Whatever Works!!!

My Mom is Amazing!

2011-05-25T16:59:00.000-07:00

Sprint for Life

2011-05-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

Here is the video all about our race this weekend for ovarian cancer research!

Karma!

2011-02-13T19:38:00.000-08:00

What is Karma? Oh yeah it is that thing where what goes around comes around. I got a first hand dose of it this morning at church. I have been busy putting together a book from my trip to Italy so I spent some time on it before church, well, before I knew it it was 10:15 and I needed to be out the door in about 10 minutes. I took a super fast shower, dried my hair, put makeup on, got dressed, brushed my teeth and ran out the door all in less than 15 minutes. I know you are all amazed. I wore a cute corduroy skirt, orange sweater and my black knee high boots. The boots really make the outfit and I love them. I love them so much that I own a pair in brown and black. I often have to do a double take to make sure I grab the color I want because they look so similar in poor lighting. Well, I get to church and look down and realize that I have my brown boots on instead of black, I know you are thinking this is not a big deal and it is not, but this is where Karma comes in. I looked more closely and realized that one in fact looked brown while the other appeared to be black. Not positive that I had really worn 2 different colored boots to church I sought confirmation from my nearest source, Hailey, my 7 year old niece who confirmed for me that she thought one was black and one brown. To be certain I checked the tags. At this point I am laughing a bit and in disbelief that I actually did this. I then began to think on those whom I have teased in the past for making such a mistake. I am truly sorry. Karma is a cruel thing at times! Well, not a single person noticed or at least none of them said anything too me, not even my seven year olds whom I teach. So there is a lesson to be learned in all this, when you have 2 boots of different colors don't leave all 4 of them laying scattered on the closet floor unless you are going to take the time to make sure you get the right colors. Well, I hope this brings a smile to your face and gets you laughing a bit. I am laughing too!

Update on Mom!

2011-02-13T19:34:00.001-08:00

Mom finished her last round of chemo last week and now is having weekly bloodwork as usual until she has a CT scan next week. From here we want a clean CT scan and then she will meet with the Dr on the 22 and as long as everything looks good she will begin a 3 month follow up program with CT scans and routine bloodwork. We will know more after the CT when she meets with her surgeon. She is definitely a trooper and is so ready to get things back to normal and we are to. I am so glad we have modern medicine and drugs that get rid of Cancer. I will keep you updated on her progress. The other thing she is looking forward to is getting rid of the PICC line.

Tyler Swim Meet!

2011-02-13T19:15:00.001-08:00

I went to one of Tyler's swim meets recently and decided to take some video so Mom could see him. These were taken with my Iphone.

Whole Wheat Bread!

2011-02-13T19:07:00.001-08:00

I have taken to making my own bread and really like the recipe for Foolproof Whole Wheat Bread from Linda Eccles. I have made it several times recently and it has turned out to be delicious. I even had the opportunity to teach Enrichment and provided a demonstration on how to make the bread. I took these pictures after making it. There is something so delicious about homemade bread especially when it starts to cook and you can smell it throughout the house.

Heritage Rose Garden Tyler Texas Sept. 2010

2011-02-13T19:07:00.000-08:00

Here are some shots I took at the Rose Garden.

Rose City Triathlon: September 18, 2010

2011-02-13T18:43:00.000-08:00

Here we are after the race. This was one of the best Triathlons we did this year. It was very well organized and we even got roses at the end. It was a lake swim in Lake Tyler and then a nice bike and run along the lake. Another after shot...notice the medal!
Full get up with rose and medal after the race!

Before!

That is the best thing to see when you are running the race, however this shot is taken before the race.

Pretty impressive sunrise!

My transition area!

Lisa and I before the race!

Another before shot!

We ventured to Tyler Texas in mid September to compete in our final Triathlon of the season. Thanks to Bryan and Erica Hyland for letting us crash with them for the weekend. It was so great to see them and catch up. We visited the Rose Gardens and just hung out and chatted. It was really fun.

Blackland Triathlon Plano, Texas Labor Day 2010

2011-02-13T18:27:00.000-08:00

After the raceAfter the race...I required a fairly significant recovery period after this one since it was so hot outside.
Here is my transition area, but obviously I haven't learned how to rotate the pictures, they showed rotated in the preview. I guess I will have to figure that out. Sorry for the head tilt!

Before the race...still smiling and rearing to go!

Another before shot, check out that outfit!

Just after we got back from Seattle we headed to Plano for the Blackland Triathlon on September 6. It was a pool swim then outdoor bike and run and it started around 9 or so. I did well, but I was not expecting it to be so hot so the run was pretty miserable at first. I had spoiled myself by doing early season tris and thhen Seattle so I was not completely prepared for the heat of Labor Day. We went up the night before and were able to stay with some good friends, the Bowmans, so that was fun to see them and catch up.

Lake Sammamish Triathlon Aug 28, 2010

2011-02-13T18:07:00.001-08:00

Lisa and I went to Seattle at the end of August for the Lake Sammamish Triathlon and we were able to spend a few days seeing some of the sites and catching up with old friends. Lisa had never been to Seattle before so it was fun to take her around.

After the race...don't we look good. It was about 50 outside and the water was 71. Thanks to Diane and Tammy for letting us borrow the bikes.

I know this is turned but here is my transition area all set up before the race.

Before the race, it was a little cold since we are used to August weather in Houston.

The Fremont Troll! There was no where to park so I dropped Lisa off to take pictures.

L-R: Me, Bekki, Erin, Lisa and Jeanie at Nibbana for Thai food. It was great to see them and spend some time catching up. This was the night before the Triathlon.

The Seattle Waterfront

More from Utah August 2010

2011-02-13T17:56:00.000-08:00

Here are some more pictures from my trip to Utah for Megan's wedding. I was able to stay with Steph and her family, go to the dentist and see my Aunts and Uncles, and visit with Lindsay. It was a great trip and it is always nice to have a break from work.

Megan's Wedding Aug. 17, 2010

2011-02-13T17:48:00.000-08:00

I was able to head to Utah in August for Megan's wedding and was also able to catch up with Steph and Lindsay. More on that in subsequent posts.

Shad's Graduation Aug. 14, 2010

2011-02-13T17:45:00.000-08:00

Shad graduated from his Orthodontics residency in August and I stepped in to represent as my parents were out of town. It was a nice evening and good excuse to dress up a bit. Way to go Shad!

