I HAVE DONE IT, I HAVE GONE AND LOST MY MIND!

I think my weekend sick has gotten to me. I just did the craziest thing... I texted my friend Heather in Sacramento (who said she would help me keep my New Years Resolution by participating with me in one of my FOUR 5k's) and asked if she would be interested in this Midway, Utah Race 5k that is on my Birthday, February 4th! She said, YES! 

Now, I am always up for an adventure and an adventure with a challenge is even a little more intriguing, but I think I have officially done it, I think that I have lost my mind!

Here is how the website explains this race I just committed too:

"The snow crunching under your running shoes, as you breathe in the crisp mountain air. You and your closest friends are racing (and sledding) your way over the groomed trail, conquering its several obstacles. Whether you are an elite athlete or a weekend warrior, this race is for you."

The first picture is the one I saw when I texted Heather ( I HEART sledding..and doesn't she look like she is having the time of her life?!) ...I should have looked at the rest...EEK!

Course is a 3.1 MILE, Military Style Obstacle Course with over 10+ obstacles.

Why did I think this was a good idea again? Someone remind me where I thought I was ready for a race of this sort? Maybe this Musinex has some chemical that is stopping the functioning of my brain!

HELP!

I am neither an "elite athlete nor a weekend warrior!" I am a fat girl in spandex still trying to loose this outer shell.. but you know what I do have?

I have...

heart, laughter, joy, the best support group and friends in the world, determination and...

I CAN DO HARD THINGS!

Okay, okay, maybe I just talked myself into it, although I do still think I have gone and lost my mind!

You are ALL invited to join me for my first HEALTHY Birthday Celebration...who's in?!

February 4th, 2012

Midway, Utah

(by Park City)

$40

As long as I am losing my mind...here is one of the 5k's I will ALSO do this year, just don't know which location yet! Thanks for loving me and reading about my crazy adventures if I don't make it through this!

I am ONE STEP closer to meeting my goals of four 5k's...but I have already stayed up past my 10:30pm bed time and thus broken another goal. Oh well, no work tomorrow, so it counts as a weekend, right?!

Courage to Finish What I've Started?! OH YEAH!

A New Year...New Possibilities...New Goals...NEW ME!

Believe in yourself. Trust the process. Change FOREVER.

Looking back on my year I've confirmed what I already knew, 2011 was sooo good to me!! I have no idea how this new year is going to top it... yet, I know it will and I am looking forward with anticipation for GREAT things to come!!

HIGHLIGHTS of 2011

• Caribbean Cruise with my Girls

• Twins First Birthday

• Baby Ellie Jane was Born, my niece

• Nephews and Niece and Joni's family came to visit (This is an ALL-TIME fav pic)

• Winning the Wholly Guacamole Battle Buddy contest with Joni.

• Biggest Loser Finale for Season 11 and finally meeting my FAVS!

• Cali trip with Jen, Ghetto and Joni

• One Week at Biggest Loser Resort Malibu

• Hiked Y Mountain

• Stadium of Fire

• Freedom Festival 5K with friends

• Les Miserables with my Mom, Auntie Kay and Cousin Val in Phoenix (Later this night, we found out that Grandpa wouldn't make it much longer...he passed early in the a.m.)

• Moving into a place of my own

• Working with raising money for BL9 Sam Poueu with the Wristband Campaign.

• Holli and kids came for a visit

• Home for Thanksgiving

• Two more weeks at Biggest Loser Resort Malibu

• A week with my Biggest Loser Buddies (PRICELESS)

• Amanda and Arthur came to visit in AZ (At different times. Arthur May, Amanda December)

I have been blessed more than I could EVER imagine. Thankful for a year full of many ups and only a few downs, although the downs were some pretty hard ones. I want to note two of those downs for the record. I want to remember that even though some days this year felt extraordinarily dark, most days were light and very blessed.

The darkest day of 2011 would be the passing of my Grandfather (who was more like a father to me).

I thought I was better prepared for his passing because he was so willing and ready to go, but it was very hard because I didn't say goodbye and strange to think that on the earth I wouldn't be with him again. I think of him so much. I miss hearing him breathe, hearing his teasings and just telling him what I have been up too. But the brightness of that situation comes because I KNOW I will see him again and he is not suffering as he was. That brings great peace and comfort to me as we move on to another year. We have passed all the firsts that are the hardest and if Grandma can do it cheerfully, SO CAN I!

Another hard time for me this year would be my move from Gilbert to Phoenix. I have truly the GREATEST friends in Gilbert.

Stephy is one of them :)

When I am with all of them, I feel like I am with family. I don't feel homesick, lonely or afraid. I thought I would come here (less than an hour away) and make friends just like them and it hasn't really happened for me. Going from four roommates to NO roommates and having no friends close by was a VERY lonely place. For months I struggled to find my place in Phoenix. After a few dark months in the hottest, most miserable time of year in Arizona I found a friend, her name is Rae and she is a RAY of sunlight in my life and has blessed me to not feel so isolated here all the time. (See, it doesn't stay dark forever!)

I am going to take ALL the things that I learned from in 2011 and turn them into positive energy moving through this new year! I have high hopes, dreams and goals. I have been doing a lot of thinking through this holiday time and think I have found some solutions to help me obtain and keep some of the goals that are most important to me. I am armed with AMAZING tools. A gym at my condo, supportive friends and family, information and knowledge from my stay at The Biggest Loser Resort that I am already applying in my life and most important, HARD WORK AND DEDICATION!

I have decided that in 2012 I am going to do the following not in ANY particular order. Some are one time check off's and bucket lists where others are things I will work on daily.

BUCKET LIST OF 2012:
Go to the Balloon Festival in New Mexico
See Disneyland at Christmas time
Visit Washington DC area
Freedom Festival 10K
Meet my BLR friends in Cali for BL13 Finale and a check in on our Journey's
Christmas in Utah

MIXTURE OF ALL MY GOALS: (I have a more detailed list of how I will accomplish that for myself)
Work towards getting a new car
Build my Paparazzi Jewelry Business
Get out of Debt
Lights out by 10:30pm (everyone knows this is going to be the HARDEST...but I Can Do Hard Things, right?!)
Volunteer for Make-A-Wish-Foundation
Find a social life haha
Four 5K's
Workout twice a day, 5 days a week
Loose 80lbs (20 lbs a quarter is my goal. First 20lbs will be by March) I know this is achievable that is why I chose that number!
Find and meet with a counselor who specializes in Childhood Obesity, work on past issues that are creeping into my NOW.
PAY IT FORWARD. Support, encourage, motivate and most importantly LOVE those trying to do similarly hard things.

Here you have it. It is written down. I am accountable and I will report on my progress on all these goals through out 2012. I WILL do these. You just wait and see!

My Motto for this year is going to continue, "I CAN DO HARD THINGS!"

My verse of STRENGTH comes from Ezra in the Old Testament.

Ezra 10:4 "Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it."

I am going to do just this.. .I am going to ARISE. I am going to take ownership of my own life. I am going to TRUST THE PROCESS. I am going to DO IT!

BRING ON 2012...I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT I'VE GOT!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!