{The Usual}

Well. Sometimes I forget to blog. Then Alesha tells me I should blog- so here you go, Lesh. Thanks for keeping me consistent on this whole public journal thing :) Let's talk about life over the past few weeks.  We'll start with the cross country category. We've had 3 races within a span of seven days. I'm a little (ok fine, a lot) exhausted- both mentally and physically. But these meets have been lots of fun and I think really necessary for my success this season.

First we had AF Grass relays last Saturday. This meet is always fun just because it's so different. It's only a 2 mile race, it's a relay, and you have to jump over hay bales. I didn't feel fantastic but I think I raced decently well. I got a 12:41 and Rowe was happy so that means I'm happy.

Wednesday we had Pre-region at Westlake. I've never really been a huge fan of the Westlake course because it's so boring but it wasn't as bad as I remembered. This was a huge breakthrough race for me mentally. I felt good and instead of just enduring I actually competed! I was strong mentally and I really needed that to kind of realize what racing is supposed to feel like. Yay for good races. Also, I got 6th place overall which was right where I wanted to be. Score.

Friday we had Murray Invitational. I had never done two races in three days before so I was a little nervous for how I would feel. But Murray is my favorite course of all time so I was excited for that. I ended up feeling tired- which was to be expected- but it turned out better than I thought! I ended up running a 19:31 which was only 5 seconds slower than my pre region time and Murray was longer and had more hills. So I actually ran faster even though I felt crappier. That was also a huge breakthrough for me that as long as I'm mentally strong I can perform better than I even realize. Also- huge thanks to my grandparents for coming and cheering me on! They rock.

To be honest, my cross country and track experiences the past 3 years have not been what I thought they would be. I never imagined getting injured so many times. I thought that I would do bigger and better things in the running world than I have been able to do. But I have learned so much through the years that I know everything happened for a reason. I learned that running isn't everything. You are not your PR. How you race does not define you and running should not rule your life and your perception of who you are as an individual. But at the same time, when you are given the opportunity to run, take advantage of it. There are so many people who aren't able to run because of injuries or sickness so if you can run, run hard. Work your hardest at every single workout and every single race. Enjoy the journey. Enjoy being around great teammates and coaches and working each day to reach your goals. I love cross country, I love racing, and I love the people I am around each day who are working just as hard as I am to be something great.

Now for the friends aspect of life... (sorry for the awful quality photos. iPhone camera probs.)

 Gibs and I matched one day. Which isn't all that uncommon when all of us cross country kids basically have the same wardrobe of tshirts. Classic.

After a morning run we had french toast at Jackie's to spend time with Em before she moved out to BYU. I love Emily and I'm so thankful for the influence she is in my life. She loves BYU and I'm excited for the adventures that await her there!

We went and saw Man of Steel at the Sticky Shoe last Saturday. The movie was kind of long and confusing, I thought, but it was still a quality superhero movie complete with an attractive main character. Connor couldn't sit still the whole time and my favorite part of the movie was when Daniel picked him up over the seat to make him be quiet. Afterward we went to this super cute little treat place called The Slurp and we all got smoothies. The smoothies were great and there were crazy little 11 years olds that were hard core creeping on Thomas. Ah, so entertaining. Yesterday Daniel, Connor, and I went to the Sticky Shoe again to see Turbo. Connor was laughing hysterically during the whole movie. He loved it. It was a cute show, but Connor completed the experience :)

 On Monday lots of my friends went and hiked the Y for a foundation Halea's mom has created. It was a great hike for a great cause. It was fun to see Emily again and meet some of her roommates. The Y is a fun hike and I loved talking to my friends and it was great to remember Tatum and Trevin and commemorate the impact they've had on this world and in their family.

After the Murray invite we went to Costa Vida for dinner and then just went on adventures. Jackie was going a little crazy and was feeling more rebellious than usual so it made for an entertaining night. Toilet papering Gibson's car (unsneakily), blasting JB for awkward couples, jumping on a mattress found in the dumpster (mattress disease! ahh!), climbing trees, it was just a random night. Good times, my friends. 

