Well, it finally arrived on Wednesday, March 19th! The Post Office actually called Kevin and Angie, so Connor drove as quickly as he could to the Post Office to pick it up.
And here it was! I'm sure it was such a temptation to open it up immediately, but Connor had invited a few friends over to watch him open it at 8:00 p.m.--a few turned out to be 125 guests at Kevin and Angie's home that evening!!!
Everyone was waiting anxiously for the big news!
The map was on the wall with many of the guesses that people had suggested of places where Connor may be called to.
Even the family members who weren't in attendance had put in their guesses. Here is the list from Jeff and Amy's family of where they thought Connor would go. How did Isaac come up with Czech Republic? Hah!
And as Connor read the calling, no one was right! Not one person guessed anywhere in Central America, because Connor is going to:
The beautiful city of Managua, the capital of Nicaragua.
A very proud mother with her son.
Connor with his brother, Taylor, and Taylor's wife, Ellie. Taylor served his mission in Pennsylvania Philadelphia Spanish Speaking, served his two years, and was married in June of 2013, when he came home. He and Ellie were very excited for Connor!
Here are some of Connor's best friends who came to congratulate him: Parker, Cole, (Connor), Tyler, and Benson. All of these young men will be going through this same process within the next couple of months and can't wait for the day to open their Call, too.
Connor's golf coach even came to give Connor his support.
Connor and his friend, Cole, who should be getting his call very soon, too.
Another one of Connor's golfing buddies, Zane, congratulating him.
This is a friend of Taylor's whose name is Garrett. He, also, came for the big announcement
Connor with his friend, Jordan.
Everyone was waiting anxiously for the big news!
Even the family members who weren't in attendance had put in their guesses. Here is the list from Jeff and Amy's family of where they thought Connor would go. How did Isaac come up with Czech Republic? Hah!
Nicaragua, Managua South - Spanish Speaking.
Connor will begin his mission in the Missionary Training Center in Mexico City on July 23, 2014! We all couldn't be more excited!!!
Connor will begin his mission in the Missionary Training Center in Mexico City on July 23, 2014! We all couldn't be more excited!!!
The beautiful city of Managua, the capital of Nicaragua.
Connor with his brother, Taylor, and Taylor's wife, Ellie. Taylor served his mission in Pennsylvania Philadelphia Spanish Speaking, served his two years, and was married in June of 2013, when he came home. He and Ellie were very excited for Connor!
Connor with lots of friends!
What a fantastic evening with so much love and support from so many people!
Whenever there are milestones in your family's lives, it always gets me in the remembering mode. I remember when Connor was born. He was the tiniest little guy at only 5 lbs. 11 oz.
He actually got chunkier, but that didn't last long.
He had a very good big brother who was always a great example for him.
At about this age, he absolutely loved the movie of "The Wizard of Oz." I gave him a couple of t-shirts that said "Wizard of Oz" on them, had to hem them up at the bottom because they were so long, and he absolutely wouldn't take them off morning or night. All day long he watched his favorite movie in his favorite t-shirt. It was a good thing he had two or his mother would have never been able to wash them! It was so adorable!
He has always reminded me of his dad because he is very determined at whatever he does and has always attracted lots of friends.
And just like his dad, he is very passionate about his team sports. When he was about this age, I remember him looking up at me with those big brown eyes and saying, "I wish I could just take these brown eyes out and make them BYU blue eyes!"
And just like his dad, he is very passionate about his team sports. When he was about this age, I remember him looking up at me with those big brown eyes and saying, "I wish I could just take these brown eyes out and make them BYU blue eyes!"
He's been a great big brother, too--first to Kade . . .
then to Lauren . . .
and then to Hannah.
He has always loved sports--and is a huge Brigham Young University fan!
Hardly a Christmas goes by that he doesn't request something with the Cougars on it!
Visiting the BYU campus has always been a fun past time, plus Connor and his family have season tickets to both the football and basketball games.
He has always loved traveling with his dad and brothers to stadiums all across the country--especially if BYU is playing a game there.
Four generations of BYU fans attending the BYU - Georgia Tech game in Atlanta. Me, Kevin, Connor, and Grandpa Rigby
But the sport Connor loves playing the most is GOLF! From when he was very young, Connor has loved the game. Here he gets some pointers from his dad.
Connor worked so hard to get his skills good enough to make it on the high school golf team as a freshman. That was a big day!
During Connor's freshman year, Lone Peak Golf Team was the state champ! During his sophomore year, they came in second in state, and his junior year, they came in second place again through a tie-breaking play-off. So sad!
But, Connor was picked First Team All State that junior year in 2012 . . .
The very best day came his senior year, however! All those early mornings of losing sleep and being at the golf course at sunrise and not coming home until sunset really paid off!
