Reluctantly Crouched at the Starting Line:

Fernando loves to work out. In fact, I used this information to my advantage over 10 years ago to snag more time with him. My first semester at college turned out to be pivotal. I met Fernando via my roommate and thought of countless ways to spend more time with him. So when I discovered his workout dedication, I concocted this plan. One night while a group of us were hanging out, I awkwardly announced my need for sleep. Of course everyone politely inquired why. I faked a hesitant response of needing to wake up early to run. Fernando took the bait and asked to join.

Problem: I forgot to take into account that I hadn't done anything that could even pass a physical exercise for years. I paid dearly for that lie. Fernando literally ran laps around me as I was gasping for air. Afterwords, sweaty and not looking my best, I would strike up hours long conversations. I guess the company was better then the exercise cause here we are today.

 

(Ok, this is actually a picture we took 1999 on the way to the bus stop to go shopping for his mission 9 months after the workout bait and switch. But close enough.)

When he left on his mission to Bahia, Blanca Argentina, I became a runaholic. I would wake up at 5:30 every morning to run my route and have time to write in my journal and read my scriptures. Life was fantastic. Then I got out of the habit and a bit more then flabby. When he returned, we would wake up at 5 am to swim in or run on the indoor track.

Now days, Fernando still is a kick butt over the top exerciser and I love my Zumba. Exercise, to me, should bring a smile to my face and never once cause me to contemplate my possible demise. Yesterday, I actually agreed to the invitation he constantly gives to go on a family run. He had all three kids in the double stroller (don't do the math) and so I felt like I could may be keep up.

I loved it. Aside from the humidity and touch of heat when the wind would stop blowing, it was fantastic. I think we have a new family hobby.


(I guess Talia and I couldn't get our act together for the timed picture.)

Funny Update:

After this picture was taken we went on our family run. We picked up a friend's dog we are watching which kept me on my toes. About have way through, the back right wheel popped off. Mia had to hop out which was fantastic for her. She ran with me and the dog. Fernando tried to get the wheel back on, but no go. So he awkwardly pushed the dilapidated stroller home. I guess a double stroller wasn't meant to be a jogging stroller for three. So much for the family jog for now.

Mistaken Identity

Commenting is an addiction to me in the blogging world. It has saved me countless hours having the little widget woo on the sidebar telling me when people have a new post. Unfortunately, since I share a laptop and computer with my husband who also has his own goggle account, sometimes I forget to see who is logged in. I have made a few comments lately via Fernando's account but none were as funny as this mistake on my younger sister's blog.

Fernando says:

I love the title and more importantly love the change. The other blog template was nice and regal, but this one screams "I wish I was fabric so I could be made into something wonderful on Charlotte." What's holding me back? I want to dress more feminine and what not, but I feel like I can't pull it off. Says who? Just me.




*Charlotte is a duct tape replica of my sister's body so she can tailor the clothes she makes exactly to her body. I am still waiting for that picture.

*Fernando was a good sport about the above comment. He even suggested I switch to my account and leave a proceeding comment of concern for his secret cross dressing desires.

Artistic Interpretations of Life

Mia's decided to move into the paper world of art. I was more then amazed when she showed me this kitty made from scrap paper. I especially loved the body and legs poking out from the humongous head.

I might also add that I loved how she saw eyes from the daisies and made eyelashes even.


Tiago is even getting into the art game. Here is his futuristic self-portrait of when he is 5. (That is the J looking mark in the top right hand part of the picture). The lasso looking swoosh mark encircling him is a jump rope. Although the people look angry, they are actually big smiles. He also has his standard cars and letter T so we know that it is a Tiago original.

Where have I seen that before?

Oh yeah! My little Mia was a blueberry fan as well.


To be honest Mia, Tiago, and Talia are berry fans. Here is proof:

True Service

Once I was asked to give a talk in church about how we use charity to serve. I felt strongly that it was kind of the other way around. Service, I think, is necessary for us to gain Charity. That true love of Christ comes from acting like Christ. He was a man of service whether the service was appreciated or not.

I even think there is a difference between helping and serving. A quote from that said service charity talk: "What is service? I think that the best definition of service is anything that the natural man is unwilling to do. The natural man, as the scriptures put it, is an enemy to God and we could easily say the natural man is not about doing the will of the Father. The Father desires the happiness and well being of all His children. Now it is not like we as humans are incapable of love. His has given us all the natural ability to love. But like most things of the flesh, such love is more self serving and weak as compared to the His charity God desires us to have. That is why we hear of failing hearts. Human love is essential but not enough. Human love makes it possible for us to have friends, fall in love with members of the opposite sex. Human love is what makes us want to have children. But human love alone is not strong enough to keep any of these things alive for long. The world is full of marriages and families that are torn. The reason is because those families were built on the human capacity to love. When that gives out, as it most certainly will, we must yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and become, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him. (Mosiah 3:19) In short, serve one another."

So Saturday turns out to also be a special day for cleaning the church. Friday night brought the infamous phone call to request our presence. For more then a split second I dwelt on the fact that I didn't want to, but I didn't want to say no. Reasons I didn't (aside from the obvious not wanting to do more cleaning then I have to): Fernando wouldn't be available and that means me and 3 kids. . .you finish that idea; there was a huge neighborhood yard sale going on at the same time which means fantastic cheap toys; my throat didn't take my threat seriously and spread it's heinousness to my nasal passages (if you can call them passages anymore). Before I could say no, I found myself asking for the time we were needed.

We showed up at 9am to find one other ward member in the parking lot. Knowing my kids' had a limit to this idea of cleaning the church, we hit it hard. 4 hours, REPEAT 4 HOURS later, we finally finished. The other gentleman vacuumed the whole church. My kids dusted, cleaned the windows and doors, cleaned the bathrooms, and gathered garbage. They started cheerful and excited and went downhill from there. There gripes were feeding into my original lack of desire and then my bitter feelings about being there with my kids yaddie yada yada.

Of course, I told my kids what a blessing it was to clean the Lord's house, which is true. I reminded them that we use the church so we should clean it too. I also said once or twice that I didn't ask them to help because it was fun, but because it was our responsibility.

In the end, the experience could have been 4 hours of real service, but instead, I wasted about 2 of the hours internally griping about the no shows. Luckily, the other 2 hours passed with better feelings. We came to the nursery room and the toy closets were opened. Talia was pretty willing to stay locked in her car seat which left two hand to really clean. My kids were tempted to take the RS brownies laying pretty on the counter, but didn't. I still was more then ready to leave, but when it was done I felt a deep love for the building I have never liked and thought how lucky our family is to have a church so close with a brand new mother's room.