The Shift

Everything is changing and that my friends is a good thing. Can you feel it? There is a shift and what that shift is I am not sure but it feels oh so good. I think things are about to get interesting. 

I was invited to be a part of a panel to discuss the topic of love. It was for single men and women my age. I have thought long and hard on this topic since I had been given the assignment. What does love mean to me? How do I show love? How can I improve in the way that I show love to others? How do I receive love? What do you do when you feel lonely or sad? I prayed that somehow in this discussion there would be as Isaiah says, beauty for ashes. As I know so many of the men and women who are my age and single have been so broken by love. I mean I have been. I am no expert obviously, but I have tried to listen and pay attention and learn the lessons I have needed to learn from love. Mostly, I have failed at it. I have tripped and fallen and gotten back up more times than I'd like to count but even then, I STILL have a brightness of hope for the future.  Here are a few of my thoughts:

You have to love yourself first. My friend Kim reminded me on a run of the oxygen mask analogy in an airplane. You must first put YOUR oxygen mask on to breathe before you can help anyone else. If you have no oxygen you are no help to anyone else. SO OK I think great, I love myself. But do I? What does that look like? So I made some goals and I have been religious about keeping them since the end of June. In order to love myself I do three things: Spiritual/I read my scriptures each day. Physical/I run three times a week. Emotional/I go to two activities a month with friends. As I have done these three things my life has been filled with joy. I feel joy, peace, and love and what more do I want than those things in my life? 

Last Friday, my children were home but both of them had plans for the night with friends. I was all of a sudden left alone. I kinda felt lonely. So I thought, OK I am going to love myself. This is a great opportunity to meet my weekly commitment and I decided to get out and go for a run. As I was running, the song Friday I'm in Love came on. I thought....Gosh, it's Friday and I am not in love. I'm not on a date. I am all alone. But then I thought..NO. I LOVE MYSELF. I love myself! I am running and I love myself.  BUT THEN the next song that came on was, Not For You. I said out loud THAT IS NOT TRUE! Love is for me. This is another thing I realized about love. Sometimes negative self thoughts come into our minds, fear, doubts, and unnecessary worry. I have learned that when those thoughts creep in we have to turn them around. These thoughts do not bring joy, peace and love. They bring fear. We have to learn to dismiss those thoughts and feelings. We need to realize where these thoughts come from they are not the doctrine of Christ who brings Peace, Love, and Joy. They are the doctrine of the adversary who brings fear. Dismiss those thoughts because they are not true. Was it true I wasn't one a date..yes but how could I be I had planned to be home with my kids? Is it true I would never go on any more dates? Absolutely not. 

Another thing I have learned is that if I put the important things first everything else falls into place. I trust that will happen love too. This is important...I have learned to pay close attention to this one. 

I have learned to recognize all of the love around me and receive it. Receiving love was once a very hard thing for me but now I relish in it. I love my friends and talking to them. I love my family and my children. I love spending time with them. I love my life it is simple and happy. I love the outdoors. I love the birds and the green freshly mowed grass. I even love the screech owls that howl at night. I just remind myself that they are singing their song of love. I love the sunsets and I love to walk by the garden that grows near my house. There is love vibrating all around us ready to give if we will only take notice and be grateful for it all. Notice the good things. 

My friend asked me the other day when is the last time you bought something nice for yourself? I thought and thought and thought and couldn't think of anything. I thought what do I buy besides groceries? I bought myself a few nice things last weekend.  It makes me happy to get dressed and feel girly! I love being a girl. I love cute shoes and dresses and pretty hair and make-up. So I bought a red skirt and some cute shoes and swiped on some red lipstick and VOILA. She was back. 

Oh my that skirt called my name. I can't resist bows. 

Hello shoes.....When is the last time you had a pair of shoes you were excited to wear?

Once in awhile it is ok to splurge.

Love is a broad topic and the best feeling in the world. It is the best gift and it has no cost. I am grateful for all of the good love in my life. 

XOXO- The Sunny D

Ralph, Cinderella, and Rotisserie Chickens

Early Saturday morning at the San Tan Mountains getting ready for a trail run. I woke up to rain pounding on the roof of my house. It was a morning I relished, the kind that is good for staying in bed. The kind of morning that you find yourself in and out of slumber waking up when you are ready and making pancakes when you finally do.

Except, it was just me and there were no children to make pancakes for. (SAD DAY)

 Do you know those mornings? I feel like those mornings always fall during the work week but not this Saturday morning. This Saturday morning I was home.

