Running with Angels

Because I refer back to this experience several times a year, I decided to put this in our new (current) blog as well as leave it in our old one.

This was written on June 26, 2010

I couldn't decided whether to share this or not because it is so personal but I figured that I will want to read about it later in our Blog book and so will my kids.

Prologue:
When my dad was just a puppy he got his toes cut off on one foot up to the middle of his arch during a farming accident with some kind of potato conveyor belt. It cut it half way off and his dad had to cut it the rest of the way off. So he had a limp for the rest of his life. This stopped him from doing many of the things that he wanted to do, but I never heard him complain about it and he would often tease us with it. He would even chase some of our new friends without his shoe on. He would run the best he could but of course it was with a limp. This also made his back hurt for many years.

Now:
Doran has a running route that goes past the cemetery and I have one of mine that does the same. Not the same hard hill but another road. Anyway, when we run by we are always saying "Hi" to dad and all the others there. Sometimes when I am having a rough time at that part of my run or if I see Doran struggle going past, I am constantly calling on my dad to help us up the hill.

For the past few weeks I have been training for a Half Marathon. There, I said it out loud. There is a race on August 28 but the 'training' is done the first part of August so I may run once on my own and once for a race. Well anyway, my mileage increases each week. Today was a BEAUTIFUL run! We started up the canyon and ran down to home. It was a total of 8 miles and I finished in 1:10:45. Doran was usually a little bit in front of me but he wouldn't go far. This was not a bad run because it was mostly down hill. So this is why I was a little confused as to what happened.

For the first time I did not use my ipod. I just listened to my breathing, my feet and the vehicles rushing by. Like I said, it was a beautiful run. I did a pretty good job pacing myself the whole time and I was feeling good. About mile 5 all of a sudden my dad popped into my thoughts. At this time I am wondering why? I am not struggling and calling for his help yet. But then the feeling got stronger. Pretty soon I could feel him running, yes, FEEL him running, on BOTH feet, and young, right next to me on the right side. The feeling was SO strong that I could almost SEE him. He was enjoying the run and I could feel that he was smiling. At this time I am just sobbing while I am running. Doran turned around and saw I had tears just streaming down my face. He came back to see if I was ok. I couldn't say much at the moment and just said "Yes, I'll tell you later." Then he went on ahead again. I felt my dad slowly leave and felt his love and support for me. He was happy with me and for me.

As I write this I am overcome with emotions again. I am so thankful for my testimony of the hereafter, of eternal families, and of the Atonement and how we can all repent and strive to better each day so that we can see our loved ones again.

What a wonderful blessing it was for me to experience this today. I truly ran with angels today. Doran is so good to help me achieve my goals and I now KNOW for sure that my dad will be with me when I need his help. He was always a good supporter in whatever I wanted to do in my life.

What a WONDERFUL day!

We miss this

Last Saturday we got took the chance to go running the canyon.

One of our favorite things to do...or it was.

We have gotten out of the habit of exercise and our bellies and energy are showing it.

It was a nice 5 mile run, mostly downhill which gives me a little confidence. 

The weather is still a little too hot to run after work or later in the day, which I don't care to do anyway. But Saturday was a pretty nice temperature even though we got a late start.

We hope to keep this up!

We went for a walk earlier this week as well but then our nights got so busy with other obligations.

However, I did get to run with Dawn on Tuesday morning and on Wednesday morning I got to play some more Pickleball.

This Saturday Daddy is the High Counselor over a Stake golf tournament and he needs to show his face that morning. We are still hoping to go for a run in the morning.

Wet run

Daddy is a better man than me...

This past Saturday morning Doran had to go out to work at 5am so Dawn and I went running in town.

I had a harder time running the 3.5 miles than I did running the 9 miles the week before.

Anyway....

when daddy got home from work just after 10:00 am, he decided to go for a run.

I took him up to the road sheds when it had just started to snow.

Running into the storm

I came back to town and thought he would miss most of the storm because it was decent in town.

I went to an appointment for a bit and decided to ride back up and see how he was doing because it started snowing in town.

I saw him running with his head down into the snow and I honked wildly.

He just waved me on.

As I was heading back down there was a small patch of sun.

He will be ok. If he hurries he can beat it.

I think he had a rope on the storm clouds and dragged them all the way home with him.

He made it in pretty good time but a little wet.

He looks like a "HAPPY SNOWMAN"!!!

I wish I had his endurance.

Temples and Trails

Kyle and Miranda got sealed in the Rexburg Temple on Friday, July 26. Cortney came up and rode with us to Rexburg on Thursday night so she could attend the sealing with us.

It was a wonderful ceremony. Cortney and I also went to the Logan temple the week before when Miranda received her endowments.

