New Blog

New blog. I am not even sure I have followers on here - but if I do - this is for you.

www.patandabs.blogspot.com

A little bit of this, A little bit of that

I have become really terrible about this blogging thing. I am pretty positive I have tons of viewers and followers that are hanging on my every word and religiously checking my blog daily to wonder when I may blog again, so I decided to give the people what they want.

My life as of lately has been consumed by the recent start of my internship. This past semester of school was so insanely busy! Somedays I would get to school at 7 and then not leave til 7 that night. I had no time to exercise. No time to clean my house. And no time to eat! Kidding. I had lots of time to eat. I never forget to eat. In the midst of it all, I moved houses. I realize that since I have been in Salt Lake...a total of 2 years now..I have moved 4 times. I guess you could say I don't really bloom where I am planted. I just really like change. However, where I moved now is by far my favorite. I live with some pretty great girls and I plan on staying a while.

1. I am currently playing on 3 co-ed softball teams! Now, 3 may seem like a lot - and it is- especially 3 nights in a row. But, softball is my thing. I love to play. It is what I always did growing up. It's what my summers were consumed by. It's what my family did and how we supported one another. Slow pitch is not quite the thrill that fast pitch was, but it's perfect because I can hit the ball further. Our Monday night time is with people from school - we have yet to win a game. Tuesday night is ward ball - I have high hopes for our team if only 30 people didn't show up every week. Wednesday night is a random crew. We  have only lost one game. So, needless to say, that's the team I enjoy the most.

2. I said goodbye to 2 of my best people. Cal and Aust left on the first of many married adventures. I am sad they left, but mostly I am just jealous that I couldn't go with them! I love being their third wheel. They took off to Ghana and then are off to grad school in England. I am going to miss these 2! Texting to tell them pointless things and g-chatting with Cal to pass the time in class, but thank goodness for technology that allows me to email and stay up to date on their hot (literally) adventures around the world. The people of Ghana don't understand the wonderful people they have coming their way!

3. Recently went to San Diego. My childhood friend Karley (who just had the cutest twins) and her husband Jedd live in San Diego while Jedd plays 2nd base for the Padres! They hooked us up with some great seats! And to top it all off, Jedd hit a homerun AND a grand slam! It was awesome! It was also crazy to see the fans wearing their last name on their jerseys. I guess West Virginians do make it big sometime. The trip was a great time, even though stupid Southwest lost my luggage for the entire time. They made us check our carry ons because there was not enough room. Then they flew us from Utah to Denver to San Diego - doesn't make much sense, right? Patrick got his bag the next day. I got mine Sunday morning before I left. I spent the weekend in my yoga pants, Nike frees, and alternated between the white shirt I was wearing and a tank top I bought at Wal-Mart. I spent my time at the beach in my stylish new Wal-Mart swimsuit. Good thing we were at the beach, and you can't be mad at the beach. It was a weekend of lots of relaxing and eating. Oh, also. We saw and octopus!

4. Celebrated Pap's 90th birthday! I was unable to make it home for the event, but don't worry - my family made sure I felt included:

5. Said goodbye to my dear friend, Bert! I've been working with him for over a year now. Bert has dementia, among other things. He has been a pleasure to work with. He has the best stories and is not afraid to tell me how it is. He constantly compliments me, curses at me, and tells me he loves me. Hopefully, if my schedule permits, I will get to work with him again in the fall!

6.  Classes ended. I had a solid week off and then I started my 12-week internship! It's crazy that I am coming down the homestretch of getting my Masters! MY MASTERS. It feels so nice to finally say I have less than a year left. Next year at this time, I'll be done! I am ready. It's scary, yes. But, I am ready to finally be out of school and make some money instead of spending it all. My internship is hard, but I am constantly reminded that I chose the right field to study. Everyone keeps asking me where I want to work when I am done - the answer? I have no idea, nor am I stressed about it. I just want to be done! Although, I will miss my classmates. This group have become some of best friends! We all know everything about each other. There is something comforting about having a support system of 35 people behind you!

