"Write"

In the Spring of 2010 my super-smart-talented-professor-cousin, Angie, sent me an email about an opportunity to submit stories.  She even encouraged me to submit my stories.  I was impressed she thought I was talented enough.

Four years ago I wrote six stories that were published.  They were all rapid fire.  My writing was coming fast and the editors kept publishing my work.  Then I got pregnant, which for me means that EVERY.  SINGLE.  THING.  in my life stops with the exception of trying to stay alive and keeping my children alive.

It has taken me four years to submit another story in spite of my desires.  For the past three years I've had the goal to "write."  Not only did I have the goal, but I kept feeling prompted to "write."

As we do, I ignored, brushed off, and found many ways to distract myself from this prompting.  Mostly in the form of shopping or eating.  Oh yes, and the perfect of excuse of being too busy taking care of my family.

I gained 5 lbs and wasted a whole lot of money just trying to avoid my prompting. 

Until last week.  I had just run five miles.  I was feeling great.  I came home to an empty house.  Everyone was gone, but me.  I used the morning to study, ponder and meditate.  As I began going about my daily tasks of laundry, dishes, checking instagram, facebook and email, I heard that little voice in my head saying, "write."

I had so many great excuses not too.  Instinctively, I grabbed my purse.  Then a brownie.  But something stopped me.  For whatever reason, Monday, April 20th was the day that the excuses stopped.

I promptly marched up to my computer, sat down and thought, now what?  I began browsing the internet.  I started doing some research.  One hour later, as my searching and questions drifted to paper, I had a rough draft of a story.

I was shocked.  How did that happen?  So shocked that I decided to surprise myself some more.  I submitted a proposal to have the article published.  I decided to get back to my household chores, when after just 30 minutes, I received a message saying that my article had been accepted.

I finished the article.  Submitted it.  Less than 24 hours later it was published.

While I'm frustrated at myself for waiting so long, I also know that for whatever reason, this is the right time for me.  I'm excited to continue writing and have set some lofty goals for myself to ensure that I don't stop.

The moral of this story is that if God is telling you to do something.  If he is inspiring you and whispering to you over and over and over again to do something.  He will prepare the way.  He will help you accomplish your goals.

enough IS enough

I saw this quote today:

"What we see depends mainly on what we look for."  
 -John Lubbock

It sparked something in me that has had me pondering, reading and praying all day.

I wish that more often in my life I was able to see all the good things that I am doing in my home, with my children, with my husband and for those around me, but usually I'm just seeing all of the many, MANY, many things that I'm not getting done.

Lately, (I'll blame the winter doldrums) this is what I see:

My house in not big enough, clean enough or perfect enough to raise my family in.

My body is not pretty enough, skinny enough or perfect enough to enjoy life in.

My parenting skills are not good enough, polished enough or sub par enough to even raise children.

So on and so forth...

My thoughts look pretty ridiculous in writing, but often these are the things my head (Satan) is trying to tell me!

I realized today as I read the quote by Sir Lubbock that I need to SEE the imperfect perfections that are all around me.  I need to see that I have more than enough.  I'm usually striving to make life PERFECT and that isn't going to happen.  I need to look for the beauty in my life without all the perfectness surrounding it.  Today I realized there are a couple things I must do daily to make this happen:

1.  I MUST fear God more than I fear man.  Meaning, I must not be afraid that others will look at me and judge my life by my messy house, body or parenting style.  I must care much more about leading my life in a way that is pleasing to God and not other people.

2.  I NEED personal revelation ALL.THE.TIME.  I NEED to feel close to my Heavenly Father in order to stay far away from the thoughts that Satan puts in my head.  I NEED to fill my life with good things and good people to help keep me close to my God.

3.  I WILL have more faith.  More faith in the power of revelation, more faith in prayer, more faith in myself and in others.  More faith that what I am doing truly is Heavenly Father's plan for my family and I.  More faith that I can do hard things.

As I spent the day focused on the beautiful things that happened, instead of the many, MANY, many messes and things that didn't get accomplished, I was able to see the incredible beauty that surrounds me!

I have realized that enough is actually enough!

new claim to fame

I just couldn't let this be my only claim to fame...

