Exercise...

This is our friend, Shirley who comes and works out twice a week!

For years I have dealt with back aches and a lack of strength in my arms and pretty much most of my body.  In the beginning of the year of 2011, I had the opportunity to join The Biggest Loser contest at our local gym.  It wasn't an amazing experience as seen on t.v., but because my trainer was a bodybuilder, I learned a lot about exercising my muscles.  Consequently, I was lucky enough to meet some amazing ladies, about my age, who lifted weights regularly on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  They were advanced lifters and ran miles and miles on the other days, but they were open to letting me join their amazing group.

It's been about 2 years now, and I can definitely feel the difference.  I used to have trouble planking for 30 seconds,  but now I have no problem for going a minute..and then another...and then another!  As I use those muscles for different activities during the rest of my day or on the activities they get me to go on, I feel the strength I have gained through those persevering work outs.  I am grateful for the encouraging words and pushing me to work a little harder...always challenging myself and not taking the easy way out. (As Cheryl would say, "Don't cheat yourself!)

I think the same can be said for exercise of the spiritual and mental type... and also relationships.  If you stay engaged in a relationship, it will be stronger and stay strong with continued exercise.  Engaged...meaning partly these two meanings:  5. Being in gear; meshed.  6. Partly embedded in, built into, or attached to another part, as columns on a wall. (Online dictionary)

I like the words meshed and partly embedded in, built into or attached to another part.

It's a well known fact that my husband snores.  I can't sleep when he's snoring in my ear and so I have often left and gone to a spare room we have, to sleep.  It's impossible for this poor man to not snore during allergy season, so sometimes I spend more than a few nights in the other room.    However, if I end up doing this too often, I begin to feel detached from him.  It's a palpable feeling of lost connection.  The act of sleeping next to each other as the effect of meshing and partly embedding into each other.  

It is easy to see that those couples, for whatever reason, sleep in separate rooms, tend to "loose that loving feeling".  The way I've overcome this "separation anxiety", is to get up before he does and snuggle in with him.  It's the touching that connects us.  I can't really sleep in a snuggle, but I love waking up to one.

My husband mentioned that he enjoys the subtle, short touching during the day, hand holding, shoulder rubs, leaning on one another, sweet caresses.  Not hanging on one another, but keeping in touch, sorta speak.

So, if you are in a relationship that you want to keep, exercise good, healthy habits and keep in touch!

Welcome 2013!...a little late

I wrote this post last January but forgot to post it!  Maybe remembering the cold will help us appreciate the warmth! ;)




Well, I got my wish for snow at Christmas!  However, the cold, cold air and inversion...I forgot that comes with it!  I biffed it on the ice a couple days ago..which has sped up my tiredness of the cold.  What happened to global warming???  I am looking forward to heading south to thaw!

I lost three people that I really care about already this year.  My friend, John Skidmore, My friend Ruth Hodson and my cousin, Artie.  Mixed blessings with sadness of loss.

Some awesome news...John finally got a job!  He has been out of work since the end of September!  His friend, Richard, found some job listings at Cache Valley Electric.  They applied back in December, but never heard back from them...until last week.  John is a much happier guy when he is working!

I saw my first opera...Phantom of the Opera!  Some of my weight-lifting buddies (ladies) were going and invited me to tag along.  I have to say, I have really enjoyed getting to know my new friends outside the gym.  I guess what I really enjoy is that they have been successful in drawing me out of my comfort zone.  Most times I just want to stay home where its safe.  I feel the best when everyone is home, safe and sound....yet I really enjoy those times when everyone is off to work or school and I don't have my life to myself for a short time.

Surprise!

Hello my long lost friends and followers!  I'm back!  It least I'm going to try to be back!  I enjoy writing.  It's therapeutic for me.  I enjoy reading your comments so I have decided to post some life lessons I have been learning.

Kids are nearly all grown...just have one left in high school and I am enjoying not having a regular 8-5 job.  I like being flexible in the way I can serve others and taking time to stay healthy and enjoying life, nourishing relationships and bonding with the people I love.

This is me enjoying my first pedicure!

I've got some ideas for some new posts so stay tuned!

Hope, Dream, Wish, Believe, Gratitude.

I saw this in the gift shop in Tillamook, Oregon.
http://papermoonstores.com/store/category/demdaco/figurine/

I love the phrase...Love bravely.

Hope of
Spirit

In our best moment...
we understand that
our vulnerabilities
are what connects us
That there is beauty
in every step of the journey
that we love bravely
offer comfort to our younger
  broken selves
and soar, always soar
on the brightness
of being alive.

Dream
  BIG

Dreams,
unspoken or not,
are living whispers
inside our hearts
A whole life's potential
lies in the spaces
between these whispers.
Our dreams want us to say yes
to speak their truth.

WISH

My wish for you

is that you embrace

every ebb and flow

That you feel the full

breath of possibility.

That you listen to what

is calling you.

Believe

Time.  Devotion.

