My First 20 Rules Of Life.....

OK, so I often get asked, "How Do You Do It?!" Well, how do I do what? Survive? Enjoy doing what I love to do? Raise 3 kids? Stay happily married to the same man for 21 years? (well, actually married almost 17 that is) Have so many good friends? Have such a fun family? Work & still do everything else? Whatever else....good question I say!! We all have our own battles & have to work hard at whatever is we do, no one ever says its easy! But, what I personally try to achieve is getting in whatever I can. I think it's all about balance & making the most of life! So, how exactly do you do that? I thought I'd come up with a few rules that pop in my head & we'll see if that tells us how. We'll start with 20 & then you can feel free to add on..or I'm sure another edition will be coming in the future! (yes, this is the things that go on in my head on a constant basis...I told you it never stops! :})

1. My Motto, the 3 MUSTS: Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much. Do this to your full potential. All 3 are as equally important!!!
2. The Golden Rule: Do Unto Others As You Would Have Done Unto You. Simple enough, right?
3. It takes BEING a good friend to HAVE good friends!
4. Appreciate your family (and friends)....don't take them for granted! You will never always completely agree with their thinking or their ways; but, they will always be your family & holding grudges only hurts yourself in the end. And remember, ALL families are a little whacked in one way or another! :}
5. Don't stop the music.....Keep On Dancin'!!!
6. Know who you are & what defines you. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise & stay true to that!
7. Don't be afraid to have fun & just let loose a little!!
8. Be honest to yourself & others.
9. Keep up the communication...even if it's hard to say or hard to hear. You must be able to talk it out!
10. Create a life list & know it's always a list in process. One thing at a time!
11. You never REALLY have to grow up completely. Just learn how to be responsible about it! :}
12. Do whatever you've got to do to fill your soul with lots of love!
13. Just do what you've to do to make it work...and love whatever it is that you love to do!!
14. Understand how to feel "balanced". Everyone's different, only you know what you need to do! Is it dance, church, medication, girl's night, Jazzercise :}, Yoga, whatever...do what you gotta do! :}
15. Learn how to clear your mind & find the inner peace! (and when you figure that out, will you let me know?! :})
16. You're never too old to try whatever you want to try!
17. Keep your life organized & in order (as well as your home!). Set goals each year on what you want to accomplish. The moment you let go is when it decides to take over. And don't beat yourself up when it starts to tilt the other way...just keep trying!
18. Lots of hugs & kisses!! :}
19. Appreciate good music, all kinds of genre's (OK, I realize this was also #5 in a sense; but, a good song is what always gets me through any mood or challenge!)
20. Realize life is a roller coaster! Take the valleys with the hills, hang on & enjoy the ride!! :)

AMEN!

There's your serman today...know get on with it all ready would ya?! :}

And why does that sound so easy too?! We all know that is not the case!! :}

(NOW get on with it....while I get on to my cleaning & list of things to do so I can go have some fun too!)

Dance, Dance....

Last night we got to watch our friend, Tina Pike's, daugther, Tessa, in action. Tessa used to babysit for us often, so we've know her since she was just a little thing. She's growing up to quite the young lady, we're proud of her! She is very dedicated to dance & has worked very hard over the years. Kaley just loves her & hopes she can do that some day too!

(apologize for some of the dark pics..you would think I would know how to work a camera by now!)

They first honored the girls, and gave them each an introduction. They looked like a bunch of porcelian dolls up there! I know how proud Tina is standing there...she's been quite busy herself over the years in making sure Tessa has gotten everywhere she needed to be, we all know as parents that's not easy either! :}

Kaley's friend, Brittan (and Tessa's sister), also got to perform in the show as part of the team fund raiser where they've been working with the girls all week & teaching them their routine. It was so fun for them to do, they loved it!
She's a little excited! :}
Tessa and the rest of the Hunter High Silhouettes in action

She's impressive...she just seems like a natural at this (though I know this is years of hard work & dedication!) Now this was pretty funny...The Male Drill Team. So reminded me of our high school days & the silly guys who also formed their own team, "Title Nine". Oh, they were so funny...I just had to take a quick peak at my yearbook to check out the picture of them...I'm so laughing in my head right now (ok, maybe a bit out loud too! :})
Kaley in action
The Silhouettes give us a Grand Finale...their final performance together this year.

Good job Girls! (and boys! :})

Our Own Personal Dedication to Our Utes.....

Speaking of our love for The Utes, and our shrine in process....here's a couple of shots. Hopefully some day we have more space to have a better room to display (like our friend's, the Powells...you think we're fanatics? You 'aint seen nothin' yet! :}); but, for now, it's nice to show our appreciation in our own little way! A work in process...can't wait to see what else we can add in the years ahead! :}

This would be my own personal dedication in my office space :}

Utes Basketball in action...

In addition to getting free Jazz tickets from Cal, he's also so kindly hooked us up with a few Utes Basketball games this year too. Doug's taken the kids, as I usually am teaching; but, fortunately I got the last regular season game in. It was against TCU...and oh, what a game it was! They took charge & ruled the game from the beginning! They are ready for March Madness to begin! (which by the way, they just won the 2nd game in the Conference Tournament tonight!). It all makes for a mighty fine time to be a Utes fan! :}

Let the game begin!

Honoring Alumni & Hall of Famer, Arnie Ferrin
You know I always have to get some pics of that darn cute niece of ours! She sure has made us proud representing our team the past 2 years!Luke Nevill is a fun one to watch...he's definitely got the height going on! And they share the title for MWC Champions after a final score of 68-49! Way to go Utes!!

Good luck in March Madness!!!

We Still Can't Get Enough Of Our Mighty Utes !

Our awesome Utes Football team this year so kindly offered up a Meet & Greet at the University Book Store this week. We were anxious to meet so many of them & get to add to the autograph collection we've been building up. Since we've been on a painting spree in the house recently, Doug has since made their own little shrine in the hallway. We were excited to get the chance to tell them, ourselves, how proud they made us this season! :} And we also appreciate how much they do for their fans too!

Coach Kyle Whittingham...The Man! Kaley just had to tell him...."Hey, I've seen you on TV!" Well, yea, she's seen them all, just doesn't recognize the rest of them out of uniform!

Doug has filled his official Utes Helmet (that a friend restored & gave to him) with autographs. Got everyone, including coaches, except Johnson & Kruger (darn...would like those two too).
King Louie signing our Sugar Bowl Ball

Have we told you we LOVE our Utes?! :}