#178 - oregon coast

Saturday July 24 8:00 AM - Saturday July 31 11:00 PM

With the boyfriend's family packed into two cars, we headed to the coast. Eight adults and six kids under the age of 10 all made the long drive to a family-owned beach house for a week vacation. Being just a few blocks away from the beach, we walked to the ocean every day!

Our mornings were filled with child-voice wake-up alerts, delicious breakfasts (including picture perfect blueberry pancakes adorned with slices of banana and flowers on top, crafted by boyfriend), and smiling faces and kisses.

Our afternoons were filled with trips; trips to the beach, trips to New Port, trips to the Aquarium, trips to a lighthouse, trips to caves, trips to delicious lunches, trips to walks down shop-filled streets, taffy, sea lions, ice cream, and chocolate.

Our evenings were filled with too much delicious seafood, trips to the movie theater, walks along the beach, bonfires in the sand, game nights, birthday celebrations, dessert, and snuggling.

Our nights were filled with laughter, sleeping babies, and the shedding of wet sand filled pants and sweatshirts while we exhaustedly fall into bed.

Each day was perfect: the weather was Oregon-expected (chili, foggy, windy) except for the last day which was sunny, warm, and allowed for a relaxing nap on the sand. Lots of pictures to come!

#177 - in the days

While I was in elementary school, my father's father died. I don't have too many memories of Gordon, but the memories and things left behind are precious to me. We have some self-composed and illustrated sheet music, journals, and... a recent discovery of mine... a bicycle. My uncle Randy had held on to my grandpa's vintage 1940's Raleigh all this time and was generous enough to let me have it to fix up, restore, and ride. He left it in Pocatello for me to pick up and take home. It's in better condition than I imagined! All it really needed was a good polish, cleaning, and to be oiled up. It's gorgeous!

#172 - mr. schwinn

I can't say this enough! I *heart* bicycles. I'm excited to possibly start two new projects. One of which is buying an old 1960's style Schwinn Typhoon and fix it up: power-washed, new paint, original decals put on, new fenders. The other is seeing if my Uncle will let me fix up my Grandpa's old bicycle that he's held on to. I'm so excited!! 4 bicycles will fill up my small loft rather quickly, but it's radically worth it.

#170 - pushing up daisies

With the intent not to freak you out...

My house in New York boarded a very large cemetery (pictured). My friends and I used to play hide-and-go-seek in it and most every time, ended up scaring one another. It also had a gorgeous jogging path that ran around and through it that I was too young to appreciate. My mother has always been entranced by cemeteries and I too have thought them interesting, in an eerie romantic sort of way. My parents (and grandma) have done the disturbing task of selecting their plots and stones, etc. Something I don't want or like to think about. However, I remember my mother saying once, that she wanted to live her life so that the phrase she wanted on her tombstone would be true, "She was kind to everyone".
It got me thinking about what I would like on my gravestone (also came to mind after a recent visit to a father's grave with one of my close friends). Currently I've got my thumb on, "She turned her can'ts into cans and her dreams into plans".

Thoughts? Creepy? What would you have?

#167 - breast cancer

Most of last week was dedicated to preparing for the Susan G Komen "Race For A Cure" event. The company I work for said they would sponsor any employee (and guests) that would like to participate and run under their team. With the $20 donation enrollment fee covered, our team quickly grew to over 2,000 members. We wanted to stand out from the pink crowd of athletes so we ordered lime green breast cancer shirts. I signed my mother, friend, her sister and myself up for the 5K. Preparation for the race (assembling packets for runners) took about 3+ 14 hour days of work, which are, for the most part, a blur.

My mother flew out for the event, and dressed to stand out, we headed out on our bikes early Saturday morning. We both jogged the entire time and then sprinted the last leg. I'm not a runner, so there were definitely a few times when I would have been glad to walk, but with my co-workers all around me and my boss jogging right behind me, that wasn't an option. Who would listen to a personal trainer at the corporate gym who couldn't even run a 5K! I mean... come on. My favorite part was definitely the sprint at the end. There's no feeling. No thought. No pain. It's purely a mental game. You just go. I felt untouchable and full of energy and ran the fastest I possibly could (while weaving in and out of participants).

Not too long after the race, mom and I downed the carbs and headed over to a spa for a full body massage. Definitely the perfect way to end a race. Now she's off to Ogden to run a half marathon while I am just getting back from laying in the warm grass, taking a nap under the glorious sunshine. Go mama go!

