Stare accordingly without emotion,
Stand ridged without exuding feelings,
Sit proper without releasing breaths.
Always on your best behavior,
Never getting to rest.
Never wearing your true self nature.
Pampered is exasperation,
Wrapped in wealth,
While killing God’s creation,
Of life’s true uniqueness,
Creativity and Beauty,
In one’s personality.
Trickling through my hair,
Smearing on my face,
Cascading down my neck,
Pouring down my spine,
Dragging my pants off my hips,
Swimming down my legs,
Pooling in my boot,
Who needs a pool?
I’ve got the heat.
Slowly trying to get back into painting 😎 I painted for about 5hrs and either it’s done or I’ll put some finishing touches…I have several projects I want to do in the near future, but first I need to plan the wedding.
Haven’t had time to write new posts, because of work, school, and planning a wedding. But I have been able to edit photos and make new art, eventually I will paint these. All photos taken by emily2jane and edited by emily2jane.
I’m never not doing art. Some way or another I have art in my life. 😊
“White dress…check, veil…check, flowers…check, food…check,” Emma whispers…
“How’s the list coming, Honey?” Emma’s mother chimes into her dreamland. Have you decided upon everything you want?
“I think so Mother,” as Emma recites it back to her, confident that she is finished.
“You forgot place. You don’t know where you will have it? Has Nathan given you an idea he likes?”
“A place…” Emma ponders… “Nathan wants it to be in a place up in the woods, he went there for his parent’s renewal. It sounds beautiful but I don’t see us being able to afford it.” Why must there be hints of sadness while planning a happy occasion.
“I’m sorry my darling, but it is good to have a budget. Without one you would plunge into your life savings and that money is for the future; you are allowed to be prudent with your earnings,” Emma’s mother says while embracing Emma, “All will work out my baby.”
I was happy with the idea of being married at City Hall then having a grand big reception afterwards. But Nathan had his idea of a ceremony in front of friends and family. I have also always dreamed about having my almost niece be the flower girl, while the youngest nephew is being a batman symbol thrower. Next, my sister in-law walking down, my second eldest sister, then my eldest sister. My mother would be in the audience with my other nephew, because they prefer to be seen but not stared at. Next would come myself and my brothers; they would be giving me away. Hopefully both, but my eldest brother might be sitting with my mom, because he like she are similar. But for sure my younger brother will, he is my best friend. So yes, I have thought about a ceremony, the idea of having my friends and family taking part in our happy occasion warms my soul. But then that is more spending. If the place and seating was taken care of, I would be able to do the rest, within my budget. We just cannot afford it all.
Understand that Emma has told her mother all of this before, so as Emma sits quietly debating these thoughts in her head, Emma’s mother is just holding her and giving a head scratch.
“What if we had it at Grandpa’s and Grandma’s? The space is big enough. It might not give us everything, and we would have enough within our budget for the rest of the occasion.” Emma suggests an idea, nothing is set in stone.
“I am sure they would love to have you there. But you must discuss it with your future husband, these choices should be a team effort. Everything will be perfect because you are marrying someone you love.”
“Thanks mama, I love you.”
“I love you too, my baby girl.”
Today is our first swim meet of the season and I am not as nervous as I am every year. That might change as I step onto the bus that will take us to showdown.
I am an unusual coach. I like to be the best, but I also like for you to have fun!
My swimmers swam their hearts out yesterday…and it was only Monday practice. If you don’t talk swim I apologize, but they did 4300 yards yesterday; and 3100 yards was the main set. They died…and I couldn’t be more proud. The unusual part of me is I want them to forget that they are dead and die all over again.
Swimming is about moments. Depending on the athlete… but you only have 24 sec, within your moment, to define your effort. Your pain, your suffering must accumulate into something grand so that you know you are doing something right. I think that some of them understand my methods, but that doesn’t stop them from trying to get me to change my plans for them.
Like yesterday, I had a plan for practice. Yes, they would have hated it, but it would have made them stronger. Yes, they would be exhausted today, but it would make that 50 Freestyle seems easy peasy!! Instead I changed my set. Again sorry if you don’t understand…
This what they would had did…
1x(20x25s@25 FR/ 50ez/ 20x50s@40FR/ 50ez/ 10x100s@1:20 FR)
1min rest+50ez
1x(10x50s@45 FR/ 50ez/ 20x25s@25 FR/50ez/ 5x100s@1:15 FR)
50ez
DONE. 4150 yards (main set only (does not include warm-up and cool down)
Instead they did…
3250 yards…
What would that extra 850 yards do…? Someone swimming the 500 FR today would say before the race…I just died doing 4100 yards all out yesterday…this is easy peasy…moments like these can make small improvements. The person,they will race would be terrified. (Because most high schools are not as crazy competitive as me…) So that kid would be thinking before his/ her race…”they are more experienced than me…” or “They are gonna kick my butt!”
(In a world where %= 150%) For swimming, it is 100% physical. This sport uses every muscle equally and drains all your energy. If you swim correctly…
It is 30% mental, I can only do so much as a coach. The biggest thing for a swimmer is decide if you want it more than anyone; YOU swim for YOU, not parents, not school,not your coach, not for friends…You!
