Coleens Business

  Daring to Dream... Have you ever had the desire to do something that seems impossible? Maybe you feel you have to be the one to lead the way or maybe you feel that if you start to pursue your dream you might have opposition or difficulty that would make life hard and unpleasant. It's true, hard things come and unpleasantness accompanies many important tasks and goals...there is no doubt about it. Why they are connected is a mystery until you push through the hard and on the other side, realize that the hard was worth it. The challenge motivated you to do something new, greater, purposeful and inspiring.  As I said last week the half Ironman races had come to my hometown. I spent some time volunteering and doing a small task where I met some wonderful people. I looked around and was reminded of my mother's words "Many hands make for light work".  This week I helped with a food station along the Ironman path. The runners by the time they reached us had already swum an...

  Fall Colors... Fall colors reflect warmth and are an inviting beacon to the holiday season. I went pumpkin shopping and founds these little gems. Each one looked more lovely next to another. Every shape, size, and color... they welcome me as I return home or as I greet those who come to my door. What else brings color and warmth into my life? People! This week I have been making contacts for an assignment in one of my classes. In doing so I have put myself out there and met some wonderful people. I have also been reminded how much I value the friends I have. These relationships are a treasure.   I had the opportunity to volunteer to prepare for the Half Ironman competition that will be taking place here in St. George at the end of this next week. It was just a small way to help...for nearly 5 hours I made clusters of safety pins to be put in the athlete's bags. While doing so I met some amazing people. One cute lady was 71 years old and was about as vivacious of a perso...

  Better Together... It was Fall break for the grandkids. We got to take these two on a hike with us. Bret was so good to carry Mav in a child backpack scrambling up the hills, through the blackberry bushes, and under the trees along the path. My Daughter Tara stayed close to Bret as he was carrying her babe on his back and Ellsie was my buddy so when the others trekked ahead we had each other. Watching her skip across the rocks and marvel at the beauty surrounding us was fun for me. I think she actually liked it when we were left alone to venture together. I love this sweet girl! Something about this place reminded me of my childhood and how nature was my playground. I was glad I got to share it with her and the others. It was just better together... What I Have Learned... I was reminded that if you don't spend time together with those you love, you miss out. I learned that the Lord really does help you do the impossible, I really didn't know how I was going to get through the...

  The Light Within... Every spring and fall the city I live in has a clean-up day where they place garbage bins around the city in neighborhoods and people clean up their yards and bring what they want to throw away to the dumpsters to be hauled off for them. It is nice because it makes you think of what might be just laying around junking up the yard or house that is too big for a garbage can but not quite enough to make a trip to the landfill. We woke up Saturday morning and heard the thud that erupts every time a load of trash is dumped into the dumpster. We got busy and took loads of old garden trash, and dead sunflower plants and got busy trimming limbs from overgrown shrubs and trees. It didn't take as long as you would think and what a difference it made! As I watched the tractors work to fill the bins, I thought to myself how it seems like you have to get rid of unnecessary things that seem to accumulate in life to make way for things that fill your life with light . As soo...

  Restoration... Restoration is a word that to me brings much hope. If everything is just left as it is it seems that it will be devoured by the aging process. I recently became infatuated with old houses that seem to be abandoned and uncared for. It seemed that the earth and the vines and the weathering were just weighing it down, pulling it gradually into the decaying abyss of nature. The vines and plants literally growing in the crevasses where the dirt, mud, or decaying rot had made way for seeds to sprout and begin the gradual demise of the building. I couldn't help but think many times about what would have happened if the owner had continued to restore and preserve each structure.  I had this thought again today as Bret and I drove by the St. George Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is in the middle of structural restoration and remodeling. It is very special to our hearts. We were married within its walls...Seeing the great effort that is be...