Cold Winter Run

Had a nice chilly 8 mile run this morning - went out in the desert for 4 miles and then turned back. Did the first half nice and easy and relaxing - took pictures and had fun. Coming home I increased the pace by 30 seconds each mile but was still enjoying the run. And believe me, at 27 degrees - you either enjoy it or you don't!

Here are some scenic pictures of the snow covered desert - oh yeah, and one of me!

Christmas Message

Here is the Christmas story told through missionaries from 25 countries. A must-see video clip that will move you; it will move anyone who believes in Jesus Christ and wants to feel the spirit of the season. Share this one as much as possible.

Yes - more Snow!

I couldn't get the videos I took to show properly - you just couldn't see the snow and/or it was just too dark - oh well.

It started around 4:30p when I got home from work and just kept going. We we came home from Nathan's Choir concert the flakes were really thick and falling so slow - the kind that you just stare at the street lights and watch it 'cause it's so pretty!

Here are some pictures from waking up this morning - it was good to see and experience. Now most of it is just slush, but still white in some areas - if it had just held out until next Thursday we'd had finally had a white christmas here in St. George!

My Footprints so you can see that it was a few inches here.

Out on the road - been forever since I've seen a street looking like this.

We had an early Christmas present that was quite beautiful and I am totally grateful for it! I went to work and shoveled all the side walk and handicapped area's - it was fun - a little different shoveling at my age then it was as a teenager - but I still enjoyed it.

Christmas Breakfast Party

This year our church had a Christmas Breakfast Party - and it actually went pretty good. They had quiche and ham and lot's of little cake treats not to mention all the fruit. I actually think it went better than the dinner parties.




I was handed sweet baby emma by her Mother and have not literally held a baby since I believe CJ was one. CJ was sitting next to me and I kept looking at him and the baby, then to him - he just kept saying, "what??" - I just told him how I remember when I was holding him like this. It's not that I don't like holding babies that I don't hold babies -- it's that I like holding babies that I don't hold babies!


Here's one of our scouts - that I just had to take this picture to use as a blackmail one if need be -- trust me, you need all the ammunition you can get with some of these teen boys!!

Leaves Galore!

Ok - today was the day that we just had to finally break down and start raking up our leaves -- and when I say leaves, I don't mean a few here and there - I mean tons! It was like walking through a couple inches of snow. We started in the front and got 8 bags stuffed - then we went to the side and back and decided there was no way we were going to bags those - not today anyway.

Here are some photos of the work and fun afterwards!

6M Run

It's been a few years since I've ran 6 miles - so this is a major milestone on my road back. It was really cold today in the early morning. I went and ran along the river where it is always colder anyways - it was 27degrees there (Brrr). Trying to get Ross back into running shape - he wants to run the Bryce canyon 1/2 marathon this year (in July) and we need to start him early!

Do I look like I am cold? Good, because I am!

Ross getting ready

Pine Vally panoramic view

Cold lazy river

Frosted Bridge

First Fire

Ok - you'll only see it here -- the very first fire in the new Weidman home.


We need to have someone come look at our fireplace - because it has a woodburning stove in the downstairs and the pipes are right by each other - so when the smoke goes up the fireplace chimney - some of it then goes down the woodburning stove chimney and into the downstairs - so the house smells like we just had a campfire going all night! ugh!

Lights and Action!

Okay - I had a fun day! With a new house all my "normal" lighting was out the window and I had to create a whole new look. This was the first time that I had to actually get up on the roof to put the lights up - I had to install tons of hooks to put the lights on, at least it'll be easier next year -- when I got on the roof there were loads of leaves on them from our 2 huge trees - so I had to remove them first - that is my project for next Saturday! (ugh). Anyway, I have all the lights up and the way I like them - I already know that next year I need new lights. The tree is up also, and we will decorate it this Monday during Family Home evening. On the roof I was doing a lot of kneeling and my left upper frontal shin is really painful - crazy this getting older thing!

I had a good 5 mile run this morning - only took on picture of me at the end of the run because this was a trial I already have pics of. It was a good pace, a 9:06 average - so getting better every week. I had a really great experience again during the run - totally peaceful and "happy" - these runs are begining to be like a journey for me!

No those aren't squiggly lights - just bad photographer - hopefully Terri will have better ones on her blog!

Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving or are still having one. We really had a great one - a real special one for me. Last month I came up with the idea to give back this thanksgiving and help others have a great day like we normally do and so I was able to get us scheduled to volunteer at the local Thanksgiving Dinner that is open to the entire Washington county and anyone can come and have a free meal. They normally serve around 1,500 free meals this day. We were schedule to work from 9:00am to 11:00am. It was really incredible the amount of volunteers they had there already and they kept coming every half hour. Nathan and I were doing the candied yams and then CJ joined us - Terri was able to help with the pies -- and believe it or not that kept us busy for the entire time - me and the boys got ours done quicker and kept looking for things to do - we also got the punch and lemonade made up and ready to go.

It was great being able to serve and help out. We have been blessed with so much and are so thankful for all that we have. Most especially and importantly are all of our family and friends - this is what life is all about and we are thankful to you and for you!

Reflections of Christ

If you go to this site: Reflections of Christ you wil see a beautiful slideshow of our Savior. It is worth the few minutes and I hope you can feel the message.

Sick

Well - I think I was sick, or my body was fighting it. I came home last night and sat on the chair and fell asleep, then got up and decided to just go to bed - at 6:00pm! The bad part with that is that my body wakes up 8 hours from when I go to sleep NO MATTER WHAT - and so, yes, at 2:00am - body decides that it's time to get up -- I just laid in bed playing solitaire on my phone and sleeping off and on then at 4:30 just decided to get up and go run.

Because I hadn't eaten last night there wasn't much fuel in my tank to really run - but I did anyway and after 2 miles, the tank was beyond empty - so I walked and jogged the last mile back home. It wasn't so bad, it was a nice warm morning as a storm is coming in today - so I didn't mind the walk - just upset that I always run when I am sick and have no gas in the tank and expect my body to respond like normal - after all these many, many years of running you'd think one would learn that -- oh well.

I am going to weighing myself once a week now instead of everyday -- I get so frustrated with the everyday as it's up, it's down, it's the same, it's up - etc! So every Wednesday is the day until I reach my goal weight. I was at 228.6lbs today which is a 1.2lb loss - so we'll see how we do next week.

Above the Hate

Please go to this site:


and sign the letter to President Monson - it's mainly for non-lds, but I wanted my name on there too!

Runner's High!

The pics from this run are right above. I'm either reading too much Star Wars or just being silly -- but about 3/4 of the way into this 5 miler I was feeling so free and so "one" with my surroundings -- my spirit, my body, my mind, the desert, bushes, animals, etc -- all just felt as if we were insync with each other - it was a really peaceful feeling.

I finished in 46:50 for a 9:22 avg. Heart rate avg was 151 which is good. Splits were 9:41, 9:22, 9:19, 9:31 and 8:59. Really felt good - can't believe how easy this pace now is, so again everything is coming along great. Weight was 229.8 this morning, so I am officially under 230!

Here is a picture slideshow of the run:

Camera Run

I thought that I would do something I have never done on a run before: I took my camera! Don't know why, just felt like it. It was the most fun I've ever had on a long run - I just enjoyed it and was taking pictures here and there and it was so relaxing. I kept my pace and just had fun.

Here is the run details - just click if you want to get all the details:

And here are some of the pics:

Fellow Runners
time is too fast!

almost finished!
awesome run!

I HONOR!

Please honor those who have served and made this country great - and those who are currently serving and keeping this country great!

Let us ALWAYS remember their sacrifice on our behalf!

Proudly served:
US Air Force: Oct 1980-Oct 1984
Utah Air National Guard: Jun 1987 - Dec 1988
US Army: Dec 1988 - Dec 1992

"We must remember that many who served in our military never lived to be called veterans. We must remember many had their lives changed forever by experiences or the injuries of combat. All veterans are examples of service and citizenship for every American to remember and to follow." -- President George W. Bush, Oct. 30, 2001

Catholics Appalled at Anti-Mormon Slur

Happy Birthday Mother!!!

Your Birthday!

Your Birthday is here,

Bringing joy and pleasures new,

On this special day, Mother dear,

I want to remember you.

I cannot give you costly gifts,

And I've told you this before,

No matter what I give to you,

You give back much, much more.

I'm giving you a pure, sweet rose,

Gathered in the early morn,

This rose you planted in my heart,

The day that I was born.

In kindly, loving thoughts of you,

And with the faith you still impart,

The rose I give to you today,

Is the love that's in my heart.

--- Anonymous

Have a great birthday today - I love you very much Mom and hope to "see" you real soon!!!