Jimmer Fredette Feature

A feel good story about BYU All-American Jimmer Fredette. This is for all of you who need a little Jimmer education. :)

Dinner and Jimmer

Last Saturday, my friends Allison, Sherstin, and I went to Costa Vida for dinner. While sitting and eating, Allison finally realized that Jimmer or a Jimmer look-a-like was sitting two tables away from us. We looked, stared, debated, and figured it was probably a look-a-like because the team couldn’t possibly be back from San Diego yet. Then after looking at the time, we realized they actually could be back. Turns out, it WAS Jimmer!

So we did what all self-respecting adult BYU fans would do. We texted and called and bragged to our friends and family. Then, we continued to secretly stalk him. Allison even casually took a picture on her phone to prove to the world of Facebook that we saw Jimmer. Seeing Jimmer just capped a great basketball weekend. Way to go BYU! Always good to be a Cougar fan!

Question Answered

This morning I had a question: If you have a scratchy throat and stuffy nose (all symptoms pointing to a cold), will running six miles make it worse? The answer is yes.

Are You Watching?

In 1989, we witnessed two very historical events. The first was the Tiananmen Square protests. Though the outcome of these peaceful student protests ended in a violent massacre with the number of victims still unknown, the event stuck in my mind as being significant in our world history.
Twenty plus years later, though China is still technically a Communist state, we see capitalism infiltrating at a rapid rate. Because of a rare chain of events which saw Great Britain handing Hong Kong over to China in 1997, we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints saw history. A temple, which was only dedicated the year before, now existed in a Communist country. Were you watching?

The second was the fall of the Berlin Wall. My teachers pointed out the significance of this event telling us that the world was beginning to change and we were eye witnesses. I remember feeling very impressed that their words were true and began paying closer attention to world events.
The following year an exchange student from the former East Germany came to school in my home town. Her story fascinated me. It was if overnight the political scene changed. The wall literally came down and freedoms she had never known came flooding her way. Now Germany is considered one of the strongest economic European powers. All of this happened in a matter of twenty years. Were you watching?

In 1990, the year following the fall of the Berlin Wall, many Eastern Bloc nations began protesting against Soviet and/or Communist power. Much like Germany, the terror that had gripped many countries for decades fell within moments. Some declared Soviet power illegal and announced independence. In Russia a failed coup sent the future of the Soviet Union into an unknown realm with Mikhail Gorbachev trying to hold together fragments of a once powerful nation. I remember Gorbachev's announcement on Christmas Day in 1991 and my dad commenting that he never thought he would see the breakup and demise of the Soviet Union. Once again history was happening all around us. And last year, a temple was dedicated in Kiev, Ukraine, a country held under the former Soviet Union. Were you watching?

All of this leads me to the past month. Students, workers, the people of Middle Eastern nations have been crowding the streets and public squares. They seek freedom from years of oppression. Some analysts fear the results will end similarly to the 1970s Iranian government overthrow but I disagree with them. We live in a differnt time with a different wind blowing. They have experienced what I like to call intellectual democracy: Freedom of Speech. Freedom of Press. Freedom of Assembly. All via the Internet. That taste of democracy and freedom will be the difference.
Egypt's protests for Mubarak's resignation came out of the blue to many. But change in these Middle Eastern countries could only come when the timing was right, when their voices could not be stopped. Through text messaging, facebook, cell phones, and other means of mass communication, the people were able to organize. Their voices were heard. And just like the fall of the Berlin wall, Egypt's successful protests have created a domino affect across two continents. Though some have not been as peaceful or seeing the same results as Egypt, major protests have occurred in Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and Yemen with minor protests in Iraq, Kuwait, Mauritania, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Syria. I don't know whether the end result will be positive or negative for the United States, but I do know that whatever happens, it will have a tremendous impact on us. I wonder if we are seeing the beginnings of a new era where the way is being prepared for the gospel to be sent to those in these Middle Eastern countries. I sense a change and have a strong belief that worldly events occur to fulfill the plan and promises of the Lord. The question now is this: Are you watching?

The Worst Injury

I won’t deny it. Not at all. I completely admit it. I am accident prone. I like to blame it on my strabismus and lack of depth perception when objects are flying at me. That would account for the broken left index finger (twice!) while playing basketball and football and the severely jammed right fingers while playing inter tube water polo. No I’m not making that last one up. Played on an intramural team. You may make fun of me but at least we won our t-shirt!

