Bode’s first guest post: Disney World!

March 27, 2013 By

Bode was interviewed on the news at New Fantasyland

It has been a few months since we surprised the kids with our trip to Disney World. And the farther out it gets, the more I realize just how much I loved that place.

I had visited Disneyland a few times but what I relished about its Floridian counterpart (and was unprepared for) was its international flair. The Animal Kingdom’s Asian and African sections. Epcot’s Parade of Nations. Though they weren’t real, they were the next best thing in my book.

Last week, I was thrilled to finally be invited to one of the most sought-after tickets in the blogosphere: to the Disney Social Media Moms Conference at Disney World. This invitation-only event is in big demand. Not even kidding–women were practically crying and lamenting when they weren’t invited.  Disney makes it affordable to bring your family and I was ready for Round 2.

Until I looked at the date in May: It was the same time as Hadley’s three-day class adventure to a farm, an overnight field trip I am helping plan and chaperone. Bummer. Fingers are crossed I’m on Disney’s shortlist for an invitation next year.

As I was mourning about missing out, my sweet Bode brought home a three-page essay he wrote about his “most fun day ever” and (shocker), it was about Disney World. He got a perfect score on his paper for using lots of descriptive words. The kid is in first grade and I think he has a future in the business. So here it is!

This was the most fun day of my life! It was dark and early. One morning, my tan mom tried to wake me up but I was still sleeping in my blue, comfortable bed. Finally, I got out of my blue bed. Then, we went to the white airport. We went through the white security.

After I went through the white security, I went through a dark tunnel. To get through the dark tunnel, I went on the light train. There were different stops. I got off at Stop B. Right after I got off the white train, I went to find the white airplane. I waited for HOURS and HOURS. I was bored but I was EXCITED!

While I was waiting, I guessed where I was going. My sister Hadley got it right–we were going to the magical Disney World!

Finally, I got on the white airplane. I was on the white airplane for three hours. I was in the puffy, white clouds. The white airplane landed with a thud! I unloaded my green airplane suitcase. I followed the grey Mickey Mouse footprints. I waited in a very long line.

Finally, I was in the front of the very long line. Then, the magical shuttle arrived! After I got off the magical shuttle, I checked in. The place I was staying at was Radiator Springs in Cars Land. I went to get popcorn and a soda. Then, I went on some awesome rides.

As I said, this was the most fun day of my life.

Another first: that he called me “tan.” Thanks, Little Dude. It truly is a Magical Kingdom.

Filed Under: Bode, Disney

How to get your kids to appreciate you

March 25, 2013 By

Ingratitude. It’s the age-old battle all parents wage with their kids. But I have found the solution for instilling gratitude:

Leave them for a week.

I recently spent a week in Canada for some family matters. I arrived home to jubilant children who pelted me with their stuffed animals and doused me with hugs and kisses. Their excitement was augmented when I brought them their very favorite food in the entire world: Tim Hortons Timbits (thanks to Dad for enduring a 4 a.m. doughnut run before my early flight).

But with time, the children started whispering.

“Do you see that pile of dishes? It got to be this high!”

“I have no clean underwear. Have you seen all the dirty clothes in my laundry basket?”

And the worst one of all:

“THERE HAVE BEEN NO HOMEMADE COOKIES IN THE COOKIE JAR!”

Though I left a fridge and freezer full of healthy food, McDonald’s and pizza became the staples (though you didn’t see the kids tattling about that).

I won’t mention when I called 40 minutes after bedtime on a school night and they were waging a mixed-martial arts competition after watching Here Comes the Boom. In the background, I could hear Bode saying, “Daddy said we could have three cookies!”

Sounds like he coped just fine with his store-bought Oreos.

This is not a knock on Jamie…far from it. The dude was a single dad for a week while he juggled a demanding work schedule, Bishopric, homework, poor health and shuttling the kids to their various activities while making sure they were fed. I couldn’t have gone  home if my wonderful husband hadn’t generously stepped up.