And, of course, we can't forget about the Logan update. Gibson says my posts always consist of friends, church, then Logan. Yeah, that's basically my life. Anyway, prepare to be excited- I GOT A LETTER! First one in two months and boy was I happy. That boy sure is one heck of a missionary and he sure makes me smile. Also, he's been out for four months- that's kind of a long time, right? I'm proud of him.

Now, for the spiritual thoughts as of late. During Seminary we read 1 Nephi 1:20: "But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance." I've been thinking a lot about tender mercies lately and I can testify that they are real and that they are everywhere. God is mindful of me and He is mindful of you and the little blessings He gives me make the biggest difference in my life. I read Elder Bednar's talk called "The Tender Mercies of the Lord" and it was fantastic. "The Lord's tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ."

 I've found that in my life, tender mercies often come in the form of people. I know I talked about this last post but I just can't stop thinking about how blessed I am. My tender mercies as of late are named Daniel Woodward and Connor Arnell. I know that God put them in my life now for a reason. I'll be honest- when Logan was here I had no desire to really be close with anyone else. Even during the summer I was too stubborn to really branch out and make tons of new friends just because I thought Logan was all I needed and I was just having a pity party for myself. Now, don't get me wrong, I need Logan more than anything and I still miss him every day but Heavenly Father knew He could make me even happier by giving me even more friends. He knew that if Daniel and Connor would have been in my life when Logan was still here I would have been too blinded to pay attention to them. So he placed them in my life right now when I can give them all of my attention and time so they can touch my lives while I strive to touch theirs. I love them so much and they're so much fun and they've lifted me up countless times when I really just needed someone to make me smile. I have lessons to learn from them and lessons to teach them so that's why they're in my life right now. Daniel and Connor. Tender mercies.

My sisters- tender mercies. I love them so much. I love Cam's hugs and I love when Saders tells me about first grade and I love when Ry laughs at the silly bedtime stories I tell her. 

The fact that I'm healthy and able to run cross country right now- tender mercy.

These are just some really big ones but often times the little compliments or the days I get to sleep in or when my mom buys rice pudding- all are tender mercies to show me that God cares and that He loves me perfectly. 

"The simpleness, the sweetness, and the constancy of the tender mercies of the Lord will do much to fortify and protect us in the troubled times in which we do now and will yet live. When words cannot provide the solace we need or express the joy we feel, when it is simply futile to attempt to explain that which is unexplainable, when logic and reason cannot yield adequate understanding about the injustices and inequities of life, when mortal experience and evaluation are insufficient to produce a desired outcome, and when it seems that perhaps we are so totally alone, truly we are blessed by the tender mercies of the Lord."

Another thing I've been thinking about lots because we've talked about it in church often is that what we say really does matter. I've found this so much to be true. If you say something kind it can completely change the way you feel about yourself and the way you view the world around you. So many times I've been sad and Daniel has said "Kenzie, thank you for being a good friend. You are amazing." Life feels so much better after that. Or I've been upset and Alesha says "Hey, here's a scripture you might like." Day made. What you say matters. 

"So, brothers and sisters, in this long eternal quest to be more like our Savior, may we try to be “perfect” men and women in at least this one way now—by offending not in word, or more positively put, by speaking with a new tongue, the tongue of angels. Our words, like our deeds, should be filled with faith and hope and charity, the three great Christianimperatives so desperately needed in the world today. With such words, spoken under the influence of the Spirit, tears can be dried, hearts can be healed, lives can be elevated, hope can return, confidence can prevail." -Elder Holland 

I'm so thankful for the gospel and the peace and joy it brings to me. I have so much to work on but I am  striving to become the valiant daughter off God that I am meant to be.

Here's one last quote from President Hinckley: 

"I come this morning with a plea that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that we “accentuate the positive.” I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good. What I am suggesting and asking is that we turn from the negativism that so permeates our society and look for the remarkable good in the land and times in which we live, that we speak of one another’s virtues more than we speak of one another’s faults, that optimism replace pessimism, that our faith exceed our fears."

The world isn't as bad as I sometimes think. People are good. Life is good. Accentuate the positive.

Thanks for listening,

Kenz