Yesterday was a great day:

1. Lunch with my boys. I got to have lunch with all three of my boys yesterday and it was so nice.

2. A walk to the park. The weather was nice enough that we took a walk to the park. there were several favorite things within this outing itself:
a- Watching Josh peddle is tricycle all the way there and back
b- Pushing Josh on the swing and knowing the tickle he was feeling in his stomach when I pushed him to just the right height- I could tell I'd hit it when he'd give out a churteling laugh from his gut.
c- Dekker's smile as I had his on my lap while swinging or going down the slide
d- being outside in the sunshine

3. Wifey/Hubby cometitions. I wouldn't say that Jake or I am extremely overweight- but the last couple years (and after a couple kids) we've both got the soft bellies- So last night while getting ready for bed we started comparing "truffle shuffles" in the mirror. We were laughing so hard! That lead us to competition number TWO: who could do the most sit ups. Jake went first and so I tied him- but we're both so embarrassed that I won't list the number here- but we decided to make it a nightly event- to see who can strengthen those core muscles first. It's true what people say- kids and age 30 come up and all of a sudden you no longer recognize your body. Jake and I started talking about things that we can do (and do together) to take back control. We've decided to try spinning/street biking first (Bri I'm sure you're jumping for joy- and yes we'll probably be asking for your advice on beginner bikes/races soon). Yikes- writing it here really commits us... which brings me to the last leg of my conversation with Jake last night: What makes you persistent at something? Or what drives/excites you?

Jake thinks for him its competition and feeling like he has an advantage/talent. That's why Jake did so many sports in high school- Jake was good at basically every high school sport- and if it hadn't been for a rollover car accident that broke his back and permanently damaged his right angle- he would have played at a college level as well. Now he's found that the athleticism he developed then helps him continue to enjoy competition- even if its with himself- in other less organized sports such as golf, wakeboarding, and rock climbing. And certainly he loves the competition he faces daily in business- trying to compete with so many other entrepreneurs out there. I think a big reason why he went into business was because he found out the BYU business school was ranked so high and knew he'd have to work hard to get accepted.

I think for me its being unique/original. All the things I really consistently worked hard at were things that I felt made me unique or different. Doing well in school so I could go to BUY Hawaii- becoming SCUBA Dive Club president, learning to Surf, solemn skiing,rock climbing, my semester in Guatemala. Even on my mission- I don't think I went to be unique (although not as many girls serve as guys) but I think I did work really hard to really learn the Spanish language (even while in that states) and to work really hard as a sister (so I wasn't lumped into the "sister's don't work as hard" complaint I heard from so many elders).

It's a good question I think... we all have had times when we back out or give up on things- so what is it that helps us stick things out even when they're not easy or super fun at first... so I pose the question to YOU my readers- and would love to hear your responses as well.