Motivation....

I have struggled with weight problems since... egads... childhood. I can still remember at the ripe age of 8 my mother telling me I need to lose weight, or at the age of 11 my father calling me thunder thighs. I swore someday, I would solve my weight problems and be gorgeous.



I did. At the age of 18, I was my leanest ever. I still weighed in at 180 pounds, but thanks to some great friends, the Y mountain (walking to and from my dorms up to the main campus two to three times a day) and aerobics class 4 times per week, I managed to really look pretty good.



I am not so lean now.



Two babies, depression, divorce and a sedentary job will do that to a person.



Fortunately, I have a few things going my way.



Number 1 - A great support system.



My friend, Audra, gets up and walks with me three times per week. Even though I am tremendously poky... We visit and laugh, and plan... We sample each others delicious recipes... It works out great! Thanks for your support!



My doctor is fabulous! He is so great to help me make the good choices, so he doesn't have to make the big icky ones.



The nurse at my doctor's office that meets with me once a week to help me with my weigh in and support me by helping me set goals.



My boss always asks how I am doing, and if there is anything she can do to help. And people at my work who will come down on breaks and walk around with me.



Number 2 - A great mall that lets people come in and walk for health. Around and around and around we go, and hopefully it pays off.



Actually, funny story... The other day, Audra and I were walking around and a lady came up to us and asked us if we were walking to lose weight. (UMMMM DUHHHH) She told us to stick to it. She had lost weight walking, and we shouldn't give up.



I am also grateful to a city and state that promote well-being by offering programs like N-Lighten Nebraska.



Number 3 - My Rewards - This year there are a bunch of trips that I want to go on, but my weight is starting to restrict my ability to travel comfortably on a plane. Therefore, if I hit my little goals, I can go on little trips. My big goal this year is a trip to Las Vegas with my parents and husband for Christmas and New Years. I want to be able to walk the strip comfortably and enjoy the everything.



SO, even though it seems like I have a lot of discouragement, I am grateful to the people who support me, the blessing of living in a health conscious city and the rewards i can set up that keep me motivated.



Thanks!

Mantras and mission plans

William S. Preston, Esquire, and Theodore Logan, had the right idea in the early nineties, they just didn’t execute it all that well.

Today, in Relief Society, the idea was driven home to me so poignantly that I could not help but giggle in mirth for several minutes, (I am not known for being the most reverent in church) much to the chagrin of the presenter.

We were discussing our Ward Mission plan, and the things that we are doing to promote it. I’m not big on asking the GQ (the genealogist wanted to know why Mormons were promoting Gentlemen’s Quarterly???) but I don’t have a problem inviting people to go places with me, or to do stuff. As a matter of fact, I have been known to host parties, in dark basements by candlelight (because of power outages) that last well into the early morning hours. It’s the great company, I’m sure, that holds these together.

I digress…

We were discussing how the best way to meet people and share with them our religion is to get into the community and to be nice good people. We should be excellent and outstanding members of society who people should want to be around.

The only thing I could think was a direct quote from a movie that my mother regrets ever letting my brothers and I see…

If you have not been introduced to Bill and Ted and their Excellent Adventure, may I recommend the movie in the wee hours of the morning, when adrenaline, caffeine and a sugar rush are all keeping you conscious? It is really funny, I promise!!!

Suffice it to say, the giggles began.

Then I started thinking of my initial experience with their mantra.

You have all heard of the Buckingham Palace Guards. They are not supposed to move, smile, nothing, no matter what you do. (Side note – I could not do this job. I am a guaranteed sell at the Make You Smile Game.)

Military police (college boys on a power trip) are the same way. They are not supposed to express emotion. At the ripe ages of 11, 10, 7 and 4 my brothers and I would make faces out the car window, wave, etc trying to get these boys to smile, laugh, roll their eyes, anything. NADA!

About two weeks after seeing this movie, we were driving through the main gates of the military installation upon which my family lived, and I rolled down the window. In unison, the Judge, the Builder, Bubby and myself all screamed Bill and Ted’s catch phrase.

Those two MP’s didn’t stand a chance. The guy inside at the desk put his head on the desk, his shoulders shaking. The guy outside saluting my father (who is ranked a major, as marked by the sticky pass in the corner of the windshield, and therefore an upper-level officer) almost fell over the little curb he was laughing so hard. The Doc was mortified in the front seat, trying to raise the window from his arm control and locking down my control of the window. The Management was trying hard not too laugh while looking properly, motheringly, annoyed at the four of us in the backseats.

