The Badger Mountain Challenge

It is so  amazing to me how one little boy can make a such a big difference in so many lives!  This past weekend,  the Badger Mountain Challenge was held in Washington near the Tri-Cities area.  It is a nine-mile course that, is extremely taxing, as it goes up and down to different parts of the mountain.  One of the runners posted this to show the difference in the elevation.  

Our little grandson, Cannon, who died on December 13, 2013, from a rare disease called Menkes is still in all of our hearts and minds daily, but we all had no idea of how many others were remembering him and the beautiful spirit and life he lived.  I am posting this event in his mother, Natalie's words:

"A few weeks after our sweet little Cannon boy took his last breath, Kent brought home a basket of goodies. Kentʼs office staff here in Sunnyside packed this basket full of DVDʼs for our whole family, crafts for the kids to do, and treats to go along with the movies. Along with this, they told Kent they were training for the Badger Mountain Challenge in Cannonʼs memory. I was overwhelmed with the feeling of love and support. These amazing women have been a part of our lives since before Cannon was even born. They have been so loving and caring. I knew that if they were all working hard and pushing themselves to do this challenge, wearing shirts for Cannon, I had to be a part of it. I was motivated to push myself and dig deeper into my dedication as I trained for this event. It was fun to meet up with some of Kentʼs employees occasionally to train together. It was a time of bonding that I will cherish forever."

 

 Some of the many friends who were running in honor of Cannon, plus Cannon's dad, Kent, and his brother, Ethan, and sister, Ella, who came to show their support

"The morning of the race, I was touched so deeply with the amount of yellow “Cannon” shirts I saw."

 "I am forever thankful to those in my life that remind me that Cannon is still living strong in our hearts. I had multiple runners tell me they felt Cannon up on the mountain giving them the strength they needed to complete the race. I felt him too. I am so thankful for the knowledge I have that life is eternal and that we can be reunited again. I am humbled by the goodness of others and honored to have such loving people surrounding me."

 Cannon's mom running for Cannon.

There were so many bright yellow shirts in the run, that an article was written about the Cannonboy Run. 

 

What is Your Cause? Here’s One From the Badger Mountain Challenge

Most of the people in today’s Badger Mountain Challenge were hiking, jogging and running for a cause.  The main cause was to support the Badger Mountain trail system.  Some people’s cause was better health.  Others have overcome challenges in their lives.  One group has a cause which is dear to their hearts as they remember a boy who died in December.

Hoping to Raise Awareness

This group of people in glowing shirts is from the Sunnyside area.  They are trying to raise awareness of a rare but deadly disease.

The Cannonboy Run Group from the Sunnyside area. Hoping to raise awareness of a disorder which took the life of young Cannon in December.

Kent and Natalie Copeland had their son, Cannon in 2010.  At first, he appeared to be a normal, healthy boy.  By four months old, the Copelands knew Cannon had some kind of problem.  Cannon was not developing as expected.  Through their own research and the help of their family doctor, Cannon was diagnosed with Menke’s disease.

What is Menke’s Disease?

Menke’s disease is a chromosomal abnormality which inhibits the body’s ability to properly distribute the critical element copper.  Copper is required for proper cell growth and regeneration in the body.  This can cause problems in the bones, skin, hair and nervous system.  Estimates on the frequency of Menke’s Disease are around 4 in a million.  Cannon was never able to talk or crawl.  He got his nourishment through a feeding tube.  His dedicated parents took care of him at home until he died in December of 2013.

Cannonboy Run

 

Now, Cannon’s parents, family, friends and relatives are committed to let as many people as possible know about this disease. They wore their bright, fluorescent yellow/green shirts today at the Badger Mountain Challenge with the “Cannonboy Run” logo on the front.  The family is planning to run and participate in many events this year to publicize their cause, honor Cannon, and bring awareness to Menke’s.

What is your cause?

The Copelands story gives us a great example of how we can be committed to an important cause.  If you’d like, I’m sure the Copelands would love your help in their effort to make people aware of Menke’s.  Or, maybe you have a cause of your own; recovery from addiction, cancer survival, getting back to activity after open heart surgery, losing 100 pounds, being healthier.  These are just a few ideas but maybe picking one or coming up with your own can motivate you to make improvements in your own life or the lives of others.

As Cannon's grandparents, we would like to thank those wonderful women in Kent's dental office who so kindly got the ball rolling on this cause.  Also, thanks to Natalie who worked so hard to do this.  She isn't really a "runner," in the fact that she doesn't really train to do anything like this.  But due to her determination to do this for her little son, nothing was going to stop her.  We admire you, Natalie, for this accomplishment.  Way to go!

