Race for Kace

Last July, a little boy from our previous ward was in a car accident and sustained a serious spinal cord injury. He is currently paralyzed from the neck down and fighting to regain the ability to breathe on his own. We knew this sweet boy well. When I think of Kace, I see his cute, little face staring back at me as I taught Sharing Time. He was Kyler's buddy and played on a few of Ky's sport teams. His mom, Suzanne, has been the most incredible baseball coach to both McKenna and Kyler for several years now as well as McKenna's Achievement Day Leader. Suzanne has a special gift for working with youth, and her efforts have blessed both my children's lives. Watching their family experience this unthinkable trial has been so humbling. I honestly cannot imagine any trial being harder than the one they are facing. Though this accident happened almost four months ago, I still cry almost daily when I think of Kace. I only have to look at Kyler and imagine him in Kace's place to feel just a brief, momentary piece of Suzanne's pain. As I listened to General Conference today, most talks made me think of the Prestwich family. In fact, almost every small hiccup or hardship in my day makes me think of the Prestwich family. I compare every trial to theirs now--realizing that ours are so small. I can drive an extra 10 minutes around all the Ammon construction... What a small trial.  My kids can make new friends in a new neighborhood... What a small trial.  We may feel lost right now--not knowing where we belong--where we will be in three months--or where we should raise our family... but what a small trial!

My children's school organized a 5K race to raise funds for the Prestwich family. We were thrilled to do anything to help. We ALL decided to run. Even Justin... Even Ashton!

A look at the group heading out. It's too bad that I didn't get a picture of the school principal. He ran the race in a gorilla suit--a promise he made if they raised over $2,000! What a fun principal! It was touching to feel our community's unity and support for one little boy. 

A few weeks before the race, I decided that I wanted to run it.  I began running each day--trying to build my endurance. I prepared and felt ready. However, when the actual race began, I had not accounted for how hard it was to push Ashton in a stroller. He's no lightweight. At first, Justin and I took turns pushing him, but then, all of a sudden and without warning, Justin just took off and left me and the little boys on our own. I couldn't believe it! Carson was running way in front of me and took off down a wrong road. I had no choice but to follow him all the way back to the school. So, I was only able to run about half of the race. I was kind of mad at Justin for ditching me when I was the one who actually wanted to run this race... but...

what a small trial, right? 

Not worth being mad for more than about five minutes!

Here is Justin, Kenna, and Ky finishing the race. 

They all ran the entire way! 

Afterwards, fire trucks sprayed off everyone. 

My kids thought this was just about the coolest thing ever! 

McKenna with a bunch of her girlfriends, including Kace's sister and cousins. 

This race brought in $19,750!! What a touching and memorable day for our family and everyone involved. Though we mourn for the Prestwich family everyday and wish we could undo what is done, we are thankful for the many lessons this trial is teaching us each day... to recognize the beauty and joy in our lives, to remember our covenants to bear one another's burdens, to have faith in our Heavenly Father's plan and timing, and to love one another more than we did before. 

Just an Autumn Afternoon

Well, hello my four blog readers! It's been a long time!  After we moved last March, I suddenly lost all desire to blog.  I'm not sure why.  It may have been that I got too far behind... It may have been that my parents hopped on the technology bandwagon and I can share photos with them in other ways... It may have been that I didn't need to anymore. 2011 was a hard year, and I think blogging was therapy for me in a way... helped me see my blessed life that was sometimes hiding under a bunch of ugly stress.  I'm not really sure why I lost the desire to blog... and I'm not really sure I want to again... but I happened to take a bunch of cute photos yesterday, and just felt like they should be documented somewhere.

So here they are!

With this wonderful four-day weekend, our little family found ourselves... free. We are NEVER free. We're always running, hurrying, to the next football game or through the next assignment. We were a little perplexed with what to do with "Time!" Much to my children's confusion, I announced that we were going to go on a "Fall Walk." There weren't really sure what that was or how fun that would be, but they obliged me. Growing up, my family would drive through the hills of Pocatello each year just to see the changing leaves. Although I recognize that fall is simply the introduction to a very, very long winter, fall always feels magical and sentimental to me! We grabbed jackets and a football and spent hours at a nearby park--simply enjoying fall. 

We came home with rosy cheeks and noses and COVERED in bits of leaves... evidence of a wonderful afternoon!