Another visit to 5K city ..

I ran a benefit 5K for a little boy with a brain tumor this morning in Hooper and I enjoyed every second! I invited a few people to run with me and three of them backed out via text message in the middle of the night hmmm... interesting! I was pretty bummed when I showed up by myself and didn't know anyone but I ran into a girl that was in our ward 10 years ago and she was so sweet to let me run with her! She is seriously the cutest, We caught up on so much and it was so good to hear about her kids! She also distracted me and made me realize that when you have something to think about and nothing to worry about, the time goes by much faster! Her brother was so sweet, when we took our last turn and could see the finish, he ran the rest with us! (he'd already finished several minutes before us) What a sport!
I was shocked when we finished and I wasn't completely exhausted, it was such a good feeling!! However I was even more shocked when I heard our time ... 29:50 ... seriously? That's 11 whole minutes knocked off from the last race I ran ... WaHoO ... YaHoO.. HoLLa!!! I was so excited! Like I've said before my goal for the summer was to beat 28 minutes ... I'm well on my way! Bring on another 5K or two .... :)

DiD YoU kNoW?

BoRiNg PoSt ... BoReD bOrEd BORED!
1: Two names you go by: Shorty and Libster
2. Two things you are wearing right now: 1. My blue Smith's Pharmacy Smock ... I hate it! 2. My hawaii bracelets that I can't bring myself to take off!
3: Two things you want very badly at the moment:
*1. Work to be done for the day - these
*2: 13-hour shifts in a row are kicking my butt
*3. I want to be ready for my next race!
4: Two people who will most likely respond to this tag: 1. Kelsea 2. Ashley (consider yourself tagged!)
5: Two things you did last night: 1. Worked 2. Slept
6: Two things you ate today: 1. A rice krispy treat 2. Gum
7: People you just spoke with: 1. Abby 2. A million customers at the pharm!
8: : Two things you're doing tomorrow: 1. Leaving for Spokane to visit Colb 2. Going running!
9: Two longest car rides: 1. RoY to Powell 2. RoY to Van Nuys ... I love those long car rides!
10: Two favorite beverages: 1. V8 splash 2. Water - I never EVEr thought I'd say that!
11. What are your Two Favorite Things about your birthday: 1. It's MY day 2. It gives me a chance to reflect on everything that has happened in the last year!

Seminary Graduation!

Our little Logan is growing up! He graduated from seminary yesterday and next week he'll graduate from High School .. Or at least that's the plan!
It was awesome to hear the testimonies of those selected and I was crossing my fingers hoping Logan would be chosen, but he wasn't. I know he has an amazing and strong testimony and I know it meant a lot to him to graduate from seminary! Our friend Dallin was asked to speak and he did a great job! I told him I'd give him a dollar if he said the word Llama in is talk but I knew as soon as he started He was too nervous and it wasn't going to happen .. I guess I get to keep that dollar! I don't remember a single thing from my seminary graduation so it was nice to go and be reminded of what took place!
Logan is super excited to turn in his Mission papers next month and we're excited to see what crazy place the Lord will send him! Congrats Logan, we love you!

... Logan is cutting his hair next month to get his Mission pictures taken ... It's been so long since I've seen it short! I'm super excited!

These are the graduates from the West Lake Ward! What a great group of kids!

Logan and his good friend Josh Beckett .. I love these boys!

Jake Peterson, Logan, and Josh Beckett

5K CITY!

So I ran my first 5K of the year and I'm not super excited about my time but I am exited to run my next one! Today's benefit race was for brain injury and it was so awesome to be able to see all the people we were helping, I love finishing knowing that no matter how tired I am I did it for a good cause and I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat to see the smiles on the faces of those affected!
My friends Kristen and Chelle ran with me today and they rocked it! It's so much easier to run with friends knowing that you they are just as tired and worn out as you are!
I'm running another Benefit 5K in Hooper at the end of the month and I'm tempted to run it by myself just to see how I do! My goal is to run at least 5 this summer and eventually do it in 28 minutes which sounds easy but it really is a reach for me, We'll see what happens. I've never really had an interest in running so it's been a lot of fun to push myself and accomplish something I really never thought possible, I'm loving it! I should have some pictures coming soon so check back!

New Hair-diddy-do!

So I guess it's about time I changed my hair again ... I guess you could say I'm lacking in the patience department & I jumped at the chance to change it up again! My friend Michelle put some red in it for me and a little bit more of the dark brown that I've been loving so much lately! It's always so fun to go to her house wondering what ideas we'll both come up with and try to combine! Most of the time we just laugh and have a good time but I sure do love leaving with a cute do or some freshly waxed eye-brows! (my fav)
I'm thinking I'll go back to blond here in the next few months but for now I'm enjoying the dark! I hope you're all enjoying the pictures I'm taking of myself ... I feel weird making my brother take pictures of me so keep enjoying em!
Thanks Michelle for having me over again to laugh and to enjoy some much needed time with your cute little family! I can't wait til that little girl gets here!

