Joy in the Morning.

Bill and Lolo are headed off to Youth Conference, but not without a little last-minute stress.

You may (or may not) remember that Bill spent Wednesday - Saturday of last week on a High Adventure with some of the YM in our ward. He is still recovering. We were all exhausted last night, so planned to arise early this morning to get a few minor details put together before they headed out this morning.

On the agenda for Youth Conference today:

driving

hiking

caving/spelunking

more driving

I'm sure there is much more going on, but I have not been privy to the plans, mainly due to time constraints (meaning Bill and I have not had a second to stop and chat for a long, long time). I do know that Bill was worried about his still-recovering-from-a-four-day-26-mile-hike-less-than-a-week-ago+almost 50-year-old knees. 

I got up at 5:30am to help pack lunches, toss around a few {object lesson} ideas with Bill for his assigned workshop on Friday, and gather gear. With 20 minutes before they had to leave, he asked me to put together a handout (after I had shown him an idea I had recently seen on Pinterest). Apparently he thinks I am a handout miracle worker. 

He needed 40, and could I print them on cardstock... please?

So I literally threw this baby together.

I didn't have time to check with Lolo for what apps kids use most these days, so who knows if this is even current (oops, forgot Google+), but Bill was appreciative of my efforts. I don't think I've ever made 40 handouts, on cardstock (you have to print one-at-a-time on our printer), in 20 minutes (okay, it maybe took me 30), all while Lolo expressed anxiety over having a headache and being late. 

It was stressful.

I just kept thinking about how, after my 10-hour work day yesterday, and after Bill and Lolo finally got on the road today, Mar and I could go back to bed. Chillax. Sit around and watch the rain. Joyously have the day to do... nothing. It helped get me through.

Bill and Shi pulled out of the driveway at 6:45.

I am super excited to hear how it goes and to see all the pics. I know they will have an inspiring, joyous time.

As for me, I am thankful for a couple of days with few commitments.

I am basking in the calm (at last) of an overcast, wet morning.

I am appreciating the beauty of the earth through Bill's pics of last week's hike.

Feeling joyous.

Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat.

It's been a bit of a Girls Week.

Bill went on a 26-mile high adventure backpacking trip through Maroon Bells with the boys in our ward, and was gone from Wednesday to Saturday.

I worked Wednesday until around 3, came home, took a quick nap, then headed to a youth temple trip with Mar and Lolo (my I-wish-I-had-thought-of-that-sooner newish nickname for Shi).

Thursday, with renewed I-think-I-can-little-engine-that-could energy, I WALKED. 3.5 miles. I determined a couple of things along the way. 1) I need new shoes, and 2) I need to commit to get back into an exercise/walking routine. It's been much, much too long. (Getting shin-splints from walking is ridiculous.) 

When I got home, I woke up the girls and we mowed and edged the lawn, picked up doggie poo, did some weed killin', then cleaned ourselves up and headed out to do some shopping for school. I love being with those girls. We had to be back in time for Mar to hit her voice lesson and a song practice for Sacrament Meeting. Afterwards we ran to Target, since it's a little more local (we don't go that far to shop anyway) and we didn't have time for it earlier in the day.

On Friday I went back to the temple with my friend Marci, came home, napped (can I just say that a nap is the best thing ever?), then Mar and I headed to do a little more shopping (I needed new shoes, remember, and she found a totally-awesome-and-amazing Pokemon shirt), then we met up with Lolo at Chili's for dinner.

Since we had some extra time before Mar and I hit Guys and Dolls, performed by locals at the theater in our town, we decided to check out some shops nearby (there is a shop called Simpler Times that we've both wanted to check out). We quickly discovered that there was a WINE WALK going on, so all those fun little shops were loaded with people holding wine glasses, lined up to get more wine at each store. We decided to check out those shops another day, and headed across the parking lot to Goodwill (no wine walk there) to see if they had the book Matched. Mar and I have the other two books in the series, but had borrowed the first book and were looking to complete our collection.

Nope, they didn't have it, but they had a table that would work great for the craft/sewing room we are putting together. Nice.

Then we headed to the Pace Center for the play.

Mar's theater teacher, Mr. Rivet (pronounced Ri-vay), had been cast as Nathan Detroit, and she was super excited to see him perform. When the play started, we realized that the girl playing the role of Sarah Brown was Shelby, who had played Belle in the high school play Beauty and the Beast years back (circa 2010). (Reminder here and here)

For the Things I've Learned file: 

the worst row of seats at the PACE Center is D.

Always select E and above, G is probably the best.

I love a good Broadway-quality play as much as the next gal, but there is something to be said about watching people you know (or somewhat know... or at least live amongst) perform. There's more of a sense of community. It's a great opportunity for everyday people who love the performing arts to share their talents. It serves a higher purpose. None of the actors in this play were paid for their time and effort. All of the proceeds go to our local task force. I'll take that any day over the best sets, costumes, and talent money can buy (all to put a buck into someone's pocket). And, to my untrained, unskilled, unassuming eyes, ears, and mind, the plays/musicals, whether Broadway-quality or less, offer the same story in the end.