The are such a cute couple!
We then had family pictures at the temple after. We then went over to a church for the luncheon. It was delish and the Father's said a few words. I wish I could have heard Jon better but they did a good job.

The church was decorated so cute! Miranda likes old things and the room was just darling.

This was the first time that Doran and I were able to visit the Rexburg Temple.

It was pretty warm and when Daddy shed his jacket I caught this picture.

After the luncheon we went back to the hotel and changed in Jon and Denise's room and headed to Driggs. Cortney came with us for the whole weekend. 

Jon and Denise have a condo up there and since no one was using it we decided to stay there and visit Jackson, Wyoming.

They have their old kitchen table up there and when anyone visits we sign our names on the table.

Well since Bar J was sold out we decided to go to Merry Piglets for dinner Friday night.

This is one of our favorite Mexican places to eat. 

It has fabulous salsa!

(We actually bought some to bring home with us)

We were planning on going for a run somewhere but we were unfamiliar with the area.

We decided that we would go up to Targee, as Jon suggested, and run some trails up on the ski hill.

It was over cast when we started and ended up raining but it was nice and cool.

We got lost a couple of times thinking we were on one trail but we ended up on another but they all brought us back to where we started.

It was BEAUTIFUL up there!

I would like to go again and maybe with a GPS instead of just the map we had.

I wish we would have started this sport when all the kids were younger but it is nice to have Cortney join us.

Our poor shoes got so muddy.

We ran/walked for about an hour on the trails and headed back.

When we got back to the parking lot we decided that we would take turns running down the canyon and driving.

I took first driving shift while Daddy and Cortney ran.

After a couple of miles Cortney and I switched places. I wanted to see if my heel could handle the downhill.

We decided to call it quits after a couple more miles. 

The rain was really coming down.

Cortney is a mess

We had a fun time running in the rain!

After our run we went back to the condo and cleaned up and headed back to Pocatello for Miranda's reception. It was held in a nursery and it was so cute!

They served cookies and milk and cereal!!

We headed home after that.

What a wonderful weekend we had!

Temple Service and Bear Lake

Thursday, June 6 we worked on the temple grounds. Doran did a lot of the mowing and I learned how to deadhead roses. No wonder why the temple grounds always look so nice. There is order in their service work and everyone is willing to do their part.

I wish I were better about making our own yard look as nice.

It was a neat learning experience.

I would do this again.

After the service work we went home and hooked the trailer up for our first camp trip.

We went to Bear Lake for the weekend with my Mom and Stan.

We had reservations for Rendezvous Beach.

We aren't much for the water experience as we are to get away.

When we arrived there weren't very many campers and then we figured out why, maybe.

On our drive over Logan canyon we saw helicopters flying over the mountains. We were wondering where they were headed.

Come to find out that they are based at Rendezvous Beach for some training.

Some people were annoyed that they were there because the were flying from sun-up to way late in the night. They didn't bother me, I was fascinated with them.

I asked what it would take for us to ride in one and they said to sign on the dotted line.

Uh...sign on the Enlistment papers.

I am not ready to do that and I admire the men and women that do!

Every time a chopped started up the M*A*S*H* theme song would start playing in my head.

Friday morning Doran and I got up and drove to the top of the summit.

When we were driving before we were calculating how far it was to our camp site.

We figured it to be about 8 miles.

We parked the truck at the lookout and headed down the road.

We were having a pretty good run and then we had a watch die on us so I started my phone.

We stopped and filled our water along the way and used a resort potty.

When we hit eight miles we knew we had miscalculated!!

At about mile 13 we ran out of water again.

There was a rest stop that the water was not working. There was some parks lady there filling a bucket and said we could have some of that water. We asked if it was drinking water but she wasn't sure. She thought so. It tasted AWFUL!

We could see the camp site so we sucked it up and finished instead of calling for a ride.

That was the longest eight miles I have ever run.
We ended at 14 miles!

Such a refreshing treat after a run.

I was so needing to put my feet in some ice so we decided to go and sit in the lake.

Well to get to the water from where we were, we had to trudge through the muck and sludge to get there.

This is as far as I got. It was gross, it felt like quicksand and...sharks!

That night we went to Pickleville Playhouse to see "El Bandito Rides Again".

It was hilarious!

Saturday morning was the Bear Lake Half-10k-5k race.

Doran thought about running the half but since we had already ran a grundle of miles the day before he wasn't sure he was up to another 13 miles so we went out to the road and watched for a couple of people we knew were running.

The service men and women were volunteering at a couple of the water stops. So cool!

We all took our bikes with us so we rode around camp a few times.

