Climbing Everest at Home
Every weekday I run full speed for at least 600 feet up hill 25% grade, my goal is the virtual top of Everest. Check back for daily progress updates. Nag me if you don't see any progress being made. 🙂
If you would like to join in on the fun let me know I will send you the link where you can log your daily climbs as well.
Comments:
Dad said…
Looks like a lofty goal. Keep on truckin’.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 5:25:59 PM
Jodi said…
Good Luck! If anyone can do it, it’s you.
Tuesday, January 03, 2012 10:46:36 AM
My Thanksgiving
I am grateful to be alive, to have a body that helps me accomplish what I need to do. I am grateful to have a spirit inside of my body that whispers truth when I listen. I am grateful for relationships that encourage, uplift, and motivate me to be my best self. I am grateful for the big picture, knowing the purpose of life and where I come from and where I want to be when earthly things are gone. I am grateful for freedom of country and free agency given from God; to go and do as I desire, to choose as I wish and learn from the consequences that follow whether they be good or bad. I am grateful for maturity and the process therein, to learn from the past and make choices that will prepare for future dreams and posterity. I am grateful for comforts of life – spiritual, physical, mental, financial, etc. I am grateful I have been given the opportunity love and be loved by some very special people; specifically Alexis, Mason, Lily, Olivia, & JT. I am grateful for companionship, and to get to live and experience these mentioned things with my best friend, Stephen Sperry Parker.
It is a blessing to be a alive at this day and time of human existence!
Just for fun, here are the words to a song that has been on my mind and touched my heart recently. I just wanted to put the words down somewhere.
THINGS THAT NEVER DIE
By, Charles Dickens
The pure, the bright, the beautiful that stirred our hearts in youth. The impulses to wordless prayer, The streams of love and truth, The longing after something lost, The spirit's yearning cry, The striving after better hopes; These things can never die, These things can never die.
The timid hand stretched forth to aid a brother in his need, A kindly word in grief's dark hour that proves a friend indeed; The plea for mercy softly breathed, When justice threatens high, The sorrow of a contrite heart; These things shall never die, shall never die.
Let nothing pass, for every hand must find some work to do, Lose not a chance to waken love; Be firm and just and true, so shall a light that cannot fade beam on thee from on high, And angel voices say to thee; These things can never die, These things can never die.
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Great Day
Lexi has been involved with the Great Day Choir this fall. Last night was their dinner show. It was really great. They, along with the other "Swing Choir", entertained the tables of people for 1 -1/2 hours straight! I was impressed. This is the kind of choir that dances and sings – they had to have gotten a great work out! She looked so cute and I was so proud of her. We went with both, Grandpa and Grandma Baldwin and Parker. Lily also begged and pleaded to come and asked if it could be an early birthday present. I know she was so proud of her sister and dreams of the day that she will get to follow in her footsteps. November 30th these choirs get to travel down to SLC to perform in the Temple Square Concert Series. I am excited for Alexis to have this opportunity as it was one of the highlights from my high school career. 🙂
Last Thursday we were thumbing through our newspaper and came across this article about soccer. We looked closer and were so excited to see some of Lexi's friends listed. We got to the second column and saw the name: Lexi Parker and screamed with delight! Something we weren't expecting or even knew about – what a great day! The only freshman listed on the all district soccer selection? She was more than happy about.
Priorities
From President Ezra Taft Benson:
"When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands of our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities."
