She said it was great fun. Another first in a great day!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
One more September 25th highlight--Tosha's "Dirty Dash"..
Tosha ran in her first official 10K race with a group of friends. She was a late entry into the team. The race happened at Midway, Utah, and consisted of several different mud related trails that they had to go through as a team. It included sloshing through streams, climb mud hills, running through fields of mud, you get the picture. Here is sweet (clean) Tosha with her team, the before and after. She will be running in her first regular race on Saturday, Antelope Race where she is running 13 miles.
Another Special Olympic Event
Jena swam in her first 'regular' meet for Special Olympics on October 2, 2010. In the past, she has swam in the developmental swim meet which is the beginning levels in swallow water. She had raced the 10 and 15 meter races for free style and back stroke.
This year her coaches decided she was ready for the Big Time and she was moved to the 25 meter length which in one length of a Olympic size pool and it was deep...so deep that Jena was worried about it. She had practiced some in very deep water and she talked about wanting to swim in a small pool not the big one. Her coaches said she was ready and SHE DID IT. Two races across the 25 meters--back stroke and free style. She was nervous but she got in and swam the races to the end without stopping. Here is a short movie of her backstroke...ignoring my cheering for Katie and Jena.
And a look at Sardine Canyon on our way home from the meet which was held at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. Jena took this pictures as we were driving.
This year her coaches decided she was ready for the Big Time and she was moved to the 25 meter length which in one length of a Olympic size pool and it was deep...so deep that Jena was worried about it. She had practiced some in very deep water and she talked about wanting to swim in a small pool not the big one. Her coaches said she was ready and SHE DID IT. Two races across the 25 meters--back stroke and free style. She was nervous but she got in and swam the races to the end without stopping. Here is a short movie of her backstroke...ignoring my cheering for Katie and Jena.
Here is Jena with some friends showing their medals from that event. Fun times...
And a look at Sardine Canyon on our way home from the meet which was held at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. Jena took this pictures as we were driving.
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| The Logan Temple in the skyline of Logan Pictures by Jena Hall |
September 25th..
Some days are nuts...but filled with great things nonetheless. That was true about September 25, 2010. Jena woke up at her regular time and got dressed for swimming practice which usually is at 7:45 on Saturday. However today, we had the area basketball tournament held in Clearfield. This is my first year as an official "Special Olympics coach for basketball" although I have helped for the past couple of years. I recently completed my training to be certified. I help in the skills area where players are assessed in passing, dribbling and shooting. This year, our team also got to play a couple of games for the first time. Jena enjoys basketball and especially being with her friends.
I had to leave early so Gary finished my coaching assignment for me as Ben and I had been invited to a very special event in Salt Lake. One of his teachers at the STAR program which is where he completed his last semester of schooling to graduate was being baptized. Anne had been a very important person to Ben and to us as we adjusted to his illness and tried to help him complete school. As part of their relationship there were opportunities where religion came up in the discussion. She would often comment to me that she didn't understand why it happens so often with Ben and with me that she felt like talking about more personal things. There were times that the Spirit was so strong when we were together. I didn't imagine that two years later we would have this special experience to see her join the Church. It was awesome. She told us as she took the missionary lessons that she would sometimes tell them, "Oh, I heard this from Ben a couple of years ago." Even during his trials, he was an influence for good for someone else.
Then it was the usual highlight Saturday night with the General Relief Society Conference from Salt Lake. Our stake RS sisters joined for a pasta dinner and then watched the broadcast together. Pres. Monson was in "rare" form, posing for the camera and making jokes. He warned us about the importance of not judging each other and showing true charity to all, especially to other sisters.
A long day with nothing of the regular Saturday things done, but a great one any way. Jena's first basketball game, a baptism, and a prophet..............what more important way is there to spend a Saturday.
