The Pause Button

My mind is the fastest running thing in the world. It is constantly thinking. It never stops or even slows up. I am positive that the speed in which my mind thinks of things is abnormal. I over-think EVERYTHING! I am always making plans, playing through "what-ifs", trying to create solutions to decisions that are years down the road, laying out all the possibilities, etc - usually all at once nonetheless.

Sheesh! It's exhausting. I wish I had a pause button for my brain!!

The only thing I have found that comes close to a pause button is working out for an extended period of time. This is the #1 reason (although there are others) why I run distance. Even after running for 20 minutes, my mind is still bouncing all over the place... but 40 minutes into it? The only thing my mind focuses on is my breathing and my pace. Ahhh! Heaven. Then I can think through things one at a time and forget about all those pointless thoughts that seem to be taking up room at all other moments of my day.

I headed down for a 24 hour trip to Mesa to participate in London's Run for my 4th year in a row yesterdsay. This year, I ran the 10k and finally accomplished my goal of a time of sub-60!! AND my dad and I both placed 3rd in our age group categories.

How could I not love running?!?

Summertime Cravings

I still have perfectly identifiable tan lines from last summer.

Oh wait, I don't think I have seen myself without them since I was nine.

Maybe that's why I rarely even realize that they are still very much there!

Is it summertime yet?!

I have been craving a good HOT day in the sunshine while swimming around in a refreshing pool.

I believe I am addicted to sunshine.

I cannot think of many things that I love more than feeling that insanely hot sun warm my skin and then jumping into a cool (not cold) pool!

It doesn't help that the wind up here sounds like ocean waves and that I put on fantastic smelling sunscreen to go snowboard!

This is nothing new though. This craving hits about this time every single year.

I wonder if it will ever go away?? Hmmm... Maybe when my tan lines do!

Trust

#1 Goal for 2011: Trust in God More Perfectly

Why is this so hard?!? I KNOW that Heavenly Father has a plan for me. It's a perfect plan. A far better one than I could ever make. It was prepared while knowing the beginning from the end and my well-being was a huge factor in the stages of planning.

Knowing all of this, I still don't seem to have complete faith to match my knowledge. Somehow fear creeps in all too easily. I hate fear. It really does sweep away all faith.

The last Church News was an entire special issue on trust. Ironic?! - I think not.

I have loved reading all these various articles on trust! So many good quotes, reminders, examples, and stories.

Current Favorite: "The fact that we are here on the earth is evidence that we trusted our Heavenly Father and His plan for us... When we personally choose to trust in God, we are blessed because of that decision. In the words of President Ezra Taft Benson, 'Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace.' "

I think I could use a little of all of those things right now. In other words, time to pray for greater faith and move forward trusting in His plan.

Snowboarding 101

I am the girl who at 15, worked 40 hour weeks in order to save money for college while other kids just begged their parents for money for the movies.

I am the girl who took 14 credits my senior year of high school on top of my high school load so that I could graduate from college one year early.

I am the one who crammed in all the credits possible in order to save myself from paying for yet another semester of schooling.

I am the girl who begged my mom to get another job to save more money and my mom said, "If you get another job, you are going to be kicked out." - No joke people!

I am a realist 100% of the time.

Because of this, I have never really done anything unpredictable in my life... until this semester.

I signed up for Snowboarding 101. Yep, that's right. I forked out money on equipment to go and play on the mountain 4 hours a day, two days a week.

I attended my first class just the other day. It was AH-MAAZING!!!

I didn't break any bones. Matter of fact, I only fell once and I mastered getting off the ski lift without even one mishap. I caught on fairly quickly. I even got a little daring and I can't wait to go back. My favorite part though? - Sitting on the ski lift and enjoying the beauty and peace of the mountains! It is so pretty up there!!

(Sorry this is such a lame pic. We were too afraid to keep our cameras in our pockets if we were going to be falling all day... the pics will improve as we improve!)

I think I am gonna be glad I decided to be unpredictable for once...

Alone

"Adults, just like children, have an innate desire to connect emotionally with another human being. Our brains are wired for attachment." - Todd Olson, Church News

I think my brain is a little over-wired for attachment. I don't like being alone for anything over a couple of hours tops. I have spent the past weekend up here alone. I had to come up early for work. I have come to the conclusion that the thing I hate the very most is... being alone.

Constant silence with no human beings around = Kourtney going stir crazy!!

Yes, I have had my TV on the disney channel on in the other room the entire weekend. Why? Because that is what is always on at home and I couldn't stand the quiet here any longer!

Saturday, I went running past a park and saw a few little families sledding. I ended up walking past them because I could share in their fun longer if I walked, instead of running past.

Pathetic? Yes. Even slightly exaggerating? Nope.

Conclusion: I want LOTS of kids someday and I want ALL the neighbors to play at my house so it's never quiet!

(I might regret this statement someday... but I'll just read this and remember how much I hate QUIET... and then run and hide!)

Thank goodness I finally have a roommate again!!!

Sisters Getaway

Last weekend, I had to go up north for a baptism, but planned on returning for my last week of break before school starts again. A-nana heard I was going and decided she was going to see snow no matter what. So the weekend became a sisters getaway. She skipped school on Friday and we drove up! She was so excited! When we got here, the roads were nicely paved and even dry but the snow was PERFECT!! She was itching to go play in it, but I had some stuff I had to get done before Sat, so she got to drool over it from inside.

That night, we made some killer hot chocolate and snuggled up in our snuggies and watched "What's Up Doc." It was her movie choice. It was so fun! We laughed and giggled and I loved it!

Saturday morning was almost like Christmas. She wanted to get up and run right out the door to play. I, of course, being the oldest child, made her eat breakfast and get her homework done first. But then we bundled up in lots of layers and went out for the SNOW!!

She ran through it and immediately laid down and made her very first snow angel!

Then we attempted to figure out this sledding business! It was a blast and quite the workout! We laughed and fell down and got lots of snow everywhere!

Much to A's disappointment, the time flew faster than she thought it would and we had to go in and get ready for my friends baptism! It was SO neat! I am so proud of my friend for making such a big decision and having such great faith! I'm so glad I was able to be here for it! It was worth the drive!!

The second the baptism ended though, A tugged me back into snow clothes to get in every minute we could with snow! We jumped in knee deep snow and made snowballs and attempted at our first snowman! We have a lot to learn about snow! He turned out pretty good though, although he is a bit small!

That night, we rented a movie and enjoyed getting warm again!

Sunday she came with me to the singles ward and was quite the trooper! We joked that she just completely skipped young womans!

She is the best sister I could have ever asked for and I am SO grateful for her! Our drive home went by so fast as we played some funny word games and she read her book to me! She is quite the young woman! She is such a great friend and so talented. She really doesn't care what others think of her and she knows how to really have fun! She is so willing to help others and seems to always be thinking of others!! I love you A!! Thanks for going with me!