"I want to ride my bicycle..."

I've found it! The perfect cruiser bike. "Gigi" By Electra.

It will be here today!

I will be channeling my inner Audrey as I ride it too. Just you wait Henry Higgins, just you wait!

Oh! and a basket will be had on my new bike, people, oh yes!

Clothes shopping = pain

Ok, not really, but I had the weirdest thing happen to me after I did some shopping at Old Navy. Tell me if this has ever happened to you.

I was carrying my purse on my elbow crease, and went to the clearance section to check out what they had. I started piling clothes onto the same arm that I was carrying said purse. Pretty soon 8 shirts and two pairs of jeans started to get a little heavy, but I continued. After about maybe 10 minutes of searching through clothes my arm went numb and I could no longer carry those clothes. So, I switched arms.

As I walked into the dressing room I could feel my arm tingling and waking up. However, part of my arm continued to stay numb. I didn't think anything of it until another 10 minutes later when I was leaving the store and walking to the car. That part of my forearm was still numb. I kept pinching it, shaking it, waving it around, anything to get it to wake up.

Well my friends it is now almost 8pm the next evening and that part of my arm is STILL numb! It's driving me CRAZY! Tonight I've felt shooting pain in that arm now.

My question is...should I be worried???

Father's Day

There are a few Father's out there that are very important to me, that I would like to recognize on this Day (after) Father's Day. In no particular order.

1.My wonderful husband, Ryan.



Though we may not have kids of our own yet, but he's an amazing Father to Lexus. This love he has for her is endless. Ryan isn't one to express his feelings often at all, but I know his heart and I know his love for Lexus is more then I can imagine. I'm grateful for him and know that when it's our turn to raise kids on this earth he'll be amazing all over again.

When I had a miscarriage back in 2006 I had a really rough time. What I didn't realize was that it was tough on Ryan too. As I said above, he doesn't share his emotions, nor wear them on my sleeve like I do. He's strong enough for the both of us. However, he told me one day as I was remembering that difficult time, that it was difficult for him too. He talks about how lucky we are that we get to raise this spirit someday, and I'm grateful for that. I'm grateful for him and for all that he does for me. I couldn't ask for a more fitting husband for me, who has taught me so much. I love you Ryan!

2. My own Dad. Doug.






The guy who helped raise me and my 7 siblings. The guy who helped instill the love of music into our hearts. The guy who would play games with us as kids, like "Tickle Monster". To this day we still laugh until we cry when it comes to that game. The guy who always showed respect to our Mom, and helped us see how much they love each other (even on their bad days...we all have them). I am grateful for his example as a loving Father who loves his Children dearly and would do anything for their happiness.

I recall one very special moment with my Dad. I had just broken off a relationship, and was having a very difficult time. I was lying on my bed in my room sobbing uncontrollably. I could tell my Dad had just walked in my room and was standing there watching me. I could hear him sniff. I knew he was feeling my pain, but didn't want to disturb me at that moment. After I was done I walked out and talked with him in our living room. He said. "Shannon, I'm so sorry you're going through this. I walked in your room and saw you sobbing, and couldn't help by cry myself because of your pain." (I tear up thinking about what he said, still). I love you Dad!


3. My Brother. Shane.


Oh brother, how grateful I am for you! Growing up we were never really close just because of our personalities. I loved girly things and you were writing music in your dungeon down stairs. However, over the years we've become closer and closer and I'm grateful for that. You're an amazing brother, friend and Father. You and Sharon are a great match and great parents to your boys +plus the new little one to come. Love you bro!

4. My bro-in-law. Kurtavich Chamovski: aka: Kurt Summerhays.



I'll never forget our first phone conversation while I was in Chile on my Mission and you came with a friend to visit his family, and that friend's family just happened to live in the area where I was. You called and said that you were dating my little sister. I was appalled that she didn't even tell me she was dating anyone! I was worried that someone in the family would get married while I was away, but after meeting you and knowing that she was marrying you I wasn't worried anymore. I remember giving you a letter to give to Caiti(amongst other things to take back to my family). I told her that she had my approval to date, and marry you.

I'm grateful for the good husband you are to her, and the amazing Father you are to those boys, + the newest addition coming in November. You're an incredible example for us. Love you bro!

5. My newest bro-in-law. James. Although it's been less then a year since you've been married to Megan, it feels like you've been in this family for a long time. Thanks for all that you do for my sister. For coming into her life and taking in her boys as if they were yours. Thank you! Thank you for giving us new nieces and a new nephew; Hunter, Lauren and Jadyn. We sure love them!