{Photo Courtesy: Michelle Burbidge, Park City Smith's}

  So now I'll claim this!

if you give a pig a pancake

Are you familiar with these children books?  They are pretty funny and hit much too close to home for me.  You see, I feel this way ALL.  THE.  TIME.  Here is my version of the story:

IF YOU GIVE BRITTANY AN HOUR TO HERSELF

If you give Brittany an hour to herself.  She'll probably think of 20 things that she can cram into that hour.  She'll remember that her phone is broken so she'll stop by the store to have it fixed.  While at the phone store, she'll remember that she is close to one of her favorite stores.  She'll have to stop by and look around.  Then she'll remember that Christmas is coming and she needs to buy gifts.  She'll load her cart with Christmas gifts.  Then she'll see a pillow that reminds her she wants to redecorate her bedroom.  She'll buy the pillow.

On the way home, she'll see another store she remembers she needs to visit because they have things that would help her redecorate her bedroom.  She'll stop inside and find the perfect quilt and rug.  While she's there, she'll see a shelf that reminds her how bad she's wanted a new shelf for her kitchen.  She'll buy the shelf.  She'll bring all her new items home.  She'll hang up the shelf in her kitchen.  Then she'll remember she really needs some new bowls and cups.

She'll go to the store and buy some more bowls and cups.  While at the store, she'll remember that she really needs some new boots for the winter.  She'll take the new boots home and put them in her closet.  She'll remember that she bought a new quilt and rug for her bedroom.  She'll put them in her room.  Then she'll remember that she really wanted to repaint her bedroom.  She'll go to the store and get paint swatches.  She'll hang them all over the room and try to decide on a color.  Her husband will return from his business trip and she'll tell him everything she's done.  He'll think she's gone crazy.  She'll feel a little crazy and be reminded that all she would like is an hour to herself!

Please tell me that I'm not the only one who does this?  Also, please tell me there's a cure?



p.s.  This is a true story. 

p.p.s.  I'm painting my room gray.  Tim talked me into waiting until after Christmas when he has the week off {I'm thinking this weekend sounds better}.

wasatch back ragnar relay 2010

{Strong & Hanni Team}

My experience was so great last year (minus the dehydration causing me to feel like I was going to die part) and for some reason the Strong & Hanni team invited me to run with them again this year (pretty sure it's too ensure that none of them have the slowest times) so I couldn't resist!  Although my training consisted of about two short runs leading up to this race, I had a great time.

{Our Van...Jackie, Jeremy, Emilee, Laura, Me, Ryan & James?!}  

This picture is hilarious because James is actually standing with us in the picture next to Ryan (can you see his shorts?), but whoever took it cut him off.  Sorry James!

{Laure & Emilee}

Isn't it obvious these two are sisters?  Emilee is my neighbor and her husband Jeremy is the one who coordinates the team and was nice enough to invite me.

{Jackie-O...my back seat partner}

{Laura exchanging with me...off I go!}

The highlights of this race for me were:

1.  Emilee letting me borrow her shorts.  Only a true friend would let someone else sweat in their brand new shorts and then take them home and wash them....eeew!  I would have died from the heat without those shorts.  Thanks Em.

2.  Jeremy running my second leg for me.  I consider it a sacrifice, but Jeremy sees it otherwise.  It was like 2 am.  I was half asleep.  Who cares about running?  Jeremy offered to run it and I said, "okay."  He coordinated the whole thing, he drove us the entire time, supplied us with drinks...it was the least I could do!  Plus, he wasn't running because he got an injury (but somehow managed to do my longest run...questionable, I know?)  I also know that I've disgraced the Jones name, but this race is all about  fun...right?  Thanks Jeremy.

3.  The great company.  Our van was filled with fun.  I loved being with Emilee & Laura who were both running for the first time.  They were so nervous.  It was fun to watch their excitement and anticipation.  Not to mention, they are just fun to be around and talk to.  Also, Jackie is a riot.  She has great stories and let's us sleep at her house!  The boys make us laugh, "Why The Face?!"  Ryan has endless amounts of stories about everything.  James made me laugh even when he wasn't trying {Toy Story 3} and Jeremy's quiet nature is deceivingly funny.  Thanks Van Crew.

