rod has always been known as the boy scout who was most prepared for the trip. as a youth he was the one who had every tool he needed, every snack possible, every life saving skill in his pack or noggin. i've known this about him and seen it myself while we've been married. he is always prepared. he has forethought and can fix just about anything that goes array because of his preparations.
i think the young men and some of the leaders at church now know this about him. they might even consider him their jack bauer. he put together a fairly rigorous high adventure trip for the boy scouts ages 14-17 years old. it centered around mountain biking (which is something rod loves to do.) he mapped out trails the boys and the leaders could all go on with various skill levels and terrain. he included a difficult hike in zion's national park (angel's landing.) the trip would take he and 10 boys and 4 other leaders 5 days to complete. when it came time to plan how to transport all those mountain bikes to their destinations rod found a friend on facebook who had made a bike rack from pvc pipe. he got the instructions from his friend and adapted it for his own use in hauling 10 mountain bikes on my dad's long trailer. i love this about him. i love that he has ingenuity. i love that he is resourceful and takes initiative. i also love that he included the boys in helping him make one of the racks--so as to give them a hands on experience with the prep work needed for such an endeavor. granted, he could have just made both bike racks faster all by himself but it was important to him to include the young men. and it was important to him to include our own boys! he enlisted jack and morgan to help him make the first prototype rack.
rod worked with the young men's leader and his friend brad wallace to get all of the gear packed and tied down. together they had all of the gear and food loaded for the week. it was a big job. but i loved seeing how it all came together. as he pulled out of our garage to pick up the youth at the church i wondered what the young men would learn from him that week. if they were paying attention i knew they would be able to learn invaluable skills not just in wielding a mountain bike down a tough trail but in how to be on the watch out for other's needs, how to be prepared for things that go wrong, and how to treat those who differ from you. i got report calls from rod periodically during the week. he enjoyed himself and was happy to see all of the young men try their very best they could give to the challenges he set before them. he was so pleased with their efforts and willingness to stretch themselves.
when they returned from the trip they unloaded at our home and i got to hear the boys tell their dad's who came to pick them up some of their highlights. a number of them shared how rod had patched together one of the boy's bikes on the trail with electrical tape he had on him! they talked about how incredible he was on the bike and yet how at one point he used caution and had them all walk their bikes when the trail went on the rim on the mesa. i think they caught a glimpse of the guy i know. he loves to work hard and play hard. (that is sort of our family motto we have created.) he knows there are times one needs to slow down and watch out for other's safety and that there is something we can learn from everyone. he knows that everyone's abilities are different and that those abilities can each be challenged in equitable degrees. and he is patient with those who need extra time or encouragement. he knows most of all that one can never be too prepared for things that might go wrong on the trails.
i know rod enjoyed the trip and was overly proud of the boys. i know he learned that brad wallace is a master dutch oven camping cook and that he has lots to learn about that from him. i know he came home with a vision of the future and of taking his own boys out for such adventures.
i share that same vision for the future. i crave for my boys to come to know their dad well! i want those times for them to go away on an adventure with their dad--an adventure that pushes them and teaches them things about themselves, their abilities and their testimonies of all that is true. it makes me happy to look into the future and know that my boys have a great role model in their dad!
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