Our Pioneer Heritage

 A few weeks ago, our daughter-in-law, Anne, told me that she and Cameron had accepted to be the "Ma" and "Pa" for a re-enactment of the Mormon pioneers who crossed the plains and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley.  I was so excited that they were going to do this, and when she asked if I would sew her a couple of pioneer dresses, I was more than happy to do so.  I certainly breathed a sigh of relief when she sent this picture after I had mailed the dresses to her, and they fit perfectly!  She is one beautiful pioneer woman, right?!

 I kept hearing from Cameron how hard Anne was working to get everything ready for the trek.  I don't know how excited he was before, but after the trek, he agreed it was one of the best experiences they could participate in.  I asked Anne to write a little about their experiences. 

"Cameron and I were asked to participate in a church activity called Trek.  Trek is where we pay tribute and gain a small understanding for our religious ancestors.  These ancestors pulled handcarts, with all their belongings, from Iowa City, Iowa, to Salt Lake City, Utah. Many of these original groups encountered bad weather conditions, hostile Indians, starvation, and exhaustion while making the journey, nevertheless continuing on to “Zion” so that we may enjoy the religion we have today.  

 Pushing and pulling the handcart up a mountain trail. 

For the activity, we were organized into families.  Cameron and I were a Pa and Ma to a group of 7 youth ages 13 to 17.  We were able to shut off our technology and walk and work together for 17 miles through the praries pulling handcarts very similar to theirs.  We journeyed 3 days where we camped and cooked on dutch ovens for our meals.  I have to say that although hesitant at first with our abilities, we ended up loving every single minute of this great trip.  We came to appreciate the early pioneers and strengthen our beliefs while enjoying one another’s company and growing to love our 'Trek children'."

Cameron and Anne (far right) with their pioneer family in the trek.  Way to go, Ma and Pa, and family!  What a great experience for you and the other "families" to have a mini-experience of what the actual pioneer journey was like! 

 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint Seminary Manual asks the following question: 

"Imagine that you were asked to travel 1,300 miles (about 2,090 kilometers) on foot while pulling a cart and that you were allowed to bring only 17 pounds (about 7.7 kilograms) of personal belongings. Would you volunteer for this journey?

 Between 1856 and 1860, almost 3,000 Saints chose to travel west across the plains of the United States to Utah, pulling their belongings in handcarts. Most of the handcart companies loaded provisions, personal items, and some food into handcarts and walked from Iowa City, Iowa, to Salt Lake City, Utah. The last three companies began their journey in Florence, Nebraska.

Most Church members, including those living outside of the United States, wanted to gather with the Saints in Utah. However, many did not have enough money or supplies to get there. For this reason, President Brigham Young established the Perpetual Emigrating Fund in 1849. The fund gave emigrants a loan to help them pay for travel and supplies. Because of a variety of financial problems, the fund was depleted in 1855, and President Young was concerned that it would not be sufficient to assist the Saints who wanted to emigrate in 1856. He proposed that emigrants who needed assistance from the fund should travel using handcarts instead of wagons. Handcarts were much less expensive and would allow more of the Saints to emigrate.

The long journey was filled with the natural fears of fatigue, possible illness, concern for food and water, questions about the durability of their wagons or handcarts or their domestic animals, the potential dangers of Indian attacks—indeed, all the fears that go with the unknown. Adding to these fears was the sorrow many felt as they left extended family members behind, most never to be seen again. Cross-country migration was a very significant event in their lives, and it was long remembered by those who made it. In fact, journals suggest that the pioneers viewed their migration sufferings as a sacrifice for the Lord that they willingly made."

While it is impossible to know the exact number of LDS deaths among the 60,000 to 70,000 Latter-day Saints who migrated to the Salt Lake Valley from 1846 to 1869, the estimate is about 4,600, according to Susan Easton Black who has studied this quite extensively.

Sadly, one of those who died along the trail was my great-great grandmother, Sarah Ann Pool, who was born September 8, 1832, in Lanchester County, England.  Her mother had joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England and wanted her husband to join the church but he would not.  From Sarah's diary we read: 

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"So mother left him and brought her three children to ‘Zion.’  My brother was 14 years old, I was 8, and my sister was 2.  It was a sad goodbye to leave our father and set sail for America with the first company of Saints in 1840.  We were about six months reaching Nauvoo."

