Pool Party

Paul, Theron, and Josh threw a client-appreciation pool party at the Lindon Pool.  

A couple hundred people came, and they had pizzas, sodas, and shaved ice. It was so nice to have the whole pool just for the Murphy-Barth-Allphin community.

The kids loved the lazy river, the slides, and the hot tub!

Rockwell and Wyatt loved the Flo Rider and spent most the night on that.

Tessa tried it out too and had a lot of fun.

The party was a big success! I think everyone had a great time.

Drew

Rockwell has been running with the Timpanogos cross country team this summer. Coach Benson went to Alpine Days and gave invitations to all the kids there to come run with the team this summer. Rockwell, Drew, Levi, Luke, and Joe have all been going and really enjoying it. On July 7th, Rockwell, Drew and Joe were running together when Drew started to have some trouble with his asthma. The 8th grade boys are usually behind the high school kids as they aren't as fast as the older boys yet. Luckily there was one high schooler, Tyler, close enough that he came back to check on Drew. (The high school kids are seriously such nice kids, and will often check in with the younger boys to see how they're doing.) Tyler told Drew that he should probably rest, and he would run back to the school and get his car to come pick Drew up. A couple minutes after he left however, the situation turned much worse and Drew collapsed. Rockwell ran as fast as he possibly could back to the school to find someone with a phone to call 911. The team were all driving away to breakfast, but luckily Tim and Miles (Drew's cousin) hadn't left yet and told Rockwell to jump in their car and went back to Drew. Tyler was already back at the scene and was calling 911. The first responders came and worked on helping Drew breathe for about 45 minutes before they took him away in the ambulance. The boys all said a prayer together after they finished answering questions from the police men, and then Tyler brought Rockwell home. 

When Rockwell got home, he told us about what had happened and I was able to hug him and cry with him. It was very traumatic to watch his friend go through that and to try to help in whatever way he could. We had plans to go to Al's house and hang out while Matt & Lori were in town. Rockwell said he still wanted to go, so we went over there. About an hour later, Paul called to let me know that Coach Benson had called to let Rockwell know that Drew had passed away. I dreaded telling Rockwell, but wanted to talk with him about it before any friends texted or called him about it. I took Rockwell into the basement and let him know that Drew had passed away. It broke my heart to tell him. But then I felt a profound feeling of peace surrounding us and noticed that Rockwell had stopped crying. After a moment I asked him what he was feeling, and he said that he felt that Drew was with Jesus and he was good, and that he's all better now. He said he really felt that strongly. I told him that that feeling of peace is the Holy Ghost. Our Heavenly Parents love Rockwell and are aware of him, and sent The Comforter to let him know how much they care about him, and about Drew. I can't think of another time in my life where I've felt the Holy Ghost that distinctly, and I'm so grateful that I got to feel what Rockwell was feeling. 

The following week was very challenging for Rockwell. It's so sad to lose a friend, and to struggle with the trauma of watching it happen on top of the loss. I cannot imagine how much harder it would have been without having that strong visit from the Holy Ghost assuring Rockwell that Drew is okay. I'm so grateful that he had that experience to help strengthen and comfort him as he has moved forward trying to navigate this changed life. He has wanted to keep running with the team, and to be around the boys who understand what he's going through. The camaraderie of the team has been very good for him. 

Rockwell and I went to Drew's viewing Friday evening. (Paul's pool party was at the same time, and I know it was hard for Paul to not be able to go too.) This was a very difficult thing for Rockwell. It was hard to see Drew's body in the casket. A body that small just shouldn't be in a casket. It was also very emotional to talk with Drew's parents. They were asking Rockwell how he knew Drew, and I could tell he was having a hard time getting anything more than a one-syllable word out. I told them that he was running with Drew on Friday. As soon as they knew he "was with Drew at the end," they embraced him and started asking if he was okay. They asked if he was still running and told him to keep going. Drew loved running and had wanted to be on the Timpanogos team just like his older siblings. I was so impressed with his parents' concern for the boys that were there with Drew. They seem like very very good people. When we got back out to our car, Rockwell talked about how hard that was and we cried and hugged for a while.

Paul and I took Rockwell to Drew's funeral on Saturday. Each of his siblings and both of his parents spoke. They are a close family, and I know they're going to feel the loss of Drew strongly. My heart aches for them. Drew's death was a sad, hard, sorrowful loss. I hope that his family and friends can find comfort, remember Drew fondly, and try to learn from the positive, kind, forgiving, and thoughtful way Drew lived his life. You will be missed Drew.

Drew Masao Hansen of Lindon, Utah collapsed while running on Friday, July 7, 2023 and passed on an hour later at Timpanogos Regional Hospital. Cause of death was a collapsed lung which cut off oxygen to his heart which stopped beating. He was 13 years old.

