Oh, Hi! I'm Back!

Where have I been? Um...right here. Sometimes I feel like my little Roxy doggie running around in circles, not sure where I am going to get off of the merry-go-round. I thought my life was busy when my kids were small and all under one roof...OH FOOLISH WOMAN! Older children have places to go, timelines to follow, jobs to get to. Put a cap on my head and call me a cab driver. (and don't forget the tip!)

Things will be slowing down now. Richard's three week prison term in summer school English classes ends in two days. That is two trips a day to Lehi High School gone! Nicholas finally has his own big-boy transportation to work each day. That is one less trip to the far east side of American Fork. That leaves Rachel. She is working two jobs right now. One at the good old American Fork Fitness Center and the other way in the heck out at Thanksgiving Point. It is my fondest dream to find her her own mode of transportation. My greenish mini-van is nearly paid off so hopefully by the end of the summer when I am nearly insane with road-rage we can find her some wheels!

Speaking of the Blueish-greenish Town & Country...remember how it got T-boned by a nice Asian man a few weeks back? It was in for repairs and came back to me shiny and new. I was happy. Until I started driving it again. The noise coming through the "new" door sounds like a window is open. The automatic locks on the rear doors don't respond to the locking buttons. There are scratches on the body panel way down under where nobody can see unless they are Nick looking for the bent door frame that he did indeed find! This means another trip up to Sandy to drop the car of at Larry H. Miller collision repair to have them do it right this time.

Speaking of repairs...remember that nice new Brother embroidery machine I got for Christmas? In the height of my sewing season for Farmer's Market it has decided to erase its computer brain. You know how people are described as having a blank stare, like the lights aren't on upstairs? That is my machine! The LCD screen lights up but there is no memory. That means a trip to drop off the machine and a wait for it to be done. AAAAAAHHHHH! But hey, if I cannot sew that gives me more time to drive people around, right?

Maybe I can catch up on a few projects I have started and are lying around undone. I'll fill you in!

I wanted to tell you that this guy is very happy! He is settled in to his new job at BYU and loving it. He comes home smiling, he is light-hearted, and he even looks rested. There are some in the local swimming community who are saying some pretty nasty things about him. Look folks, all he did was find his dream job. For the last 30 years he has gotten up at 4:30 am to come and coach your kids before school. Then he has taught school all day long, a full day of high school. Then he has gone straight to the pool to coach your kids again until 6:00 pm. He came home worn out, tired, and stressed by all of the politics involved in high school and club swimming. He worked every Saturday morning of his life and missed out on all of those Saturday fishing outings he wished for. He graded papers and tests and wrote workouts for your children on his own time with no extra pay. His health was declining and his family was worried.

Now he works one job in one place for only 8 hours a day...imagine that? He works in a place that he loves and has wanted to be at for a very long time. He is in a professional environment where he is respected. He comes home HAPPY. He loved your kids and killed himself to make them the very best athletes they could be but he cared more about the kind of adults they would become. He did not abandon the team. He set up the transition so that it would be as smooth as possible. Immediately some were freaking out and jockeying for position. They are saying some horrid things that they know are not true. They are surprising me. I thought they were friends. This is a man who has given his time and talent to make the youth of our community better people. For once in his life he put himself and his family's needs first. It's about time! Get over yourselves and grow up.

There. I feel better.

Maybe I should spend some time hanging upside down like Miss Roxie does.

She seems to be perfectly happy all of the time!

ANNOUNCING...