Random Photo shoot Fall 2010

2011-02-13T17:40:00.000-08:00

I decided to play with my camera and timing system and took these pictures one morning before church. You can also see my piano and new painting above the piano. I really love the frame.

Fall in New England 2010

2011-02-13T17:13:00.000-08:00

I timed my trip well and was able to catch some of the still brilliant colors of fall. The last one is of Jamie's house and the orange tree jsut in front of the window in the background is a threadleaf Japanese Maple and turned that orange color in the time I was there. The fall really was beautiful in New England, but unfortunately the winter follows and that I do not miss.

New Canaan CT October 2010

2011-02-13T16:41:00.000-08:00

My sister Jamie had a sweet baby boy Owen in October and since my Mom was not able to go out there to help her I did my best to stand in and was able to spend a long weekend with the Handys. We did some baking and talking and lots of playing and I was really glad to be able to be there. Jamie's kids are growing up way to fast and little Owen is no exception. He is such a sweet baby and it was fun to be able to hold him and bond with him. Adam is a great big brother and the girls are sure great with him as well. Here are some of the photos of the trip. I planned for some cold weather, but it was actually quite warm while I was there and I finally had to borrow something short sleeved from Jamie.

Christ: The Real Gift of Christmas

2010-12-26T06:20:00.000-08:00

Christ: The Real Gift of Christmas

Life or Something Like It!

2010-12-12T14:52:00.000-08:00

Where have I been and what have I been doing since my last post? Well, that is an interesting question.
Then biggest thing that has occupied my time, thoughts, prayers, and energies for the last 4 months has been my Mom and her diagnosis with stage 3C Ovarian Cancer at the end of August. To say that life has been kind of hectic and whirlwind like would be an understatement. For those who may not be aware of this until now, here is a brief synopsis:
1. Mom not feeling to well during vacation in Seattle in August.
2. Meets with MD day after return to Houston around Aug 16.
3. Labs and ultrasound are ordered which ultimately showed a tumor/growth on the ovary and CA-125 of 512
4. Several doctor visits, tests, lab work etc over next week or so including gynecology oncologist who let us know in no uncertain terms that surgery would be necessary and a cancer diagnosis likely
5. Mom underwent 6.5 hours of surgery on September 1, 2010---which happened to be the first day of Ovarian Cancer awareness month. The color for Ovarian cancer is teal.
6. Mom spent about 3 days in ICU, then about 3 days on regular floor before coming home about 7 days after surgery. Let me just say that my Mom is an amazing woman and always has been, but she astounded her doctors at how well she responded after surgery and her speedy recovery from anesthesia and other effects.
7. Once Mom got home the flood of Bingham girls began (for which we will be eternally grateful): the first week Mom was home saw the arrival of Tobi from Malaysia, Tami from California, and Vicki from Oregon. They cooked, cleaned, laughed, cried and were such a blessing to Mom and to us during those miserable days of recovering from surgery. I am so grateful to live so close and have been over there almost on a daily basis keeping tabs on Mom and her progress as well as visit with each of her sweet Angel Sisters.
8. While still in the throws of surgery recovery and a general malaise: Mom started her first round of chemotherapy on Oct 5, 2010, just about a month after her surgery. The first round of chemo was brutal as surgery was still so recent, but we had Tami and then Penny around to help which was so great. Unfortunately Mom caught a cold after the first round and it took her white blood cell counts a while to rebound.
9. Mom is on a 21 day schedule for chemo and her sisters have been here every step of the way. Her second round of chemo was delayed about 2 weeks, but thanks to Neulasta (a very expensive shot to boost white blood cells), Mom's counts rebounded and she was ready for chemo finally November 5. Thanks to southwest airlines and their no change fee flexibility, Aunt Vicki arrived shortly after and was able to stay and help Mom recover. I think in the end she changed her flight 3 times due to the changes in chemo scheduling. The second round recovery was much smoother aside from aches and pains in the joints until Mom was hit with a flu bug. After recovering from that she has felt great.
10. After Aunt Vicki left, Aunt Tami returned to help with the 3rd round of chemo which happened on Nov. 30, 2010. She did really well after the 3rd round and is still feeling pretty good, getting closer to "back to normal". Nothing really keeps Mom down not even Cancer, that is just the way she is and it is an inspiration to us all.
11. Mom had her 4th round of chemo on Dec 20 2010, and felt really good throughout the holidays. She continues to feel good and her counts continue to go down. At last check her CA 125 was 15, anything under 30 is considered normal and she is still feeling great and getting back to doing some of the things she usually does, she had been driving, running errands, cooking, etc. I still check in with her all the time and am over there almost daily and I am so glad to be close and support Mom during this time.
12. Mom lost her hair after the first round of chemo and sports some very cute hats and wigs. She is as beautiful as ever and has managed to lose those nagging pounds that never seem to go away, but I am sure Mom would not suggest Cancer or the subsequent treatments as a great weight loss technique.
13. My sister Jamie and her baby Owen were able to come out and see Mom in November along with Catherine my 8 year old niece so that was fun. Then in December my Aunt Terri came so it has been so wonderful for all my Mom's sisters to be able to come and serve her and us and we are so grateful, we are also grateful for the countless friends and strangers who have offered prayers and support during this time to Mom and our family.
I apologize for the wordiness and layout of this update but it is as much for me as it is for you. I am so grateful for the gospel in my life and for the power of prayer and I know that it works especially at times like this when there is little else that we can do. I love my Mom and have so appreciated her positive spirit and outlook throughout all this fun. I am also thankful for the power of the priesthood and know that miracles do happen and I have seen them time and time again during this whole process. Life goes on but it also makes us stronger through the trials that come our way. We are on the downhill slide of all this and look forward to life returning to life instead of the something like it that has been going on.

Austin May 2010!

2010-08-15T14:56:00.001-07:00

My best friend Steph came to Austin in May with her husband for a business trip so I was able to head up there for the day and spend time with her. It was hot, but we had a great day and it was fun to catch up!

