Where did the SUMMER go?

Wow!  How the summer has passed so quickly!  I am happy that it has started to cool down a bit as fall approaches.  Fall is my most favorite time of the year for many, many reasons, but mostly for U of U football and the changing colors of the leaves and un-planned drives through the canyons.  However, I have had a pretty good summer this year.  I have had the opportunity to visit with old friends and to make new friends, I now have an amazing new smile--thanks to Dr. Babcock and his staff at Total Care Dental, I am closer to reaching my "first" weight loss goal of 80 pounds by the end of the year, and I ran in my first 5k and survived, but still plan on running November 12th, the Gobble Gallop 5k.  It has been an awesome summer!  Since I haven't updated my blog in sometime now I thought that i would start with whats been going on in my life up to this point.

July ended up being a very busy month but also a an amazing month.  Myself and one of my best friends Lisa got to take a short day trip up to Kemmerer and see a couple of old friends.  We had a great day on our road trip.  During our visit to Kemmerer, we had a lovely lunch at Lisa's moms' house and got to visit with her and Shannon, Lisa's youngest sister.  We also got to visit with June Morris, our old 4H leaders for sewing.  It was nice getting to visit with her and to meet her oldest Great Grandson who loved having Lisa's little girls Natasha and Patricia there to play with.  I was beginning to wonder how we would ever leave without breaking small children's hearts.  Finally, we got to see two of our old school mates and friends Tara Sawaya and Errin Underwood Bosarge whom neither one of us had seen since high school.  Though I would have liked to have had more time to visit with them, all of our visits that day in Kemmerer were very short.



Left to Right:  Lisa Laird Ahlers, Errin Underwood Bosarge, Me

                               
"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy." 

I got a "new" smile this summer.  In late May I had surgery to have four implants placed in my upper jaw in addition to the two implants that I already had.   Then in July I got my new Teeth.    I couldn't be happier with the results and I have only received compliments since.  I am going to write a separate post with pictures on this whole experience later but the one thing I do have to say is Thank You Dr. Babcock and staff!

I took a trip up to Alpine, Wyoming (July 21thru July 23) and met my good friend Mary, her hubby and baby up there.  It was a trip that I had second thoughts about taking but it ended up being an amazing weekend.  I guess that this is an annual camping trip that is affectionately referred to as the "Celebration of Life."  It was a lot of fun (minus peeing in the bushes or crapping in a box, which I didn't do and Just "held It!" mainly because the box was just sitting out right where anyone could see you doing your business.  Mind you I can hide and pee in the bushes but crapping in a box for the whole camp to potentially see---Yeah, i don't think so.)  The best part of the trip for me was being able to go white water rafting down the Snake River.  I had the best guide, another one of Mary and Will's friends, Kevin who had his own boat and he took myself and another couple down river.    While floating down the river and only in the areas where he knew the current was calm he let me take charge of the ores.  WOW, I have to say what a workout! What motivation though to keep going to the gym and working out my upper body, rowing the boat just made me realize how weak I was or perhaps how strong Kev is.  I think rafting could become an addiction rather quickly.  I loved being out on the boat with my feet dangling in the water.  It was so relaxing!  Not only did I get to go down River, but also met some awesome people and made a friend out of Kevin!  :)  I can't wait for next year!  (Thanks Mary and Will for inviting me, and Kevin for entertaining me!) I wish i had photos but never got around to taking pictures except for on the drive home.  The drive is beautiful.

In August, my friend Amanda, a old friend from Wyoming, was down here for a few days with her family.  I was only to visit with her for a very brief amount of time one night after I got off work but we had a great time and I was so glad that I got to see her even if the time was short.  I look forward to the next time we get to meet up.  Hopefully sooner rather than later!  Amanada and I hadn't seen each other in close to 11 years.  I had moved away from Wyoming my sophomore year of HS and she moved not to long after.  It was very nice to visit and catch up.  I got to meet her beautiful children as well. 

 "I can make new friends, but I cant make old friends"  Author Unknown







On August 20, 2011 my friend Karli Padfield and I participated in the Kiss me Dirty Race at Golden Spike Arena!  That was probably the most fun I have had running in my entire life!  I am definitely going to be doing this race again.  This was a "fun run," and was put on to benefit gynecological cancer research at Huntsman Cancer Institute.  I hope that next year I can get more of my friends and family to participate with me. 

This was my first 5k event and something that I am proud to say that I did. (Thanks Karli, for being the friend, that was with me--that was not in front of me nor behind me but right there next to me, you will never know what it meant to me to have a "FRIEND" running with me.) I wanted to run a 5k before the end of this year and I can officially say that I participated in this event. 

Mary and I (along with Ellie in her stroller) will be doing a 5k on October 8th in an even called Give a Breath of Life.  It is sponsored by The Weber State University Respiratory Therapy Program and All proceeds will benefit those in need of Respiratory Care through the American Respiratory Care Foundation.  As most of you know I am a respiratory therapist and so this will be an event that is dear to my heart.  Mary also is a RT. 

 Then I am running another 5k in Kaysville the day after my birthday on November 12th.   This is the Gobble Gallop 5k run and walk and 10k.  There is another KMD event called Lick the Pole that I am going to plan on doing in January.  I think I am going to become addicted to the feeling of finishing and collecting participant T-shirts!   I am so glad that running/jogging has become a part of my life.  There are other things that I want to do or learn how to do and as my journey to a healthier lifestyle continues--I am motivated to explore all the crazy things I never thought I could or would do.  The next thing on my Bucket list is to learn to Ski or snowboard--or possibly both! 

Mary, baby Ellie and I hiked to Mt. Timpanogas cave and had a marvelous time.  It was an enjoyable hike with a good friend and a cute little baby.  We had a great time talking, laughing and taking pictures along our way.  This was my third or fourth time hiking to the cave but Mary had never been and I was so happy to share that experience with her.  Ellie was such a good baby during the entire hike and she fell fast asleep once inside the cold, dark cave.  After the hike we headed back home and had a good dinner.  I made lasagna for Mary, Will, Kevin and I.  Everyone seemed to enjoy the lasagna or at least no one complained!  (Thanks to My Aunt Sylvia for being on call offering her tips and tricks to making the perfect lasagna.)

Mary, Ellie and I plan on going on a few more hikes this fall.  We really enjoy the time spent together.  She has become one friend that I can truly say will be a part of my family no matter how small, large, or furry-friended it is or becomes!  Thanks Mary for being such a good friend and letting me get to know you and your family!   I feel privledged that I get to be in Ellies life as well.

September is now nearly half over but that just means its time for Spontaneous drives to see the changing colors of the leaves,  nice cool hikes, and UTES FOOTBALL!    I'll try not to let a whole season go by before I Update again.   

With Much love,

AJ