The Master of the house has a new job! As of June first Dee will be officially employed by Brigham Young University as an assistant Swim Coach! Sometimes your dreams don't come true in the form you had imagined, but they can happen. I am so happy for my sweetheart! He works tirelessly to be the best teacher and coach he can possibly be. In the past 21 years he has literally worked at least 12 hours a day, coaching before and after a full day of teaching high school. During seven of those years he served our church as the Bishop of both our ward in Tacoma and a ward here at BYU. For five of those years he took night classes to earn his Master's degree. He is one of the best men I know and has such a big heart. He has felt badly that sometimes in his effort to support his family he has had little time for us but I want him to know that he has kept his promise and given me a great gift. I have been able to stay at home with our children. It has not been easy and we have sacrificed much financially. I hope our children will see in years to come what a gift their Dad gave them. I know they love him dearly, as do I. We look forward to a much more relaxed husband and father. He actually sat down after dinner the other night and put his feet up, which was unusual in and of itself, but watching "Downton Abbey with us for two whole episodes? That was fun! We are anxious to see him more often and see him less stressed. I am sure his health will benefit from not coaching inside of poorly ventilated pool buildings or "bubbles".

On the other hand, his students and swimmers will miss him dearly. The thanks and praise are pouring in from many generations of young people who have been touched by this man. I have heard him audibly sob as he has read email, text messages, and Facebook comments.One of the most common threads through the years has been something like, "you are like my second father", or even more endearing, "you are like the father I never had." He will miss them all very much. The school system is missing out too. But one cannot go on forever with rising benefit costs and no raise in pay that is even significant. Sometimes you just have to move on.

Here's to many happy years at BYU and new adventures! 

Go Cougars!

Time Travel Tuesday~The Example of My Father

Way back in the mid-1970's my parents had a plan, a dream really, and a way to obtain it. My father wanted more than anything to own his own dairy, to be his own boss. My mother had worked at the Mesa Motorola plant since Dean had received his mission call. She worked to earn money for his mission and continued on through Richard's mission. She had accumulated quite a fair amount in the company's Profit Sharing savings plan during these years. If she worked for a certain number of years she could contribute more and be compensated more by the company. Mom and Dad decided to pour all of their work efforts into saving and earning the money to buy that dairy. I did not understand at the time why all of the following events occurred, but they were all calculated to achieve the goal. Our new home on North Hunt Drive was sold for a profit which purchased 5 acres in Chandler and a hay swathing machine. Dad and Richard ran a business cutting hay for farmers while Dad still worked full time for his brother's dairy. After a year, when a certain amount of money had been put away and the land had appreciated, the 5 acres were sold for $20,000. (I hate to think of what they are worth today!) My parents purchased a smaller, older home back in our old Mesa neighborhood on North Harris Drive and we moved in. Mom continued to work for Motorola and put money into Profit Sharing and Dad started looking for for a farm to buy. Land in Arizona proved to be very expensive when combined with the cost of dairy facilities and a good herd of cows, so he began to look northward...in Idaho.

It is a whole different story to tell you of my feelings about leaving my sunny Mesa home a few days after Christmas 1975 and moving to the mucky, muddy, frozen north. I will leave that for another time. The family had sacrificed, saved, moved, and moved again and finally squeezed into a 100 year old lava rock farmhouse to give Dad his dream of providing his own livelihood. It meant everything to him. All of Mom's Profit Sharing savings had gone into this venture. They did not even buy a new car or furniture or anything fun with it. They were children of the Great Depression and knew how to handle money wisely. We all worked together to make a go of the farm. Gena and I did our part to help with the babies in the calf barn and get the cows fed. I soon went off to Ricks College while Gena stayed home and learned to drive the tractor and farm equipment. Dad and Mom worked together through good times and bad, serving in the Wendell Ward and making lifelong friends there. They were happy and hopeful for what their future held. Dad bought Mom a nice house in town so we didn't have to fight the Great War of the Mice in that old house on the dairy. They were happy.

One day my father was approached by the son of a friend in Twin Falls. The son was a business man from the east and was looking for investment opportunities. This man proposed to my father that he invest money in the Ellsworth Dairy and build up the herd even more. His firm would take care of the books and take that burden off of my father. A deal was struck, the dairy expanded, things were looking up for a secure future. Then one day awhile later my mother opened a letter from their mortgage company informing them that since they were 90 days behind on their house payments, they were being foreclosed on. My parents were dumbfounded, speechless. Their credit was perfectly immaculate. It always had been! Dad called the  investor to find out what was going on.  He was told that times were getting tight and his business needed some tax breaks so a decision had been made to quit investing in the farm. No expenses had been paid for months and they were letting the dairy go "belly-up" so they could have a big tax write-off at the end of the year. It was nothing personal, mind you, just a good business decision. Nothing personal at all! He still hoped they could be great friends.

