Can it really be September 17th already? How?
We had a great trip to Jackson via LOTOJA last week! It was a fun ride, and a great challenge! B & C did great, and finished in 12 hrs 28 min something. C decided not to ride in the competitive class the night before, and as such was noted as a DQ in the results which has him really upset, but he did it! We know he did, and he knows he did! He started with B and S (of our relay team) and he and B stayed together for the duration of the ride, which was great! They pulled each other through all 206 miles! Wow!
Our relay team did better than expected, and because we replaced the legs pedaling every 35-45 miles, our time was faster than B & C despite the changes in speed being ridden. We were concerned about finishing in the dark, or not being allowed to finish at all, but we were all in to the finish well before dark! We all started at 5:45 a.m. which put us at the finish about 6:00 p.m.! We did great, and will forever remember fun times along that route! Thanks all! S did fabulous! L did great on her hard summit! K came through in her fast time. M&D decided they were not sharing, but going together, which ended up being - whatever. I finished the last 47 in, and K joined me for the last several. It was a fun ride, one I am sure we will do again. We are grateful to have that many participants from our own family. I believe all came out feeling satisfied that we did our best, and had a good time doing it.
We got to spend a couple of days following LOTOJA in Jackson. We decided we were ending 9 hours from home, in a place that B & I love, but haven't been much since law school, and our kids needed to see it. We found a miracle room just for us with a king and two queen beds! Tender Mercy! Laus Deo! M&D decided to spend a couple of the days with us too. We will long remember the fun Sunday Sacrament meeting in Jackson for visitors we found at 9 a.m.. It was all LOTOJA participants, and was a hymn testimony meeting. Many shared songs they had sung to themselves as they pumped over the miles of challenge the day before! The spirit was strong, the accompanist played on the organ and piano, and she was fabulous! Dad led us clear to the front row - late! In the end it meant we were up close and personal observing the talent of the pianist, another tender mercy!
Sunday afternoon we drove to Old Faithful and watched a Buffalo in Yellowstone. We hiked a few stink pots, and enjoyed the trees. It was beautiful.
Monday we loaded our bikes up and rode around Jenny Lake (fun memories from B & I's past!) and then had a picnic. M&D decided they were done, and left, and we loaded up and drove over the mountains to Rexburg to check out BYU Idaho for our L who is excited to start there in January. I admit it felt good and right, and we are working on finalizing housing plans for her, grateful to have been there in person to check them out before just moving her up there! We drove back to Teton Village because they wouldn't let us cancel our reservation, which meant a long drive home for Tuesday, but we all survived!
This morning, I am up early anticipating the Kokopelli Triathlon this morning! I get to do it with B! She is excited! The rest of the family keeps proclaiming that after the legs we all completed last week, this is really not anything to worry about! I hope we all do well.
In the meantime, I have a surprise I can't hide any longer. We are excited to welcome a new little one to our home in the spring! Trust and Faith. As I rode behind my kids last week, I was in awe at the miracles of each of them! I am in awe at the abundance that my Heavenly Father pours out upon our heads! When B & I married, he gave me a mountain bike for a wedding present. I didn't own one. Now we own more bikes than they have in most bike stores! I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father trusts me with each of these bundles of joy, and then He manages to help us provide for them, enough and to spare! Most of them have two bikes! We are so blessed to afford to participate in LOTOJA and Kokopelli events! Wow! I am in awe, and stand before Him, grateful for the trust and faith He has in me, committed to put my full faith and trust in Him!
I have long been annoyed with people who ask "Are you done?" Ugh! None of their business, how can I know? I committed to my Dad before I married B that I would not make that decision of being "done" within 6 months of welcoming a little one to this earth - not before or after for 6 months either way. That was smart of my Dad! I know the emotions then are so high, the trauma and joy so wrapped up, the decision so final! I am so grateful for such a fabulous husband who has made commitments in the temple with God, to consecrate his life to him! I am grateful that together we put our hand in His, and together we have gone to Him to ask what is right for us! Those decisions are NOT something I will ever forget! I will not share the sacredness of revelations with the world, and yet how do I answer their ever stupid question "Are you done yet?" I have decided I will answer with a question: "How do you spell that... (then spelling) m y w i l l or t h y w i l l? and I will walk away. It happened Thursday night with a friend we haven't seen for some 8 years. He questioned "Eight is enough?" Not a LDS friend, I couldn't give my thought out answer, I smiled and answered, "Nope." I hate that! Let the world think what they may, judge me, and cast your pity, whatever! I am so blessed, and so grateful for the joy of family! I will stand as a witness of the importance of family at all times and in all things and in all places! I am overjoyed with each of my little ones (yes even at 6'7" tall) and I adore each of them! I am so grateful for the trust He has in me to send them to my home! I am so grateful for the trust and faith of my best friend, hero, knight in shining armor who rescues me from despair regularly, B! He is so amazing! I pray I can stand my his side for all eternity! I am thankful and humbled to be a Mom! Laus Deo!
