SPENCER....YOU WON'T CATCH HIM!

I am so thankful I got a big birthday hug from this boy the day before his 16th birthday. We love him forever and ever and he is such a blessing in our lives!

HE IS SUCH AN AWESOME RUNNER....BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY...HE IS A FAITHFUL PRIESTHOOD HOLDER.  OH HOW WE LOVE HIM!

That look you see on his face is one of great determination. He trains so hard I have never seen anything like it!

 He is not ever running with boys his own age. Because he is so young in his class but still runs varsity… He is ALWAYS  running against more experienced runners!

He has a great support system and Justin has been so awesome to video him and send the videos to us. It is really like being there and we appreciate it so so much!

When their family was here on the Fourth of July last year… We went to the Manderfield church where we were able to talk to the kids about shad growing up in Manderfield and a lot about grandpa Bradshaw.

WE WERE SO BLESSED TO TAKE A SHORT RODE TRIP TO ENTERPRISE WITH THEM THIS SPRING.  HE HAS A GREAT INTEREST IN HIS FAMILY AND ANCESTORS.  THIS THIS WAS THEIR FIRST TRIP TO MY PARENTS GRAVES.  HE WAS CHEERFUL, HAPPY, AND ENGAGED THE ENTIRE TIME. IT REALLY MEANT SO MUCH TO ME.

HE CERTAINLY LOVES HIS GRANDPA SHAD....WHOSE NAME HE CARRIES.  HE ALSO IS SO FAST LIKE HIS DAD.  HE KNOWS HOW TO COMMIT AND FOLLOW THROUGH.  HE ALSO DOES THAT WITH HIS CHURCH CALLINGS AND HIS WORK WITH HYRUM AT THE NURSERY WHERE THEY HAVE A HOT AND HARD SUMMER JOB.
WHEN SPENCER WAS BORN IN AZ.....WE WERE IN MN. FOR WILL'S BABY BLESSING.  I HAVE ALWAYS WISHED THESE 2 COULD LIVE CLOSER TO EACH OTHER BECAUSE OF THEIR AGES.....BUT WHO KNOWS....MAYBE THEY WILL END UP MISSIONARY COMPANIONS!
SPENCER DOESN'T LIKE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO HIMSELF BUT I SEE HIS QUITE ACTS OF SERVICE AND TAKING RESPONSIBILTY.  HE IS A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE.  I ALSO SEE HOW HARD HE WORKS FOR THE MANY HONORS HE HAS RECEIVED IN SCHOOL.  HE IS SO DEDICATED.
ONE THING THAT THRILLS ME IS HIS LOVE OF CHURCH HISTORY AND THAT HE LOVES READING THE WORK AND THE GLORY AS MUCH AS I DO.  I THINK THAT LIKE ME, THOSE BOOKS HAVE REALLY MADE CHURCH HISTORY COME ALIVE FOR HIM AND I CAN SEE THAT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN AMAZING.  I LOVE TO BE AROUND HIM AND I WISH I COULD BE WITH HIM TO CELEBRATE HIS BIG 16!!!  WE HOPE IT IS A WONDERFUL DAY FOR HIM TO REMEMBER....AND TO REMEMBER HOW WE LOVE HIM FOREVER AND EVER!!!!!