Except, I had committed late the night before to a run in the mountains. Something else I relished just not in the rain. Rain is for snuggling in bed.

I text my friend..are you SURE we are still running?? The reply, yeah dude unless its pouring we are going. OK, I said and hopped out of bed for a quick wake up shower and strapped on my running shoes.

My friend Laura got to my house and it was raining...we got in the car...and drove out to the San Tan's...it was pouring and I was like we could TOTALLY just go get breakfast somewhere. She reassured me if it was horrible when we got there we could leave.

Except, look at that sky. It was lovely. Plus, I felt this awe in my heart for this weather and the morning and the fact that I knew my body could move and handle this run. That is a pretty good feeling. It is one of my goals...love myself with outward expressions for an inward commitment. Trail running to me is an outward expression that I love my body and the amazing things it can do.

We met this amazing team of athletes that I am just in awe of..Laura included. These people are exercise beasts who eat suffering for breakfast. I'm like Ralph in the Simpson's with this group allowed to participate but....gluing my ear to my shoulder. It's ok though...I can hang.

The five mile loop was lovely and as the morning progressed so did the rain. We ended the run soaked and cold but SO ALIVE and happy. What a joy filled morning that was. I have noticed that when I spend time outdoors exercising the tension just melts away. 

I pretty much just feel super lucky that I get to be outside with friends. To me that is a little slice of Heaven. 

And I learned something...I hope one day I find a nice guy who will trail run with me and when I am tired get a Grimaldi's pizza to eat and watch a Disney movie on our bed. #relationshipgoals

I find myself back to work this week and just relishing the break we had. I have not felt happier or more rested in so long. I showed up on Monday and felt like the mice were making me a dress to wear and the birds were singing and could land on my finger at any second for me to sing to them. I am not kidding. That is how great I felt. 

Except, now it is Tuesday night and I feel as if I have been hit in the head with a pan...like in Tangled and I feel tired. How can that be already? I think it is my giant work to do list and looming observation. One thing at a time and I need to remember to sprinkle in some fun. 

Then there was this...possibly the best meme of the week. I sent it to my friends and the thread was so funny. We all agreed that if a handsome guy showed up with a rotisserie chicken we would marry him. Not only is he taking us to dinner he is also providing dinner for another night. WINNING. I tell you. 

May the rain dust your shoulders and the sun shine on your cheeks but not give you skin cancer. XOXO- The Sunny D 

The North American Tour-Part 2 Hello Mexico

All Natural...

I was not going to go to Mexico over break. I was going to stay home and clean my house, get laundry done, get organized. But you know, my children were with their Dad and the house was so empty that the ocean began to call my name and I had to listen. So I called my dear friend Josh and off we went. 

We stopped at Pollo Lucas on the way into town. Headed to the RV park set up camp and then off to Chino's house for carne asada tacos. We then went with the Hallett's and Martinez family to a NEW churro place that was delicioso! 

A hurricane was brewing and the winds kicked up pretty quickly. We woke up in the night to sand pelting us in the face and gusty blows. 

The next day we ate a yummy breakfast and hit the beach for the rest of the day. I sat on my beloved beach sandwiched in between two of my dearest friends. I sat there alllllll day long and I realized at one point the joy I felt and the smile that could just not be wiped off of my face. The waves were crazy big for Rocky Point and the water was just right. I played in the ocean waves like I was five.  Diving and riding the waves in being tossed around a few moments not sure which way was up and which way was down. 

There is something about salt water, especially at sandy beach that washes away the hurts and sorrows of the soul. My heart was at peace, something I have so needed for several weeks now. 

I feel renewed and happy and then there was the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen. It was a top ten sunset for sure. It may have made me tear up a bit at its beauty. I felt like God sent it just for me a gift because he knows that Rocky Point is my favorite and so are sunsets. 

As we drove home I felt such a strong shift like good things are coming. This October Break has been one of the best I have had in years. Family. Friends. Good Food. Outside. 

XOXO- From Arizona to Calgary to Saskatchewan to Arizona to Why to Ajo to the Mexican Border to Rocky Point and back to Arizona in a week. Adventure is the stuff of life. The Sunny D.

Serious contemplation. I forgot ALL brushes. Toothbrush/hairbrush...In the bathroom there was a lone hairbrush left and I seriously thought about using it, but then I worried about lice..you know I AM a teacher....but then I found a comb in my beach bag. To the rescue and Glorias Pharmacy for a toothbrush. All was well. 

