Month of Cousins!

So.. I realize this is quite a few months late so I'll just do the shortened version..

We were blessed to be able to see so many cousins!

The Christiansen from California..

The whole Larsen/Sorensen clan.

Just about all the Nelsons.. took 2 separate occasions and there were some cousins who weren't able to make it.

Areoflyn and Family

They were here for Chris's family reunion and they stayed at my folks house for a short spell so we got to have dinner and play games with them.

I even got a trade offer from Colton in involving Ragnar..

Yellowstone 2013

Goals to accomplish:

Spend time with family: Check

Visit Quake Lake: Check

Wonder Grand Tetons for temple movie scene we're pretty sure is up there: Check

Picture at Grant Village & Lower Falls: Check

Smuggle home stick: Check

And it won't rotate.. but they're cute no matter which way you look at them!

It was the year of the buffalo but here's an elk close up that we thought was going to attack the car

Quake Lake

The Whole Sorensen Clan! Finally!

2 Years Later at Grant Village :)

Don't disturb the buffalo..

4th of July BBQ with Nelsons

Watch out.. They're serious..

The Thali Monster's "come at me bro" stance

Love Cami!

Now Doug and Eddie believe he's real..

The Nelson Reunion in Rogers, Arkansas..

Grandma wanted this tree down so..

Doug, Arnold, Dad..

Mark broke Grandpa's ax..

Mom, Marj, Kirk not paying attention..

Trip to Pea Ridge Civil War site.. Not that many people wanted to come but it's OK. I was with Arnold, Tawnya and kids who kept singing "a hiking we will go!"

I wanted to go to this mainly to hang out with my dad but we were separated in different cars

Where most of the action happened..

And yes.. I walked a short ways on the trail.. I didn't want to get ticks!

A town once stood here..

Walmart (of course) has paid for all the info signs and plaques as well as the other things around the park.

I wanted to go hiking with Aunt Marj.. do Dad, Doug and Jordan came with.  They also took the time to try to check stuff off Jordan's cub scout book.  Lots of berry tasting..

We also found some pretty cool fossils.. Jordan really like this fungus thou..

Why is there a 10x10 foot section of the Berlin Wall in the middle of the mountains in NW Arkansas? Who knows but it's right next to this giant Christ statue..

Gentry Animal Park.. there's a petting part and a drive through part.

Sonja super happy to pet the animals

Such an impressive art museum! Totally free thanks to Walmart!

Those are legit original pieces of art! Man! It was so amazing!

You can't go to Bentonville without going to the Sam Walton museum!

Eddie after winning a most fun game! However.. her kids have later informed us that the excitement about "finally winning" may not be true..

Grandpa Nelson

Grandma with the great-grand kids!

For us cousins who could make it.. this is how Grandma does "funny photo"!

The girls LOVED Fort Cody..

Yes I did go running at night around Rogers and it didn't take much to get dripping wet in that humidity!

I have TONS more photos.. trust me.. I really do..

I really enjoyed being able to see cousins that I haven't seen in like over 10 years (mainly Mark and Brian)!

Hopefully it won't be that long to wait again!



Mile #9

So I ran my first ever half marathon on May 18, 2013 in the Ogden Half Marathon.

I probably shouldn't have considering the amount of muscle I have lost from surgery

and the pain I am still struggling with in my ankle. 

I didn't do any running what so ever 2 weeks prior.

Yes you read that right.

No. Running. 2 weeks out.

I figured this would be a test of the "Nelson" genes.. considering I have some pretty

awesome cousins who can out run anyone I know!

Race Day Breakdown:

3:30am: Wake up, dress, kiss my love goodbye, go pick up James.

I can't eat that early in the morning- it's like the food just sits in my mouth

and I can't chew..

4am: Meet up with the Clegg boys: Dave, Paul, Phil.

Yup my group was 4 boys to 1 girl.

And it's raining.

4:30-5:30ish head up Ogden Canyon and hang out at the park by the

starting line.  It's nice to be there with Ogden Half Vet Dave who

knew a few tricks- like what honey pots to use that made me

the first person to use it, very important info!

The rain stops..

6:30am: the rain starts again!

