Best of 2009

2009 was a great year. I was thinking I didn't really do much and then I looked through my pictures and was shocked. I had an AWESOME year!! I had the opportunity to see my family multiple times, plenty of outdoor adventures, and then no major injuries or mishaps. Again as I reflect on the year I recognize the Lord's hand in my life and I am so grateful for my blessings.

January: sent Anthony on his mission

February: Biked in the St George century

April: Spring break in San Diego

April: My cousin Joel got married

End of April: Bought a new car

May: Visited Zion's and Grand Canyon National Park for Memorial Day

June: Arches National Park

June and July: Caleb came to stay and we did yellowstone, timp caves, and various hikes in Provo.

July: My Dad turned 60, family vacation in Tahoe

July: Girls weekend with friends from high school in Vegas

July: Hiking the Tetons

August: Bryce Canyon with Sam and Amanda

August: My Mom came to town for my graduation from grad school.

September: Hiking Ben Lommand for Labor Day

October: Sam gets maried

October: I run my first and maybe last half-marathon

October: I become an aunt

November: Learning to make chocolates with cousins and aunts

December: visited family and friends in Utah and California

Visited Oroville 5 times
Visited 6 National Parks
Played endless hours of basketball
Biked 2000 miles when I combine my odometers for both bikes
Hiked a ton, including the annual timp hike
Put 13,000 miles on my new car
Visited with friends a lot
Missed Church 7x, do better next year

Yep, 2009 was good. Can't wait to see what 2010 brings.

Hopefully My Next Big Adventure

I am always in search of an Adventure. In fact I subscribe to Adventure Magazine. The magazine comes monthly and informs me of numerous adventures in the United States. The cool thing is that they also regularly feature adventures in Utah, some of which I have tried.

Well this year in one of their issues they listed the top 10 adventures in America. They all sound so fun and in 2010 I am hoping to complete one of the 10. It is adventure #7 Iowa: Biking RAGBRAI. It is a 500 mile ride across Iowa that is supposedly AWESOME. The bummer is that you get in by lottery so I am signed up and the dues are paid but there is no guarantee. Pray that I get in:)

Let The Winter Sports Begin

It warmed up 20 degrees overnight so I am again allowed to leave my house!! My first snowshoeing of the season. The snow was great and I got a good work-out. If it stays this warm I might even venture out of the house again today.

FrEeZiNg CoLd & PoIsOn OaK

It has been so cold all I want to do is lay on the couch under the blankets. It feels like January. It was -4 on my way to work the other morning. I get home from work and there is no way I am leaving the house again, unless there is a sport to play of course. But seriously it has been so cold.

I am content just hanging out in my house and enjoying the Christmas Season, decorations, crazy movies on TV, hot chocolate. Looking at my nativity that I love and pondering the real reason we celebrate this holiday season.

Oh yea and over Thanksgiving I got Poison Oak all down the back of my calves. It is ugly. I feel like it should be gone by now but apparently it can take up to 8 weeks to heal completely. I try so hard not to itch but I will admit I allow myself one major scratch session a day, usually in the evenings. I get it all out of my system and then I am good to go.