But it was a wake-up for all of them that clean clothes don’t just magically appear, delicious, homemade food doesn’t make itself, and darn it, those dishes don’t wash themselves. Maybe that lady we call Mom does more around here than nag us to keep a schedule, do our chores and to make our beds.

Though apparently they got a bye on all those things last week.

They don’t know how really good they had it.

Filed Under: Bode, Hadley, Humor, Jamie

Colorado Life According to Instagram

March 23, 2013 By

It only takes a quick glance of the onslaught of pictures I’ve taken on my phone to realize I’m so far behind on documenting my life I’ll never get caught up. I’ve been wrapping up a couple of big campaigns and took on an additional freelance assignment in addition to everything else I’m juggling. But no complaints here. Whenever I start to feel grumpy about my lack of free time, I’m filled with gratitude that so many doors have been opened for me at Denver’s biggest media outlets and that the kiddos are happy and healthy.

That said, I told Jamie when much of it wraps mid-April, I’m hitting the trail. A lot. At the beginning of the school year, I declared this to be my “Princess Year.”  with the kids finally in school full-day. Welp, it never happened; I’ve just been too busy. But I’ve decided those final weeks before school lets will be my Princess Month. I’ll take whatever I can squeak out at this point.

What we’ve been up to lately:

Threw a going-away party for Bode’s teacher Mrs. Davenport who has been substituting for the last few months for his beloved teacher who was out on personal leave.I got choked up during my good-bye speech to her, even though I’d barely met the woman. Because I’m an emotional wreck like that.

One day when I met my deadlines early, I rewarded myself with a hike at Chautauqua, my favorite area on the Front Range.

Because I’m nice to myself like that.

Took this girl to the great outdoors to collect sticks for a class project we’ll reveal later.

I didn’t complain when I was left to do the compiling while this girl explored across Clear Creek on her own.

We kicked off Spring Break with Bode’s friend Nicky’s party at Mid-air Adventures, which was a ziplining and high-flying adventure. I was proud of both kiddos for doing the giant swing, which terrified them.Better them than me.

Though we thought winter was behind us, we got a big dump of snow this weekend so we, of course, had to play. I was impressed when Hadley proactively started clearing off Jamie’s car and Bode shoveled our neighbor’s driveway.


Though I ended up finishing both jobs, we’ll count this as “It’s the thought that counts.”

And finally, sweet Bode brought home the numerous projects he has been working on this term. He has been learning about goods/services and needs/wants in his economics class.
I don’t know if I’m more charmed that he has Heavenly Father under “My Needs” or homework under “My Wants.” #SpiritualGeek

Filed Under: Bode, Hadley

Copper Mountain: Mother-daughter bonding at its best

March 20, 2013 By

Mom: “Can you please unpack your lunchbox?”

Daughter: “Why should I do it? You’re the one who packed my lunch for me.”

Mom: “I did it to be nice. It’s your responsibility to make it and then unload it.”

Daughter: “Well, if you made it, you should be the one to clean it.”

Thus is a sampling of a conversation I had with H a few days before our trip to Copper Mountain. Mother-daughter relationships are complicated during the best of times but we’ve entered a new phase: The pre-teen years.

But parents everywhere, have faith because I have found a cure for tween moodiness: Take your child on a ski getaway with just the two of you and you’ll swear they’re a different person by the end. One you really, really like.

The scheduling was perfect. The Sunday evening before President’s Day, we drove to Copper Mountain in a separate car than my husband and son. We skied together as a family on Monday and early Tuesday morning, the boys left for work and school. My daughter did not have school until Thursday so we would spend Tuesday and Wednesday (my birthday) together in the mountains.

Here’s the catch: I got really sick. But even that couldn’t hold me back from the healing balm of a ski vacation with my firstborn. So behold: Your guide to having the ultimate getaway with your son or daughter.

1)      Leisurely wake up in your condo. While you’re fighting off your flu (or just need extra time), lounge by the fireplace, build a fort and eat breakfast in it.

2)      Ski together that morning. With over 150 trails across 2,465 acres, we fell in love with Copper Mountain’s varied terrain. My daughter enjoyed the runs off Timberline Express, a veritable intermediate-level Mecca.