My parents had been directors of the genealogy "name extraction" program of the Church (now called Indexing) in that region for a long time. It was one of their many church callings. Not long before they had to move away, my Dad spoke with Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles. Elder Packer was over the name extraction programs of the Church and wanted to know why my parents had asked to be released fro their callings. They were doing such an amazing job and he hated to see them go. Dad explained to him what had happened; how this man who was actually in a Stake Presidency in Virginia had cheated them out of all they owned or had ever worked and saved for, and they had to go to New Mexico and move in with his son. Elder Packer was upset. He wanted to know the man's name so he could investigate the matter. My father refused to "out" the guy. He simply told the apostle that he was working very hard on forgiveness and would get no satisfaction out of seeing the man punished. "He will have his judgement day," was what my father said.

Dad and Mom lived with Dean and Renda for quite awhile. They were both able to get jobs from Renda's brother who owned a Spudnut Shop in Farmington. They worked form 3:00 a.m. to just before noon five days a week making Spudnuts all night long and serving the drive-up breakfast crowd. The popular Winchell's Donuts commercial catch phrase became there own motto during those days as they would wake up early and proclaim, "time to make the donuts!" They were in their mid 60's and were tired. Their bodies ached and yet they never complained. They left Idaho with nothing but their personal belongings. They had nothing of the years of saving and dreaming they had so carefully planned out. It did no good to look backward. It did not give them their life savings back. They eventually were able to buy an extra long, single-wide mobile home and a nice piece of sandy land in West Hammond. They continued to work their fingers to the bone for years until that home and their little white truck were paid in full. Then they retired. Dad used his gifts as a farmer and made that little piece of dirt bloom like a rose. It produced fruit and vegetables and became the play place for his grandchildren on summer vacations. It was better than Disneyland to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house. They ran in the shade of the huge trees he had planted. They played hide-and-seek in the corn patch and the orchard. They ate the luscious blackberries and peaches until they were stuffed. It was a piece of heaven. My parents never sought for retribution. They took the situation handed to them and after the initial shock and hurt wore off they pressed forward with faith and courage to a bright and happy future. I am forever grateful to them for this fine example.

Today my husband received some heart-breakig news. The job he has long dreamed of was given to another. When I got the call from Dee this morning I hung up and fell to my knees, sobbing harder than I think I have cried since I said goodbye to my sister for the last time before her death. When I couldn't cry any longer I simply asked "why?" Why did he feel so good about everything? Why did we leave the Church Office Building 7 weeks ago feeling so powerfully calm? Why can my sweetheart not have his dream? As the sobbing began again I felt the most incredible warmth wrap around me from behind. It pierced me through to my very soul! I was calm immediately. I received the distinct impression that all will be well. I heard these word come into my mind:

"Before great blessings come great trials".

I have also thought of this hymn today.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Helen & George Ellsworth

My parents, My examples of faith!

 The news was not what we hoped to hear. I hurt for my husband. I chastise myself for hoping for a greater income so we could better provide for our family. It will be alright. Not today, but later, after my swollen eyes have gone down!

Deer Creek Swim II

What did you do last Saturday?

See my previous post for more details of this race.

Alina Fong, Dee Loose, Jeorge Azevedo, Stephanie Azevedo.

Son-in-law Nick Mowes-center back.

Dee was in good company. Alina swam for Dee in high school and now swims at BYU. Jeorge came from Brazil to swim for BYU, swam for Dee while there, and now works in Salt Lake City.

His wife Stephanie is also from Brazil.

Diana gives Jeorge a smile before the race.

Each swimmer was required to have a boat lead them so they could stay on course.

Son-in-law Nick and our daughter Diana Mowes piloted Dee.

Thanks you two! He really needed you!

