First Day of School

Our first day of school was staggered this year. Kellie headed off first to Freshman Academy at Timpview - a day of just freshmen to get them all oriented before the "big kids" get there.Katie was next, a veteran at Edgemont, now in the 5th grade.

Alissa was last, riding the bus for the first time, and off to the 7th graders only day at Centennial.

Jenna spent that day at home doing her AP English homework (and she was not alone in this as I learned this was how many juniors spent the day). She headed to her first day this morning, in the car, with her friend and our neighbor, Mimi in tow (Kellie was in the back seat). Consensus so far: we like school.

I did it!

In June, I set a goal for myself to run a 10K. It's been a challenge to get in shape for it and I admit to having some moments of psyching myself out. But today, I did it!

I ran in the Run Like a Girl race up in Midway. Jenna was awesome and ran it with me (and took 2nd place overall - she's so amazing!)

Time: 57 minutes. Jenna ran in 44. I feel great! (and I didn't stop, not up the hill, not at all - yay!)

Before the race

After the race

2nd place medal - wahoo!

What a July!

This month has been a crazy whirlwind ! Here's a picture play-by-play:

On the 4th of July, we all ran the 5K Freedom Run in Provo. Provo has the best 4th of July celebration anywhere!!

July 9 - 16 we spent a week on our houseboat at Lake Powell. We hiked up Hole In the Rock, visited Rainbow Bridge, climbed up and ran down the sand dune in Moqui Canyon and swam and skied and ate. Fun!

July 19-23 Jenna, Kellie, Alissa, and I went to Girls Camp at MIA Shalom up Fairvew Canyon. Best camp ever!

Josh gave his mission farewell talk in our ward on July 24th. He gave the most beautiful talk about enduring to the end and then we had our family and friends over for food and talk. Get a more detailed account on Josh's "Elder Crowther" blog: http://eldercrowther.blogspot.com/

Gresko Reunion

We had a great time at our family reunion in Reno, Nevada - I'd never been there before. My favorite was hiking in to Lake Tahoe and enjoying the beautiful scenery and watching the kids play. I also loved hugging all my brothers and my dad and eating chocolate with my sisters-in-law, daughters, and niece at The Chocolate Bar. I LOVE FAMILY!

My dad got most of his grandchildren to jump into the 53 degree lake - freezing!

We had a picnic with my dad's brother's kids (my cousins) - lots of fun.

David and I enjoying the lake - looking pretty good for 40-something's, huh?

We all stayed at my brother Steve's house - set up a tent city in his backyard. :)

Running

Our family has been running a lot this summer. A couple of weeks ago, we ran a 5K as a family. Jenna actually came in 3rd of all the women there and got a medal. Cool.

I have been considering running a 10K. Up 'til now, I have been very content to stick with the 5K's. I feel like a winner there. But someone said, "If you can run 3 miles, you can just as easily run 6." So I'm thinking about it...and testing the waters.

Twice now, I have run 4.6 miles and 4.8 miles. Only another 1.2 miles and I'll be up to a 10K. I will admit, it was hard. I never did get that "runner's high" at the 3-mile mark I was promised, but I didn't stop, so maybe I have it in me.

Goal for now: 10K at the end of the summer.

For my mom--

I miss you.

I miss hearing your voice on the phone.

I miss seeing you in your beautiful clothes with your hair and make-up carefully done.

I miss how you really cared that Alissa got 4 goals in a soccer game and that Katie had a kool-aid stand.

I miss how you kept track of everyone in our family and made sure we got together and knew what was going on in each other's lives.

I love you.

I love how you would tell me how pretty I looked on Sunday.

I love that you truly wanted to be at all of my kids' activities.

I love that you loved me exactly for who I was.

I love that family was the most important thing to you and that we knew it by your actions.

I remember.

I remember your ring that you wanted me to have. I wear it around my neck.

I remember that you were worried that we wouldn't remember you. We do.

I remember the feel of your warm hand firmly gripping mine. I wish you still could.

I remember your last words to me, "I love you, too." Love you, Mama.

I remember that you said you would always be watching over us. I'm so glad.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom.

Heavenly Thoughts

We had the most wonderful spring break in Arizona last week. It is so warm there. Every morning, I would go out and run and just feel the sun and the sweet breeze and smell the blossoms. Heavenly.

We hit up the Maricopa County Fair and got to play a little basketball. My girls are awesome at the game of speed...seriously. They took this picture of us (Trenton is the little halfling, there really is another side of him). I miss my mom.

This week at the MTC I was taught about the plan of salvation. No surprise, because I am taught that many times a week, but this particular time was different. I knew without a doubt that God has a plan for us, for our lives, and that He so much wants our happiness. He loves each one of us. He loves me. At the end, the sweet motherly sister missionary and I hugged each other and cried. In reflection, they didn't teach me anything I didn't already know. It was more that I was realizing all over again that what they were teaching really is truth.

Heaven.