What a day today has been. I started crying last Thursday evening when we gathered as a family to go together to the stake center to have him set apart. I offered a prayer here at home before we left, and then President A. asked me to open our gathering in his office with prayer again. I apologized ahead of time for my tears. They were abundant.
C's blessing was beyond beautiful! I will write details about it in my private blog but it was beautiful. We left home that night for Salt Lake. The next day we drove to Logan and helped with registration for LOTOJA (the 206 mile 3 states 1 day bike ride from Logan, Utah to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.) C won his division last year, and was anxious earlier this year when he thought he might be called to leave before he could defend his championship. It ended up that he had other activities that have filled his summer, and his focus was not on winning this year, but it was one of the miracles of opening his call... he would't leave until the week AFTER the race! So he was set apart before we departed, and told to ride with a companion. We invited two of his good friends to come along, they ended up only coming for a part of the trip, but it was fun to have J and J along!
That night we camped out in Logan canyon under a canopy of trees. We didn't even take a tent, just a few tarps, our air mattresses (which are less than desirable!) and our sleeping bags. It started to rain about 2:00 a.m. and we quickly realized that the canopy of trees was NOT over us! We also realized that the "tarps" we had brought were not waterproof - they were painters canvasses, and definitely not water proof! It seemed that the water fell from the sky, and splintered into 100 other little droplets as it feel through the tarp onto us! We woke the boys who shared our same canvass and moved to an area that had a thicker canopy of trees. Then the little girls woke and moved to the car! They weren't taking any more water! B and S were sharing the first leg of our LOTOJA Relay and they needed to be up and moving by 5:30 a.m. it was going to come quickly!
We were wet for the rest of the night. It did keep raining, but our new location was much better. Funny - except... J was tucked in under a picnic table - a precarious spot for someone 6'8" tall! He had not been tucked in very long there when he heard something in the bush. He turned his headlight on to see the backside of a fuzzy black and white strip!!!! Eekkk! Needless to say no one else turned on a light! He didn't get sprayed by that skunk but we were all on the watch!
In the morning, J, C, B&S and B all headed to the start line about 6:15. B was on our relay team instead of riding solo this year. I was grateful to have his help with little ones! The relay team got off to a great start, and then our boys did! C's friends from St. George joined them at the starting line and they were off! It had quit raining, the concrete was wet but not puddling in Logan. The temps were actually warmer than former years, partly because it was not sooo early! We think in former years we all started before 6 a.m. This year we all started between 6:45 and 7:20.
Lotoja pulled off without a hitch! S had a particularly great ride! The relay team needed a little help, and S was up next. He jumped right in, and rode an extra 10 miles to help the team and then his own 35. He did great and pulled into his finish in Alpine with smiles! Great job S! I was driving in Afton, and knew that C, J and J all needed food there. I raced ahead and found C. We missed J (ahead of C) and then we missed our J somehow. C was grateful for food! Then we got a call that our relay person was not doing well, and we backtracked about 10 miles to drop S and have him pull it off! Nice job S! You stepped up to the plate and added those miles just like it was a drop in the hat! I know that you can do hard things and carry them out even on last minute emergency basis!
I got to ride the final leg into Jackson Hole. It was beautiful! Up Snake River Canyon, it was drizzling a little, just enough to make rainbows for me to chase all the way up to Hoback Junction! I loved the ride, thinking about the joy of doing this again with C and the great 4 years we have done it now! We started doing this race so C would have something to train for that was positive in the fall, hoping it would help him have a sport he loved, friends to train with, and would give him self confidence that he could do hard things! Today, four years later, I am grateful to record that those goals were all met! I pondered as I pedaled, asking what the next four years will bring as a new team leader takes over in the leader role in my kids! What can I do for S that will give him those same things in a way perfect for him? I don't know. The rainbows all the way up the canyon seemed to keep reminding me how beautiful my life was right at that moment and encouraging me to NOT miss it! I am so grateful for that beautiful memory!