Triathlon season

2010-08-15T14:52:00.000-07:00

I have enjoyed running 10Ks and doing Sprint Triathlons this season so I decided to go out with a bang. I am going to Seattle for the Lake Sammamish Sprint Tri on Aug. 28, then to Plano Texas for the Blackland Sprint Tri on Labor Day, and finally to the Rose City Tri in Whitehouse Texas on September 18. I am excited and have been getting back into training for these. I also got a new road bike so I am excited to use that in my upcoming races. I will post pictures of each event as they happen!

Texas Party 2010

2010-08-15T14:40:00.000-07:00

Rodeo Time is a big time here in Houston and at the end of February my friends has a Texas themed party. It was lots of fun and a fun start to Rodeo season. I ran in the Rodeo Run 10 K the following morning!

Rodeo 2010

2010-08-15T14:38:00.000-07:00

After a long hiatus, I went to the Rodeo this year. I went with some friends and saw Kenny Chesney, then went later with my little sister, parents and Tyler to see Brad Paisley. They both put on a great show and it was lots of fun. Considering I was sitting in the nose bleed section was was pretty impressed with the photos I got of Kenny Chesney!

Girls Getaway Salem Oregon Feb. 2010

2010-08-15T14:13:00.000-07:00

When I lived in Seattle, my girlfriends and I would try to get away around President's day every year. We went to some fun places through the years including: Roche Harbor, Birch Bay, and Portland. Over the years we have scattered different places and teh group has changed some, but I decided this year it was time to revive the tradition. We spent a long weekend in Salem Oregon and stayed at an adorable bed and breakfast in Hopewell OR. It was such a fun weekend and great to catch up with good friends. The scenery photos are taking from our cabin looking out. It was a beautiful part of the country!

Wii are Family!

2010-08-15T13:28:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos and videos from when we got together for brunch and a little friendly Wii action. Pretty much everyone got in on some of the fun. I included the video of Zach to prove that even the kids got a turn! This is my first attempt at posting, well taking video for that matter, so they are sideways in some and there is no sound, but I think you can still appreciate them! Just click to play the videos at the bottom!

Out of the Mouth of Babes!

2010-08-09T18:31:00.001-07:00

The following is the actual transcript of a conversation with my nephew Zach that occurred during sacrament meeting on Sunday:
Zach: "Aunt Carrie, did you go to BYU yet?"
Me: Yea Zach I did
slight pause by Zach: "And you didn't find anyone to marry while you were there? Slight pause, "most people find someone to marry there."

What can I say, very insightful little guy! It made me smile and thought I would share!

Blue Bell 10 K 2010

2010-08-08T15:23:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures from the Blue Bell 10 K this year. What could be better, a run preceded and followed by Blue Bell ice cream treats! The only thing I can say about this run is that Brenham is considered hill country, there are no hills in Houston so a 6 mile course with lots of hills was a new experience, but it was still a good run. The biggest issue was I had fallen running 2 days prior to this run so I was feeling it just a little bit. Thanks to ibuprofen I made it through the run with very little discomfort.

New Curtains 2010

2010-07-18T12:46:00.000-07:00

I have really enjoyed having my own apartment and being able to decorate and such like that. I decided to make curtains for my living room and bedroom. I think they turned out really well. Let me define I decided to make curtains: I went with my Mom to the fabric store and a few othe places looking for material or ready made curtains that I liked and found the material at Joann's. I proceeded to purchase the supplies and then my Mom sewed them. I love how they look and am so glad "I" decided to make them! MOm is amazing and did a great job!

CT January 2010

2010-07-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

I went to visit Jamie and Trent in January for Catherine's baptism. It was a quick visit, but very fun. One day we went to the aquarium in one of the nearby towns and here are some of the pictures. I decided to experiment with collages again.

Fasten your seatbelts...Today is catch up day!

2010-07-18T12:24:00.000-07:00

I decided it was time to catch you all up on my blog (life). I have been busy and it has been lots of fun for the past few months. Enjoy my memories and pictures and please comment and let me know you caught up!

Triathlon Preview!

2010-07-18T12:22:00.000-07:00

Probably one of the most difficult parts of the Triathlon was getting into and out of my wetsuit, so Lisa and I did a couple of dry runs to make sure we could do it in a timely fashion. Of course photos were a must! At the actual Tri they had "strippers" to assist with the removal of your wetsuit after the swim!

Gateway to the Bay April 2010

2010-07-18T11:41:00.000-07:00

I decided to start doing Triathlons this season and completed my first one on April 10. I am planning to do a few more before the season ends, which in Houston is around October or so! Enjoy the slide show with a few pictures of the event and thanks to our friends who drove down to watch us and be our photographers!

Rodeo Run is in the Books!

2010-03-07T18:11:00.001-08:00

Well it is official I finished my first 10K (6.2 miles). It was really fun and I wanted to finish it in 60 minutes. Timing with my stop watch I did it in 59.40 and my official time was 1:00:06. I had so much fun doing the first one that I signed up for another 10K next Saturday, also going through downtown. If anyone wants to run or do a triathlon let me know!

Photo Shoot January 2010

2010-03-07T18:00:00.000-08:00

I flew out to New York to hang out with Jamie and be there for Catherine's baptism in January and as part of the fun Jamie and I did a photo shoot. It was really fun and here is a slideshow of some of the pictures! Enjoy and let me know what you think! Not all photos are perfect! I thought you might like the eyes closed one for kicks!

Staying Healthy into 2010!

2010-01-09T15:50:00.000-08:00

I continue to enjoy working out and eating healthy and my friend Lisa and I are currently training for a 10k at the end of February and a Sprint Tri at the beginning of April. I will keep y'all posted on our progress. The 10K is the Rodeo Run and is on February 27 and the Tri is the Gateway to the Bay at Kemah and is on April 10. I am excited for both of these events and am ready for our winter to end so I can get back to running or start running outside!

Just Call Me Martha!

2010-01-09T15:49:00.000-08:00

I have been busy today baking up a storm and thought I would share some photos of the finished product! I first made Granola and then Whole Wheat Bread. They both turned out really good! It is pretty cold outside still today so it was a perfect day to bake!

Brazos Bend January 1, 2010

2010-01-09T15:44:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! My friend Andrea came to visit between Christmas and New Year and we had a great time catching up. We drove out to Brazos Bend to see the alligators, but it was too cold and they were not out. We did see a snakes and lots of turtles and birds. It was a fun day and the weather was beautiful except for being a little cold. Enjoy the pictures!