Here we see Dee finished with his 5K (3.2 miles) swim!

He finished in 1 hour 52 minutes! I am so proud of him!

My favorite part of this photo is the guy in flamingo hat behind Dee.

I want one!

Victor ceremony: 1st place, unknown guy, 2nd Matt Rameson (currently swims for Dee at HAST), 3rd Jeorge Azevedo (swam for Dee at BYU), 4th Sam Blackburn (currently swims for Dee at HAST), 5th unknown tall guy.

That's a great showing for Coach Dee!

I don't have photos of the women's winners but Alina Fong (HAST & BYU) was 1st, Katherine Woolsten (HAST) was 2nd! Both swim for Dee.

Not only does Dee swim well but he coaches some pretty great athletes!

Um...Jeorge after the race. I am guessing Stephanie bought this shirt for him.

No words needed!

                      Jeorge and Dee surveying the course they just swam. Glad it was them and not me!

Dee's pants are sagging. He has lost 24 pounds since he started training for Greece!

I need to hurry and lose some poundage or he will pass me by! (well, not anytime soon but...!)

Out of Town

I am currently at  my sister Gena's house! Fun, fun, FUN! Richard and I drove over with Samwise on Wednesday. It was a long 8 hours for me being the only driver but we made it safely with only a few swerves over the line!  I-70 is very curvy through the mountains. We have played a few games of cards and watched some movies but we have mostly been busy going through hundreds of old family photos and labeling them with names and places "while I am still alive to tell you who they are" as my mother has said! It has been a blast and I cannot wait to share some of them with you. I have taken on the task of bringing them home to Utah with me to sort, scan, and label them. Oy! What have I done?

In other news, my father's brother, Robert Lovell Ellsworth passed away one week ago today. He had just turned 80 in May and had lived many years with prostate cancer. It finally came out of remission and spread. He was a good man and looked enough like my Dad that it always made me cry a little when I saw him. I was able to spend the day with my dear Aunt Martha, the only one of her family left now, and my cousins Deana and Julie, Aunt Naomi Harri's daughters. It was SO good to see them and talk to them. I will write more about that later.

I just got off of the phone with my sweetie, The Master. He swam a 5K swim at Deer Creek today in just under 2 hours! Woo Hoo! You go Dee! I am so proud of him! He is still in training for Greece, which has been put off until next summer. He was very nervous and I am sad that I wasn't there to paddle his canoe...er, pilot the canoe for him to follow. He says Nick and Diana did a great job.

I am off to the other room now to play some cards with the gang. Dean and Renda arrived yesterday and we are sad that Richard and Sherri could not join us. Dee and the girls are driving over to Denver this afternoon. I can't wait to hug him and tell him how awesome he is!

The Good. The Bad, & The Ugly

Life has been slow for a change...I suppose that is a good thing, except that it leaves little to blog about! I have no darling babies anymore and no darling grandbabies yet so that leaves the silly antics of my dog and the occasionally unique day??

So here are a few Good, Bad, & Ugly things that have happened at the little house on the corner lately!

GOOD~

Richard turned 15 and blew out all of those candles in one breath!

He is not eating this book but might as well be! He is devouring the Fablehaven series this summer!

This may have been his favorite gift, other than his new bike!

My attempt at festive July 4th finery...Solo cups and plates. But we had fun!

Also good was our red, white, & blue dessert of homemade ice cream and berries. YUM!

Finally, I think Sam was a really good boy to let this silly octopus sit on his head for any length of time. He is really growing patient. Time was he would have had all of the legs torn off

before I could have snapped this photo!

BAD~

Nothing's worse that a power outage at dinner time! This one lasted about five hours too!

Thankfully, Dee & I were just leaving a movie & called the kids in time to find out. We brought home a pizza to appease the hungry troops!

Britt went a little candle-crazy...

OK, so having no power did have a GOOD result....more family time! We did silly things

like build houses of cards

and play games.

Every July our swim club hosts the Red, White, and Blue Invitational swim meet.

The team comes up with a fun or motivational T-shirt for the meet.