#118 - the Park Family "hooray!"

I was walking home last night, around 10:30 from a friend's house who lives a few blocks away. As I walked up our hill, a car pulled into a driveway a few feet in front of me. Slowly rolling into the driveway, he put his car in park - the tail lights switched quickly from red to white to red - the engine slowed to silence and the bright headlights flicked off. The man stepped out of the car and entered his home. A quick rush of flashbacks flowed over me. That experience (of the car turning off) is probably one of the most exciting moments. I remembered waiting for visits from Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, and cousins and how exciting it was when you saw the lights switch into park and the engine slow. They were here!! How your heart starts beating extra fast and your legs get antsy when a beau, who was on his way over, pulls in. Again, you see his car come to a stop, lights, engine... he's here!! All of these experiences are quickly followed by cheering, running, jumping, and loving. I hope that man's family was just as excited to hear him come home. It's always a wonderful feeling to see the ones you love waiting for your arrival with anticipation, and to hear cheers of "yay!" when you're together again.

#104 - a day for the dads

I love my daddy more and more and more every day! He shows such interest in my life and is always there to listen if I need him and offers loving advice.

Oldest favorite memory:

While in Texas, our monthly 'daddy-daughter date' to Dairy Queen for ice creams and playing on the playground. I remember feeling so special and loved. I felt like I had the greatest dad in the world. One who would spend time playing and loving his little girl.

Favorite middle memory:

I remember one night, when I was about 5 or 6. I couldn't sleep and snuck into my parents' room right next door to see if they were sleeping. Maybe mom would sing me another song or let me sleep in their bed. I crept in and saw mom laying in bed while dad was sitting at his desk next to her, working late into the night. I asked why he was still awake and mom said that he was working hard for his job. She took me back to bed, but as I walked away I stared at him, looking so tired, but typing away. I remember thinking what a hard worker he was and how he was doing it all for us. I laid in bed trying to think of ways I could show him how grateful I was for him taking care of our family. I didn't want to tell him I saw him working because I thought it was a secret; like he didn't want us to know so we wouldn't feel bad.

Another favorite middle memory:

Every saturday, while I was in elementary school, my dad and I would either walk or take our bikes up the road to the junior high - high school. He would play tennis with me, teaching me everything he knew and helping me practice. Engrained in my mind are the words, "close your racket" and "follow through". He was always so patient with me and would just throw tennis ball after tennis ball over the net, giving me chance after chance with encouraging words. He was so good at taking time out of his day to make me feel special.

Most recent favorite memory:

I was home on break and dad took the day off of work to spend with me. We drove down to Portland for the day just to tour around and spend time together. We talked the whole way down and had a perfect day - - going out to a fancy restaurant, getting lost, visiting museums and window shopping. I love when I get my dad all to myself and get to make my own memories.

To the best daddy in the world! We love you a lot a lot!

Love,

Girly-man

#101 - in my blood

Finally I'm allowed through the gates. It's the same kind of feeling when you are late to Sacrament Meeting and they already have the doors closed to keep the reverence. You just peek in the window, wishing you could participate. Peter Pan, starring longingly in from the cold at Wendy and what a loving family is like. Being on the outside, looking in, is never a fun feeling. I've been outside looking in to new.familysearch.org for sometime now, and as of yesterday, I was allowed to log in. The servers weren't prepared for the rush of users, so they postponed Idaho, Utah and I think, Arizona for last. With Sami by my side and my mom, readily available for chat help, I was excited to get started.

The first step is to link your name and account to your line already in the system. I began searching for my grandpa. I got too excited and selected the first Donald Grant that was married to Anne Grant. Wrong Grandpa. Now this stranger-man was unintentionally invited to my awesome family! I'm sure he's a very nice man, but not the one I want in my family forever and ever. I had a hard time deleting him, even with the assistance of my mom because, "[she] had never had that problem before, of adding the wrong person"... Course corrected, I found all the work my family has done already in our family tree.

I am excited to start finding new names and cleaning up our records. Only problem is, my exuberant family (mostly mom) has already found records back to the late 1600's. I was hoping I could easily discover a great great grandparent or something. Not so much - - now all that's left is adventure things, like flying to Ireland, finding a fossil with a finger print engrained from 1613, matching it to a sketch of an ancient ancestor found in a time capsule buried in a basement of a old cottage. Oi.

