Sand....EVERYWHERE!!!

Mike has these dreams of our yard looking like a golf course. He spent lots of time, energy, and money spreading sand all over the front yard. Bless his little pointed head; his putting green is going to have sandcastle shapes all over it.
Our kids have had countless hours of entertainment pretending they’re at the beach. All this fun is great unless you’re my wood floors, or my shower, or pretty much any nook or cranny on the premises. We have sand everywhere! I can’t wait for the grass to grow through the sand and make it magically disappear. I have learned that a beach house is nice for vacation, but I prefer a grit free bath, thank you very much.
I did really feel bad for Mike when we had a huge rain storm that washed tons of his beloved sand out of our yard, down the street, and into the cul-de-sac at the bottom of the hill. I wasn’t there, but I would have lovingly helped him shovel it back into the wheelbarrow and haul it up the hill to be spread again in our yard.
Here’s to a putting green! Good Luck!

Gymnastics

Savannah and her friend Grace

We got a babysitter to come watch the babies so that we could show Savannah how special she is.

Savannah and her coaches.

A Gymnast
Patience is a man’s greatest virtue, or so the saying goes.
A gymnast must have said it, for a gymnast surely knows
That in this funny sport of ours discouragement runs high;
And at times the very best will find this virtue’s passed us by.
When hands are ripped and throbbing, when every muscle’s sore,
Can a gymnast still have patience to limp in for more?
When you’ve lost old moves you used to do,
And progress seems so slow,
Can you still have faith in better days and not feel sad and low?
Can you admit you’re frightened, yet not give in to fear?
Can you conquer pain, frustration, and often even tears?
When someone else does something you’ve tried so long to do,
Can you really feel glad for them or just pity for you?
And when success seems far away your efforts all in vain,
Can you force yourself to wear a smile and disregard the pain?
If despite the tribulations you can say, “I won’t give in!”
Maybe someday you’ll discover that it’s now YOUR time to win.

Savannah had her end-of the-year banquet for gymnastics. It was really nice. We were able to get a babysitter and enjoy an hour or so with Savannah alone. They had it catered, the food was great. I really just think everything tastes better when someone else makes it and cleans it up. They had a slide show of the girls playing on a big screen in the corner. All kids love to see themselves in pictures. After we ate the coaches said something about each of the gymnasts and gave them a trophy.
Moving Savannah to this gym was a good decision. She has made some good friends and the coaches are fun. She’s learning how to work hard to achieve her goals. She also enjoys the physical benefit of all her hard work. She loves to tell about shattering all the school records and talking smack to the boys. It’s especially sweet when the school gym teacher tells her just to stop doing sit-ups, “There’s not enough time for you to do as many as you can. Great job, Baugh.”
I agree, Great Job, Baugh.

Right of Passage

Before

1st attempt

Pigtails and Crew Cuts

After


Father and Son

Run From Hunger

My training buddy and I after the race

My New Year's Resolution is to train and run a half marathon on Thanksgiving. My training program calls for a 5K race along the way. The perfect opportunity arose in the form of an area wide church service day. Our stake hosted a "Run From Hunger" 5K race. The admission to run and earn the highly coveted T-shirt was 10 cans of food.

I was excited. I knew I could run the distance with ease. I'm up to 5 miles on my long runs. 3.1 should be a piece of cake. I did not, however, plan on rain. I awoke to thunder and an occasional bolt of lightning. No matter, this things pass quickly. The girls, who ran the 1 mile "fun run", and I got up packed our cans and drove to the park.

We were the 10th people to sign in. The rain was not letting up. We were warriors. The girls did great. Alyssa smoked Savannah. She's pretty proud of this fact but tries not to rub it in, too hard.







The heavens opened up and the rain came pouring down. I walked to the starting line. The horn sounded and off I went. The younger kids bolted out front as fast as they could go. I caught up with them not too long after. The rain let up a bit. I enjoyed running through the trees and being so close to nature. (I train mostly on the treadmill.) The weather didn't really bother me. I think I actually liked it. I didn't get hot and the rain was refreshing. I did hesitate on the down hills for fear I would slip and fall.


I finished strong and I felt great. I did not, however, win an award for my efforts. Who knew that the 33-39 age braket was the fastest? I would have got a medal if I was 25 or 42, but not 33. Oh well, motivation for next time.


