For Josh... this is your "token"

J o s h :

I hope you know how proud of you I am! I hope you know what a good example you are to me (and others) of dedication, determination, positive attitude, and mental and physical stregnth. Running is what you make it, talent can only take you so far... then the rest is contingent upon what you put into it, you've put in ALOT, and it's given you to many great opportunities!

As your race gets close, just remember all us little people who are praying for you and supporting you. And remember " Attempt, and do it with all your might. Determination is power." (Charles Simmons)

When you go out there to run this weekend, just remember to put in a few good laps for this little guy, He'd want you to shoot for the moon. I love you!

Life these days...

I've been putting on lots of exciting posts from trips and such... but I'm all out of cool photos, so I though I'd just give you an update on our lives these days. Josh is currently in Japan for the world track and field championships (this is a BIG race). His trip to Japan is 2.5 weeks so it's kinda been lonley here with out him. When he comes home he'll continue to run, b/c that's his Job! wouldn't that be awesome to be able to support yourself through that? Then he might also work at Home Depot. This would be cool b/c he could learn all sorts of fix-it tips. As for my exciting life, I've had the summer off, no work. I quit my job at Timpview because remember how we were going to move to Memphis? well, in July we decited to postpone that till next year. Anyway, so I've been searching for a new job. I found one at Lakeridge Jr. High in Orem, teaching study skills. I'm way excited for this job b/c I totally love junior high kids, I think they are hillarious! I will also still be the assistant coach for Timpview cross country. I love that part of my "Job". My parents and little sis are in germany till December and I get to go visit them in 2 weeks. I'm way excited... and I'm hoping to take a gander at some of the old german castles. During the time that I'm in Germany Josh will also be "abroad" at a race in either France, or else where in Germany. Welp, that about sum's it up. Oh yeah, and we're making the big move to Orem.

Squash...

I'm staying at my parents house right now. We had to be out of our last apartment by Aug. 15 but can't move into our new one until Sep. 1 . I really love the neighborhood that I grew up in. I drove around the it tonight to see what had changed. On my little spin I found this little stand set up just out side "the fence" Since squash is one of my all time favorites I took advantage of this opportunity. I took a zuchinie and a summer squash.

I love this recipie, containing summer squash. It's from my mom... I don't know where it came from?

Green Chilie Enchiladas

1 doz. corn tortillas

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1 can green chilies

3 summer squash

2-3 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Cook the squash lightly & sprinkle with S&P. Add soup & chilies & heat to a boil. Put a little soup in the bottom of a glas baking dish. Alternate layers of tortillas, soup & cheese. Cook 30-35 min. at 350.

Pan American Games

The purpose for our trip to brazil was for josh to race. The competition was between 42 countries. Each country could send their 2 people who wanted to go (as long as they had run a fast enough time) The stadium that held the race was huge! and it was filled with people... I'd guestimate over 20,000. The croud was crazy, crazy about Brazil. They didn't seem to like americans when we were in compitition with them, they booo'd alot. So, anyways, Josh won the race! it was fun to watch... after he won, they gave him an american flag and he got to do a victory lap. Then they had a "medals cerimony" just like in the olympics. They give you your medal, raise your countries flag and have everyone stand as they play your national anthem. At that moment, standing on brazillian soil, and hearing brazil's boo's towards america, I felt REALLY glad to be an american. There is nothing like travel to make you appreciate how blessed we are to live in the U.S.A.!!!

Josh holding out the U.S.A.


Going over barrier. Mike Spence, the other U.S.A. kid was 2nd!

Rio de Janeiro

We got back from our trip to Brazil... it was really fun! it was too bad though because it's their winter so it was rainy and overcast most of the time, and we got alot of rain so we couldn't spend much time on their beautiful beaches, but we still had a blast. It was fun to see another culture, and another part of the world. It fuled my desire to travel...


"Christo Redentor", the newest wonder of the world. It's 30 meters high and the arm span is 28 meters wide. It's perced on top of a little round mountain and has a great view of the whole city. It was pretty amazing to see (although I don't think it was as big as the statue of liberty.) In the back of the statue they have a little chapel. The guy that is not josh was the other U.S. steeple chaser, Mike spence. His wife Christy, and his mom came to brazil as well. All us ladies shared a room at an AWESOME hotel!

Josh and I sitting in the "Barra de Tijuca rain forest" it was really pretty, but we didn't get to see any tucan's...

This is a little monkey in the forest. There were alot of them. They'd just run around in the trees like squirrels. They were cute and friendly. They'd eat from your hand, or try to take your camera.

This is a bannana tree, with a big red bannana blossom on the bottom of the branch.

There were lots of cool markets around the city, I just thought these fish were cool.

Me in one of the market places... they had lots of exotic, tropical and delicous fruits! Pineapple, papaya, mango, star fruit, guava etc.

This little city settlement is called a favela. They are the slums of the cities. Apparently they are not patrolled by the police, but rather, are controlled by the drug lord. There are apparently 80 murders a day in rio, and most of them occur in these favelas. They houses are made of cement, or other random building materials. some have glass windows, and some just have open window panes... they are VERRY delapidated adn run down. favela's are built upon favela's and they get up to 5 or more stories high, just crammed with people. It was sad to see that so many people just have this kind of a life style, that is all they know.

Not a favela, just a basic neighborhood. there is grafitti all over the place.

We had a few dinners in these delicous "turasco's" or Brazillian BBQ's. They have a huge bar in the middle of the resturant that has breads and cheeses and all sorts of crazy and delicous salads, and fruit, and sushi, and spring rolls with strawberries, or kiwi (so good) lots of sea food dishes (I tried octapus, not a pleasant experience) Quail eggs (taste ok) then these waiters go around from table to table with skewers of all kinds of meet: different flavors and cuts of steaks, chicken, pork, lamb, different flavors of sausage, grilled pineapple and even chicken hearts!

Lahma Fest

In Spanish Fork every summer they have what they call a lahma fest. It is held at the Hari Khrishna temple. They have about 50 lahmas. They have them go through obstical courses and you can pet them and stuff. They also have indian food that you can buy and some indian singers who perform. It's actually pretty fun.

Hari Krishna Temple, where the festival is held

Me being best friends with the lahma's.

Josh trying to lead the lahma through the obstical course. They were really stubborn and wouldn't do anything that you tried to force them to do. it was hillarious... midway though Josh's leading it though the course, it started chasing me!