 

 My great great grandmother, Sarah Ann Pool

Sarah married John S. Clark about 1854 in Missouri and had three children with him.  Their life seemed so happy until tragedy came to the family.  Her husband was wounded on the battlefield during the Civil War, pneumonia developed, and he died December 20, 1863.  He was buried in Independence, Missouri.  

Sarah Ann was left a young widow at the age of 31, and three small children to take care of.   She took her children and went to St. Louis where she soon joined the Church.  Sarah Ann wanted to go to Zion with the rest of the Saints.  However, widows with a family needed a chaperone to go across the plains, so it seemed that perhaps she married a man by the name of James Turner on July 4, 1868, for this reason.  A year later, she and James and the three children started for Zion by mule train (team) for the Salt Lake Valley. 

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Trials, tribulations, and danger-filled experiences were their lot, and, sadly, on July 26, 1869, Sarah Ann died about a day's journey from Green River, Wyoming.  She was buried hastily because Indians were chasing the party after having ambushed and killing several stragglers earlier in the day.  

However, young Francis, the middle child who was eight years old, was so saddened to part with her mother, and after the quick burial, she left the group and went back to her mother’s grave.  She said, 

“I can remember throwing myself on the damp mound that marked my mother’s grave, and how some men from the party had to come back for me and drag me to where the others had hastened.”   

They hadn’t noticed Francis even being gone until they had gone on quite a ways, and then had to send a party back to find her.  There they found young Francis sobbing on her mother’s grave unaware of all the dangers around her.  

 

 My great grandmother, Francis Adelia Serena Clark Chamberlain

            When they arrived in Salt Lake, James Turner walked away from the children.  Now the children were orphans.  However, they soon were adopted and reared by separate families.  Later, Francis married a wonderful man with whom she had twelve children.  The youngest child was named Edith Pearl Chamberlain, who just happens to be my grandmother.    

 My grandmother, Edith Pearl Chamberlain Cook

My grandmother, Edith, also married a wonderful man whose name was Marvin Dean Cook.  They had five children, and my mother was their youngest child.

 My mother, Lola Jean Cook Rigby

So, as you can see, I am a sixth generation member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), and I feel so blessed that my ancestors went through so much for their posterity to have the gospel.  It means everything to me and my family.  May we ever make them proud with the way we live our lives to make their great sacrifices worth it.

Dallas Daily Doings

 When Kent offered to fix his dad's teeth with eight new crowns, George was so excited to take him up on it.  So, we planned a date when Kent would be coming to the practice in Dallas, and off we went.  I couldn't believe how touching it was for me to watch Kent as he worked so diligently.  Nothing gives a parent more happiness than seeing their children working hard and being respected for what they do.  In addition,  George never has any Novocaine, so all the drilling was done without deadening.  George was pretty amazing, I must say.  He is one tough guy! 

Kent wasn't able to get all the teeth done in two settings, but we will get together with him again soon.

With having three of our children and their families in Dallas, George and I so enjoyed staying at each of their homes and playing with the grand kids.  Lola's favorite game was this game where you had to guess what you were by asking questions.   

I don't know how many times we played it, but she never got tired of it.  Isaac played it with us a couple of times, too.  Here Lola is with her doggie, Frisco, and her Papa with the special doggie blanket.

When Kennedy came over, Frisco went back in his little playground.  I'm not sure for whose protection that was!  Hah!

Even though Kennedy loves her cat, Mia, she, also, loves doggies!

One activity we all love doing together is bowling.

I love seeing all the reactions after they turn around . . .  Here's Garrett when he only left one pin up.

Jaxon gave a big smile before he threw the ball . . .

and then did a little dance when he left only one pin.

Sydney's reaction is an Olympic smile!

The next time when she got a strike, she did a gymnastic jump!  Fantastic, Sydney!

Gavin got a high-five from his mom for doing so well.

He wanted me to see the scoreboard.

Can you tell how happy Riley is to be at the bowling alley?!

And he was pretty happy about how he bowled, too!

Lola got the closest thing to a pink bowling ball as she could find.

She left three on the first ball, but . . .

actually got all three down on the second ball.  Wow!  I need to take lessons from all of these grand kids!

Mason only left one pin, too!  Way to go, Mason!

I love Mason's smile!

Then Isaac stepped up and bowled a strike.  Can you see Lola's hands clapping?  She was pretty excited for her brother!

After he bowls the strike, he turns around very seriously because he is so competitive, and then . . .

goes to the table to give his grandpa and mom a high five!

Sydney and Grandpa.

