A Tale of Two Childs

1: We still live in our little house in Clinton, UT, with Hampton, our cat. 2: We were blessed with 2 new nieces on the Child side. We are now the Uncle & Aunt of 12 wonderful kiddos! 3: Rachel was able to cross an item off her bucket list by visiting New York City, where a friend lives. Caleb did not want to go. Something about too many people... 4: Caleb got 1 year closer to graduating with his Bachelor's degree in supply chain management. 5: Rachel, in a fit of the crazies, decided to go back to school. She is working on a Masters in Business, to graduate in 2015. 6: We both played softball on a co-ed team. It is fun to see Caleb come alive at athletic events. 7: Caleb built us a beautiful awning over the back porch of our yard. He does such great work. We are so blessed by is craftsmanship. 8: Rachel had the opportunity to play Miss Hannigan in the community musical "Annie." She is slightly ashamed to admit that she's a bit more like Miss Hannigan than she would have originally thought. (see picture at the top right) 9: We had a lovely visit from friends from Caleb's mission around Thanksgiving. It is always fun to show people around Utah! 10: This year we have been through 2 surgeries, 49 college credits, trotting around North America (NYC, Canada, Moab, St. George, Arizona), hours of rehearsal, church obligations and just general life mayhem, but after all of the madness, we still like each other! We hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Much Love~ Caleb & Rachel & Hampton

This is a bit overdue, but here you are: 1: We both stayed at the same Jobs. We still live in our little house in UT, with Hammy. 2: We were blessed with 1 new nephew on the McGraw side. We are now the Aunt and Uncle of 10 wonderful kiddos! 3: We got to go Carlsbad California with Caleb's Parents & Rachel's brother Rob & his wife Ericka, and their baby Beth. We had a wonderful time- and even got to go to Disneyland! 4: Rachel decided to do a half marathon on July 28th, and completed it about 45 minutes faster than her first half marathon! 5: Caleb was helping to build his brother, Jacob's house. Though it was many months of hard work, Jake and his beautiful wife and daughter have a lovely new home. 6: Rachel is now the HR Manager of her facility... talk about frightening! 7: Caleb is still going to school working on a Supply Chain Management Degree. 8: Rachel's Website is still out there www.shavemyheadif.com. She started volunteering at a battered women's shelter in Ogden to work off her service. 9:Caleb and Rachel went to their first live Major League Baseball game, Angels vs. Padres. Rachel found it MUCH more interesting than anticipated, and we would like to attend another one someday! 10: Our new siding and windows project is done, and our house looks wonderful!

I found this card at the Hallmark store, it made me laugh out loud, so I got it for Caleb for Caleb day. Hopefully what I ordered will be here for him tomorrow! Inside it just says "Totally." Wishing everyone a safe and happy Caleb Day. Especially Caleb!

Each year Caleb's family does a trip into the Uintah mountains - to a place called Trial lake. It is only open about 2 months of the year. That is the view out the window of our tent. I love going to Trial Lake. One of the neat parts about it is: No cell phone service. You are completely cut off from technology and the rest of the world, and this year, I was looking forward to the peace and quiet. This was a fun trip. Caleb likes to get sunflower seeds and feed the chipmunks. This year they got a little friendly, so Caleb tried a little experiment: Yeah, we are lucky he did not come home with rabies. Caleb's brother and his wife braved the risks and brought their cute, almost 1 year old daughter with us. She sure was a lot of fun, and kept us all really busy. Turns out a canoe is a nice make-shift play pen. Great Family, Great food, great fun and great outdoors. I love Trial Lake.