Pictures from the end of 2009!

2010-01-09T15:39:00.000-08:00

Here are some more random pictures of the end of 2009. The cute baby is my niece Brooke and then that is my Christmas tree, and my nephew Zach.

The Nutcracker 2009

2010-01-09T15:35:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile!

2010-01-09T14:33:00.000-08:00

I decided it was high time to catch up with my blog. I am living in Houston and doing really well. I am enjoying being close to family again and having my own place. I am working for the Harris County Hospital District at Quentin Mease and am enjoying that. I have been splitting time with Geriatric Progressive Care Unit and Physical Medicine and Rehab unit. I have been leisurely house hunting in my spare time and may just buy one one of these days! I will keep you all posted.

A Day with Aunt Carrie!

2010-01-09T14:30:00.000-08:00

Before Christmas I decided to spend the day with Hailey and Zach respectively. Hailey and I went to the Symphony with my friend Lisa, then went to lunch and ran some errands. Zach and I went to see the Princess and the Frog and then ran some errands and he helped me set up my new Blu Ray player. They are great kids and we had so much fun. I definitely need to do this more often. Thanks Shad and Amy for sharing your kiddos!

Halloween 2009

2010-01-09T14:16:00.000-08:00

Go ahead and guess what I was for halloween...I know the picture is not great. It was taken with my Iphone what can I say!

My New Place!

2009-09-19T12:44:00.000-07:00

Rattlesnake Ridge!

2009-09-19T12:43:00.000-07:00

Skyline Drive Revisited

2009-09-19T12:34:00.000-07:00

I bought an annual pass to Shenandoah National park so I did my best to use it often. I think I made it twice, maybe 3 times. It is so beautiful!

Monticello

2009-09-19T12:32:00.000-07:00

I tried to see as much of the historical sites I could while living in Virginia, here are some of the highlights from Monticello (home of Thomas Jefferson).

Biking in Harrisonburg!

2009-09-19T12:22:00.000-07:00

Newseum!

2009-06-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

I went out to DC again in May and visited the Newseum and National Portrait Gallery. I did not take many pictures though! The few photos I took are a view of Pennsylvania Avenue from the Newseum terrace and the Antenna from the North tower on display with the 9/11 section. Until I visited the Newseum and the section on 9/11 I had never seen a Kleenex box as a permanent part of an exhibit, but it was. The Newseum was awesome and I loved to be able to see history unfolded through the news!

The Historic Triangle!

2009-06-27T13:51:00.000-07:00

Most of you history buffs will know what the Historic Triangle is, but for those who might not know it includes: Jamestown, Yorktown, and Colonial Williamsburg. I was able to see these places during Memorial weekend as they are quite close to Hampton. I also got some shopping in at the Outlet Mall in Williamsburg, it was a great trip.

DC yet again!

2009-06-27T13:47:00.000-07:00

Did I mention before that I love going to DC. I went down a few times in April and was able to see the Cherry Blossoms and lots of the sites. I met a friend of mine from Boston one Saturday and we saw the Capitol, Old Post Office Building, the White House, Decatur House, and a couple of the museums including the Air and Space Museum. It was great. I also went to the temple and Museum of American History another time and some of those pictures are here too. I love America and have loved being close to DC and able to take advantage of the history there.

The Spady's

2009-06-27T13:44:00.000-07:00

Memorial weekend I had the chance to head over to Hampton VA and stay with my great aunt Mary. She is my grandmother's only sister. It was so fun for me to spend time with her and meet my Mom's cousins and their children. Aunt Mary gave me a tour of Hampton and some of the houses are where my great grandmother lived and other family. It was fun and really made me appreciate family history and being able to talk with her about my Granny! Some of the pictures are of my Mom's cousin Nancy's home and yard and the others are Aunt Mary's yard!

Skyline Drive: Shenandoah National Park!

2009-06-27T13:20:00.000-07:00

So I bought an annual pass to Shenandoah National Park and have driven through there a couple of times. It is absolutely gorgeous! Enjoy the slideshow of pictures! That is my friend Lydia in some of the pictures!

Happy Father's Day!!! I Love You DAD!

2009-06-21T17:11:00.000-07:00

I decided to take a moment and reflect on what a great Dad I have. I have noticed in compiling pictures for this and even for Mother's day that I need to take more pictures with my parents so there is a wider selection from which to choose.
Here are some of the reasons I love my Dad:
1. He got me single handedly through Pre Cal in High School, which subsequently got my through calculus in college.
2. He is a worthy priesthood holder.
3. He serves in the church.
4. He loves me uncondtionally,
5. He is a good example.
6. He takes me fishing...not sure how much fun that really is for him since I am usually feeling extremely sea sick, but he always wants me to come along anyway.
7. Family vacations: in my world there is very little rest associated with vacations, you have to go go go until you can't go anymore, that is what I remember from so many vacations growing up and even today.
8. He is my tax guy and believe me it is a lot when I am constantly changing states.
9. He loves my Mom and treats her well.
10. Father's blessings on numerous occassions
11. He let's me fly his stunt kite even though I am a master at crash landings
12. He loves camping and so do I...I love Kalaloch as much as he does.
13. He is so generous and still spoils me today.
14. He was a great support to me on my mission and even wrote me multiple times which always meant so much.
15. He supports me in whatever I am doing
16. He flew to Utah to drive home with me...even though it took 42 hours instead of 24-26, we still laugh about it today.
17. He encouraged me to get an education and supported me through college and grad school.
18. Loves basketball and would play 21 with us all the time growing up
19. Was my guinea pig multiple times during PT school when I wanted to try something.
20. He loves the Lord
21. He is an example of prayer and taught me the importance of prayer morning and night.
22. He made me appreciate good theater and provided countless opportunities to go whether it was TUTS in Houston or the plays at BYU.
23. He has a testimony of the gospel and shared that with me.
24. He likes to tease and joke around and likes to laugh.
25. He takes me water skiing even when he'd rather be fishing.
26. He made sure we appreciated good poems, speeches etc. and I can remember being a little girl and memorizing the Gettysburg Address or the Declaration of Independence or even Mud.
27. He is fun to be with.
28. He likes to play games.
29. He made sure I had everything I needed: clothes, food, car, etc.
30. He appreciates good humor and helped me appreciate it too: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World; Johnny Carson
31. He encourages me to experience as much as I can in all the places I have lived and traveled.
32. He is wonderful and I love him so much.
DAD, thanks for being so great to me. I love you.

