C.H.a.N.G.e.S

  I realize it has been a couple months since the last update so time for a good HUGE post. I have had a great summer so far and I am looking forward to the Fall. I love Fall, it's my favorite time of year with the leaves, sunsets, and cool temperatures that just perfectly fit together. I am so grateful we have changing in seasons we can see everyday, we can take in God's beauty and be thankful for another changing season. 

Lots has happened this summer, and it has been one of the best summers I can remember. Starting in June, my little sister Kynzi tried out for Jr, Princess and WON! She used Royal my new 5 year old gelding, and I was so stinkin' proud of her! Fallowing right in her big sister's footsteps ;) She is the cutest, look at her matching blue outfit! She thinks she is pretty great!
I have been able to spend lots of time with my friends that I haven't seen since we graduated. It was so great to spend time and get back to how simple it used to be in high school! I have missed them so much, it was good to catch up and see how much has changed since we went our separate ways. 

Speaking of change, I want to talk a little about how much my life and myself has changed over the last year. I am really starting to find who I really am and make choicesas to who I someday want to become. I can't imagine who I used to be, and I am proud to be able to love myself for the first REAL time. I have lost over 50 pounds, and I am beginning to finally LOVE my body. I want to be able to last as long as possible, and I wasn't happy with who I was before. I wasn't happy because I was relying on other people and other superficial things to make me happy, and once I realized those things didn't matter that's when I began to mold a new and happier life. I honestly couldn't have done it if I hadn't been able to go to Hawaii.  I know without a doubt in my mind that Hawaii saved me. I could turn to no one but myself and rely on my inner strength to change and evolve. I was so blessed to have Terri, my cousin/sister there to help me through everything. And Annie my truest best friend to be a light at the end of the tunnel when I needed it. It wasn't easy sometimes but I know my father in Heaven was holding to my hand tightly more often then not. I am a happy, confident person looking for a future I know now I can conquer. I began my real journey in February 2011 and I have not looked back since. I began running little bits at a time, not everyday, but I soon became hooked. I LOVE running. I used to hate it, but now it's a craving I can't get past. I ran my first race ever which was the Swift creek 5K and won my age group!! I was so happy and proud. On August 13th, I ran the El Vaquero Loco which translates to "Crazy Cowboy" and let me tell ya, it was just that. There were times along the trail that I wanted to break down. Let me say, this wasn't easy in any way shape or form, but it is one of my greatest achievements. I got a little teary eyed a few times when I would look up and there would be nothing but uphill wilderness that I believed I couldn't conquer. This race began at the bottom of Swift creek and went to Corral Creek Lakes and turned around and came back. The first 8 miles were complete uphill. There was maybe 2 flat spots the whole way, and when I say up hill I mean UPHILL. It was pretty ridiculous a few times, but I kept pushing. My dad has done an aid station for the race for 5 years now and he was the first one I came to and man I have never been so dang happy to see him, my mom, Andy and Kynzi. They made it a family trip and hauled everything up on the horses the day before. When I came to them, I wasn't doing to hot. At this time I was 5 1/2 miles in and still had the roughest part ahead of me, but with some reassurance and energy gels I was on my way. I chugged a long and made it to the turn around and the last aid station, and man was I so ready to be done. Heading back I took as many pictures and kept on keeping on running all the way down! When I reached the finish line my Grandpa and Grandma Erickson were waiting with Chocolate milk and Lemme say, it was the best dang thing I have ever had.:) It was a wonderful experience and I am so proud of myself for finishing. My goals before the race were:  Finish, don't be last, and don't crawl across the finish line and that I did.