Alive and kickin!

Yes we are alive. Alive and well. This month (mainly the past couple of weeks) have been uber crazy. I have been working a lot. I think this is good except now I am never really home. I have wanted a day job for so long now that I have it I am like, "Ok, now I have to find time somewhere to do all the stuff I used to do during the day." My house-not so clean. My social life-on hold. My husband-miss him lots.

Speakin of which, my hubby is keeping himself super busy. He decided to keep the doors open on JD's Motors. He decided to change the direction of what he was doing. He is now running and automotive maintenance repair shop! I must say this venture is turning out well. I get so excited for him. I am so happy that he has found something he loves.

So that is what is goin on. Sorry the blog can't be longer, but I am tired from work and John is going to be home any minute and I want to see him and spend time with him! (after all why wouldn't a gal not want to hang out with such a hottie?)

I think I will forever boycott the BSC until they make changes!!!

I have lived out of Utah for awhile now, but my blood still bleeds red!!! I was way proud of the Utes this year!!! They are the best team in the nation forget the whole stupid formula of the BCS!!! I won't vent anymore, Rick Reilly did it for me! (Got the following article from Eliza's page)

Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Life of Reilly

OKLAHOMA AND FLORIDA CAN BATTLE FOR THE BCS. BUT WE'VE ALREADY CROWNED THE TRUE NATIONAL CHAMP.

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By Rick Reilly

The Utes trampled Alabama to complete a perfect season. How are they not national champions?

Some gifts people give are pointless: Styling mousse to Dick Vitale. An all-you-can-eat card to Kate Moss. The BCS Championship given to Oklahoma or Florida.

It means nothing because the BCS has no credibility. Florida? Oklahoma? Who cares? Utah is the national champion.

The End. Roll credits.

Argue with this, please. I beg you. Find me anybody else that went undefeated. Thirteen-and-zero. Beat four ranked teams. Went to the Deep South and seal-clubbed Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. The same Alabama that was ranked No. 1 for five weeks. The same Alabama that went undefeated in the regular season. The same Alabama that Florida beat in order to get INTO the BCS Championship game in the first place.

FIND ME ANYBODY ELSE THAT WENT UNDEFEATED. THIRTEEN-AND-ZERO. BEAT FOUR RANKED TEAMS. WENT TO THE DEEP SOUTH AND SEAL-CLUBBED ALABAMA IN THE SUGAR BOWL.

Yeah, that's how it is now in the shameful, money-grubbing world of college football. If you're Florida and you beat Alabama, you get a seat in the title game. If you're Utah, you get a seat on your sofa.

Hey, remind me: What do they give out for one of those BCS things anyway? It's been so long since I cared. Something from Sears? This is the sixth year in the past 10 that the title has been in dispute under this cash-grab, fan-dis, monopoly that the BCS has created. Which is why the title game just doesn't matter anymore. It's like being named Miss Ogallala. Or Best Amish Electrician.

Just take a look at the teams that think they're worthy of being called national champs:

USC? Great year. Wonderful. Let's all go to SkyBar and celebrate. But it lost to Oregon State, a team Utah beat.

Texas? You think beating Ohio State by a nubby three points gets you the title? The Big Ten was 1-6 in bowl games! That's like pinning David Spade!

Florida and Oklahoma? They lost. Utah never did.

So that's it. Utah is the national champion. The Utes should probably have two now, actually. They went undefeated in 2004, too, and their coach still thinks they were the best team in the land. Smart fella named Urban Meyer. Coaches Florida now.

By the way, we're calling our title the "national" championship because it actually includes the whole nation —all 119 Division I schools—unlike the BCS, which includes 66. Yeah, the BCS somehow eliminated the middleman—the NCAA. The conferences these schools play in take their dump trucks full of cash straight from the TV networks and fairness can go suck a lemon.

	The Utes won't get the trophy they really deserve, so we gave them one of our own design.

Do me a favor. Call Ohio State president Gordon Gee and ask him why he won't support a playoff. He's one of the most powerful presidents in the NCAA. He could get it done. If he says anything other than, "We don't want to share the loot" then you know he's lying his bow tie off.

"This is not how we normally do things in America," says Utah president Michael Young. "In America, quality usually wins, not conspiracy. And there's a reason people usually enter into a conspiracy. It's money. You make money doing it. And those that are in on the conspiracy want to stay in and keep everybody else out."

Sure, BCS blowhards will hand you schlock about how the college football season is like a playoff, how it's an elimination tournament every week. Really? Well, how come Florida and Oklahoma weren't eliminated with their losses? Utah ran the table, beat everybody set in front of them, including Ala-damn-bama in no less than the Sugar Bowl, and gets the bagel.

Oh, by the way? It was Utah's eighth straight bowl win, the nation's longest streak. Among the losers during that run? Let's see USC, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, and now the legendary Houndstooth Hats.

"What else do we have to prove?" asks Utah's magical quarterback, Brian Johnson. Good question. He and the Utes essentially whipped Alabama at home. Handed Nick Saban a garlic necklace to wear the entire off-season. Stepped on his team's neck 21-0 in the first three possessions and never looked back. Let's see. Who was it that was losing to Alabama until nearly six minutes into the fourth quarter? Oh, yeah. Florida.

What, you want the Utes to win a spelling bee? Make a prize-winning souffle? Knock up Angelina Jolie? What?

It just slays me. It really does.