4.  My amazing supportive husband & family.  I was just coming around the corner of my last run approaching my climb to the finish line when I saw my family pull into the parking lot.  It couldn't have been better timing.  I love seeing my family during a race.  It's all the motivation I need to push myself harder and keep going.  Tim was so great.  This race was pretty crazy to pull off.  Tim (along with my boys, in-laws and a car packed for a road trip) picked me up at the finish line in Park City.  We then drove straight to St. George on our way to a 9-day vacation in California.  Which meant that Tim had to pack up the van and get the boys ready all on his own while I was off running through the mountains.  They also had to traipse through the crazy finish line crowds (seriously crazy...picture grown men in super-hero costumes, wedding dresses and speedos) to find me.  True love...I know.  Thanks family.

Okay, this felt more like an acceptance speech than highlights.  Bottom line, it was a great race thanks to everyone involved...and no thanks to my lack of training!  

book of life

 We each have our own book of life.   Our books are full of chapters.  Some chapters are happier than others.  Some chapters are cliff hangers.  Some chapters seem to drag on forever.  Some chapters you don't want to see end.  However, each of these chapters is important to the development of our life stories.  I believe that our Heavenly Father is the author of this book and we are merely characters.  If we allow Him, he will develop us into the characters we have the potential to become.  However, if we ignore this beautiful plan our Heavenly Father has for us, our life story might turn into a tragedy instead of a fairy tale.

I believe my life story is definitely a fairy tale.  All fairy tales have adventure, love, happiness, laughter, contention, evil, disappointment and heartache, but in the end good prevails.  I know that if I can conquer the villains in my story that my fairy tale will have a happy ending.  However, right now I'm just closing one amazing chapter in my life and starting on a new scary adventure.

This new chapter in my life is scary.  I am getting older, my kids won't stop getting older and life seems more complicated than it ever has before.  However, I know that I'm not the author.  I know that I am simply playing a part and I must trust in my Heavenly Father's plan for me.  Heavenly Father has never let me down before.  In previous chapters, I have felt loss, disappointment, sadness, sorrow, discouragement, but all of it has ultimately lead me to happiness. 

I am so happy.  My fairy tale life has been filled with so much adventure, love, peace and joy.  I know that once this chapter in my life concludes I will look back and see the many amazing things that have come from the challenges we face, but right now I'm just trying to have faith that Heavenly Father knows what is best for my story.  That's really all we can do each day.  Play our part, do our part, be our best and have faith in our Heavenly Father's Plan.

I don't really know where my life story is headed, but I'm excited to see what happens along the way!

Editor's Note:  No, I'm not pregnant, we're not moving, no job change, nothing drastic is going on in our lives and Tim and I are still madly in love.  I'm just referring to {and being dramatic about} all the little things in life.

little acts

"It is the aggregate of the acts which I perform through life that makes up the conduct that will be exhibited in the day of judgment, and when the books are opened, there will be the life which I have lived for me to look upon, and there also will be the acts of your lives for you to look upon. Do you not know that the building up of the kingdom of God...is to be done by little acts? You breathe one breath at a time; each moment is set apart to its act, and each act to its moment. It is the moments and the little acts that make the sum of the life of man. Let every second, minute, hour, and day we live be spent in doing that which we know to be right."

-President Brigham Young
(Journal of Discourses, 3:342-43)

my acceptance speech

You all know that I'd be totally lying if I said I wasn't excited about receiving my first blog award. Imagine my shock when I was reading along to one of my favorite blogger friends and saw my name. Thanks Tonii!

As part of my acceptance speech I think I'm supposed to share 10 things that make me happy. Here they are in no particular order:

1. Sunshine {keep it coming Mother Nature}.
2. Family fun {I love having all of my family together in the same room doing something fun together. Pure bliss!}
3. Friends {I have the greatest friends ever. period.}
4. My Home {everything about it makes me so happy...the people, the decor, the smells}
5. Baking {love the smells, love creating, love taste testing!}
6. Containers {love organizing containers or food containers; paper, plastic, round, square, big, little...love them all!}
7. Target {I can't lie, it makes me so happy}.
8. Exercise {love running, love working out, love being active, love sweating}.
9. My Religion {love praying, love reading the scriptures, love the Prophet, love my Savior, love the peace and joy that the knowledge of the gospel brings to my life daily}.
10. Blogging {love writing about my life, love reading about others lives}.