Fire Destroys Cambridge Church Building!

2009-05-17T17:52:00.000-07:00

So I was enjoying a typical Sunday morning before church when I received a call from my home teacher wondering if I was at the church. Not recognizing the guy's name I was slightly confused by our conversation. I was not aware I had home teachers. Turns out he is my home teacher from Cambridge MA, who wanted to make sure I was safe and not at the church seeing as it was at present burning to the ground. What can you say about conscientous home teachers? I happened to move from that ward about 6 months ago and have had my records moved twice, but still he called to make sure I was OK. I am in VA so I am definitely OK. The church building was completely gutted and you can see footage on youtube and other places. Kind of crazy to think of how quickly things can change. The fire broke out in the middle of stake conference that was being broadcast from Salt Lake. No one was hurt.

Happy Mother's Day: I Love You MOM!

2009-05-10T07:02:00.001-07:00

I thought I would take a moment and remark on the wonderful mother that I have. She is my biggest fan and always has been. I am so grateful to her for her example to me each and every day and for teaching me the Gospel of Jesus Christ by word and example. I remember getting to college and having my friends relate dreaded stories of fighting with their Moms and not getting along with them at all. THankfully this is not one of my memories, but here is a list of some of the reasons that I love you Mom, (this list is not all inclusive)
1. You love me unconditionally
2. You taught me to swim and then to teach others
3. You taught me to be organized
4. You love to play games with us
5. We can watch movies together
6. You are my confidant
7. You are my travel companion both literally and over the phone more times than I can count
8. You always support me in everything I do: sports, school, work
9. You have a listening ear
10. You have a testimony of Jesus Christ
11. You serve me and others selflessly
12. You are a wonderful Granny
13. You are always willing to help with anything I need
14. You will dig through boxes and storage units for that one thing I really need and am sure is in there somewhere
15. You love to have fun
16. You are a good cook and have made me appreciate cooking and being in the kitchen
17. You stayed home when we were little and I think that made all the difference in how we turned out
18. You always think of your children first
19. You are generous with your time and talents
20. You attempted to give me you love of sewing by getting me a really nice machine, I am looking forward to living in Houston again so you can teach me again how to use it.
21. You love Dad and have always supported him in church callings and such
22. You have always magnified your callings and been an example of Christlike love
23. You seek the Lord in prayer daily and read the scriptures. I have wonderful memories of coming into your room only to find you kneeling in prayer or reading your scriptures. Those experiences impacted my life and have blessed my life.
24. You are a wonderful mother and watching you with Tyler has helped me appreciate and embrace that more fully
25. You taught me Rook, Pinochle and multitudes of other games
26. You taught me to ski or better snow plow which made my first skiing experience more enjoyable
27. You are active: we bike together, swim, walk, play volleyball, basketball, whatever
28. You are a great water skier and taught me to love it too.
29. You love to camp and house boat which I love too.
30. You are patient
31. You are constantly learning new things and stretching yourself.
32. You are so fun to be around
33. I love talking to you
34. You garden
35. You like to read

I could go on and on forever I am sure, but Mom, I want you to know I love you and am so grateful that you are my Mom.

Cherry Blossoms 2009

2009-04-30T13:56:00.000-07:00

I went down to DC along with the rest of the Eastern Seaboard to see the Cherry Blossoms. They were really beautiful as you can see from the pictures, but you may want to just look at the pictures here and avoid actually coming yourself because it was a zoo. There were so many people everywhere it was unbelievable. By about 2 PM I was done with the crowds and ready to get back to my small town Harrisonburg. I love DC though. I have been several times since moving to Virginia and never tire of the history and wonder that is our nation's capital. I still haven't seen it all so if anyone wants to come and go with me, come anytime.

Easter Memories

2009-04-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

As I flipped channels and found The Ten Commandments on one channel and the Sound of Music on another, it brought back memories of Easter as a kid. I have fond memories of making Ukranian eggs while watching both these movies. I also remember watching the Ten Commandments and invariably falling asleep, but my dad would always wake us up for the parting of the Red Sea. In all honesty, I thought the movie ended when the Red Sea parted, but there is still about 30-45 minutes or more after that, and the parting of the Red Sea is not even the most exciting part of the movie. It was fun to remember and laugh about the things we did as kids and as a family. I am grateful for the Easter Season and the signs of spring and new life and most importantly the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and his life.

New York, New York!

2009-04-21T16:42:00.001-07:00

After we returned from Palmyra we relaxed for about half a day and then headed into the city, New York City for more sightseeing and family fun. We saw the Empire State Building, Central Park, 5th Avenue, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Shrek on Broadway (thanks Mom and Dad), Grand Central Station, the Plaza Hotel, etc, etc. It was so fun. I really love New York and I love to spend time with my family.

Palmyra and Niagara Falls

2009-04-21T16:38:00.001-07:00

After returning to Jamie's house after my trip to Utah we spent a week preparing for the entire family to come for Spring Break. They all arrived late Saturday night and we went to church Sunday then relaxed and played game and just got caught up. Then early Monday morning everyone but Jamie and her family headed to Palmyra and later Niagara falls. It was such a fun experience to go to the church history sites such as Hill Cumorah, Grandin Press, Sacred Grove, Palmyra Temple, Martin Harris farm, and Peter Whitmer farm. I am so grateful for the gospel in my life and glad to have the opportunity to see more of the places from church history. Enjoy some pictures.

Impromptu Vacation!

2009-04-21T16:07:00.000-07:00

The job hunt turned a little slow for me in the middle of February so I decided to take some time off and start a new assignment at the end of March. So what did I do during those weeks. First I moved out of my house on Cape Cod and headed to Jamie's in CT (thanks Jamie and Trent). I spent about a week there helping, playing and just goofing off with Jamie and the kids, then I headed to Utah for 10 days. One of my good friends from Seattle got married so I was able to go to her wedding and also catch up with several of my girlfriends from Seattle who also came for the wedding. It was great fun and I loved being in UTah. I also got to catch up with my best friend Steph and her family, see my aunts, uncles and cousins, and even got to spend some time with my Mom who was in town for her sister's farewell party to Malaysia. I had so much fun and loved to see everyone and just relax. The only downside of the trip was I seemed to have contracted a cold from my sister's that I got to take with me and lost my voice for part of the trip. Here are some pictures.

