Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay 2009

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You know in life, there are certain moments when you realize you are doing something you only dreamed of? It's something only real runners do? You think to yourself, I could never do that? Well...... I DID!!!!:)

June 19-20 became that day of possibilities. I was a part of a team of 12 women who ran from Logan, Utah to Park City Utah. A total of 188 miles. This was a 24 hr. race: no stopping, sleeping in the car or on high school gym floors, food and water provided by your team van, lots of sweat, running in the dark, you get the picture.

I was nervous to begin, but once we started, my body did things I never thought it could! My first leg was 7.9 miles-DOWNHILL. I crossed over Avon Summit, in the most beautiful country I've ever seen. Being out in the quiet open, seeing God's creation, was breathtaking. I remember thinking to myself, I can't believe I'm here.

By the end of my first leg, I had blisters all over my feet, including in between my toes. I walked an extra half-mile to the first-aid station where they taped my feet so I could keep going.

I was extremely nervous for my second leg: 8.1 miles-UPHILL, in the DARK OF NIGHT, summiting at East Canyon reservoir. The weather had turned cold and I'm sure my nerves didn't help the shivering! Dad was at that exchange to watch me go and take pictures. I remember thinking, I really don't want to do this! So I was layered like crazy with tank top, shirt, jacket, reflective jacket, head phones with i-pod, Garman running watch, and relay bracelet.

After about 1/4 mile I was roasting! I spent the next 1.5 miles trying to take everything off while I was running in the dark. I carried all my clothes I had just shed for another 1/2 mile until my pace car caught up to me.

Funny thing was, I wasn't thirsty or tired, but HUNGRY! Are you kidding me, I thought? Here it is 10:45 at night, I'm running up a long windy road and all I want to do is eat something? Finally when my car got to me, I asked for a granola bar, but could only take two bites before I thought I was going to puke!

Then, it was just me and the open road. Of all the things I've experienced in my life, this rates at the top. What I was most afraid of, turned out to be an amazing memory. Running in the middle of the night with just the stars to guide you is almost a spiritual experience. When I found myself alone, I would turn my i-pod off and listen to the sounds of nature and my breathing. Music was an interruption. I could see ahead of me the red blinking lights of the other runners, making it way up this hill. Every now and then, a runner would pass me, and encourage me to keep going. "You're doing great, keep it up" they would say. Not knowing I felt honored to be out there with them. One of them in a sea of darkness with only the red blinking lights ahead.

Then came the hill of all hills! I thought, I don't know if I can finish this! This is crazy! But by then all the pace cars were backed up and now along the route. As I passed each car, other runners in those cars would offer encouragement.

At last, I was at the top.......Rounding the dark corner to what seemed like the noon day sun! Flood lights, hundreds of people, and the EXCHANGE!!!!!! It brought tears to my eyes-even now as I remember it months later. I did it!!! There was my dad at midnight, camera in hand, waiting to congratulate me and photograph it. I felt amazing. The rush was incredible!

I could barley catch my breath before we were in the car driving to our next pit stop- South Summit High School, where I would get a few hours of sleep, a shower, and more mole skin for my feet.

My last leg was 3.2 miles through Heber. I always thought that would be my easiest leg, far from it. I struggled through that more than the other two. But to my surprise, as I was running a car pulled up next to me and in it was Lisa and Raegan! I almost cried! I needed that so bad-to have someone I knew there to support me! A few block later, an even bigger surprise- Robert, April, and Katelynn pulled up along side me!!! They had no idea how much I needed that. I was spent and at my limit. They truly are the reason I pushed on and made it to the finish.

I was the last runner for my van-now it was up to van 2 to take us to the finish line. We went ahead to wait for our 12th runner to come in. As we waited in Park City, the skies closed up and dumped torrential rain! It was cold, windy, and raining. Nothing like running in wind and black skies! By the time our 12th runner got to the finish line, we were all limping, but made a mad-dash as a team across that finish line!

It was great to have so much support from my family. Mom and dad flew up from Las Vegas to work as volunteers, Lisa worked as a volunteer at the starting line, Aunt Kathy was there helping, Barry drove down from Boise with all five kids to be there......So Blessed am I.

Lisa's trip to Boise

So, I've been trying to get my sister to come and visit me by herself for almost 5 years now. Guess what!?!?!? She finally did!!!!! Hold the applause................

We had such a great time, even though I had major blood sugar issues while she was here. I'm glad she was here to help me!- Sorry Lisa!

We visited the Jus offices in Boise, tried on all kinds of clothes. Let our kids run a muck-wonder if they will ever let us come back?

I took her to Sephora for her first time, such an honor! Even talked her into a bronzer! (Yes, I am amazing).