OCD? Or just thorough ...? a few pet-peeves

I was counting some pills at work the other day and right as I finished my Pharmacist asked me a question that took my attention away from the med I had just counted! I knew there were #30 in the tray but I second guessed myself and decided to count them again ... Yep #30! This got me thinking about all the little things I find myself doing in the pharmacy that might be a little much but I just can't help it ...
#1 - When I open a new bottle of Pills I take the entire seal off .. even the little stragglers that stick to the edges.
#2 - We have a lot of stock bottles that come in #30 count because they are meds that are usually taken once a day (#30 days worth) Most of my co-workers will put the label on the stock bottle and I CAN'T do this ... I open it and pour it into a vial.. to me it looks more professional and the chances of it being mixed up with an over-the-counter product in a patient's cupboard are less likely.
#3 - When I put a label on it has to be completely straight ... when I'm selling medications to a patient I find myself peeling off their label and putting it back on straight!
#4 - I always try to fit medicine in the smallest vial possible ... I learned this at my on-the-job training two years ago and even though I hate doing it ... I still do it!
#5 - When a patient has several meds to be counted, I go find ALL the drugs before I start counting .. I hate leaving an order half done on the counter, it looks sloppy!
#6 - I hate when I answer the phone "Smith's Pharmacy, Technician." and the person on the other end says "hi technician" ... that's not my name just my Job description!
#7 - When I see someone staring at my name badge I either turn so they can't see it or I lift my right arm and scratch my head so they can't see it ... It makes me feel like they are staring at my chest AND I always know what the next question is going to be ... Is that really your last name? How do you say that? ... my badge says Libby CPhT --- Certified Pharmacy Technician ..
#8 - I always carry around atleast 4 pens in my smock and I only use of the them!
#9 - When a patient calls in and says they want all their meds refilled I make them list them so that I don't fill everything possible just so they can come in and tell me they don't want half of them!
#10 - I hate when a customer comes in, tells me their last name, and then points to where there medicine is hanging ... I know where the H's hang, I do work here ... Thanks though!
#11 - When I have to pull more than one med off the shelf, I pull them in alphabetical order
#12 - I can't stand when a customer comes in to pick up a narcotic and they don't have their id and instead of offering to go get it, they say "clark knows me just ask him" (he's the head Pharm) .. True, Clark might know you ... but he also knows the law!
#13 - When a customer comes to get an otc product that is behind the counter and it requires them to fill out a form (because someone figured out how to make meth out of a common product in all of them) and they complain that it's getting harder and harder to buy the stuff you need ... Listen pal, it's bad for my basement pharmacy business too but it's still the law!
#14 - We match prices but only Costco (because we can pull up their website) and only upon request ... It's a little irritating when a patient hasn't requested a price match and as they are sliding their card to pay they mumble under their breath ... "Costco is so much cheaper" .. All you have to do is ask lady and if you want all of their prices .. then go there!
#15 - I love when a 6 yr old comes in and says.. I can pick up my mom's medicine ...Really? Does she have any questions about the medicine? Do you also have her credit card to pay? What do you mean you don't know if she has a new insurance card?
#16 - I had a patient yell at me when I told him his percocet wasn't allowed to have refills by law and that he had to have a new hard copy from the dr before I could fill it again. It's a schedule II narcotic ... for some reason the Dr's like to monitor that kind of thing .. weird!
#17 - When a patient yells at us because we've requested a refill from their Dr and the Dr hasn't gotten back to us .. somehow that's our fault but I have yet to figure out why!

Sometimes it's hard but I sure do love my job! I love learning something new about medicine every day and I never thought I'd enjoy work so much! I love everyone I get t work with and I really wouldn't trade either pharmacy or anything!
oh wait .. a few more :)
*We have a patient that comes in and demands her insulin in less than ten minutes and she's always reading a trash magazine and eating a candy bar ... No wonder she needs it so fast .. with all that sugar she pretty much inhaled she'll be dead with out it!
*Every time I get a perfect pour in pills, in my head (or every once and a while out loud) I say 'winner winner chicken dinner'
*When I dispense a cream I always make it look fancy like frosting so it makes people laugh when they open it to use it
- I have a pretty exciting job don't I?!

Ear to Ear and Cheesy as ever ..

