The Hazard Chronicles

Wow. Thanksgiving week, for us, has been full of all the good things: Travel, family, food, good times, and memories that will last. What a week!

So we actually started celebrations about a week early at this fundraiser dinner. It was a chef cookoff event (think food-network style) with amazing food throughout and fun entertainment as some of the best chefs in our area went head-to-head in a variety of contests. The banquet raised tens of thousands of dollars for CDAide- an organization Rachel plays a large part in (although she didn't do much for this particular affair). Also, very randomly, someone stood outside the window carving a salmon out of ice. 

For the days immediately surrounding Thanksgiving we spent time in Rexburg with my extended family. This is one of the few times we have all been able to get together this year. It was good to catch up with people. Of course we had plenty of games, noise, and food to go around.

On Friday, my sister and her husband blessed their baby into the LDS (Mormon) church. Everyone from my family was there, as well as a few people who drove up from my brother-in-law's side. They catered a buffet-style lunch afterwards, set up pickleball nets in they gym, and allowed the kids to use the stage to produce a short theatrical performance. 

We also spent several hours with extended family at the local climbing gym. This picture is not from that, but it is meant to be representative. The gym in Rexburg is actually really cool in that it has a lot of things that specifically cater to families. Even the littlest kids had a good time (difficult in most gyms), but there were still a few challenging routes for the more experienced climbers in the group.

This picture is also significant for another reason though. Yesterday, both me and Rachel completed indoor projects that we have been working on for the past couple of weeks. For Rach, it was her hardest climb ever- and as soon as she finished it, she topped the day off with a flash of her second hardest climb! Woah!

On Saturday, we drove down to a party for this guy. My grandpa. He turned 90 this year and he is seriously my biggest hero. When I am forced to dig deep within what I consider to be the best parts of myself, it is his voice that I hear offering up encouragement and advice. He has lived an amazing life that I can only hope to emulate in my own.

Here we are- all of us here because of my Grandma and Grandpa. I think everybody made it to this special occasion- almost 90 of us- which really says something about how important my grandpa is to us. And it wasn't just a chatty lunch either. No. When the Hazards get together, we party! Lots of dancing. A little crazy. More good food (as if we hadn't already had enough this week). And a lot of love.

After the birthday thing, a small group of us went to the theatre to see A Christmas Story- the Musical. My sister-in-law (green dress in back) was a part of the production and it was neat to see her in her element.

It was also neat to get a little time to visit with Rachel's sister, who we stayed with that night, and to catch up with her family over breakfast the next morning before the long drive home.

The last few days have certainly been busy, with hundreds of people involved. Each of them holds a special place in our hearts. I think it is true that friends and family are the greatest things in life, and we surely have much to be thankful for. Time and distance can separate us, and in a way I think that is how it should be. Each of us live our own lives with different communities, careers, hobbies, friend groups, and priorities. I believe each of us has the strength to stand tall all on their own. Which is why, when we show up en masse, we are a force to be reckoned with! The mix of talents and personalities is immense, and it is amazing that I get to be counted with such awesome people.

Happy Thanksgiving and have a good week!