At least with all of the above I was moving. Not with the broken hand. I had already rollerbladed ten miles when two blocks from my apartment, when I was standing still, I lost my balance and fell. Yes, I am that coordinated. Spiral fracture, hand surgery, three screws, and six weeks of physical therapy.

However, those injuries were nothing. I am here to tell you the worst injury to have, and I am pretty sure my mom would agree with me on this one not counting a total hip replacement surgery, is a foot injury. Completely stops you from doing anything. Yes with the others I needed help doing my hair and getting dressed but at least I could move! Three years ago I suffered a lisfranc sprain jumping off my parents' porch in shoes two sizes too big. I know. A brilliant move on my part. I couldn’t walk without pain for six months. Not fun. At all.

Last week I was being smart (i.e. climbing on the shelves in my parents’ storage room and trying to move boxes while balancing on plastic containers) and fell when a weakened plastic box snapped under the pressure of Mabel and myself. You have to be extra coordinated to bruise the bottom of your foot. And which foot do you think it was? You guessed it! The same one as three years ago. Gratefully the swelling and bruising are subsiding and I’m getting back on my running schedule, but with every step I’m reminded that foot injuries are the worst.

The Glorious Establishment Called Costco

Costco amazes me. Somehow I walk into the store knowing exactly what I need, yet I still find myself picking up this and that as I walk through the store. Today was no exception. However, Costco has finally picked up on the glories of where I grew up. How can that be? How could Costco, a giant conglomerate of a machine, ever recognize little ol' Sanpete County?

Well, as I was walking through eating the samples, I stumbled upon the Norbest Turkey display. The first sample was your everyday roasted turkey. Good, but not enough for me to buy it. Then the temptation. The marinated turkey sat on the opposite side. I grabbed one, popped it in my mouth, and the memories of camping and mountain dinners rushed through me. I caved. When I went to pick up a package, I laughed! Look at the top left corner of the image:

Apparently, Sanpete Style is so good that even Norbest Turkey picked up the flavor. (It really is the best way to cook a turkey.) Once again, I'm reminded of my dad's philosophy. "Anything you need, you can get it at Costco." Thank you Costco!

*Two packages came with the bundle and one of my sisters has already volunteered to take the second one. :)

Favorite Time of Year

The only thing better than caramel and chocolate mixed together is peanut butter and chocolate at Easter time.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow...

...because I did not drive home! So happy to have an aunt who will let me crash at her house so I don't crash on the roads trying to make it home. Plus I have to be at work early tomorrow, so an added bonus for only having a fifteen minute drive in the morning.

Racing Through Life

I have so many stories to write about and all I can think about is sleep. Why? Because I know the next 72 hours of my life. It was supposed to be a relaxing week but that doesn't seem to be a theme for me recently. Honestly, working hard and being busy has been a blessing (Think Elder Christofferson). Now if I can just remember to follow the advice of President Uchtdorf.

Good-night! Good-luck! Pray I drive safely and stay alert as I travel back forth to meetings, to interviews, and to appointments (and yes they are all separate events).

*Kath - I'm finding myself singing your alternate lyrics to "The Role You Know So Well" as I commute each day.

Small Town Charm

Today I was tackling the reorganization of my parents’ basement, but I still needed to get my run in for the day. So, with the sun bright and shining, I set off. While running, I was reminded of a few things that I love about my home town.

1) The random names we give places. My run today was along Farmer’s Freeway. We also have The Oreo, The Moon, The Swing, The G-Hill, The Cliffs, The Camel, and so many other places. Very ordinary names but with extraordinary memories.

2) The smallness in size. Yes I know I am from a small town, but today it really hit me. I realized that if I ran from my place, down to the river walk, up past the Jacksons to 1st ward boundaries, and over to my house, I would have only covered three miles. (Hence the reason to run along Farmer’s Freeway.) No wonder my mom let me bike to the pool and to friends’ houses. It really wasn’t that far!

3) The friendliness of people. I had my sunglasses on while running and people had no idea who I was, but those running by or driving by would always wave. I love that!

4) The clear blue sky. During the winter time, the inversion can be stifling. I so enjoyed the sky today! I remember one time when my Uncle Udell and Aunt Pauline drove from Salt Lake to visit just to see the blue sky and enjoy the shining sun. Today was one of those perfect “warm” winter days.

Small towns are known for having their unique quirks. I know my town does. In spite of that, I still find a quaint charm about it every time I visit.

Worth Watching

Last year I discovered a TV show that I found fascinating. It combines the history nerd in me and my desire to discover my own family story. The show is Who Do You Think You Are?