Reflecting back, I feel kinda bad. These guys could have gotten into a lot of trouble. I’m sure, for them, though, it was worth it.

So, what do Bill and Ted have to do with being good missionaries???

Their mantra, and my personal mission statement -

“BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER, AND PARTY ON, DUDES!!!”

ICE ICE BABY!!!!

I'm not much of a driver...

I mean, as a whole, my drivers licence is valid, and there are no tickets or accidents marring my record such that the insurance company would drive up the ever-rising premiums.

I really don't have too much of a problem during the summer times, but winter driving and I are not the best of friends.

When I was in high school there was a place between Old Cheney Road and Glynoaks on 70th Street that I would slide on ALL THE TIME... The Judge would sit there as we crossed Old Cheney and say "3...2...1... cue the ditch" and off the road we would go, only to be pulled out by my mother's suburban when some kind individual would let me borrow their cell phone (usually a cardiovascular surgeon well known to my family as he was on his way to work... humiliating since I worked for his wife).

None the less, after 5 years and 4 months of a perfectly clean record, Nebraska ice weather and lack of road clearing capability got the better of me, and my Mali is relegated to a life in a garage for repairs. (The two most recent accidents on my car, mind you, were at my mother's house, my car parked, me in the house, and someone backing into my poor vehicle when she could not defend herself)

Let me just say, for starters, that this could have been worse.

It was a Saturday night, around 6 PM. I am headed north on a stretch of road approaching O Street (the main drag). I have the Bug and our friend Nina in the car with me, and I topped over the small hill and am headed downhill into the intersection. Three lines of at least 2 cars a piece, and I caught the ice. I applied my anti-lock brakes, and realized that I was not going to stop. Rather than take out the kind, and completely unaware, individuals ahead of me, I veer to the left and into two poles protecting a bush. The pole stayed vertical. My airbag didn't go off. Nothing... I didn't hit anyone, or anything valuable, but I tore up the front side of my car.

After registering my safety and security and that of my passengers, I called the non-emergency number for the local law enforcement. They determined that because I was on private property and no one was injured, they did not need to make an appearance. I backed out and went about my merry way.

No offense to those in the industry, and I do recognize that it is the holidays, but it should not take AN ENTIRE WEEK for me to get the repairs estimate approved so I can get my car fixed. I have now been without her since last Tuesday, and they haven't even started the work because the adjustor was out.

RIDICULOUS!

Ah well... That's what I get, I guess!

You are not gonna believe this....

Fore-warning: Do not click on the title link with innocents present (or if you are the innocent, at all).

As if the concept of meat-smelling cologne wasn't enough, the advertisement had to make it worse.

Can you imagine???

Christmas Shopping

ITS DONE!!!

(Aren't you jealous?!?!?!?!)

My Hero!!!

He's done it again!!!

Several months ago, the speakers on the family computer ceased to function and updating mp3 players (mine), blog music (also mine), and ax (again, me) ceased to be entertaining. I could not listen to the music before it was passed along to other formats/peoples...

(I fully recognize this is my problem, but I firmly believe that if mom ain't happy, ain't nobody happy....)

FRUSTRATIONS!!!

We had also discussed the possibility of moving the computer desk to a different corner in the office. (Again to accomodate moving MY stuff into the office. It has to go somewhere.)

Tonight when I got home, the He-Man (Master of MY Universe) had moved the desk and rewired the speakers. I HAVE SOUND AGAIN!! I'm so happy...

He moved my printers, and the desk and everything. It is wonderful.. And the computer sings while I type and play.

YAY!!!

MY HERO!!!

The Annual Christmas Letter

Dear Family and Friends,

Our wishes that this epistle finds you well, happy and joyful at this wonderful season of the year. Please do catch up with us as you can, we would love to hear how you are faring.

Our year, as always, has left us much for which to be grateful. As a family, we have had many opportunities to share experiences. Our favorite, this year, was going to Orlando. This year we took DJ’s parents and brother, showing them Sea World and Disney World. It was truly a wonderful experience, and we are looking forward to shared trips in the future.

DJ’s highlights this year, as always, are the trips he takes with Burger King, as a restaurant manager. Because his store raised the most for the VFW’s UnMet Needs, he spent several days in Minneapolis. He also went to Las Vegas for a larger convention. He is the training manager for his district, and always works hard.

