Number 18 - Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing - I wasn't sure what to expect. But for my birthday, Dean and I decided that it might be a really good family activity. January 16th (the day before my birthday) would be a good day to go up to the mountains to give this potential sport a try. The Salt Lake Valley had been trapped in a horrible gray inversion all week long and we had been stuck in the gray and freezing temperatures for far too long. So we packed up the children and headed to the Solitude Nordic Center up Big Cottonwood Canyon.

When we arrived we were fitted with gators and snowshoes. I thought wearing these shoes designed to walk on the snow would feel like tennis racquets or boards strapped to my feet - I just wasn't sure what to expect. Surprisingly, the snowshoes didn't really feel quite as awkward as I thought it would or should be. After being strapped into the gear, the clan headed out to try the 1 mile loop.

To describe the day - it was spectacular - the sun was shining and the sky was blue. BLUE SKY - We hadn't seen blue sky filled with sunshine in such a long time - oh it felt so good on my face. The temperature was about 45 degrees Fahrenheit which as about 15 degrees warmer than down in the city that we had left behind for the day. It was the perfect day to try this activity.

As we headed out, it was fairly easy getting around. Through the trees and over the hills. We even tried deep powder snow and did not sink too far. Wow - this was fun and easy. I kept telling Dean I would love to invest in this sport. It is some good exercise, fresh air and great scenery!

After our first try, we walked back and met our guide who introduced us to the area, explaining trees, wildlife and different points of interest. She even explained about a white weasel and a moose that often frequent the area. The weasel and moose did not make an appearance for my day in the outdoors - so now we have a quest to go and find these to illusive creatures on a different day and a different adventure.

There was just one thing that I didn't expect - I had a mean back splash from my snowshoes. With every step, snow was being kicked up my backside. But I was not the only one experiencing this - my daughter did as well. We were soaked by the time we were done. People who saw us thought that we had purposely sat in the snow or wet our pants. The boys didn't have a problem. We did have different snowshoes from the boys. When we walk we also drag our feet and so we kept trying to try different stepping techniques but nothing really seemed to help. Whatever the cause was for backside full of snow, we both knew that it felt good to change out of our wet clothes.

It was a great day and a great birthday present! I really enjoyed this sport and look forward to trying this adventure again.

The List

Blogging - who came up with that term. I guess for me it is more like keeping a journal - which by the way is something that I haven't really done consistently at any point in my life. But I guess as part of this 2010 adventure I am going to give it a whirl. Maybe someday my posterity will look at my "blog" and laugh at me as I figure my way through this life.

As I outlined in previous blogs - I was going to post the list of "39 Things" that I hope to accomplish this year that are somewhat different than the daily routine things like to pray daily, tell my family how much I love and appreciate them, laugh and have fun. Those things are givens. This list has some challenges as well as some new "givens" to try. So here it goes -THE LIST!

1. Read the Old Testament (start to finish)

2. Travel to Chile
3. Travel to Antarctica
4. Complete a triathlon
5. Of the 5 LDS Temples that I haven't visited in Utah - visit 3 of them
6. Go Hang Gliding
7. Volunteer at the Utah Food Bank - during the "off season"
8. Tutor / teach at Monroe Elementary w/ Junior Achievement
9. Read the Diary of Anne Frank
10. Read Lost Moon: Apollo 13
11. Read Hallelujah - the story of Handel's Messiah
12. Finish reading the Book of Mormon
13. 39 days without sugar, gluten or dairy
14. Truly appreciate the blueberry

15. Take 5 minutes off of my best 1/2 marathon time

16. Grow two new things in my garden this year
17. Donate time to Habitat for Humanity
18. Try snow shoeing
19. Build a snowman in November
20. Learn to cross country ski
21. Hike from Big Cottonwood Canyon to Little Cottonwood Canyon
22. Plant a fruit tree
23. Send (in the mail) notes of encouragement
24. Visit California
25. Learn to cook a new dinner recipe

26. Have a nephews only day

27. Have a lazy Saturday - spend the day at home in PJs

28. Go to a day spa for a pampering treatment

29. Learn the new family history program

30. Keep a journal

31. Make a new dessert

32. Finish the wedding pictures and book

33. Make homemade root beer

34. Go dancing with my husband

35. Participate in the United Way Day of Caring

36. Plan a family anniversary in October

37. Learn to use the herbs in my garden

38. Attend the symphony

39. See a Broadway play

There it is "The List." I have actually started but now it is in place. Let's see how it goes.