The show follows different celebrities as they discover their own past. I loved last season! Matthew Broderick discovered one of his ancestors fought in the Civil War and was killed at the Siege of Atlanta. The touching part of this story is Matthew Broderick's ancestor was buried in an unidentified grave at the national cemetery. The grave will now have a permanent identifying marker. Sarah Jessica Parker discovered her tenth great-grandmother was persecuted in the Salem Witch Trials. Lisa Kudrow traced her family line back to the holocaust. Emmett Smith to slavery. Brooke Shields to King Louis XIV of France.

For those who want an uplifting show, try it. It just started again last week and once again the story connected a celebrity with living history. I love the stories that we learn from our past. Now I need to get moving with my line and discover the story behind the man in the picture with the Civil War uniform and find out more about my Arabic ancestors.

The Road Not Taken

Recently, an incredible opportunity fell into my lap. As I pondered the decision and the consequences of both options, I found myself reflecting on similar past experiences and the paths each of those decisions has taken me.

A few weeks ago, a CEO that I had talked with back in November emailed me and offered me a position with his company. He didn’t have specifics yet so we arranged a time to meet. As I drove to the interview, I had a very distinct feeling about this opportunity. By the time I got to the place, I knew I was only there for a courtesy check. Without even knowing the details, I had an answer.

As the CEO explained the particulars, those initial impressions were validated. The job would be in New York City. I would be training teachers on the company’s phonics based reading program. None of this sounds too bad, right? The caveat was I needed to give a three year commitment, the position encapsulated many of the reasons I left teaching in the first place, and no long term growth in the company seemed imminent.

I actually spent some time thinking about this decision to make sure I wasn't being irrational and to make sure I was accurately assessing all the options. This week I officially declined the offer.

In comparing this experience with others, I was able to recognize the Lord's hand in my life. Incredible opportunities have come my way but they have never been the most obvious or the easiest to obtain. In fact, the greatest blessings have always come through difficulty, work, and the testing of my faith and resolve. New York would have been fun! Interesting though, a few other job leads have come my way in the past week. So what will be the ending to this story? To quote Robert Frost…


I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Second Time Around

Last time I ran a half marathon, I started from scratch. Working out wasn’t even on the schedule. Getting into a routine and building my endurance took more time than I wanted. This time I am improving much faster! It took me two months to be able to run three miles with no problem. Second time around…three miles is standard.

Two weeks ago I used my sister’s treadmill because it was freezing outside (I refuse to run in the cold) and the indoor track I usually use was closed for the day. One of the treadmill programs pushed my limits! In a 30 minute spread, the grade fluctuated between 1-5% and the speed between 3.5-6.5mph. Gratefully 6.5mph was NOT at 5% grade. I’ll admit that I had to stop a couple of time to catch my breath.

Now let me tell you about my workout this week. Since the first treadmill experience, I had been changing up my running at the indoor track working on sprints and overall speed. After two weeks of consistently training, I wanted to test out my strength and see how much I had improved with that same treadmill program. Happy Day! I rocked that program! It felt fantastic to actually see and feel my improved stamina and endurance. I look forward to this half marathon because I know I am much better prepared. Only ten more weeks!

My Number Is Up

My brother-in-law taunts me relentlessly about never receiving a speeding ticket. He’s right to do so. Many, many times I should have gotten a ticket. Only once did the highway patrolman actually give me a written warning. Every other time, luck, fate, grace, the tender mercy of the Lord, whatever you want to call it, stepped in and I drove off with only a verbal warning.

Also, commuting doesn’t bother me. I seem to turn on autopilot and cruise along the freeway, always making sure I’m not the fastest car on the road. As you read above, my number is up! I have to be careful. All of this background leads me to two Fridays ago after a very long week at work. That day I just wanted to get home. Cars sped past me so I just zoomed along with them not really watching the speedometer. One exit from mine, I realized I was leading the pack. I slowed down because I knew I would be an easy target.

Then the unthinkable happened. A highway patrolman zipped along in beside of me. He slowed for a second in FRONT of me, turned on his lights (remember he is in front of me!), then continued on his way. I took that as a “Slow Down!” sign and immediately decreased my speed. How grateful I was that I was only given a warning. My hard week didn’t seem so bad after the kindness of the highway patrolman.

