What Your Parents Never Taught You.

Parents are amazing, that's just it, they work day and night to keep us safe, healthy, happy, and slowly prepare us to someday run out into the world and be able to survive and do all of those things for ourselves. They taught me how to stay safe, cook, clean, get a job, work, save money, love unconditionally, and the basic skills required to survive.
Getting married and starting my life with Ben, I felt very well prepared, and still do. However, there are still some things that I am slowly figuring out one by one that my parents never could have taught me: They say your family should always work together as a unified team. and that's the idea but they never explain how minuscule details can sneak in and become a huge issue... Especially when you're engaged to your soon-to-be husband. I remember how nervous I got when we were working on the wedding plans and we'd get hung up on little decisions like the invitations and times. I know they also tell you to never sweat the small stuff but they don't ever explain that sometimes that requires you actually taking the time to sit down with your significant other and talk about your main goal. To remember that the most important thing at the end of the day is that the two of you are married, loved, and totally honest and committed to each other. The other key is to make sure you both are on the same page and in order to do that, communication is HUGE! If you don't have open, honest, and safe conversations very frequently you get lost in the little things. Along with all of this you have to remember to take time for yourself and by yourself. A night out with the girls is always very therapeutic for me but sometimes I realize that all I really need is just a few hours to myself. When you take the time for yourself, you learn to be more in tune with your body and your own emotions. Until you are in tune with yourself, you could never be in tune with those close to you. When you are very self-aware, you have the time and focus to notice changes in your family and to realize what it is that they need as well. People have needs and when you make a conscious effort, you start to realize how easy it is to fulfill their needs as well. The other key to staying connected and meeting each others' needs is taking time for each other. Be sure you have time together, just the two of you. Otherwise it's too easy to get caught up in the competition, jealousy, and drama that can so closely follow those around you.
Once again, I know, I've come up with a post that really is a bit jumbled and probably doesn't make any sense. But, then again, when do I really make complete sense???

I Am

Sometimes in life it's nice to take a step back and look at who you really are and what your key roles are in life. It helps you not only feel appreciated but to also put everything into perspective. I feel for some reason that I am needing to get this all written down today:

I AM:
wife
daughter
sister
"mother" (to the hound)
friend
dental hygienist
lawn mower and landscaper
laundry maid
cook (when Ben lets me)
painter and artist
chocolate chip cookie maker
climbing partner
co-captain of the gear boat
teammate
support crew
study partner
nerd
I AM ME

Everyone has their role in life. I try to never forget that because sometimes even when life is getting a little crazy and rough it helps to look at how your life and your works can affect other people. If you can see the value and the importance you have as an individual, you will have even more motivation as you go through life to be the very best you can be. I hope everyone can take a minute from their day to look at their own value and just allow yourself to feel good about what you do no matter how insignificant it may seem.

One Step Forward, Ten Steps Back.

Well, Saturday, Dani and I took two girls from Women On Edge to 5.8 wall in Ogden Canyon. We showed them first how to set up a top rope and then to repel down, tie in, and start climbing. Everyone was able to make it to the top of each of the three routes we set up. It was so much fun to get these girls outside for the first time and let them see the wonderful world that is outdoor climbing.

Monday night, Ben did a lead belay clinic in which four people showed up and it was so neat. Everyone was soaking in all the information quickly and asking good questions and trying to really learn the best and safest methods of lead climbing. It was so much fun to be Ben's assistant!

Last night we had another regular meeting at the Weber State Gym where I planned on going over different holds and how to use them and different ways to use your hands when climbing in hopes of breaking my climbers of the ladder method that so easily becomes a habit at first. I had my friend Chris come along with Ben to help run the clinic and show us some demonstrations. Of course, Dani couldn't make it and apparently neither could any of the other regulars. We had two new girls show up around 7:20pm who had to pick up a car before nine and... oh, did I mention that one of them had a boot? Hehe, it was fun still but definitely interesting when they showed up, started filling out the paperwork and then said: "do we have to climb today?" Needless to say, we started out with a discussion on what they were wanting to accomplish that night and in the end we decided to go ahead and do a belay clinic using Tim to climb so the girl without the boot could also learn the belay. We'll have to go over it all again when they come back to make sure they remember.

Best Husband EVER!!!