I completed my second half marathon on 07/28. I finished in 2:29:24. That is about 45 minutes faster than my first half! Perhaps cause I actually trained. This really was a battle of will for me. I am grateful that I was able to complete it. I would like to start learning how to run a faster mile, and maybe do another one...someday. It may take me 4 years to get the courage to try this again! The big issue is measuring my time against someone else's time. The woman I was training with- who is 3 years older than me and has 5 kids - completed a different half (the top of Utah Half) in 1:53. Nearly 40 minutes faster than I. But this was not about her, nor was it about winning. It was about proving to myself that I am better than I was. That I earned a better time, that my hard work and preparation paid off, and that I challenged myself and completed something difficult. That I did not give up. From miles 2-6.5 someone had placed intermittent posters on road signs with motivational running quotes, those got me through the first half of the race! There was one quote I remember "the moment you forget you are running is the moment your run begins" Given that definition, I am not sure that I have ever been on a run in my lifetime!!! I really enjoyed it overall. I am grateful to my friend Amy for talking me into these things! I am glad that I completed it, and hope one day to get a better time! For now, I have to feel good about what I accomplished, and look forward to the new challenge: A Mini Triathalon!

We got to go to St. George again this year. Each year we like to get in a game of tennis. I know Caleb looks like he is about to punish me with that raquet, but he was just trying to get an action shot for the photographer! While we were there this year, I found out my cute Grandma B. passed away. She is my Mother's Mother, and was my last living grandparent. What I loved, and will always remember about her, is that you always knew she loved you. No matter how long it was since you last talked, no matter how lousy you felt about yourself, she would always say "I just love this kid" and "I am so glad that you came to see me" or "I am just tickled that you thought to call me today." She was also very talented vocally and with the piano. She learned a method called chording, that is not used much anymore, but I loved singing with her at the piano. One time I sang a Christmas Carol for her, and she liked it so much, she asked me to sing it again! I think that was the most sincere compliment that I have ever gotten about singing. I sure will miss her. I am grateful I know that the end of this life is only the beginning of another journey. She and my Grandpa are together now- Til we meet again!

We got to go to California in May! We visited Disneyland and California Adventure! My brother, his wife, Caleb and I had fun thinking of fun things to do on the ride pictures, Caleb even practiced his face! I enjoyed this one, it was hard to hold when free falling on the tower of terror! Caleb and I saw a really short line for this ride, and we hopped in, we should have learned when we tried to ride together on the Matterhorn 4 years ago, that we would not fit!!! But some mistakes are fun to make again...fun and a little painful... We got to eat at Ruby's on the pier. My brother and sister in law have been together since high school, and are still darling together. I really admire their love for eachother. So Cute! We also got to attend our first Major League Baseball game, the Angels vs. Padres at Petco stadium. I LOVED it. I had so much fun! We also got to spend some time at the beach! Isn't that the happiest Picture ever??? That is my cute Niece. We had a lot of fun, but most of all, it was just good to be with my Caleb.

I completed a half marathon once. I half prepared for it, and finished half alive. Of 3000+ runners I came in among the last 30 or so. I did complete it, but as I was walking the last few miles, the emergency vehicles circled like vultures, knowing I would drop any minute. Since then I have had a sort of mental block about jogging. Feeling slightly like a failure, and scared to try running again- and embarrassed at how I did in the race.

Fast forward 4 years. I have a friend, Amy, who talks me into crazy things. She has the ability to sell me on the vision of a journey, and then teaching me to have a good attitude about it. Amy has completed a full marathon, and got me hooked on road biking. So anyway, she talked me into preparing and completing a half marathon, again- this time the Morgan Valley Half. \

I have decided I need to conquer this fear. The problem with this fear is that it is not like standing in line for the scary roller coaster. After the 10-30 minute wait you are buckled in and there is nothing you can do but hold on, and it will be over in 5 minutes. It is a 15 week battle of will for me- as I begin jogging again- I vacillate between the "I can do this" and "any time will beat your first time if you prepare" to the "what was I thinking?" and "I don't know if I have it in me". The official training should start May 5th- which is 12 weeks from my race.

Luckily, I have a friend in my neighborhood, Camilla, who is willing to do long runs on weekends with me- which is encouraging- and we have already started doing some of them- and I have gone 6 miles without stopping for more than a few minutes or so to stretch- which is huge for me.

