Chronicled.

I forgot to mention that Shi made the local newspaper.

This was the front page - luckily she was not there.

(That is the very same DMV Shi and I spent hours in way back here and again here.)

Here she is, back on page 21.

A closer look:

I think this was the one and only article all season on swimming. Boys and Girls Basketball and Wrestling are usually the highlighted sports of our trusty paper this time of year. And although it's called the PARKER Chronicle, it covers the entire school district (Castle Rock and Highlands Ranch), so it's a thrill to even have your school mentioned. 

The article stated that there were 177 participants at the A League meet, so its sort of awesome that, out of all those girls, Shi was the pictured swimmer. Perfect way to chronicle her last hurrah.

And since I'm chronicling, here's a note Mar received right before Valentine's Day:

Poetry and piece of gum. Suh-weet!

Winds of Change

This morning as I lay in bed, drifting in and out of consciousness, feeling the soreness of an impending illness in my throat (Bill was sick all last week, and although he was careful with his germs, I think the bug tracked me down -- probably didn't help putting a pen he had been using at Shi's swim meet in my mouth -- such a nasty habit), and hearing the sounds of my family getting ready for the day, I also heard the loud and fierce rushing of wind outside my window and the simultaneous rattling of my bedroom window screens with each gust (seriously so annoying). 

I'm not a fan of a windy day.

It messes your hair up. Not that that matters today, as I plan to have bedhead until the PM when I need to get ready to head to YW. Unless I am too sick to go by then.

In my need for spiritual upliftment and encouragement today, I came across this talk.

(I know it's long, but you should read it).

It was just what I needed today. I am a big believer in personal revelation. I am more and more in awe of how much we can be guided through life if we will listen and heed the promptings we receive through the Holy Ghost, however small and still. Even direction as insignificant as "search 'wind'" (on lds.org).

Things around here have been busy, so I'll give a quick run-down for history's sake.

We decided to tie quilts for each of the Laurels in our ward that will be graduating from high school this year. Our Stake holds YCL meetings for the younger Laurels on activity nights (once a month for the next 3 months), and we thought this would be a great activity for the older girls NOT going to camp. We had our first quilt-tying get-together night last Tuesday, and since I'm the little-engine-that-could (at least I must think I am), I offered to have Shilo's quilt ready to tie in time for the activity.

Let me just say that it was hard getting it together, if only because I had sparse time and low energy (a change-in-hormone-therapy story for another day... or not). 

I was a quarter yard short of one of the fabrics, and I prayed that I could still find it at the store.

I searched and asked and asked and searched for quilting frames, and the day before the activity not only did I find some, they were delivered to my door that very day.

As I felt like I was running against the wind in my efforts to git 'er done, the thought of Shi having this quilt on her bed at college to remind her of her mamita's (and YW's) love for her, kept me moving forward.

The activity was a smashing success.

It was fun to sit around and visit with these amazing girls. They loved tying the quilt, and talked excitedly about their own quilts... and school, and college, and changes happening in their lives.

The State Championship Swim Meet has come and gone.

Since Prelims were on Valentine's Day, Shi and I put together some fun packages for her team.

(The not giving any lip phrase came from last year's debacle. Reminder here.)

Results:

Shi's Medley Relay took 18th (2nd Alternate) with a time of 153:23 (school record).

She swam a 25.98 in her 50 Free,

a 1:02:91 in the 100 Back,

and her 400 Free Relay set a school record with a time of 3:43:60,

placing 17th (1st Alternate) overall.

A few people have asked her, "Did you win?"

She just smiles politely and says, "No."

Out of all CO 5A schools (60 total), and literally THOUSANDS of swimmers, only 20 girls "win," 12 of which are on relays. Only 8 individual girls "win," and all the swimmers participating in the meet have met high qualifying times and are the fastest of the fast.

Legend placed 18th overall.

Shilo's teammate Lauren (on the right of her in the above pic) took 2nd in the 50 Free and 100 Free.

She's a junior this year, so we wish her all the best in her attempt to win next year.

I am super proud of Shi.

She is, however, moving on.

The team banquet is tomorrow night (I - the self-declared little engine that could - am in charge of the end-of-year video AND the table centerpieces. I offered to do the video, but was put in charge of the decor with some tricked-out-sneaky ninja moves, as I did not sign up for it). 