Lone Peak took State!
Lone Peak took State!
Connor's first day at the tournament was a little high (if you can call a 78 high!), but the second day, he had the lowest day total of the team!) He was again picked First Team All-State, 2014, as a senior.
Some of the newspaper articles where they quoted him were really fun to read:
High school boys golf: Lone Peak
caps undefeated season with 5A championship
By Brandon Gurney, Deseret News
Published: Tuesday,
Oct. 8 2013 9:10 p.m. MDT
Updated: Tuesday,
Oct. 8 2013 9:08 p.m. MDT
HIGHLAND — Lone
Peak's boys golf team dominated its competition during the regular season. When
it mattered most, the Knights did it again.
Lone Peak capped its undefeated season with a convincing win Tuesday at the 5A state golf championships held at Alpine Country Club.
The Knights shot a combined 591 over two days — a full 14 shots clear of both Viewmont and Syracuse, who tied for second place.
“It feels amazing. I can’t even describe it,” said Lone Peak’s Connor Copeland. “This team worked so hard all year and we had a big chip on our shoulder coming into the tournament, but that’s now gone and we’re state champions. It feels amazing.”
Copeland himself had two chips on his shoulder entering the final day of competition. The first was courtesy of Brighton, which edged out Lone Peak in a sudden-death playoff last year to take the title. The second was placed there by himself after shooting a lackluster 78 during the first day of this year's competition.
His score earned him the first tee time Tuesday, and he responded just like his coach wanted — and his team needed.
“Connor has been so solid for us all year and I knew he’d respond the way we needed him to,” said Lone Peak coach Rob Stanger. “He got off to a very good start and really paced our team and drove everyone to play their best. I’d go back to the players behind him and tell them that Connor is now 1 shot under par or 2 shots under par, and that really got all of them going since all our players are so competitive.”
Ultimately, Copeland carded a 72 in blustery and subsequent poor scoring conditions Tuesday at Alpine Country Club. Cameron Webb added a 73 and Berkley Stulce a 74 to help secure the championship.
“We’ve had such a deep and consistent team and that showed today, just like it has all year,” Stanger said. “This team really had a desire to improve after coming so close last year and that really drove us this year. I can’t say enough about the kids and the time they put in.”
Last year saw the Knights finish just one putt away from a state title. They made sure it was not nearly as close this time around.
"We all wanted to make sure not to come up short this year and it really motivated us seeing how close we were last year," Copeland said. "All our hard work paid off and it was a complete team effort."
Lone Peak capped its undefeated season with a convincing win Tuesday at the 5A state golf championships held at Alpine Country Club.
The Knights shot a combined 591 over two days — a full 14 shots clear of both Viewmont and Syracuse, who tied for second place.
“It feels amazing. I can’t even describe it,” said Lone Peak’s Connor Copeland. “This team worked so hard all year and we had a big chip on our shoulder coming into the tournament, but that’s now gone and we’re state champions. It feels amazing.”
Copeland himself had two chips on his shoulder entering the final day of competition. The first was courtesy of Brighton, which edged out Lone Peak in a sudden-death playoff last year to take the title. The second was placed there by himself after shooting a lackluster 78 during the first day of this year's competition.
His score earned him the first tee time Tuesday, and he responded just like his coach wanted — and his team needed.
“Connor has been so solid for us all year and I knew he’d respond the way we needed him to,” said Lone Peak coach Rob Stanger. “He got off to a very good start and really paced our team and drove everyone to play their best. I’d go back to the players behind him and tell them that Connor is now 1 shot under par or 2 shots under par, and that really got all of them going since all our players are so competitive.”
Ultimately, Copeland carded a 72 in blustery and subsequent poor scoring conditions Tuesday at Alpine Country Club. Cameron Webb added a 73 and Berkley Stulce a 74 to help secure the championship.
“We’ve had such a deep and consistent team and that showed today, just like it has all year,” Stanger said. “This team really had a desire to improve after coming so close last year and that really drove us this year. I can’t say enough about the kids and the time they put in.”
Last year saw the Knights finish just one putt away from a state title. They made sure it was not nearly as close this time around.
"We all wanted to make sure not to come up short this year and it really motivated us seeing how close we were last year," Copeland said. "All our hard work paid off and it was a complete team effort."
Lone Peak dominates on second day to
win 5A state golf crown
Daily Herald
Provo, Utah
It’s what the Lone Peak boys golf team
had used all season to win 12 straight region events and lead after the first
round of the 5A state tournament Monday at the Alpine Country Club.
On Tuesday, when the majority of players were unable to even match the first day’s results, the Knights once again tallied four scores in the 70s to capture the title by 14 strokes.
After a combined 295 Monday, Lone Peak turned in a 296 on Tuesday with a different combination of players. Those scores are good enough for fifth and sixth place all-time in the state records book.