Here we have Ally N. modeling this year's shirt. The kids wore them proudly all weekend!

In case you can't read this it says, "I swim for an evil mutant swim coach".

The BAD part of this?? I have to be married to the mutant!!

If only he didn't try to kill them with his workouts!

Sunday night Evil Mutant Husband was seated in the front room talking to his father on the phone when out of nowhere a Jack Rascal Terrorist appeared and stole away his slipper!

Bad Boy! (but cute!)

and finally...

UGLY!

Here we have our $30 yard sale find. An very ugly early 90's vintage desk. Ugly yes, sturdy and oak YES!

I have been inspired by many a blogger lately. My men sanded it for me, Richard and I painted, and it is awaiting some awesome drawer handles to help it spring forward two decades.

The result is soon to be revealed!

Time Travel Tuesdays~

In the good old summertime...! Oh what a girl will do for a tan! Here we have Britt and Sarah circa 1986 catching some rays in Orem, Utah. We can already see the swim coach father's influence in Sarah's blue and gold Orem High School Speedo suit. She is also showing the big Happy Meal toy that month, the McDonald's beach ball! Britt is stylin' her off the shoulder with a bosom ruffle for some extra curves (she needs no ruffle these days!). With them are their friends Nicole Nixon and Kaylee Collinsworth. 


I removed these photos after finding that they are the number one viewed page on my blog from Yahoo searches looking for little girls in swimming suits. Perverts!!

Escape From Winter

It rained and snowed at my house last week. It went on for days! "Please, just let spring come," I would think over and over. Silly me! This is spring! Springtime in the Rockies that is!

Dee and I had a delightful journey southward on Friday. It was decided last summer over this luncheon that three men would be partners in the Sand Hollow Triathlon. They would each do one leg of the event. My Sweetie would do the swimming, Jim Little would be the biker, and my nephew Brent Ellsworth would be the runner. (Jim is Brent's father-in-law)

As we drove south on Friday afternoon the temperatures gradually warmed until we hit a high of 63 degrees! We were in heaven as we stepped out of the car at the SHAC (Sand Hollow Aquatic Center) and felt no need for a sweater or jacket! After the men signed in for the race to be held the next morning, Brent and Kami took us to their house to unload our bags. We then went out to a wonderful meal at "Samurai Steak" (I think that is right!). I had salmon and chicken...yum! I did not, however, catch the shrimp tossed at me by our cook. I am 0 for 3 in those attempts!

Saturday morning came awfully early for the racers! They were at to pool by 6:15 to get a good place in line.

It was a beautiful morning! I just loved the red rock surroundings

and the snow far away in the distance!

Here is Dee getting things started. He has great form (he'd better, seeing as how he teaches it daily). He was the only swimmer I saw doing something so simple as a flip turn!

Notice the long line of waiting swimmers? It went on and on!

Here is Jim coming in from his leg to hand off to Brent. He had the displeasure of having his gear shift break on the first hill and did the whole thing in low gear!

Brent heads in for a big finish!

Here is our fantastic team glad to be done!


They headed to the food table to get some nourishment after their heroic efforts.

My Sweeetie chose healthy Craisins and Strawberries...

Brent, being a true Ellsworth chose the traditional family food.

NO Ellsworth gathering is complete without!

We drove home later that day after some fun time with Brent and Kami. I shall post about that later. After being back in the cold north land for a few hours Dee checked the race results online. I heard him yelling my name as he ran upstairs to proudly tell me that our guys, our team, our TRIPLE THREAT had taken 3rd place in the partner division!! Dee, who was worried that his feet had gone numb waiting for his turn on that cold pool deck, Jim who pulled it out with his super legs in first gear, and Brent with shin splints all week!

Great job men! The women in your lives are proud of you!

It's All Greek to Me!

Sometimes things happen in our lives that we don't feel worthy of. The Lord has showered us with many blessings recently. This is the story of just one of those blessings.