The first few weekends we just jogged and increased our mileage. I was feeling really good, my knees were not hurting as much. I was increasing my mileage and pushing myself. I was feeling really good, and getting really excited.

Then more and more people wanted to jog with us and I soon realized that people who wanted a rest jogged with me at the back of the pack, and then when they were rested up joined everyone else at the front. My friend Camilla was just going slowly because my pace for a 6 miler is about 11.5 minutes, where hers is more 9 or 10. All at once I was back in the silly embarrassment of the first half- coming in- really- dead last, knowing I could have done better, but did not- then looking at my life. Thinking of all the wasted days, procrastinations etc... and wondering why I could not have pushed myself a little harder.

I had a dream this weekend that it was the morning of my second Half, and I was not prepared. I was panicking, running around, gathering my things, trying to get ready- and I woke up and realized how this is really a fear of mine- and I need to prepare for and complete this- in a manner in which I can be proud of myself.

The only thing that has changed between the feeling good about preparing for my half, and feeling extremely silly about my very effort to prepare for it- is my attitude and predominant thoughts about it. I started focusing on the negative- that I was not as good as the other ladies I am jogging with, and, facing the truth, may never be as good at running as they are.

That does not matter though, really. I am not doing this to race them, I am doing this to prove to myself that I can push myself beyond what I think I can take. I can become more than I am allowing myself, and in the long run, it is easier to live in the gray of mediocrity, than to stand out in color. It does not matter what place I come in at this race- as long as I give it everything.

So with my heart racing and that creeping feeling of anxiety in my chest, I proceed. Hoping to find untapped reservoirs of strength along the way. Wish me Luck!

Each year the Women in Business Committee nominates an award called the "Athena" award. This award goes to an outstanding woman who embodies the qualities of strength, courage, wisdom and enlightenment.

This year the winner was Meg Johnson. I have known who Meg was since Jr High. She was friends with my older brother, and frankly, I think he had a crush on her for many years. To be honest, I was jealous of her. I secretly admired her, and did not really take the chance to get to know her. She was beautiful, confident and charismatic- That Meg was cool.

Fast forward a few years. My big brother comes home and tells me that his friend Meg had been in a horrible accident and broke her neck. She was in the hospital for a long time and when she went home, my brother and I visited her occasionally on Sunday afternoons.

A situation like that is so hard- they don't want to be pitied, but you ache for them and their challenge. I did not know how to act at first, I was never comfortable around her before, she was so cool- and I- well I wasn't. Now she faced a long road and I just did not know what to do. Meg was so welcoming to us, she made me feel welcome and like my visit brightened her day. Amazing, amazing girl.

I remember seeing pages and pages of paper at her home that she was practicing writing again- as her brother once said to me "her penmanship is better than mine." She cannot hold a pen like we normally learn how to. The weight of her arm is what she uses to apply pressure to write, and she has to weave the pen through her fingers so it will stay put. Now she draws and sells her Art to fund Miss Wheelchair Utah.

Well, I got married and my brother and I stopped visiting. I ran into Meg a couple of times with work where I learned she founded Miss Wheelchair Utah, was becoming an institute teacher, was an artist and many many other neat things. Then came the 2012 Athena award.

I went to the luncheon to watch her receive her award and I realized that this girl who intimidated me years ago was now a role model for what I can be when I decide I want to be something more. She was honored with a standing ovation- and I struggled to hold back tears. What a phenomenal example of strength and courage- and an example of never giving up.

Every time I run into her- I leave with a huge smile on my face. I am so grateful for her example and her willingness to take her challenges in stride and "keep on rollin" (that is her motto). I am grateful for her willingness to accept me- and treat me as a friend- even though we did not know eachother well. I am grateful for her patience with me, as I learned how to act around the new Meg- and her making me feel at ease.

I am grateful for her art- that is hanging in my office- that reminds me that even if I face a lot of challenges- I can still create beauty in the lives of others.
She is still beautiful, charismatic and confident. That Meg, she is so cool.