Did I mention that I feel sick?

Mar made a major life-change yesterday.

(At least for a 13-year-old.)

Here is my Instagram post:

"This beautiful girl said goodbye to her long locks and hello to a pixie.

Channeling her inner Snow ;-)

Love her adventurous spirit! You are beautiful, Mar!"

When she asked me to cut it, I had no idea this is what she had in mind.

She wanted to know if she had won Taylor's last cut for most hair removed.

Uh... yeah.

I'm a little stressed for her today. 

Worried about comments... mean boys... mean girls... who knows what else.

Moms just worry, I guess.

I am excited to talk to her today to hear how it all went.

That's it. Winds of change blowing this way.

Qualified.

Just a quick post to share Shi's accomplishment this past weekend at the League Championships.

Prelims were Friday.

Shi was swimming two relays and a 50Free and 100Back.

She has been trying to get a State-qualifying time in the 50Free for the past two years.

Last year at the League meet she swam a 26.8. The qualifying time is 26 flat.

She bumped her time up to a 26.5 at one of her dual meets during this season, but I still felt that it might stay just beyond her reach.

I know what you're thinking.
(I've thought it, too.)

Half a second.

(How hard could it be to cut that off?)

I will admit I had pretty much given up hope.

That didn't stop me from giving some great tips as she and I drove to the meet together.

"Kick a tiny bit more."

"Stroke a tiny bit faster."

"Push yourself a tiny bit further."

"You can believe in yourself."

That 50Free is a highly competitive race, and 26-28 seconds seems to be the threshold for a lot of girls. This meet was the absolutely last possible time for Shi to qualify. 

She's a senior, you know (I still can't believe it).

The race began.

Shilo's start was excellent. Her streamline was superb. It was a fast heat, and it's sometimes hard to tell who finished first until you look up at the scoreboard. Shilo came in third in her heat. 

Bummer.

That thought was going through my mind when I realized that Bill was going a little cray-cray yelling something...
what was he saying?

"She did it! She got a State time!"

I had to look at the board again, try to remember what lane she was in (I actually looked for the 3rd place ranking), then register in my head what the time displayed meant.

25.88

Not only did it qualify her for State in that event, she also got to swim it in the Finals the next day.

Just to give you a little perspective, another swimmer got a 26.88 - one second slower (and pretty much what Shi swam last year) - and came in 29th. Twenty-ninth. Shilo placed 10th.

The State Championship Meet is this weekend.

I will spend much of Valentines Day at a crowded pool sitting on uncomfortable cement benches.

This could very likely be the last State swim meet I ever attend.

I love to watch Shi swim, so I will relish the moment.

At 6:15 this morning I was at the school, hanging locker tags:

Printed, cut, laminated and glitter-fied/bedazzled by me (14 total), 

assembled with love by Bill, Shi and myself.

You go, girl!

Unexpected.

I had an early morning haircut appointment yesterday. I had no idea it would result in a couple of unexpected bonuses, the first of which was a ChickFilA breakfast sandwich, hashbrowns, and OJ (since I was running home between appointments, Bill and Shi were beneficiaries as well). Thanks, Vance! As I drove home, touched by the thoughtful gesture, I wished I naturally had the ability to think of what I can do for others - I seriously have a desire, but can rarely-if-ever think of the right or perfect thing to do. It's just not one of my gifts. I'm that person always saying, "Let me know what I can do to help" vs. being able to do something needed, appreciated, or just plain flat-out nice.

The second bonus: Vance sent me a link to get free movie + dinner tickets at a nearby AMC theater that had recently been remodeled. There were only a couple days left of the free offer, so I didn't really think it was going to work out with our schedules. Amazingly, I was able to get four free tickets, and both girls AND Bill were available to go.
Impromptu midweek family night. 

We were told by the employees that this particular theater was a test of a new concept for AMC.
Home theater-style seating (reclining leather chairs)
Cafe-style food, delivered to your seat
And they have a bar (we were super excited about that - cough).

We were just super happy to try it out for FREE.

We all love these drink dispensers. So many choices, so little time.
(And awesome not to have to wait in line for a refill, although necessitating more bathroom breaks.)