Call Myles Brand, president of the asleep-at-the-wheel NCAA, and ask him if he and his greedy presidents are going to stand in defiance of president-elect Barack Obama, who wants a playoff and wants it yesterday.

Ask Brand what he's going to do if Obama starts asking the Justice Department to look into anti-trust hearings against the BCS. The Utah Attorney General has already launched an investigation into that very thing. Or ask him what he'll do if Obama asks the Department of Education to consider withholding federal funds from these schools that have entered into this secret club called the BCS. You don't think playing in the title game means millions in general-fund donations for a school? That's as unfair as anything Title IX fought against.

Until all these people do the right thing, I'll be celebrating with the true national champions—the undefeated, untied Utah Utes. (Our new slogan: Utahk about a team!)

Lemonades for everybody!

Throwin in the towel and givin it to God!

I am now a few weeks into my new job and I love it! For those of you that don't know I got a job as an Adolescent Counselor. My job can get draining but I find it is very rewarding. I love helping teens realize their potential and show them the control they have over their own choices!

My whole life I have always loved counseling people and trying to help them. I love being that friend that people can talk to.

A very hard lesson I have been learning the last few months is realizing that some people are not ready for help. It is usually best if people ask for your help. That is usually what I do but when it comes to family sometimes I want to rescue them and just show them how better things can be. But it only causes heartache! The worse is when they ask for help and then you realize they only want enabling and not actual help. I am sure I have enabled him once in awhile but it's only hurting him and me!

I have realized it is easy to work with addicts and help them find better coping skills but when it comes to someone you are super close with it doesn't always work out the same. It's really easy to recognize certain behavior and patterns in clients. It's easy to tell them the hardest part is first admitting you have a problem. What I didn't know is how hard it is to admit that someone you love and care about so much is an addict. Then it is really hard to realize that even though I might have the skills to help someone else I might not be the person that can help the one I love.

The reason it is probably so difficult is because of all the various emotions I feel. I have felt empathy, sympathy, apathy, confusion, frustration, anger, sorrow, irritation, and it goes on and on. I have thought about getting help to do an intervention. But then I am struck with the realization I would be the only one trying to intervene! So I have pretty much been pouring my heart out and offering so much. But I have been met with nothing but heartache. Then I am left asking myself when is enough, enough?

I am only one person. So is it evil of me to wash my hands of it? I have been pushed into a corner and I am throwing in the towel. It breaks my heart but there is nothing more I can do. And that is just it. My trust and faith need to go where it should have been all along. God our Lord and Savior is the Almighty Counselor! Who am I? Who am I compared to Him? Even though my heart is breaking right now I know through God all things can mend.

Running this year in Christ!

HAPPY 2009!!!! It is insane that we are now in 2009. There are many days when it feels like I just got out of the Army - which is now practically three years ago.

I am so excited for this year. Lucy(my niece) turned one today! I can't believe she is already a year old. My sister in-law is going to have another baby in August! I am so excited for another adorable nephew/niece! My other niece turns one in April! John's cousin and his wife will be welcoming there first baby in April! I just love babies. Not just because they are so freaking adorable but because they are at the start of their lives!!! And when you hold a baby in your arms it is such an overwhelming feeling to know they are a new creation from God. I don't know hopefully that made sense. LOL!

The start of the new year is a symbol of a new start. Yes you can start anything anytime you want. But starting at 1 has such tremendous significance. For me it gives me the opportunity to track progress. I like to see where I was at the start of the year compared to the end of the year. This past year I didn't have lots of resolutions. Matter of fact I only made one. And that was to never get drunk again. I am proud to say in 2008 I was never intoxicated and as a matter of fact I can count on one hand when I drank alcohol! This year I doubt I will drink at all! The reason being is I will be participating in the Portland City Marathon on October 4th 2009! That's right baby, 26.2 miles of pure glorious running/walking.

As some of you might know it has been along time since I have been able to run. After getting hurt in the Army I never thought I would see the day. Matter of fact doctors told me all the time you will get stronger but you will never be able to run again. The first couple years after that I was in pain and depressed. In 2006 and 2007 I had an amazing osteopathic doctor that started to help me. He helped me to the point where there was no pain and I was able to start working out moderately again. Then last year I was able to work with a personal trainer that helped me strengthen my core. Everything started to feel great. Back in July on a family camping trip I had this urge to run. Nothing serious, I just to move my legs, something short. My nephews were with me at the river and they wanted to run back to the campsite. They took off and then next thing I knew I was too. My pace was steady, my breathing normal, and I felt great!!! When I got back to the campsite I waited for the pain. It never came! After that I had more urges to run. I felt a part inside of me come alive again! My running is no where back to what it used to be. But I know it will, one day!

I know God has an amazing plan for me this year (just like He does every year). My resolutions for this year are as follows:

1. Train myself physically and mentally for the next 10 months.
(I will be participating in as many little walkathons/marathons as
possible to help me get there)
2. Strengthen my relationship with Christ!
3. Be a better wife, friend, mentor, and counselor.

That wraps up my resolutions this year. I know God will be leading me through it all.

I also want to just mention something to everyone (including myself). Each year we set resolutions and a lot of times I believe people think they fail at what they set out to do. To hopefully avoid that feeling this year, keep your mind open. We are not control of everything. Circumstances happen. Always be ready to adjust and refocus the goal. And most of all, remember God is in control. We have plans but sometimes God's plans are different for us. Talk to Him and ask Him to help you follow His plan!