Mar wanted a role-reversal pic with Mr. Rivet after the show.

(Mr. Rivet in costume, Mar not)

(a few months earlier: Mar in costume, Mr. Rivet not)

Mar and I couldn't stop singing on the way home (Guys and Dolls mingled with Les Miserables).

I think there are some great messages in this little ditty:

I dreamed last night I got on the boat to heaven

And by some chance I had brought my dice along.

And there I stood, and I hollered, "Someone fade me!"

But the passengers, they knew right from wrong.

And the people all said, "Sit down!

Sit down, you're rockin' the boat!"

The people all said, "Sit down!

Sit down, you're rockin' the boat!

'Cause the devil will drag you under

By the sharp lapels of your checkered coat.

Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down,

Sit down, you're rockin' the boat!"

I sailed away on that little boat to heaven

And by some chance found a bottle in my fist.

And there I stood, Nicely passin' out the whisky,

But the passengers were bound to resist.

And the people all said, "Beware!

You're on a heavenly trip."

The people all said, "Beware,

Beware, you'll scuttle the ship!

And the devil will drag you under

By the fancy tie 'round your wicked throat.

Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down

Sit down, you're rockin' the boat!"

As I laughed at those passengers to heaven,

A great big wave came and washed me overboard.

As I sank, oh I hollered, "Someone save me!"

That's the moment I woke up, thank the Lord!

And I said to myself, "Sit down!

Sit down, you're rockin' the boat!"

I said to myself, "Sit down!

Sit down, you're rockin' the boat!

'Cause the devil will drag you under

With a soul so heavy, you'd never float!

Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down

Sit down, you're rockin' the boat!"

(We could use more people saying "Sit down!" these days instead of joining in the capsizing of the boat, don't you think?)

On Saturday the girls and I cleaned house, I worked at the salon, did some grocery shopping, then headed home to get dinner for the missionaries that evening. I hadn't heard a lick from Bill since Wednesday. He called around 4:15 to say he finally had cell service and was on his way home from Glenwood Springs... 3 hours away. The elders were scheduled to come at 6:30, so I asked Bill if they could still eat dinner with the girls and me. He thought they could, so I quickly finished up the preparations.

When the elders showed up at 6:30 to find Bill still gone, they told me they were not allowed to have dinner with us without him home, so they obediently left with a plan to come back at 7:30. Bill arrived home at 7:20, unloaded his car, and took the quickest shower-after-a-sweaty-hot-stinky-smelly-backpacking-trip of his life. Our reheated hamburgers and homemade fries still tasted great. (I just have to mention that for the longest time we've had elders that are somewhat picky eaters or on a diet - some won't eat sweets, some won't eat bread, some won't eat certain vegetables. I try to make things they will like, but still have felt that whatever I served wasn't completely satisfactory. The elders last night were gems. They had seconds. They finished off the jello salad. They seemed to enjoy the whole meal and were appreciative. Love that!)

We were all exhausted by the time we went to bed last night.

We have special circumstances for church today because our building has to be inspected for a "recall" (for lack of a better word) on the installation of the sound system. I guess many of the buildings built around the time our building was may have had the sound system installed with nails instead of screws, and someone somewhere had a speaker from the ceiling fall on them. We are meeting only for Sacrament Meeting at the Stake Center with another ward. Should be interesting.

It's been a better week. I've had more energy and feel that I accomplished a lot of little tasks that were overwhelming me. Two trips to the temple (and a 3.5 mile walk) were also very beneficial. Things are looking up.

ETTE Mode.

I've mentioned to a few people close to me that I've been in ETTE mode lately.

Kind of like my 8-year-old hydrangea.

It has never bloomed since being planted. Not once.

Each year I think I might just yank it up and toss it.

I'm even a little surprised it keeps coming up in the spring, year after year.

I have hope, however, that someday it will fill the measure of its creation.

(I'll probably need to carefully dig it up and plant it somewhere more fertile. A little nurturing couldn't hurt, either.)
I wonder if a plant that hasn't bloomed for so many years will EVER bloom?

It's surviving.

This summer a neighbor gave us a hydrangea plant in a pot as a thank you.

It had a couple of blooms on it, but I wasn't sure they would last (our 8-year-old plant had a bloom when we purchased it). I put the pot on my front step (so thrilled to have some flowers there) and inwardly committed to water it regularly. At least I would try.

This beautiful plant has bloomed and bloomed and bloomed.

I haven't always been the best at watering - a couple of times I found it wilted and dying, and hoped to revive it by quickly giving it the water it was in desperate need of (thus the brown edges on some of the leaves). It has perked up every time and continued to produce beautiful flowers.

It is thriving.

I've found some ETTE strength through listening to and rereading these talks (circa 2008):

"Hope Ya Know, We Had a Hard Time."

You Know Enough

Trying to be steady and patient.

Looking forward to thriving again soon.

In a Pool So Blue.

Over in the meadow, 

In a pool so blue,

Lived an {old} mother fish 

And her little fishes two.

"Swim!" said the mother;

"We swim!" said the two.

So they swam and they swam, 

In the pool so blue.