Shannon is still working as a telephone interviewer for Gallup. She also works with the Activity Day girls (8-11 year-olds) and loves every minute of it. She picked up a few more piano students. When she has spare time, she heads straight for the blog, Facebook and any books she hasn’t already read (and some she has). She also is learning to play the organ.

Hailey is in fifth grade, playing the piano, playing the French Horn in school band, and singing in the school choir, Prairie Winds. She loves going to Activity Days, and spending time with her friends.

Katie got baptized in January of this year. She is enjoying the third grade, and playing the piano. She has loved our traditional trips to pumpkin patches, and visiting with family. She was very excited to welcome our new little cousin, Nathaniel (via Orron and Irene!) and our new Aunt Whitney (who married Uncle Bubby).

Have a very Happy Holiday Season:
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We love you all!!!

My Sacrament Meeting Talk

If you are in my ward - here's the real deal. If you want my notes, skip to the end!!!

“My Soul Delighteth in the Things of the Lord” – Susan W. Tanner – May 2008

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

Much like Maria, the nanny to the Von Trapp family children in the movie “Sound of Music,” Sister Tanner spoke in her General Conference talk of things in which she delights, and I must say, her list was pretty impressive. It got me thinking about delight myself.

According to Merriam-Webster, delight means “a high degree of gratification, joy, extreme satisfaction, something that gives great pleasure, or the power of affording pleasure.” Especially at this time of year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I started looking at the things that give me delight.

Two of the most important are my own children. Sister Tanner spoke of her delight in her “role as nurturer.” It “allows her to express [her] deepest identity as a woman.” It is not only a mother’s primary responsibility but also part of our ‘individual premortal, mortal and eternal identity and purpose.’ To nurture is to teach, to foster development, to promote growth, to feed and to nourish. Who would not shout for joy at being given such a blessed role?”

What a wonderful role, but what a long list of responsibilities and work. Where does a mother begin? Fortunately, Sister Tanner did not leave that question unanswered. She also described several other things that she herself delights in, and all of them will help us with the nurturing of ourselves, and the children in our lives.

“I am a daughter of Heavenly Father, who loves me.” – Last week, we heard from the Primary children about this very topic. Each of these children knows that their Heavenly Father loves them, and as their parents, it is our job, and should be a delight to remind them all the time. A couple weeks ago, I was with some friends of mine at a movie, all of us well over the age constituted as children. We were separating to do those things one does before the movie starts, and I was joking with them, “hold hands and stick together.” One turned to me and said “Remember who you are.” At the time, it was funny, but this simple phrase uttered by parents who know their children are children of God was truly a testament to the relationship we should all delight in, that as children of our Heavenly Father. It is something we should never forget.

“I delight in out Savior, Jesus Christ.” – “His ministering and saving roles… provide light and hope. [He} has given us the Holy Ghost for further guidance and comfort along the pathway we should go. It is only through Him that we can return to our Father.” Yesterday, my family put up our Christmas tree, and as we remember the symbolism of the tree, and some of the ornaments upon it, I am so grateful that I can see the delight in my children’s eyes at the wonder of this time of year. Further, because Christ came to Earth and lived as we have, and then suffered for our grief, pains and hurts, there is someone who knows me, and who knows my children. He understands, and already took care of everything, if I do the best I can to follow the commandments.

“I delight in the examples of those in the scriptures who walk by faith on their earthly journey.” – We have their words, right here in our hands, waiting for us to use them. Our Heavenly Father gave us the instruction manual when He sent our children to us. He wants us to know what we need to do to get back with Him, and to help our children return as well. My mother has a sign on her wall. It reads “Have your read my number one bestseller? There will be a test.” This is the test. Read the scriptures, and delight in them.

“I delight in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ built upon the foundation of prophets and apostles.” By reading and following the things our leaders say, we can become better parents, better equipped to nurture our children through these tough times. Twice a year, we are given the opportunity to hear the words of the prophets over the pulpit in the conference center. Once a month we receive our Ensign, New Era and Friend subscriptions. They too hold the words of the prophets. We need to study these words, because they are the words of the Lord. “Whether by my own voice, or by the voice of my prophets, it is the same.”

