The Nasal Rinse

So I have been getting sinus infections pretty regularly over the last year-super annoying and a huge pain in the but!!  I had a CT Scan to see if I had a chronic infection, but the scan looked good so we aren't really sure why I have started getting them all of a sudden.  After this last infection the good doctor asked me if I had ever tried a nasal rinse.  I, of course, answered no and he proceeded to tell me how I might feel like I was drowning but it would really help keep my sinuses cleared out.  Drowning?  Thanks, but no thanks Doc. 

Mac on the other hand was completely intrigued by the idea.  We went to the store and bought the kit and it sat there staring at me all day long.  I was terrified.  I am not really sure why, but I REALLY did not want to try it.  Mac finally said he would do it first so I could see how it worked, and then it would be my turn.  I agreed.  So how it works, in case you have never had the pleasure of doing a nasal rinse, is this:  You pour the saline solution in one nostril, breathe out of your mouth so you don't start choking, and the solution comes out the other nostril!! GROSS!  I documented mac's first experience with the nasal rinse and I find it quite entertaining.  Here are a few funny pictures--ENJOY!

Girls Camp Rocked My Socks Off!

I don't really even know where to start when I think of what I want to share about my amazing week at girls camp.  I cannot speak enough good words about these amazing young women and how much I  learned form them.  They are truly daughters of God and they live as examples and representatives of him every day of their lives.  It has been a good five years since I was in the Young Womens Program but this experience reminded me of what a divinely inspired program it is.

We had a pretty small group--we started out with 7 girls, but one girl got sick and had to go home so we had only 6 left.  I am so glad we had such a small group because we were all able to really get to know one another and grow to love one another.  I have to be honest, I was TERRIFIED for girls camp!  I was put in the primary almost immediately after mac and I were married and moved into this ward so I really didn't know these girls-AT ALL!!  I look back and kinda chuckle that I was nervous they wouldn't like me or girls camp wouldn't be fun, because with girls like these there is no way it could have been lame!

I had a really special experience the first night we were at girls camp.  One of the stake camp directors had recently returned from a tour in Afghanistan and she shared her experience and a slide show of pictures from her time over there.  I think the girls were concerned their leader was slightly unstable (since I bawled through the entire fireside...like really, the whole thing) but they were still nice to me anyway.  With Mac being in the Utah Air National Guard and planning to have a life long military career, I have been plagued with fears about the day when he will be deployed overseas.  I try to be strong when we talk about it but the thought would always strike fear into my heart.  All the "what ifs" would fly through my mind and I would think of every worst case scenario.  I wasn't strong.  I would worry and worry again.  During this fireside something incredible happened.  I didn't feel afraid anymore.  I felt peace.  I felt confidence that no matter what happens, regardless of whether mac goes over seas and comes home or doesn't come home, Heavenly Father has a plan for me and knows what I need in my life.  My testimony in eternal families was strengthened and I felt such gratitude that I am sealed to Mac for eternity, and no earthly war can change that fact.  I realized I have to have faith and leave it in the Lords hands.  I feel so proud to be Macs wife.  He is truly one of the most selfless people I have ever known.  He is a leader in every sense of the word.  Some people try to lead by telling you what to do because they know more than you, but Mac leads by example.  He is one of those people who will be right next to those he is serving, doing the dirty work right along with them.  People are just drawn to him because of his optimistic personality.  I know he will be able to do great things wherever he is.

Here are some fun pictures from Camp:

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!

This blog is a little late getting posted but man, have we been busy!  We celebrated our 1 year anniversary on June 19th.  It was such a special day and we enjoyed every minute of it.  I need to back up a little bit to the two weeks before our anniversary.  Mac left for Georgia on June 6 for a two week active duty training period.  He was scheduled to arrive home at 7pm on our anniversary.  I was kinda being a baby before mac left--I really have a hard time when he is gone and I guess I just had a bad attitude about it all together.  A couple days before he left I realized I wasn't being a very good support to him and I changed my ways.  I sent him off early on Sunday morning and vowed that I would be a good sport for the next two weeks.  I kept SUPER busy during those two weeks with work, photo shoots, girls camp, weddings, etc. but I still found plenty of time to miss my man.  It was kinda fun to go back to the days when he was in Logan and I was in Provo--where we would talk on the phone every day and we had to make that be enough until we could see each other again--that is what it felt like.  We talked and laughed and missed each other the whole two weeks.  Mac surprised me by changing his flight home so he arrived home at 1pm!  We went to dinner at Rodizio's Brazilian Grill and then went to see a movie.  We ate our delicious wedding cake and drank sparkling cider.  It was absolutely perfect and I am so lucky to have a husband like Mac.  I love you Honey!

Photography!