The day after we returned from UT (Tuesday), Mar had prelims.

She hadn't been in the pool for over a week, so my encouraging words were "Do your best."

She had moved up an age category from last year (now in 13-14), but since the birthday cutoff date is June 1st, any girls that turn 15 after that still swim the 13-14 age group. (This was always a nice benefit for Shi, who has a June 13th b-day.) 

The other added burden bonus for Mar in moving up is that she swam lengthier events: a 100Back & Fly (v a 50), and a 200IM instead of a 100. Luckily, she still had the opportunity to swim a 50Free in nearly every meet she attended, which felt like a gimme.

In prelim/final meets, you have to qualify in the top 6 at prelims to place in the top 6 at Championships.

Mar was swimming the 50Free, 100Back, and 200IM.

She placed in the top 6 for her 50Free (way to go, Mar!), and placed 7th in the 100Back and 200IM.

Despite her lack of practice the week prior and her fear of being ultra-sluggish, she pulled it off with grace and style.

The next morning (Wednesday) I attended Shi's prelims.

Our summer league has two days of prelims, dividing up age categories to make the length of the meets as equal as possible, but it doesn't help parents who end up attending both days anyway. Like me.

Shi was also swimming the 50Free, 100Back, and 200IM.

She was also a little worried about her lack of pool time (the whole season), but managed to place a respectable 1st in each event she swam. Nice job, Shi!

The Championship meet was the following Saturday (July 12th).

This could very well be the last competitive event I ever see Shilo swim.

Weird.

(I thought it might be our last swim meet EVER, as Mar had alluded to not swimming in the ensuing years, but after some success at Championships, she's decided to leave that door open.)

Mar took time off of her 50Free, but placed 6th overall. The difference between 4th and 6th place was .2 of a second, so it was a good, close race. She also cut 6 seconds off of her prelim backstroke time. 

That's amazing.

Here are the girls' IM stories via pictures.

Mar took 7th at prelims, so was seeded to win the consolation heat, swimming in lane 3.

The fly was first. I was a little worried that Mar was so behind after the first stroke. She's a good flyer, but some of the other girls were smokin'.

Next was backstroke. 

Mar gained on some of the girls, but you can still see how far ahead the girl on her right is.

Then came breaststroke (which, btw, Mar never competed in all season).

Freestyle is last. Mar won by over half a lap, taking 9 seconds off of her prelim time.

You go, girl.

Mar had a better time than the girl that placed 6th in the Championship heat, BUT she still placed 7th (same with backstroke). In one of those events she actually could have placed 5th, based on her time.

That's how the cookie crumbles.

Shi's IM story is a bit less intense.

Her best strokes are back and free, with breast being her "slow" stroke. A coach told her once it could be her best stroke if she could get her timing down. She never had enough desire to work on it much, and still has quirky timing. As long as it's not DQ-able, she doesn't care.

Shi won handily.

A good final personal event to end her pursuit of swimming excellence.

(I was going to call it a swim career, but didn't think career was the quite the right word.)

Mar loves a new t-shirt.

Someday I will make a fun quilt out of all those t-shirts I have forked over good money for.

Both girls began and ended the meet with relays.

Here's Mar's 200Free relay team:

 (FYI - Alex, middle right, is one of those 15-year-olds-swimming-the-13/14-age-group, and Rachel, the girl on the far right is 12 - "swimming up" for the relay.)

A word about Mar's suit:

I am cheap. I do not apologize (most times). Because, as previously mentioned, Mar alluded to not swimming next year, I figured we could squeeze one more season out of this tired, 3-year-old suit, rather than spend $60 on a new one. Mar did not complain ONCE about having an old suit. I love that about her. We did, however, have our fingers crossed that this baby wouldn't disintegrate at the meet. I have seen suits do that. There were visible signs of lycra rot, but it held out. Reminds me of this awesome saying (President Hinckley shared once upon a time):

Use it up,

Wear it out,

Make it do

Or do without.

We obviously couldn't have "done without" (all of Mar's practice suits had recently rotted out and she only had what we call "fashion" suits), so I count it as a tender mercy.

Here's Shi's 200Free relay team:

Ahhh..... the end of a meet always feels awesome.

Mar's results: (2) 7th place, (1) 6th place medal, (2) 3rd place medals (for her relays).

Shi's final-swim-meet-of-the-foreseeable-future results: (5) 1st place medals (2 for relays).

(I'm sure there are a few girls happy to see Shi go - cough, cough.)

I am so proud of both of these beauties.

That evening the team held the end-of-season banquet.

The coaches get together to make "Paper Plate Awards" - Shi had to work the day they wrote them (and thought some of them were ultra-corny), but told Mar hers was the Rainbow Hair Award. We decided it would be fun to spray some color in her hair for the banquet, so Mar dug through the Halloween box and found some funky purple spray. It actually looked pretty darn trendy, in a fun, non-permanent way (wink).

It was a good season, but I'm not sad it's over.
There are exciting new things ahead for Shi, and Mar is such a talented gal, there are lots of options.
Can't wait to see where these amazing girls go!

P.S. Darling newborn pics + birth story of sweet Scarlett here.