My New Car

I told Krystal I would update on Paris next but I haven't had time. I'll do that on the plane tomorrow. Yes traveling again!

I bought my Honda Acoord soon after I got my first job. I loved that car! Black, manual, nice stereo (Happy Valentine's Day to me!), and a great ride. I drove that thing everywhere: Northern California, Southern California, Phoenix and back, Phoenix to Utah and back again, Vegas multiple times, Lake Powell multiple times, 5 years commuting, and so much more! It never broke down on me. Never had any major problems. Granted the paint was chipping, the hubcaps were missing, the belts were squeaky, but it was a reliable car.

Alas, the good times came to an end. The transmission started to go out. I had the mechanic look at it and the cost was more than I wanted to pay. In May, I sold my car. Yes, I was completely honest to the buyer. He knew it was the transmission. He had a mechanic drive it and he confirmed it was the transmission. I was sad to see my car drive away.

What am I driving now? My sweet new ride is my sister's old Honda Civic, which happened to be a car I drove while in college. My car was 11 years old with 190,000+ miles. The Civic has 211,000+ miles, is 14 years old, AND has no air conditioning. Gratefully it has been a mild summer. Only a few more weeks left to endure!

The Civic. It looks similar but it isn't the same. I miss my car. On the bright side, I have been able to save money instead of paying interest. I just need to make this thing last one more year and I'll be able to buy something nice and new/used.

Running, Running, and More Running

Training for races is so time consuming! I've been training for races since January and I am exhausted. I ran the Salt Lake Half Marathon in April, the Timpanogos Half Marathon in July, and am running the Red Rock Relay in two weeks.

My training recently has been pathetic. My bed feels way too comfortable in the morning and my social life is much more appealing in the evening. Oh well...two more weeks and then I get a small break. I am running the Dirty Dash with friends in September and the Run For Your Lives with a friend in October. But those are only 5Ks and should be fun. I've thought about a triathlon to mix up the training but I have too many vacations I am planning and training would just get in the way.


Salt Lake Half

Finished in 1:59:17

Timp Half. Ran the race with my brother Rich, his wife Kaylene, and their son Taylor. Finished in 1:54:48

Let the Updates Begin

Time to update you all on my summer adventures. First, if you view my blog in Google Reader, I clarified the previous post. I realized it was very vague so I made it less vague. :) I know that once blog posts are published in an RSS feed any edits are not updated.

So one of the things I was trying to make happen was moving. I have wanted to move for a while. I've been living at my parents' duplex this summer helping get everything in order. (That is a whole other blog post.) My friend Kari and I were both feeling a need to make some changes in our situations and decided we were going to search out new places to live. Both of our companies are moving north in October, and we felt this was a perfect time to make a change. I was on KSL and Craigslist for a few weeks looking for new places and found some really great options for us.

We decided that before signing on a place, we should also explore the singles scene to get a sense of how easy it would be to find a new social circle. One Sunday we went to check out a singles ward. All I can say is...Wow! We drove up to the building and could not find a place to park. The place was packed! Both of us were laughing at the situation. It was unreal. We found a place in a residential neighborhood across the street and quickly walked to the building. What makes this scene even funnier is Kari had a broken foot. All handicap spots were taken and she was hobbling across 7200 South laughing the whole time.

When we walked into the building we were taken aback. It looked like Stake Conference! We wondered if we were in the right building. Then we heard the callings. Yep! We were at the mid-singles ward. We had the hardest time not laughing. We couldn't believe this was a real ward! Over 600 people were in attendance! They had 4 Relief Societies, 2 Elder Quorums, and callings that even if you tried, you could not find listed in the church handbook. Kari and I saw all we needed to see. We slipped out laughing even more than when we went in. On my way out, I did something very irreverent. I snapped a picture. We had to prove to Kari's roommates that we were not exaggerating one bit.


I learned something from this event. That mid-singles ward was reminiscent of the singles ward I was in when I taught at Bingham. So many people that you got lost in the mix. Definitely not for me. I love the family ward! Church is not about finding someone to date but to build a relationship with Christ and to renew covenants through partaking of the sacrament. I love my ward family and the opportunities I have to serve them.

Moving is still a good option but timing is going to play a part in this. I'm still looking but no longer trying to make it happen tomorrow like I was before. I'm stepping back a bit knowing that the Lord's hand is guiding my life. No worries here. :)

Taking Action

Since most of you are friends or family that read my blog, I thought I would explain my Giving Up post. Seth Godin, a marketing guru, explained, "Action, even ineffective action, is something societies seek out during times of uncertainty." I have felt the need to make things happen. To act and not be acted upon. To make decisions. To press forward. To seek out a better way.

I was feeling that sense of uncertainty and so I set out to make things happen. I became extremely frustrated in trying to make things happen. I was ready to give up. That night at the temple, I realized that having a plan was good but my plan wasn't the best thing for me. The Lord provided insight into what I could do to "make things happen" and to "press forward". Basically, I needed to focus more on the "Don't worry" part of life instead of the "Everything is going to work out" part. In doing that I have been able to make some new friends, find a balance with work and life, and feel less anxious about the future. I am very grateful for a Lord who is keenly aware of me and answers my prayers.

My Favorite Steve Jobs' Quote

Much has been written since Steve Jobs announced he was stepping down as Apple's CEO. Being the social media person on my team, I have read many of these articles. All have similar themes: work hard, play hard, be creative, live your dreams, don't give up hope. One of my favorite articles was from the Wall Street Journal that reprinted Jobs' commencement address at Stanford in 2005. I wanted to share with you the thought that touched me the most.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. --Steve Jobs

Strengthened by the Lord

I read this quote from Joseph Smith, The Prophet's Facebook status. (I just read that line and thought how ironic that Joseph Smith was martyred by those hoping to extinguish his voice and now that same voice is being published world-wide on a social networking site.)

"I wanted to say something to you to comfort you in your peculiar trial & present affliction. I hope God will give you strength that you may not faint. I pray God to soften the hearts of those around you to be kind to you & take the burden off your shoulders as much as possible & not afflict you. I feel for you, for I know your state & that others do not, but you must comfort yourself knowing that God is your friend in heaven & that you have one true & living friend on earth, your husband."

I may not be married but this particular quote touched my heart because I know that God is my friend and is acutely aware of me, and I have a family that has been a great source of comfort to me. They are my friends and I love them dearly.

Giving Up

Tonight I was ready to give up. Too tired to try anymore. I was emotionally spent and had nothing left to give. I explained this to the Lord. That I had done everything I knew how to do and had given all I had. I didn't know how to give anything else. The only thing left for me to do was place all my worries in His hands and trust Him completely.

Oh how the Lord blessed me! The tender mercies of the Lord strengthened me tonight while I was serving in the temple. One girl sat next to me at dinner and a really positive conversation resulted from this. Then I saw the mother of a friend of mine. When I introduced myself, she complimented me and related uplifting comments from her son. I ran into the wife of another friend and my conversation with her just added more peace and comfort to my wearied soul.

Nothing has changed really. Circumstances and situations have not been altered. But I have been changed. The Lord knew I needed a little more faith and hope tonight. He strengthened me so I could continue to endure. How grateful I am for the power of the personal prayer, the power of priesthood covenants, the power of the atonement.