Hey everyone,  I know I have been neglecting this blog of late, but I've kept up to date posting on my photography blog!!  Check it out and let me know what you think!!

http://jaimebradyphotography.blogspot.com/

Insanity-Day 1

Well, I'm slightly ashamed to say that after our first encounter with INSANITY Mac and I took about a week to recover (I think I finally started walking normally again a few days ago) But now we are back and ready to go!  We did day 1 today which is plyometric cardio circuit training.  Oh. My. Gosh.  I'm exhausted!!  He kept saying to check your heart rate to make sure you are safe, and I'm pretty sure my heart has never beat that fast.  I took plenty of breaks but I'm proud that we finished the workout--a whole 45 minutes! I swear, the warm up is the first 10-15 minutes and we both felt like we could have been done after the warm up and still have felt like we worked our butts off!  Coming up tomorrow is Cardio power and resistance.....I'm not sure I like the sound of that!!  For those of you who work with me, or know the stages of change, I'm pretty sure I'm still in the contemplation stage--or maybe somewhere in between there and the action stage.  I'm doing the workouts, but I'm still struggling with the mental part of it all--if it weren't for Mac I would likely have sat on the couch and read a book all night.  Mac on the other hand is definitely in the action stage.  He is so motivated and has such a positive attitude about working out and being healthy.  Good thing I've got him!!

INSANITY

Have you ever heard of Insanity?  Not just the general insanity of every day life or work in general (if you have a job like mine) but the workout kind of Insanity.  Mac and I saw an infomercial the other day for this workout by the makers of P90X.  The workouts looked super intense but the cool part is that you don't need all kinds of crazy equipment to be able to do the workouts--which equals a lot of $$ saved.  Anyway, after some deep contemplation we decided it would be worth our money to give these workouts a shot and man, were we right!!  We got the DVD's in the mail today and did the "warm up" and "fitness test" tonight for a grand total of like 25 minutes including resting time.  Oh. My. Gosh.  I've never been so completely and totally exhausted in so few minutes.  After just the warm up I was gasping for air.  Anyways, we know it is going to be A LOT of HARD WORK but it will definitely be worth it.  There is just something about being able to work out in my own home that makes me a slightly more motivated to work out and get into shape.  So, we will keep you posted on our progress....and maybe if we commit to report our "progress" to you all on here then we will be a little more motivated to stick with it even though it is going to kick our butts!  So.....after Day 1 of our workout here are the results of our fitness tests.  Keep in mind that these are the number of reps in 1 minute of sheer craziness.....

                                          MAC                   JAIME
Switch Kicks:                     55                           45
Power Jacks:                       43                          45
Power Knees:                     86                           49
Power Jumps:                     22                           15
Globe Jumps:                      5                              8
Suicide Jumps:                   14                             7
Push-up Jacks:                   25                           12
Low Plank Obliques:         30                           32

Our next fitness test will be on Day 15, so if I am still alive by then I'll give you another update.  Wish us luck!!  And if it looks like I'm in pain as I walk the next time you see me....it is probably because I am.

Much Love!!

Blogging? Whats that?

I'm getting better....I promise!  It's only been a couple of weeks since my last post so that is improvement right there!  Life has been pretty busy for us lately.  Mac is in Moab this weekend Canyoneering with his class from the University of Utah.  I wish you could have all seen his face after going to class to hear about what they would be doing: repelling, rock climbing, swimming, etc. Basically whatever the canyon can throw at them.  I, on the other hand, sweetly asked my husband to come home without any dislocated or broken body parts.  I take the fact that I haven't gotten a call from the hospital yet as a very good sign.

My sister in law, Jessa, had her little baby boy on Wednesday April 7th at 12:45 am!!  I got a text from her in the morning on the 6th saying she was having contractions and I non-selfishly texted her back asking her to hold on until after midnight since I guessed she would have the baby on April 7th.  She graciously said she would do her best and sure enough, he was born on the 7th!  His name is Jack Sanders Layton and he is a beautiful little boy.  I can't wait to photograph him growing up!  Here are a few sneak peeks from the photo session at the hospital......

What a little cutie!  Anyway, things are going well for me, I'm working a lot and spending a lot of time taking pictures!  I'm now doing 3 full weddings (engagements, bridals, and wedding day), one wedding day, one reception, and some family photo sessions.  It seriously is so much fun and I wish I could do that 40 hours a week instead of being stressed out and exhausted from my job every day, but I'm just glad I get to spend some time having fun behind my camera.  I'm also glad that I have awesome family and friends who trust me enough to capture the moments of such important events in their lives!  Anywho, it's late so I guess I'll try to get some sleep now.  Remember to check out my photography blog, and remember it is a work in progress:

www.jaimebradyphotography.blogspot.com
http://jaimebradyphotography.blogspot.com/