2011 Child Family Top 10
1: We both stayed at the same Jobs. Caleb working Construction for RMC, Rachel working for GENCO.
2: We were blessed with 3 new nieces. Two on the McGraw side, one on the Child side.
3: We were blessed to go to St. George and Trial Lake for some vacation and family time.
4: Rachel decided to do a 100 Mile bike ride on June 4th, and is still living to compile the top 10!
5: We got to be a part of Caleb's Sister, Kasey's, wedding party in July. It was a perfect day!
6: Rachel was in another dinner theater murder mystery for Halloween. This keeps her busy so Caleb can get his schoolwork done!
7: While working full time and going to school, Caleb undertook the monstrous endeavor of replacing the siding and windows of our home, we are not quite finished but it already looks so great with Caleb's touch!
8: With Caleb's encouragement, Rachel created the website: www.shavemyheadif.com. If the website can raise enough money to pay off our mortgage, Rachel will shave her head. No, that is not a joke, check it out!
9:Caleb put together another family softball team this summer. It was way fun to do something together that he enjoys so much.
10: We could not think of a number ten. Anticlimactic, I know.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

This picture was taken in April of 2011. This is my immediate family. My parents and 4 big brothers.

Growing up, I thought I was cursed. The only girl, four older brothers. Once, for my birthday- I was probably 6ish, I asked my mom for a sister. When she told me that was not possible, I politely informed her that she could adopt. (I have always been a caring child...) In retrospect, Heavenly Father knew what he was doing by placing me in the family I have (imagine that... God, knowing what is best for me...)

I have 4 big brothers. They are all big influences in my life and phenomenal examples to me of what it means to be a good person. They are all so willing to share their time and talents with Caleb and I. Now I find that I LOVE being the only girl among 4 brothers. They all have married wonderfully talented women- who make wonderful sisters.

I love and admire those 4 great men- more than is safe to express among a group of dudes. I am so blessed to have them in my life.

So- if you don't know my spouse, he is a very talented builder. I swore we would never build a house- but we all know what happens when we say "I would never..." Since we have purchased a home, and it is not perfect to Caleb's standards he is not pleased with many things about it- I am sure we will build a house someday. Due to the economy and since he is currently still in the construction field, we have taken the opportunity to replace the windows and siding on our current house hopefully making it more tolerable for the perfectionist I love.



Attached are a couple of pictures of the progress. Caleb- who works 40+ hours a week, has 9 credit hours at school and is trying to complete this monster project continues to impress me by how hard he works. I will post progress pictures occasionally.

My friend Jacqui used the title quote from Doctrine & Covenants on Sunday. When I heard it, I recalled a situation I had in college where a roommate told me that, though her father was not very present in her life, she had always enjoyed the "finer things in life." I remember thinking at that time that though I did not always have the most expensive things or brand named clothes, the finer things in my life were not things, they are people.

My heart was filled with gratitude as I realized all of the phenomenal people that are in my life, have been in my life, and how blessed I am, this is truly far greater than the treasures of the earth. You can replace a car, you can rebuild a home, but you can never replace the people who are in your life. You can never remove what they have taught you.

So to all of the people in my life: Thank you for adding the colors to my world that make my life so rich and beautiful. I am so grateful for you- for the friendship and love that have made my life so incredibly worthwhile. You are far greater to me than the treasures of the earth.

There is an annual bike ride called Little Red Riding Hood, it takes place in Lewiston, UT (its by Logan). You can ride 35, 50, 80 or 100 miles. 100 miles, in biking, is called a Century... I did not know that til quite recently...anywho... Amy had done the 50 miler last year, and she talked to me about doing the 2011 race: she was going to do the full century this year. I wanted to, I thought training for it might be fun, and it would coincide with my fitness competition, so the timing was great, but it sold out in 16 hours.

