Runner's Den Experience

Yesterday at work I had an awesome experience. A lady came in to get some shoes that she could workout in. So I had her sit down and we began talking about what kind of workouts and things that she would be doing. While we were talking, somehow my mission was brought up. I thought she said mission, and I asked her about it, then she said she never said it, but then we started talking about it. It was weird how was it was brought up, but anyways, so I mentioned to her that I went on a mission to Thailand and talked about how I felt about it and all of the sudden the Spirit was there. She looked at me and said that she had been praying the whole night before to find the truth. She said that maybe her trip to the Runner's Den was her answer because the way she felt. Her children were baptized members of the church when they were young, but she was not. It had been a while since then, and none of them had been to church for a long time. She said she had met the missionaries before, but just didnt want to be baptized then. She then said that she was going to try again, and really pray about it. It was amazing. The Lord uses different methods to help His children, we just need to be ready anytime so that He can use us.

It is almost August, and that means....

College Football is just around the corner! Im so excited.

Update

So far things with Jacy are going well. She hasnt had the baby yet, which is good because the hospital is trying to keep her pregnant as long as they can. However, she started reacting to so much magnesium, so they took her off that now, so chances of her having Jack (her little boy) have increased a lot. It is kind of a waiting game right now. Prayers are working though and tomorrow our family is doing a special fast for her. Todd quit his internship and is here for good now. My dad has already gone back to Japan for work and Brittany and my mom are going to Canada tomorrow and going to Japan straight after. I will meet them there next week. My sister and bro in law are leaving too to work in Vegas.

August is pretty much shot for me. I go to Japan, then when I return on the 15th, the rest of my schedule is full with appointments, physicals, and complaince meetings for cross country, then on Aug 20th, I take off with the team to Pine Top for our team camp. It should be fun. We return on Saturday the 23rd, and then school starts including official practice on the following Monday, and once that happens, time will be gone. It has been fun spending time with my family, but that window is closing soon and it will be sad to say goodbye again. It's okay though, I'm looking forward to a great semester at school, then I will see them again in december and go to Thailand! Im so excited.

Prayers work

Jacy (my brother, Todd's wife) went into premature labor yesterday. She's only 29 weeks along at this point. She woke up and had some discharge, so called the doctor. She went in to the doctor's office, he checked her, and she was dilated to a 2. He sent her immediately to the hospital and at some point last night she was having contractions 3 minutes apart and was dilated to a 3. NOT GOOD. So they put her on the highest does of magnesium possible to slow things down, and everything I've heard about that stuff is that it's NASTY. Before putting her on it, the doctor said she was going to feel like she just ran 29 miles in 100 degree heat without any water and was hit by a truck afterwards. Today she agreed with the doctor. But it did slow down her contractions. She's having about 2 an hour, but she's still in labor so at this point she has to stay in the hospital until she has Jack and just try to keep that baby in as long as possible. Thankfully, they did an ultrasound to check on baby Jack and he's as healthy as ever. They estimate he weighs about 3 lbs. 4 oz. and we're just praying that if things turn for the worse he will be okay. We've heard of lots of babies surviving birth at 29 weeks and living normal lives, but there are also lots that don't. Todd flew in from CA (where he has been all summer doing an internship while Jacy stayed here to work and has been staying with her parents) and is here to stay at this point. Lots of things are up in the air for them right now with all of this, so please keep Jacy, Todd, and baby Jack in your prayers.

Thank you everyone. I know prayers work, and there is strength in numbers. I also have Faith that whatever happens, God is in control. I feel very comforted that Jacy has received a priesthood blessing and I trust in God at this point. Everything will be fine.

Gearing up for Tokyo

Time for another blog update.

This summer has been a blast. Next up is my trip to Tokyo in August to visit my family. It is gonna be sweet. I'm excited to go see their house and go to the sites and hike Fuji mountain!