On Tuesday, when the majority of players were unable to even match the first day’s results, the Knights once again tallied four scores in the 70s to capture the title by 14 strokes.
After a combined 295 Monday, Lone Peak turned in a 296 on Tuesday with a different combination of players. Those scores are good enough for fifth and sixth place all-time in the state records book.
However, it was how Copeland got there
which made the difference for his team at the end.
His first-round score of 78 didn’t even count towards the first day’s tally. That put him in the first group of the top four teams to tee off, and he dropped six shots off his first round to turn in the overall third-best score of the second day at 72.
“Connor was huge for us,” said Stanger. “He set the tone for the day by battling through. We knew with a start like that, if the other guys could just stay steady, we had a great chance.”
His first-round score of 78 didn’t even count towards the first day’s tally. That put him in the first group of the top four teams to tee off, and he dropped six shots off his first round to turn in the overall third-best score of the second day at 72.
“Connor was huge for us,” said Stanger. “He set the tone for the day by battling through. We knew with a start like that, if the other guys could just stay steady, we had a great chance.”
Even though his golf will have to be put aside for two years, I know his love of the game will surely keep going. In the past, he has always played whenever he had the chance and took every opportunity to visit every major golf course
that's in the cities he's gone to.
Connor has had a very loving and supporting family.
His parents have taught him the gospel and prepared him for serving the Lord. Also, they helped him in achieving his Eagle Scout Rank when he was 15 years old.
Hopefully the grandchildren have felt our support as we have always lived so far away from most of them. We try to do activities with them to show them our faith and love of the Lord. This was such a great day when George and I were able to take Connor and his cousin, Carter, to General Conference in Salt Lake City.
These are the four oldest grandchildren. It is unbelievable that they are growing up so quickly. I can remember taking this picture like it was yesterday. Now, Taylor, home from his mission and married; Bracken on his mission to Australia; in the front Parker who'll be leaving on his mission in about a year and a half, and Connor, leaving on his mission in July for Nicaragua.
Connor's cousin, Parker, has been like another brother to him. They have always been like two peas in a pod--both of them pretty crazy at times! Hah!
Connor has had a very loving and supporting family.
His parents have taught him the gospel and prepared him for serving the Lord. Also, they helped him in achieving his Eagle Scout Rank when he was 15 years old.
Hopefully the grandchildren have felt our support as we have always lived so far away from most of them. We try to do activities with them to show them our faith and love of the Lord. This was such a great day when George and I were able to take Connor and his cousin, Carter, to General Conference in Salt Lake City.
These are the four oldest grandchildren. It is unbelievable that they are growing up so quickly. I can remember taking this picture like it was yesterday. Now, Taylor, home from his mission and married; Bracken on his mission to Australia; in the front Parker who'll be leaving on his mission in about a year and a half, and Connor, leaving on his mission in July for Nicaragua.
Connor's cousin, Parker, has been like another brother to him. They have always been like two peas in a pod--both of them pretty crazy at times! Hah!
As you can see, there are lots more Copeland young men (and many more not pictured!) coming up in age who will, also, be serving missions some day. Grandpa and I can't wait to go through the anticipation and experience with them, too!!
I will miss seeing the big red blanket with Connor under it whenever we go to Kevin and Angie's home! I wonder if he can fit that blanket in his suitcase??? He'll have to! Hah!
Connor, as your grandparents, we want you to know how proud we are of you and your choice to serve the Lord for the next two years. We know it will have challenges, but we have seen you when times get tough, that you just keep going to accomplish your goal. We love you so much and promise to give you our full support in this next great endeavor in your life!
I will miss seeing the big red blanket with Connor under it whenever we go to Kevin and Angie's home! I wonder if he can fit that blanket in his suitcase??? He'll have to! Hah!
Connor, as your grandparents, we want you to know how proud we are of you and your choice to serve the Lord for the next two years. We know it will have challenges, but we have seen you when times get tough, that you just keep going to accomplish your goal. We love you so much and promise to give you our full support in this next great endeavor in your life!
3 comments:
This is such exciting news! Everyone LOVES Connor! He will make a fantastic missionary for sure!
You did an awesome job of this blog, Laura! Each blog you do, however, just gets better and better. This post must have taken you forever to collect all of the pictures, especially the old ones. Congratulations on such wonderful grandsons!
Nicaragua and Spanish speaking!! How exciting for your entire family. I can't believe the gathering to watch Connor open his mission call. With that kind of support, Connor will succeed knowing he is loved.
I am grateful you posted everything you knew about Connor because I feel like I know him well now. He is definitely an impressive young man and very, very cute in his many photos from the past.
I'm sure Connor loved this wonderful post from his loving grandmother.
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