The rest of the story happened during our Young Womens activity. We delivered the cans of food to a church in our area. We were able to donate over 800 lbs. of food. The paster of the church met us and told the kids about what they do. The basement of their church is a big cellar. They get donations from lots of organizations (Kroger, Publix, Sam's ect.). Then they set up a little grocery store. People can come and do their shopping at this facility. No questions asked. It was great for the kids to see that other organizations do great things, too. Sometimes I think we get a little "high and mighty" attitude going on. But the truth is there's a lot of good in this world, coming from a lot of different places.

Some of my cute Young Women

Sunday afternoons

The girls use Sunday afternoons to work on their “Faith in God” goals. This Sunday I was surprised by a double whammy boost to my ego.
Savannah was to choose one of her personal hero’s, write a list of the characteristics this person exhibits, and then choose two to work on in her own life. She chose her Momma as her hero! I’m so honored. I know the time is not far distant that she will think me more of a nuisance than a hero, but I’m just going to enjoy today.

This is what she wrote:

Things I like about Mom!

*helpful

*kind

*not a bug

*cleans up after herself and others too

*does anything in her power to help

*does not steal, cheat, or lie

*keeps the commandments

*keeps her standards high

*keeps the gospel standards

I’m so pleased that these are the things she sees in me. Not always, but most of the time, these same things could be said right back to her. (She chose to work on not being a bug, and cleaning up after herself. Good choices.)

Alyssa needed to write a letter of appreciation to someone who has made a difference in her life. She chose me! Here’s what she wrote:

Dear Mom,

I love you soo much! I appreciate how you have helped me overcome my habit and how you always do stuff for me. I try to respect you in any why I can. I love you!!

Love,
Alyssa

My “Mommy Cup” Runneth Over.

Bury the hatchet.

Somethings have happened this week that have made me think back to a hard time in my childhood.

I was about 10-11 years old, Savannah's age I guess. My parents invited an Indian (Navaho) to live with us. I was super excited. She was Karens age. They decided that it would be hard for karen to have to share a room with her, so I got to do it. Great, no complaints. She came and I was the ultimate hostess, for a while. But servitude grows old and it didn't take too long until I was ready for her to go on home to Arizona.

We started to fight. I never wanted to have my friends over to the house because I knew that her and her friends would be in my room speaking some language that Ididn't understand. I tried really hard to be anywhere else but home. My relationship with my Mom REALLY suffered. They called her to be my primary teacher. She bent over backward trying to make me happy. I remember that she would order all kinds of cute handouts and charm bracelets to make me smile. I wasn't having any of it. I very clearly remember the Sunday we came home and she asked me if I hated her. I broke down crying, she did too. I just wasn't myself anymore. It was about this time that the Bishop asked if our family would be willing to have her back for another year of school.

My Mom came into the bathroom while I was washing my hair in the tub. (I'm quite certain I could not pull off that tricky maneuver anymore.) She asked me what I thought. I remember feeling so guilty. I didn't want to be the reason that she had to stay on the reservation. That she wouldn't get a highschool diploma. More tears. I felt very selfish. I love my Mom. She looked at me, smiled and said, "It's not really working for me either." I felt so releived that she could understand how I felt. She let me know that Dena would be fine. She would be placed with another family. She would be able to graduate. I, however, belonged to this family. I needed to be happy in my home. Phew, releif.

I knew that Dena was mad at me. She knew it was because of me that she would be going somewhere else. I have always felt bad that we couldn't be friends.

Jump forward twenty years. My Grandpa and Grandad just passed away. The phone rings one night and to my complete surprise it's Dena on the phone. She started out the conversation by saying that she was so glad I would take her call. She wasn't sure I would ever want to talk to her. I assured her that I would always be happy to talk to her. We were able to catch up with each other for a bit. She told me that she's doing great. I told her about the goings on in the family and about my sweet kids. She was really calling about a recipe I submitted to the family cookbook. (I guess my Mom gave her a copy) I didn't realize until I hung up the phone that I had been carrying a burden for all these years. It felt so great to be able to talk to her like friends. I know she has forgiven me and I have forgiven her.

This is important!

Before I forget how it all ended up, I need to record for my posterity how March Madness ended.

It was a 3 way tie between Mike, Steve (friend at work), and ME! The tie breaker comes during the final game. Everyone has to predict how many total points will be scored during the game.

Mike was way off. Steve was no better. THAT'S RIGHT FOLKS! I WON!!! I'm not bragging or anything but can I get a what, what?

Mike says he and Steve agree that wives aren't allowed to play next year. I say they're just sore LOSERS!!!