I had to leave early so Gary finished my coaching assignment for me as Ben and I had been invited to a very special event in Salt Lake. One of his teachers at the STAR program which is where he completed his last semester of schooling to graduate was being baptized. Anne had been a very important person to Ben and to us as we adjusted to his illness and tried to help him complete school. As part of their relationship there were opportunities where religion came up in the discussion. She would often comment to me that she didn't understand why it happens so often with Ben and with me that she felt like talking about more personal things. There were times that the Spirit was so strong when we were together. I didn't imagine that two years later we would have this special experience to see her join the Church. It was awesome. She told us as she took the missionary lessons that she would sometimes tell them, "Oh, I heard this from Ben a couple of years ago." Even during his trials, he was an influence for good for someone else.
Then it was the usual highlight Saturday night with the General Relief Society Conference from Salt Lake. Our stake RS sisters joined for a pasta dinner and then watched the broadcast together. Pres. Monson was in "rare" form, posing for the camera and making jokes. He warned us about the importance of not judging each other and showing true charity to all, especially to other sisters.
A long day with nothing of the regular Saturday things done, but a great one any way. Jena's first basketball game, a baptism, and a prophet..............what more important way is there to spend a Saturday.
The Birthday Events......
It shouldn't be that hard to avoid having three birthdays in eight days...just a little planning ahead time...oh, I forgot...we weren't choosing children based on their birthday...perhaps we should have. Every year it is crazy as we try to celebrate Ben, Gary and Jena's birthdays. It is even more difficult as we try to still include these young adult and married children in our planning. This year we got some to each but not everyone to any one's birthday. Oh well....the highlights
Ben wanted to go out for Chinese food so we got his grandma, Jena, Gary, and I and Jessica to eat at Dragon Hills, a local Chinese restaurant. We opened gifts afterwards which included a new paint job for his room which he hasn't decided on yet. He is now 22 years old.
Gary's birthday is next. Tosha, Scott and Chantel joined us for a BBQ of hamburgers and potato salad and gift opening. Jessica has commitments in Salt Lake but left a gift earlier in the day. A separate post will highlight her gift. Finally Gary is now the same age as me and he has to quit teasing me about it. :)
Jena's birthday is the day after Gary's. We had been searching for a night to do an outdoor movie for her and some friends at her grandma's house on our projector and big screen. Her birthday became the only night to do it so it became her birthday celebration. She picked "The Music Man" as the movie and her friends enjoyed popcorn and lemonade as they watched the movie. It got a bit cold but we will do it again. It was fun.
Jena didn't open her gifts until the next evening because we were so late on Friday night (We forgot to check how long the movie was. Usually movies are 2 hours right...not the old ones. This one was 2 1/2 hours.) Jena is now 14 and moves up to the Mia Maid class of Young Womens. Here is the sign that they posted in our yard for her birthday.
Whew....the celebrations were over. But Happy Birthday to all three of you and I am so glad to have you part of my forever family. And as Jena says, "I 'heart' you, too."
Ben wanted to go out for Chinese food so we got his grandma, Jena, Gary, and I and Jessica to eat at Dragon Hills, a local Chinese restaurant. We opened gifts afterwards which included a new paint job for his room which he hasn't decided on yet. He is now 22 years old.
Gary's birthday is next. Tosha, Scott and Chantel joined us for a BBQ of hamburgers and potato salad and gift opening. Jessica has commitments in Salt Lake but left a gift earlier in the day. A separate post will highlight her gift. Finally Gary is now the same age as me and he has to quit teasing me about it. :)
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| In addition to Scott and Chantel, the puppies had to be part of the fun as well. |
Jena didn't open her gifts until the next evening because we were so late on Friday night (We forgot to check how long the movie was. Usually movies are 2 hours right...not the old ones. This one was 2 1/2 hours.) Jena is now 14 and moves up to the Mia Maid class of Young Womens. Here is the sign that they posted in our yard for her birthday.
Whew....the celebrations were over. But Happy Birthday to all three of you and I am so glad to have you part of my forever family. And as Jena says, "I 'heart' you, too."
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