3)      Go shopping that afternoon. Center, East and West Villages offer all kinds of restaurants, shopping and activities. Buy yourselves hats from Kelly’s Closet to commemorate the occasion and justify the expense as an early birthday present. Attempt to buy mini doughnuts from Sugar Lips Mini Donuts but upon realizing they’re closed, succor your sweet tooth with cake pops at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Tip: S’more kits are available for $5.95 per kit and firepits around Copper Mountain are plentiful.

4)      Rent skates for $10 from McCoy’s Mountain Market and skate to your heart’s content on West Lake in the heart of the Village at Copper (open from 10 a.m.-10 p.m.) Point out the hockey-playing Canadian dude making slapshots in the net and give your little half-breed (half-American/Canadian) something to shoot for. Literally.

5)      Get a rush on the Alpine Rush Zip Line. For just $10, this zip line soars across West Lake daily from 1-5 p.m. Despite being petrified the day before, my daughter begged to do it again twice. Go to the middle of West Lake as she flies overhead, take a picture and entitle your shot, Conquering Fear. Tear up a little that your girl is growing up.

6)      Race over to nearby Pizza Carlo for Kids in the Kitchen. Served every Monday-Thursday at 4 p.m., your kid will go crazy over this interactive dining experience as they make their own chef hat, don an apron (that they get to keep), get a tour of the kitchen, learn how to toss a large 18” Kids Chef’s Pizza and prepare it with all their favorite fixins. Devour that, along with garlic cheese bread, family-style salad and soda. When you think you can’t eat another bite, bring on the dessert pizza where your child will go crazy decorating it with cookies, M&Ms, sprinkles, chocolate syrup and whipped cream. Roll out of there, raving that you won’t eat ever again. Until your birthday breakfast the next morning at Belgian Bean Waffles & Coffee.7)      Go back to your condo and hit the hot tubs. Soak your weary bones as you download your favorite moments of the day while watching the steam rise in the frosty air and marveling at those crazy grooming machines prepping Copper Mountain for the next day.

8)      Bedtime. Relish as your daughter raves about how she’ll never forget your amazing mother-daughter day. Next time, vow to hit the Tubing Hill in East Village and the 9,000-square foot Woodward at Copper, a year-round snowboard, ski, digital media and skate program that features indoor artificial snow jumps, large foam pits, fly-bed Supertramps, terrain parks, a Superpipe and go-pro rentals.

Because the sometimes-moody tween/teen years last a long time. And I’m convinced mother-daughter trips are the best cure.

Thanks to Copper Mountain for hosting!

Filed Under: Colorado, Family travel, Health, outdoors, skiing, travel

Busted: My Denver Staycation Secret

March 19, 2013 By

My life has three phases: Busy, Really Busy and Crazy Busy. I’m somewhere between the last two as I try to get caught up from a week in Canada and prepare for the kids to be out of school for Spring Break.

When 9News contacted me about doing a daily series this week about Denver staycation ideas, I said 1) Thanks 2) No thanks and 3) Gave them another option. I fed them some suggestions of area activities and that I’d be happy to present them at the beginning of the week and they could dispatch the reporters the following days. Win-win. They get the content, I keep my sanity.

So, I raced into 9News yesterday, 5 minutes later than the allotted time due to traffic but with a few minutes to spare before I went on-air. Prior to going live, a producer or reporter usually comes to prep me regarding what we’re talking about but there was none of that. Seemed everyone else was Crazy Busy, too.

A staffer came out to where I was sitting. “They’re ready for you,” and led me into the studio. The anchors were live and I was to slip in silently while they read their stories, hook up my microphone and then, BAM, the camera turned to me without any prep work whatsoever. If it had been my first time, I likely would have passed out but since I seem to thrive in the fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants lifestyle these days, I was able to pull it off. It also helps that Kyle and Gary are pros who made it really easy. (I have a list of my Denver staycation ideas here).

Following my segment, I posted a picture on Facebook of me at 9News with the caption, “Wrapped up a 9News segment on Spring Break staycation ideas in Denver with anchors Kyle & Gary. P.S. Don’t tell them I’m going to Park City.”