Oh, and just a few other pictures that I love.

                                             I know, I know, we're pretty good looking

As if one of me isn't enough 

Dreamboat Abby?

This week my family is at the beach. Oh gosh, how I love the beach! But, who doesn't? I now have been from coast to coast with the beaches. Although, I loved the golden sand of CA, nothing beats the Nicolas Sparks tall grass, sand dune beaches of the Carolinas. 

On the way to the beach, my dad played us one of our family favorite songs, "Dreamboat Annie" by Heart. If you have never heard the song, it goes like so: 

As a child, my father used to play this song to calm us down when we were upset. It all started with my sister, Amy. When she was in the car with my father, he would play this song and when the chorus came on he would sing over the right words with a boisterous "Dreamboat Amy!"

On days when I was in the car my father would do the same thing. However, when the chorus came on, he would sing over the words with his own version of the song, "Dreamboat Abby!"

For years, and I mean years, my sister and I always thought the song was individualized to us. It can make a girl feel real special, ammIright?

My dad was careful never to play the song when we wer both in the car. But, one day it came on the radio. "Oh, turn it up!" I remember saying. There Amy and I were, jamming so hard to our "special song". My dad was fairly quiet. When the chorus came, I sang-what I thought were the right words- Dreamboat Abby! Only to be covered up by my sister singing Dreamboat Amy!

WTHEEEE?!! WAIT A SECOND!?

We both turned to our father. A man we trusted! 

"Dad," Amy said, "tell her what the right words are"

"Yeah, dad" I chimed in, "Tell her how they say Abby!"

Silence.

My mom laughs. "Yeah, John. Tell them"

We shortly found out after the song was actually Dreamboat Annie. For a while we hated the song after that. Now, it's a great joke in our family. 

FYI I still sing Dreamboat Abby. 

It just sounds so much better than Annie. 

Marathons and Mickey Mouse

It's been a while! Almost too long. You may have thought I died, considering my last post talked about running a marathon and how unprepared I was. But, great news. I am alive! I survived. The marathon was hard. Probably one of the hardest things ever. Not only physically, but mentally challenging. 

We woke up for the race at about 4am. The race was not til 6:30, but seeing as we slept in a camper right by the starting line, the music was blasting loud at 4, so we were up. Whenever I hear the song Daylight by Maroon 5, my toughts immediately turn to the morning of the race. That is the song that woke me loud and clear. It has a whole new meaning for me.

Amy and I stayed with some of her dad's friends the night before. They had all run marathons before. Let's just say this, watching them prepare to run and talk about their training made Amy and I want to pee our pants a little. I realized how totally unprepared I was. But, too late for that. So, I followed their lead, shoved some bagels in my mouth, took Motrin, lathered up with muscle rub, and pretended to stretch. 

I was going strong til about mile 15. Amy and I were laughing and joking and having a gay ol' time. Then, it got hard. The sun came out, our conversation died, and we realized that we still had 11 miles to go. It took lots of water stations, bananas, oranges, and chewy blocks to keep me going. Disclaimer: chewy blocks seem really great at the time of running, but they will make you physically ill the second you finish running. I never want to see another chewy block in my life. Some of the water stations also offered muscle rub. At one station the kid asked me, where does it hurt? Where do you want me to put it? EVERYWHERE! I told him. 

If I had not been able to physically see my legs, I would have been unsure if they were still attached.

Amy and her father crossed the finish line about 5 minutes before me. I finished in 4 hours and 27 minutes. On top of that, none of us walked!  But, let's be honest, I would have been proud of anything, as long as I finished. If you tell someone you did a marathon, no one ever asks, oh did you walk at all? What was your time? Oh, that's not very good. Everyone just responds, Wow! I hate running.  Well ladies and gentlemen, so did I that day. So did I.