When I got home, I realized how generous the patrolman had been to me. First, I was going 70 in a 55mph construction zone. Unbelievable! I should have been slammed! But it gets better. I was driving my sister’s car with California license plates! Easy target! At least the car was still insured even though the registration was probably in my parents’ names by that time. Such an utter nightmare it would have been trying to explain my sister’s insurance card, my parents’ name on the title, and me speeding in a construction zone. What have I learned from all of this? Even when you have a bad week, the Lord still provides blessings. Also…slow down!!!

Sweet Moment of the Day

When I left my sister's house today, my two-year-old niece climbed into my lap, looked at my sweetly, and said, "You come with me?" She wanted to come home with me. Made my heart melt seeing those beautiful blue eyes asking me not to leave without her.

Other sweet moment of the day was when we called my sister in Chicago and on command, my niece repeated "Da Bears!" Such an impressionable youth. Hopefully I haven't corrupted her too much.

Fun All Around

My nieces and nephews bring such joy to my life. Gratefully two of my sisters live nearby so I get many opportunities to spend time with them. Here are a few things I love about my nieces and nephews:

* My niece grabs a spoonful of peanut butter, places chocolate chips in the mass, and begins eating it. A girl after my own heart.
* The twins who joyfully scream my name whenever I enter the room.
* My nephew who jumps out of bed, even though he is supposed to be asleep, and runs to say hi because he hears my voice.
* Stretching out their muscles with me after I have worked out on my sister’s treadmill. The four year old could easily touch her nose to her knees. Me…not quite there.
* Making and eating a batch of Scotcharoos. For those who don’t know this divine treat, it is a mixture of corn syrup, peanut butter, and sugar mixed with Rice Krispies, then topped with a melted butterscotch and chocolate chips. Like eating a bit of heaven.
* Being invited over to “babysit” even though the oldest is twelve.
* The two-year-old twins jabbering away telling me about their day. I know that is what they are doing because I hear things like bath, book, train, toys, etc.
* Getting text messages from my niece who is using my sister’s phone.
* The twins fighting to sit on my lap and reading stories.
* My nephew who makes pictures for me.
* Being called their second mom by many of them.
* Snuggling up to me when watching a movie together.
* Being silly together.
* Big group hugs.


At a party last summer, all the girls wanted to sit with me.

The boys wanted in on the action too.

Friday Pick Me Up

January Day of Gratitude

Today I am grateful for the computer savvy-ness of my brother. A year ago in November, I upgraded my OS from Vista to Windows 7. I didn’t have time to do a clean install because I was in the middle of grad school so opted for the quick upgrade instead. This past weekend I took the leap and did a clean install. Unfortunately, generic drivers were installed instead of the upgraded ones that originally came with my laptop. Long story short, through the help of my brother, I was able to get everything in working order and almost have my computer back to top-notch conditions. Glad to have my computer back and finally functioning normally!

Do You Ever Have Days Like This?

"We're adults. When did that happen? And how do we make it stop?" --Meredith Grey

Family Calendar

One year for Christmas, I made my parents a calendar highlighting the different events from our family from the previous year and placing face shots for each birthday and anniversary. The next year I got ambitious. My parents and all my married siblings each got a calendar that included all their in-laws' anniversaries and birthdays too. Well those two years started a trend. Since that time I have continued creating a family calendar every year.

Things have evolved from the first calendars. Eventually, I had to stop doing in-laws' events for my siblings because families, including ours, were expanding rapidly. I still do two in-law calendars for my sisters that they in turn give as presents to their in-laws. My parents decided they liked the calendar so much they bought a color laser printer to save on printing costs. I've become good at Photoshop and splicing different pictures and experimenting with different backgrounds and designs. My goal this year is to learn InDesign to incorporate more unique elements than the old program I have continually used in the past. This year I felt limited in what I could do and realized it was time to graduate to better software.

Nieces and nephews have called me on the phone asking when the calendar would be completed. Now they just realize that it will come after the New Year. In spite of my best laid plans, something always happens to delay it being done before December 31st. And, no matter how hard I try, I always seem to make a mistake! Gratefully my family doesn't get offended and take it as a Where's Waldo challenge to find the errors. Last year was the worst when I swapped two of my sisters' birthdays and forgot my newly married brother's anniversary. Oops!

Because I think my blog is lacking pictures, I thought I would share with you the results of this year's calendar. If you click on the slideshow, it will open to a different window and the pictures are easier to see. Each family member gets a different month and my remaining grandparent (Grams) passed away this year, so January became a tribute to all my grandparents. Hope you enjoy the photos of my family who I love dearly.