Playing catch up for June

I cannot believe that June is over! This month has flown by and I have not been to the computer but a very few times. That is a good thing but not so good in the blogging world. There seems to be a need to catch up and yet when I go back in my mind to think of all that has taken place and needs to be recorded I cannot think of everything. I have had such a good habit of staying on top of getting things recorded that it is strange to me that I have not desired to run right to the computer to get things to my blog! Yet life has been going on - all the things we have set to do this summer are taking place and my time is being well spent. So today I catch up on June and hope that next week I am still alive (just joking - the half marathon is Saturday!!!!) to record the happenings of the weekend.

First off Paige turned 19 this month!!! I cannot believe that cute little sweet doll of a baby has grown up to be such a beautiful young woman! She has had her struggles but her heart is so tender still and she wants so much out of life. We celebrated Paige's and Adrian's birthdays on Father's day. Adrian had turned 9 years old. What a handsome young grandson he is! It was a great Sunday! Everyone came (except Chelsea who was out of town) and had spaghetti dinner with cupcakes and ice cream. We ate outside and enjoyed the warm summer sun. David had a wonderful father's day having his children around him! I love Sundays like that! Everyone had lots of fun and ate and played and enjoyed each other. My sister Melissa also had a birthday and I missed seeing her but she was in my thoughts and I did get her present made and sent!

I got some of my jam made. Taylor, Hayden and I picked almost 50 pounds of strawberries. I got busy getting the berries ready to make jam and froze them. Then a few days later made 8 batches of jam. I still have lots of berries left and will make more when there is nothing else to do;) We also made our friendship bread yesterday and it turned out so good. Thank you Aundrea for thinking of me as your friend and sharing! It was so fun to watch all the kids be involved in the process of making that bread. Noah was so cute - he really wanted to help out and so I just turned the whole thing over to him to be in charge!

Chad and I have been busy training for our run on the fourth of July. It has been an interesting journey this training thing for me. It started out that I wanted to finally rid myself of the "baby" weight I still was carrying around. Then before I knew it I was full on training for a half marathon! I lost 35 pounds in the process so it has been well worth it. I have learned a lot about myself along the way - 1. I can do hard things! 2. I can keep going even when I am tired or don't want to go up another hill I can push myself and in the end feel so wonderful! 3. 15 year olds can run much faster than 48 year olds! 4. My 15 year old can be the sweetest when looking after his 48 year old mom! 5. 13.2 miles is not that long when you have wonderful friends and family supporting you as you go! My wonderful (and I mean great, wonderful - actually not enough good can be said for her) friend Lynn has really pushed and supported me through this last few months. She has inspired me so much to keep going and I hope that I do good if not for anyone for her! I have learned so much from this sweet lady and her heart is so big!

I have also been working on my lesson that I am teaching on Sunday. That has been a process all on its own. Where I have been led while studying has been an amazing spiritual journey for me. I will record it on Sunday after I teach as I think it will all come full circle for me then. Just suffice it to say now that there have been many hours of pondering, praying and searching as I have tried to connect the dots for myself with my topic of "Finding Joy in the Word". It did not go where I had expected and what I discovered was absolutely amazing - so stay tuned for my commentary about it on Sunday.

Friday I am playing the piano(s) with three other ladies from my ward - a two piano, eight hands piece - arrangement of "Stars and Stripes Forever". It has been fun to have something to work on and challenge myself with on the piano. We have had fun putting it together!

There has been free lunches at the school, playing at the park, going to the library, roasting lots of marshmallows, playing in water, cooking, watching movies, reading books, playing music, and lots and lots of fun going on here! Still camping trips and vacations and swim lessons to look forward to. I just love the long summer days and cool summer nights around here!