 After the race, I thought I would want to eat the world. False. The thought of food made me want to throw-up. And I actually did. Chocolate milk was the only thing that I could stomach for 2 days. In addition, walking was nearly impossible. I avoided sitting because I knew I would never be able to get back up. When I landed back in Salt Lake, it took me 30 minutes to get from my plane to the pick-up station. Normally, it would take 10. People were staring at me always. But, I wore my marathon shirt for 2 days straight hoping people would see and understand.  Have I convinced you to run 26.2 miles yet?

Oh, and for weeks following, after I got my appetite back, I continued to eat like I had ran a marathon. I figured 26.2 miles would keep calories away for a while, right?! 

Since my marathon, which was on March 2nd, I have only ran once. I have done some other workouts, but I just have no desire to run right now. Hopefully that desire comes back. If not, I will be forced to  take up some other physical activity- gymnastics? water polo? trapeze walking? Or maybe I will just become a famous singer and never do anything physical again. 

In other news, I recently turned 23. To celebrate, we went to Disneyland! I had never been before...only to Disney World! World of Color blew my mind and my love for the Tower of Terror was rekindled.

Also, since it was my birthday and my first visit, I got to wear pins around the park all day. The pins clanked together and made their presence known the entire time. 52 Happy birthdays were said to me from random park employees. "Happy Birthday, Abby!" I felt like a champ and looked like a total tourist and a 5 year old.

Oh, and apparently when you turn 23, the teacups give you motion sickness. WHAT?!

You Know

You know a test is hard when:

A question asks you Why is it this way? And you respond, "because God made it that way"

You know your grad school teachers are top notch: 

When they can't locate West Virginia on a map

You know you have a problem not showering when:

You do shower someone says, Oh, I didn't know you had curly hair!

You know you are screwed for the marathon you are running on Saturday (Yes, Saturday) when:

   You run 30 seconds to catch a shuttle and are winded

You know you have the best parents when:

They fly all the way across the country to watch you die in said marathon

You know you are stressed when:

You drive 20 miles to the closest In n Out and with in 30 minutes follow up your burger with ColdStone

You know you have the greatest friends when:

They drive and consume the food with you

You know you found a best friend when:

You communicate mainly via g-chat and are still dying laughing

You know you are addicted to sports when:

You compare the March Madness schedule with your school schedule to see where there will be interferences

You know you are going to have a good weekend when:

You  pack flip flops in your bag

You know what?

Life is pretty dang good

Here's to the weekend filled of 26.2 (near death experience) , sunshine, family, friends, and plenty of eating!

Simple Thaaangs

Lately I have been trying to have positive attitude. Um, hello. That is the hardest thing of my life. Somedays, when everything goes right, it is easy. Other days when one things goes wrong, like I stub my toe, I immediately get grouchy. But, I have found a few simple thaaaangs that make me happy as of late:

This place

 This song

This woman

This man

This exercise

This food

This scripture

"Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest" 

Jacob 1:9

 This talk

Of Regrets and Resolutions

This show

This website

This SNL skit

 This piece of furniture

And last but not least,

These quotes 

Lessons of Life

Somethings you go through life hoping you never have to experience certain things. For example, I hope no one that is close to me ever dies. I hope I never have to experience heart break ever again. I hope that I get answers to everything I pray for. I hope I succeed at all that I do. But, let's be honest, if this all happened, what would I ever learn? This past month I have become exceptionally grateful for my trials in life. I have a new love and understanding of the plan that is in store for me. When I go through hard times, I find that I come to rely on testimony more than ever. I find that I grow closer to my family and further develop relationships with my friends. I discover things about myself and others that I may have never noticed before. I focus on myself and my relationship with my Heavenly Father.

So yes, life can be hard, but it's worth it to persevere because we are being prepared for greater things. Things we can't see now, but will become evident to us at some future point .

"In stories, as in life, adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwise. Adversity helps to develop a depth of character that comes in no other way. Our loving Heavenly Father has set us in a world filled with challenges and trials so that we, through opposition, can learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience joy."

Dieter F. Ucthdorf: "Your Happily Ever After"