I now get to pass this award on to some of the blogs that make me so happy, Obviously, my family and friends blogs are my absolute favorite and make me the most happy! So, I will share some other blogs that I find joy in:

Tootsie Magee and the Shpanky Brothers. I always know that I will be laughing so hard when I read Annie's witty and hilarious posts. I went to high school with Annie and had no idea she was this funny. Love her brutal honesty and funny approach to life.

Think Garnish. Remember I said that I love containers? This blog has all those food containers that I'm in love with. I am beyond giddy when I search through the products and ideas on this blog/website. You can actually order products, but be careful. If you're like me, you won't be able to leave this site without spending $$$$. If you do, it will be worth it. The owner of this company sends everything in the most beautiful packaging and also sends a personalized thank you note. Heavenly!

Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes. Best healthy recipe blog I've found. This woman has never led me astray. I've tried dozens of her recipes and loved every single one of them.

It's what makes me...me. This girl has perspective. Because of her life experiences, she has the most genuine perspective on life, religion and family that I've ever read. I always know that I will feel inspired and uplifted by reading her posts. Plus, the beautiful photography and her darling family is a bonus!

Clover Lane. I've recently mentioned this blog, but I wanted to make sure you didn't forget. This is worth checking out just for her darling blog header. Those kids are gorgeous! While you're there, take some time to read a couple of her posts featured on the side of her blog. You'll be hooked!

I could go on and on, but just pretend like the dramatic music in the background is now playing. I'd just like to quickly thank my Mom for always commenting on every single post, the Man and my beautifully neglected children for allowing me to write this post!

Christmas 2008

Oh Christmas Tree!

Cooper's 1st Christmas.  I think he loves the new toy!

This is what Payton looked like after every present he opened.  Pretty excited!

Parker was also excited and a bit overwhelmed!

Check out Parker's new bat cave.  We love imaginext toys!

Cooper's finally ready to start enjoying the fun, but...

He was more interested in eating the paper than unwrapping the presents.

It was a "wicked" Christmas for me.  Tim surprised me (with some help from his  Dad) with Wicked tickets.  I was so surprised and so happy!  

Our Christmas was delayed until the snow plows made it up our street, but we finally got to my Grandparents to celebrate Christmas.

Parker, Grandma Patty and Payton

Sweetest moment of the day

Cowboy Payton

The Hulk Cowboy Parker

Cooper still just interested in eating the wrapping paper.

I made a tribute scrapbook for my Grandpa.  My family all wrote letters to my Grandpa and we compiled all of our pictures.  It turned out really neat.  I think he liked it!

Unwrapping Gifts at the Joneses.

Tim, Cooper and Brice

Payton, Tim and Krista at my parent's house.

Clint & Becca

Payton, Ashton & Parker

These ninja turtles sum up our Christmas pretty well, It was totally awesome, dude!

Christmas Eve

 

We had a pretty easy going Christmas Eve this year. Normally, we have a party with some of the Jones family friends, but they didn't have the party on Christmas Eve this year. So, we had our own party with Tim's Parents. We ate dinner and played a silly game that involved pushing people out of your way and a newspaper. It was a great way to get the boys wound up for Christmas!

After our little Jones party we went over to my grandparents for their traditional Christmas Eve spread. My Grandma always has lots of yummy appetizers and her homemade candy.  Can you tell by Tim's creepy face that we are having a great time?!  Weird!

My grandparents have had some extremely bad luck this past month.  Their beloved dog that they have had for years died earlier this month and the next day my Grandpa found out that he was dying of cancer.  Yes, extremely bad luck!  We bought my Grandma this puppy for Christmas hoping that it would help lift her spirits a little bit. 

The puppy loved licking the drool off of Cooper's face.  I guess this is officially Cooper's first french kiss!  