“I delight in priesthood keys and temples that dot the earth, making available to each of us eternal ordinances and covenants.” – Just this past year, my daughter, Katie, was baptized and confirmed by her uncles. My sister in law received her endowment, and my brother was married and sealed to his wife in the temple. Although my grandfather passed away without the benefit of these blessings, I know that his ancestry has received them, because I have had the opportunity to help with that work. Three and a half years ago, I was able to go to the Nauvoo temple and have my Great-Grandmother’s work done for her. I was present as her baptism and confirmation were done, and then I completed the remainder through endowment. What a wonderful blessing, and a memory I delightfully remember.

Unfortunately in this life, some things are not so delightful. There are so many THINGS out there that are meant to cause fear, angst and unrest. The news media, reporting on events of the last days, and the current troubles of the many weigh down upon us, and strive to crowd out the peace, love and delight in our lives. We forget to look for the good, in the tempest that rages around us. The best that we can do, is use the spirit in our homes to strengthen our children, and know that they are prepared for what is to come.

Sister Tanner spoke of her granddaughter, who, prompted by the forthcoming arrival of a new baby to their home, asked the inevitable question “where do babies come from?” “The lesson about this holy subject were taught by loving parents in a sacred family setting, in the celestial climate that accompanies a new soul’s birth into mortality, and in the context of our Father’s great and eternal plan. By contrast, the next day, upon returning home from kindergarten, our granddaughter reported that she had learned that day in class ‘a big new term called sexual abuse…’ I delighted as never before in a nurturing family founded upon the teachings of Christ.”

In this day and age, we cannot wait for our children to grow up to learn the serious stuff. We have to teach it now, before someone else does. And when life is hard, as we all know it can be, we have to be ready to weather the storm.

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

Death, adversity, thunderstorms, whatever may come, we can remember the delights given us of the Lord and count the blessings that come our way. This time of year gives us the opportunity to remember these things, remember who helps us through them and delight in that knowledge.

This morning, as I was typing the final draft of my talk, I was listening to Christmas music on my player. I thought I had turned the shuffle feature off, but for some reason, the player moved to some more secular music. Also on the player is a song “You’re Gonna Miss This.” I almost hit the button to go back to the Christmas music, when I stopped and realized that the lyrics spoke to me.

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

As we look to our children, to the delight they are, and to the jobs we have as parents, and other responsibilities, we need to remember that this is what it is all about. We need to delight in what we have, and use it to better the future. We need to take the time to remember who we are, what was done for us, the gospel, scriptures, priesthood and temples. We’re gonna miss it if we don’t. And especially in this world where so many things are pressing against us, its good to know we can take delight in something.

I know that the Lord loves each of us. I know that as we follow Christ’s teachings, we will find joy, happiness and peace.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I am not much of a public speaker. Small groups and children, okay, but in sacrament meeting I get so nervous.

I had the opportunity to speak today. It's interesting how the Lord knows what you need, and then can help you with how to say it.

I just want each of you to know that I delight in my relationships with you. You are such wonderful friends, and I can't imagine my life without you!

oops... i did it (sadly) again!!!!

Click on the title to check out my latest escapade!!!

The Whole KITT and Caboodle

No big secret... I am completely addicted to the new Knight Rider series. I'll take a black Ford Mustang that sounds like Val Kilmer anyday. (FYI 0 I have been trying desperatly and unsuccessfully to find a digital audio file of the theme song, such that I may load it to my phone as a ring tone.)

My new thing is that in order to watch my DVR shows (since I work when they are actually on), I have to be riding my stationary bicycle. (BTW - I went to aerobics mon and wed and rode 30 mins on the bike Tues (Two and a Half Men, CSI:Miami and thurs (Knight Rider!!!)

As I am completely out of shape, and struggling to remedy the ailment, I only biked for about 30 minutes of the show, and then had to find something constructive to do with the remaining time.

SO I cleaned out my Caboodle. (I should have taken pictures, but alas...) For those of you who are unfamiliar with a Caboodle, basically, it looks like a girls tackle box, dividers and all, and is designed to hold girlie things. These were huge, what, twenty years ago?!? The thing is, I still have mine. It refuses to break. SO I throw make up and stuff in there, and sometimes use it, but more often than not don't. Every so often I will get a wild hair and clean it out (usually finding wild hair in it), throwing away mascara that has glunked up, etc.

So, there I sit, on my bed, watching as Micheal chases down a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde, and, wouldn't you know it, the darn thing breaks, right there as I am opening it, the little latch on the front falls off, and the shelves crack. Twenty years and it finally breaks.

I start to think - you know Knight Rider with David Hasselhoff was huge twenty years ago, or so. Maybe the Caboodle has a similar shelf-life as David Hasselhoff... (If you did not get that joke, I reference BayWatch...) hmmm. What other shows were big back then???

