Thankful Thursday - Illustrated style

This has been a CRAPPY week.  Horrible really.  I blame pre-marathon jitters and the lack of the brown bubbly.

But I am DETERMINED to find things to be thankful for!

Cool things that come in the mail.  I ordered this to support HER fundraising - and I absolutely love it!!

I'd be even more thankful everyone would donate a little more to her efforts!

More cool things that come in the mail.  Remember when I did this?  My prize finally came.  I had my choice of choosing a picture from their gallery (but I looked awful in all of them) or submit my own.  How could I not submit this cute one?  Love that Risa Runjah!

Good friends who come out to support a JDRF fundraiser even when it's way before dinner time and a last minute event.

(l-r)  Olivia, Risa, Me, Germ, Roger aka Santa, Frankie, Adam, Tib, Ava, and Amelia

Behind the camera is Jamie.  Naughty girl wouldn't get into the pic!

So much fun!  And even though I am pretty sure we scared Santa and Frankie with our naughtiness (nope no Christmas presents for me), they didn't run away from us when we said goodbye so I will take that as a good sign!

I've decided that I am going to be especially thankful for when it is Saturday at about noon.  I should hopefully be done by then, and relaxing in the shade with a LARGE, icy diet coke in my hand!

Whatchoo thankful for today?  (and if you mention brown bubbles - I am over the ledge)

Wordless Wednesday

"I'm His daughter and I am a princess" the story of a survivor

I had a complettey different post planned for today, but once I was going though my reader and saw these videos posted by Diaper Diva, I knew that my post had changed.

Please watch both segments.  And I did post them here rather than direct you other to Diaper Diva to view, strictly because many of my FB friends don't click the links and I don't want anyone to miss anything.

She is an incredible, amazing woman.  And whether or not you are a christian and share her belief, she is inspiring and her message is one that can benefit every woman and, interestingly enough, every man.

And finally, if you know me well, you know why this is particularly tender to me.
If only everyone understood the worth of a soul...........

My Marine (recruit) Monday

Only 1 letter this week, but since it's 6 pages long, I am not complaining.

He is going through some really personal issues (as I can imagine anyone would in 13 weeks of hell) so there is much I am not posting.  But it's fun and interesting to hear the things that he is doing though:

9/9/10

DEAR FAMILY,

WHUS GOOOOOOOOD?!?!

I'M AT CHURCH EARLY AND WANTED TO WRITE YOU GUYS!

THIS LAST WEEK WAS HUGE!   WE HAD THE SENIOR DRILL INSTRUCTORS INSPECTION, ALONG WITH INITIAL DRILL! IT WENT REALLY WELL AND I PERFORMED GREAT.

IN BOOT CAMP THERE ARE 3 PHASES.  PHASE ONE IS OVER!  SINCE WE DID WELL AND IMPRESSED SENIOR, WE ARE ALLOWED TO BLOUSE OUR UNIFORMS.  IT'S PART OF SHOWING YOUR TRANSITION INTO MARINE FROM CIVILIAN

THIS LAST WEEK HAS BEEN PRETTY INTERESTING.  I HAVEN'T HAD ANY FRIENDS WRITE TO ME (OTHER THAN 1 OR 2) AND I ALSO REALIZED HOW MUCH SISSY MEANS TO ME NOW THAT I REALLY CAN'T SEE HER.  I'M PLANNING ON TAKING HER TO LAGOON ON LEAVE : )

MOM:  I DECIDED TO WRITE HER A LETTER BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH I ENJOYED READING YOUR JOURNAL POSTS YOU WROTE TO ME WHEN I WAS A TODDLER.

.......ANYWAYS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THINGS I TALK ABOUT IN THE LETTERS GET IN TOUCH WITH COLONEL SMITH (O-6) 1 SILVER EAGLE  : )

THERE IS TOO MUCH TO EXPLAIN IN THE LETTER ABOUT SDI INSPECTION, BLOUSING, INITIAL DRILL, SWIM WEEK ETC.  AFTER THIS WEEK, WE HEAD OUT NORTH TO CAMP PENDLETON.  THERE WE WILL HAVE GRASS WEEK, FIELD WEEK AND TABLE WEEK.  I WILL BE SHOOTING MY RIFLE ALOT!

LUKA/TUFFY:  DUDE, YOU GUYS HAVE NO IDEA HOW AWESOME THE M-16A4 I HAVE IS!  I KNOW IT'S PARTS AND CAN TAKE IT APART AND PUT IT ALL TOGETHER AND EVERYTHING.  IT'S SICK!  I CAN'T WAIT TO SHOOT!

DAD:  SOOOOOO BASICALLY MY SKILLS IN ORGANIZING AND DISCIPLINE, ALONG WITH ACCOUNTABILITY ARE GETTING VERY HOMED IN AND GOOD.  I AM SURE I'M ON THE RIGHT PATH TO GETTING AS GOOD AS YOU WITH THIS STUFF.  I'M TRYING TO PROGRESS MY WORK ETHIC TOO.  I FEEL LIKE I'M ALWAYS DOING SOMETHING!  I FEEL VERY PRODUCTIVE.  I LIKE IT ALOT.  I AM IN BED ASLEEP AT 9 AND UP AT 5 EVERY DAY.  QUITE A 180 DEGREE IN SLEEP SCHEDULE.

