Race for Red

We ran a 5k this morning! It was the "race for red" 5k (that's why we are awkwardly holding the red shirt in the picture...not sure why I though that would be a good idea). Pete and I stayed together for most of the race, freezing in the rainy coldness, and I think it was the slowest one I've ever run. We left for home pretty much right after we crossed the finish line instead of waiting for the prizes and awards to be announced. Todd (Pete's brother-in-law who also ran the race) called later to tell us that I had gotten 3rd place in my age group. I had also won a free hair color and cut that they gave to someone else. Moral of the story: Never leave a race early when prizes are involved.

Mom, should I transplant these now?

Highlights from Home

My friend Alex drove home this past weekend and because it worked out with my class schedule, I decided to go with her. Pete stayed in Utah to work and such. It was a great trip because I was excited to go see my family, and then after the visit was excited to come home to Utah again to see Pete. It was fun to spend time with my parents and the kids. Once, when we were walking outside at a greenhouse/nursery place, I was holding almost-4-year old Nate and he spontaneously kissed me on the cheek and said "I love you Steph!" He is quite a character, talking and bouncing around everywhere.


I was also glad to discover that my mom is getting good use out of the chalkboard plate I made her for Christmas. This was one of the first things I saw when I walked in the front door and it definitely made me laugh. I guess our typical motto of "You mess it up, you clean it up" has evolved in the years since I've been away from home :)

Well, it's been a while.

I've recently noticed that all my blog posts are very disconnected--like I never follow-up on things and it kind of bothers me.
So for follow up purposes (and mostly so my OCD/perfectionist tendencies can be satisfied): I didn't end up reading ANY books during finals week (which might be why it seemed like the worst finals week ever), The temple dedication was awesome, and my herbs are continuing to grow.

What I planned on posting a month ago...

1. Pete not only achieved a 4.0 GPA this semester at BYU, he graduated!!

2. I’m growing herbs. Better yet, the herbs are destined not to be a complete failure as manifested by a tiny green speck I discovered emerging from the soil today. I was talking to Pete on the phone at the time. I stopped talking midsentence and our conversation went something like this:

Steph: (stunned) Oh my gosh!

pause.

Pete: What?

Steph: I can’t believe my eyes!

Pete: What?

Steph: (happy noise resembling a squeal).

Pete: Wife, what?

Steph: My herb sprouted!

Pete: (sigh) Oh. I thought our house was on fire or something.

3.Despite feeling a little sad these past two days as I was surrounded by excited nursing school peers heading off to their spring term adventures in various places around the globe (Ghana, Ecuador, Tonga, etc.), my Spring is going to be good. Although I’m staying here and getting my “cultural” experience in the area of complementary and alternative therapies/integrative healing (my teacher is still debating if that is actually a culture or not), I’m going to have a good experience. This was impressed upon me today as I sat alone in the Nursing Learning Center reading about chakras, auras, and energy fields in my textbook entitled “Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Nursing Practice.”

In all honesty, I teeter on the fence of skepticism—not fully embracing alternative therapies and not fully turning completely away from them. But I think learning and understanding these different modalities will be a good thing in my life as I try to help others. I must admit/confess that I was getting pretty into my reading today…before you know it I might be getting myself some essential oils. More on my experiences will come later—and probably quotes from Glenda, my teacher, because she’s hilarious. Today during class she literally jumped up and down yelling “I’m so excited” over and over again. She also danced around the classroom in an effort to demonstrate how energy should flow through a room.

4. Pete and I are going to Washington this week and staying with his family. This means not only do I get to hang out with family, stuff my face with all kinds (and I mean all kinds) of delicious food, we get to go to the Vancouver B.C. Temple Dedication! I’m really excited and think this will be a great experience. Most of Pete’s other brothers will also be there too, which leads to my next item…

5. My New Favorite Couple. Brian and Ashley are perhaps the greatest people ever. They met in Pathophysiology class and have been dating for about 4 months now I think. It’s so fun to hang out with Pete’s brothers now and actually have another female around—and not just any female, an awesome one! Ashley is so nice and funny and really genuine. The two of them are so cute together. It’s so fun to be around them and to feel how good of people they are and how much they like each other.