My friend Kristy left a comment regarding a funny experience involving a trip we had taken that I had forgotten about. My first job out of college was as the illustrious ski reporter for SkiUtah on all the radio stations.

I was surprised by just how much I loved radio. As a broadcast journalism major at BYU, our training focused on a bit of radio and mostly TV, but all our reporting was serious, hard-news stories. But as the Craaaazy Canuck ski reporter, I could be zany and  fun and developed some fabulous relationships with the on-air DJs who included Tom Barberi, the longest running radio personality in Utah history, and KSL legends, Grant & Amanda.

My job was obviously to tout Utah skiing, something I loved doing as I skied 13 of their 14 resorts that 1997-1998 season. I had also started freelancing as the travel editor for Sports Guide Magazine so when I was invited to cover Jackson Hole, I kept it on the down-low. I invited two of my former mission companions–Kristy and Susan–and we had a F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S spring break in Wyoming.

Well, my ski reporter replacement slipped that I was in Utah skiing and land almighty, the media got a kick that “Miss SkiUtah was skiing in Wyoming. I even got called out in Rolly & Wells, the Salt Lake Tribune’s gossip column.

A write-up in your city’s famous gossip column for your first job out of college?

My life has been on the decline ever since.

 

 

Filed Under: 9News, Colorado, Humor, Utah

The Amazing Race: Colorado!

March 14, 2013 By

I have a longtime obsession with The Amazing Race, a love affair that started in their fourth season (they’re in their 22nd season; Jamie may-or-may not have bought me boot legged copies of the first few ones I missed). So great is my love for this show that I would forsake my Canuck citizenship and come over to the dark side (become American) for the chance to race.

It started up again a few weeks ago and the kids and I have been faithfully watching every Sunday night. I was thrilled when I learned that this season, there are some Coloradoans “The Roller Derby Moms” competing and one of them actually lives in my town! I connected with them via Twitter saying I wanted to meet with them and one of them pinged me back on Facebook and we’ve exchanged emails. Because of CBS’s strict confidentiality agreement, they can’t do a formal interview until they’re eliminated, after which I’m there! I’d love to learn all the behind-the-scenes stuff you don’t see on TV.

I flew home from Canada on Tuesday and on Wednesday, I suggested Jamie and I go on a lunch date to the Sherpa House Restaurant and Cultural Center. Knowing my obsession with Nepal, my sweet husband bought me a Groupon to this Nelapese restaurant in Golden for my birthday. The authentic decor made made me feel like I was strolling Durbar Square in Kathmandu valley.

When we were standing in line for round two of their buffet, I realized we had inadvertently cut in front of a cool-looking, long-haired dude who was standing back to make room for people leaving the room.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I apologized. “We didn’t mean to cut.”

“No big deal..I’m not going anywhere,” he replied. And as soon as the words left his mouth, something was triggered. I hissed to Jamie, “That guy was on the Amazing Race!”

Jamie glanced back and not recognizing him told me I was mistaken. I wasn’t ready to give it up but also didn’t want to make a fool of myself with mistaken identity so I casually mentioned to Jamie how I’d emailed the Roller Derby Moms this week. The bait was taken hook, line and sinker as his eyes lit up. He turned to me and before he could say a word, I said, “I knew it! You were on the Amazing Race last season?!”

Turns out Mark “Abba” Abbatista lives in Golden and was gracious enough to let me take a picture as we peppered him with questions. He and his teammate were among my favorite teams but were eliminated when a cabbie drove off with their backpacks in Russia, including their passport and VISA. Abba divulged the nightmare that ensured of trying to get out of the country , the emergency VISA issued by the embassy and so much more. He limped around a lot and figured he had a meniscus tear in his knee. Turned out he had much worse: when he arrived home and got his legs X-rayed, he learned he had been running the race on two broken legs.

I could have talked to him for hours but after 10 minutes, we let him rejoin his daughter for lunch (cuz we’re nice like that). When we arrived back at the table, I squealed to Jamie, “Can you believe that? I wasn’t too much like a crazed Amazing Race fan, was I?”