Motherhood

I have been thinking a lot lately about motherhood. Being a mother happened very suddenly in my life and for the last year and a half I have learned a lot. However, that hasn't even scratched the surface of what parental learning experiences I know are quietly waiting out in the wings ever so patiently for me to be prepared so that they may enter my life puzzle at just the right moment.

First of all let me say love is an amazing thing. And it wasn't until I got married and added more family into my life, that I realized how truly strong this emotion can be for me. Here is a story that might explain it better. In 2004, I was diagnosed with endometriosis. During the laproscopic surgery, the doctor identified that I had a very severe case. I was told that unless I went on a somewhat experimental drug, that I probably would never have children. Well I researched, studied, fasted and prayed and determined that drug was not right for my life. I felt, and still feel, that I needed to do what would work for me in order to maintain my health. I decided that if I wouldn't be able to give birth to children that I would be as healthy as I could in order to care for the children who may surround my life. I was single then, I only had one nephew and I had come to terms with my health and the decision I felt was right for my life. I guess if I had to, I could live with the fact that I may never have children of my own. So I pressed forward and really health wise I have been doing so well. It has been 5 years and I feel healthier than before the surgery.

However, now that I am married, love has taken on a new dimension for me. I now am a mother (or substitute mother) for three teenagers. Yes that's right - out of the frying pan and into the fire as some would say. Our children are 17, 14, and 13. Their mother was sick for a very long time and has since passed away. I am here to pick up where she left off. Dean and I have worked very hard to make sure the children see life continue not end and start over. So we have left all of the pictures on the walls in our home and we are slowly adding our new pictures - it is a process of building. I love my husband so much and that love seems to spill over to my children. There are times that parenting is so challenging that I don't know how we are going to make it one more day. But that crazy, strong and ever enduring emotion of love seems to carry us through. It amazes me.

However, being married has added another dimension of love that I didn't even know existed - wow. I often wish that my circumstances were different, that my health would cooperate and that I would be able to give birth to a little piece of me and little piece of Dean. That amazing bond of love and that desire to carry it forward oftentimes feels so powerful. I know that desired part of my life probably will never come to pass - or at least in the way I thought piece should fit into my puzzle. So now I take the "new" piece I have been gifted with and fit it into it's place in my life.

I love my family all of them, my husband, my children, my parents, brothers, sisters and yes the newly added amazing trio (ages 5, 3, and 1). I even love the dog and yes that cat (that doesn't mean he can come into my room - but I will still feed him treats when nobody is looking).

The Best Friend

I am not great at introductions so I will cut the formality and just say that I am Joelle and I am about to embark on the 39th year of my life and for some reason I feel that this is a monumental year in my life history for me and my family. So here I go and let the adventure begin.

Since 2008, my life puzzle had a few more pieces fit into place. Some may call it fate or luck but I call it destiny. It's that thing that says, whatever things may be in life, are supposed to happen for a reason. So life decided to introduce me to my best friend and now my husband - Dean. It's funny how a series of events that started several years before we met, brought us together at just the right moment in time. After being single for so long, I had tried to convince myself that I didn't need "another half" in my life. I think, for the most part, that I am a strong and independent woman who likes adventure and carries a streak of stubborn in me as well. The "marriage/boyfriend piece" hadn't found its way into my puzzle. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to meet someone and eventually get married but life just kept giving me one adventure after another. And honestly, the puzzle pieces didn't (and sometimes still don't) always fall into place the way I think they should.

But Dean was and is my balance in life. He let me be me - run as fast as I wanted, do what I needed to do - and all the while - he patiently wrapped himself into my life. He added to my adventure, step by step and moment by moment until I finally expressed to him "I don't think I want to go solo anymore."

How grateful I am for him! I love him for so many reasons that I have lost count now. He has been one of my biggest supporters in this part of my life! And now as I turn 39, he has helped me to develop a list of 39 things to do in the year 2010. I am going to post the list on my birthday (in a few days) and over the next year this blog will journal my life, my family and that list.