You never know whos day you might change! Or how you might change your own!

Sometimes it is a little scarey downtown. Not scarey, but interesting..

Every Saturday I go to the farmers market, The farmers market is located near the homeless shelter.
This week as I was walking there I has a homeless guy join me....

I was a little hesitant, mostly because he was talking to himself and cussing a lot.
I tried to walk faster... but so did he... I tried to slow down... and he did too..
So I tried something different

I said hello- it's a good morning, ay!
He looked at me weird, and I was afraid that he was just going to swear at me, but instead he smiled and said yes...
He kept me company on my (thankfully short) walk to the park.
He was mummbling a lot of stuff that did not make sense

but he was nice...

upon our depature from each other he said... "thank you for talking to me... MOST PEOPLE NEVER WOULD".

We both smiled and went our own ways... It was nice, I guess a simple Hello, and uncomfortable moment of small talk made my day, for knowing it affected someone else...

So the moral of the story is.... Talk to homeless people who are talking to themselves!

The Little Things

Many of you know that I work at a drug rehab center with at risk youth... I love my job, although it is extremely draining some days, it is increadibly rewarding on most. I was running a group Tuesday evening, and the theme and topic, although not determined before hand kept coming around to gratitude.

I was talking about how when we find things to be greatful for.... and are able to acknowlede things in life that we like.. more often than the things that we don't like... life is just a lot more pleasant. I think I tend to be a grump sometimes- because I forget to take time to remember the really great things in my life, and how blessed I am.

So I wanted to remind myself all that I have, all the things that I enjoy, and the small sometimes overlooked joys that I have in my life.

There are many...

I love to ride my bike... I have two, sometimes I can't decide which one to ride.
There is not many things better than riding my mountain bike up a gruling hill... to conquer it of course, thinking in the beginging- middle or even near the end that I might not make it, but finishing, and riding on.. I love to ride a trail near the University of Utah called the Bobsleds... It is perfect.. If you ride just before sundown, the sun lights up the valley in the most beautiful colors- you can see forever.. It always looks so amazing when the west mountains light up in pink and orange over the great salt lake... I always wish that I could pause time- and sit..... and watch... and listen... It is silent mostly- but still it is the greatest sound. I love to put headphones on my ears... with no music on so that I can hear my heart beat really hard, so that I can hear my breath...

This was one of the greatest bike trips ever.. We rode in moab.. I had to keep up with the boys.... considering I was the only girl.. This is Porccupine Rim.. It is amazing to ride..

I love my family... I think that I must have the greatest family around!" One great joy is being an Auntie.. I love these babies more than anything, to watch them grow and to see thier personalities develope has got to be one of the funniest, most memorable things.


I am greatful for good friends.. Brian and Jaime who cook me dinner far too often, and have really been there for me. I love their little Olivia. It is funny because Amber my sister has always called me Caca (as in... grose, or poop).. I hated it, but when Olivia got old enough to say my name... that too is what she called me.. I had to laugh, and this is when I accepted that my nick name was going to be Caca- Brian usually extends it out to Ma-caca or something, and even some of their friends know me as Caca, It is funny.. So Amber, I guess I am grateful for this too :)
For Sushi with Long Time friends and our get togethers like ol times...

For Lyle... I know it has been hard, still is hard, there has been a lot of stuff in our relationship.. But he is my best friend. He is a good person and reminds me everyday to be positive- he is funny too. I love him.. Althou I hate his job... he is quite dreamy when he comes home, looking rough and burley... :)

For being athletic- My new favorite right now is Muy Thai Boxing... My trainer kills me every Sunday...Dripping Sweat- but he makes me kick still...

The farmers market every Saturday morning. There is this sweet old farmer guy from Ogden that insists I eat his tomatoes because they are the best around. He claims that this is because the soil in Ogden is so much more pure and organic....hmm questionable, but they are good..
Caffe Espresso- I love this place.. Drive up coffee- they remember ehat I want each morning- not that my order ever changes but it maked you feel important and remembered


I am grateful that each and everytime I go up a set of stairs, I feel the urge or fear to run... I am grateful for this because it makes my giggle inside, and because it reminds me of the awsesome playful father that I have, who would chase me up the stairs threatening to tickle me.


The Boy... Bosko of course... he annoys everyone else, but I love him, he always knows how to cheer me up, and is the sweetest little (big) pup ever. He often violates anyone that is around by sticking his nose where it doesn't belong... it is funny...
It is easy to forget that "Life is good, really good.

It is

and I am grateful.

