A year ago today...

I moved to Orange County. I can’t believe I’ve been here for a whole year already! There have been many blessings in my life since I’ve moved here. Let me list some wonderful things that have happened while I’ve been here:

1. Very stable job paying well enough to cover all my bills and some fun expenses
2. Wonderful YSA ward and institute where I’ve made such amazing friends
3. Getting back into the swing of going to the temple and doing family history
4. I met the man of my dreams at a church activity
5. I’ve been able to save money aside for a rainy day
6. Becoming more independent and learning so much about myself
7. Spending so much time with family and having them so close!!

Its been a wonderful year. I’ve gained so much perspective on life and what is important. I’m so excited to see what the next year has in store for me. Bring it on!!

Journey to Utah

I'm about to take a nap to recover from a week of work after my extended weekend in Utah. Both were exhausting. I just wanted to get this up before more time passes and I get busy.

Last week was an awesome week. On tuesday I got to do baptisms in the Newport Beach temple and I brought family names which made it a very special experience for me. On top of that the brother that was confirming me after the baptisms went to Norway on his mission and noticed the names that I brought were from Sweden so he asked if he could pronounce them in their true Scandinavian way. Of course I agreed!! It was so cool. And 2 of the girls I did work for had the same first name as me to which was super cool.

Wednesday was a highly anticipated day. This was the day I was riding out to Utah in a 12 passenger van to go see David... my awesome boyfriend (He is currently in Salt Lake City in summer school and basketball training at the University of Utah). I went out with his family, all 7 kids and his parents. There were 10 people in that van, but it really wasn't that bad. Later his dad told me that I should come on every trip because apparently the kids never behave as well as they did when I was in the car with them. By the time we got to Springville at his aunt's house where we were staying the night we were all so exhausted and it was late so I didn't get to see him which was a bit torturous.

Thursday we drove to SLC, that drive would have been really long if his sisters weren't so good at distracting me. We got to his dorm, he was waiting outside. I missed him so much! I ran up gave him a huge hug and we stayed like that for a little while (he really missed me too). Then he grabbed my hand while he gave his family a one-armed hug (which for someone 7'3 can feel like a big hug). We were then off to Idaho for his sister's graduation from BYU-I.

Here is our first picture together after being reunited:

The trip to Idaho wasn't so bad, we did a bit of cuddling and played some travel games with the kids to pass the time.

The graduation was nice... but long. We took some silly pictures together in the second half in the church building. We like this one because we're doing the same face and we didn't even plan it!

Friday we drove back to Utah in his sister's car. Just the two of us. It was lovely. We got to talk and I got to take a tiny power nap. I was so desperate to get back to his aunts house because driving for so long always makes me feel really dirty and I needed a shower. We had a super fun group date with Kat/Travis and Kim/Curtis which was awesome. They are a riot, I always have so much fun with them! We went to dinner and then went over to Kat's house after and had an awesome session of Rock Band. It was intense!

(You can't see the bench, but Kat is standing on one just to be up with David)

I was so ready to be able to sleep in on Saturday! We woke up, played a bit of dominos (our go-to game) and then the two of us had a day together all to ourselves. We went to the Oquirrh Mountain temple open house. It was sooo beautiful. Not to mention I loved holding David's hand all the way through the tour. And of course he got questions about his height, but now I feel like I can divert some questions so he doesn't have to take them all. We're a team.

(This picture can give you an idea of our height difference considering I have 3'' heels on)

After finishing the tour we visited my cousin Megan who just had a handsome baby boy only about 3 days earlier. It was nice to introduce David to some family (Auntie Anne was there too) since I had met so much in the matter of only a few days/weeks and he had only met Lars and Desiree prior to this.

We went back to campus so we could change out of church clothes and get ready for the Bee's baseball game. We went to B & D Burger (Britta & Dave). It was really good, with an awesome name!

Saturday was just wonderful to have some time just the two of us.

I'm sure you can tell from the pictures, but I think i've snagged myself quite a man. He is so kind, thoughtful, silly, spiritual, fun, mature, athletic, TALL, loving, I could go on forever. It was really hard to come back home on Sunday without him but at least I knew that he would be coming back to Orange County with his family on August 7th so there is a light at the end of the tunnel!!

Ok, all caught up... time to sleep.

I dit it!!

6:18 Woke up

Brushed my teeth

Changed into my gear

Packed my bag

Grabbed a yogurt

6:40 jumped in the car with my mama to head to the site

6:58 arrived at the site

Checked in, got my free shirt, checked my bag

Waited around for my running buddies:

7:30 running buddies showed up

Pose for some pre-mud pictures

Check out some really weird and some creative costumes

8:30 Race starts

Bottleneck at every obstacle

Run through a mud pit, get splashed in the face by mud

Crawling in course mud, knees bleeding (smile still on my face):

Trudge through a lagoon of inner-tubes

Crawl through the sand

Sprint through to the finish

Do a mud "slide" not so slippery

9:30 get up and get in line to wash off

Take "after mud" pictures (note my shirt used to be clean white, it is now light/heavy mud):

