Helaman Hall Honeys

I was blessed to make some amazing friends for life while living in the dorms at BYU my freshman year of college ('99-'00). We managed our first reunion in Texas in October 2008. Ever since then, we'd been saying we needed to get together again. We decided kind of last minute to hurry and get together before Emily's second son was born (he's on his way in the next few weeks!). We quickly pulled off another reunion, this time in Colorado, since Emily was so close to her due date. We had a blast chatting, eating yummy food, and laughing a lot! We already decided that our next reunion will be a cruise or rented beach house getaway. :)

All of us
(l to r: Cynthia, Me, Emily, Alycia, and Katie)

Alycia and Katie
Emily and Cynthia
On one of our days together, we decided to brave the cold and go out for lunch and window shopping on Pearl Street in Boulder. We didn't last long, though, as it started snowing down on us pretty hard. Here's Cyn with her sweet little guy Bergen (before the snow got going).
I don't think I've ever seen snowflakes that actually look like the pretty little graphics in books and cartoons. In Boulder, it apparently does snow perfect little crystalline snowflakes. Just check out the flakes in Katie's hair! We were pretty amazed by them and took lots of pictures of each others' hair. :)

See more pics of the reunion here, here, and here.

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Remember How Fun This Game Is?

But who has the patience to actually follow the rules? Carter persuaded Shane to get this out at Nana's house. He could hardly contain himself while Shane set up the trap and loved setting it off over and over again.

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Adoption By the Mile -- Are You Game?

(Previously posted on Adoption Voices by Shane on September 4, 2009)

I did some serious running in high school as part of the track and cross country teams. I'll even come out and say that I won a state championship in the 3200m. Now a lot of my running takes place on the heels of a three-year-old. I do some casual running with some guys at work and run a 5k or 10k here and there. I've wanted to run a bigger race like a half-marathon or even a full marathon, but haven't had the time or a good motivation to train for one - until now!

I'm passionate about adoption, so once there was an adoption spin put on training for a half marathon, I was off the fence. Mrs R is organizing a group of people involved in adoption to run in the Canyonlands Half Marathon in Moab, Utah on March 20, 2010. We'll wear adoption running shirts to help draw attention and send a message about adoption and the miracle that it is in our lives. Please join us! You can follow the planning on the new blog she set up just for the occasion.

You can use this opportunity as a way to take your own mind off of a seemingly endless wait, or frustrations with infertility, or just to join with others who are grateful for the blessings of adoption and help to positively promote it. I am an adoptive father of two, and my wife and I have several friends who have placed a child for adoption and we're both humbled and inspired by the sacrifices that birth parents make in choosing adoption. I hope that this race will be an opportunity for us all to make new connections with adoptees, birth family members, and adoptive families.

Take a moment to read about the miracles Mrs R experienced previously in channeling the emotions of the adoption roller-coaster ride into a challenging goal.
I hope to see you there!

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Post-Service Luncheon

Carter and Shane as we head into the luncheon in the cultural hall.
I loved that the tables were decorated with some of Grandma's favorite things -- Boston Baked Beans and Red Vines. Also, on each of the tables was a card with a memory of Grandma. The card at our table said Grandma was remembered as a "true & faithful disciple" by a member of her study group.

A beautiful day.

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Grandma H's Life Celebrated

After Grandma's funeral, which was very sweet, we all followed outside to bid her a final farewell. The oldest grandson from each family was invited to be a pallbearer, so Shane was asked to participate. Oh how I wish I had a picture of the moment Shane spent with Grandpa just after Grandma's casket was loaded into the hearse. I was just getting out my camera, hesitant to whip it out and start snapping right at first. I hope I can remember that picture in my mind forever though. It was really tender and emotional. There was a scheduling conflict, so the internment at the cemetery was not held until a few days after the funeral. Therefore, we were not traveling to the cemetery right afterward. I took some candid shots to capture the reverent, reflective time while everyone just lingered for a bit outside, sharing hugs and greetings before we went back inside for the luncheon prepared by the ward.

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Road Trip to Celebration of Grandma H

The drive to Utah for Grandma H's funeral was a pleasant one, thanks to Joe and Claudia renting a big van for all of us to travel in together. The trip goes much faster with good company, music, and conversation. I also noticed that it was a more beautiful drive than usual because of the increase in rain and decrease in heat we have enjoyed this year so far. The landscape was green and more colorful than I ever remember it being this time of year.

Here's the view from the dam bridge in Page.

Joe and Claudia did the driving, bless them.
Shane spent the majority of the trip between two little boys (entertaining them) way in the back of the van... really BLESS him!
Monica and baby Grant were my seat mates for the majority of the trip.

We had fun and Grant became my buddy. :)

We stopped at a park for lunch in Kanab and let the little boys run around.
We also had to stop at the cheese factory/dairy in Beaver for squeeky cheese curd,
chocolate-covered cinnamon bears, and ice cream. Here's Pratt with his ice cream cone.

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Grandma H

From the moment I met Grandma and Grandpa H in the Spring of 2001, I have been crazy about them. I still remember that first moment when Shane introduced me to them and the generous, genuine smiles on their kind faces put me at ease. They welcomed me into the family and loved me simply because Shane loved me and they loved him. I have so much appreciation and respect for them and have cherished the time we've spent in their presence. They are such a magnificent example of eternal companionship to us.
Last night, Grandma H passed away. In many ways this is a huge blessing. Grandma, as her family knew her, had been distant for a while. Alzheimer's had taken away some of who she used to be in the last few years. But it had also intensified her sweetness and her smile I think. We are grateful that Grandma doesn't have to live in a failing mortal body any longer and we are grateful that Grandpa can know she is in a better place with those loved ones who have gone on before her. Grandpa has been such a devoted husband and has so intensely loved Grandma, standing by her side throughout their marriage. Grandma did so much good in her lifetime and I am glad I knew her and felt her tender spirit in my life over the last eight years. We love you and will miss you Grandma! Much love to Grandpa! We look forward to being with you soon to celebrate Grandma's life.

Pictures taken in Rocky Point, Mexico in December of 2007.

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