It was Christmas Eve in the little house on the corner. There was last minute present wrapping. Christmas carols were playing. The kitchen smelled of pies and chocolate. The lights on the tree twinkled in the dark living room. The doorbell rang.

Please! No more goodies, I thought to myself. I should have asked for will power for my birthday in November.

One of the girls answered the door. In walked five young men and one young lady who I recognized as some of my husband's swimmers. I rose to my feet and invited them to come in and sit down.

"We don't want to interrupt your Christmas Eve," one of them said. "We just want to give something to Dee."

Richard, being the 14 year old that he is said, "Well, you're going to have to wait for him. He's in the bathroom."

Thanks, son!

"That's OK! We can wait." they replied.

I sent Richard upstairs to tell his father that he had company. Within a minute the master of the house was descending the stairs.

"We have something for you coach!" one of the young men announced and handed Dee a dark blue case with a silver handle...I mean a real silver handle!

He sat down on the sofa with me next to him and placed the case on his lap. Upon opening it he saw a beautiful silver sailing boat! We gasped together as he lifted the boat from its' velvet cradle. It was exquisitely detailed, shiny, and so heavy!



Dee was handed a letter. He unfolded the paper and began to read aloud,

"Dear Coach Dee,

From the team members at HAST we thank you, your wife, and your family for all of the sacrifices made to not only make us better swimmers but better people. The measure to which you have influenced us is invaluable and will inspire us throughout our lives. As a small token of our gratitude to you, we as a team, come together to..."


He became choked up and tears filled his eyes. He handed the letter to me and said, "you'll have to read this."

(backing up in time)
October or November of 2009~

Dee was on Facebook one evening and read a note from a coaching partner from his former job in Tacoma.Washington. Jay told Dee about an open water race coming in the summer that he had swam and actually won before. "You should train for it and come! It'll be great!" he had said. Dee had been mentioning on Facebook that he was training to get in better shape so Jay thought an 18.8 mile swim in open waters would be good for him! Well, the training might be good for him but in reality, there was no way he could participate. The event was held in Greece. Ah, there's the rub!

Money!

So, Dee went on his way still exercising and swimming and aiming for the team triathlon in St. George this spring.

Pshhh! 400 meters...really? A piece of cake! (really!)

Coach Dee mentioned the race to his swimmers at practice one day telling them he thought it would be a good challenge. Maybe he could find something like it a bit closer to home! Besides, he said he wouldn't dare go to Greece without me. Wise man!

(back to the present)
December 24, 2009

I handed the letter back to my husband knowing that I would choke up too."You need to read it," I gently told him. And so he began again.

"...we as a team, come together to get you to Greece in September of 2010. This is the least that we as a team can do to give you and your wife an experience that we know you will love. Through our team efforts we will raise the funds between now and August to pay for airfare for the both of you to enjoy this experience together. We know that you will represent all of us at HAST well.

The boat contained herein is crafted after sailing and fishing vessels of old that traversed the shores of Greece, trolling her waters; seamen guided by their captain. Let this boat represent how you continue to serve as our captain and also inspire you to swim and represent us in Greece. Thank you for serving as our coach, mentor, and friend.

The HAST Team Captains, Team members, & Alumni"

Dee was really crying now! His hands were shaking and all that either of us could say was "Thank you!"

One of the guys spoke up and said, "we want you to know that as of tonight we have enough money to pay for one ticket already."

Unreal.

So...the master is swimming his guts off, quite literally! He is the amazing shrinking man! The thought of him swimming for oh, about 8-10 hours straight has me concerned for him but I know he will be in shape when the time comes. He is determined!

As for me? I am in training too! The holiday goodies are all gone at last and I am exercising to be ready to look amazing as part of Dee's support team!

Please let me find that will power again!

(H.A.S.T. stands for Hilltop Aquatic Swim Team the local United States Swimming affiliated club. The team pronounces it as in haste!)

Lots of Gold!

Please forgive me for one more mention of Olympic proportions! Here's the cover of the new Sports Illustrated due to come out next week and a comparison with the 1972 version (which I think is still pretty spectacular!). What's the vote girls? Phelp's ribbons or Spitz' chains. The chains certainly reveal a bit more muscle!