Come back soon Lisa! (That means within a year)- Love Natalie

Fun Run 2009

Every year the kids school does what's called a "fun run". It's designed to get kids and families out and exercising! It's done at the local high school, and they run a one mile course. We've done it for the past 3 years and have LOVED it! This was Lexus' first year, and boy was she excited!I was going for moral support, dressed in jeans, but Lexus informed me that "mommy, you are running with me. I want you to." So here we are at the starting line getting ready to go!
Barry, sitting on the side lines, with the twins! Go Lexus and Hunter! (Montana was camping with her friends this weekend)

Hunter and some of his classmates, at the starting lineThe picture just before the race began! (I was in for a big surprise, but had no idea just yet!)

Holy cow! She was off!!! I had a really hard time keeping up with her. She was in and out of people, then figured it would be easier to just blow past everyone if she took the inside track! As we were running she kept saying "I want to win!!!"Hunter, being in 3rd grade, was in the front at the starting line so he got a good head start on us. But low and behold, here she is passing him! All I heard was "hey, Hunter. isn't that your little sister in front of us?" He couldn't be overtaken by his sister 4 years younger, so he put the pedal to the metal and it was a race between the two!The finish line is in sight! I had to tell her to slow down so I could get ahead of her to take her picture coming in.

Go Lexi, GO!!

After the race food and drinks!

Everyone who finishes gets a medal! We are all winners.

Our Tribute to our Best Friend- Heidi

Where do I begin? Tears flowing down my cheeks, rain falling outside, and here I am thinking about our beloved friend Heidi.....

Eleven years ago this spring, we brought home a new addition to our family and named her Heidi. She came after Katie, but before any children. She was my first running buddy, and I nearly killed her little legs making her run 1.5 miles at only 8 weeks old. But she never complained. Every time we'd come home from a run, she's head straight to the pool and jump in. I'd follow her shortly after I'd changed into my swimsuit and we'd swim and lay out together on a blow up bed that we floated on for hours!

She was Barry's first dog and first hunting dog. Every day he'd come home after school and spend hours out back training her with his whistle. I'll never forget the day I came home to see my husband floating in the pool in our tiny canoe, throwing Heidi out, blowing his whistle, and then making her swim back to him. Thus, getting her ready to bird hunt and jump in water after them. I was so worried what the neighbors would think.....seeing a grown man in a canoe in the middle of a pool, blowing a whistle!

Then Hunter came. She sniffed him up and down, decided he was a keeper, and slept under his crib to protect him. Half the time, as he got older, I'd find him in his sleeper p.j.'s, sound alseep, snuggled up to her on her doggie bed on the floor. Ten years later, that hadn't changed. When Hunter was sad or lonely, we'd find him on the floor next to her asleep. He'd always ask us to make sure Heidi was in his room before we'd go to bed. It wasn't until her last two or three days that she couldn't make it up the stairs to his room.

Each additional child born into our family was presented to her and she became more protective, because she took on the mother roll. These were HER babies. There was always a bark with each doorbell ring, and she had to sniff out everyone who entered her home. Now, hearing a knock at the door and no bark has an empty feeling to it.

Anyone who knows us, knew our love for our animals. Katie and Heidi were the best of friends, even though they were cat and dog. And as heartbreaking as it is that only 5 months ago we lost Katie, it seems fitting that Heidi is gone now too. At least they are together again, as my kids tell me. She lived a great life with lots of love and lots of kids.

When the day came to put her to sleep, we knew it was time. She'd had a siezure a few days before, started throwing up 3 days before, and stopped eating all together two days before. We tried to get her to walk, but she kept falling over and her back legs no longer worked. We went to church and Barry came home and spent two wonderful hours laying by her side, talking to her, opening his heart to her. We had dinner, then sat the children down and explained to them what needed to happen. We all cried. Then each child had a picture with her and was able to tell her good-bye. The sweet heart that she was, did her best to sit up for the pictures. It was the most I've seen out of her in days. Barry, Hunter, and I then took her to the vet where we held her and talked to her and loved her as she passed. It was incredibly hard, and yet so very peaceful. Hunter asked later why people can't go that way.

As we buried her in our backyard next to Katie, the twins kept saying, "Daddy, my Heidi!" They didn't understand why we were burying her. Yesterday and today they have asked me several times "Heidi got out?" "My Heidi out, mommy?" How do you tell a toddler about death?
Now, I've had a chance to tell them about heaven and now they say "mommy, heidi heben?"

So as a tribute to her, I kept the kids home from school yesterday and we looked through all our old photographs and found every one we had of Katie and Heidi. We went out to lunch at McDonald's (to brighten any child's spirit, right?) and bought a special album which we placed all our pictures. So at any time, we can remember them. The evening ended great with lots of giggles and belly laughs as the kids saw pictures of their mom and dad from years ago. I'll never forget when my kids asked to see the picture of dad with the triangles behind his ears (his mullet picture from highschool) They could barely get the words out, they were laughing so hard. Or to look at the picutre of dad with his Harry Potter glasses!

Well, I started this post with tears, and now I'm ending it with laughter. I guess that's what a true best friend does. Helps you see the laughter behind the tears. We can't wait to be with you two again. Until then, watch over us and have fun together. Here are the pictures of our last days and moments with her. Everyone loved her, even our newest addition, Stephanie, the kitten.