Muddy Vistas

My parents are the cutest, I had so much fun with them in Europe. And they're still there, living it up and celebrating my mom's birthday. Like my dad always says "find someone that's better than you are, but dumb enough to marry you." Well he won the lottery, she's not only an incredible mom but an amazing wife and best friend. And together, they make each other perfect :)

In honor of my mom's birthday, today's top 10 is the Top 10 Things You May Not Know About Kelly...

1. She can do the splits
2. She taught wind surfing
3. She still has and fits in the sexy one piece bike outfit she wore at the age of 20
4. She does high kicks/the Freddy dance to ELO's "Mr. Blue Skies", with gusto
5. She speaks fluent spanish, leaves voicemails in french, and finishes my sentences
6. She's played the organ all over the world
7. She makes the best homemade chocolate cake, so famous it sold out in 10 min at the Bullis bake sale
8. She cut her hair as short as Demi Moore in the early 90s
9. She was a dead ringer for Marsha Brady in high school
10. She can be seen in every LDS visitor center in the United States, including Hawaii

My mind is blank. In front of me is a black tarp, water flowing down it, into a pool of what looks like chocolate milk. I turn around and look at Shannon. I'm not sure what I'm saying, but she grins and nods. I think I grin back.

I'm looking at the black tarp again, unsure if I should get a running start, will it scrape my knees?, how hard should I throw myself?, but I'm out of time to think. I don't feel a thing as I hit the tarp, I'm aware of screaming and clapping behind me, and I register surprise as I land face first in the muddy water. Surprisingly warm. I turn around to see Shannon laughing and gearing up for her slide. Then we are both half swimming half slogging through serious piles of muddy slime.

Through the rain we ran, climbing over and under, swimming through giant mud pools and ending the race army crawling through the mud. We got down, we got dirty (seriously dirty) and we crossed the finish line of the DC mud run, victorious.

If I thought I'd finally crash after my race, I was wrong. I was energized, bouncing all over. Jet lag has me convinced I'll never sleep again. Staying up until 4 am to finish a project for work, then several hours later going to race, was just the finale of a week I can only call surreal. As someone pointed out to me, "It only took a European vacation, a week's worth of lacking in sleep, a near all-nighter work project, and running a race to get you tired." I've heard it said more than once that you sleep when you're dead, but I actually am starting to feel a bit piqued.

I had a startling realization this week, thanks to institute. Fill in the blank: "My life will Finally be easier when ____." As we went around the room, I tried to think of my own response. I realized that everything that I've been looking forward to are not easier things. Better, but not easier. If anything, they will make my life more complicated, more stressful, but more fulfilling. My life will never be easier than it is right now, was my realization. We talked about adversity in institute. Why it's good for you. You can't be a diamond if you don't go through the pressure and hard times. I loved this quote:

“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just like people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is just like an old time rail journey ... delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.” -Jenkins Lloyd Jones

This week had both vistas, lots of speed, and the delays, sidetracks, smoke and total chaos. I wouldn't have life any other way. My life will Finally be easier when....I accept adversity and challenges that I'm given, knowing that God is there to help me through this wonderful life.

My favorite part about home makeover shows are the before and after photos. Here are the photos of me and Shannon from our DC mud run, enjoy! Oh and P.S...yes I forgot to take off my jewelry and I ran the race in pearl earrings. At least it's a classy touch.

BEFORE......

AFTER.....