Lastly, it is 20% intimidation…Yes, intimidation…You need to portray yourself as the best. You need to stand behind the blocks puffing your chest out. You need to, without being a stinker about it, get into your competitors minds and make them believe you will win the match…
Though it is true, you will not always win 1st place…but swimming is truly about you and a clock. That clock wants you to not try, wants you to give up, wants you to say “I can’t”…If you do, your competitive clock wins. The time runs on, your efforts are wasted.
Stop the clock, make it stop for you! You are in control of what happens. As a coach I wish I could stop the clock sooner. I wish I could make each of them the best they can be…
I guess this meet is different because some of them have done everything I have told them. They have all the knowledge I can give them. I can say focus on this, or focus on that…but I can’t stop their stopwatch.
My three things as a coach…I believe its still the same as last year…
Take your mark…Beep.
All photos by: emily2jane
Because we were only 40min from the border we decided to venture towards Nebraska. 
We stopped at the info building for tourists. Nick wanted a map so we didn’t get lost. The man working there told us of all the hot spots we should checkout while being in the state.
First place was the Oregon wagon trail. It was beautiful up there. That’s where I tried to FaceTime my Mom, but there was no service.
We walked about 1/4 of a mile and once we reached the gravel we were walking where the travelers had walked. The 2 tall rock formations were what the travelers used to know where they were and where to follow to travel.
My guy not knowing he is posing for the photo…😉
It got nippy once we got in the snow. Of course we decided to leave our jackets in the car…
We went up the road to see the better view…it’s amazing!!
There were man made tunnels in the hillsides
There were man made tunnels in the hillsides!
We’ve had Arby’s in another state!! It was one of the best Arby’s I have been to. 😎
That peak off in a distance is chimney rock. When the wagon trail was real, wagons could circle the top of the formation. Because of weather it has decayed and riddled. Now it’s just a point…
We went closer…😁
Across from the chimney was a cemetery. Families that didn’t make the journey on the trail were buried there. The dates went back into the 1850s.
A couple pretty scenes!!
It was just a fun day to go on a road trip with Nick! We had a wonderful day 😊 Though in Nebraska there is only one location that has trees…Nick says he needs trees.
We are planning on going to Calvary Chapel Cheyenne. More pictures to come!!
Love you Mother ❤️😊
Pretty…💕
-All photos taken by: emily2jane-
Cheyenne has been amazing! I had an abrupt but slow morning; my guy left at 7:03am this morning to go for his ride along. He kissed me good bye and I slept until 8:30am. Understand that Wyoming is 1hr ahead. So to me I woke up at 7:30am…
Anyways I needed coffee 😬 and of course I could just drink the stuff provided in our room but I wanted to experience the small cafe shop. Looking at the weather for the day began at 21° and by the time I was leaving the hotel it was 26°. And it would continue to climb until 2pm. So I put on 2 layers of pants, a sweater dress, scarf, fingerless gloves, a knitted hat and my inside lining of the snow jacket.
Since my guy is busy, I planned on meandering through town. I got my coffee at the Paramount Cafe. I stopped at a convience store for a book called, ‘Duty and Honor’. And as I wandered down a street, a cop car pulls over and stops next to the sidewalk. I was a bit nervous, wondering what I did wrong. There in the passenger seat sits my love, bright eyed and smiling. I said hi and hello to the fellow officer taking him around. Its nice to see him excited and happy. Please pray for him, his test is Tuesday. God willing he will pass or not pass. But praying always helps.
Some scenery pictures..
This is a house/art studio. The walls and shelves were filled with all types of art!!
This was just a cute home. I love this style of house.
Right outside of the hotel there is an old classic theater. This photo is taken in front of the thrift store( I talk about it later)
As my day continued, I had to wait until 10-11am for the small shops to open. I stopped in a clothing store that looked sweet from the outside, but once inside I discovered this is a new dangerous store. It’s called, ‘Just Dandy”, and everything in there is my style. Thankfully everything is expensive and not in my price range. Except then the lady tells me the clearance section is down stairs. I got a cute, but nice quality shirt for $17. It’s a tank top fringe beaded shirt.
😳I tried mother…but I did look at prices first before trying on. This store is totally a you store as well…😎
The lady there told me to check out this other place called, ‘Donna’s Boutique’ its more of a thrift store. It’s really cute and this store is more realistically priced. It reminded me of the old thrift store in Monrovia. Then around the corner was a nit-nack type of store. The lady was really nice and so I bought a coffee mug from her.
I turned the corner and returned to the hotel. No more exploring for the day. I dropped off my jacket and headed towards the sitting area. I sat and read my book awhile. Then started this post.
I hope you are enjoying hearing about Cheyenne. If not I’m enjoying writing about it. And this blog is for me and my thoughts!
Again love you mom!! ❤️ I am being good about not buying everything I see 😬
I’m just sitting on the couch with my baby and we are doing completely different things. Im trying to stay focused on my phone while he laughs and giggles at the video on his phone. He is on one side and I’m on the other. However my feet have wedged themselves between his legs. His legs are at a angle that makes it difficult for me to go free.
As I sit here I ponder on when he will ask me that one question that will change everything! That one question I have been dreaming about. 💕 “When!?!”
But alas I sit here, a small distance from him, and I write this post. Sitting and waiting for that question…There as so many things I have to look forward too and so does he 😊 but until both “I dos,” are said, I sit here dreaming and waiting.
Life is crazy…too many emotions and thoughts swirling in my brain that I can’t see straight. But it’s 6:34 am and I must walk to work. Another long day…
emily2jane 