Project Baby Jonas

The company I work for has an affiliated charity that helps children with illnesses.  The name of the charity is Reliance Foundation.  A particular family contacted the Foundation about helping them purchase a head stone for their 3 year old son, Jonas, who died of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.  The disease is a condition that weaknesses the muscles in a persons body.  Some of the first muscles to atrophy are the neck muscles.  This makes it so the baby can't swallow so they have to get a feeding tube.  This also makes it so they can't hold up their own head.  Eventually everything just shuts down.  The life expectancy, I believe is supposed to be two years.  I'm not 100 % sure about that.

As I heard the story of Baby Jonas I was so sad.  I was talking with the executive director of the Foundation one day and she was explaining the need to help raise the money for a headstone for Baby Jonas.  I told her I would love to help and offered to have a yard sale at my place.  The executive director's kids were so great to help organize, advertise and work at the yard sale.  We made all of the money we needed plus a little extra.

We asked people to make donations of items for the sale.  My garage was full of things people brought to donate.  People were also very generous with the cash they gave.  It was a great day to remember the words of the hymn... "Because I have been given much I too must give." I hope to have many more opportunities to help special people like sweet little Baby Jonas.

The Conspirator

This movie was released on April 15th.  It is true story about the involvement of several people in the assassination of president Abraham Lincoln.  The story is fascinating.  I had know idea these people were every involved.  Not wanting to spoil the movie if you don't know the story, I am not going to tell you more. It is a good movie.  Intense, interesting and emotion provoking.  I liked it very much.

A 13.1 mile party in the Street

In January, my sister, Colette and I talked each other into running a half-marathon.  The half-marathon we choose was the inaugural Morgan Valley Marathon.  We both thought it would be great to run in our home town.  A place we know and love.

The race was scheduled for July 31st.  I started training in mid-April for the run.  I ran sprints, did running intervals, went for some longer runners, worked out hard with my trainer, pushed my self to do many things I never thought I could do.

I don't consider myself to be a runner and I don't really like it very much either, but I have always wanted to say I ran a race that was more than a 5k.  As I the day of the was approaching Colette and I both realized the race course was going to be a bit of a challenge.  Within the first 1/4 mile of the race you go up a hill.  The course continues to wind through the foothills of Morgan, climbing for the next 7 miles.  I was scared.  I hate hills.  I live in the hills and I run on as many parallel roads as I can find.

Rather than getting my self nervous and full of anxiety I decided to mentally prepare myself for the hills and the course.  I told myself that if I had to walk up the hills it would be okay.  There is no shame in walking.  I learned that if I let myself have a good time.. what I like to call "a party in the street" while running I will be fine.

I broke the course out into 4 sections in my mind.  I would focus on making it to the Morgan Cemetary.  That is where the really hilly part would start.  The end of the hills would be a the Porterville Church so my next goal was to make it there.  After the Porterville church I would start to go down hill and made my next focus point the Y at Young Street.  After I made it to Young Street all I had to do was make it home.

During my training I kept telling myself, I am going to run a half-marathon.  I can do hard things.  I will accomplish my goal.  I will be energized and have fun and enjoy every moment. I learned to run with Quench Gum and my own water.  Before I started the race I had chocolate PowerBar energy blasts. At about mile 9 I would refuel with a PowerBar and some Gatorade.  I also packed some Raspberry Gummy Energy Chews.  The most important thing for my party in the street was my 4 hours and 11 minutes worth of music.  I would start it out loud and strong and keep it pumping.

I was very excited the day of the race and was ready to get started.  I had all of my plans intact and ready.  The gun was fired and I started to run.. my music was really loud.  I made it to the Morgan Cemetary in no time and felt great.  I was surprised I felt so energized.  The next thing I knew I was at the Porterville Church.  I felt like I was cruising.  I seriously still felt really great!

About a mile after the church my iPod started freezing.  That put a little damper on my excitement and good feeling but I just kept running.  When a song with a good beat would come on I would pump my arms and sing along.  I am sure some of the other runners thought I was crazy.  By about mile number 11 I started to get tired and wanted to be done.  I didn't look over the end of the course very well so I was surprised that we had to run behind the high school on a river side trail.  At this point my legs really started hurting.  After I made it off the trail I knew I only had a mile left to run and knew I could do it.  The last mile wasn't bad.  By the time I could see the finish line I felt energized again.

As I came across the finish line it was so fun to have most of my family there.  They were all cheering Go Annie! Go Annie! and pumping their arms like I did while I was running in the street.  It was an amazing experience to be done.  I hugged my sister Colette and said we just ran a half-marathon.  Remember how we did that.  I was great!  I will do it again.  Maybe?  Someday? Who knows?  I have some other things I  am trying to concentrate on right now but what I do know form my 13.1 mile party in the street is that I can do hard things!!!

I love PoPCoRN!

Something I am sure you didn't know about me is that I love PoPCoRN!  Especially and preferable  movie theater popcorn.  Yep that is right the extra butter coated salted heart attack causing goodness!  I crave it and love it!  The butter and salt, not the heart attack! When I go to movies I usually only get a small bag because if I were to get a tub like they sale that could feed a small village in India I would certainly have to wear spandex pants everytime I went to the movies. 