The race was on June 4th 2011. Two weeks prior to the ride, a friend posted on Facebook that she was selling her registration for the 100 miler- It sounded fantastic, but 2 weeks notice to train for 100 mile race? Could I do it?

The Saturday before the race, Amy and I rode 27 miles. It felt great. Just me and the music, and a fantastic road bike that Amy's husband let me use... I LOVED IT! I have never loved exercising so much. I got to go about 15 MPH pretty much the whole time, and the bike was so lightweight.

My cousin offered me her road bike to ride for the century (when riding that long, it really is important to have an actual road bike), I really wanted to complete the full 100 miles, but they did have turn offs at 50 and 80... so I would just keep going, I thought, as long as I could.

The Monday before the ride: memorial day: Amy and I rode from Kaysville to Hooper and back. It was just shy of 47 miles- I was pretty tired and sore, but I loved it. I talked to some folks at the bike shop, they told me that if I did another 20 or so during the week, I would be fine. Well I came down with a cold... I was feeling pretty crappy, so I did not ride at all after memorial day.

Saturday came. Amy's hubby checked our tires and made sure we were all set (it is an all women's ride). We started. The picture is only at mile 10 or so, so we look great! ( : The first few miles Amy stuck with me. She had trained for this... we sang songs from Little Shop of Horrors to keep us busy. After the first stop, I told Amy she could ride as she wished. She would hit stops before I did, and she waited for me, that was kind of her.

I REALLY wanted to finish the century. Up to about mile 75 (I took my GPS watch to tell me where I was at) the ground was fairly level. It was a beautiful day and I thought- as long as the course stayed the way it had the first 75 miles, I could make it. Shortly after the turn off to mile 80 the rolling hills started... At about mile 84, my battery died to my GPS watch, and at about mile 86, ( I asked someone how far we were) my abdomen started cramp. My body was protesting my continued riding. I told it, though, that the only way to end the madness, was to go back the way we came.

I finished the full century! Overall with stops it was 8 hours and 50 minutes. Actual ride time was about 6 hours 50 minutes. And I burned about 4400 calories ( : I had so much fun! The next day I was pretty sore and tired, but I could hardly believe that I had completed a full 100 mile bike ride!

Amy helped put it in perspective as we hit the 50 mile mark. She told me: no matter how far you go, it is the furthest you have ever gone. That was a great perspective. Even if I did 50 miles, that would have been more than I had ever completed at one time. It kept me moving forward as my body protested my continuing existence. I guess that it how it is with life. No matter where you are at, you have never known as much as you do today. Even if today is really lousy, and you are not in a good place, your journey has taught you lessons that only living to this point could, and you can take those mistakes, learn from them and recognize the strength you have gained from the journey.

Thanks Amy, for talking me into this madness. I learned a lot about what I can accomplish if I just keep on pushing, even when it is painful. I LOVE road biking. Perhaps I will continue. Just another fun thing to add to my list for this phenomenal year.

So I entered the Gold's Gym Challenge- On May 14th they announced the winners, but you had to pay 15.00 a ticket to go to the NGA Mountain States competition where they would make the announcement. It is a fitness competition where REALLY fit people come out in their skibbies and flex. I never knew they made bikinis with rhinestones, and I really thought there was a legal limit to how many spray tan's a person could get in one day...turns out there is not, and there are people who get about 5 spray tans in one day and stand in front of judges. To be honest, I did not realize people I go to the gym with actually do that kind of thing... anyway...

Well, I am quite frugal- and I think 15.00 is a pretty big price to pay to see something that I would never choose to see. I would not pay 15.00 to see a movie that I REALLY wanted to see, I would wait for it to come out to the Red Box...So I decided to go to the competition and hang out in the hallway and see if I could get away without paying for my ticket, just to hear my name... They actually have bouncers man the doors at these things. Apparently this is a big deal...

