Urban Challenge Utah for Us

Think mini Amazing Race around Salt Lake City.

This event was put on by the Make a Wish Foundation as a fundraiser. We found out about it through my friend's blog who also said that her mom was willing to pay the entrance fee for 20 teams. We were in!

Our Team name: The Patriot Act

Having that team name made it easier to dress up in a costume for sure. You received extra points for dressing up.

Surprisingly, our perspectives on approaching the "race" were very different. I have always maintained that I don't have the personality for Amazing Race; actually, what I mean is that I don't have the personality to be nice on Amazing Race. I am way too competitive and I would be so intense and focused on winning the prize money that I would "forget" that being nice to my hubby or race partner (maybe my identical twin) means more to me than any amount of money. So, I kept giving myself a pep talk all week that I was going to be nice and not intense.

Thus, when we were standing at the starting line I said to Steve, "Let's let the bikes go first." His response was, "No Way!" Did I mention that Steve and I had decided to forgo bikes and we were running/walking the race. We walked around 8 miles. Back to the banner--Steve was the first one to break that banner at the starting point, thereby getting us on the 10 o'clock news that evening. Also, after each challenge he would replay it in his head as to how he (maybe we) could have done it better. I was a little surprised by this, maybe a lot surprised. But, I should have known something like that was going on because Steve was setting a wicked fast pace. Every once in a while, I had to run a few steps to keep up.

Anyway, after we broke the barrier we found one of these hidden among trees and bushes:

The challenges were a mixture of physical tasks, or mental exercises. Just like on Amazing Race, the challenges were for only one of us to complete or for both of us to do together.

Here we are leaving the "fix a flat" challenge still near the beginning and running to the next challenge. (I know because my hair is still down.)

Steve performing the "fix a flat tire" challenge at the Frontrunner Trax station.

Steve eating the salsa at the Cafe Rio challenge.

FAVORITE CHALLENGE: I think my favorite challenge was the one where we had to fill a small bucket (relatively speaking, small compared to the trash can) with water from a fire engine hose, and then run down to the trash can and pour the water in and fill it almost to the top. I think it was my favorite because we were able to do it as a team and I have always felt like Steve and I do team things well together.

Funny thing was that after we had filled the bucket and I was running towards the trash can, Steve squirted me from behind. For those of you who know me, you know I hate to get wet like that, especially in clothes. I never thought he would do that.

Of course, retaliation is fair, right? It was a little innocent flirting on a very hot day! I actually didn't mind because I was so hot. Oh, yeah, so I squirted him back. Then thinking in my head we were even, we had finished the challenge and I turned my back on him to go get my things. That's when it happened. I felt the cold water drench my whole left side. I was wet for the rest of the day! The stinker!!!

What a great experience, and even better to experience it with my sweetie! We really enjoyed spending the day together doing something a little bit out of the norm.

This is us at the end, extremely tired and very happy to be done.

I have posted the clues below if you wanted to test your knowledge about Salt Lake City.

FIRST CLUE:

From screen to screen,

you'll go near and far,

Answering questions

on film noir.

Head to the Gateway

4 blocks west,

and enter the doors

of the megaplex

LOCATION: Movie theater at the Gateway

CHALLENGE: There were 12 movie theaters that had a tv screen outside the theater. On each screen was a still picture from a scene in a movie that had to do with making a wish. We were suppose to identify the movie.

SECOND CLUE:

Go to a place named

after Lois' friend,

Filled with science and

knowledge from beginning to end.

Then if you win,

It's your claim to fame,

Bring order from chaos

in this galactic game.

LOCATION: Clark Planetarium

CHALLENGE: We had to list the planets in order from those closest to the sun.

THIRD CLUE:

Next to the place

where the "mailman" delivered

You'll find a statue

made of Bronze - not chrome.

Try to look good;

Be sure to say cheese,

And try to recall all the facts,

if you please.

LOCATION: Energy Solutions Arena

CHALLENGE: 10 question quiz on Jazz basketball history.

FOURTH CLUE:

Just before the hub

of Utah's newest train,

You'll find your next challenge

sitting on the dubs.

Pick the right tool,

and you'll have it down pat,

But if you fail this next challenge

you, too, will fall flat.

LOCATION: Frontrunner Trax Station

CHALLENGE: to fix a flat tire and pump it up.

FIFTH CLUE:

The Rio is a place you

normally get water,

But in this "Rio" place

you'll get even hotter.

This building lies

on the 4th block south,

So put on your game face,

and prepare your mouth!

LOCATION: Cafe Rio on 4th South

CHALLENGE: to eat a PC cup of salsa

SIXTH CLUE:

Don't think about stopping,

you're far from done,

If you want to get physical,

we can get you some.

In Richmond Park

There's a challenge for you,

So stretch your muscles and

you'll be told what to do. Hooah!