Also while I pedaled, I thought about the different kinds of riders. I decided there are three kinds of people.... those out to Win! Those out to Share. Those out to Celebrate. I think there are some who want to celebrate that do Lotoja, but they mostly choose other activities that are not strenuous. The Win people are just that. C says that it is no fun to ride with the guys where he rides because they are all out for blood. I am not that kind of rider! I love to talk to the people, and to see the magic of working together and accomplishing hard things! I love the lesson of drafting and the synergy it creates! Where I was riding in the groups of people, most were afraid of drafting or had never done it. It was difficult to find some willing to work together! Then there are those out to share! I am afraid that the share people often get taken advantage of by the Win people and the Celebrate people simply because others are playing WIN ALL YOU CAN (from BSA Woodbadge training) and that is not what the share people are about at all! I don't know how to not be taken advantage of by the other kinds of people, but I do know the secret to a successful life is to Give and so somehow there must be answers!
The race was beautiful! We finished in plenty of time. The rest of the relay team joined me for the last few miles. When we got to the finish line, J, C, J, my little team members, and my parents were there to cheer us in (thank you!). I celebrated that we had done another hard thing together as a family. We made some cute shirts this year for our family... this is the logo on the back....
Sunday morning we got up early - we had little problem. The friend we gave B's registration spot to had won for that division! It wasn't B and it wasn't the right division for that cute RM. We got dressed early and went to the race dispute time so we could admit to our problem. They thanked us for being honest about it, and away we went to the Visitor Branch for church in Jackson Hole. We were late, but made it!
After church we went back to the awards ceremony, and then to the condo for a nap, and then for a hike up Devil's Canyon. Here is a photo from our hike....
Others from my family were in Jackson, but I am not sure what is happening. Our relationships with extended family have been strange lately. That evening on our way back to the condo in Teton Village we saw a baby bear. That was cool! Then there was a moose that spent the entire day on the lawn across the street! The kids had to keep checking on him every time we came back to the condo! We live in such a beautiful world!
We had Mom and Dad and K&J over to our condo that night for dinner. The kids loved getting together although we had to have a chat after about appropriate activities for that kind of setting. In the morning we got together again and went for a bike ride up the Moose Wilson road. The ranger was not thrilled about our desire to ride on that windy narrow road, but we didn't care. We knew it was beautiful and away we went. We didn't go far before some in the group were worried and we all turned around. My family was staying one more night, but the others all pulled out towards home.
We went for a beautiful hike around Jenny lake, and then that night we went to the Bar J Wranglers. 
My kids loved it! T
hey will be laughing about their silly jokes for a long time. J had to return on Sunday afternoon with the friends so he could be in classes on Monday at UofU. We missed him.
Tuesday morning we got up and B took the kids for a bike ride towards home. They rode for about 16 miles before I caught up to them with the rig and trailer and little ones. Then we continued our journey to Sandy. That afternoon we had a few errands left to finish for C to leave to the MTC today. We were led right to the stores that had just what we needed in a short time! We enjoyed dinner together as a family and B&J gave C a beautiful Priesthood blessing. Then I tucked my C in for one more time (with a few tears I admit).
This morning, I woke early to write a few love notes to tuck into his suitcase. Sir Chandler is a quiet giant! He is strong and stalwart! He is firm in his faith, and determined to stick to his beliefs. He has a strong pull to play and when he does, it's not in shallow waters! He throws big tricks on the wake board! He goes off the biggest jumps on his bike! He rides the longest distances, and wins his division! He is awesome! At his farewell, President A took the last few minutes in the meeting and told the story of taking him wakeboarding last summer. He explained that after everyone else in the boat had taken a turn, C was the only one left. He had been there helping with ropes, and boards the entire time, but didn't step forward for a turn.
Finally someone asked if he would like a turn, to which he indicated that he would. He put the board on (Pres A explained that wasn't easy on his size 14 feet!) then he jumped into the water. The boat pulled out, and not only did he get right up, he started throwing these biggest tricks of the day! He flipped and jumped, grabbing the board as he flew over the wake! He did awesome! Pres A explained that after he finished his turn, he quietly got back on the boat, and it was silent for a few minutes. Then one of C's peers said: "After a show like that, you've earned the name... Sir Chandler!" He went on to talk about C's humble attitude, his quiet strength and huge abilities for good! That is what C is! Sir Chan! I love you man!
