Monday, November 11, 2013

Hey its me Braydon

This is the first post that comes from the Braydon side of the relationship. I want to jump on the bandwagon and start posting to our blog!!! 
Biking in Moab this past weekend 11/2/13
The past year or so has been an enjoyable time and I am happy to talk about it!! There have been times in my life when I would be simply quiet about the experiences I'm going through only because they were not pretty, enjoyable, or something I really want to remember. This post is shared because sometimes God gives us moments in life that are to be enjoyed and remembered for when times get tough.
 To start it off, last fall(2012) Nicole and I were both miraculously on BYU's track and field team. They travelled us all around the country. We went to New York, Texas, New Jersey, Georgia, Washington, and a handful of other places. Who ever thought running and pole vaulting could take us such great places. In high school we loved track but never wanted/thought we could actually do it at a university, although we are very grateful for how it has worked out. Also, BYU is a place Nicole and I never thought we would end up. BYU is actually a much more wonderful place than we originally thought. I can most certainly say that I love this school, the people, and what BYU stands for. Not just how the school is looked at in Utah or Idaho(that's another story) but on a national scale. I am honored to represent BYU as I travel and share with others that it's really a great/unique school. At the end of my Pole vault season I set a new personal best, but was honestly disappointed because I needed to make it to nationals to be there for my teammate(we didn't have a coach). My Teammate Victor ended up setting his personal best without me even there so that made everything alright. :)

Another part of this year that was a great experience was selling out in California this summer. Selling was fun, but was most definitely hard work. Out of the three summers selling I had never really wanted to get more out of the experience than this past summer. I wanted to prove to myself that I could reach the goals I set for myself, especially after not hitting my goal during the track season. So many times in my life I have set goals that I have occasionally reached, but most of the time have fallen short. After this summer I believe a lot more in myself as someone who can set a goal and really push as hard as I can to hit that goal. I was surrounded by great people who pushed me when I wasn't feeling like pushing any harder. It was evident to me that in order to be better than I currently am I need to surround myself with people who are better/stronger than me(with my wife around that's pretty much always.) :) I am so thankful for the people involved in my life who have helped or who are helping me each day. Overall, I really feel like this past year was a gift from God.

I am currently in the film program which is helping me have a much better understanding on the concepts of life, I am involved in an athletics program that is all about helping me be my absolute best self, I am married to my best friend Nicole and get to spend every spare minute with her, and I am healthy and get to wake up each day striving to be better than I was the day before. I am beyond blessed with the experiences I have been given thus far in my life. The idea that life could get better gives me excitement beyond reason and the thought that life could get really tough and challenging keeps me grounded in my faith. I love life and I am thankful for it.

I cannot promise that these posts will be common, but I figured I better write down some of my thoughts before I forget them. I would say I mostly wrote this post for me but if you get any enjoyment out of it then great!







Saturday, November 9, 2013

Rewind Summer 2013

were going to rewind a bit and I'm going to do a little update on this last summer selling out in Bakersfield. Because it was such a great experience and we don't want to forget it! :)


 We didn't get a gym membership until the last month, so to improvise we worked out every night after braydon got back from selling all day at 10:30 pm. To say the least it was super fun.


                                         Doing some pole-vault drills off the light pole, haha


                                                                    are we done yet? 

   One morning we went to the track. it was fun but it was all
                                             dirt and kinda sketchy dodging gopher holes. 

4th of July! :)

 Definitely took advantage of the pool! 

We met a really awesome family in our ward that had a boat and invited us all the time and even put Braydon and Butch on the boat insurance so we could take it out! Say what!?! it was a blast! 

Only downside was waking up at 5am to go:/ 
as you can see I just rolled out of bed! 



Our fun group! 


 All summer I had been wanting to go to the Sequoia National Park and one of the last weekends living out there we finally went and were so happy we did! It was so beautiful and we had a lot of fun 
exploring together :)



& that is a little bit of our summer 2013


Tuesday, August 13, 2013

home made granola bites

I am been experimenting with homemade granola bars and we really like this one and its so easy and yummy! You dont even have to bake it!

I have been freezing them and putting them into braydons lunch so by the time he eats them they are not frozen but just cool & he loves them!

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (dry) old-fashioned oats
  • 2/3 cup toasted coconut flakes
  • 1/2 cup almond butter or peanut butter. I have used both and they are both good. (Almond butter is slightly better for you with more iron and fiber and a little less saturated fat). 
  • 1/2 cup ground flaxseed or wheat germ
  • 1/2 cup mini dark chocolate chips 
  • 1/3 cup honey or agave
  • 1 Tbsp. chia seeds (optional)
  • 1 tsp. Vanilla extract 

Just mix all ingredients in a bowl, cool in refrigerator for 15 or so minutes and them shape them into balls or small oval cookie shapes(like little cliff bars)

These are a great little "energy" snack but are not necessarily low in calories so just a warning.... try not to eat them all in one day :) 

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Bringhurst Family Trip to Cascade

Before coming out to California to sell we were able to go spend a week in Cascade ID with the Bringhursts, Zauggs, and Whitings :) It was so fun to see everyone and to be able to hang out in such a beautiful place for a few days! We love Idaho:)





































BYU Track Experience & Pics with Braydon :)


What an amazing experience this has been to be able to be on the Track team at BYU with Braydon and all of the other amazing friends I have met and the great coaches that have helped me along the way! I am Sooooooooo grateful for the experiences I had and I loved every second of it! Yes even every single second of painful practice, being nervous, setting up my blocks, traveling, seeing new places, long days at the airport, sore muscles, painful rub outs, knots in my muscles, snack shack, Nike clothes, my own locker, showering 3 times a day, new shoes, feeling fast again, getting stronger, pushing myself every single day, pain, seeing progress in myself, running drills, abs, weights, sprints, nearly puking, shin splints, yummy dinners traveling, per dium, nice hotels, and a TON more! I LOVED IT ALL!!!!!