Laughter

Laughter is the best medicine. It is the best everything- the best activity, the best past-time, the best pick-me-up- the best date, the best everything! And I have to admit, I laughed harder than I can remember last week. I was with my family in Moab- and felt like a giddy little kid again. It had been years since my family had been on a family vacation- and it was concluded that we have to do it way more often- because we become closer (which is hard to imagine), and have soo much fun!

We spent our time hiking, exploring, talking, laughing, swimming, and wishing that our time there wouldn't run out. Being there with Tolman and Addison was a real treat- watching them hike around and become excited about the littlest things was a reminder that we should all strive to be like children. Curtis and I hiked around all the big rocks, and went cliff jumping, and we talked. Curtis and I always have good talks. Nils was the work horse. He carried everyones gear- including the kids and I always become captivated by his wisdom and dedication to goodness. Jess cheered everyone up and kept our spirits up. She is quirky and funny and she doesn't get scared-even when she jumps off high cliffs. I cherish every conversation I have with Jami. She is my sound and solid voice. And she was such a trooper! She had a little precedure a few days before Moab, and she still did it all! And my parents are hilarious and truly inspiring! My mom lugged around her oxygen tank to every place we went. And my dad was at her side helping her. They laughed together and sang songs together and continued their example of love. I caught myself smiling just looking at my parents. They make me happy. The best kind of happy.

On the last day of our time in Moab, Becka and I decided to rent a jeep and explore areas in Moab. We took the top off and cruised on top of cliffs, in little streams, and up steep hills. It was insane and amazingly cool! Our first stop was Gemini Bridges and the second was Onion Creek Canyon. Let me just say that during our second stop, Onion Creek Canyon, we all laughed harder than we could remember. My mom was pounding the dash board and stomping her feet because she was laughing so hard. She couldn't breathe. It was sooo good for the soul to laugh that hard while being in 0ne of the most beautiful of all creations. It was the kind of laughter that came from the heart. True happiness. Perfection. The best kind of laughter. I was in heaven.

I was more than delighted that Becka was able to be there! She is part of the family and adds so much happiness to my life. She is an amazing person! Everything is better when she is around. I love you, Becka!

Thanks to the Richardson family for this amazing trip!

PRIDE

Taking a little break from the health kick- and writing about Pride.

This weekend is PRIDE weekend in Seattle. And I must say, I haven't looked forward to a weekend as much as I am looking forward to this weekend in a long time.

I am happy to me. I like me. If I weren't me, I would want to be my friend. I have pride in who I am. And this weekend I am going to celebrate!

I have spent some time learning about the history of Pride weekends- when and why they started. Pride started in New York City in 1969 when a group of gay people fought back againt government groups that persecuted sexual minorities. This particular event is referred to as the Stonewall Riots. It certainly is an interesting thing to be studied. But it makes me wonder- Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and people like them are heroes for fighting for equal rights- but the individuals who fought and continue to fight for a different kind of equal rights remain nameless.

I went to Pride last year- but I didn't feel pride. I looked around and wondered if anyone was looking or judging and I felt bad. I felt bad to be me.

So what has changed in one year?

I have had so many silent conversations with myself, and with God. See, the thing is, I didn't want to be gay. There was a time I rather die than be gay. And unfortunatly, parts of me did die because of the self hatred. But then it hit me, I must be okay- because God made me. And that confidence has grown and grown- and I know that I am okay. And I am thankful that God loves me.

Today I am the best version of myself simply because I love freely and fully and without fear.

Everyone should celebrate Pride weekend. Everyone should have Pride in themselves and who they are.

Thought I would share some pictures of the best things and people in my life!

Wealth

You know how people say that being rich doesn't always equal to being wealthy? I feel the same about being skinny and fit-those terms don't always equal healthy.

I'm not on a quest to lose weight or get skinny (although I wouldn't frown upon those results) but on a quest to become a better, happier, and healthier woman. And in my opinion, the first place to start is attitude.

There have been times in my life when I feel my insides are smiling. It's a feeling of gratitude and thankfulness-even for unfortunate things. It is a feeling I am in love with.

Story time.....

