I am one week and some change from returning home from Women's Conference in Utah and still going spiritually strong. To avoid being a preacher and instead being a women of shared knowledge I will give you bits and pieces at a time. But first and fore most I must tell you who I shared this journey with. My sister in law Ashlee shared this fine and wonderful experience with me. I feel so blessed to know her!
Here we are at the service opportunity making Tu Tu's for little princesses in the hospital.
This is the storm that Ashlee protected us from, bless her. I was so glad that I was not the one driving. We ran into snow on the way there and on the way home. Both times there was a vehicle flipped over on the side of the road. Very scary, thankfully we had the protective shield of prayer on our side. Upon seeing this picture MY LB said he was pretty sure that he DID NOT sign up for allowing me out in this weather. Who knew, the weather forecast said rain and some sunshine. Which is why we signed up to run in the Provo Run13 5K.
Here we are soaking wet from the rain and yes, snow that fell during our race. Of course with all of the rain, snow, running, and exhaustion it was easy to forget the temperature was in the 30s. That is until we stopped, now we were wet and freezing. It has been a long time since I have found so much satisfaction from a hot shower.
The entire Wonmen's Conference experience including the shopping, minus the driving conditions was amazing as always. Only this time I promise, really I promise, I am going to keep that spirit alive.
My first story I will share with you now....
Of course being women that the talks were designed for we heard a lot about, fighting guilt, staying strong amidst adversity, overcoming failure, celebrating our achievements, and lots of other you are worth more than you think topics. So, with all of this fresh in my mind I knelt down to pray before my 5K race. I felt the spirit so strong (that's what happens when you have time away from the kids. I KID I KID) and I had a strong feeling that I needed to "Smile and Run". Whatever else happened I needed to keep on smiling throughout my entire run. I was determined!
Oh what a challenge. It was cold (DI thrift store saved our hides from freezing to death, dumb unprepared warm weather runners), I smiled. It rained, I smiled. It snowed, I smiled. I wanted to walk but pushed through with a smile. I was being passed by lots of people, I smiled. I thought it was going to be easier than it actually was to keep smiling but goodness knows there was plenty to NOT smile about. I had to keep reminding myself to smile. By the end I wasn't sure if I was really actually smiling anymore, I had to feel my mouth to make sure. I REALLY wanted to be smiling when I crossed that finish line.
My fantastic sister in law Alison came to watch us and snapped this photo of me crossing the finish line. I think I was trying to smile but I can't really tell (maybe I am crying instead). I know that in my head I was saying, Smile, Smile, Smile.
Either way, I learned a very valuable lesson during that race, one that I am trying to carry over into my actual living. You know the everyday matters of life. The rain, snow, cold weather, exhaustion, and feeling like you are being passed by everyone around you. I am trying my best to keep reminding myself, just "Smile and Run", just "Smile and Run".
Oh how I truly hope that at lifes finish line I will have a smile on my face, one that I didn't force to be there. A genuine, I am so glad to be home smile that will be returned ten fold by a loving Heavenly Father.
To all of you my friends I encourage, despite what everyday has to offer you try your best to just.....
"SMILE AND RUN"