I'm BACK!

2009-04-21T16:06:00.000-07:00

I know it has been forever since I updated my blog so be prepared for a marathon of posts and leave your comments if you have them. Life is great and soon you will see why.

CONTEST!!!!

2009-02-21T17:16:00.000-08:00

So my sister has a new custom stamp business and is holding a contest to win a FREE stamp. They are self inking and really cool. Head over to her business site and enter to win. Here is the link: http://www.yankeedoodlehandy.com/2009/02/contest-win-free-stamp.html

Sunset over Snow Covered Scargo Lake!

2009-02-16T07:48:00.000-08:00

Homemade Bread and Soup!

2009-02-16T07:42:00.000-08:00

Since it has been so cold here lately I have taken to baking on Sunday afternoons. I have made soup and homemade French Bread, with wheat. Here are a few pictures of the finished product!

2009-02-16T07:40:00.001-08:00

I recently drove down to Provincetown and saw the Pilgrim Memorial and Eastham Windmill. There is so much history here. Unfortunately everything is pretty much closed during the off season!

2009-02-16T07:23:00.000-08:00

Snow Covered Scargo Lake!

2009-02-16T07:21:00.000-08:00

Beach in Dennis MA

2009-02-16T07:18:00.000-08:00

I drove down to the beach one day to take some pictures. It was really really really really COLD. I think that my contacts even froze to my eyes. Needless to say I didn't stay long, but took a few pictures to document.

Nauset Lighthosue and Beach: Eastham MA!

2009-02-16T07:15:00.000-08:00

View from Scargo Tower!

2009-02-16T07:12:00.000-08:00

In spite of the insanely freezing temperatures I have done my best to get some sight seeing in and all. This is the 360 degree view from Scargo Tower which is on the opposite side of the lake from where I live. Apparently on a clear day you can see all the way to Provincetown, which is the very tip of the Cape, obviously this day was not such day!

Jamie's New Business!!! Custom Stamps

2009-01-06T18:16:00.000-08:00

My sister Jamie just launched a new business making custom made rubber stamps. They are really great and would be great for individuals, families, businesses, etc. The sky is the limit. Just go check out her website and tell her what you want. She is ultra creative and can work with you in creating the perfect stamp (or stamps). So head on over to her site and order away. If you have any questions you can just email her at yankeedoodlehandy@gmail.com or you can ask me. So go check it out!!!

http://yankeedoodlehandy.blogspot.com/

I'll Be HOME for Christmas.....EVENTUALLY!!!

2009-01-04T13:00:00.000-08:00

In keeping with tradition for the last 2 years, my travels home for Christmas are not smooth, I have been blessed with safety, but they have taken forever. By way of recap from last year; my Dad flew out to Salt Lake for the sole purpose of driving home with me. It had been snowing a ton in Utah, but we got a break the day we left and decided to take the much faster northern route through Wyoming and Colorado...big mistake...when we arrived in Rawlins WY they closed I-80 due to severe snow. For those of you who might not be so good at geography, Rawlins is about 300 miles from Salt Lake City or 5 hours in the car. We were in a bit of a quandry so we decided to turn around and return to Salt Lake city and then take the longer southern route through AZ and El Paso...so too make a long story short we arrive home in a record breaking 42 hours just 3 hours before we were to speak in Sacrament meeting. The trip should only take about 24-28 hours! Now fast forward to this Christmas; I am living in Dennis MA on Cape Cod and flying out of Boston's Logan International Airport. As luck would have it the first major snowstorm of the year is set to arrive in the early afternoon this day, and my flight was scheduled for 4:45 PM. Fearing the weather would be bad I took a bus from Cape Cod and got to the airport at 12:30. At this point in time the weather is still clear so I tried to get on an earlier flight(standby) but was quickly told no one has been on standby and made a flight since last Wednesday so just make sure you don't miss your flight. Well, before long the snow started and every single flight out of Boston was cancelled on Friday night. Having few options and an overwhelming desire to get home I asked to be put on the standby list for the earliest flight leaving the next day (6:45 am) and then waited and waited and waited. I was able to get a cot and sleep for a few hours and finally made it out of Boston on the 10:30 AM flight to Chicago, we spent 3 hours at the gate on the plane waiting to be deiced. Upon arrival in Chicago, my connecting flight was a bit delayed, but it was still going to leave so who cares about delays. I finally made it home at 12:15 AM Sunday, 36 hours after arriving at the airport. I was so glad to get home and be with my family. Though thanks to the delays I missed Amber, Dan and Megan who flew to Utah. As in all things there is a lesson to be learned; don't live somewhere that snows in the winter and shuts down airports...I guess I better live in Houston.

Ridiculous Can Opener

2009-01-03T14:44:00.000-08:00

My new place is so fun. It has everything from kitchen stuff to linens and towel and this miserable can opener. All I wanted to do was open a can for dinner and all I can find is this can opener. Now I am an intelligent person, but for the life of me I could not get this can opener to work as evidenced by the can. Necessity of the mother of invention or somehting like that so I did what had to be done to get into the can. I still have not figured out the stupid thing, but rest assured Santa brought me an American can opener for Christmas. On a side note, if someone has shown you how to use the can opener it is often easier to use since Jamie had no trouble with it since one of her friends has it. Well, I thought it was kind of humorous so enjoy the pictures and it is OK to laugh! If you know how to use it please feel free to share with me!

My New Place!!!

2009-01-03T14:31:00.000-08:00

I know you all have been dying to see pictures of my new place. So here you go. As you can see Jamie and her family were here and are in some of the pictures. There is plenty of room so do come visit!

Dennis Christmas Stroll

2009-01-03T14:27:00.000-08:00

The first weekend I was in Cape Cod they had what is called the Christmas Stroll in Dennis. What it means is that all the art galleries have an open house type event, there are carriage rides, a nativity, Christmas carols, food sampling from each of the restaurants in Dennis. It was a lot of fun. I had some real New England Clam Chowda...those who know me well know that it is not my favorite thing, there were still clams in the New England stuff. I also sampled Grape Nut custard which is really popular around here and it was really good. It was a goo opportunity to see a bit of the town and these are just a few pictures. .

