And the New News We've All Been Waiting For . . .

After Kevin and Angie's second son, Connor, went through his interviews with his Bishop and Stake President, and then turned in his paperwork, it was just a matter of waiting for the greatly anticipated day for the "Call" to arrive--telling him where he would be serving the next two years of his life on his Mormon Mission.  For all of us who know and love Connor, it seemed like forever that we were waiting, but to Connor it was even harder.  He texted me one day and said, "I can't sleep 'cause I want it so bad!" 

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:

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!!!

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.

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!"

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!

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 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.

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.”

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!

This picture was taken last June 2013.  I love it!  Our two missionaries now:  Connor to Nicaragua and Bracken to Australia!  We couldn't be more proud of our two missionaries who are showing such a great example to the rest of the family:

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!

Happy Fourth Birthday to Our Special Cannon!

March 1st is always such a special day as it is the birthday of our dear little grandson, Cannon.  At about nine months old, we were made aware that he had a terminal disease called Menkes.  We were all devastated with the news, but truly enjoyed his life with him for as many days and birthdays as he was here on earth. 

Cannon - A few weeks old

1 year old

 2 years old

3 years old

With only 2 1/2 months until Cannon would turn four, we were all sure we could celebrate his special day with him again.  Well, we actually did celebrate his birthday, not just in the way we had imagined.  


December 13, 2013, will be a day we will always remember--when we all got the news that he had passed away.  None of us were expecting that because he seemed so healthy.   However, our Heavenly Father had other plans and knew it was time for him to come home.  Therefore, although he wasn't here on earth to 
celebrate his birthday with us, we all know he was 
observing all the love shown him here on earth.

George and I wanted to do something special for Cannon's birthday, 

so we put this "In Memoriam" ad in Kent and Natalie's Sunnyside 

newspaper for his 4th birthday. 

Ethan's cousin, Bracken, is currently on a Mormon mission serving 

in Boston until his Visa comes for him to begin the rest of his 

two-year mission in Sydney, Australia. 

 He wrote about Cannon in his

 weekly letter:  I miss that little guy. When talking about the Plan of Happiness and
sharing about life after death/the resurrection I often refer to him.
I bare my testimony on how families can be together forever and how we
will see those we love once more. I know that I will see him again, as
we all will, and it will be an amazing day. He has touched my life and
those around me and will always be a beacon for love. I am printing
off the attachment you gave me and will keep it in my bag with me at
all times.  (The attachment he was referring to was the "In Memoriam" above.) 

 In addition to cards and remembrances on the social media from 

friends and family, here are some special birthday wishes

from the Copeland family:

   Jeff and Amy, Cameron and Anne, and Craig and Cassie, along with 

all their children held a birthday celebration where they let balloons

drift to heaven where they know Cannon is.

 Kevin (taking the picture), Angie, and their family visited Cannon's 

grave site in Utah with yellow balloons and found other family and

friends had placed some there, too. 

 And in Sunnyside, Washington, his home town, lanterns were being released just like they have been on all the other three years of Cannon's birthday.

Last year, we received this e-mail from Kent, which really made 

us smile:

Natalie and I have caused quite the stir in our little community of Sunnyside lately.  Let me explain!

Last Thursday night we had Cannon's birthday party where we lit and let off wish lanterns into the sky.  It is quite a sight to see the lanterns go into the sky. 

Well since that night there has been a buzz in the community of UFO sightings!  Then today I pick up our paper and front page is the following article!!!  Absolutely hilarious.

The comment below the article sums up the report that these lights need to be reported to National UFO Center!!!!!!  
(The article is no longer available, but then when the
newspaper was told that these weren't UFOs, but actually wish lanterns for a little
ill boy, they then published the following article:)

In fact, when I called the newspaper to put the memorial ad in about a week ago, the lady said, "Is this the little boy who always has lanterns in the sky on his birthday?"  I answered, "It surely is!"

So, little Cannon was certainly remembered on his birthday in so 
many different ways--all with much love to a little child that
changed all of our lives for the better.  Our hearts still feel the 
sting of his being gone, but we are so happy that he is
running free and able to do all the things he couldn't do here 
on earth.  We love you, Cannon!

Time Out for Women (and Girls)!

This past weekend, I was able to enjoy two days in Orlando at an event entitled "Time Out for Women."  This event has been in Orlando for the past few years, but I've never felt like I could take the weekend off with always needing my weekends to get so much done since I was still working.  Well, this year since I am now "retired," Kim called and invited me, so I took her up on it!

 The wonderful thing about this conference is that while the women are in having wonderful speeches and music, the young girls are, also, enjoying speakers who present material designed for their age.  Plus, they get to hear fantastic music, too!  So, Jenna was able to attend with us.  It was great to have her come, too!

This is one of Jenna's friends from her ward who came with her mother.

Upon arrival, we noticed that we had family members everywhere--literally.  There next to the photo booth was a large bulletin with some familiar faces--Anne (our daughter-in-law who lives in Dallas) in the upper left hand corner, and our daughter, Amy on the right side next to the word "Project."  How fun!  
 

Kim had, also, invited Candy Baker to come with us and stay overnight at her home since this was a two-day conference.  So, she drove clear from Folkston, Georgia, and then we drove together to pick up Kim and Jenna.  Candy is always such a fun person to be around.  We had so many laughs, as well as some serious talks, too.

 

 When we each were handed our programs, there inside with the biggest pictures in the programs were Amy and Anne again, along with two of their best friends, Andrea and Jenny.

 On another picture advertising the Illumination Project, was Anne again!

It had been fun seeing all of the brochures advertising the Time Out for Women with familiar faces--here is Amy.

 And all of the brochures that had been sent out advertising the Time Out for Girls usually had Sydney (our grand daughter, upper right hand corner picture on the left) along with her friend, Morgan.

 On this brochure, Sydney was having such a great time with her friend at the Time Out for Girls.  These pictures were all taken at the Time Out for Women and Girls in Texas last year.  None of them had any idea their pictures would be so popular in everything associated with it! 

 With nearly 2,000 women and girls in attendance, this seriously was a fantastic two days!  The speakers who included Kris Belcher, Mary Ellen Edmunds, John Hilton, Jill Manning, Sandra Turley, and Michael Wilcox, with music by Hudson Lights and Mercy River, couldn't have been better.  

My favorite quote of the conference:

Look up to the Lord for guidance.

Look in to the gifts He's given you.

Look out for those you can help.

A perfect plan for anyone to find the most happiness here on earth!

Thanks, Kim, for inviting me to go with you and Jenna.  It was such a treat to have this time with you, Candy, and the wonderful presenters at the conference!