dream a little dream

With the Olympics just ending, I am dreaming big again! I just love seeing the incredible physical ability of all of the Olympians! I have to admit that I have always wanted to be a successful professional athlete- of any kind really. Well, not table tennis. Anyway, at one point, my mom was our summer softball coach to me and my three sisters. Before our games, she would always say this quote by Henry Ford, "Either you think you can, or you think you can't. Either way, you are right." I totally believe in what that quote is saying. You can do anything if you set your mind to it. Dream big. Cause what is wrong with dreaming big?! Someone has to be the one to win or to succeed at something, so why not you?! Why not YOU!? I am lucky to have parents that have always believed in their children (and anyone else really) and more important, taught us to believe in ourselves. Thus, I have always been and always will be a dreamer. I don't dream of fame or fortune associated with being an Olympian, but I dream of pushing and challenging myself to fulfill my athletic potential. To be the best I can be.  Lately, I have been dreaming of being a successful runner. I never ran track or cross country, but I have always loved running. It has been my favorite part of all of the sports I have done in the past. I always loved stealing bases in softball, and sprinting to get to a ball before the other team got it (in field hockey).I loved when we had to do sprints after softball practice, or do suicide drills, or run 2 miles before we would scrimmage for field hockey. I eventually got into running as a hobby and for fitness after I graduated from high school- and I've been in love ever since. So now, I find myself thinking... I am still young! And how cool would it be to be a professional and elite athete!? On top of that, how cool would it be to be an Olympic runner while not have an incredible running background AND be a stay-at-home mother of 3 kids!? To be a marathon momma! As I was reading Kara Goucher's book called "Running for Women," I was so envious of her day: running, eating, napping, being with family, eating, training, being with family, go to bed, repeat. That sounds like HEAVEN to me.

With that being said, I have ALWAYS dreamed of being a wife and mother. Those will always be my number one priorities. I feel SO blessed and SO thankful to be able to be a wife and mother. That is what this life is truly about. I feel so much joy when I ponder about the blessings of being married in the temple and being together as a family forever. I feel so much gratitude to see that my hard work at home with the kids is making a difference in their lives. I know not every woman can stay home, it just cannot be so sometimes. And that is totally fine! But for me, I feel it is where I am supposed to be for my kids. So, as I get to live this wonderful real-life dream come true with my three beautiful babies and my hunk of a husband, I will just continue to work hard towards my dream of my professional running career. I honestly believe I can do anything I want if I work hard and pray. So, I'll keep dreaming, running, training, racing, living life, and most likely fulfill that athletic dream at the St. George Senior Olympics in a few years. ; )

**A few weeks ago, Ryan's fun cousin Terriann did an Olympic party for some of the little ones. It was so much fun! They did running, jumping on the trampoline, balancing while walking on the raised wooden garden bed, flipping on the rings to the playground, gymnastics on a mat, and swimming in the pool. We had olympic themed treats and she even gave out old basketball medals for prizes! The kids had a blast. When it was Tucker's turn to do something fun while holding on to the rings, he got so frustrated with himself that he couldn't flip like his cousin Wes could. I don't know if everyone else could tell, but I could tell. He got so down on himself. I was so sad inside! I whispered to him, "Tucker, you can do ANYTHING you want. Anything. You just believe in yourself and you can do it." I actually had a hard time not crying. He said he was dumb just because he couldn't flip. It was his first time even trying to do that and he felt like a failure because he couldn't do it! I couldn't believe it! Where did he get this negativity from? So...after I told him he can do anything he wants, I helped him do a flip, and he was so happy. Such a little but powerful moment. It just opened my eyes to try even harder to teach my kids that they have such great potential and that they can do anything! I don't want them to be prideful and think they are the cat's meow, but just to believe in themselves. With hard work, faith, and help from God, you can move mountains! So all you dreamers, just remember, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

Thanks Rachelle (Terriann's sister and so another of my husband's cousins) for taking fabulous pictures! I stole some of these off of facebook!- Always and Forever Photography by Rachelle Bolton

"Don’t limit yourself and don’t let others convince you that you are limited in what you can do. Believe in yourself and then live so as to reach your possibilities. You can achieve what you believe you can. Trust and believe and have faith." -Pres. Thomas S. Monson