Sunday morning Doran and I went in to town to attend Sacrament.

It definitely was a great weekend!!

Friday Facts

Today is Doran's day off so....that makes it MY day off too.

I try to get enough hours during the rest of the pay period that I can take the same day off.

Doran headed up for his 8.3 mile canyon run.

I, on the other hand, went running with Dawn.

We went 4.8 miles and YES, I ended on that off number.

I was done!

Dawn made me run the killer hill again.

Her goal is for it to get easier each time.

Psha!

We enjoyed 

FAMILY DINNER and VOLLEYBALL at the church.

The Sister Missionaries joined us too.

Grandma and Grandpa even played volleyball!

I am hoping that they will be able to move the next day, especially grandma, because she fell.

EVERYONE had fun.

I do believe that this will be a Do-Againer!

NEXT time we will get pictures.

Fish and Candy

Right after work before I could put too much thought about running Daddy and I hurried and just got ready to go.

There are too many times I can talk myself out of going because I am always so tired after work and who will make dinner if I go run?

We needed no ride this time.

I don't know why I torture myself.

I don't run for DAYS and then I tell myself I can run up the canyon and back as long as I have Daddy with me.

I told daddy if he ran my pace I would run UP and DOWN the canyon with him.

I do NOT like fish but I DO love candy so I interpret our run much like...

running UP the canyon is like a FISH dinner,

I struggle to chew and swallow all the way up.

running DOWN the canyon is like enjoying a candy bar after you finish your fish dinner.

8.3 miles

Good thing daddy let me walk LOtS and he carried my water.

You are my hero Daddy!

Second Exit

Daddy and I got another run in this morning.

Since I ran yesterday I only wanted to do a short run

but...

Chelsea dumped us off again up at the 2nd exit in the canyon and told us to run home.

We continued past the house and finally ended at 6.2 because stopping at the house gave us a weird number.

I know, I know.

OCD?

Killer Hill

Daddy needed to get his good run in today so we could run together tomorrow, so he headed off in the morning to do his 8.3 OR 11 mile route.

There was no way I could keep up or go that far so Dawn and I headed out for a 3-5 mile run.

Well we ended up going a little further 

AND

Dawn made me go up Killer Hill.

Why do I call it Killer Hill?

Because it kills me!

Maybe someday I will be able to run all the to the top without stopping....

maybe.

By the time I dropped Dawn off and headed home I thought I would continue running until I met up with dad on his way home. I got a couple of blocks past the house and realized that he probably went 11 miles if he wasn't back already sooo...I turned around and ran home.

I finished at 7 miles.

Oh...and later that morning,
Susette talked us in to signing up for the Mt. Nebo Half Marathon.
I hate PEER pressure!

Canyon Run

For "Family Home-Even" we ran the canyon...again.
Hey! We like it!

Chelsea was such a good doobie again and dumped us off and told us to run home.

YES, he reached out and took my hand.
We. Are. A. TEAM!

Different drop off spot.
5 miles...or more

Running without Daddy

Let me think...what is one of our favorite things to do together? Run, of course but...

Daddy had to work today (Saturday, March 9).

Keirsha, Chelsea's friend, called and asked if I wanted to play racquetball in half an hour. Well I threw off my covers and I hurried and got ready to sweat.

Then I get home and while I am sitting in my sweaty clothes I get on FB. I then get wishing that daddy was home so we could go running so I put out a request for anyone to go running with me. There are not a whole lot of runners up here that I can keep up with OR that are on FB.

My running partner, Dawn, besides daddy, is already showered and out at the yard sales.

I finally get a ping that Sherrie wanted to go with me. WHAT!? Really?

*Sherrie is so fun to run with.

*She is a camel. She doesn't need water.

*She runs LONG distances ALWAYS with a smile on her face. 

*She is such a motivator!

*She always keeps the conversation going, even when you can hardly breath.

*She will always keep with your pace and never make you feel like you are holding her back.

*She does not mind my burping.

We used to run together awhile back but our schedules just didn't fit good.

Chelsea was such a good daughter to take us up the canyon and drop us off. Sherrie added a few more miles on to the regular route that I usually take and by time we got home we ended on a funny number...soooo we continued running until we hit 6.2. She then left me and added a few more million miles.

Thanks so much Sherrie!

Canyon Date

Last Friday Doran had the day off so he ran UP the canyon and back home.

So on Saturday we did it again.

The weather was PERFECT!

35 degrees.

Since he already ran it the day before he wouldn't mind waiting for me while I did my wogging. (walk/jog)

It had been a couple of weeks since I started running again but I would do my best.

I told him I would go ahead and try to go UP the canyon and home as long as I could walk as much as I needed too.