We got there at about 6:15 and I asked the ladies at the table if we could get away without paying... there was really no way... so I asked if I could loiter in the hall til they announced the winner of the local Gold's Gym Challenge- they allowed me to. Finally at about 7:15 they go to announce the winners, and ya know whose name they said first??? MINE! ! ! I won the challenge for the Womens Division! I lost 37.4lbs, 20.25 inches and 9.06% body fat! I was so excited and it felt great. After they announced my name, Caleb ran to get me a ticket (they would not let me in to get my prize even... I still had to pay) I ran up and got my prize and off I went!

One of the class fitness instructors saw me at the competition, but did not hear the winners announced. I went to her class the following Monday and she asked me if I was going to go into the bikini competitions... (HILARIOUS) I laughed and emphatically told her that would not be my cup of tea... but that I had gone to hear the winners of the golds gym competition. She said "oh yeah, I did not hear the winners...did you know who won?" I told her I did and smiled. She asked "who was it?" I said "ME!!!" I think that was my favorite moment of them all. She was so excited for me! I really felt like I had accomplished something!

Below is my essay that I had to write for my entry it could only be 250 words in length... I am really grateful for what the Gold's Gym Challenge taught me, mostly that I can accomplish anything that I decide to truly dedicate my time and energy to: now I just need to decide what to put my efforts toward next! ( :

Essay:
Exhaustion, frustration, strep throat. Stress, bronchitis, relief, elation... these are all words that describe the past 12 weeks as I completed the Gold's Gym Challenge.

I've never been the typical beautiful, small girl. I am tall with broad shoulders. I had gained weight since I got married and I work at a company that distributes for Hershey's Candies. Imagine an all-you-can-eat candy buffet, all the time- sounds great right? Perhaps to your taste buds, but not to the bathroom scale.

I took the challenge because I needed something to motivate me that had a clear deadline and the support that Gold's Gym could offer. I quickly found that I always knew HOW to get healthy, but never the drive. I knew I had strength to become who I wanted to be, but never tested it. I was scared of changing for the better, afraid of failing myself. To avoid disappointment - I just didn't try. I accepted mediocrity and stayed who I didn't want to be.

I distinctly remember one evening at the gym, I had lost 20lbs and felt great. I looked in the full-length mirror and was shocked at how small I looked. With my own eyes I was seeing myself as SMALL! I've always felt uncomfortable in my own skin. It's been a long time since I've felt beautiful. Thanks to the Challenge, I've found my strength and beauty within, finally I have made the lifestyle changes that I can take with me beyond this experience.

This post is more of a Journal entry than anything, but enjoy!
So since I gave Mr. Dickinson his "High 5" he has been trying to get me to stop. I had been in a hurry, and frankly felt awkward stopping- what if I was wrong and he was just waving- I would feel silly (welcome to my world) so today he held up his stop sign for me- so I stopped and turned around, and he gave me a box of Candy Nips. He thanked me for my nomination an told me he could not believe how many people saw the news. He is so cute! He told me he would be off in a few weeks (school is out) and he would see me in the fall. I need to write him a note or something. I am grateful for a new friend, and my box of Nips (:

Fast forward to this evening and I go to the wedding of a darling couple from our old ward and Caleb and I are sitting with friends, and up comes the man who owned the company I used to work for. He knew the people I was sitting next to then he asked if he had ever met me before, I told him I used to work for his company, so we had met a couple of times. He looked crushed that he did not remember me (I was not, it was what I expected), he is a very well known person in the community and knows a LOT of people. Me, not being able to keep my mouth shut, told him I only worked there for about a year, and that after I laid off nearly 500 (yes, five hundred...) people, my heart could not take it, so I had to leave. Now I work for a company that distributes for Hershey's- and candy makes me happy. He told me that was the reason why he could never run for governor. I told him I would vote for him... Needless to say, I got in my groove and carried on like this with the man, then he sat at my table...that did not make it any better. Luckily his wife saved him from my barrage of banter... Really I don't know at what point my brain stops working while my mouth keeps moving, but I reached that point too early tonight... perhaps I was in a sugar induced coma from the Cold Stone they served at the reception... I did get a good laugh, and I am still smiling, and I thank him for his kindness toward the loud blonde who probably made his evening a little more interesting- but who knows if that is a good thing!