LOCATION: Richmond Park

CHALLENGE: A physical challenge that we both had to do as a team: flip a big tractor tire between two cones, 30 crunches with a round cylinder across our shoulders, and 30 over heads with cowbells.

SEVENTH CLUE:

You look hot, but fire is hotter!

Nestled between an oily pond, a

collection of bird cages,

and hippies playing drums...

You'll find a red truck

that can cool the burn.

You, however, will be dousing the

Flames the old fashioned way.

LOCATION: Liberty Park

CHALLENGE: a team challenge, to fill up a small bucket, run down and fill up a trash can.

EIGHT CLUE:

Long day got you frustrated with

your teammate?

Travel to "adventure's first

stop" on Broadway,

but don't be late.

It's time to take out your aggression

the way they do it on the ice!

LOCATION: Maverick gas station on Broadway

CHALLENGE: both of us had to dress up in professional hockey team outfit (no easy feat) and then one of us had to pull the jersey over the head of the other one.

NINTH CLUE:

You're finally there

you're nearly done,

The grand-prize is waiting

and needs to be won.

Go back to the place

where this whole day began,

And complete the

challenging puzzle at hand.

CHALLENGE: With individual words and phrases given to use, we had to construct the Make a Wish foundation mission statement.

***The one clue we didn't do***

If you need a car

then put out your feelers,

It's sitting at Utah's

first leed-certified dealer!

Toyota cars are good

but a truck would be better,

so start heading south to

find your next challenge letter.

WHY? We weren't sure where exactly the dealership was so we skipped this one.

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Do you remember when I blogged about how much I love my calling? that of gospel doctrine teacher.

I still do.

However, yesterday, I left feeling beat up. It was the first time I had felt that way in about two years.

First, there was a visitor to my class and he had made a really great comment that directly answered my question about the parable of the fig tree. Beautiful. Then I went on to make my four other points that I wanted to about that parable. It must have been obvious that I was finishing up, because he raises his hand and asked if I wanted to go back to his original point. A great topic, and one worthy of fervent personal study, or for another lesson any day, but not the only topic in my lesson yesterday. So, I had to tell him that I couldn't because I had soooooo much to cover--don't I always--and if I went back it wouldn't give me time to cover the other lessons in the scriptures. And, to me there was much more pressing gospel principles that I wanted to cover and discuss.

The thing of it is....I felt terrible. That is a discussion that I would personally love to have any other day, any other time; I love talking about the gospel. Back to my point, I don't ever want to make anyone feel bad. And, I so appreciate the comments that people make because they help to solidify the gospel principles that I am teaching...usually; and that is what happened second. Or maybe I should say what didn't happen.

This time I was teaching on the Saduccees, who came to trap the Savior with their devious question (Matt 2:23-30). Although it seems like they are asking about eternal marriage in the next life, their true question was about the resurrection. Because they are "sad-you-see" and don't believe in resurrection. Anyway...then it happened. A member of my ward (is it wrong to call him the Sunday School bandit) started talking about the sealing power, also known as part of the "keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matt 16:19),"--which is really a side issue to the point that I was discussing-- and when it would be restored to the earth again implying that it wasn't there at the time of Matt chapter 22. I am not sure that is his term, but I can't remember verbatim what he said. But, having also taught the lesson on the Mount of Transfiguration I knew two things: a.) the sealing power has been held by righteous men in all gospel dispensations, and b.) that the Sealing Power, along with all other keys of the kingdom, were given to Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration as he would one day have to lead the church. (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, Elder McConkie)

As he was kinda contradicting what I was saying, I didn't want, nor do I think it's appropriate for a debate between us in my class. So, I kindly pushed on.

But, there I was that night, studying the topic in my scriptures and in the amazing book, Jesus the Christ by Elder Talmage, and studying the gospel principle out in my mind. Thus, I am so grateful for that opportunity to solidify this gospel principle in my mind. So you see, although I squirm on the inside when this happens and frantically try to think of a way to kindly let him know I disagree, or that it's a matter to study out, because I can be wrong, I am actually very grateful for his comments/questions. These "incidents" help me to grow in my understanding of the gospel.

A few years ago, I went to BYU's Women's Conference...manna in the wilderness for sure! While I was there, I heard a talk given by Elder L. Tom Perry, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He says that many of the misunderstandings by mainstream America on Mormons is our fault. "Our" equals members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (a.k.a. Mormons) It's our fault because we don't talk about who we are or what we believe clearly enough. One of the ten actions to change this is to, know the doctrine.

In other words, believe what you know, and know what you believe.

And, "incidents" like that during Sunday School help me to do just that.

Just For Me

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I am posting this just because it melted my heart so much. Steve posted this on my Wall on Facebook and I don't want to forget.


"I know what it is to love a daughter of Father in Heaven who with grace and devotion lived the full feminine splendor of her righteous womanhood." - Elder Scott.......me too

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