This holiday was bitter sweet for me.  My family spends so much of our Christmas with my grandparents and it was hard to imagine that this would be my last Christmas with my Grandpa.  I was even more grateful for family this year and treasured every moment we were able to spend together.  

elves

Tim's family has a tradition that we decided to do with our family. The tradition is that the twelve days before Christmas, you put your shoes outside of your bedroom door and Santa's Elves leave a little present for you. Like this:


The kids really love doing this. Thanks to Payton, so do a couple of his friends as well. Last year, he told his friend, Chase, that you leave your shoes outside your door and you get a present from the elves. That night Chase's Mom found him opening the front door and leaving his shoes outside. She asked him what he was doing and he explained what Payton had told him, which followed with a phone call to me to ask about this tradition. I clarified that you put your shoes outside of your bedroom door instead of the front door. I also gave her some Elf pointers. Needless to say, it is now one of their family traditions. This year Payton shared this tradition with his friend, Caleb. I'm sure you can guess how the rest of the story goes. Caleb's family is now enjoying this tradition also. Pretty funny!

The elves are always a nice threat to have during the holidays (just like Santa, but more immediate.) I am constantly saying, "If you are not good the elves won't leave you anything." One "rough day" (as Payton put it) I used this threat more than a dozen times. So, that night this is what the elves left in the boys shoes:

Tim was appalled. His Mom said this only happened one time while her kids were growing up. I guess the elves at our house are mean! However, this note did not have the intended effect. The boys didn't care. Payton thought it was funny. Parker didn't think twice about it. Although, I must say, we did have a much better day.

merry christmas

This is our families Christmas card that I made over a month ago, but never sent out because all of my addresses were mysteriously deleted from my address book on my computer.  I didn't have them backed up on my hard drive and I didn't have a hard copy.  I have learned my lesson.  It will take me until next Christmas to find all of your addresses again.  In the meantime, please accept my apology and this informal, online Christmas greeting.

Merry Christmas!

  

Need a Makeup Makeover?

I was at the mall on Saturday and I just needed to pick up some new lip liner and mascara, but MAC was launching their new "Fafi" line and doing some fun makeovers so the guy helping me offered to do my eyes. I had just had my eyebrows waxed and didn't have any eye makeup on (which is probably why he offered). I was more than happy to let somebody else do my makeup for me. I love to see what fun things they will do. Plus, it's always fun to learn some new techniques. If you've never done it before, you've got to have a professional do your makeup for you!

I ended up getting this color palette. I love these colors together. Aren't they fun?


Also, I normally buy Estee Lauder's "More Than Mascara," but the guy helping me talked me into trying this mascara. I am very picky about mascara. Everything else I've tried I have not liked as much as Estee Lauder's, but so far this mascara has been great! It washes off very easy, which is an absolute priority for me. Plus, it goes on great. I also love that it comes in a squeeze tube so that you can get more out of it.


When I was looking at MAC's website, I noticed that they had a ton of different examples of makeup "looks." It shows you a picture (like the one below) and tells you exactly how to achieve the look. If you didn't want to go to the store and get a makeover you could do your own makeover at home. I thought this was so fun because I have a ton of different colors at home, but I would love to find new ways to use them. Check out the link below:

http://www.maccosmetics.com/templates/looks

Grateful For My Crazy Life

Today started out a little different than usual. I slept in and didn't go running because I haven't felt very good the past couple of days. I got up, still not feeling well, showered and then frantically got the boys breakfast and got them ready for the day. We rushed off to the bus stop and said goodbye to Payton. I took Parker to my Grandma's to spend the day while I got some work done. I came home and sat down at my computer. I opened the following e-mail from a friend:

Anna Quindlen, of Newsweek writes....

All my babies are gone now. I say this not in sorrow but in

disbelief. I take great satisfaction in what I have today: three

almost-adults, two taller than I am, one closing in fast. Three

people who read the same books I do and have learned not to be

afraid of disagreeing with me in their opinion of them, who

sometimes tell vulgar jokes that make me laugh until I choke and

cry, who need razor blades and shower gel and privacy, who want

to keep their doors closed more than I like. Who, miraculously,

go to the bathroom, zip up their jackets and move food from plate

to mouth all by themselves. Like the trick soap I bought for the

bathroom with a rubber ducky at its center, the baby is buried

deep within each, barely discernible except through the

unreliable haze of the past.