P.S. The owner of my former company's wife throws Fairy Godmother Birthday Parties for little girls, she has a dress and wand and grants wishes and EVERYTHING- how stinkin cute! They are seriously such a cute couple, they know Caleb's Grandma and Aunt... it was a fun night!

P.P.S. Also at the wedding reception they had a photo boothe for ALL The guests, so Caleb and I got pictures, but struggled figuring out the timing so they all look AWFUL and they put them in an album for the happy couple... HILARIOUS- now we will be immortalized with our struggles, the camera was much too short for the top of Caleb's head... so there was much fidgeting and awkward photos... What a night!

So a local Television Channel honors people in the community with a "High 5." They look for people who make small differences every day.

Every school day there is an Elementary School crossing guard who waves at EVERY car. This is not your typical half smile and a wave that could be mistaken for another strange sort of arm movement... This is a grin the size of Texas, and a wave that makes you feel like you found a long-lost friend after 20 years. I happened upon him one day while avoiding traffic, and I drive that way to work every day now. His huge smile and hearty wave seem to lift my spirits every morning, and bring a smile to my face.

I sent in a nomination to the local television station on Monday of last week- Tuesday I received a phone call from the station, they said they were touched by my nomination because I did not know the man. They asked me to meet them Wednesday to give my nominee a high 5. It aired on Friday the 22nd. Below is the article from the website. I am grateful that I could thank the person that lifts my spirits each day.

April 22nd, 2011 @ 7:43am

By Brooke Walker

ROY -- A crossing guard in Roy is making a big difference in people's lives by simply sharing a wave and a smile.

Dick Dickinson is a familiar face on the corner of 2000 West and 6000 South. His arm gets a workout from waving at people driving by. Dick has smiled and waved at his post every morning for the past five years.

Dick Dickinson waves to cars passing by the corner of 2000 West and 6000 South in Roy.

Rain, shine, or snow, his infectious grin is always there. Rachel Child nominated him for a KSL High 5.

"Some people kind of give you a half smile and a half wave. But his, it's like he hasn't seen me in years and he's so excited to see me, like I just made his day," she said.

Rachel didn't always pass Dick on her way to work. Traffic one day forced her to take a detour.

"So I came up this road. He waved at me and he lifted my spirits. So now I drive past him every day, and I'm so sad when the kids aren't in school because he's not here," she explained.

Dick said, "When you can get somebody to come by and smile at you it just changes your whole attitude."

Dick smiles and waves at every car, even when his greeting is not returned. He says he's happy to help the kids and make everyone happy.

"He's always here on time and has a fun time with all the people," said his supervisor, Ed Greiner. "That's what we like, crossing guards that have fun."

Dick received a gift basket of goodies from our High 5 sponsors, Les Schwab.

I have 2 weeks left of my fitness challenge. I admit that I am pretty excited to see the results, but I hit a little bit of road construction along my way this past week, and strangely enough I have been really close to just throwing in the towel. To put it in perspective- that would be like a marathon runner failing to complete the race with only 4.5 miles left to complete.

I have actually hit the weight that I thought I wanted to hit- a couple of weeks ago. That was an exciting milestone, but I REALLY wanted to win both the "Biggest Loser" competition at work, and my division of the challenge at my local gym. I found out this week that I did not win the competition at work by .71% NOT even a whole percent! I was stressing and obsessing about this madness and was chastised by a friend that I need to realize how far I have come, and that the changes that I have made have been great for my life and my health, in addition to helping my appearance a bit.

I was also hung up on what I should/could/would have done, and another friend brought me to my senses and let me know that I need to just LET IT GO! Though I have not been absolutely perfect, my progress has been remarkable. In addition, though I may feel fine about how I look- it is no longer about that, it is about doing my best through the finish line. Not just quitting this marathon after 21.5 miles.

