Cathi's decision to be obedient

For many years Cathi has had a dream to work for an airline as a call-center employee working from home.  Why?  Because it meant she could get tickets to travel to marathons at a fraction of the cost it would take to purchase a ticket.

She applied several times, and failed to capture the job.  But this time around she did.  It even involved a background check which required her to prove that she was unemployed while she was a mother.  I can understand proving that you were employed at a specific place, but to prove you were unemployed?  How and why in the heck is that an issue?  She had to get a letter from the dentist explaining that she was a mother working as a mother for her children and was not employed during the times in question.  Dumb.

But after all this work to get the job, she ultimately turned it down.

She looked at the shift she would be required to take for the first year.  They all included working on Sunday.  She immediately was heartbroken.

Of the nearly 120 marathons Cathi has completed so far, only one involved running on a Sunday, the San Diego Marathon back in 2004.  She has never trained on Sunday leading up to that marathon, and this experience made her feel so guilty that she vowed to never run on the Sabbath again.  This requirement to work on Sunday even though it could be done from home, was still breaking the Sabbath.  Why does the Lord ask us to keep the Sabbath Day Holy?

According to Elder James E. Faust in this talk, he suggests:

1. To allow our bodies to physically recover.
2. To renew and strengthen our spirits by attending our Sunday meetings
3. To respect his commandment to rest on this day.  To be obedient.

Even the Savior rested after the creation.

Surely answering phones can't be all that physically straining, and she would probably be able to work a shift that allowed her to still attend Sacrament meeting.  It would be fairly easy to justify moving forward with the job.  But those two justifications wouldn't be able to explain away the fact that it would still be disobedient to a commandment.

I'm proud of her decision to turn the job down despite her overwhelming desire to get that job with the special perk of free airline travel.  It shows a great level of trust in the Lord, and she is a great example to our children of faith and obedience.  I feel very blessed to have such a strong woman as my companion!  She definitely is the center of our family!

Isaac's 12 year old birthday poem

By Grandma and Grandpa Low -

Dear Isaac,

We know it is your birthday -
And want to wish you well
Because you are our grandson
And because you are SO SWELL.

This is a SPECIAL BIRTHDAY
For you've just turned 12 YEARS OLD
And you're going to have the Priesthood
Which is "worth its weight in GOLD!"

You've learned so much in primary
And given service too.
The Articles of Faith you learned
And been a Cub Scout too!

You delight in helping others
And you seem to always know
The perfect way to lend a hand
And then your love you show.

You are so very organized
And a hard worker too.
There's no job that's too much for you
And nothing you can't do.

For once you set to mind to it,
You're off and running fast,
And leaving others in the dust
Until the job is past.

You're taking swimming lessons
 And are getting very good.

And that's because you practice
And do the things you should.

You've learned to be a swimmer
Who can really stay afloat.
And we hope that you'll be with us
If we ever sink a boat.

We think if you keep swimming
And learning from your Dad,
You'll be a CHAMPIOIN SWIMMER,
THE BEST THIS FAMILY'S HAD!

You're ONE GREAT FOOTBALL PLAYER
Who can really "KNOCK 'EM DOWN"
And we love to watch you playing!
YOU'RE THE BEST PLAYER IN TOWN!!!!!

Your smile is truly radiant
And your face is handsome too.
You radiate the Savior's light
In all you say and do.

Our poetry is lacking
But somehow we had to tell
HOW VERY MUCH WE LOVE YOU!
& HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOO AS WELL!!!!!

We couldn't have asked for a more wonderful grandson than you, ISAAC!
All our love,
Grandpa and Grandma

Rex Singing Telegram

Halloween was a hoot at our house.  Practically all the boys (including myself) got "Morph Suits".  They're full body suits.  Most of the suits are just one color (like black so you look like a shadow), but some have a design.  Sam for instance picked one that made him look like a mummy.  The rest of the boys had all black.  I found one that looked like a farmer, a redneck.  I wore it to work and scared quite a few people.  The face is pretty disturbing.  Not scary in a gory kind of way, just really weird looking.  I was roaming the halls at work talking like a redneck holding my chicken in my arms.  Got laughed at pretty good.  The front yard I setup a large caged area with the turkeys and handed out the candy while bluegrass music was playing.  Fun times. The day after Halloween Jacob was asked to a girls choice dance.  He asked me to answer for him by doing a singing telegram.  Here it is

Cathi loved it.  She didn't think I would be able to act that well.  Guess I'm a redneck at heart.

Good clean fun

I went undefeated against all my competitors.  The boys
were always on my tail though.

Last Saturday the South Davis Masters team
which I help coach had their end of summer party. They've held this party every year for many years, but this was my first time attending.  I heard it was a great party for families and since Cathi didn't have a marathon (she's cutting back this year to go to all of Isaac's football games) we were in town to be able to go.