New England Aquarium

2009-01-03T07:02:00.000-08:00

Keeping with my previous post, I continued my adventures around Boston and surrounding areas. My cousin Michelle was done with school and also trying to see much of Boston before she moved back to Utah so on Friday we decided to meet at the New England Aquarium. It happened to be the day of the major ice storm that knocked out power for much of MA and NH, but I decided to take the train from Woburn in and then the subway. It was great fun and fairly convenient except that the train was about an hour late due to the icy conditions and bad weather. It was really cold and rainy again this day (can you detect a trend), but the Aquarium was fun and then we had lunch at a sandwich place called Cosi, which was really good, I had the sesame ginger chicken sandwich. Enjoy the photos!

Maine: Neddick Lighthouse and $1 Lobster

2009-01-03T06:42:00.000-08:00

My assignments in Boston have shown me a different side of contract work...paid time off. I was available to work per diem in between my last two assignments, but there were no needs so I decided to take advantage of being off and see some of the sites. On an extremely blustery day I decided to drive to Maine to see a lighthouse and have real Maine Lobster. I think lighthouses are extremely neat to see and so off I went. I got out to my car in the rain and it didn't start right away so along the way I stopped at Sam's club and purchased a new battery for my car, then I was on my way again. The guy who changed my tire even gave me his home phone number in case I had any problems with the car...sweet. Then I continued to the lighthouse where it continued to rain and was freezing, so all pictures except the lovely one with my hair everywhere were taken inside the car with my strategically moving the car around and rolling down the window to get the best shot, I still think the pictures turned out pretty well. After seeing the Lighthouse I drove to Warren's Lobster House for a really good salad bar and some good old lobster. I am becoming a bit of a lobster snob...until I moved to the northeast, I had only ever eaten lobster tail, here they give you the entire lobster, tail, claws etc. There is delicious meat in the claws comparable to dungeness crab that just melts in your mouth, well, I made the mistake of eating that first, then the tail meat tasted really tough. Oh well, it was still fun and now I can say I have eaten Maine Lobster in Maine.

More New York and such!

2008-12-09T12:00:00.000-08:00

I was able to spend Thanksgiving with Jamie and Trent and their kiddos, as well as Trent's parents. We had a great time going to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Museum of Natural History (think Night at the Museum) and just spend time together and have fun. It was great. I was experimenting on picasa and made this collage, I think you can click on it to see bigger pictures. Hope you enjoy. I always love being able to spend time with Jamie and Trent and those cute, cute, cute kiddos...

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and NYC 2008!

2008-12-09T11:55:00.000-08:00

8 Things Tag!

2008-12-09T06:50:00.001-08:00

This has been floating around blog world so I thought I would share with y'all! These items on each list are in no particular order.

8 SHOWS I WATCH
1. The Biggest Loser
2. Psych (thanks to Jamie and Trent)
3. The Amazing Race (sometimes, though not really this season)
4. ER
5. Home Improvement (I love this show and have it on DVD)
6. Extreme Makeover Home Edition (not consistently but I think it is interesting)
7. Everybody Loves Raymond (reruns, sometimes)
8. Sports (College football, basketball, when I can)

8 THINGS THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY
1. Loaded my car
2. Took a shower
3. Interviewed for a new contract position
4. Got the new job on Cape Cod
5. Found a new place to live on Cape Cod
6. Went to Michelle's
7. Went to FHE
8. Tried to donate my old printer to Salvation Army, they didn't want it

8 PLACES I LIKE TO EAT
1. Applebee's
2. The Cheesecake Factory
3. Home (I like to cook and eat healthy so I try not to go out as much)
4. Guadalajara (Mexican in Houston, it is awesome)
5. Sweet Tomatoes (I love the salad bar and soups and my family likes to go there)
6. Bahama Breeze in Seattle (Cocunut onion rings and Calypso Shrimp linguine)
7. Thai food (no specific restaurant)
8. Mom's house (she is a great cook and I love to be with family)

8 THINGS I LOOK FORWARD TO
1. Working out/playing sports
2. Christmas and holidays
3. Buying a home
4. Spending time with family and friends
5. Traveling
6. Marriage
7. Sundays to go to Church and feel the spirit
8. General Conference

8 THINGS ON MY WISH LIST
1. Food Processor
2. Kitchen Scale
3. Ticket to Ride (board game), other games and puzzles
4. House
5. Pressure Cooker
6. Double Boiler
7. Big Screen TV
8. Traveling (Italy, Spain, my mission, Ireland and England) Let me know if you want to come.

Career Update!

2008-12-09T06:47:00.000-08:00

I am currently in between contracts hoping to do some per diem work this week and then start a new contract in Brewster MA on Monday. That is on Cape Cod. I am pretty excited about it and the best part of all is my company found me a beautiful home on a lake with 5 bedrooms so there is plenty of room for visitors. I will post pictures of the house once I move in this week. I will then head home to Houston for Christmas and then back here to continue my contract until around the end of March.

Oh the weather outside is FRIGHTFUL!

2008-12-09T06:35:00.000-08:00

I thought I better write a quick post about the winter up here in New England. If you have heard that it is really cold in Boston in the Winter, it is true. On Sunday, it snowed most of the day and knowing that I would have to load my car the next day and just hoped that it would not snow. Be careful what you wish for...the next morning, it was definitely not snowing, it was a very very very very very, (you get the idea) frigid morning, 13 degrees to be exact. I found myself wishing now for the snow, it would require the temperature to go up 20 degrees or so. I went out to get my truck ready to load and realized I was not adequately layered for the task. I came back inside defrosted another 30 minutes, put my pajama bottoms over the workout pants I was already wearing, applied 2 pairs of glove, head band to cover my ears, and a scarf and went back out. In all fairness, the temperature may have increased to 14 degrees by this juncture. So I took the first load, then returned inside to defrost and prepare for the next load. To make a long story short, it was freezing all day long and I am not actually moving now until Saturday. On another note, many gas stations in New England are Full service, I have never been more grateful for full service then I was last night around 10 when the temperature was about 18 degrees and dropping and all I had to do was tell the nice man what gas I wanted and then stay in my warm car. where ever you are, I hope you stay warm.