Clean off

Deck change

Drive home wearing only a towel and underwear

Hop in the shower

Scrub my ears for any mud

Double wash my hair of mud

Double wash my face of mud

Get dressed

Collapse on my bed

AHHHHHHHHHHH, I SURVIVED THE OC MUD RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Countdown to OC Mud Run

The Orange County Mud Run is in two days and how am I feeling? Completely and utterly terrified!! I went over the course again and read all of the obstacles. I think I’m going to die. Here are some examples of what they are asking us to do (besides run 5k in mud):

1. 3’ hurdles (in mud)
2. Run through hundreds of tires (in mud)
3. Mud crawl (needless to say “in mud”)
4. Crawl through a mud pit
5. Crawling through tubes
6. Sand crawl—quote from the website: “since you’re now wet and muddy, why not crawl through the sand to make yourself into a sugar cookie?”

Doesn’t that sound like fun? It sounds exhausting to me.

Before and after pictures coming soon, check back after Saturday. I’m sure to post them regardless of how deathly tired I may look in the “after” photo.
Wish me luck!

The Babies of 2008

Our family had 3 new additions in 2008. Three beautiful babies born in March, August, and November. Here they are, aren't they beautiful children?

On the left is Miriam, this is my sister Kirstin's little girl. She was born in August. She crawls around everywhere and has started experimenting with walking. She is a smart girl and so adventurous. What a cutie!

On the bottom is Gavin, this is my brother Bjorn's big boy. He was born in March. He's a bruiser. He is running all around the place and gives his mom quite a work out. His eyes are so piercing how blue they are and he is so loving and sweet.

On the right is Julia, my brother Leif's little girl. Julia was born in November and she is such a sweet little girl with her big eyes and baby fat. She has such a sweet smile and happy disposition.

It was a wonderful weekend being able to be with all 5 nephews and 4 nieces. So much fun!! I love them all in their own little way.

Update here, update there

I know its been too long since I’ve updated but that is just because I’m busy and having fun!

Update on my running:
I’ve been pretty good about running every Saturday morning when I wake up. Its great to see improvement. Before, I was stopping at least 2 times to take a breather and then finish. Now I’m able to push myself and only stop once before finishing.
I’m a bit different than most people; I don’t like to listen to music when I run. I like hearing the wind and my strides. I also like to hear how I’m breathing so I can make sure I am taking quality breaths. It is actually pretty relaxing to hear the rhythm of my feet in concordance with my breathing. I suggest trying it sometime if you are someone that listens to music when you run.

Update on work:
Since Local.com is growing fast and doing well considering today’s market, my department is being split up into client services and partner services. I was given the option to move over to the new side, partner services, and work on a larger scale with our partners. I took the opportunity! I’m so excited, I get to work with big guns, people that make our company a lot of money. Have I said yet how excited I am?? I really can’t complain… they also gave me a raise. Life is goooood.

Update on life:
Life is good! I’ve made and honest effort to be closer to the Lord and do His work and I see so many blessings in my life. I have wonderful friends and family, I am able to feel the Spirit SOOO strongly, and I’ve been given opportunities (like work) that allow me to learn and grow. Life is great and there is really nothing to complain about (other than I think I’m getting a little bit sick).I am so happy and I love spreading the happiness! That’s why I use so many exclamation points!!!!!!! :)

I'm only human!

So I'm going to be doing a super intense 5k on July 18th.  This is not your typical run.  Its called The Orange County mud run and it takes after the mud run that goes on at Camp Pendleton.  Its exactly what it sounds like... you run in mud, get very muddy, and also.... obstacles!!  Please visit the link to learn more about how awesome it is and, if you are in Orange County, sign up and run it with me!! Check it out and look at the course and the obstacles too!  I'm so excited.

When I first started thinking about doing the mud run I was debating whether to prepare for it.  These thoughts were going through my head: I work out everyday... I'll be fine, its only 3.1 miles, I'll have so much adrenaline from all the fun and people that it won't even matter.  Last night my roommate came home from a run she said was 3 miles.  I figured, hey, why not try it and see if I can do it or not.  I set my alarm for 8 am today and went out and ran 3 miles.  Thank goodness I was willing to try it because I have my work cut out for me!  I'm not in any way shape or form in running condition.  After each mile I walked a little ways to slow my heart down (for those of you who don't know... I have this heart condition).  By the end of the run I became more hopeful because I didn't die walking up the steps.

I plan to make that run plenty more times before the 5k comes because its quite a difference running on concrete to trudging in the mud for 5k.  Thank goodness I wanted to try it because I'm pretty sure I would have died on July 18th of the age of 24.25 and that is way too young.

Now I tell myself, I am only human.  I have weaknesses.  I knew running was a weakness yet I didn't address it until I said "why not?" Hmmm.... I could totally go out on a spiritual tangent right now but I will resist.  You all know what would be said anyway... face your weaknesses and make them your strengths.  I plan on doing just that in preparation for July 18th... the day of reckoning!!

P.s. does anyone know why my legs itch when I run??