On the way home, as has been true every time, it was really raining hard. Not just from my eyes, but from the heavens too! I know that the rainbows on Saturday were just for me... right on my portion of the ride, and then rain today was for me too! I know that our Father in Heaven loves families. He knows that we have to separate to grow, but that we will be stronger because we do! I am sooo grateful for my children....C, L, and J!!! All three serving missions for our Savior!
All weekend, C and S have been teaching me the quote from Preach My Gospel about the purpose of missionaries... "My purpose is to... Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." The young people in our stake stand and repeat that three times at the beginning of every week's missionary prep class. Powerful!
I have written my own purpose... I am sure it needs refining, but here it is as of tonight:
My purpose is to prepare warrior missionaries who have experienced first hand the blessings of the Spirit in their lives, made covenants with our Savior to prepare for His return through repentance, faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, following closely the promptings of the Holy Ghost by standing as witnesses of Him at all times and in all things and in all places, as we strive to Act well our part!
Tender mercies! B and I are sitting up, missing C tonight, praying for him, I'm weeping every once and a while. About 10:30 the phone rang. The caller explained that she is from St. George, but visiting her sister in Slidell, LA... eeeekkkk! She said that Sunday in Relief Society, my L led the singing. Then she was asked to share a story, and she did a beautiful job. Then she explained that today she has been working at the Bishop's storehouse with her sister who is serving there on a service mission, and my L came in to help as she does on Wednesdays. She said that everyone in the storehouse praises her. She said she is doing great, serving with all her heart, and that as her mother I should be very pleased with the choices she is making, and the job she is doing! What a blessing! Thank you Sister for answering my prayer! I wept again! I am sooo blessed! Laus Deo!
It is nearly 11:15 tonight, and we teased C that we were going to text him, and tell him it was time to come home at 11:30. He knows that we are thinking of him. Missing him. Praying for him! Grateful for HIM! Thank you Father for these beautiful children you have shared with me!
C's blessing was beyond beautiful! I will write details about it in my private blog but it was beautiful. We left home that night for Salt Lake. The next day we drove to Logan and helped with registration for LOTOJA (the 206 mile 3 states 1 day bike ride from Logan, Utah to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.) C won his division last year, and was anxious earlier this year when he thought he might be called to leave before he could defend his championship. It ended up that he had other activities that have filled his summer, and his focus was not on winning this year, but it was one of the miracles of opening his call... he would't leave until the week AFTER the race! So he was set apart before we departed, and told to ride with a companion. We invited two of his good friends to come along, they ended up only coming for a part of the trip, but it was fun to have J and J along!
That night we camped out in Logan canyon under a canopy of trees. We didn't even take a tent, just a few tarps, our air mattresses (which are less than desirable!) and our sleeping bags. It started to rain about 2:00 a.m. and we quickly realized that the canopy of trees was NOT over us! We also realized that the "tarps" we had brought were not waterproof - they were painters canvasses, and definitely not water proof! It seemed that the water fell from the sky, and splintered into 100 other little droplets as it feel through the tarp onto us! We woke the boys who shared our same canvass and moved to an area that had a thicker canopy of trees. Then the little girls woke and moved to the car! They weren't taking any more water! B and S were sharing the first leg of our LOTOJA Relay and they needed to be up and moving by 5:30 a.m. it was going to come quickly!
We were wet for the rest of the night. It did keep raining, but our new location was much better. Funny - except... J was tucked in under a picnic table - a precarious spot for someone 6'8" tall! He had not been tucked in very long there when he heard something in the bush. He turned his headlight on to see the backside of a fuzzy black and white strip!!!! Eekkk! Needless to say no one else turned on a light! He didn't get sprayed by that skunk but we were all on the watch!