The North America Tour 2018-October Break Part 1

My Mom and I traveled to Saskatchewan for my Aunt Margaret's funeral. I have learned a lot about death this month. Mostly, it has been confirmed to me that there is more after this life and I feel so strongly about that. I am grateful that families and relationships don't just end here on earth. Do I know this for a fact? No, I don't. However, do you have to know everything about electricity to use and enjoy its power? What I know about death and families I feel in my heart because some truths must be felt with the heart and not seen with the eyes.

My Grandma was born in Saskatchewan and the farm she grew up on is currently owned and worked by my cousin. The farm has been in the family for over 100 years. I think that is amazing.

My Mom and I flew to Calgary and then caught a propeller plane to Regina, Saskatchewan. It was cold for us desert dwellers like coldest middle of the winter cold.

What is wrong with Canadians and Europeans? ICE IS NOT A LUXURY. They have Biscoff now for a snack on the plane! YUMMO. So one loss and one win. There was snow on the ground isn't it beautiful? It isn't something we get to see much in Arizona. I love how the farms look like a patchwork quilt. 

The service for Aunt Margaret was lovely. I was thinking while I was there....I have only met my cousins a few times. I don't really know them but we greeted each other warmly with hugs. What if we greeted people like they were our family? What if we saw people with our hearts? Although, the distance was great and we don't get to see each other very often it didn't matter. We were family. That is a gift. There was kindness, warmth, and love all around. After the funeral we went to lunch and later that night we went out to the farm for Canadian Thanksgiving. 

Here is what I see in my minds eye driving out to the farm. You take the road out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan for about a twenty minute drive. The road is straight and the sun is bright. The sky was clear and blue. It was a crisp Fall afternoon and on either side of you are fields of gold. There are occasional Canadian Geese flying and Hawks. We saw a hawk swoop down into the golden field its talon in front of it with its fresh catch of the day. The golden fields go as far as the eye can see where the sky meets the land. It is wide open on either side of you. There are bales of hay in the field, dotted here and there. It reminds me of a Van Gogh painting. There is no street name or address to the farm, we turn down a dirt road and drive past three farms. The farm is sheltered by brush to protect the house from snow. The house has been renovated but it is the original. I kept thinking Grandma ran around here when she was little. I could see her in my minds eye in a white cotton dress with a doll in hand. Although, this was not my childhood home I felt the roots that had been set there and was proud that in some small way I belonged to it too. 

We had an amazing meal on the golden prairie farm and enjoyed getting reacquainted. It was fun! 

Our cute, sweet, Aunt Marjorie and Mom. 

Mom and Uncle Bill (Her Brother)

McIntyre-Spence Clan

I think one thing our family shares is an appreciation for cool cars and trucks. I was sitting in the back seat and snapped this picture of Mom and Bill. Gosh, I sure wish he and his kids lived closer to us! It was so fun visiting with him but my heart tugged when we had to say good-bye. We had a great day on Sunday with Bill and he helped us with the Briggs tradition of bringing back enough Canadian candy to take your suitcase from 20 pounds to 50! This is a CLEAR memory I have as a child. If ANYONE in the family was headed to Canada it was their duty to bring back treats for ALL of us. There are several treats that are ingrained in the memory of my childhood: black licorice and Macintosh's carmels! Yum. That is literally the taste of my childhood. I am sure my cousins will agree! 

As I listened to Mom and Bill reminisce I was again just so grateful for family AND a family that really loves each other and loves to be together. 

A lesson I learned from Bill: 

He said, "I'll tell you why I like old cars.

I understand them.

They need some special attention.

With new cars you have nothing to do..they are just already done they are boring."

And I thought, You know....this could also apply to women...ha. Classic cars and classic women.

It was General Conference this weekend and before we met the family for lunch Mom and I went to the local chapel to watch the Sunday morning session. It was wonderful and a really nice way to start the day. We had tried to get it on cable in our hotel room but they did not have it and then we tried to get it on our phone but the wifi wasn't great and our phones were running on 3G due to being "international." 

I come from prairie farm roots it is in my blood. My Grandpa was a Canadian Mountie who raised an amazing family on a farm with Grandma at his side. They are some of the best people I know and love. It was wonderful spending time with Grandma's side of the family to get to know them and love them too. Families are forever. At least, my heart tells me they are. 

XOXO- The Sunny D---I feel the urge to plant something...