My amazing mom was able to come spend Mother's Day with me this year. I was soo glad to have her! We hung out mostly-and took an occasional outing to the park, or the pier, or down the street to get a pedicure. I am so glad that we were able to spend so much time together-mostly talking. She told me that when she sees people out running or working out she hopes that they have gratitude for the air and for their lungs.

My mom has to have oxygen on her all the time. Her lungs don't work. They are crystallizing. Years ago my mom was a runner, a choir participant, her kid's biggest cheer leader-among other things. Now she has a hard time walking a few blocks because she looses her breath.

During our conversations, I became grateful for the opportunity I have to breath. I fell in love with a working body. I became excited to skip and jump and ride my bike-like when I was little-just because I am capable of doing those things.

Soooo I guess the moral of the story is being grateful makes my insides smile. And I have so much to be grateful for-including my working and somewhat curvy body! And my new found gratefulness makes me excited to use it, to play with it, and to take good care of it.

Harley Boy, me, and my mom on Mother's Day 2010

Health check

I have neglected my blog for months now-there has been an occasinioal post but nothing consistent. I guess I didn't feel like there was anything significant to write about-so I felt my blog lost meaning.

BUT!!!!!!!! DRUM ROLL please.............this weekend I committed to myself to write about a new and somewhat uncomfortable topic....

After experiecing some hard things the past few months and being inspired by a few people I have decided to dedicate a portion of my blog to my journey in becoming a better, more healthy Chelsea.

I'm not unhealthy but I'm certainly not as healthy as I should/could be. Thoughout the last several months the fact that my body is what I make of it has really set in. Throughout my life I have been around a lot of sickness. My parents have both fought, and are presently fighting, life threatening diseases. Being 'sick' has been a normal thing in my life. Watching my mom go through her most current battle has made me love myself and love my body more-and has made me want to take care of it better.

But lets face it, I don't want to get healthier just for my future. This weekend I went to Shea's wedding and I wasn't as comfortable in my awesome outfit as I would've liked. I have two more weddings to go to this summer and you can count on the fact that I will look and feel better!

There are other people who have motivated me to become healthier. My dad, who is a walking miracle, is a new triathlete. My sister Jess is competing in her first marathon in October. My girlfriend has ran several marathons. My friend Lindsey made a blog about her getting healthier adventure. http://milesyboy.blogspot.com/ which she started nearly a year ago-and man oh man! She has done a GREAT job!

I am going to copy Linds and document my goals, successes, failures, and positive changes I am making in my life.

So here is to a better and healthier and happier Chelsea. Check in for updates!

please pray for my mom

Not really up for going into all the details but I feel it's important that I get this out there, for my mom's sake.A while back she was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease called mixed connective tissue disease. One of the major complications that can occur in patients with this is the loss of lung function. We've known this all along, but were hoping that if it happened, it wouldn't be for a while.Her amazing doctors ran the lung function tests on her last November and the results showed her lungs were operating on the "low end of normal." The doctors ran the same tests again this past week and the results weren't good. In fact, her pulmonologist's words were that her Interstitial Lung Disease is moving "remarkably fast."She is on a few different medications, including a very high dose of prednisone and constant oxygen.The damage to her lungs can't be reversed, but the hope is that the rapid digression will slow waaay down and that she will feel better. She has felt so sick!

We are having a fast for her this Sunday, which will actually begin Saturday night @ 8 pm. My family would be so grateful and appreciative for you to join us.We know our Heavenly Father can work miracles through our faith, and that is what we're praying for- a miracle.

I know.

I remember sitting in my Institute class my junior year of college. I was taking a class about the Book of Mormon prophets. Brother Harding said over and over throughout every class that knowledge is power.

I believe that now more than ever before.

I know that God lives.
I know that He has a plan for me.
I know that miracles occur daily.
I know Gods plan is a plan of happiness-and no matter our circumstrance, there is a way to be happy.
I know I will be with my family beyond this life.
I know prayers are answered.
And most importantly, I know God loves me!