He assured me I wasn’t any more over-the-top than usual.

Take that to mean whatever you want.

 

Filed Under: Humor, Jamie

Home

March 13, 2013 By

I have not been home in March since my final year of high school. With Mom’s deteriorating health, I knew I didn’t want to wait until our summertime visit to Calgary. Though she isn’t in the same critical condition that has landed her in the hospital most of the last two months (she had her eighth ER visit while I was here), her pain is unrelenting.

I caught a hint of the frustrations of socialized medicine (REALLY? The MS Clinic can’t see her until May?! We can’t find any meds that even touch the pain?!) and am so grateful for what champions my dad and brother’s family are for helping her. It’s a heartbreaking situation that is only going to get worse.

There were however, some silver linings, like being entertained for hours by her colorful childhood stories, which I typed up for her personal history. And being well enough to get her hair done by my niece Ashton.And the food. She has lost 30 pounds since December so I was on a mission to fatten her up and spent a lot of time in the kitchen making apple pies, apple crisp, macaroons, roast, Pao de Queijo (Brazilian cheese bread) and so much more.

I’m not sure if she gained a pound but Dad and I are now in a food coma.

But he and I stayed active with our favorite wintertime activities: cross-country skiing and skating. On my first day in Calgary, he showed up in his skiing garb.

“Are we going skiing?” I excitedly asked.
“Not exactly. Your skis got burned up in the garage fire.”

Balloon…deflated. I later took his cross-country gear out on the golf course and it’s a good thing we weren’t able to go together because I was dragging. Though the snow conditions were perfect, it was my first exercise since getting sick and all I had eaten that day was rice pudding and jelly bellies.I told you I ate (too) well on this trip.

Another case in point: My sister-in-law Jane’s A-M-A-Z-I-N-G fondue, tempura and raclette cheese smorgasbord. We also skated at my favorite place on earth: 52-acre Lake Bonavista. It has been several years since I’ve been able to go because, despite the fact we’ve been home for Christmases, the lake hasn’t been frozen. The last time I went, Dad and I figured we’d initiate Jamie in The Canadian Way with an authentic skating experience.

But here’s the problem with Lake Bonavista: It’s private and you need to live in the community to use it. Fortunately, Dad found a way around it when, at a church activity eons ago, some friends from our ward told him he could cut through the yard of their lakefront house to go skating whenever he wanted.

Little did they know 25 years later, he’d still be doing it.

When we took Jamie, we snuck through the yard. Dad first, me next, Jamie last. Dad and I were almost down to the lake when someone came out of the house and accusingly shouted at Jamie,

“Just what do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m with the Borowskis,” he said, pointing to us.
“Who are the BOROWSKIS?” he retorted.

Turned out, Dad had accidentally cut through the neighbor’s property.

Fortunately, that was the only time he made that mistake and I have never had a better skating experience than I did lat week–the Zambonied trail cut around the perimeter of the lake was as smooth as glass and we floated on it for miles and miles. I thought my heart would burst from sheer joy.

Skating AND skiing on the lake.

Bonus: Dad and I whizzed past some hockey-playing 20-something whipper snappers.

At this point, we’ll take anything we can get.

Filed Under: Canada, Family, Health

This is not a call to vote for me as a Top 25 Outdoorsy Mom. Mostly.

March 11, 2013 By

I vowed after pandering for votes to get to become Microsoft Office’s accredited blogger at the 2010 Vancouver Games, I would never again ask for votes for anything. I felt so indebted to the many friends and strangers who gave me that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and have tried to return the favor whenever anyone asks for my support in a campaign.

So, when Circle of Moms emailed and told me I was nominated as a Top 25 Outdoorsy Mom I thought, “That’s nice. I’m good with being a Top 25.” But then I saw daily voting was involved. I have no desire to hold a social-media campaign begging for votes like the last time. There are plenty of deserving moms whose blogs I love so consider this a call to check them out. And, if you are so inclined, drop me a vote here.

I have no aspirations to come in first but just don’t want to come in last.

I call it my new standard of excellence.