This past week or so has been a good one. I've had the chance to serve a lot in the church, therefore I have been reading a lot about my mission experiences so that I could conitnue to draw from them. I could read through my journal/letters forever. I had so many great experiences in Thailand. The Thai people are amazing with all they sacrifice to stay strong in the church. We all have different trials, but I've never seen people sacrifice so much to be a member of the church. I love reading my letters and reflecting back on the attitude I had while I was there. I was the happiest I have ever been in my life. I miss those times and will always remember them. I cant wait to go back in December and visit the places and members I served.

It is great to be back though and to meet friends and family again and to meet new friends as well. It also feels great being back in shape. I am not all that excited about this upcoming school year though. I was looking at my schedule and got really depressed. I have practice every morning from 5-9 am, Mon-Fri. Then I have school till the afternoon each day. Then I will be working until 7pm. Then I will do my homework, and go to sleep probably around 11pm or midnight and wake up at 4:30 and do it all again. My Saturdays will consist of work, cross country meets, running, and homework. It will be crazy, but I guess its good that I stay busy.

Snins

Summer is flying by

Life is awesome. When I got home from Disneyland last week, I went to the airport and picked up my parents and little sister who flew in from Japan! It was has been a wonderful week spending time with them again. I have only seen them for like 2 weeks in the past 2 and half years, so it was fun to hang out and catch up. We went to snowflake last weekend to visit grandma and grandpa Skouson for the 4th of July. It was fun being up there and just relaxing. There was a 10k on Saturday morning that I did with my dad. The elevation was definately something Im not used to yet, but it was fun to run it. We also took my nephew, Austin, with us and had fun making faces and teaching him how to say weird words. Every time he sees me he says mmmm, which means phone, and then says bahbby, which means sparky because there is a picture of sparky on my phone. You just know a kid is gonna turn out great when he learns the name of ASU's mascot when he is 17 months old. What a stud. he loves to yell out Sparky's name whenver I wear an ASU shirt. Now I just have to teach him how to say "boo" whenever he sees a BYU or U of A logo and he will be set for life.

Work has been great. I love to work at the Runner's Den. I cant believe how much I have learned about running, shoes, and body mechanics. It has been fun to work with other runners and help people find the right shoes that will help them run fast without getting injured. Speaking of running, my milage is up to 55 miles a week and next week I will get to start working on speed for the first time since I have been home from my mission. Next week will be the first of my weekly fartlek runs where I will warm up 15 mins and then do 25 mins of 2 mins on race pace and 2 mins of 6:30 mile pace jog. I will also increase my weekly milage to 60 that week and then the following week I will add one more weekly workout: a tempo run of starting out at 6:10 mile pace and dropping 10 seconds each mile for 6 miles until I run 5:20 for the last mile. I am really excited and feel great. I feel great fit-wise and am excited to race at 100 percent. I havent done that for 3 years.

Church has been great. I havent been to my home ward for a while because of trips to Cali and snowflake, but I will be there this week. There are only a few more weeks left before the big change happens in the Tempe University Stake. I have been so blessed lately and am greatful for the health, family, and happiness that the Lord has given me lately.

Well, I just got home at 3 in the morning from Disneyland and it was a blast. I went with Ben and Jeff, two of my friends. Thanks to my older bro, we got in free, and had a place to stay sunday night, so all we had to pay for is gas...... and then i had to pay for tires too, since one popped, but it was a blast. It was fun to hang out with Todd and make weird noises and faces ( as you can see in the picture).

Running has been good. I will finally start doing some speed stuff this month for the first time since I returned from my mission. Im really excited. I feel that I am back in shape fit-wise, but my speed isnt there yet, so this month will be a good one to start working on speed. ASU is the best place to run. I love its program. I am excited to watch a lot of our athletes compete at the trials this upcoming week.

My parents and Tirb will get here Thursday. It is gonna be awesome. I am excited to go with them to Snowflake to see grandma and grandpa skouson. And I cant wait to go back with them to Japan in August. It is gonna be so fun.

Work is good. I love my job. What more could ask for than getting paid to talk to people about running and work with other runners. It has been awesome.

Things are going just grand, almost like the snivins in the snatches.