Drew was a beautiful, talented, smart, obedient, and kind boy who was active in all good things that life had to offer. He died doing what he loved most: running with the Timpanogos High School cross country team. Teammates reported that he was notably happy that day as they gathered for their morning run. There was nowhere else he'd rather have been.

Drew's short life was filled with happiness. He had a native cheery disposition and a winning smile. He hung out with a group of neighborhood friends who were known as the Lost Boys and filled their days with fun and adventure. He was an excellent soccer player and skier and an accomplished pianist. He loved going with his dad and friends on camping and backpacking trips, and working with his mom on big projects around the house. He loved candy and wouldn't drink green smoothies but he had a healthy and strong body.

Above all, Drew was a kind and thoughtful brother and friend. He loved his younger sister with Down Syndrome and would talk to her and wrestle with her on the floor. Classmates at school have told us of his kindness and quiet service to others. Never in the spotlight, Drew always did his good deeds out of a sincere desire to make life better for those around him and not for personal glory. He always wanted to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and we know that he is fulfilling that wish now.

Drew is survived by his parents Bruce and Michelle Hansen and five siblings: Clyn, Thys, Lana, Mika, and Nyla. They are joined in their grieving by more than 80 cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents as well as hundreds of family friends and fellow saints whose lives were touched in small ways by this extraordinary young man.

This & That

While Matt & Lori were in town we all went to the temple with Cody. He received his mission call to Peru, and went through the temple with his parents in Arizona, and then wanted to go through with his extended family while he was here.

It was nice to spend the morning in the temple. We always love going back to the Jordan River Temple, where we got married.

Al was recovering from surgery, and so we hung out at her house for a couple days so she could rest and be comfortable. It's always fun to hang out with my siblings and laugh together! We took a picture of these boys with Cody to be able to see how much they all grow over the next two years. Rockwell's certain he's going to be as tall as him when he gets home. :)

The kids love to have Hallee and Wyatt over any chance they get.

I've tried to keep the kids doing some reading and math this summer. They've been thrilled about that. ;)

I made some worms in mud for dessert one night. Tessa and Damon thought that was fun.

Tessa wanted a grossed-out-face picture. :)

Geo, Kiwi, Waffles, and Gus

Tessa heard a baby bird underneath our tramp one morning and so Paul helped her get it out. 

He hopped underneath our deck and the kids checked on him all morning. They named him Geo. It looked like Geo had a thorn stuck in him, so Paul laid a garbage can down and the bird jumped right into it. Luckily he didn't have a thorn, it was just the way one of his feet was positioned. Tessa, Damon, and Hallee were so excited to put on gloves and pet Geo!!

Tessa grabbed the worms that she used to feed her venus fly trap, and fed some to Geo. We wanted to help him get strong enough to fly away eventually.

Geo was happy to wander the yard the rest of the afternoon, and the kids loved that!

The next morning, we couldn't find Geo. Eventually Damon heard him over in Aaron's yard. We went over there and Geo had fallen in Aaron's window well, and there were 3 more baby birds in a different window well. Paul climbed in and got them all out. We brought them to our yard and blocked off all the gaps in our fences where they could get out.

Geo, Kiwi, Waffles, and Gus spent the next few days in our yard. Their mom would come check on them and feed them, and we got to enjoy watching them hop around and play with each other.

The birds were with us for close to a week. Tessa and I were on our way upstairs for bedtime one night and we saw the birds hopping in our front yard. We went outside and followed them as they hopped across the street and then flew into Tricia's yard. They seemed strong enough to head out on their own, and we were so glad we could see them go.

4th of July

We had a nice, relaxing day on the 4th. Tessa really wanted to buy some fake nails since her gym is closed this week. :) She loved wearing long nails all week.

 The Arizona Hams flew into Utah that day and we had a Ham Fam BBQ that evening. We celebrated the July birthdays and Father's Day, and did some fireworks too.

The boys loved lighting them off!

Tessa came prepared with two sets of headphones and went straight to the front room when they started.

When we got home that night, Audrey had left a clue on our porch to start a scavenger hunt for Rockwell. She had left a scavenger hunt for him at camp since the boys came a few hours after we left, but the missionaries cleaned out everything as soon as the girls left, so he wasn't able to do it. He followed the first couple clues around our house and the church, but I told him he would need to finish it in the morning once it led to the Best's house. I didn't think it was a good idea to go searching around their house with flashlights at 11:00 at night.

He finished the hunt the next morning and was excited to find his "girly pop" prize. The young women all call Rockwell Girly Pop, and so she made a cute present with different ring pops crossed out to say Girly Pop instead.