In the morning, J, C, B&S and B all headed to the start line about 6:15. B was on our relay team instead of riding solo this year. I was grateful to have his help with little ones! The relay team got off to a great start, and then our boys did! C's friends from St. George joined them at the starting line and they were off! It had quit raining, the concrete was wet but not puddling in Logan. The temps were actually warmer than former years, partly because it was not sooo early! We think in former years we all started before 6 a.m. This year we all started between 6:45 and 7:20.
Lotoja pulled off without a hitch! S had a particularly great ride! The relay team needed a little help, and S was up next. He jumped right in, and rode an extra 10 miles to help the team and then his own 35. He did great and pulled into his finish in Alpine with smiles! Great job S! I was driving in Afton, and knew that C, J and J all needed food there. I raced ahead and found C. We missed J (ahead of C) and then we missed our J somehow. C was grateful for food! Then we got a call that our relay person was not doing well, and we backtracked about 10 miles to drop S and have him pull it off! Nice job S! You stepped up to the plate and added those miles just like it was a drop in the hat! I know that you can do hard things and carry them out even on last minute emergency basis!
I got to ride the final leg into Jackson Hole. It was beautiful! Up Snake River Canyon, it was drizzling a little, just enough to make rainbows for me to chase all the way up to Hoback Junction! I loved the ride, thinking about the joy of doing this again with C and the great 4 years we have done it now! We started doing this race so C would have something to train for that was positive in the fall, hoping it would help him have a sport he loved, friends to train with, and would give him self confidence that he could do hard things! Today, four years later, I am grateful to record that those goals were all met! I pondered as I pedaled, asking what the next four years will bring as a new team leader takes over in the leader role in my kids! What can I do for S that will give him those same things in a way perfect for him? I don't know. The rainbows all the way up the canyon seemed to keep reminding me how beautiful my life was right at that moment and encouraging me to NOT miss it! I am so grateful for that beautiful memory!
Also while I pedaled, I thought about the different kinds of riders. I decided there are three kinds of people.... those out to Win! Those out to Share. Those out to Celebrate. I think there are some who want to celebrate that do Lotoja, but they mostly choose other activities that are not strenuous. The Win people are just that. C says that it is no fun to ride with the guys where he rides because they are all out for blood. I am not that kind of rider! I love to talk to the people, and to see the magic of working together and accomplishing hard things! I love the lesson of drafting and the synergy it creates! Where I was riding in the groups of people, most were afraid of drafting or had never done it. It was difficult to find some willing to work together! Then there are those out to share! I am afraid that the share people often get taken advantage of by the Win people and the Celebrate people simply because others are playing WIN ALL YOU CAN (from BSA Woodbadge training) and that is not what the share people are about at all! I don't know how to not be taken advantage of by the other kinds of people, but I do know the secret to a successful life is to Give and so somehow there must be answers!
The race was beautiful! We finished in plenty of time. The rest of the relay team joined me for the last few miles. When we got to the finish line, J, C, J, my little team members, and my parents were there to cheer us in (thank you!). I celebrated that we had done another hard thing together as a family. We made some cute shirts this year for our family... this is the logo on the back....
Sunday morning we got up early - we had little problem. The friend we gave B's registration spot to had won for that division! It wasn't B and it wasn't the right division for that cute RM. We got dressed early and went to the race dispute time so we could admit to our problem. They thanked us for being honest about it, and away we went to the Visitor Branch for church in Jackson Hole. We were late, but made it!
After church we went back to the awards ceremony, and then to the condo for a nap, and then for a hike up Devil's Canyon. Here is a photo from our hike....
Others from my family were in Jackson, but I am not sure what is happening. Our relationships with extended family have been strange lately. That evening on our way back to the condo in Teton Village we saw a baby bear. That was cool! Then there was a moose that spent the entire day on the lawn across the street! The kids had to keep checking on him every time we came back to the condo! We live in such a beautiful world!We had Mom and Dad and K&J over to our condo that night for dinner. The kids loved getting together although we had to have a chat after about appropriate activities for that kind of setting. In the morning we got together again and went for a bike ride up the Moose Wilson road. The ranger was not thrilled about our desire to ride on that windy narrow road, but we didn't care. We knew it was beautiful and away we went. We didn't go far before some in the group were worried and we all turned around. My family was staying one more night, but the others all pulled out towards home.