The seats were nice and comfy.

The food was pretty good. Not restaurant quality, but better than fast food. We thought the seat trays were a little high, making eating a little awkward, and you have to watch the movie with the tray always in front of you (I think they should be able to store in the side of the seat or something). We also thought the packaging for the food was too big and bulky. That big box Mar has in front of her (below) had a solitary panini in it. The service was a little awkward, and we didn't know where to put our garbage when we were done. Seriously, if theaters would have more trash cans, I'm pretty sure people would use them instead of the floor. Eventually one of the employees came and took our garbage.

Critique aside, it was a super fun experience. The bathrooms had been updated, and we were all impressed with the Dyson hand-drying system on the sinks. There were 6 movies to choose from (older - but you can't complain about FREE), so I had selected the latest Thor movie, which none of us had seen. In 3D (FREE).

Thanks again, Vance!

On our trip home (on a middle-of-the-week-school-night-at-10pm), this was the temp reading on our car:

Schools were going to be on a 90-minute delay the following day.

Things couldn't have worked out better.

One little more unexpected note: Mar might be a dude Guy in the school musical. I think she wants to (they had asked her what she wanted to do). It would probably mean more stage time. She said she'll be happy either way. The girly side of her wants to wear a girly dress-up costume and have bright red lips. The entertainer in her wants to have the stage time and improve her acting skills (and possibly get to wear a mustache). I'll keep you posted.

New Beginnings.

Two Sundays ago I was sustained as a Laurel Advisor in Young Women. Yippee! I am super excited. Not to say I didn't love being the Building Scheduler last year (cough, cough), but it had much less face-to-face interaction and was much more time consuming than I had anticipated. I do have a new appreciation for that little calling! (I am still a Ward Historian, but hope to be relieved of that duty allow someone else the opportunity after the history for 2013 is signed, sealed, and delivered in March. This is my second year, and I've enjoyed the calling, but feel slightly overwhelmed at my abundantly scheduled calendar.)

The following Tuesday was New Beginnings. 

The theme was WHOOOOO Are You?

Such cute decorations (tons of stuffed owl favors made by the girls).

Such cute girls.

We have awesome young women in our ward and I am thrilled to be hanging out with them again.

Mauri found out on Saturday that she made the cast for the Spring Musical at her school.

95 kids tried out, and they cast the max they could at 65. Mar is a Doll. And I'm not just saying that because I am her mother (wink). That's better than a Guy (some girls will need to fill in), and it's better than the crew (her least-desired-but-preferred-over-not-participating option).

Practices started yesterday and will pretty much be after school every day (minus Spring Break) until show time May 1-3. She will be busy (I've already had to reschedule her ortho appointment 3 times due to "required" auditions and meetings).

You're going to be great, Mar!

I'm not supposed to say anything, or get Shi's my hopes up, but Shilo spotted her name on a BYU directory yesterday. She wonders if it means she got in. It was only posted for an hour or two, then all the kids-of-incoming-freshman-age were no longer listed. Weird. I'm pretty confident it means what I think it means, since Britta spotted her name on a BYU directory before receiving an official acceptance letter. I'm feeling super excited for Shi (and Cheyenne, and Bailey, and McKenna... if the list means what I think it means)!

Nice job, girls!

Mar was accepted to the CiMS chapter of the National Junior Honor Society.

Since she missed the "How to Apply" meeting, and her application was submitted on the last possible day with only a few pointers on her essay from her mamita, this is good news.

A little more money... another schedule... it's all good, right?

I'm proud of you, Mar!

Today I feel grateful. 

For good kids who want to be good.

For sleeping pups.

For a flexible orthodontist.

For a hardworking husband.

For an opportunity to be with awesome young women.

For small but significant answers to prayers.

Addicted.

Just spotted these a few weeks ago here in CO. 

Mar reminded me that she tried to get me to buy the MONSTER bag at Costco the last time we visited UT. I was so wrapped up in wedding stuff (or was it anniversary stuff?), that I brushed her off. Little did I know what soft, chewy, fruity deliciousness I was missing.

Now I'm lucky to spot the tiny bags in the Asian aisle at Walmart (Target has the tropical flavors, but I prefer these).

I've had three bags in two days. But I DID share. A couple.

I can't stop.