were tears. The boys did well too, they got 2nd place, which was an amazing accomplishment. After the word got back to Springville they fire department wanted to drive the boys and girls team around town on top of the fire truck. It was awesome! Everyone pulled over and we were sitting on top of the truck screaming, o man, what a day. I was so exhausted from the two days of competition, and I didn't even run! My voice was gone, but it was so worth it. I loved, loved, loved being a part of the season, and I loved coaching these kids. They are so awesome, and I am sad it over. Hopefully I will be back next track season;)

The Echo

Twas a sheep not a lamb that strayed away

In the parable Jesus told,

A grown-up sheep that strayed away

From the ninety and nine in the fold.

And why for the sheep should we seek

And earnestly hope and pray?

Because there is danger when sheep go wrong;

They lead the lambs astray.

Lambs will follow the sheep, you know,

Wherever the sheep may stray.

When sheep go wrong, it wont take long

Til the lambs are as wrong as they.

And so with the sheep we earnestly plead

For the sake of the lambs today,

For when sheep are lost, what a terrible cost

The lambs will have to pay!

C.C Miller

Become as a Little Child

To become as a little child is not to become childish but rather to rediscover childlike attributes in yourself. Think of the the wonderful attributes of children: believing hearts, full of faith, receptive to the spirit, teachable, humble, obedient(for the most part), loving,innocent, forgiving, etc. Do we still have these attributes as adults? As I taught sunday school today I though about this, and the fact that it is harder now as an adult to posses these attributes. It may be because of life experience or the fact that we are a bit tarnished by the the world around us. Whatever it may be we can learn so so much from children. Their innocence, faith, attitude of humility, and love can be great examples to us. To posses this attributes again in our lives we must be willing to follow the example of children and have an open heart to learn. If we can become as a little child we might be able to unlock our own spiritual growth. While preparing this lesson I watched the Mormon Messages for Youth on youtube. We use a video almost every week in class, there is one for almost any subject. The video's geared towards youth were absolutely amazing. I cried during everyone I watched. The video titled Dayton's Legs was so powerful, it goes to show the type of things children and youth are capable of.

Mother's

I love the fact that today (Mother's Day) I was able to sit through three hours of church and hear three hours of wonderful stories and praise to women and mother's in general. We have the opportunity to teach Sunday school and today I chose to teach the whole lesson. We talked about women and their role in this world. We used a talk by Elder Cook called "LDS Women Are Incredible!" It's true isn't it? In fact all women are incredible. INCREDIBLE. Today I really thought about all the women in my life and what I have learned from each of them. I am so grateful to have married into a family with 6 sister! Seriously 6 wonderfully, amazing, strong, smart, talented sisters; and ONE amazing woman responsible for all of them. In our lesson today we also used some quotes from Sheri Dew's book "No One Can Take Your Place" There is a chapter titled "Are we not all Mothers?" In this chapter it talks about the amazing blessing it is to bear children and the wonderful responsibility that our Father in Heaven has given us. "Motherhood is not what is left over after our Father blessed His sons with the privilege of priesthood ordination. It was the MOST ennobling endowment He could give His daughters." I look forward to the day that I was the opportunity to be a mother with both excitement and fear. What a huge responsibility!!! When I think about responsibility and sacrifice ever mother has made it makes me so thankful and fills my heart with gratitude towards my mom and all that she has done for me and my family. I love you mom, and all the moms, and all the women who have been an influence on me in my life. Happy Mothers Day!