Comments:
grandpa Parker said…
Amen to that. What a difference having the presents of the Lord in your day makes. Even when things aren’t going just right, you feel the challenge is there to overcome, but with the help of the Father, it just feels better
Monday, November 14, 2011 6:57:58 PM
Stacie said…
Thanks Jodi! I needed to hear this! You are so inspiring!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 8:53:57 AM
Grooming the Leg Hairs
Notice what is on the iPad – Smurfs (Stephens little obsession)
Last night Lily and Olivia got the notion to give free massages. They just do it sometimes – I know, it's a sweet deal! Anyway, they were giving Stephen his turn massaging his knees – he has been hurting a lot these days in the legs and especially the knees. I went in the other room for a minute and when I got back they were styling his leg hair with my comb and round brush! They couldn't decide which was cuter – smoothed down, comb over, or spike. hahaha It took me a minute to get all of the lotion out of my brush and comb, but it was for a good cause. 🙂
A Witch Riding A Lamb
I went to pick up Lex from voices lessons on Tuesday and drove past this house on the way. In a life that is fast paced, sometimes serious, and focused, this was a welcome sight! I had to stop and take a picture because it made me laugh out loud for a few minutes and then again at the memory of it, and now again as I see the picture. The greatest thing about this story is that I had to drive that road again today. I looked for the lamb and noticed the witch is gone, but a scarecrow is taking a ride now! Hilarious! I wish I would have taken time for a picture! These people make my days. I'm hoping for Santa at Christmas time.
Farewell October
Drove home one day and had to stop and take a picture I was so happy with our yellow and orange trees!
Time is speeding up and we are now saying farewell to the days of October. It was as lovely month weather wise and we hate to see it go. Stephen and Mason have enjoyed riding their bikes out on the jumps out in our backyard and Lexi still has found time to play some soccer amidst her other activities. JT and Olivia have loved playing on the playground out back as well and racing around the driveway circle on their bikes. I was pretty obsessed with plans for the Primary Program, sharing time, and restaffing the sixth ward primary. I have also enjoyed my small involvement with the parent advisory committee in Sugar City. I get fed a Subway sandwich for lunch once a month and get to talk with other ladies in the district about the needs and concerns of our schools.
Lily spent a good 3 weeks of the month talking about how excited she was for the upcoming mom and daughter Halloween dress up Party for Activity Days a few days before Halloween. We stewed and wondered what we should dress up as and finally decided on a cupcake and baker. After deciding this, I had to come up with the cupcake costume. I did some homework on the internet and came up with what is pictured. Meanwhile a dream of Smurfette was being born inside of Olivia and I decided to jimmy rig a costume up for her. My favorite part is her hat! the blue part of her costume is from a cut up man's sweatshirt. I couldn't find a royal blue shirt and leggings/tights anywhere in Rexburg – which would have been my first choice. I have to admit, it was fun getting to sew on my sewing machine once again refashioning something. I had fun going to Olivia's classroom and helping with the Halloween Party. We made skeletons from q-tips and I took my touch and feel box of creepy things (the one I used at Lily's party last year). JT loved playing with the blocks in her classroom.
Halloween night we went to our ward trunk or treat. Mason and Stephen scarfed down the doughnuts like no other! I think Mason ate 3. He later became very sick to his stomach – I wonder why? We went past the assisted living center to go visit Uncle Everett – Stephen had been earlier that day during his lunch hour and was concerned about him as he had fallen out of bed and fractured his back. When we got there he was sleeping and hurting pretty bad. It was very hard for all of us to see him in such pain. We left some treats for him on his dresser and went to visit with the other old folks at the center. They were so fun to talk to and I think really enjoyed seeing our kids in costume wishing them a Happy Halloween. *Post edit: Found out the next morning that Uncle Everett passed away. 🙁
Wishing the people at the assisted living center a Happy Halloween and the caramel popcorn ball that my mom, Grandma Baldwin, was passing out at her door were my favorite parts of Halloween night. My mom invited us out to come trick or treating and really made it worth the trip! I had avoided eating all other candy this day so I could sink my teeth into the luscious caramel ball. It was worth it. Delish!!