We had a great trip to Jackson via LOTOJA last week! It was a fun ride, and a great challenge! B & C did great, and finished in 12 hrs 28 min something. C decided not to ride in the competitive class the night before, and as such was noted as a DQ in the results which has him really upset, but he did it! We know he did, and he knows he did! He started with B and S (of our relay team) and he and B stayed together for the duration of the ride, which was great! They pulled each other through all 206 miles! Wow!
Our relay team did better than expected, and because we replaced the legs pedaling every 35-45 miles, our time was faster than B & C despite the changes in speed being ridden. We were concerned about finishing in the dark, or not being allowed to finish at all, but we were all in to the finish well before dark! We all started at 5:45 a.m. which put us at the finish about 6:00 p.m.! We did great, and will forever remember fun times along that route! Thanks all! S did fabulous! L did great on her hard summit! K came through in her fast time. M&D decided they were not sharing, but going together, which ended up being - whatever. I finished the last 47 in, and K joined me for the last several. It was a fun ride, one I am sure we will do again. We are grateful to have that many participants from our own family. I believe all came out feeling satisfied that we did our best, and had a good time doing it.
We got to spend a couple of days following LOTOJA in Jackson. We decided we were ending 9 hours from home, in a place that B & I love, but haven't been much since law school, and our kids needed to see it. We found a miracle room just for us with a king and two queen beds! Tender Mercy! Laus Deo! M&D decided to spend a couple of the days with us too. We will long remember the fun Sunday Sacrament meeting in Jackson for visitors we found at 9 a.m.. It was all LOTOJA participants, and was a hymn testimony meeting. Many shared songs they had sung to themselves as they pumped over the miles of challenge the day before! The spirit was strong, the accompanist played on the organ and piano, and she was fabulous! Dad led us clear to the front row - late! In the end it meant we were up close and personal observing the talent of the pianist, another tender mercy!
Sunday afternoon we drove to Old Faithful and watched a Buffalo in Yellowstone. We hiked a few stink pots, and enjoyed the trees. It was beautiful.
Monday we loaded our bikes up and rode around Jenny Lake (fun memories from B & I's past!) and then had a picnic. M&D decided they were done, and left, and we loaded up and drove over the mountains to Rexburg to check out BYU Idaho for our L who is excited to start there in January. I admit it felt good and right, and we are working on finalizing housing plans for her, grateful to have been there in person to check them out before just moving her up there! We drove back to Teton Village because they wouldn't let us cancel our reservation, which meant a long drive home for Tuesday, but we all survived!
This morning, I am up early anticipating the Kokopelli Triathlon this morning! I get to do it with B! She is excited! The rest of the family keeps proclaiming that after the legs we all completed last week, this is really not anything to worry about! I hope we all do well.
In the meantime, I have a surprise I can't hide any longer. We are excited to welcome a new little one to our home in the spring! Trust and Faith. As I rode behind my kids last week, I was in awe at the miracles of each of them! I am in awe at the abundance that my Heavenly Father pours out upon our heads! When B & I married, he gave me a mountain bike for a wedding present. I didn't own one. Now we own more bikes than they have in most bike stores! I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father trusts me with each of these bundles of joy, and then He manages to help us provide for them, enough and to spare! Most of them have two bikes! We are so blessed to afford to participate in LOTOJA and Kokopelli events! Wow! I am in awe, and stand before Him, grateful for the trust and faith He has in me, committed to put my full faith and trust in Him!
I have long been annoyed with people who ask "Are you done?" Ugh! None of their business, how can I know? I committed to my Dad before I married B that I would not make that decision of being "done" within 6 months of welcoming a little one to this earth - not before or after for 6 months either way. That was smart of my Dad! I know the emotions then are so high, the trauma and joy so wrapped up, the decision so final! I am so grateful for such a fabulous husband who has made commitments in the temple with God, to consecrate his life to him! I am grateful that together we put our hand in His, and together we have gone to Him to ask what is right for us! Those decisions are NOT something I will ever forget! I will not share the sacredness of revelations with the world, and yet how do I answer their ever stupid question "Are you done yet?" I have decided I will answer with a question: "How do you spell that... (then spelling) m y w i l l or t h y w i l l? and I will walk away. It happened Thursday night with a friend we haven't seen for some 8 years. He questioned "Eight is enough?" Not a LDS friend, I couldn't give my thought out answer, I smiled and answered, "Nope." I hate that! Let the world think what they may, judge me, and cast your pity, whatever! I am so blessed, and so grateful for the joy of family! I will stand as a witness of the importance of family at all times and in all things and in all places! I am overjoyed with each of my little ones (yes even at 6'7" tall) and I adore each of them! I am so grateful for the trust He has in me to send them to my home! I am so grateful for the trust and faith of my best friend, hero, knight in shining armor who rescues me from despair regularly, B! He is so amazing! I pray I can stand my his side for all eternity! I am thankful and humbled to be a Mom! Laus Deo!