Fall Beauty

Monday morning, as I was driving to work, I actually opened my eyes and realized just how beautiful the drive to work is these days.  All too often I forget to look around while I drive.  Instead, I'm watching for cops to show out of no where or I am anxiously waiting for the light to turn green after the slow driver in front of me has finally turned right.  But this day, beauty could not be hid.

Sunday night's windy rain/storm created the most beautiful natural sight.  The leaves had blown off the trees and were scattered across the road, some still in the trees, and the mountain tops were tipped with the first light snow of the season.  From where I was driving I could see the mountain tops through the tree lined street.  I drove it again on my lunch break.  Unfortunately, by the time I was finally able to break away from work, the leaves had blown back to the side of the road by the wind of the passing cars and the morning light was no longer glistening off the snow.  But the sight was still picture worthy.

Utah really is a beautiful place!

Masquerade Ball

Last week I got invited to a private masquerade ball. Super exciting, right?  Any girl loves to dress up, plus it's October so adding a mask is perfect!  Minor detail... no dress.  I spent the week trying to locate a good formal dress with really no success.  I tried on several of mine and my sisters' high school formals, none of which fit (by the way, that is NOT a good sign).  Then I asked around to some friends and located a few that fit, but didn't work so well with my G's.  Tough game finding a modest formal on a budget!

It was Friday, the day of the ball, and I still didn't have a dress OR a mask!  What is a girl to do?  I'll tell you what she does...

She goes to J.C.Penny's where first of all she gets triple the reward points on her debit card, and secondly, she miraculously happens upon a door buster sale.  Formal dresses at 50% off!  I totally scored!

Next, I was off to find the perfect mask!

Me and Kristina just about to head out to the ball!

The night turned out pretty well if you ask me.  Plus, Kristina introduced me to a great guy who got my number at the end of the night.  We'll see if that actually goes anywhere!

Fall Ride

Last year, after our bishopric changed, I found myself riding through Dimple Dell on the back of a beautiful horse!  My bishop has several horses and felt like it would be the best way to get to know my presidency... He was right.  Well, the last year has been full of fun and exciting things, including two of my presidency members getting married.  This, of course, resulted in two new members!

Now it is fall again, and Bishop has a few more presidency members to know better.  Oh how I love the perks to my calling!  Again, we took his horses to Dimple Dell and rode through the beautifully changing leaves.  There is nothing that compares to the excitement I feel when I can just ride.

Unfortunately, not all my presidency was able to make it.  Mandy's right foot has been in a cast since August following a bad wakeboarding accident and Annie got called into some last minute meetings for her job.  But for those of us that went, we had a wonderful time!

(L to R): Elizabeth, Shelisa, me, Bishop's wife

Pumpking Picking

There is a joy to be had when kids are around!

I loved spending the afternoon at the pumpkin patch with my sister, Becca, and her two boys.

The beginning maze thrilled the boys!  It was tough to get them to stop running long enough for a picture.

It was nearly impossible to get them out of the maze.  We had to lure them out with a ride in the wheel barrow.  It worked for a little while.  :)

But riding in the wheel barrow wasn't enough, they had the most fun running through the pumpkins.

And I loved spending the day with them!

I Run Because I Can

I run because I can.

This is my new motto for running.  For a long time, I hated to run.  In fact, I vividly recall an afternoon in high school gym class.  While I was rockin' it on the stationary bike, Coach Hymas came by to ask me to join the track team.  I just laughed saying "I'm not fast." He didn't mind, he suggested that all I needed to be was flexible so I could do hurdles. Yep, apparently he hadn't seen me trying to touch my toes earlier in the year.  Not so flexible...
Needless to say, I didn't join.

My lack of excitement for running continued through college.  It wasn't until spring of 2007 that my sisters convinced me to join them for the Deseret News 10k on the 24th of July.  Maybe I said yes because for the first time I wanted to follow in my sisters footsteps.  I ran it again in 2008, but took a running hiatus in 2009.  And then it was 2010.  Wow!  This has been a year of running! I ran the Ragnar Wasatch Back Relay, Deseret News 10k, Dirty Dash 10k, and most recently the Wasatch Woman 10k this past weekend at Thanksgiving Point.  And I'm already signed up for a couple races in 2011!
Earlier this year, I saw the phrase "I run because I can" and decided that is why I do it.  When I started running, I hated it.  My body ached and I was tired from getting up early to run before work.  It seemed impossible to find any joy in it.  I even invested in an iPod shuffle to help motivate, but decided I liked running without music better (plus, its much safer for street running).  And then while training for the Ragnar, something happened.  For once, I was running enough that my body didn't ache.  It was summer and the sun was rising at 6am or earlier so getting up early enough to run before work didn't seem so early anymore.  I made friends with other runners who were encouraging me without even knowing it!  Running was fun!

Now the seasons are changing and its getting cold.  I'm finding it hard to get up and run before work again.  But, I have a motivation.  I've finally reached the point that that running feels good and I don't want to lose this goodness!  So I get up, put on my running clothes, throw on my reflector vest and tighten my head lamp, avoiding my pony tail.  It's cold, but it is very peaceful running in the dark.  Fewer cars to avoid, crisp air to breathe, but the best part is that I don't psych myself out with the view of the distance ahead.  I find I can run longer in the dark.  I just go. I run.

In the end, I run because I can.