At least I'm starting and can hopefully make some sort of difference in the lives and memories of my ancestors and future generations. I've already had a few miraculous family searching experiences, thanks to my mom taking me along on her family-finding sessions, to get my momentum going. The only discouraging part was its cheeky comment right before I logged off. Next to my name, like all the others in the program, it gives the choice of adding or finding a person.

"Vanessa - Add or Find a Husband!" ... thank you.

#98 - dearest

Dear Gossipy Friends at the fitness desk,
Your failed relationship is surprisingly interesting to me. If you wouldn't mind, please talk a little louder so I can her what your ex-girlfriend did that was so terrible. Don't give up on dating all-together though, I'm sure there's someone less crazy out there for you.

Dear Sweaty Guy in the weight-room,
Just because you are wearing a shirt that is two sizes too small and you saw me look at you lift weights, does not mean that as soon as you are done, you should ask me for my number. I'm going to say no, because I already said no to one sweaty guy tonight and it does not make you more appealing. Try maybe finding me out side the cliché of the gym.

Dear Flirty Couple behind me,
Stop it. Just stop it. Go love on each other somewhere else and not directly behind me. You keep running into me. Focus and stop it.

Dear Rexburg Weather,
Please stop crying. It makes my bike seat all wet and thus, my pants when I sit on it. I do love the rain, but would appreciate more days when I can sit outside, bake, and read.

Dear Girl,
I wish oh I wish I could help you with your woes. Let me ponder more and if anything glorious or grandiose comes to mind, I will be by your side with loving advice.

Dear Boy,
You should probably step up. I'm a very nice girl and you might enjoy spending more time with me.

Dear My Last Senior Semester; Summer 2009,
Where did you go!? Why are you leaving so fast... don't give me to boot yet. Maybe linger a little longer so I can still find time to go camping in Yellowstone, take a trip to California, bond enough relationships so they will continue after I leave, and especially don't end before I can find a new job. Your cooperation is much appreciated.

Dear Olympia,
I miss you dearly. Maybe not certain unmentionable things, but most defiantly the warfy, fishy smell that drifts in in the middle of the night, the deliciousness downtown and two plus-somes just out of town, my flatwin hero, and your calming, understanding mistiness.

Dear Health Science Faculty,
You can stop asking me about my relationship status any time. It's always going to be the same answer: I'm not sure about things right now, but we'll see. I'll let you know.

Dear Taco Bell in my tummy,
You made me sick. Why did you do that?? I thought I was hungry and wanted you... big mistake. Owiee

Dear Family,
I can't wait to see you all in July (and the rest in August)! Thank you for supporting me and coming out for my graduation. Athough I am less excited to actually "walk", I am excited to see you and take happy pictures. Thank you thank you! And I love you.

Dear Brittany,
When will I see you again? Can you come to my graduation? I need more of your crazy to rub off on me - I'm still going strong, but I feel it fading. I miss your face!

#80 - my angel mother

Being away from home has made me more appreciative of my mother. I call her multiple times a day - searching for advise, someone to tell stories to, and to hear about her day. I don't know what I would do with out my mommy. Currently, I border on crazy, but she is always there to snap me back. This year's gift will come, par for the Park family, a few days after Mother's Day, but it got me thinking of past crafty gifts she has received.

One I particularly remember was when I was in the 6th grade. We were working with plaster in my art class and I decided that this would be the perfect surprise for my mommy. Yes, a plaster mold of my hand, shaped like a claw. After the mold hardened, I cleverly thought to paint it green (her favorite color). It wasn't until after she opened the gift that I realized I had just given my mom an unattractive, terrifying, green, scary, claw hand for mother's day.

That might have been the same year that my sister and I woke up extra early in the morning to make her breakfast in bed (like we usually did every year). Wanting to mix things up, instead of tea with honey, eggs and toast... we went with a large cake. Yellow cake, decorated with different colors to look like a painter's pallet. As we started to carry it up the stairs, it came crashing to the floor. After screams and shrieks of utter disappointment, we began work on the second attempt. Again, the thought didn't cross our minds until after the fact, but cake for breakfast probably wasn't the most desired gift.

Through all of our ridiculousness, she loves us just the same! I love my wonderful family and my angel mother!

Happy Mother's Day!