6:45am: the gun starts and then about 10 minutes later we start- there was

that many people it was better to wait.

Mile 1& 2

Pretty flat, wet. I stuck with James

Mile 3 & 4

The only "hill" which was covered with meme posters to motivate people.

They were hilarious!

Mile 5

I lost James at the first aid station due to him "skipping to the lou"

I caught up to Paul and then left him at the turn by the lake- it was downhill

and I know how to run hills without wasting energy.  And due to my injuries I needed

all the energy I could save.

Mile 6- 8

Nothing of note occurred (still raining).. I just enjoyed pounding the pavement and dodging

the puddles. Paul caught up to me just in time for me to hide behind

b/c a group of my students where working the aide station.

I don't mind seeing my students outside of work, I just don't like them seeing me..

in hot pink spandex..

Mile 9

F'n Mile 9..

for those first 8 miles I was on pace for completing the Half in under 1:45 (hours).

then the muscle atrophy kicked in with it's less than wonderful

15 minute mile.

I've never ran such a slow mile- even when I was freshly cleared to start running again.

My knee killed.

My ankle hurt even worse- but wasn't swollen- weird.

Mile 10-13

a 5k.. the hardest 5k I had ever ran.

James caught up to me towards the end of mile 12

Mile .1

Well, actually it was the last half mile when I started my kick.

I was in so much pain I was ready for it to be over. I felt bad leaving James

behind but I was done.

Coming down the homestretch I saw Derek waiting with his camera

and cheering for me.

I immediately starting crying.

Words cannot express the vast amounts of pain my right leg was in,

but there was my wonderful husband giving me the motivation I needed to finish.

Then I past the parking garages filled with the Clegg Cheering Squad!

Finish

I finished my first ever half- under trained, and still recovery from ankle surgery

2:28 (hours).

They tried to drag me into the med tent but I told them that unless they

are going to give me a high dose morphine shot there's nothing else they can do.

I grouped up with Dave, Paul, and James, took some pictures,

hugged Derek and headed home to a warm shower and dry clothes.

Conclusion: There is a "Nelson running gene". And I wouldn't have traded

that experience for anything!

I'm so grateful for the love & support I received that day :)

And the free scone from Dave later that day! 

(Although my track team I help coach was at day 2 of the state meet that day as well.)



Looking For Rainbows

I want to share with you a running experience

I had a few weeks ago..

 

So the weather has been it's usual self as far as weather in the Rocky Mt's

in Utah goes-bi polar Sunny/rainy.

 

To the South you could see massive black clouds forming,

and for some reason that was the direction I decided to go,

right towards the storm.

 

52 minutes into my run I came to a cross roads where I decided best

to turn aroundsince the storm was getting pretty nasty.

The second I turn to start the trek home a strong headwind hits me.

A wind I never knew nor felt was there.

This is when my thoughts turned HOME.

 

The Spirit inspired my mind to started comparing parts

of my run to events in my life...

That first 52 minutes of easy going running seemed to

sum up my life from when I was 18

until I was 25- enjoying the run but not really feeling the burn

(fitness lingo reference)

nor enjoying the beautiful trail that I was on.

 Plus the fact that I was running

right towards a massive storm.

 

That's when the advice & council from my Bishopric in

St. George came to mind..

"Wickedness Never Was Happiness.

But Never, Never, NEVER Give up.

The Lord Loves You."

So I turn around, to run home, away from the storm.

All the choices I was making up to that point had basically been boiling up

into a spiritual destructive storm.

 

That's when the headwind hits.

That was when Satan kicked up his efforts.

Satan was/is my headwind.

My pace slowed.  It was a hard wind. But luckily I had Ragnar

 (with her flashlight collar)

to pull me back up to pace.

My Parents let me move home.

 

I didn't think it was possible but the wind pushed against me even harder.

And it got dark. Fast.

I turn on my safety light and switch on Ragnar's light-

her light illuminating the

trail for me & she maintained helping me stay on pace.

Every temptation and hardship I encountered after moving home,

Christ was there to help me stay strong.

He sent the Holy Ghost to be with me so I wouldn't fall back.

 

I come to the trail crossing that I could either go home,

or go one more mile.

I went one more mile.