=======

Stop the presses! One of my fellow nominees had a brilliant idea. We in the outdoor blogging community have had our lives rocked by the death of 2-year-old Axel Charrette. I mentioned it in a previous post but initially had no idea how  violent it was. His mom Jen Charrette is from Ridgeway, Colo. and their family recently sold their bike business and hit the road with their two young boys with the dream of becoming digital nomads. They were living for a couple of months in Mexico when her sweet Axel was violently murdered and it is making headlines around the world. No mom or family should ever have to go through this.

Remember when I said I don’t care if I win this contest? That still holds true but now I know who I want to win. I just nominated Velo Mom Jen Charrette as the Top 25 Outdoorsy Mom. Of course, it can in no way replace the loss of a child but please take a moment to vote for her. I’d love to see everyone’s support blow this out of the water.

In September, Jen wrote about The Big Adventure her family was about to embark on. I’m sure they never could have envisioned how it all would end.

Please take a few seconds out of your day to vote for Velo Mom!

 

 

Filed Under: outdoors

A sickly, fabulous birthday in the mountains

March 7, 2013 By

A couple of weeks ago, I turned really old. At least that’s how I felt when I woke up at Copper Mountain, sicker than a dog (I had previously felt just as sick as a canine but three days on the mountain had left me worse off than when I began).

But really, it was tough to feel sorry for myself because it was the final day of my mother-daughter getaway with Hadley, we were at Copper Mountain and this was what it looked like from my bed. I called it my “sick view.” Pun intended.

Despite how I felt, there was no way I was wasting my birthday so dragged myself out of bed, had a leisurely bath and we headed downstairs from our condo to Belgian Bean Waffles & Coffee. I was disappointed there wasn’t a bigger selection of waffles and toppings beyond strawberries, mixed berries, caramel, chocolate and whipped cream. But that stopped the moment we sunk our teeth into our unbelievably delicious Belgian-style waffle with mixed berries and whipped cream. We then ordered a magic cookie bar (my favorite) for dessert.

Don’t judge. It was my birthday.

Snowshoeing

We went back to our condo where we packed up our gear and checked out. We had originally intended to stay at Copper Mountain for one of their Free Ambassador Snowshoe Tours (which they offer two times a day) but the more moderate, family-friendly tour wasn’t until after lunch. I did some research of the area and decided we should go snowshoeing at the Frisco Nordic Center, just 10 minutes down the road from Copper Mountain.

I’m a longtime fan of Frisco and am moderately obsessed with having a cabin in the Frisco/Breckenridge area someday (OK, really obsessed). We have spent a lot of time biking the more than 80-mile network of paved, non-motorized paths that originate in Frisco and wind through Breckenridge, Dillon, Keystone, Copper Mountain and Vail.

Set on a peninsula overlooking Lake Dillon, The Frisco Nordic Center is one of the most scenic areas along the route and that’s why I’d recommend forking over the wintertime trail fees: $20 for adults, youth ages 7-17 are $15.

Snowshoeing at the Frisco Nordic Center

I bought the kids snowshoes on clearance at REI last year but this was Hadley’s first time using them. The 1,800-acre playground overlooking Lake Dillon’s glistening white panorama was the perfect place to break them in. Another advantage of “paying to play” were the 15 km of well-marked snowshoe trails. I’m not a fan of getting lost in the mountains, which is really easy to do with snow covering the trail. We had markers at every turn, which made our 1.5-hour loop that skirted the edge of the reservoir that much more fun and stress-free.

Frisco Adventure Park

By the end of our outing, we were happy, exhausted and ready for more so we walked across the street to the Frisco Adventure Park, which offers a tubing hill, beginner ski and ride hill and dinner sleigh rides. It was Wednesday and I expected the place to be a ghost town. I was wrong. We joined legions of other snow enthusiasts to watch a short safety video, grab our tubes, head up the magic carpet and then careen down the lengthy, FAST 1,200-foot tubing lanes.We had a blast together but I almost lost my breakfast as we caught air on each of the bumps.

Getting older has its benefits but a weak stomach isn’t one of them.