We went for a beautiful hike around Jenny lake, and then that night we went to the Bar J Wranglers. 
My kids loved it! They will be laughing about their silly jokes for a long time. J had to return on Sunday afternoon with the friends so he could be in classes on Monday at UofU. We missed him.
Tuesday morning we got up and B took the kids for a bike ride towards home. They rode for about 16 miles before I caught up to them with the rig and trailer and little ones. Then we continued our journey to Sandy. That afternoon we had a few errands left to finish for C to leave to the MTC today. We were led right to the stores that had just what we needed in a short time! We enjoyed dinner together as a family and B&J gave C a beautiful Priesthood blessing. Then I tucked my C in for one more time (with a few tears I admit).
This morning, I woke early to write a few love notes to tuck into his suitcase. Sir Chandler is a quiet giant! He is strong and stalwart! He is firm in his faith, and determined to stick to his beliefs. He has a strong pull to play and when he does, it's not in shallow waters! He throws big tricks on the wake board! He goes off the biggest jumps on his bike! He rides the longest distances, and wins his division! He is awesome! At his farewell, President A took the last few minutes in the meeting and told the story of taking him wakeboarding last summer. He explained that after everyone else in the boat had taken a turn, C was the only one left. He had been there helping with ropes, and boards the entire time, but didn't step forward for a turn.
Finally someone asked if he would like a turn, to which he indicated that he would. He put the board on (Pres A explained that wasn't easy on his size 14 feet!) then he jumped into the water. The boat pulled out, and not only did he get right up, he started throwing these biggest tricks of the day! He flipped and jumped, grabbing the board as he flew over the wake! He did awesome! Pres A explained that after he finished his turn, he quietly got back on the boat, and it was silent for a few minutes. Then one of C's peers said: "After a show like that, you've earned the name... Sir Chandler!" He went on to talk about C's humble attitude, his quiet strength and huge abilities for good! That is what C is! Sir Chan! I love you man! 
On the way home, as has been true every time, it was really raining hard. Not just from my eyes, but from the heavens too! I know that the rainbows on Saturday were just for me... right on my portion of the ride, and then rain today was for me too! I know that our Father in Heaven loves families. He knows that we have to separate to grow, but that we will be stronger because we do! I am sooo grateful for my children....C, L, and J!!! All three serving missions for our Savior! All weekend, C and S have been teaching me the quote from Preach My Gospel about the purpose of missionaries... "My purpose is to... Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." The young people in our stake stand and repeat that three times at the beginning of every week's missionary prep class. Powerful!
I have written my own purpose... I am sure it needs refining, but here it is as of tonight:
My purpose is to prepare warrior missionaries who have experienced first hand the blessings of the Spirit in their lives, made covenants with our Savior to prepare for His return through repentance, faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, following closely the promptings of the Holy Ghost by standing as witnesses of Him at all times and in all things and in all places, as we strive to Act well our part!
Tender mercies! B and I are sitting up, missing C tonight, praying for him, I'm weeping every once and a while. About 10:30 the phone rang. The caller explained that she is from St. George, but visiting her sister in Slidell, LA... eeeekkkk! She said that Sunday in Relief Society, my L led the singing. Then she was asked to share a story, and she did a beautiful job. Then she explained that today she has been working at the Bishop's storehouse with her sister who is serving there on a service mission, and my L came in to help as she does on Wednesdays. She said that everyone in the storehouse praises her. She said she is doing great, serving with all her heart, and that as her mother I should be very pleased with the choices she is making, and the job she is doing! What a blessing! Thank you Sister for answering my prayer! I wept again! I am sooo blessed! Laus Deo!
It is nearly 11:15 tonight, and we teased C that we were going to text him, and tell him it was time to come home at 11:30. He knows that we are thinking of him. Missing him. Praying for him! Grateful for HIM! Thank you Father for these beautiful children you have shared with me!