6. My Father-in-law. Dan. The man who helped raise my Ryan. I'm grateful for you for raising up such an amazing son. Thank you for all you do for us! You're a wonderful Dad, and Grandpa. I have the BEST In-Law's. We love you!

7. My Grandpa-in-law. John. Another amazing Man. I'm grateful for all you have done for us. It's so great each time we get to see you when we're up in Wyoming. You're kindness and generosity is something we can only hope to be emulate. We love you!

Oh! The places I want to go...

I'm itching. Bad. I'm itching to move around and soak in different cultures. There are so many places I want to go.

I want to see architecture like this...



Take pictures of colorful homes like these...



Lay on the sand of places like this...



Frolick on hills and mountains like this...



Ride from place to place in things like this...



But mostly I want to go to a place like this and meet beautiful people like these...and take one or two home with me. :)


(this is actually a friend of mine in Ghana working at an Orphanage. She's a saint!)

Got high arches?...

*warning* If you are not a foot person and don't like seeing other people's feet, then move along.

...I know I sure do. I've always known I had high arches, but going to the podiatrist last week confirmed that even more. I've been having so much pain in my heels, specifically my left heal, since last summer when I started running. I wake up in the morning and am literally hobbling around because it hurts so bad.

So, I decided it was high time to get to the Dr.

Doc walks in and says "do I know you? You look familiar." "uh, I don't think so" I said. And then we got down to business. I sat in the chair that felt and looked like a dentist chair. He examined my feet and the first thing out of his mouth was, "wow, you've got high arches". "Yes, I know." I said. "No really, they're really high!" he exclaimed. "Yep, they sure are." I concluded.

So he pushed around the heel asking if it hurt here, or here, to which I yelled in the affirmative.
He decided to get an x-ray of my feet so we could see if I possibly had a bone spur on my heel. A few minutes later the x-ray was done and he came back with the slides. He walks in and says, "You're the proud owner...". Not just one but TWO bone spurs. One on each heel. Then he went right back to the arch thing.
"I just can't get over how high they are, how are you even walking young lady?"

I just laughed it off, didn't quite know what to say. Then he came back with, "you must have walked pigeon toed where you were a kid." "nope, I sure didn't. I walked normal", I said.
"You see this bone here and the bones on top, and how they stick out? That's going to be an issue for you when you're older."

"What are you saying Dr." I said in shock.
"You're going to need surgery. We're going to have to de-arch your feet"

SAY WHAT?!?!?!?!

For those of you who know me you know that my feet are my favorite part of my body. Growing up my Dad had always told me that I had very dainty feet. I have always taken great pride in that. The arch has always made them look pretty, as pretty as feet can get, I guess. I like my arches, but gosh darn-it. I don't like how they're hurting me.

So, he told me of a few things that can be done in the mean time....

-Fit me for Orthodics: Check! I pick them up in 2 weeks
-Take a prescription strength Ibuprofen each day: Check!

-Do stretching exercises each day: Check!

-Get a Cortizone shot in each heel: ...umm...no thanks!

He didn't understand why I didn't want this. Hello! It's a needle going in my heel...that ='s PAIN my friends! He even said it would hurt.

Yes, I'm a wimp! I know! He said that once the orthotics are in and after a few weeks if there is no improvement in the pain, or bone spur then he's going to give me the Cortizone. "FINE", I said. You can do it then, but not now.

I'm not looking forward to the surgery, and recovery. Oh arches, I have loved you, and I will miss you come surgery time. Never fret, for we will meet again at the Resurrection.

The Boys' Home...

Tonight I am home alone as Ryan helps with sand bags around the city, due to a flood. I don't like being home alone at night, not at all, never have liked it. I don't like going to sleep by myself. I'm afraid of the dark.

However, tonight as I was chatting with my BFF Kristine I told her about my anxiety about the dark, and being home alone. She said that something she likes to do before she goes to bed is listen to General Conference talks. I thought it was a great idea, and decided tonight I was going to do just that to help me feel peace.

I went to our Church's site, scrolled down and happened upon the 'Mormon Messages'. If you haven't seen these you really must. They're beautiful!

I first listened to the one about Stephani Nielsen, and her new life after being involved in a plane crash. What a touching story that brought me to tears. I've been following her blog since I heard about the crash, and after she started blogging again.

I then saw a video next to it called "The Boys' Home". I bawled and I bawled watching this. There are a few reasons for me being so overcome with such emotion (and it continues as I write this).

1. These boys are orphans. They are children who were abandoned by their parents and left to fend for themselves on the streets.
2. I don't have children of my own and I so badly, and I mean SO badly want them. The Fertility Gods are not friends on mine.
3. I want to adopt kids from around the world. It's been a dream of mine for a long time; I hope it's something we'll be blessed with.