Filed Under: birthday, Family travel, Hadley, outdoors

Living a Staggering Life

March 5, 2013 By

I have been really pensive lately. Being sick and surrounded by a lot of tough situations will do that to you. Last year, when my childhood friend Nalene passed away unexpectedly, it opened my eyes to just how precious and fleeting life really is.

Last month, I sat by the bedside of an elderly widow in our ward who has become a beloved part of our family. The end was near–I could feel it and though she couldn’t voice it, she knew it. The next day, she passed away and at her funeral, I marveled at this thing called mortality that we too-often take for granted.

Magical= 12 nests in one cluster of trees

Last week, I stumbled upon this quote:

“I think life is staggering and we’re just getting used to it. We are all like spoiled children no longer impressed with the gifts we’re given–it’s just another sunset, just another rainstorm moving in over the mountain, just another child being born, just another funeral.” -Donald Miller, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years

Mother-son adventures last weekend in Evergreen. Everest or Bust.

When I was 21, I served an 18-month mission for the LDS Church in Switzerland and France. I felt like I was Belle from Beauty in the Beast and was absolutely captivated with each person I taught (and who taught me) and every Swiss village or mountain I climbed in the Alps. I was living a dream and I knew it.

My first area was Bienne, a small city in the Three-Lakes region in Switzerland that had a half-French, half-German population. I was a couple of months into my mission when my trainer was transferred and I received another companion–one who’d be going home in four short weeks. I couldn’t wait to show her our favorite haunts. As I pointed out the town patisserie oozing with the fragrance of pain au chocolat, we wound around the ville’s cobblestone streets with bursting fountains, vine-covered stone walls and statues tucked into nooks in the walls.

“Isn’t this amazing?” I raved.
“Not really. I’ve been in Europe for 17 months and if you’ve seen one French village, you’ve seen them all,” she said, boredom in her voice.

Even today, I’m still blown away by her statement but she never let herself just be happy and live in the moment. And I can’t help but wonder if she has lived a mediocre life because she felt like she was surrounded by mediocrity.

Taking flight in Evergreen. #Joy

I’m flying home to Canada today to help with my mom. As some of you know, she took a turn for the worse before Christmas and has been regularly hospitalized. She was released last week but her battle is not over–in fact, it’s heating up as she wages this 25-year war with a body that is ravaged and broken by MS.

A Colorado woman whom I admire for her joie de vivre recently sold her bike shop with the intention of becoming digital nomads and working remotely around the world with their young family. Their journey had only recently begun in Mexico but then she posted on Facebook last weekend that her 2-year-old son drowned while under a babysitter’s care. This one hit home because it is a secret dream of mine to take my family, work remotely and just travel. Not only was this the death of their dream but the loss of a child is exponentially worse.

Another friend posted that an ill young boy who captivated the hearts of his native Utah and the world lost his battle. While reading Mitchell’s Journey, I was so inspired by this family who can see beyond their current pain and suffering.

…….. Somewhere on the other side of this hell is the Heavenly promise of peace and reunion – but that’s a lifetime away and [learning to cope with] death and separation from our young boy who [wanted] so much to live, cuts us deeply. It’s easy to talk of God and life after death in Sunday school, but to come face to face with it is breathtaking.

But alas, we are grateful to know there is life after life … and we have seen tender mercies in our family, even in the midst of our pain. While there are many today who have abandoned belief in God, we stand resolute … with an absolute knowledge of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We have seen Him work in our lives; warning us, preparing us, and lifting us when we hardly have the strength to stand. We remain grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and its healing, transcendent power. As C.S. Lewis once said of suffering, “Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even [agony] into [glory].” This we know.

As we process all that is happening and the tender pains of losing our precious child, we have felt a quiet whisper that Mitchell was never really ours in the first place, but he is on loan to us from the Father of us all. He, like each of us, will return to Heavenly Father with a perfectly executed life experience filled with hardship and happiness; all designed to refine our souls for greater purposes.

Our chilly Sunday bike ride at dusk.

“Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even [agony] into [glory].”

Life is a miracle. And I’m so grateful for the one I’ve been given.

Filed Under: LDS
« Older Posts