So here I am! 2 weeks left- looking to a new road sign to complete this journey! By the way, I have lost about 25 lbs and 8 inches between my waist, thigh and hips. I am grateful that the finish line is on the horizon!

So Valentines day is a day that brings varied emotions to many. I kind of enjoy it. Caleb does something for me each year. Guys are kind of expected to, I usually try to do a little something to express to him what he means to me... I think it is only fair since he is socially (and lets admit it... Spousally) pressured to do so. This year I made him a candy gram.


We both had to work, and he had school that night, so we did not get to spend time together til after 7, when he got out of class. I grilled some steaks and made baked potatoes- so dinner was ready for him when he got home. Then he went to do some homework, and I had to wait for what he got me! I am not patient.

He came upstairs at about 9pm and gave me an envelope from his pocket... he wrote me a letter and in it he explained he was asking me on a date to go see the Utah Symphony's presentation of "Wicked Diva's" which was the symphony and 2 singers presenting a collection of Broadway songs, including 3 from the musical Wicked. The letter was short and sweet and in Caleb fashion. Few words, packed with meaning. The note would have been enough, the date was just icing on the cake.

We went on the date on Thursday Night. The singers had both played Elphaba on broadway, and were both phenomenal performers, yet so different with their strengths. I loved it! The picture is of us at the theater, taken from my phone from a person who looked like they had never functioned a camera phone... this is the best one we got! I am so grateful to Caleb for taking me. Good night, good date. Great Man.

I have had a LOT of firsts the past few weeks. First time on the radio, first time in a recording studio, first time on the news and first time on a promotional video... and it has been a blast!

The picture of me and a microphone me in the studio for the Radio interview. I am representing my company on the Winterfest Committee for Ogden City and they asked me to come and do a Community Calendar segment for FM 100 and 103.5 and talk about my companies involvement. We sponsored the Home Depot kids corner where they made little tool kits and the Polar Bear Swim. I was nervous but so excited. I think my favorite advice was to "act like it is a normal conversation"... I think I may have known that. Thanks to Amy- the PR person, and Kevin the organizer for asking me to come!

Then we were asked to record one of our songs from the Halloween show I was in for a promotional video. We recorded in a studio at the Salt Lake Art Institute. They cut out the last half of our song, cause turns out, my high notes were flat... a little ouch to the ego, but I never claimed to be a soprano, and an exciting opportunity. Though they ran extremely late! I got home at 12a that morning.

THEN, we got called to provide some costumes for Friday Morning shots with 2 News and Casey in the morning (the same Casey that Chunga and Mister blew up all those years ago on 107.5 the end... glad his career has gone well for him), I had a cheesy grin the entire time. (that is the picture of me at the top- the first one is Kevin with Me, Casey, Kevin with Ogden City and Pete, then Me, Amy the PR rep and Emily from ABC 4, and then just me and Emily in the Kiss Costume) Following that, I was on ABC 4 with Emily. I was a Jolly Rancher, and a guy I work with, Pete, was a Hershey Kiss, they made him ski behind a horse, I just had to talk and grin cheesily, two things I do BEST, so I got off easy!! It was a blast!





Today, we finished filming for the song we sang on Monday in the studio, and it was a wrap. Everything ran smoothly- we got there and were interviewed, then we filmed the opening part of our first song from the show (the cauldron song) and they sent us home.

This was a week of many Media firsts for me, and I loved every minute of it.

In addition, we ran the second annual polar bear swim on Saturday, we had 92 participants, (92 crazy people willing to jump into 38 degree water) and I need an adapter to play music on our PA system, but I just put the microphone to my phone and it worked! Each participant got a free souvenir, then people had the chance to dive for prizes, we gave out hot chocolate and mugs and candy.

It has been a hugely CHAOTIC week, especially while trying to maintain my health challenge, but I had a great time. It is now Saturday night, time to relax and enjoy time with Handsome Caleb.