Biking: Minuteman Trail and National Park!

2008-12-09T05:58:00.001-08:00

My friend Jen and I went biking along the Minuteman trail, through Lexington and on to Minuteman National Park. It was really fun and a perfect day for the ride. In all I think we biked 30+ miles. The first few photos are of the Lexington Battle Green and then some of the old houses along Battle Road and the route Paul Revere took on the 18th of April in 1775...Y'all should come visit, so much history.

Cheesecake Factory!

2008-12-09T05:54:00.000-08:00

My Mom came to town and she and my sister drove up to Boston for the day. Since it was almost my birthday we went to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. It was delicious...thanks Mom. Here are a few pics.

TAG I AM IT I GUESS!

2008-11-15T12:02:00.001-08:00

Erica tagged me so here is some interesting tidbits about me.
10 YEARS AGO:

1. I was studying Pre physical therapy at BYU.
2. I had just received my mission call to the Spain Las Palmas Mission.
3. I was living at the Riviera Apartments.
4. I applied for my passport, yay, which means I have to renew it this year.
5. I was at BYU with my sister, brother and brother in law!

5 THINGS ON TODAY'S TO-DO-LIST

1. Buy a new bike trainer
2. Ride once I get it.
3. Empty the dishwasher.
4. Make something to eat, still deciding.
5. Shower and get ready for the day.

5 THINGS I WOULD DO IF I WERE A MILLIONAIRE

1. Save and Invest
2. Buy a house
3. Buy a boat
4. Travel
5. Donate to charity

5 PLACES I HAVE LIVED

1. Houston TX
2. Redding California
3. Sandy UT
4. Kent, WA
5. Canary Islands, Spain
6. Boston MA

5 JOBS I HAVE HAD:

1. Swim instructor
2. Water Aerobics Instructor
3. Swim Coach
4. Lifeguard and Lifeguard Training/CPR Instructor
5. Physical Therapist/Traveling PT

I guess I get to tag people too so Mom, Amber and Amy if you want to.

HALLOWEEN 2008

2008-11-12T18:24:00.000-08:00

Caramel Popcorn take 2

2008-11-12T18:08:00.000-08:00

I made the caramel popcorn again but this time I substituted applesauce for half the butter. It was not nearly as sticky, but it still tasted really good.

Now who can say I am not photogenic!

Now this is much better!

Gloucester, Rockport, Harvard and Walden Pond

2008-11-12T18:03:00.000-08:00

Sausage and Pepper Calzones

2008-11-12T17:52:00.000-08:00

Ready for the oven.

Don't they look good, imagine they are already cooked!

The filling.

Working on the shaping and closing of the calzones.

I am a huge fan of Cooking Light Magazine and love to experiment with different recipes. Recently I made Sausage and Pepper Calzones. They were very time consuming, but turned out to be pretty good. I did half wheat flour and half white and really liked the mix.

Boston MFA and Salem MA

2008-11-12T17:27:00.000-08:00

Steph's mom Marilyn and her friend Shelly came to visit Boston for a week and here are some of the highlights of their visit. More pictures will follow. Notice the Lobster, it was delicious, thanks Marilyn. There is lots to see and do around Boston so you should come visit.

Heifer International

2008-10-28T18:32:00.000-07:00

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but i forgot my camera this day so I guess you will have to settle for a thousand words...
In my efforts to become more involved in my ward, we did a service project with Heifer International...they do educational classes and such to help developing countries learn to live with the resources they have or something like that. You will have to google it for more information. The camera would have been handy because it was in the most beautiful area and the trees were changing colors and had changed colors and were absolutely gorgeous. You will just have to trust me or come out here and see for yourself.

Walden Pond!

2008-10-28T18:16:00.000-07:00

New York City Take 2

2008-10-28T18:10:00.000-07:00

I was at Jamie's and went into the city to meet up with my cousin Michelle and her roommates for Mary Poppins, it was so fun and very entertaining! I love New York.

2008-10-28T18:05:00.000-07:00

OK, so the drive from my place in Woburn to Jamie's in New Canaan was so beautiful that I couldn't help but take a few pictures while driving. SInce I was not actually looking much as I took the photos,they did not all turn out as well as I hoped, so here is jsut a sampling. Hopefully you can still appreciate how beautiful fall is here in the East.

Martha Stewart Better Watch Out!

2008-10-28T17:58:00.000-07:00

So some of you may not know this but I really do like to cook and bake and stuff. I recently found myself with lots of time on my hands so I headed to Jamie's again. We had 50 lbs of apples from a previous apple picking adventure and still needed to find uses for them. So a couple of weeks ago Jamie and I baked up a storm. First we made homemade English muffins, rolls, and then Pies. We used Martha Stewart's baking guidebook for the pie crust and the turned out great. Due to my successful pie crust rolling adventure, I am considering quitting my day job and just taking over for Martha Stewart. HAHAHA! Anyway, we made 3 apple pies with the double crust and 2 additional pie crusts for additional pies to be announced, probably pumpkin. Jamie took some pictures so they will likely appear on her cooking blog some day so check there for the recipe and such. All I can say is that my feet were tired after being in the kitchen all day baking. The cooking blog is www.just-what-am-i-cooking.blogspot.com.

Apple Picking

2008-10-28T17:56:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from our apple picking excursion. We ended up with over 50 lbs of apples and so the creativity then began...how to use them apples.

Boston Massachucetts Temple

2008-10-28T17:39:00.000-07:00

Boston Bike Ride

2008-10-28T17:28:00.000-07:00

Some days i get really motivated and decide to do something so I jusst do it. One of those was to bike down to Boston Common and the Freedom Trail. These are some of the pictures I took during that ride. It was probably a total of about 30 miles biked that day, and it started to rain really hard, but other than that it was great fun. I am ready for my next ride, I just need a way to mount my GPS which will make it a faster trip.

Gas prices are dropping!

2008-10-28T17:03:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to fill up my car for under $40 the other day. I then spoke with my Mom in Houston who informed me that their gas price is $2.14, I payed $2.39...it felt good while it lasted!!!

Horn Pond/Woburn

2008-10-28T17:01:00.000-07:00

I love to bike so these are some pics I took one day while biking around Woburn and Horn Pond!

YSA Campout New Hampshire

2008-10-28T16:58:00.000-07:00