Kids began arriving here at my home on Wednesday early afternoon to travel with us up to SLC, as I tried to pack, complete water jobs, and clean the house in preparation to leave. By Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. we had two cars full of young people en route to our home in SLC to participate in the Wasatch Back Ragnar. It was awesome!
Thursday we got up early and went on a hike to Lisa Falls up beautiful Little Cottonwood Canyon! It was beautiful! With some 15 of us at that point, we were quite a group, still missing many. Several were still en route!
We went downtown and had a tour of the beautiful LDS Conference Center gardens, learning about the mountains, the fountain of living waters on the roof - directly over the top of the pulpit - with water - living water - flowing out in all four directions, spreading the word of God to the world! To the deserts and barren landscapes representing other parts of Utah and the world on the West side of the building. From there we had some young people who wanted to see the inside of the building, especially a special chandelier. So we participated in another tour of the inside, learning amazing details about the structure of the building, which will accommodate some 22,000 people in an amazing engineering feat of no supporting columns. Our tour guide was fabulous, Elder Jensen from Danish road, shared his testimony of the intricacies of the truth of the gospel, witnessed through his experiences in giving tours of the conference center. Thanks Elder Jensen!
He showed us beautiful artwork inside the building, original pieces which testify of Christ. With some in the group not members of the church, and many which I didn't know personally, I was hesitant to take them on this tour, but when it was prompted by their desire to see, they were enthralled and eager to see! From there we treated them to lunch at the Lion House, grateful for abundance from above which could allow us to do so. Everywhere we went people asked if these were my children? Funny! I finally just started claiming them, "Yes, these are my young people!" Grateful that they were well behaved, making that a pleasure! It was quite a group, and an expensive lunch, one we hope they will remember as being special.
From there, we went to the State Capitol Building which has recently been completely remodeled. We had a tour at 2:00, and enjoyed learning about historical background of that building. It was just not as impressive as the symbolism pointed out in the Conference Center. I don't know if it was the difference of the guide, or the lack of depth there, but it was stark contrast for me. The young people were all well behaved for which I am grateful!
Ironically, Thursday my own young people, J, L, C, and S were en route from Lake Powell where they spent the first part of the week with the Paulsen's. They were supposed to meet in SLC on Wednesday, but that day, winds on Powell were in excess of 60 mph, and they called, concerned, asking if they could please wait one more day for safety sake. Of course! So Thursday, we did all these great adventures, as tourists, claiming these kids, when in fact, I was missing four of my own! Ironic!
Sr. Team joined us by that evening as well as all the team members at our Sandy home for a barbecue and team coordination meeting. It was fun to hear introductions, and have everyone there anxious about the race which was to begin early the next morning. With many, many on the floors everywhere, we tried to tuck everyone in by 9 p.m., not really making it until closer to 10:30 that night, we all tried to get some sleep for the long adventure ahead!
Friday morning, the first two cars had to be on the road by 3:30 a.m.. They were groggy and bewildered as to the "fun" of this, but left for the adventure. The next time I heard from them was close to 7:00 a.m. and they were all participating wildly in the fun of the relay! Start line concerns had melted, safety meetings done, waivers turned in, and they were in full swing, in fact ahead of our anticipated schedule with the first two runners near complete.
It was a great race. Many tender mercies. Because we had four separate cars, and lots of people, I regret that I don't have pictures of everyone! I wish I had taken a picture at the barbecue on Thursday night because that was really the only time we were all together! Grateful for cell phones which allow us to connect and coordinate details including the care of four of my Jr. team! Brad was in our white truck, Car 1 for team #119 - his team included (in running order) Kati, Brittney, Rod, Brad, Anthony, Kacee. They also had Sara in their truck. (Regret I don't have any pictures from this car!)
Brinley went with Jed in our grey truck with six runners - Lauren, Chris (who has been living in Kuwait and got back late Wednesday night to participate! Grateful he made it!), Jordan (SVU friend from Vegas), Travis (Kiya's friend, leaves on a mission this week to Paraguay), Jed, and Kiya. They were car two for team #119.
Coach Whitney, a young Coach from Dixie High Cross Country Team drove Car 1, an expedition he borrowed, for Team #434 including Hunter, Coach, Braxton, Wesley, Chandler & Jason. These boys were called affectionately this past cross country season "the Freshmen Five." They are a great group of boys! I regret that I don't have any pictures of them during the race either! I hope to find someone in that car that had a camera to share some photos!
Then I drove our Rig with two Jr team members - Samuel and Jakob - in addition to all six runners: Kylea, Liesl, Joshua, Mary, Shayla and Brittney.
I am so grateful for Divine Providence which protected us the entire trip! With some eight vehicles which drove from St. George to Salt Lake, and two more who came from Las Vegas, then four vehicles on the road for the duration of the relay, and then to have all those cars FULL of people return safely after having been awake, running, nearly solid since Friday morning at 3:30 a.m.! We are sincerely grateful for the miracles of guardian angels, for the watchful hand of our Father in Heaven who protected us all! Las Deo! Praise be to God!
The only injuries I am aware of on the entire trip are many, many sore muscles, several blisters, and we had two runners - Jed and Shayla who went down on the dirt path in leg #35 which was a new, single track trail they changed on the course this year. I understand it was a bike trail, bumpy with rocks pocking up, and only the width of your shoe in places. They both caught a rock pocking up, which when you are that tired at the end of something exhausting and taxing on all bodily functions, they didn't lift their feet high enough, and caught the rocks, sending them down. Many, many at the end of that section were dusty and bloody. Both of our runners have skinned knees and palms from that section. I am grateful we escaped with nothing more serious than that! Thank you Heavenly Father!