ALRIGHT, SO I WANNA KNOW....HOW IS SISSY DOING??? WHAT NEW THINGS IS SHE UP TO?  LET HER KNOW HOW MUCH I MISS HER AND LOVE HER VERY VERY MUCH.

LUKA:  HOW IS WORK AND ANY NEW LADIES AROUND?  HAVE YOU TESTED OUT OF YOUR SPANISH CLASSES?  WHAT'S  ALL NEW WITH YOU?

TUFFY:  WHAT'S GOOD BRO?  HOW IS WORK?  FOUND ANY NEW JOBS OR WORK?  HOW ARE THE NEW MOVIES THAT HAVE COME OUT?

DAD;  HOW IS WORK GOING?  HAVE YOU AT ALL BEEN ABLE TO SELL THAT CAR BY CHANCE?  HOW IS FOOTBALL THIS SEASON?  I WISH I COULD WATCH IT!

MOM:  HI MOMMA.  HOW HAS TRAINING BEEN GOING FOR YOU?  THINGS AT WORK GOOD?  I'VE BEEN MEANING TO TELL YOU THAT EVERY TIME I'M RUNNING OR PT, I ALWAYS PICTURE DOING IT OR RUNNING WITH YOU AND HAVING YOU PUSH ME.  ALWAYS HELPS!

I RECENTLY JUST FOUND OUT THAT WE HAVE A SPECIAL GRADUATION DATE AND WE WILL BECOME MARINES A WEEK BEFORE WE GRAD.  I GUESS THE DAY WE BECOME MARINES IS LABOR DAY!  HOW FITTING IS THAT HUH?

OH AND ALSO I FORGOT TO MENTION, THE OTHER DAY DURING PT SESSION WE HAD THE COMMANDANT OF THE ENTIRE MARINE CORPS MAKE A VISIT AND WATCH US.  APPARENTLY THAT IS EXTREMELY RARE!  ASK COLONEL SMITH.

PRETTY MOTIVATING TO SAY THE LEAST.  I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS I WANNA DO WHEN I GET HOME AND CANNOT WAIT!

ANYWAYS, LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL

RECRUIT CATMULL

PS  RECENT PICS AND OLD PICS OF SISSY AND I WOULD BE GREAT!  THANKS GUYS!

I'm thinking the boy has his dates mixed up since we already had labor day.  Maybe his days all just run together.  Not sure what he means by the early graduation when he becomes a Marine, but I am assuming it is the Crucible.

You can bet that we immediately sent off some pictures of his daughter and him with her.  And as for asking the Colonel - yeah we pick his brain as often as we can  : )

Semper Fi

The epic Dirty Dash and Piglet Plunge of 2010

*warning - a plethora of pictures*

I've had  the Dirty Dash with the Dirty Diva's on the agenda for awhile now, but when I was told to ease off my running until the marathon - this was the event that had to go.  BOOOOO!!!!  It was gonna be the funnest!
Luckily cute Kim stepped in for me and took my place.

Ree,Lisa,Ana,Kim and Karie

(of course Lisa made us some AWESOME necklaces!)

(Sissy was feeling a little shy and quiet on the ride up)

The event is a 10k run through mud, water and obstacle's.  This was the first year that it's been held in Utah.  Judging by the success of it all, I'm guessing it won't be the last.

After the adults do the 6k, the it's the event for the littles.  A Piglet Plunge.  A shortened run through the water and the mud.  What kid doesn't want to get wet and muddy?

Saturday morning we met at the gym, loaded everyone up (including the lil piglets) and headed for Soldier Hollow

The big girls headed for the start line and the rest of us set up camp

(carb loading on Cashews - Thanks Deb for being so prepared!)

(watching and getting our game face on)

We didn't really get to see the Diva's start, but did manage some pics along the way

They did fantastic! And I have to be honest - I am seriously envying not being a part of it.  I've had to do some serious self talk about how it was for the best, and that I am holding out for the better choice.....blah blah blah...... I just really hate not being a part of it!

But, that being said - I am genuinely happy for them and glad that they had so much fun!

Next year.........

They began announcing the Piglet Plunge and I started to panic a bit.  I couldn't get the tattoos stuck on the kids, and the girls weren't back yet.  Tib was up on the hill taking pictures and Debbie was waiting for them to cross in front of camp to get pictures. 

That left me and the three littles.  Let's go!!!

Sissy

Liam

and Amelia

The course consisted of running up a mud hill to a large sprinkler, then back down the same mud hill.  Crossing an asphalt path and running up a hill to the water slide.

Down the water slide - into more mud, back across the path and into the mud pits.

It. was. awesome!

She kept telling that she was big now.  "Wrunning wike you Mimi!  My wegs are big, my arms are big and I'm wrunning fast just wike you Mimi!"

Where was Liam?  He was WAY ahead of us and already headed for the first big water/mud pit.  We caught up, but not after losing  Sissy's shoe along the way

The last hurdle was a huge mountain of slippery dirt

The spraying off from the fire hose did NOT go over well with the piglets..... we gave up and went and played some more in the mud.  This time with a real live pig!

A little cleaning up and more pictures

(if you know Ree - then you know why this is hysterical!)

(Reanna, Kim, Lisa, Tib, Karie, Ana and me)

We were never completely cleaned up until we got home

After Sis got all scrubbed clean she wanted to wear her "race shirt" to bed as a nightgown.  She was so PROUD of herself!

And if you haven't had enough pictures, why then by all means enjoy this:

Thanks Lisa and Tiburon for your sick videoing skillz!!