In Regards to the Upcoming Triathlon...

I just want all of you to know that for the first time in a long time, I'm actually in good physical shape. I've been swimming, biking, hiking, playing soccer, playing ultimate frizbee, and even jogging here and there. O.k., I admit that I've been training for the upcoming mini-triathlon. Now that my ultra-competitive older (and some younger) siblings are in situations that keep them from being in optimal shape, I started to feel like I might actually have a chance at beating them in a competition for the first time in my life.

But then I remembered something about my older brothers' and older and younger sisters' characters. (1) I remembered being in Tai Kwon Do classes for two years and yet still not being able to land a single punch on Swen. (2) I reminiced on all of the impromptu, "casual" vollyball games when Alexis or Allie would dive and dig over and over again, sacrificing their bodies for the win. (3) I recall balking every time Mike would burst past me at the speed of light, repeatedly, to nab the impossible catch of a frizbee.

I have a sinking suspicion that, despite being in great cardiovascular shape, I'm still gonna lose this one. I know that if any of you see me in front of you, some gene-switch that I wasn't born with will turn on, and you'll pass me. And if I start to catch up, your brain will send the signal to release that secret store of adrenaline that most people save for near-death experiences, and I will be left in your proverbial dust.

Oh well. Maybe one day your joints will all be ground down enough, or you'll be pregnant enough, or busy enough to let your poor non-competitive brother win a race. But I have a hunch that this year isn't going to be the one where that happens. Anyway, go easy on me guys. :)

Join the conversation

If you are intereseted in joining the conversation, my opinion letter about the current healthcare debate has been posted on the Deseret News website: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705318334/Letters-Right-health-plan-needed.html

The last thing I want to do is degrade our family blog into a political sounding board, so please comment on the Deseret News site. I just can't keep some of this inside when I see us heading for a train wreck. Love you all!

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

So after almost three years in our North Carolina Home . . .

Paul has fixed the hole in the wall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I KNOW you all were expecting a different big announcement, but we don't know anything yet, so I'm having some fun with Paul and w/ y'all :-D

p.s. And in case you didn't know, the hole on the stairs came from a falling, brand new, metal filing cabinet that Paul was attempting to take upstairs by himself, instead of waiting 10 minutes for me to be available. You all know Paul when he's on the train - HE MOVES! Which most of the time is WONDERFUL . . . It's that same drive that has gotten him this far, and it's the same drive that got him through his Masters Degree program. So we'll keep the drive completely!!!

p.s.s Here's the REAL BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Yesterday in the mail, Paul received his official diploma for his Masters in Industrial Engineering from Binghamton University, NY. It's official now, so they have nothing left hanging over his head - YIPPEE!! CALOO-CALAY!! HIP HIP HORRAY!! WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Gooo Paul!

Shhhhhhhh . . .

Paul's completion of school in the end of May promised to bring greater happiness, and more presence/availability of Paul. Oh the LONG LONG list of projects that finally get to be addressed! Oh the weekend trips to get to know our state more! Oh the clean house that would inevitably come with Paul not doing school work! . . .

Well, we are all definitely happier, major projects have begun, and Paul is ever present and available, however my house is NOT any cleaner because we have had a few more unexpected projects added to the pile.

Many of you already know that Paul will most likely be transferred to a new job w/in Deere, likely located in the Midwest. Though we are grateful for Paul's employment, we are loathe to leave North Carolina - we love it here!

Additionally, and behind the scenes, we are expecting #4!!!

It is a crazy time, and unexpected, so maybe that means it will be a boy, right? :-) We'll see what surprise the Lord has in store for us. We planned to tell you all the fun news in a few weeks when we come to visit, but I just decided to share the news now.

And in case you're curious, I'm 10 weeks along, due sometime in the end of January, tired and sick, and laying around lots . . .

Cheers~