a JULY post that is long overdue...

The Brown family vacation this year was spent in Southern Utah.
We explored,
hiked,
discovered,
relaxed
and
enjoyed
the beauty of Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park.

I forgot my camera on this trip.  I was so devastated the entire time.  Just as we were walking out the door, it was as simple as setting my camera down to go get the instructions manual.  I was going to study up on some different features of my camera so I could really capture the beauty of our trip.  I knew we were heading for a gorgeous destination and I WANTED PICTURES!!  So with said manual retrieved and in hand, I climbed into the truck and off we went. 
I had no idea I didn't pick my camera back up until we were too far gone.
I was sad.  I whined and complained about not having it at every breathtaking site.


*photo here

We hiked to the bottom of the canyon one day.
Looking back up to the top was truly beautiful.

*photo here

But of course, if you hike down it...
you must hike up it.
Between our three families we had ages ranging from young Peter at five to not so young Grandpa at 75.
It was not an easy climb.  The switchbacks were tight and never ending.
There was a time when Brent, Grandpa and I were slowly climbing out of the hole and Grandpa stopped again to catch his breath. He was bent over and struggling. Brent and I exchanged a worried look and in my head I began to be afraid. But in my heart I offered up a prayer of help. Little did I know that as all the other family members had made it to the top and were back relaxing at camp that Brent's sister thought her dad might need a little extra help and asked the grand kids to join her in a prayer for Grandpa.
Prayers were heard and answered on the trail that day.

Lucky for Peter, he had a dad that carried him out when the going got tough.
Dad's shoulders are built to bear the weight of their little ones.
Lucky for Grandpa, he had a son that lent support and a strong arm when the going got tough.
There comes a time when grown sons are meant to bear the weight of their dads.
It was evident on this day and I loved Brent 1000 times over for it.

After our time at Bryce we drove to Zion and planned a couple more days of hiking and exploring.

*photo here

The big event was the dads and kids (minus Peter) hiking The Narrows.  The were gone an entire day and had quite the stories to share when it was all said and done.  Tired and worn out bodies for sure but all were exhilarated with the fact that they had done it.

One of our hikes took us along this beautiful path.  It is called the River Walk for the obvious reason that it runs parallel with the river.  Although some distance, it was easy and manageable and allowed all of us to enjoy the beauty and enjoy being together.

*photo here

When we got to the end of the path, the kids kicked off their shoes and played in the river before we headed back the way we came.  Once their toes were numb from the ice cold water, they rested on some rocks to let the feeling return.  Soon we were back on the leisurely path.  We stuck together for the most part.  The kids would get antsy and walk ahead at some points but always waiting a not so far off distance for the adults to catch up.  We all stopped at one point as the kids found a large slick rock at the edge of the path.  They would scramble up to the top and slide down, over and over.  At one point I took a quick head count and suddenly I was missing my middle child.  I looked both ahead and behind us on the path and couldn't see him.  All the other kids and adults were accounted for so I knew he was alone.

What is one of the very first things the boys learn when they enter Cub Scouts as an eight year old??  The Buddy System!!!
Not applying the Buddy System as an eleven year old...
1st broken rule.

I walked ahead of everyone at a quick pace thinking I'd find him just around the next bend.
I still couldn't see him.  I quickened my pace to a jog.
Making me jog...
2nd broken rule.

I totally knew that Davis was capable of handling the path and knew he could make it back to the parking lot, but the thought of other crazy people out there and what they are capable of started to make me sick to my stomach.
Making my mind go 100 miles an hour filled with awful thoughts of what could be happening to my child...
3rd broken rule.

With my brain out of control and my emotions unraveling, I kept my eyes ahead of me - searching.
Around a bend I saw him.  He had stopped walking and was waiting on the side of the path.
We made eye contact and relief flooded over me.  I wanted to hug the stuffing out of him.
But I wasn't smiling as I closed the distance between us.
Instead I made a really childish choice...
I didn't stop when I reached his side.  I kept walking and said something like "let's go".
We walked (I was still in fast pace) in silence for a moment and then I proceeded to let Davis get an ear full.
I didn't raise my voice.  I was only talking loud enough so just the two of us could hear.  But I was firm and tears rolled down my cheeks.
I think it began with "I know you are eleven and think you are totally capable of getting back to the car on your own" and ended with something like "but with actions like that you are proving to me you aren't capable at all".
And do you know what Davis did while I was carrying on?
He reached for my hand and listened and let me do what crazy mothers do.
He never made an excuse.  He never tried to justify his actions.
He let me say it all.  Then he whispered he was sorry and squeezed my hand three times...
the "I love you" squeeze that I've shared with my kiddos since they were learning to walk.
I squeezed three times back and he let me continue to hold his hand all the way back to the car.

We ended the vacation with a show at Tuacahn Amphitheatre.  We saw Tarzan and it was truly fabulous!
I now have the site saved to my favorites because we will definitely be going again.  It was so, so good!

But the best part of this trip I came to discover on a Fast Sunday in August.
Davis rose from beside me during Sacrament Meeting to bear his testimony.
I don't discourage my kids from sharing their testimonies but I can count on less than one hand how many times they have done it during Fast and Testimony meeting.  So needless to say my heart started pounding as I thought about what he possibly would have to say.
He began with...
"a couple weeks ago me and my family were hiking at Zion's and I had gone ahead of everyone."
Oh how I remember!!  But just where was he going to go with this, I had no idea.
He continued with how as he was walking that he felt like he should stop but he just kept walking and then again he heard a voice just tell him to STOP.  So he did and waited but he didn't really know why and then his mom was there who had been looking for him.
He bore testimony that he knew that the Holy Ghost was with him that day and that it made him feel good to know that Holy Ghost would be with him no matter what he was doing.  And then he said that most of all he knew he had a mother that loved him and cared for him and was always looking out for him.
He came and sat down beside me and took my hand again while tears of gratitude and humility washed over me. 
Davis took the high road that day.  Letting me carry on without any thought of defending himself or giving excuses.  He had had a moment with the Spirit and he carried that in his heart, waiting for the right time to share it with me.

He is wonderful young man and is growing to become an amazing husband and father.