MacGyver... hey, I can jerry-rig this caboodle back together.

I pause the replay of the new tv show, and run for the kitchen junk drawers where I find (eureka!!!) duct tape, super glue, and some toothpicks, and back to the caboodle I go.

Suffice it to say that I am not MacGyver, and that the Caboodle did not survive.

Oh well, off to the store to find a new box for my girlie supplies...

Where's that Mustang when you need him???

Daytona Beach

Could it be Magic???

EPCOT Day

EPCOT is truly a gem of the DisneyWorld experience, and of the 4 "lands" my favorite! I like it because it appeals to me on an intellectual level, and Figment is there!!! Kool and the Gang performed - I have video on my camera. And I got a blanket!

Sea World Day

Okay, so there are tons more, since I totally figured out how to use my continuous shutter on my camera, but here are the true greats of the Sea World Day.

Our start was taking this ride way up high into the air, and I took some great shots looking down, and a not so great shot of H&K&I sitting in the ride.

Then we went to see the Sea Lion and Otter show with Clyde and Seamore. The real benefit to this show is going about 15 minutes early to watch Tom the Mime-Pirate (who is DJ's personal favorite). I'm not gonna give this one away for those who have never been. Trust me - worth the entire day's admission to see this guy!!!

We saw the dolphin show, and of course, Shamu. The night Shamu Rocks show is totally awesome, by the way!

Florida Pictures!!!! - The Caribbean Night

Our arrival in Florida was true on first sight of the palm trees. I love palm trees. Green, leafy, and no bags of yard waste!!!

On Saturday night we went to a little party at the condos. There was an entertainer there. She was on stilts, dressed up all carribbean and made balloon things. They are amazing!!!

Pictures from the Patch

The Elder's Quorum was kind enough to let H&K&I bring two friends to the pumpkin patch!! WE had a pretty good time!

Politics

I'll be the very first to admit that politics is not my personal joie de vivre! I could take the whole thing and dump it, to be honest, but I was very interested in the progression of last night's news coverage.

I found it fascinating that 2-3 hours before the polls closed, the news anchors and analysts were announcing the winners. Some people hadn't even voted yet!!! As alarming as this was, I found it truly disheartening that because of these "projections" made in the media, some people didn't even bother voting because they were afraid that their vote wouldn't matter in the scheme of things. Additionally, by their own admission, some people only voted for candidates because of nationality, or political party, rather than researching what the candidate truly was working toward.

I had to take a citizenship issues class in high school... my senior year. I'll be honest, I didn't retain much. This year, though, I wanted to understand the power of the vote, and the responsibilities each of us has to our nation. I downloaded, directly from John McCain's website, and Barack Obama's website, their plans and platforms for the presidency. I printed off transcripts of the debates. (I don't learn well by just watching and listening. Reading, for me, is better.) I was terribly confused by everything.

So I went back to the beginning.

I found a free, online course, put out by Brigham Young University called An American Citizen's Guide to Government and Politics. I was ecstatic! I enrolled (it takes, like, 2 minutes) and started reading the lessons. Further, I found this cute little book at Barnes and Noble that has the exact wording of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation. My research had begun!

Now, the ideas and foundations of government make sense, but the platforms put out by the candidates don't. I really struggled with how to take the knowledge of government I had and apply it to what the candidates were saying.

Further, I had to wonder how they were going to put these platforms into place since I wasn't even sure the presidential candidates had that kind of power.

I think perhaps we, as Americans, are not given the right information to be the best citizens we should be. Further, I truly believe that taking a course in Citizenship Issues, and demonstrating a knowledge of the subject matter, should be required to obtain a voting license, and the license should be renewed every four years. (They test us to drive, they should test us to vote!!!)

That set aside, and back to the news coverage, I didn't hear anything about a candidate's platform, or the actions they were going to take as an influence to voting last night. All I heard was demographics: race, religion, political party, past voting, etc. Does the press think so little of us to believe that we cannot think for ourselves??

I, for one, do not intend to be one of the nameless and faceless many who do exactly what they are told by the person speaking the loudest. The only way change is truly going to come is by people educating themselves and then doing something with the education they have. Don't let the press decide for you what you are going to think - figure it out for yourself, and then do something about it. This year I did. I voted for the person who I believed would best follow the government as it was outlined by the founding fathers in the Constitution, which, as I understand it, is still in effect.