On that happy note – here we come November.
 love the yoga instructors face! Smurfette had a few itches on her chin too! |
 This lion loves his electrical tape claws on his gloves – he kept trying to eat them. |
 Olivia is doing so well with her piano – we love to hear her tickling the ivories. |
 Brother and Sister Hillman from our ward helped Stephen and crew press some apples into cider. |
 This man is a hoot! |
 Lily is lovin this party! |
 Came in last place! I don’t have very good mummy making skills. |
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 The cupcake and baker with their newly decorated pumpkin. Wasn’t Lily a clever little decorator? |
 Smurfette without her blue face. She sure did love her outfit and it made my heart smile to see her so happy. |
 Mason and I decorated his bedroom wall during Potato Harvest. He really likes it. |
 LIly with her solar system project at the 4th grade Solar System Expo. |
 LIly and her friend had a paper and pen next to their projects to see how many signatures they could get. Silly Lily! |
 Date Night with Lily and Olivia topped off at Jamba. |
 Before this we went to the Choir fest up at BYUI. I loved this date! |
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 This is what Stephen and I find 75% of the time when we wake up. Same two KIDS IN OUR BED crowding us out!!! Good0bye now. 🙂 |
 Lexi and her adopted grandma – Mable Sakota. Sweet memories that these two share from the last few years. |
 Mason and his friend dared each other to wear a tie to school. I loved it! He is such a stud. He also bet the same friend that he could dance with more girls at the JHS dance last week. He danced every song but one! Way to go Mason!!! |
Whole Class of Lily’s
This is Lily pictured at the Ryan Shuppe Concert
I got back from parent/teachers conference with every mother's dream report. Lily's teacher said, "I just love Lily. I wish I had a whole class full of 'Lily's'." I really appreciate Lily too. Lily is very self-motivated and a thoughtful person. She is a pleasure to have around. She is usually found writing a story or pretending to be a teacher or playing the piano. She recently took up the violin in an after school program offered through our school. She also just joined the geography club. She is very conscience of eating "healthy", even though she is a normal kid and forgets she is trying to be healthy. It makes me smile. She is an awesome big sister and is also very dependable. I find her going to bed at night with a book in her hand and a quest to keep up on her reading chart for school.
She loves positive reinforcement and words of affirmation. When they are used she exceeds all expectations! We love Lily in our family. Her dad always tells her, "you're one in a million, Lily!"
Age 10 is a good year for miss Lily.
Mason Loves Bikes and is Building his Character too
Mason is happy when he is riding, looking, or talking about bikes. I couldn't miss this photo opportunity when I caught him sleeping with a fork that his Uncle Eric sent up for him. He must have had some good dreams!
Shortly after this photo as taken he received his new ride in the mail and put it together with Stephen. Mason worked extra hard for months to earn the money for his new bike. He spent weeks reviewing and picking out the one the would fit his budget the best and have the sweetest components – and the one pictured fit the bill.
The other photo is a bonus shot from crazy hair day. Lexi did a mohawk of mini pony tails down Mason's head. I am so glad my kids have school spirit and enjoy participating in spirit week during homecoming week. I think that is cool – I think I was too shy to do stuff like this.
p.s. Mason isn't really mad about his hairdo, he is just in pain from having his hair pulled on. 🙂
One other great story about Mason is one of integrity and discipline. A moment that made his mother very proud! He went to Utah last weekend to see his cousin Jane Baldwin get blessed. It was fast Sunday weekend. He went to Utah with Grandma and Grandpa Baldwin and Alexis. The rest of us stayed home to practice for our primary program. After the gang in Utah got out of church, the tweens ran to Grandma Baldwin's car seeking treats and candy for their starving bellies. Grandma said she retrieved the candy from the trunk and began passing it around when she heard Mason state, "Hey guys we haven't broken our fasts yet." Others disregarded his statement as he stayed strong and disciplined for the fast that he had begun for his Uncle Everett. Grandma said when he got back to the house he must have found a spot to say a prayer and then found her for some goodies.
When I heard my mom tell me this story, my heart swelled in honor of Mason and the young man he is becoming. I have much more trust and respect toward him through this simple, yet profound to me, action. I appreciate him staying loyal to himself and his cause. This kind of choice is what creates great character. LOVE my boy and LOVE the choice and example he was in this moment. I guarantee when I was his age I would have not been as noble!
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