Watching this video makes me sad that there are children on the street trying to figure out where their next meal will come from. Children who have never owned a ball and more then anything want one. Children who have worn the same clothes for months at a time, because they have nothing else. Oh! My heart breaks for them.

I want a chance to be a Mother. I want to give Children like these wonderful boys a place to call home, parents who will love them, care for them, feed them, play games with them, teach them, raise them up in the Gospel.

My heart aches at this moment for this life blessing. I pray and I pray that one day the Lord will see me fit to be a Mother, Ryan, a father again. I long for this day more then anything in the world.

Enjoy this sweet video.

Vegas, baby!!

I'm finally getting around to posting about my weekend adventure in Las Vegas back at the end of April.

XanGo was having their Las Vegas Regional Event, and naturally, since I work for XanGo, I was one of the lucky ones to go and work at the event and enjoy Vegas. And Oh! What fun we had!

We all piled into two Lewis Stages buses early Thursday Morning and made our way to Fabulous Las Vegas. It's been many years since I've been there, besides just driving through. So, I was excited!

We were lucky enough to stay in the beautiful Paris Hotel.




It was beautiful, indeed! Very elegant. I really felt like I was in France. There were some interesting looking people there, big casinos; I felt very out of place, but was going to enjoy my little vacation...sort of.

My roommate was Barbara, who is also one of my agents in the call center. She's a great employee. My friend, and fellow Manager, Violeta, was supposed to go with us and be my roommate but she hurt her back the day before we were to leave. She was so sad she couldn't go. I don't blame her. Poor girl. But, after finding out about her my first thought was to get one of our best female agents to go and be my roommate...so Barbara it was. She was SOO excited!





We had a beautiful room on the 15th floor and found that we had the BEST VIEW! A perfect view of the Strip. Surely other XanGo employees had a view like ours, but no, we were the lucky ones! The Paris balloon and the Arc were right outside our window to the left, the Eiffel tower was right there to the right, and the Bellagio was right there in front of us, which meant that we had the best seats to watch the fountains, including being able to hear the music. AWESOME! In fact after getting settled in we were chatting and heard this weird loud noise, and I couldn't figure out what it was. I thought an airplane was really low or something...but then I heard the music, pulled open the drapes to the room and that's when we saw the fountains going. It was so beautiful! We were SO excited!



I even called Ryan the first day and felt so emotional because our view was absolutely breathtaking. I wanted him there so bad to enjoy it with me.

Then it was time to get to work. We ate our Paris Hotel catered meals each day; so good, the best food! We worked hard in the Store on Friday and Saturday. It was so much fun mingling with our Distributors, hugging them, getting to know them and laughing with them, and sharing our love for the XanGo products together. I've never had more fun at a XanGo event then while at Vegas, and I've worked at ALOT of their events.

I wish I had had a real camera, besides my dinky camera phone to take pictures. I didn't want to bring my huge camera. I've got to get a smaller one, one of these days!

Barbara and I didn't go out partying like other people did. We were exhausted after each session, and went to bed early each night; sometimes watching movies on tv, like 'Runaway Bride', until we fell asleep. But always basking in the beautiful lights outside our window.


It was funny being in that hotel. You felt so elegant being there among all the beautiful architectural details inside, the Gold moldings, shops, boutiques, etc...but then you'd go into the bathroom and you'd hear the "Learn French" recordings, all "Phrases you need to know while in Vegas". There were phrases like, "Do you believe in love at first sight or shall I walk by again?", and, "I've lost my phone number can I have yours?", and some crazier phrases like, "I like your dress, but it would look better on the floor." or, "Are those real?" I bustes out laughing in that public bathroom the first time I heard these recordings. It was hilarious! I was definitely in Vegas.

Besides working Barbara and I did go out and walk around our last night there. It's crazy how many people are there on the weekends, not too mention how many drunk and crazy people there are there. I felt a bit icky...it was an experience.

I was able to see my BFF Kris. She picked me and a few other girls up one night and we went shopping at H&M outside of Vegas. I love that store!

Overall it was great fun! I really want to go back and stay in that same hotel and show Ryan how beautiful it was.

Dear Mother Nature...

...I thank you for dropping by each month to let me know that you still exist. However this month you've really outstayed your welcome. You said you'd only be here for a week at the most, but do you realize it's been more then 2 weeks now and YOU'RE STILL HERE! Not trying to be rude, but you've got to go. Mmmm'kay pumpkin?!

Sincerely yours,