Author: Stephen Parker

Here we go again….we are taking the challenge to ride the Tour de France (over 2100 miles) route at home on our trainers. the goal is to complete this by April 1st,  just prior to our family vacation to St. George.

AMA Challenge 2012 was amazing!

I just wanted to thank all of you for riding in the AMA Challenge!  We raised $3275 that has been donated to the American Diabetes Association.  Over 125 riders!  We couldn't do it with each and every one of you.  It was so rewarding to see riders of all caliber riding for a great cause.  Check out some of the pics from the event on the website now, you are welcome to download them and use them at your leisure. www.amachallenge.org

The best Christmas gift Stephen was given this year came in the form of a letter from BYU Idaho offering him a full-time & (most importantly) permanent position as a System Administrator at the University! He is so happy, relieved, and excited. He describes the past 6 months as being inside of a dark abyss and then finally seeing a door opening filled with light! It is good to know he has a job for the future to provide for our famliy and it has been a good test of our faith to go through this experience. Through it all we have come to recognize and realize, as we have countless other times, that the Lord is mindful of each of us and blesses us according to His will and time. Our job is to hang on tight and just keep trusting – even when it's hard. Stephen had a very cool experience as this job transition came about and I will leave it for him to tell if he wishes.

After praying and fasting as a family for this blessing to come about in our lives since June, we felt the need to celebrate when we heard the official news! The kiddos and I made a banner of congratulations for Stephen to drive through as he pulled into the garage symbolizing a finish line. 

Every weekday I run full speed for at least 600 feet up hill 25% grade, my goal is the virtual top of Everest.  Check back for daily progress updates. Nag me if you don't see any progress being made. 🙂

If you would like to join in on the fun let me know I will send you the link where you can log your daily climbs as well.

Comments:

Dad said…

Looks like a lofty goal. Keep on truckin’.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 5:25:59 PM

Jodi said…

Good Luck! If anyone can do it, it’s you.
Tuesday, January 03, 2012 10:46:36 AM

Notice what is on the iPad – Smurfs (Stephens little obsession)

Last night Lily and Olivia got the notion to give free massages. They just do it sometimes – I know, it's a sweet deal! Anyway, they were giving Stephen his turn massaging his knees – he has been hurting a lot these days in the legs and especially the knees. I went in the other room for a minute and when I got back they were styling his leg hair with my comb and round brush!  They couldn't decide which was cuter – smoothed down, comb over, or spike. hahaha It took me a minute to get all of the lotion out of my brush and comb, but it was for a good cause. 🙂

We had almost 80 riders this year triple of last year!  Thank you all so much for coming out to make this a great event for all ages.  We raised over $1700 dollars that will go to the American Diabetes Association to help find a cure for diabetes.  My 9 year old asked me when I told how much we raised, “Dad, do you think that will be enough so they will find a cure now?”  Very touching, I will get some pics of the ride up when the dust settles.
 
Once again thank you all for coming out and supporting a great cause.  I wish I could have finished riding in time to see you all come across the finish line. Those I was able to see brought joy to my heart as I feel the sense of accomplishment in their faces.  Great Job fellow ama riders!  Next year let’s see if we can break the 100 rider barrier.

Thank you so much for your support!

Stephen grew another year older, he is now up to the big 3 – 8. Holy Smokes, it is a good thing he doesn't act THAT old! Just kidding. He is awesome not matter how old or young he is. His birthday was on a Sunday, and he made us all cinnamon rolls to celebrate. Wasn't that nice of him? He is a master at making them in large quantities. He was happy to open up the gifts that he had hand picked out for himself. It made birthday shopping very nice for me. After the morning festivities,  I had to leave to go to a meeting and I planned to meet the family at church. The next time I saw the boys in my family I was aghast. JT came running toward me with a freshly shaved head – no attachments! I am used to seeing this on Stephen, but not my little man. Apparently Lexi gave the boys hair cuts when I left and the pictures posted are the end result. Mason has begged me for months to shave off all of his hair – like his dads! He is not a fan of hair cuts and saw it as a way to slow down the process of needing another hair cut. Silly boyz and a girl names Lexi. It helped make Stephen's birthday even more memorable! Stephen is such a good person with a giant heart and aim to serve people. He lives life to the fullest and has one of the best attitudes and smiles of any person I know. It is great to celebrate the birth of this man! We love him!!!

Today while rock climbing for high adventure with some young men from the stake.  I chose to climb up the cliffs we had been repelling down, it was a great climb until about 3' from the top when I grabbed a rock about the size of my head and it pulled loose from the mountain.  I immediately fell off the wall and began flying towards the ground back first.  I was being belayed but he apparently was snapping some photo's of me climbing so his hands were tied up.  I closed my eyes and braced for impact, just when I thought I was going to hit the ground I was stopped by the rope.  I was literally inches from the rocky ground.  I was in shock, I immediately jumped up and assessed myself for injuries.  I was amazed that I only had a few scratches and rope burn on arms and hands.  I thought to myself I must have something left to do in this life, because I shouldn't be alive after falling almost 50'!  There is a higher power out there angels are watching over us and caring for us when life gets out of our control.

Comments:

John and michelle said…

Wow-we are glad you are still with us. That is so scary.
Sunday, July 31, 2011 4:31:37 PM

Magan said…

Glad you are safe.
Sunday, July 31, 2011 4:56:10 PM

Ri Ri said…

I am so happy you are ok.
Thursday, August 25, 2011 4:39:42 PM

Only a few short weeks ago, Stephen's little CRV needed some repairs. He ended up pulling out the entire engine and replacing it, only to discover that the engine had a cracked block. This was NOT a happy realization. So not to be discouraged, he spent 5 hours last night taking the "lemon" engine out, and tonight after his BYUI work drove to Pocatello to swap the junk yard for a different engine and is currently putting it in – it is midnight! Mason and JT surely have a wonderful example of frugality, work ethic, and determination!