Do you hear the people sing?

I love music. There is just something about it that I have always been drawn to. This week has been full of musical experiences. The U2 360 concert with The Frey was amazing, so much so it is kind of hard to find words to describe it. JD and I had the great opportunity to go to Les Miserables as well; a timeless piece of work that I remember listening to before I was 5. The new Pirates of the Caribbean music was released; I am in love with Hans Zimmer. And then tonight I have been winding in and out of some of my favorite artists: Switchfoot, The Shins, Weepies, This Holiday Life, and so on; I love how a song can automatically bring back a memory or just make you feel good because you are listening to it.

Happy Mum's Day

Happy Mother's Day! I found it only suiting to honor my amazing mom on such a fun holiday. My mom is one of the coolest people I know. I don't know of many mothers who are willing to drive their kids to California for a surfing competition and rock concert on the beach-Switchfoot Bro-Am-, drive her daughters to the Rock Springs Wyoming Fair to see the same band play, and ask for the lead singer to put some sunscreen on her nose (pictured above, Jon Foreman of Switchfoot), go with us to competitions in Alaska, Portland, Florida, sponser Tennessee, and help with the projects that got us there. Take us on such trips as Fish Lake every year, California, Oregon (multiple times), Florida, Lake Powell, Wyoming, and the spontaneous state trips. Let me paint my wall green despite her fear of color on walls. I have learned much from my mom: never be late, always be on time, always take a water bottle with you even if you don't need it, don't be afraid to go somewhere new or try something new, learning is fun and important, go to college, math is hard even for adults, check the weather at least 10 times to be fully prepared (I have dubbed her the "Weathermom"), finish the jobs you agree to do, how to appropriately and satisfactorily clean a bathroom including a scrubbed sink/tub, how to make peach jam, service is important, fulfilling callings at 110%, don't get sick (and if you are try to hide it or she is freaked out), you have to learn to cook even if you hate it, make lists, and this list could go on for awhile. I love my mom so much, she is awesome, and I am super blessed to have her in my life.

Learning to Breathe

While this is the title of an excellent Switchfoot song, it has been my theme this week....ok maybe longer than that, but there was a new turn to the Chronicles of the Right Lung recently. I found out I have asthma, more noticable when induced by exercise! Now some have been saying: that stinks, I am so sorry. To me, however, this is fantastic news! It isn't a life threatening state like my PE was, it isn't a chronic pleurisy like my Tietze syndrome in the upper right lung, it isn't the genetic defect that makes my body enjoy making embolisms to send to my lung to cause havoc, it is TREATABLE. Not only that, but the treatment is EASY. I thought I was just out of shape or that my lung was still very unhappy when I was running this week after finally getting permission to exercise again from my doctor. I was wheezing more than normal and coughing more than normal and long story short, I bumped into my doctor with the next day remnant of these symptoms and he rolled his eyes, stated what he said was obvious, and now I have an inhaler. Friends, family, this inhaler has changed my outlook on breathing. I only wish I had known it was ok to breathe while doing things, or I would have been using this wonderful medication back in junior high. 1-2 quick puffs 30 minutes prior to activity and I can breathe while I do stuff! It is SO much fun!

YAY FOR ASTHMA!!!!!