“Tri” A Little Harder

The seasons were passing quickly. In our home, they were referenced by soccer, football, basketball, and baseball. It was busy, challenging and super rewarding to see the kids take on the rigors of playing sports, adjusting to disappointment, and savoring every little success whether measured in statistics or toughness. 

I missed competing myself but was grateful for the re-focus I felt was part of my journey through my injury. 

At age 9, Jess informed me she was retiring from the swim team after two extremely successful summer seasons. I giggled at her assertiveness in choosing for herself what she wanted and clearly didn’t want to do. Her practices were early every summer morning. I was NOT disappointed that I didn’t have to shuttle her at 6 am. 

One summer morning, I was organizing the garage and noted the thick layer of dust on my road bike that I had used for my triathlon competitions. I momentarily wished I could compete again, despite my spiritual efforts to trust that God was in the details of my life: moments of glory and moments of seemingly stalled progression.

I shook off the regret as I decided maybe Jess would be interested in competing in the kids’ triathlon held every August along the river walk in town.  I put the idea “out there” and told her to think about it. I was giddy with excitement when she agreed to give the tri a try!!

Competition day in August arrived and I had enough butterflies for both of us. She didn’t seem nervous at all. She had practiced swimming in the river, transitioning into the bike and eventually the run.  The starting horn went off and I cheered loudly even though I knew she couldn’t hear me through her swim cap and water! She was quick out of the water and despite my urging otherwise, she meticulously took time to dry her feet and put socks on before lacing up her shoes. She decisively told me socks should always be worn with running shoes! Absolutely no parents were allowed in the transition area, so we shrugged from afar as many kids passed her during this lengthy transition.

I was a couple of hundred yards up the sidewalk from the crowds as I saw Jess coming toward me on my old oversized bike. I delighted in the new rider. The bike course was only a 4-mile out and back route. It wasn’t long before we began to see kids returning back to the transition area and begin their 1-mile run.   My heart raced as I saw my old bike descending quickly into the transition area. I couldn’t believe Jess was back already!

I quickly recalled how many runners were already on the course and challenged Jess to catch as many as she could! Her cheering section (family) spotted the course offering encouragement along the route! I grinned in disbelief as I saw her cross the finish line having placed in the top group!

Turns out God knows and loves me perfectly… something I always believed in faith… I felt His law of compensation returned a greater joy that day than had I been in an afar off elite competition myself. I felt grateful. I felt my faith grow.

There had been many days in the previous several years where I was frustrated with not understanding God’s ways or the lessons He was providing me opportunities to learn.   However, on a warm August day, on a bike path along the Columbia River, I was granted a window into the joy possible when I trust in my Heavenly Father and allow the Atonement of Jesus Christ to ease my sorrow. I was motivated to commit to try a little harder to more completely trust God.

-JC

Snickers Stuffed Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup soft butter
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 XL eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup dark cocoa
2 cups + 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Cream butter, peanut butter and sugars with an electric mixer on medium high for 1 minute or until fluffy.. Hand stir in eggs and vanilla; don’t overmix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Add an additional 2 Tablespoons flour for high elevation. Scoop out approximately 24 2” balls of dough.  Place an unwrapped fun size Snickers Peanut Butter candy in the center of each ball and move the cookie dough to surround the Snickers. Gently roll. For a richer flavor and smoother texture, form cookie dough balls, flatten slightly, and refrigerate or freeze until ready to bake. Place on greased or parchment paper on an aluminum cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 min.  In freezer strength Ziploc bag, gently microwave ½ cup peanut butter. In a different Ziploc, melt 2 milk chocolate Hershey bars. Cut a small hole in the corner of each bag and drizzle onto cookies. Let set! Share!