Thursday we got up early and went on a hike to Lisa Falls up beautiful Little Cottonwood Canyon! It was beautiful! With some 15 of us at that point, we were quite a group, still missing many. Several were still en route!
We went downtown and had a tour of the beautiful LDS Conference Center gardens, learning about the mountains, the fountain of living waters on the roof - directly over the top of the pulpit - with water - living water - flowing out in all four directions, spreading the word of God to the world! To the deserts and barren landscapes representing other parts of Utah and the world on the West side of the building. From there we had some young people who wanted to see the inside of the building, especially a special chandelier. So we participated in another tour of the inside, learning amazing details about the structure of the building, which will accommodate some 22,000 people in an amazing engineering feat of no supporting columns. Our tour guide was fabulous, Elder Jensen from Danish road, shared his testimony of the intricacies of the truth of the gospel, witnessed through his experiences in giving tours of the conference center. Thanks Elder Jensen!
He showed us beautiful artwork inside the building, original pieces which testify of Christ. With some in the group not members of the church, and many which I didn't know personally, I was hesitant to take them on this tour, but when it was prompted by their desire to see, they were enthralled and eager to see! From there we treated them to lunch at the Lion House, grateful for abundance from above which could allow us to do so. Everywhere we went people asked if these were my children? Funny! I finally just started claiming them, "Yes, these are my young people!" Grateful that they were well behaved, making that a pleasure! It was quite a group, and an expensive lunch, one we hope they will remember as being special.
From there, we went to the State Capitol Building which has recently been completely remodeled. We had a tour at 2:00, and enjoyed learning about historical background of that building. It was just not as impressive as the symbolism pointed out in the Conference Center. I don't know if it was the difference of the guide, or the lack of depth there, but it was stark contrast for me. The young people were all well behaved for which I am grateful!
Ironically, Thursday my own young people, J, L, C, and S were en route from Lake Powell where they spent the first part of the week with the Paulsen's. They were supposed to meet in SLC on Wednesday, but that day, winds on Powell were in excess of 60 mph, and they called, concerned, asking if they could please wait one more day for safety sake. Of course! So Thursday, we did all these great adventures, as tourists, claiming these kids, when in fact, I was missing four of my own! Ironic!
Sr. Team joined us by that evening as well as all the team members at our Sandy home for a barbecue and team coordination meeting. It was fun to hear introductions, and have everyone there anxious about the race which was to begin early the next morning. With many, many on the floors everywhere, we tried to tuck everyone in by 9 p.m., not really making it until closer to 10:30 that night, we all tried to get some sleep for the long adventure ahead!
Friday morning, the first two cars had to be on the road by 3:30 a.m.. They were groggy and bewildered as to the "fun" of this, but left for the adventure. The next time I heard from them was close to 7:00 a.m. and they were all participating wildly in the fun of the relay! Start line concerns had melted, safety meetings done, waivers turned in, and they were in full swing, in fact ahead of our anticipated schedule with the first two runners near complete.
It was a great race. Many tender mercies. Because we had four separate cars, and lots of people, I regret that I don't have pictures of everyone! I wish I had taken a picture at the barbecue on Thursday night because that was really the only time we were all together! Grateful for cell phones which allow us to connect and coordinate details including the care of four of my Jr. team! Brad was in our white truck, Car 1 for team #119 - his team included (in running order) Kati, Brittney, Rod, Brad, Anthony, Kacee. They also had Sara in their truck. (Regret I don't have any pictures from this car!)
Brinley went with Jed in our grey truck with six runners - Lauren, Chris (who has been living in Kuwait and got back late Wednesday night to participate! Grateful he made it!), Jordan (SVU friend from Vegas), Travis (Kiya's friend, leaves on a mission this week to Paraguay), Jed, and Kiya. They were car two for team #119.
Coach Whitney, a young Coach from Dixie High Cross Country Team drove Car 1, an expedition he borrowed, for Team #434 including Hunter, Coach, Braxton, Wesley, Chandler & Jason. These boys were called affectionately this past cross country season "the Freshmen Five." They are a great group of boys! I regret that I don't have any pictures of them during the race either! I hope to find someone in that car that had a camera to share some photos!
Then I drove our Rig with two Jr team members - Samuel and Jakob - in addition to all six runners: Kylea, Liesl, Joshua, Mary, Shayla and Brittney.
I am so grateful for Divine Providence which protected us the entire trip! With some eight vehicles which drove from St. George to Salt Lake, and two more who came from Las Vegas, then four vehicles on the road for the duration of the relay, and then to have all those cars FULL of people return safely after having been awake, running, nearly solid since Friday morning at 3:30 a.m.! We are sincerely grateful for the miracles of guardian angels, for the watchful hand of our Father in Heaven who protected us all! Las Deo! Praise be to God!
The only injuries I am aware of on the entire trip are many, many sore muscles, several blisters, and we had two runners - Jed and Shayla who went down on the dirt path in leg #35 which was a new, single track trail they changed on the course this year. I understand it was a bike trail, bumpy with rocks pocking up, and only the width of your shoe in places. They both caught a rock pocking up, which when you are that tired at the end of something exhausting and taxing on all bodily functions, they didn't lift their feet high enough, and caught the rocks, sending them down. Many, many at the end of that section were dusty and bloody. Both of our runners have skinned knees and palms from that section. I am grateful we escaped with nothing more serious than that! Thank you Heavenly Father!