They setup an big inflatable platform called a "Wibbit".  That looked fun, but it wasn't until I had raced Sam that I realized how fun it really was.  It was wobbly in the water and it's basically a 60 foot inflatable obstacle course on the water.  I raced all the kids and even one of my friends on the team.  I played along acting like I was pretending to be competitive about it.  But secretly, I kinda was.

Trying to mess up Jonas by "rocking the boat" as I cross the cliff
ledge.

Isaac had a great game earlier in the day.  He's had two games now and both games were a complete shut out.  34-0 or something like that.  He's pretty big for his age, but not so much that he's an "X man".  They tape a big "X" on the helmet of the real big kids.  Each team is only allotted so many "X" men which are typically lineman.

Isaac gets a good start while Sam tries to catch him.

Isaac (#27) cuts off the tackle on his right side so Jackson,
the running back can merge to his left for some big yardage.

This last week we've gone through the consultations on solar power with a company.  I did some research the past few months and long story short, yesterday we made the leap of faith and have started the process for engineering, permitting and installation.  This past month we had to pay over $250 in electricity to Rocky Mountain Power.  Granted its the peak of the year for us, but based on the arrays we have planned next year this time assuming the same usage, our bill is expected to be less than $10.  It's pretty sweet technology that I've had my eye on for many years.  But with the fantastic incentives that Demandware has offered, and the State and Federal government rebates available, it's finally possible and I'm excited to see that energy independence come to pass.

This next week for Labor Day a group of friends and I are swimming a relay across the length of Bear Lake. It'll be fun to do this as a relay which I've never done before.  Less stressful, and more fun than I've had before I expect.

Camp Loll, Girls Camp, Bear Lake Monster Swim, and Cathi's Colorado marathon!

This last week can probably go down as the craziest, busiest weeks for our family this year!

Jonas and I went to Camp Loll, located 30 miles east of Ashton, Idaho on Monday morning.  I was there until Tuesday where I arrived back home at 11:30pm to go to work for two days.

Jonas remained at Camp Loll all week long and earned the Environmental Science, Woodcarving and Indian Lore merit badges.

Lucy left for girls camp on Wednesday thru Saturday.

I left for Bear Lake on Thursday evening and had quite the eventful weekend.  Details here.

Jacob, Sam and Oliver joined me on Friday morning up at the cabin, while Cathi and Isaac left for a cross country drive to Aspen Colorado, where she was hoping to get that state colored in on her map.

Saturday was the Bear Lake Monster Swim which went really well.  Jacob swam the one mile event and came in 4th place.  He did really well and Sam and Oliver were a great help for me getting the race preparations finalized.  There were 15 people who successfully swam the width of Bear Lake.  A pretty impressive feat.

Cathi ran a 4:14 on her marathon and had a good time.  It was good for her and Isaac to get some one on one time.

This week is much less eventful, and get to spend the weekend all together at the cabin.

Oh and Lucy got her learner's permit and her braces off!


And Sam just got some braces put on this morning.  A total surprise to me!  Lucy just messaged me the picture. I knew he'd need them eventually but didn't know he was ready for them to go in this week!

Camp Loll

Low Family Reunion

We had such a fun time at the Low Family Reunion.  We played volleyball, rock climbed, played paintball, played lots of games together and swam together.  Here are several pics of the fun week we had!

It rained like crazy a couple times.  Left a full rainbow behind

Dice game was a hit!

We enjoyed listening to Walker report on his mission, as well as Tyler and Brayden talk about their newly accepted mission calls.

Cousins enjoying the pond

Is this crawdad dead or alive?

Oliver said on the way there, "This reunion better be fun!"  I think it met his satisfaction.

Crayfish from the pond.

Beautiful sunset 

Lucy wanted to try rowing in a rowboat instead of paddling in a kayak all the time.

Oliver gets ready for a killer serve.

Nice form Oli!

Walker does a graceful backwards slam.

Cathi serves it up.

Oli did so good everybody called the game "Oliball"

Such finesse

Don't miss Cathi!

Oliver makes a last ditch effort to keep the ball up by kicking it.

Josh gets it over.

It's OK Cathi.  Good try.

More from Lagoon:

Summer, Lucy and Kelsey brave the Skycoasters

Get ready!

No fear

Hold on!

Low Sisters

Getting ready for the Giant Ferris wheel

As Grandpa would always ask, "Has your Mom been feeding you hormones?"  Next year we'll see if Isaac passes up Becky.

Oliver waiting for the anticipated bell.

Oliver loves a good crash

Thanks Mom and Dad for the fun week!!!