Everything will be okay.

strive to be like my dog because...

he is sweet

no matter what time it is, he is always excited to see me-or see anyone

he gives good kisses

he loves unconditionally 

he makes people smile

he is smart-he knows how to sit, roll over, shake, high five, and spin-and he is potty trained

he is the best listener! he doesn't try to fix my problems-he just listens and gives kisses

he is up for whatever whenever

he is a good travel buddy. he has already been to Portland, Hood River, and Salt Lake

he is a good all the time buddy

And I will try to be as good of a person as my dog believes I am!

Want

I want to be a better athlete. I want to run and bike and swim and I want to somewhat enjoy it while doing it.

I want to learn to cook. I want to look in cupboards and know how to throw things together to make mouth watering food. I want to invite people over and have them taste delicious food that was prepared by me-not my mom or sister or friend or girlfriend or brother Curtis...I want them to taste food that was prepared by ME.

I want to be more crafty-like my friend Candice. Or my sister, Jami. Or my aunt Mindy. Or anyone who is crafty. I want to be able to see something in my mind and in some form, create it.

I want to be a mom. I want to teach my kids that everything is beautiful. I want to take them on the roof in the middle of the night to star gaze. I want to have Christmas with my kids and take them to go see Santa Clause. I want to teach them to be nice and how to share and most importantly, that they are awesome simply because they're kids.

I want to change the world. When I was in 8th grade I told Mr Ruesch that I wanted to be in a history book someday-so little girls could read it and think, 'I want to be like her.' I asked him how I could do it-how I can get inside of a history book for doing good things-like Mother Teresa. He told me that I just needed to be my best self all the time, no matter what, and no matter who I was with.

I want to take a nap.

Rock Climbing

I went rock climbing today. It was the first time in about 6 months. I loved it. I wasn't very good-my fingers hurt-the rocks and wall felt like sand paper. My fingers felt like they were going to bleed-a part of my pinkie did. It felt good to do something I love-after we were done climbing we sat on the couch and I looked around and remembered why I fell in love with things like that-things like rock climbing.

Everyone is soo nice. They encourage each other-sometimes without saying anything. People are in every position pushing themselves to get just a little higher-or to complete the next problem.

I will certainly be visiting the climbing gym more often. Its important to do things you love-things that make you feel alive.

And its nice to come home to a cute little fur ball!!

mmmmmmmmmmmmm

Time to snap my fingers and change things up a bit. My blog has been a depressing array of thoughts the last couple entries but let me assure you, my dear reader, life is beautiful.

First of all....put your hands together and let me hear a drum roll as I introduce to you a new important part of my life.... Meet Harley boy.
There have been times Becka was carrying him and people thought he was a stuffed animal. We stopped at a coffee shop the other day and I put Harley on the table and the barista came out to tell me he was the cutest pup she had ever seen. It made me smile.

He is just shy of 3 months-and have had him for close to a month-and already I have so much love for this little guy. He is a terror at times but he has learned fast-as is almost potty trained. It is amazing how much love an animal can bring in to your life in nearly no time at all.

I don't have kids-like most of my friends who have blogs-but Harley is my baby-so perhaps my blog will be covered in pictures and stories about him. Time will tell.

Beyond my news of having a puppy, my mom came to visit me! I was thrilled to have her here-giddy almost. My moms health has been less than perfect but it was good to visibly see her and talk with her and experience beautiful weather with her. I adore my mother and admire her determination and the love she has for me, makes me love and appreciate myself a little more than I do. She loves me perfectly.

this is the only picture we took while she was here-its on the fairy-on our way to pick up Harley

Work is going fabulously well. Today I got to shoot shotguns in a clay pigeon shooting contest. It was my first time. It was fun. My shoulder is sore.

The sun was out today-and yesterday-which contradicted what the weather man said. I'm glad when that happens. I am planning adventures. Becka and I want to go to Hawaii. I got a free trip there last year-and never used it. I could use some time in the beach-but who couldn't?!

I miss my family. I miss my family everyday-so much that it makes me crazy sometimes. But then I was talking to a friend of mine here and she was telling me that she doesn't get along with her family-she said she doesn't like her family. After that I was soo glad that I missed my family as much as I do. Maybe it testifies how much we love each other.

You know, I am a firm believer in what they say-its all about your attitude.