It makes me happier

--My wood floors. When they're swept, and dusted, and washed. Which only happens about twice a month.

--Phone calls with my distant friends.

--Fall! We enjoyed the New England fall like it is photographed in National Geographic. {a later post} Ahh leaves.

--My 3 all-time-favorite students. Had them in my class every one of their high school years. Still love them even though they've long since graduated.

--Pasta. my vice. Delicious. I once ate an entire box of Mac n' Cheese. wow.

--Freshly vacuumed floors.

--A days to-do list completly checked off.

--TV. A guilty pleasure. If you haven't checked out the new "Persons of Interest" or "Once Upon a Time", do so. Just when you thought TV couldn't get better...it does.

--Provident Generation of America. I love that Mark has a new side job that he really loves doing. And on that note, budgeting and saving and all-things-"what are you doing with your money". Its awesome what a little information and discipline can do. Call me, we'll show you what we've found.

--Projects.

--Trips. Planning them. Taking them. Saving for them. Love them.

--Mark Lyman.

--My soft pillow at the end of the day.

--The piano.

--Music playing in my home.

Home again. Home again. Jiggity-Jig

It had been a long time since we had taken a trip out to visit our friends and family out in Utah. And although the state and I seem to have a love-hate relationship-I am always very nostalgic and sappy when I return.

The weather gave us quite a run for our money! We left in the wee hours of the morning (a habit I picked up from my mother) and headed straight into the 1st storm of the season. Getting over the Sierra's required chains; a task neither Mark nor I had ever preformed. Luckily, my mom had just given us a set of chains a week earlier so we were happy that at least we were prepared. That is, until we realized the chains we had procured from mom were the wrong size. Thankfully, there were some for sale at an astronomically high price by the chain instillation workers. But I guess we are glad that at least there were some for sale.

After an hour of learning how to get them on correctly, and only minimal paint damage when we realized we had done it wrong, we did in fact get through the 9 miles that required the chains. Another 10 hours in the relentless rain across Nevada made us more then thrilled to finally arrive. We suppose that a boat would have probably been a better mode of transportation.

Our delayed arrival resulted in a very quick rest, and then we dashed out to meet up with some of our delightful vacation buddies with whom we cruised with last year. And delightful company they are. We laughed about new stories, and reminisced about our days on the boat. And Mark and I were sly enough to entice them to "commit" to another vacation package in a years time.

The purpose of our trip was to attend one nephew's baptism and his younger brother's baby blessing. It was so fun to see the Bouches' again. They are a riot of boys in every sense of the word. Mark played go fish about 20 times, and just laughed at how funny they are.


After another spectacular trip to the BYU bookstore where we shamefully purchase the only new clothes we ever get, we joined the crowds at the stadium for the BYU vs. San Jose State game. It was a chilly night - at about 43 degrees, but there is something fabulous about sitting in the stadium with all your BYU gear, just being a fan. It really was great, and BYU gifted us with a win which was very much appreciated.


Being back on BYU campus brought in a roar of good memories and feelings. Each time we get to go I just smile thinking about my years there. 'sigh'. Anyway-it was a fabulous trip. We ate way more then we should have - but in our defense, there are so many delicious restaurants in the valley, and such little time, you just gotta cram it all in. Quite literally. Hopefully our trips will be more frequent, because quite frankly, we just really like the people there.

Because I love him...

Beach Run

It is official. I need to live by the beach. It would greatly increase my weekly miles.

This last weekend Mark and I were in Monteray for his annual Pool and Spa Convention. Our hotel was delightfuly just a stone's toss from the beach. Not only did we enjoy walking around downtown Monteray, but I enjoyed my much needed Long Distance Run. Which to most of the running world isn't that long, but being that I was coming off a "no-run" coma-my little 6 mile jaunt was spactular. Right along the surf, as the tide was coming in and the sun was rising. The mist was just perfect. The best hour spent running in my life.

Quite certain I would run more frequently if this were the trail I had to run on.

(P.S. this picture was actually taken As I was Running. Hence the blur. That's how good the running was, didn't even want to stop to take the photo)