I didn't vote for a nationality.

I didn't vote for a political party.

I didn't even vote for a platform.

I voted to support the Constitution.

What did you vote for?

Doctor Visits

Not many people can say that they love their doctor.

I LOVE MINE!!!! He is the best!

I went in this morning for my 3 month diabetes check up. Long story very short... I have three months to get back on track or I get to use insulin... (Unless of course miracles happen and I end up preggers, which is not recommended or on the likely scale.)

He also reminds me that I am 31 and that mom had her hysterectomy at 34. (He is mom's doc too.) My biological clock is ticktocking fast!!! He reminds me that he knows I want to have a little Bink. He tells me I have three months to fix it, or he will.

I have an appointment with the lifestyle coach at my doctor's office Monday morning 8am.

I have a follow up appointment with my doc in three months.

I promised him I would start excercising more.

I promised him I would take better care of myself.

He promised me that if I do better and am losing weight, and am excercising, etc, he will help DJ and I get a baby Bink.

He gives me a hug when I leave. (Okay, I am a natural huggy, so this means the world to me!!!) How great is it to know that your doctor truly cares about you as a person!

Okay, okay... aerobics classes twice a week at church. I will come now.

I'm not thrilled about the yoga thing on Fridays. I think it is too much for me, but I am willing to try.

I'm trying not to work in the mornings anymore so I can take better care of myself, excercising, etc.

How great is it though, that my doctor cares enough to look at my whole person??? I love it!! I love him!!! and I want to do better because I know he is rooting for me, and that somewhere so is my future baby Bink!!!

We're Back!

We're back, and over the course of the next week, I will be filling you in on our little excursion.

But for today, I would like to discuss the power of the break!

We pulled into Lincoln just before 8 PM last night, unlocked the house and all of us promptly fell asleep. Rather than send the girls to school this morning, I called in and gave them the day off. I cancelled their piano lessons, and I let everyone sleep in a bit this morning.

While this may seem a bit unorthodox, I am convinced that we all need mental health days sometimes, and that coming off of a vacation is a perfect time to take one. (I needed one, believe me.)

One of my friends described the need for time after vacations to get resettled into life.

I agree with her completely.

Furthermore, after the stress of vacations, it has come to my attention that we should be taking mental health days more regularly than we do. It is simply a part of our very well-being. The more I considered on this topic over the past few hours, the more I realized that the Lord has encouraged us to look for the peaceful moments in our everyday life, such that we can maintain our mental health.

What do you do to maintain/improve your mental health?

On the Road Again...

After months of waiting, I am finally in route to Florida.





Truth be told, I am probably sleeping. (Aren't scheduled posts fabulous???)





I have my parents to thank for my willingness and ability to road trip anywhere roads will take me. They had no problems hauling us all over the country.





So, I would like to share with you a few of my favorite-ist road trips from my life story.





My first long road trip took place in a 1970's station wagon. If you are too young to remember these, I'm truly sorry for you. They were quite the experience. We traveled from Provo Utah to New Orleans Louisiana. It was just SuperHill, WonderWoman, the Judge and I.





Our next travel was to San Antonio... I know, not bad.

We then went to California, and the Philadelphia in one of these. (My parents called it the reverse Mormon Trail trip.) Our pickup was the most attractive safety orange color. At least we got to sleep in actual beds, rather than on seats.





Suffice it to say, that upon moving to Alaska, (and preparing to drive there) my parents traded in the camper for a brown suburban (the first of my mother's obsession for large utility vehicles). After a brief visit with my grandparents in Utah, we arrived in Fairbanks Alaska several weeks later. Click here if you want to see a map of the drive. (4254 miles)





Lest you believe that this was all boring and motionless, may I remind you that at this time, third seats were optional, as were seat belts, so my parents would fold down the short second seat, and my brothers and I would crawl all over the back of the suburban. (BREATHE AHNAH!!!) It wasn't all bad, and I had some really great memories to share later on.





We traveled up and down the Alaska Highway at least 5 times, that I remember to go fishing in Seward. Then we drove to Lincoln Nebraska.





This is my second drive to Orlando, and after these cute little maps, can you see why the driving part doesn't really faze me??? The only problem I face is the brief periods where I can drive. Because of my traveling experience, I have a natural tendancy to sleep in vehicles, because that was my conditioned training.



So, TTFN!!! Wish me bon voyage (or sweet dreams!!!)