You can see my house from the trail and I could see that Derek came home.

That's when the wind died down, but the thunder & lighting started.

Everything changed when I met Derek. I was more determined than ever

to be worthy of a Temple Marriage- I knew Derek was the one from our first date.

 

The storm seemed to be suddenly upon me,

thunder & lighting dancing in the sky.

Small, sporadic raindrops started to fall with only a 1/4 mile to go.

Satan tried his best to falter us- trying us if you will.

 

As soon as I came in the door, I shared my experience with Derek

who of course hugged, kissed me, & told me

how much he loves me (isn't he just amazing?!)

 

Then I go outside to feed Ragnar and I see this:

(one from the Internet b/c it turns out I deleted the one I took off my phone-but this is close! Yes it was in fact a double rainbow.)

 

That Rainbow remined me of this:

April 2011 General Conference

 

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/the-miracle-of-the-atonement?lang=eng

 

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/the-atonement-covers-all-pain?lang=eng

 

That day I knew.. I knew :)

 

 

I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain

And ponder on the beauty of an earth made clean again.

 I know when I am baptized my wrongs are washed away,

And I can be forgiven and improve myself each day.

I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.

I want to be the best I can and live with God again.



Freddy

So this is Freddy..
USMC explosives/narc MWD
(and great at playing human "don't even think about hiding cuz I will find you")

All 95lbs of him..biggest from the kennels

 

Austin is offically gone.. out to the desert.
He called easter morning to report that they arrived safely..

Small things to be thankful for!

(Pics from Yumma Proving Grounds, AZ & Camp Lejeune, NC)

I miss my brother..

 

Keep him safe Freddy!



Eternal Perspective

Dearly Missed.. Dearly Loved.

Thankfully God loves us so much that He made it possible for

Families to be Together. Forever.

We'll miss you Nolan until we meet again.

 



"Life does not begin with birth, nor does it end with death. Prior to our birth, we dwelled as spirit children with our Father in Heaven. There we eagerly anticipated the possibility of coming to earth and obtaining a physical body. But we regarded the returning home as the best part of that long-awaited trip, just as we do now. Returning from earth to life in our heavenly home requires passage through—and not around—the doors of death. We were born to die, and we die to live."

Elder Russel M. Nelson (Doors of Death," Ensign, May 1992, 72.)



A Life Without Limits

Now that I'm off crutches, it's getting increasing harder not to get frustrated

that my physical activity is still very EXTREMELY limited.

Especially when you're a coach and you want to go on the easy run days

with the kids (such a great bonding experience!)

So what can I do? Read. Alot.

But mainly this book which Debbie was quoting from to the kids

right before a hard day

which of course I just had to read for myself.

Talk about motivation!

No I don't plan on taking up triathlons now or even want to compete in an Ironman.

But holy cow!

Chrissie Wellington shares her life story about becoming a world champion,

including her stuggles with body image and eating disorders.

She won Ironman Kona the very first time she competed in it!

She won in years 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2011.

She also holds the female world record.

8:18:13 (In Germany).

After the swim and bike ride, she completes a MARATHON

at basically 6:25 pace- mainting that pace ALL 26.2 miles!

In 2011 she was serisouly injuried in a bike accident a few weeks before the world championships. SHE STILL COMPETED AND WON!

This woman is amazing! I don't really follow pro atheltes..

actually I don't at all

but still, this woman is amazing and inspiring.

There was a little poem that was written in tribute to her

http://twitter.yfrog.com/hs6wpfej

but the best part of it was something that I shared wth the team this week

and could be used for any area of life:

"What if determination becomes bigger than your fears?"

So in short.. you should read this book :)

Snow..

Since everyone else posting about all the snow we have gotten

in the last few days..

here is mine!

Ragnar seems to be the only one who really is out there enjoying it!

Freddy (Amy & Dave's lab) came over to play.. they had so much fun!

Hopefully you can tell how deep it is in the backyard.. another

foot and only her head would be sticking

above it!

As it turns out.. Ragnar likes watching Harry Potter with me

while I am stuck in bed with my foot up..

PS.. yes. the BXC Club team did go out running in the snow when the storm

first started AND THEY LVOED IT!