Do You Rememer

Mom and Dad...
do you remember30 years ago when you fell in love and decided to get married..
when you bought your first home and decided to settle down in Heber...
Mom and Dad do you remember taking us to hike in the Uintahs as a family or all of us laying in your bed.
teaching us to tie our shoes. read a book, and brush our teeth...
And do you remember ALWAYS giving us the BEST Christmas ever.

MOM- Do you remember....
Back to School Shopping from ten in the morning til the stores closed at night? We had so much fun..
or when we'd ride your bike every morning, me on back.. it was a bit wobbly in the begining but I loved it.
or when I'd come to aerobics with you and dance with you.
Mom, do you remember when we would make swedish pancakes together while your friend did her laundry in at our house?
or when you would roll my long hair in pink curlers each Saturday night.
When you would make me a bed on the couch when I was sick
you would stock the piano bench with everything I needed to get better.
Mom do you remember when you layed in your bed with me as I cried of a broken heart?
Laughing with me til tears came at your constant ability to say things backwards.
Baking cookies on Sundays, picking sweetpeas and putting them in vases
Filling the christmas tree with ornaments and decorating the living room..

I do mom... I remember.

DAD- Do you remember...
You carried a heavy mattress up a huge hill when we were camping so you didn't have to sleep on the ground.. I was imressed at your strength.
Do you remember teching me to cast a fishing pole on deer creek bridge
or how to weave a worm on a hook?
Dad, do you remember hiking the Narrows, it was hard... but you believed in me, so I did it.
or the time that you cried after givign me a blessing when I had surgurey on my foot.. I felt your tear on my arm
but I didn't tell.
When you whipped me with a weed eater (on accident of course)
then hugged me on the stairs.
When we would have cereal together after you would come home from work late
or when you would wake me up for school by tickling my feet...
Do you remember your excitment after my marathon.
The look on your face motivated me to finish
You had tears then too.

Mom and Dad- Do you remember?
Cuz I remember.

These are only a few memories that I have of you both.... The list of good memories flooded my mind. My heart could not be more full when I think of you both. I am so happy, so lucky, and so grateful to be part of you.
Who you are, and parts of you that you shared with me has made me who I am..

I am happy.

You are amazing parents, individuals, and the key people in my life... I strive to be like you everyday.

Thank You, for starting all this.

Happy 30th Anniversary.

I love you...

More of China

My Legs were so sore after climbing the stairs to Huashan... So worth it.

YOGA... The chinese were taking pictures of us... they thought we were crazy!

Tiger's Leaping Gorge! 3 day hike.. Beautiful. We stayed with the locals at their Guest Houses.




Character
Kunming Temple


Huashan, climbing and climbing and climbing... I swore I would never do the stair stepper at the Gym again...

This little boy was peddling for money at 12:00 at night.. I was really sad.

The Great Wall

Good Week

It was a good week.. I love where I live. I love how close I am to the mountains... They are my playground.. We really are lucky.. It is funny because I used to say that there was no way that I would live my life in Utah.. I can't imagine being anywhere else.

Aunt Vicki and Phillip stayed with me for the evening, and we had a lot of fun. I took them into the mountains to climb and we went for a nice road ride. Philip was an amazing rider... He kicked my but on the hills, and I do not consider myself a beginner, I guess he is a pro..

It was nice to have family come to my house.. That doesn't happen often. It was really fun to share my passions and hobbies with them..

Love you guys.

Why do I ????

Ouch!!! I am sore.
China was not the best hing for my practice.
I tried Tai Chi- and stretced when I felt like it.
But I didn't do yoga much on my trip.
Back into the routine... I like it, being sore.
I like to breathe
to be
to teach
and to move.

So, that's why I do.

I was asked why I do yoga, and I had to take a moment to think about it.. I know that I do it because I like it.
That isn't just it.

I smile whenever I do it.. When I teach it, it fullfills me.
Yoga- it means to bring together, a union. It is a task at hand
but any task you wish for

Bringing me to find connection with my body and my mind.

but it doesn't always have to be the same
Tough- sweaty
Restoritive
Cleansing
Meditative- calming
Spiritual

I find that when I do yoga, I experience something.
Something that I want to hold onto always.
Like mastering my own mind. Leaving the past, the future and just being.

That is hard for me. It is hard for me everytime I do yoga.
Everytime I leave a class, or my personal practice.

But it is a glorious thing to strive for.
Today
Tomorrow
Always.

I think that I am more pleasant to be around when I do yoga
I am easier to laugh
Not so.... defiant
Flexible!

I am happy...

Happy to do Yoga!