I had an incessant craving during work a few weeks ago.  I couldn't stop thinking about it.  There is a movie theater across the way from my office.  I drove over, went inside to the concessions.  Bought a small bag of popcorn with extra butter.  Turned around walked out and felt as though I were in heaven.  Who gets to eat movie theater popcorn for lunch?  Apparently, I do and I loved every kernel of it!

The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I saw this movie over the summer.  I loved the movie.  I decided to read the book.  I loved the book.  The book and the movie coincide very very well.  I haven't read many other lawyer/detective type books so I don't have a lot to compare this book to but, I know I was captivated, interested and wanted to keep going. It has some harsh language just to be warned. But, it is a great book.  
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The Help

The Help is a very good book.  I read it this year as part of my reading goal.  It was also an amazing movie.  It was put together very well and followed the book almost perfectly.  I ended up seeing the movie on a Saturday afternoon and by myself.  Don't feel sorry for me, sometimes I do that.  But, I rule I have when I see movies alone is that I won't let myself cry because I feel like that would be a cause for people for feel sorry for me. It was a tough thing to not cry during this movie.  I was surrounded with people sniffling and wiping tears from their faces.  Like I said, a very good book and an amazing movie.

First Day of School

I had my first day of school today for masters degree.  I can't believe I am actually going back to school.  One of my nieces asked me what grade I was going to be in when I started school.  I told her I was getting my masters degree and she didn't really get it.  After I tried to explain my brother finally stepped in and said she is the 17th grade.  I'm not sure if that sounded good or bad.  I have always wanted to get a masters degree and am happy I finally decided to do it.  I know that in 22 months when I am finished I will be even more happy. Good luck to me.... I got this!! 

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really liked this book.  I liked it better than the first one, I think.  They are such interesting books and very well written.  There is strong language and adult content.  Be prepared for that if you decide to read it.  Very captivating a book that is hard to put down.


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A visit from BRAZIL

My last mission companion in my mission came to visit me for a week in July!  It was fun to have her here.  It has been 10 years since I served my mission, yikes!!  I feel lucky because Elite and I have stayed in touch with each other throughout the years.  This is the third time I have seen her since I have been home. It was her first time to Utah and I think it was an eye opening experience.  She couldn't get over all of the big cars.  It was actually quite funny, she just kept saying all of the cars here are gigantic.  We had a good time spending the week together.

We did a lot of shopping!! 

We went to Morgan and spent a night with my family!!

And we spent a lot of time eating!  

It really was great to have her here.  Things have change a little between us through the years.  Some of the things we believe and feel are very different.  We had a couple of challenging situations and conversations but I am still so happy she came to visit.  She was one of the people on this earth I can say my a fundamental difference in who I am today.  I will always love her and be grateful to her for the things she taught me and the love she showed me while we were serving our mission.  Te amo, Amiga!!

32nd Birthday FINALLY!!

I had my 32nd birthday on July 13th and I could not have been more happy!  I love my birthday very much and make sure that everyone knows it is coming.  I am not one of those people who just sits quietly by and hopes everyone will remember.   I am the girls that tells everyone (including people in the grocery store) and expects them to remember! (Yay!)  Well, when I turned 31 I hated it.  I don't know what happened but I was not happy.  Everyone should be happy on their birthday and I just wasn't.  I wasn't all the way through out the whole year either.  I perked up a little when we got to 2011 but I couldn't wait to be 32.  When I was in my early 20's and in college I remember thinking to myself.  I can't wait to be 32.  I thought that by the time I was 32 I would be established, I would hopefully be a little smarter, a little better and settled in to living a happy, healthy life.  As I turn 32 I can say I have accomplished all of those things and I am very proud and happy.  The next goal birthday I have set is 45.  I am excited to get there and see what has happened.  After 45 comes 70 and after 70 comes 100!  I can't wait and yes you heard me right, I want to live to be 100!!  Happy Birthday everyone! Happy Birthday Me!

Harry Potter 7

I'm a little bit behind on writing post. Life got busy!!

I like writing posts about movies that I see in the theater because I like watching movies so much. I saw Harry Potter 7 weeks ago in July when it came out. I have to say, it is one of the best movies I have seen. 17 stars and 12 thumbs up from me. I really liked Part I of Harry and the Deathly Hallows but I love Part II. I won't tell what happens in case there happens to be someone out there who hasn't seen it but just know it was one of my favorites ever and I highly recommend it to every!

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I finished this book as an audio book. I bought it from iTunes because it was listed as #1 and only cost $5.95. I had no idea what to expect. It was really great! I was immediately interested in the story after the first few pages had been read. The way the story is written is very captivating. The story line is just okay. Not to shocking or exciting, and actually very sad. But, I was entertained I wanted to keep listening to see what would come up next and to know how everything tied together and how the story ended. This is a great book to add to your list of something entertaining, captivating and easy to read.


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