Yes, it was so much fun watching all the grand kids, minus Kennedy, of course, having so much fun.  It won't be long until Kennedy is right out there with them.

At Christmas time, Craig and Cassie gave us tickets to a Broadway play in Dallas.  We were so excited when it worked out that we were able to see "Wizard of Oz"!  Here is Dorothy with her real dog, Toto!  Neither of them missed one cue in the entire show.  It was fantastic!  The special effects, acting, and music were spectacular!

Craig and Cassie have season tickets for all the Broadway plays that come to Dallas.  George and I had the best tickets we've ever had at a play!  Thanks so much, Craig and Cassie, for the wonderful evening!  We loved the play and loved being with you two for the evening!

Walking out of the show, the trees were all lit with little lights.  It was a beautiful evening!

Another evening, we had a basketball game with all of the older Copeland (and Barlow) boys playing along with some of the guys in the neighborhood.

We had a great cheering section!

Even Kennedy was having fun watching!  No one could break away to get the poor little girl a Kleenex!

I think these guys all think they are still young like when they all played on teams in high school and college.  They all are looking pretty tuckered, but no one would stop--you know the competitive nature of this family!

Jaxon played with the big guys, and he could definitely hold his own!

So much fun! 

Now, it was break time while the little guys had their turn.

Notice how much more the parents get into it when it's the kids?!

Cute picture of Anne and Amy.

And soon, it was time to quit for the evening.  But, it was so entertaining for George and me and brought back many fun memories of watching the boys play many times through the years.

On another morning, we went to watch Riley at his swimming lessons.  Gavin went along, too.

We were so proud of how well Riley was doing.  Each lesson, they have the kids swim to the edge and then have to get out by themselves for safety reasons.  One lesson, they have them dressed in clothes and shoes to make sure they can do the same if they fell in.  Not being a swimmer myself, I am always thrilled to see everyone in my family learn to swim!

George and I then took the kids to McDonald's while Craig and Cassie went to a meeting about their taxes.  However, our watches were still on Florida time, and they didn't have chicken nuggets ready, so we got pancakes for the kids, which they still loved!

Oh, and did I mention that they had ice cream, too?  Grandpa's idea, of course.

Then it was back to Sol River Dentistry for some more work on George's teeth.

Kent's wife, Natalie, designed all the decorating, and did such a great job.  As you can see, the office is decorated in a space theme. 

 Kennedy really liked the space tunnel.

 

After awhile, she had climbed through, climbed over, slid down, anyway she could think of, and this is what her hair looked like--but she was having so much fun!

I told her I wanted to take a picture with her because we were wearing kind of twin outfits.  She didn't want to take time out of her busy playing schedule, but at least we got a couple of poses.

 

And here she was with her mom.  We got her good and worn out, so she could have a good nap later!

Amy was the one who assembled all the chairs, tables, and helped hang all the decorations with Natalie.  I don't know where Amy got this ability--it surely wasn't from George or me!

There are now six dental rooms, with the possibility of two more.

The supply room.

Kent's office with his balloon wishing him a happy birthday of about a week ago.

Another evening we went to Craig and Cassie for a family night of fun and a shrimp boil!

This is Presley--so adorable.  Her mom and dad are named Jeff and Amy, too!  Both Kent and Natalie and Craig and Cassie knew them in Gainesville when they went to school there.  Her dad just graduated from dental school eight months ago and now works in Dallas, too.

That is an NBA dunk by Jaxon!

Isaac takes his practicing very serious.  He will not go to bed at night unless he's shot for an hour each day!

Lola brought bubbles.

Riley loved the sidewalk chalk.

And Kennedy just wanted to cruise the neighborhood.

And then came the highlight of the evening--the big basket of potatoes, corn, mushrooms, onions, and of course, shrimp, was removed by Craig from the boiling cauldron and just dumped on the table for everyone to get whatever they wanted.

Cassie is a Louisiana girl, so she definitely loves shrimp.  We all thought we ate a lot that evening, but, I believe Jeff beat us all!

This is Jeff's pile after he peeled the shrimp--his alone!  Yes, I think he took the record for eating the most shrimp that night!  It was so fun.  The great thing is, after everyone has eaten, you just roll up the tablecloths and throw them away.  What could be easier!

Well, that's pretty much a run down of the great fun we had in Dallas.  Thanks to Amy and Jeff, Cameron and Anne, and Craig and Cassie for opening up your homes to Grandpa and me.  We felt so loved!!!  And, to Kent, for all his hard work on Dad's teeth.  We all are so excited for the finished product!