Do you ever get that feeling of ...Really? ME? Again? Please not today! ... I usually only get this feeling when I'm at work and I get a super cranky customer who refuses to leave until they've ruined my day or I have to deal with a patient who talks to me like I'm stupid, it's my first day at work in the pharmacy, or like I haven't been to school for my profession ... I hate this feeling! With today being Friday and my third 13.5 hour shift in a row I wasn't surprised when the feeling came about half way through my day and then my mind got going! I had let a few little things that have been bothering me build up and hadn't done anything about them so naturally my mind got racing and it all came crashing down! It was a mixture of things ... a new schedule coming at work ... Missing Colb like CrAzY ... having to miss my brother's graduation knowing that the rest of the fam was there and more than that knowing he wouldn't miss mine ... knowing exactly what step to take next in life and being totally and completely scared of all of it ... the thought of having to pay $1400.00 next month to get my car fixed so it will pass inspection ... Did I already say missing Colby? Anyway ... I let these thoughts linger for a bit and just when I knew I couldn't think about it all anymore I heard the spirit whisper ... he loves you! I got a smile on my face just like this one ......
This is the smile that says... Seriously? How in the world did I get so lucky? I really have it all! Sure I just went through a divorce that was anything but fun but I know all of it was supposed to happen .... The night that I decided things between Josh and I were going no where good I had the most incredible experience! I was laying in bed and it was about 1:00 AM ... I wasn't asleep but I wasn't entirely there and then something woke me up completely and I was wide awake. I got a feeling of fear mixed with comfort and then I felt the spirit tell me that if I was going to leave then this was my chance. If we end things now we can do it the right way and it will all work out okay. After a long conversation we both knew without question that this was the way things were supposed to go. Don't get me wrong it was anything but easy and I still have my days but I was immediately comforted!
It was only a few short weeks later that I ran into Colby at a single's fireside in the stake and I was quickly reminded of the good times we had in high school! I still can't believe those boys let us go to the golf course with them (more than once) and let us waste all their expensive golf balls just so they could get a good laugh out of watching us but I'm so glad they did! Colby decided I could probably use a friend and someone to talk to and he was just that! I told him everything and I'd call or text him when I was getting that feeling of why me or poor me and He'd open my eyes again and help remind me that life is anything but easy but we might as well enjoy what we can and learn from what we can't! Sometimes I wonder if he's too smart for his own good and he might be but even if he is I enjoy his words of wisdom and the smile he always seems to put on my face! I remember like it was yesterday the day I realized that I liked Colb more than a friend and I crossed my fingers hoping he felt the same but wondering at the same time if this could be right .....? I went to my Father in Heaven about it and then to my beautiful Mother (who both seem to know it all) with my thoughts and concerns on the matter and from both of them I got the same answer .....

'You go with your gut and what you feel is right!'

Normally this answer would frustrate me and leave me wondering but this time I knew exactly where I was headed and what to do next! I still can't believe the turn life has taken in the last few months and it scares me to think of what trials are still to come my way but at the end of every negative experience or thought I get this smile again that reminds me that life isn't so bad, there is always someone worse off, and really ... I have it all going for me! The only thing that can hold me back is that one person who doesn't want anyone to be happy or successful and if I don't want to be held back .. I don't have to be! I love this smile! What an aMaZiNg feeling to know that no matter what - our Father in Heaven knows us, loves us more than anything, and wants us to be happier than we can ever imagine! What a blessing!
It's also a good feeling to know that Colby knows everything about me and ...he still loves me!

The end ... of our trip!

I've had a couple people request one last post about the rest of our Hawaii trip so here goes!

We left at 8:40 PM on Friday night and got home at 10:30 AM on Saturday ... Longest night of my whole life! We had a lay over in LA and I fell asleep in the airport and I'm sure I looked lovely sleeping on the bench but it was some much needed rest! We're sad to be home and ready to go back but I guess this is life and we're looking forward to another trip in two years or so!

The last night we were on the island Kady and Kirt had a night out and I let them take my camera and this is the only picture they came back with! I loved it too much not to post it! I sure do love them!

These guys make me laugh!

Owen & his muffin ...

Tess & Logan .. she finally warmed up to him!

Pina Colada's by the pool! Our Mom spoiled us!

Do you like flock of seaguls? You can see Cal does ... I love this kid and miss his cute smile so much already!

We LOVED the mustang Mom rented, it was awesome until the very last day! We had to be out of our room at 11:00 and our flight didn't leave until 8:40 so we had to pack around all our luggage all day long! Luckily the boys were good sports about being stuffed in the back! It turned out to be another great day but we were glad to return the convertible!

SOOOO crammed!

Can you even see Logan?

Keater bug! Did I mention that he was so much fun to have on our trip? I love this kid! He was a blast! I hope he still likes us and wants to come on more trips with us!

Love this face!