Sportsmanship

Last night we witnessed history as it happened. Michael Phelps earned his 8th gold medal in one Olympic games topping the old record of Mark Spitz's seven in Munich in 1972 (yes, I am old enough to remember it clearly!). I was so impressed with his reaction. As he and his relay teammates huddled together the first words out of his mouth were, "Thanks you guys. I couldn't have done it without you!". On the medals platform he was presented with a surprise award from the presidents of the IOC and FINA in recognition of his historic accomplishment. He was genuinely touched and had tears in his eyes.

Contrast that image with the winner of the men's 100 meter run over in the track and field competition. The winner of this race is typically named "the world's fastest man". Bolt of Jamaica burst ahead of the field and broke the old world record. The thing that struck me about him happened before the race even ended. He glanced from side to side, saw he was alone, and dropped his arms as if to say, "I am so fast that I don't even have to finish the race all out...I can celebrate before I am done." Arrogant. Then he proceeded to prance around the track in a very cocky way, posing for pictures with the crowd while pointing at himself as if to say, "Look! you're on the big screen with me...Golden Boy!" Then he wrapped himself in the Jamaican flag and posed in front of the timing board by his record.

I hope all of us who have children in competitive sports can do all we can to raise our little athletes like Debbie Phelps did her son Michael. Be proud of your accomplishments but don't go around thinking that you are God's gift to sports. Don't be arrogant but rather be humble and thankful for what you and your hard work have been able to do. Remember that there is a team and a coach behind you who have worked hard and wanted your victory for you as well. They deserve your praise.

I have preached enough! I was just so struck by the contrast of the two athletes last night. It translates over into everyday life and how we treat eachother too.
That's all!

AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!! SEVEN GOLDS!!!!!!

Another tight race...I thought he'd lost for sure...even in the replays I still can't believe it! Michael Phelps is amazing! Anyone who says swimming isn't a real sport needs a reality check! Go USA!!

Pool Fun

MANIAC SWIM FANS HEARD FAR & WIDE!!

So...the Olympics have begun and as usual, the Looses are deep into watching the swimming events! Within our family there are five competetive swimmers and three coaches plus a swim Mom in all of her glory. Last night was THE SUPERBOWL OF SWIMMING, the Men's 4x100 Freestyle Relay. The French have never had a good swim team but their men have been pretty strong all year and their relay team told the press that they were going to "Crush the Americans"...oh, really? Our lead-off man Michael Phelps & the second man Garett Weber-Gale held on to the lead, our third man Cullen Jones swam a lifetime best but was passed by the French on his leg of the relay. It was up to 32 year-old Jason Lezak, a 3-time Olympian to catch up on a full body length lead the French had going into the last leg. We were all on our feet screaming, waving him on, throwing things...I think they heard us in Salt Lake City!! Even Grandma Helen got into the spirit and was yelling right along with the rest of us! What looked nearly impossible happened as Lezak swam with the heart of a champion and gained the victory by touching out the Frenchman Alain Bernard by one tenth of a second...faster than the blink of an eye! Our roof was shaking, the dog thought we'd all gone insane, and pillows were thrown at the TV as they showed Bernard with his head down in the gutter mourning his loss. Guess that's what you get for boasting?

Oh Yeah Baby! We are a swimming family and proud of it! That race has to be the all-time most exciting Olympic relay ever and just goes to show how exciting a sport swimming really is. We look forward to a week full of excitment...you may even hear us screaming! GO USA!!!

Congratulations to Coach Dee!

I just want to let everyone know how well Dee's swimmers did at U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials. We are very proud of them and can't wait to welcome them home!! While neither of them " made the team" the fact that they were there is an honor to them and their hard work as well as their hard-working coach!! Dee, I am very proud of you!! Congrats to Nick Tobler and Candice Smith! You did us proud!! (You can check out Dee's adventures on his blog. Click on the link on my blog page.)

Go Team USA!!