Healthy Sooner 5k

Most of the people who read this blog probably think of me and Sarah as runners.  You would probably be surprised to know that it wasn't until a few weeks ago that we ran our first race together since moving to Oklahoma.  There aren't very many races around here and we haven't been running as much as we did in Utah, but when we found out that the University of Oklahoma puts on a free 5k every fall, we decided we would do it.  (I did it last year, but that was before Sarah came out to join me.)

We set some pretty modest goals for ourselves, but we were surprised at how well we did (with both of us running a couple minutes faster than our goal).  Here are the overall results:

 

As you can see, both Sarah and I placed in the top 15 overall of about 200 men and 230 women.  (We were both second for our age division.)

We also ran into a family from our ward, so we have a picture from our first race together in Oklahoma. 

 

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Sarah's Trip to Utah

Graduation meant a trip out to Utah, and a trip out to Utah meant spending time with family, including our two little nieces.

 

 Abby

 

 Delcie and Sarah's dad Wes

 

Sarah's cousin Bryce and his wife Sylia, Sarah's brother Tyler, Sarah, Abby, Sarah's mom Lisa, and brother-in-law Quinn

 

Lisa, Wes, Delcie, Grandma Purcell, Jennie and Sarah

Sarah also visited my sister Gwen, who had recently received a bone marrow transplant.  The day Sarah visited her in the hospital, she was losing more and more of her hair from the chemotherapy she had done before the transplant, so she decided to use tape to design her head like a BYU football helmet - BYU's biggest fan and an inspiration to all of us with her great attitude and wonderful smile.  We love you Gwen!

 

 

   

  

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Sarah's Graduation

I don't know how many of you receive the BYU Alumni Magazine or maybe see the fliers at church, but the advertisements for the Bachelor of General Studies always makes me think of Sarah and smile.  For those of you who haven't seen them, this is what the advertisements look like:

 

 

We've joked about it ever since we moved to Oklahoma, and sometimes wondered whether she really would be able to finish at home what she started at BYU, but after a total of nine years at BYU, including five years working on her Ph.D., Sarah finally graduated.  Excuse me, I should say Dr. Sarah finally graduated.  Initially, she would think of her father-in-law when she heard Dr. Brockbank, but I think she's getting used to it now.  (For those of you who don't know, she got a job teaching chemistry at Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City.)

I didn't go out to watch Sarah's graduation, but I was able to get a quick summary from my mom's pictures.  So for those of you who didn't attend, here is the condensed version of Sarah's commencement ceremony.

  

  

  

  

  

Here is Sarah with her adviser, W. Vince Wilding.

 

 

Sarah with her parents and my parents.

  

 

I think this sign sums it up pretty well.
 

  

 

   

 

 

 

 

Congratulations Babe!  Way to go!

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Wicked

As an anniversary gift to each other, Sarah and I got season tickets to the Broadway theater in Oklahoma City.  Sarah had never seen "Wicked" before and when she found out it was coming to Oklahoma City, she really wanted to go (which is what led to our eventual season ticket purchase).  Plus, it was good motivation to make sure we go on regular dates.

The first show of the broadway season was "Wicked" in September, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  (We even ran into some of our friends there, so I've included their picture as well, since they sometimes frequent our blog.  You're welcome, Ben and Erica.)

 

 

(I told Sarah that since we were on a date that maybe we should stand by each other.) 

 

 Random story related to the musical: The former institute director here in Norman (he just moved back to Utah this fall) once saw one of the institute students wearing a shirt from the musical that just said "Wicked" across the front of it.  He was telling us how strange he thought it was that somebody would wear a shirt that labels them as "wicked" (Why not wear a shirt that says "Righteous"?)  We informed him that there was a popular musical with that name and I think he felt a little better about the choices of that student.

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Quilt Rack

For Sarah's birthday, I decided to get her a quilt rack for the marriage quilt that she and her mom had made (so that it wouldn't end up on the floor and so I wouldn't have to make the bed with the quilt all the time). We tried to pick the stain color on eBay that would match our bedroom set and I think we did a pretty good job.

  

 Happy Birthday Sarah!

(Even though your birthday is in August and now it's October.) 

 

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Carthage Jail

On our way back to St. Louis from Nauvoo, we went to Carthage, Illinois and visited Carthage Jail, where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were martyred on June 27, 1844.

 

 As D&C 135 says, it cost the best blood of the nineteenth century to bring forth the Book of Mormon and the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ.  I am truly grateful to Joseph and Hyrum for all that they sacrificed as instruments in the hands of God in helping bring salvation to His children. 

  

 

  

 

 This is the room in the jail where Joseph and Hyrum were killed.  The hole in the door is from the shot that hit Hyrum and the window is where Joseph fell out as he cried, "Oh Lord my God."

Visiting this jail was a reminder to me of the sacrifices that are made by men as they offer of themselves to help our Father in Heaven accomplish his work and glory to bring about our eternal salvation.  I am grateful for the sacrifices that others make and I strive to follow their example of being willing to offer whatever the Lord asks of them.

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