Week 229

Positive post Sunday, July 11, 2021- Week 229. 

Last week Michele and I were blessed to experience our first road trip since the pandemic started.  Although short, we packed a lot of love into a few days.  We visited our dear friends Kathy and Harry Sullivan in St. George, Utah and spent a few days with our daughter Heather and her family at their home away from home in New Harmony, Utah.

Do you have friends that, although you don’t get to see them as often as you would like, you know they are always there for you and when you do get together, it’s a very special time?  Well, that’s Kathy and Harry for Michele and me.  They are amazing hosts, true patriots, and their love of and devotion to their beautiful and LARGE family (kids, grands and greats!), have made them remarkable role models for us.  Harry and Kathy, we love you and we cherish the time we get to spend together.  Harry, I’d take a bullet for you anytime too!

Spending time with our daughter Heather, son-in-law Ryan, and three of our grandchildren Sean, Chad and Aubrey this past week was priceless.  In just a few short days, we made it through my entire New Harmony bucket list and more.  We took the kids to a jump house and had dinner at Cliffside Restaurant in St. George, shopped in Cedar City, ran (or walked) in the New Harmony Freedom 5K, hiked in Zion National Park, went on RZR off road rides and shot guns with the boys (actually Michele and Heather took one shot each and they both hit the target).  It was an action packed few days.  

We had an amazing time, a lot of fun and created many memories that I will always cherish.  But, amidst all the fun and quality family time, there was one moment that stood out to me.  One night, just before dinner at the Stinson ponderosa, our 10-year-old grandson Sean was asked to say a prayer before we ate.  Without hesitation or complaining like most kids might do when asked, he belted out a thoughtful and meaningful blessing that flowed like the words from a seasoned priest.  Thank you, Lord for speaking to us through the words of your faithful child.

Spending time with family and friends in New Harmony, Cedar City and St. George was a rejuvenating experience for me.  This short, yet impactful trip, offered me the opportunity to step off the fast paced, chaotic treadmill of life many of us run on each day, and step back to reconnect with my core values, the triangle of life, Faith, Family and Fitness.  Visiting New Harmony was like going back in time to a place where people still have faith as the foundation in their lives, place family and friends second only to their faith, and feel connected and responsible for what happens in their community.  

To the members of the New Harmony community, thank you for welcoming our family and reminding us of how a faithful, caring and connected community can improve the quality of life.  When running the Freedom 5K, a member of the community was wearing a shirt with the saying, “With Vision Anything Is Possible, With Execution The Possible Can Become Reality”.  Your vision of a faithful and family-based community has clearly become reality!

Who are the Sullivans in your life, those friends that you would take a bullet for?  Have you told them how much you appreciate them?

Where is that special place you go to rejuvenate and reconnect with your Faith, Family and Fitness?  Go there often!