Everything in all the books I once poured over is finished

for me now. Penelope Leach., T. Berry Brazelton., Dr. Spock. The

ones on sibling rivalry and sleeping through the night and early-

childhood education, have all grown obsolete. Along with

Goodnight Moon and Where the Wild Things Are, they are battered,

spotted, well used. But I suspect that if you flipped the pages

dust would rise like memories. What those books taught me,

finally, and what the women on the playground taught me, and the

well-meaning relations --what they taught me, was that they

couldn't really teach me very much at all.

Raising children is presented at first as a true-false

test, then becomes multiple choice, until finally, far along, you

realize that it is an endless essay. No one knows anything. One

child responds well to positive reinforcement, another can be

managed only with a stern voice and a timeout. One child is

toilet trained at 3, his sibling at 2.

When my first child was born, parents were told to put baby

to bed on his belly so that he would not choke on his own spit-

up. By the time my last arrived, babies were put down on their

backs because of research on sudden infant death syndrome. To a

new parent this ever-shifting certainty is terrifying, and then

soothing. Eventually you must learn to trust yourself. Eventually

the research will follow. I remember 15 years ago poring over one

of Dr. Brazelton's wonderful books on child development, in which

he describes three different sorts of infants: average, quiet,

and active. I was looking for a sub-quiet codicil for an 18-month

old who did not walk. Was there something wrong with his fat

little legs? Was there something wrong with his tiny little mind?

Was he developmentally delayed, physically challenged? Was I

insane? Last year he went to China . Next year he goes to

college. He can talk just fine. He can walk, too.

Every part of raising children is humbling, too. Believe

me, mistakes were made. T hey have all been enshrined in the,

"Remember-When-Mom-Did Hall of Fame." The outbursts, the temper

tantrums, the bad language, mine, not theirs. The times the baby

fell off the bed. The times I arrived late for preschool pickup.

The nightmare sleepover. The horrible summer camp. The day when

the youngest came barreling out of the classroom with a 98 on her

geography test, and I responded, "What did you get wrong?". (She

insisted I include that.) The time I ordered food at the

McDonald's drive-through speaker and then drove away without

picking it up from the window. (They all insisted I include

that.) I did not allow them to watch the Simpsons for the first

two seasons. What was I thinking?

But the biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us

make while doing this. I did not live in the moment enough. This

is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only

in photographs. There is one picture of the three of them,

sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on

a summer day, ages 6, 4 and 1. And I wish I could remember what

we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how

they looked when they slept that night.

I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next

thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing

a little more and the getting it done a little less.

Even today I'm not sure what worked and what didn't, what

was me and what was simply life. When they were very small, I

suppose I thought someday they would become who they were because

of what I'd done. Now I suspect they simply grew into their true

selves because they demanded in a thousand ways that I back off

and let them be. The books said to be relaxed and I was often

tense, matter-of-fact and I was sometimes over the top. And look

how it all turned out. I wound up with the three people I like

best in the world, who have done more than anyone to excavate my

essential humanity. That's what the books never told me. I was

bound and determined to learn from the experts. It just took me a

while to figure out who the experts were.

I haven't stopped crying! I'm sitting here in a silent house, with toys scattered all around, remnants of breakfast still on the table, papers and projects all over my office, not feeling well and wishing that I could keep up on this crazy life of mine. However, as I read this it makes me so grateful for all of it. I know someday my life won't be this crazy and I will miss it. I'm so grateful for this crazy time in my life. I'm grateful for people that remind me to live in the moment. I am so task oriented that it makes it hard to enjoy the moments if I am not being productive! I think the most productive thing I can be doing in my life right now is ignoring all of my tasks and focus on enjoying the moments, which is much easier said than done. Starting today, I'm going to try a little harder to be a little better at enjoying every moment of this crazy life of mine!!

Finally Living My Dream

You all know that this is what I've been wanting my whole life. My own broadcast. It may not be tv, or even the radio, but the internet is a form of "electronics." And...I am an Electronic Journalism major. So, here I am living my dream. I will be hosting my own show called "Britt's Broadcast." (So creative, I know!!) The best part about my new show is that I can host it whenever I want. It may be daily, weekly, monthly or even held annually. Who knows what I'll do? I really love the flexibility that I have. I hope you'll stay tuned for additional broadcasts.