We were lucky enough this trip to be able to visit Michael and Chrissy. They were so good to host us.
Audrey has never truly been sledding. Last year we built a really tall slide out of snow in our backyard and called that sledding. I’m not very good with the snow. I like it a little bit, but it’s more of a distant friend that I don’t like to over stay it’s welcome. I know I don’t like it because I’ve never really taken part in winter sports. I grew up in Utah but never went skiing or snowboarding. When I was in college it was the last thing I thought about adding to my budget. I went snowmobiling a couple times but let’s be honest there really wasn’t a place close that we could go and not many people owned them. I never went snow shoeing but I’ve heard it’s pretty terrible anyway so I think I’m good on that one. That leaves sledding which I did do but never really had warm enough clothing that I truly enjoyed it. So the thought of taking Audrey out sledding here was not all that exciting to me warm clothes or not.
If you’re going to sled you have to do it right and I’m convinced that Mike and Chrissy know how to sled. High reward for low effort. REALLY tall hill and a way to get back up without having to spend all your energy. Snowmobiles and sleds make the perfect pair. Audrey and I went down several times. I thought we’d hit the jackpot. It was the most fun I had ever had sledding. On top of that I was spending the day with my favorite two brothers and their wives. I can’t tell you the last time it was just me and them. It felt like old times and I just wanted to live in it.
Paul joined us on the sled the next time and I had this wonderful idea after the rope had slid under the sled and started to slow us down to yank on it as hard as I could. Bad idea! I really don’t know What I was thinking. Well I yanked and hit Audrey in the face and Paul in the chin. Audrey’s sobbing and Paul is wincing. I thought that Audrey might be over reacting. She can be a little dramatic at times, but when we got to the bottom of the hill she was bleeding everywhere. I kept shoving snow into her mouth and she kept spitting out bloody snow. I noticed halfway through the snow shoving process that she had lost one of her front teeth. She was not happy about this because that meant yet another tooth that she could not present under her pillow for the tooth fairy. I felt bad that I was the one who kept her from that dream as it had happened before when she swallowed one of her other teeth. After the bleeding died down she consented to go down with Paul. Apparently it was a horrible experience because they hit a little bump and went flying out of the sled. Paul unfortunately landed on top of Audrey. She sobbed and told me she wanted to go home to Montana. I felt bad because it had started out such an awesome sledding experience. We didn’t even have to walk up the hill!
I convinced her to be brave and we went down a dozen more times. I don’t think we’ve ever had so much fun in the snow! Her only request was that she go down with me and not her Dad. So Paul pulled people up the hill on the snowmobile and we kept sliding down. On one of our last trips and after switching from a sled to a tube and then back to the sled again I noticed a little red tinge in the bottom of the sled. I couldn't believe I had found her tooth amongst all the snow. I guess Heavenly Father must have known it meant a lot of our little girl. That was the second tooth she lost while at in Utah.
After leaving the hill we went back to Michael’s house and I got to play with my nieces and nephews. It’s been a long time and I truly enjoyed every minute. At one point Gentry told me she loved me so much, it filled my heart to hear those words. Ellie told me she needed me when I walked upstairs for a break. How could I say no to such a cute strawberry blonde haired little girl. She was so sweet. Michael and Chrissy fed us well and then we took the drive back to my parents house. I couldn’t help but wonder why I had never taken a trip out there to see them prior to September. Over the last few months I have recognized my neglect in loving my siblings and being there for them. I hope I can do better and spend more time with them. I truly am never happier than when I’m with my family and my extended family. It fills holes and mends the gap I feel when they aren’t there. I’m so grateful that Paul and I have the means to travel or I don’t think my heart could handle living in another state.
Later on in the week we were able to spend Wyatt’s Birthday with Michael and Chrissy and their family. I was so happy that they were willing to spend his day with us. They had the idea to put together a package of gifts for a little girl at Primary Children's Hospital who doesn't have the same Leukemia that Wyatt did but after being in remission they found more cancer cells in her body. She had to start treatments again and was going to be in the hospital for a while. Hopefully the gifts helped her to get through her time there and we hope she is doing better.
After wrapping gifts we sang happy birthday to Wyatt, ate his favorite food, spaghetti, and played some video games. I couldn't help but lose a few tears during his birthday song. We love you and think about you everyday Wyatt! Audrey went from praying for you to praying for your parents and your siblings without even a prompt. It touches my heart every time she does.
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