He is such a trooper!! He even carried water for us me.

When it is cooler he doesn't need the water, but I do!

It is 4 miles up to where we turn around and I did a bunch of walking but I also did more running that I thought I would.

Then downhill was pretty good. I even did pretty good going UP over the over pass.

When we reached home we were at 8.3 miles.

Psha! That is a odd number to stop on so I told him let's keep going until 8.5.

Well we hit that and I was still feeling ok and we would have stopped in a funny place on the road so...

we kept going.

8.75 

keep going I said

We might as well make it to 9 miles.

We made it!!!

This is one of our favorite things to do together!

Thanks Daddy! You are my HERO!

Still undecided

Saturday was our 9 mile training run. We decided to run the canyon closer to us. It is much steeper and harder on the legs but we didn't have time to go to Hyrum.

Susette is trying to talk us in to running Porter's Half with her next Saturday which would mean that we would be running TWO half marathons back to back. One August 18 then another one on August 25 and then we have a Mud vs Man on September 1. I am not sure that my out-of-shape-body can handle all of that. Just because Susette is a SHEra doesn't mean I can even come CLOSE to what she can do.

So the 9 mile run would help determine if I want to attempt to run Porter's Half. Doran of course can do both with no problem except I feel bad because he has been training with my slow pace.

Well it's Monday and I am still undecided. Saturday night I had really achy legs but Sunday wasn't too bad. I bought bigger shoes on Saturday in hopes that would help with my toes. (Good idea to run in brand new shoes right? NOT)

I didn't have a great run on Saturday but now it's a few days later and it's like having a baby....a few days after, you forget exactly how much FUN you did NOT have, or how hard it was.

So.......

I'm still...

UNDECIDED.

Hurry before you ponder

I am not a morning person but if I don't get my exercising done in the morning it won't get done.

Doran doesn't have a choice. He has to exercise after work and he is so dedicated.

He says that he doesn't put as much effort into his lifting as he used to but he still goes.

Yesterday I was supposed to run 5 miles.

No, I didn't get up and go outside because I don't run alone.

No, I didn't go to the gym on a treadmill because Mondays run reinforced that I do NOT like the treadmill.

So after work I hurried home and rushed to get ready to go with Doran before I pondered it too long to talk myself out of going.

We rushed to the gym and I got the "favorite" treadmill.

The one next to me was taken and Doran doesn't like the other ones so he took an elliptical.

I got my 5 miles in. Not happy with the time (54 min) but I did it.

Doran worked his guts out on the elliptical.

He put in over 7 miles.

This morning....

I was bound and determined to run alone!!

Just before I woke up to go I had a bad dream about running alone.

Scared me so I didn't go. For some reason I keep getting the impression to NOT run alone.

FINE! Well hopefully we can get our run in tonight after we attend two different wedding receptions. One is an hour away. Cross your fingers!

We have GOT to get our training in or someone will be pulling me in a wagon on the half marathon race!

He's at it again...

Now that the weather is cooling down a bit Doran is able to run outside.

His favorite run...up the canyon and back down again. He is a stud.

I can't wait until I can run DOWN with him again. It is one of our favorite things to do.

So watch out! Keep your eyes peeled and don't run over my daddy!

Practice makes....

A. SORE. BODY. Well not mine anyway. I rode my tricycle.

As most of you know I am not running because of my foot problem so I am sitting on the couch eating and getting plump. (Doran needs more of me to love eh?)

BUT....Doran is a HEman and he is still pounding the pavement.

For a few weeks we have been trying to get down to Provo to practice running on the Utah Valley Half Marathon route with Susette. Things kept getting in the way but we FINALLY made it on the day that they are to do 9 miles. I rode my bike and played water girl.

We didn't go on the hwy where the REAL race will be but we did go on the bike/walking path next to it and it was GORGEOUS!! The river was super full and ready to spill over on the path.

I was impressed that Susette didn't complain AT all!! I would be pouting because my legs hurt or my foot hurt or my pinkie finger nail hurt. Psha! She is a gem. She had her music up a little loud because when I tried to talk to her she was in la la land. I had to get her attention first. After every song she would throw her hands up and YELL the song number she was at. Here she is....not waving to me but yelling her song number.

I do believe she is sticking her tongue out at me...sheesh!

We passed a beautiful waterfall with ducks swimming in the pool. The didn't stop to pose. How rude.

Susette finished 8 miles. Doran completed 11 by running ahead and back and running ahead and back.

I wish this path was closer to home so we could enjoy it more!!

Then we stopped by Cortney's work on the way home and had a "healthy snack". Oh ya baby!!! This was a necessity, not a desire.

 That's all folks.