Well, Ben and I are both a bunch of crazies, I know. We're always trying to cram as much as possible into each day. That's just how I feel about him. I don't ever feel like I'll get enough, the more time we spend together, the more time we want to spend together. It especially helps that we're always doing something crazy and fun together.

Over Labor Day weekend, we went to Island Park with my parents and two other couples who happen to be very good cooks! Right before we left, Ben showed me the brand new Black Diamond backpack that he bought me at the Canyon Sports Labor Day sale. I've been needing a backpack of my own so I can stop having to rent them from Ben's work and now I can customize and adjust it to fit me perfectly.

On our way up, we stopped at Walmart in Idaho Falls to pick up some things and they also happened to be having a big sale too so we got Ben some new shirts and he surprised me with a fly rod case! No more plastic case that requires me to completely derig my rod after fishing each time which will save me a lot of time and tippet:)

We didn't make it to Island Park until almost midnight so we snuck in quietly and went right to bed. In the morning, after waking up to a chilly morning and some delicious, hot and savory style steel cut oatmeal, we tried to make a plan for the day. The weather showed afternoon thunder storms so whatever we wanted to do, we had to do it fast. Somehow, I convinced myself that it was not too cold to go out on the boat to waterski and surf... Boy am I glad I did that! I haven't had one single opportunity to be drug behind a ski boat this entire summer until Island Park. I felt so good water skiing!!! Seriously, there's not a lot that can compare to the feeling of doing the smoothest, tightest turns possible while being drug 30 mph behind a speed boat. The exhilaration, the breathlessness, the sore muscles that you forgot were even there afterward is so amazing and unique to that sport alone. I love it!!! ...although my arms, back, and legs are still sore even though that was three days ago! Ben doesn't have quite as fond of a connection with boating as I do since he's only water skied about 4 times and each of those times was with me and my family, but he still gets pretty excited about being there with me and going out for his annual "glorified drowning" session. He did so good! He got up and skied and did some pretty good turns in the process and even had enough energy to wake surf in the end.

After boating followed by a nice lunch, we inflated the tandem kayaks and took off to float Big Springs. It was a long, slow trip in the river, it was rough and didn't help with the sore muscles. I must admit, however, that Ben and I did cheat a little down the river... we brought along our trolling motor: Bagheera! She loves swimming so we just hooked her leash to the front of the boat and let her go swim. We even took small pebbles and tossed them out in front of her to keep her going fast and in the right direction.

The rest of the weekend was pretty cold and windy, even rainy at times with snow in the mountains so Ben and I did a lot of reading, playing with the puppies, hot tubbing, walking, four wheeling, and watching our new addiction: Dexter. I must say, it's really weird that Ben and I are actually getting into a television show together. We don't even have TV at our house because we really just don't watch it that much and whenever we try we usually make it to the first commercial when we both lose interest. (it helps that Ben and I have been watching Dexter on Netflix so there aren't any commercials!)

Overall, it was just a really great weekend to be able to go out and have a "couples retreat" so to say, even though it was with my parents and their friends, it was perfect. We were so included and had so much fun with the group and at the same time we didn't feel we were the ones who needed to entertain so we also got plenty of alone time with just him and me. I loved it so much and Ben and I needed it more than I think we realized at first. I love him so much and I'm so proud of how well he's doing at school and work even through the 19 credit hours this semester! He really is pretty amazing.

Women On Edge: Week 2

Yesterday was our second meeting for Women On Edge (my womens climbing group). It was great! Last week, only 2 girls showed up but this time, there were 7 so with the three leaders that made 10 women all working together to climb! I was so excited about the turnout and I hope it keeps going that way if not increasing! The only downside was that the 2 girls from last week didn't show so it was 7 new girls so yet again we had to start over with the belay clinics and all, but it was so worth it. The other downside was that 3 of the girls seemed to come just so they could climb together and they didn't really want to be much a part of our group including warm up and cool down and getting to know each other. They were still fun but we'll see if they actually ever make it back here, the other 4, however, were so much fun! They were pushing each other, working over fears, trying difficult routes, and during cool down exercises, we had so much fun together! We all got in a circle and went around saying our names, something about ourselves, and then demonstrated our favorite stretches. I really think that at least some of them will be back and really participate in the group. I can't wait for next week!