Tomorrow.  Hope.

lost opportunities and

silver lining mistakes.

when we finally begin.

when we let go.

when we leap fearlessly.

everything shapes us.

Gratitude

May we always 

be connected

in our 

journeys

and may you

always know

how deeply

you are loved.

how your heart 

is never alone.

Love you Aunt Betty!

Aunt Belva, Momtella, Aunt Betty 12/11

Today, my Aunt Betty Jackson left this side of the veil and went to be with her dear husband, whom she has lived without for 40 years.  She has looked forward to this day for about as I long as I can remember.  Every time a family member would pass on, she would wish she could have traded them places.  Now she is with her true love.  I am so happy for her...but I will miss that beautiful smile and her wonderful laugh.

Thanks for being part of my life!  Love and hugs!

Jackson Reunion

Grandpa Jackson's 117th Birthday!  Every year we hold the Jackson reunion as near to his birthday as possible.  The Bailey's sponsored it this year at Jerusalem.

Brett was sporting his hairy face.

Riker loved chewing on the corn cob!  Mmmmm (that's what he said!)

Two cute kids! (Sam & Lily)

There was kissing and stuff!

Lots of good food and even more flies!

Cute Girls!

Rod and his girl!

Jeff and J.L.

It was great to see everyone!

Sorry!

Sorry about the lack of posts!  Since they put me in Young Women's I have no time to blog!  Not that we've had nothing to blog about...We've had campouts and trips I would like to share...but I have just a few more hours to get ready for Girls Camp, after a fun weekend at the cabin at Strawberry reservoir and some great 4 wheeling trips with my boys and Caitlin...then a river trip with the Sweets!  Let's just say it's time to feel the joy again...of having my family around me and loving being together.  Hopefully, things will slow down a bit so I can fill you in!

Zack's Wedding!

April 27th, Zack added another person to our family!  Formerly, Caitlin Hall, now Caitlin Holladay!  She's a sweetie and most important, the boys all love her! 

I love Zack's face in this pic!  It's like he's saying:  Look what I found!  A Wife!

As soon as they came out, all of Caitlin's sisters swarmed Zack! 

Cait has 4 sisters and Zack has 4 brothers! 

...so of course, the boys had to give the welcome hug to Caitlin!

Here's the group that made it to the temple.

I like this one of the guys with Cait.

Just can't stop smiling! :)

Two awesome guys!

The wedding line up.

Then he left me without even saying goodbye!

Then, after almost missing the boat because he forgot his Birth Certificate, they finally made it on their honeymoon on a short Mexico cruise!

Zack and Caitlin to be Married!

I'm slow, I know, but this has been a very busy few months!  Zack (oldest) got engaged to Caitlin Hall in January, and they will be wed this Friday!  She's a sweetie and we love her...especially Spencer and Mike like her (which is saying alot!)! 

My head is spinning and I may have forgotten or had no idea how to get your address to send invites to some of you...so please forgive me.  We also ran out of envelopes so some were sent a little late.  If you didn't get an invitation and want to come to the reception, leave a message and I will get you the information!

Mike decided to strike out on his own a couple of weeks ago...not quite finished with school yet, but he is trying to finish.  He is one stubborn boy!  As far as I know, he is doing ok.  I heard he was going to prom next Saturday.

I'm having a little separation anxiety...did not expect Mike to leave this soon.  It's exciting to see Zack moving on to the next step in his life...fun to see him learn about budgeting and what it really costs to live on your own without any subsidies.

Grandma Holladay moved back in with us the end of March.  She is enjoying not having to climb the stairs several times a day.  We have been down visiting her daughter, Joyce a couple times because she broke her arm and dislocated her shoulder riding on a Segway and hit a curb.  We got her a new hearing aid and she can communicate so much better!  When we got her for a month in February, we had to write on a dry erase board to communicate! 

I got the bathroom painted and put up some wainscot and painted Spencer's old room and put up some trim.  It's a yellow color and the guys don't like it...but it's my room and I like it very much! 

I was put in as Young Women's first counselor...whole new world for me!  I'm trying to get to know 13 beautiful young women!  They are amazing!  Tomorrow I am going to see a play that one of them is in! 

Well, that's all for now...I need to make a list for my sweet friends who are helping me in the kitchen on Friday.

Who'd a thought...

Once there was a forest of gold and red

With leaves brilliantly gleaming through the day.

But once the night’s moon rose its glaring head,

Darkness settled in, with no room for day.

Long branches creaked as howling winds rushed through.
Trees danced across the floor with silent sounds.
And life went on, though darkness knew not who.
Yet shadows searched, though light could not be found.
With mourning, darkness hung its weary head.
Imploring for the light to enter in.
It begged its inner hunger to be fed,
For mornings light to help the day begin.
Once again the brilliant light shimmers through,
And red and golden leaves begin anew.

by J. Spencer Holladay (age 14)

Spencer wrote this while I was at the caucas meeting.  It was an English assignment. 
He got an A!