Race Schedule

Ok folks... it's that time. Time for the unveiling of my 2008 Race Schedule! I'm totally psyched, and ready to suffer!

Drum roll please:

April 26th - Orem Telos Timp Tri (Sprint)

May 10th - St. George (Olympic)
June 7th - Viking Man - Idaho (Half Iron)
June 20-21st - Wasatch Back - Park City (Running Relay)
July 12th - Echo (Olympic)
Aug 9th - Utah Half (Half Iron)

My hope in posting this is that YOU will come join me! I will be traveling to Spudman on the 28th to cheer a few of you on... but don't let Spudman be your only event! Come do some of these with me! Be sure to check them out - even if you don't want to do the distance I am... there's all sorts of options!

Hey, if I can do it - so can you!

Just another day in the life of Brenna...

As Lena put it: Olympic Dream - Check! We were joking on the way there, "ya know, just another day being us!" Bobsledding was quite the event. My stomach was racked with nerves as I waited... not for fear of the bobsled... but for fear that Lena wouldn't be able to get in with us! To my surprise and delight she did!

You see, my dad is amazing. Not just in the way he is loving, kind, and forgiving (which he is!) - but in the way that he is so gifted and talented - the gift of art. He has an amazing gift in painting cars, and in repairing them. Some might not think that this is amazing - but when you are the person that is called to paint Bobsleds for the Olympics - you know your doing something right. He's also painted many a radio station van, jazz van, etc. He's basically the best. It was this gift of his that led me to my next adventure. I was sad that I couldn't take my husband Jaren - but was excited to share it with my dad and brother. Can you imagine how my joy was extended when I was able to work Lena into the mix?

Yeah, so on to the task at hand. Sign away your life, and jump on a rickety hunk of metal that is supposed to slide its way through 5 G's and 14 (?)turns. This is the start of the track... doesn't look so bad does it? Well that's because it isn't turn 6 - when you actually feel the force of gravity sucking your body into it's frail and weak fetal position. Nevermind the snot that it rocketing forward in your helmet... it's powerless against the force as well!

This is a picture of my big brother... who lovingly sacrificed the 4th position for me to be able to feel the full effects of the turns. How sweet!
This is us being pushed off the line! Good thing I'm not driving (yet). We finished in 53 seconds! It was a fun ride. Rough... but fun! I too felt like I'd been in a car accident the next morning. Only to call my dad and brother - who were completely fine. At least Lena could share in my post race pain!

Anyhow, this adds to a long list of things that my parents have done for me to be able to experience life at it's funnest! Thank you Daddy!

He's Blind!!!

My husband was born blind. This is his twin brother Nate! Although they appear cute and cuddly, I should warn you. They bite!




Every mom has naked pictures of their child. Well this was Jaren's!










As the bat-boy grew, he moved past his features of his mother, and developed more human-like attributes. Note that he did retain the "beady eyes" and the bat-like hair.


He continued to morph. Gradually shedding his dark and untamed fur-like hair. Mind you... still the beady eyes!


Eventually all the hair was gone.... but the eyes. THE EYES! THEY REMAIN!



20/400!!! BLIND!!!





I share with you the progression of my husband from bat to battered for a reason. His Army physical in Washington today proved one thing. He's still blind. This however is not the end for Jaren and his dreams to fly! Mind you... bats still fly! Why shouldn't he?


Well Jaren gets to have a laser beam slice his eye (lasic surgery). Best news is that he gets to have a non-military doctor do it. Translation = we get to stay in Utah while he gets lasic. That means that we will be here for a while... hopefully most of the summer. After lasic (and the 3-6 months of healing) - the thought is that there won't be anything keeping him from getting in the Army full time to fly helicopters. It's his dream, and I can't wait for him to be able to do it.




That's Jaren! Flying a helicopter... all by himself!

So Alabama will just have to wait a little longer....

The 17th of March comes and goes

I've received several calls today asking for an update. Some of you are aware that Jaren was originally supposed to meet before the Warrant Officer board today. Well he didn't. The Army couldn't get his physical scheduled in time, and thus he couldn't meet before the board. He goes to Washington (state) tomorrow to get his physical. He'll be there until Thursday night. Hopefully he will not have any problems with his vision, and that won't be something to hold him back.

After his physical we are hoping that the board will schedule a board meeting for him (and another applicant that also couldn't get his physical done in time). If not, it looks like we will have to wait until April to have him go before the board. That would mean another month of limbo!

I'm taking this one day at a time folks! Today my goal is to help Jaren get packed for his trip. I'll think about tomorrow when I get there! So much of our lives rests upon things that are completely out of our control - and yet - when is it not like that (really!)? I trust my Heavenly Father to guide my family to where it is supposed to be. I spend a lot of time thinking about the lesson that I consistently keep getting taught: "Your not running this show Brenna!"

Anyhow, I just want to say that Jaren and I appreciate all of the prayers, and the phone calls of support. We are lucky to have such great friends and family.