Say a Prayer for Tyler

From the very beginning of my blogging days, I've intended this experience to be a journal of sorts, recording our lives events, the good, the bad, and everything in between. Tonight I'm writing this post with a worried mind and a heavy heart.

In order to help you understand the feelings I'm trying to convey in this post, I need to give you some background details. 1. A few years ago while on a family trip to Jackson Hole, we came upon a wreck that had just barely happened. It involved a scout troop, and I'm fairly certain that the same number of scouts who left home for scout camp,were not the same number who were going to return home from scout camp. It was a horrible accident; something I often see in my minds eye when I hear the words "scout camp." 2. When I was 13 years old, I went to Young Women's Girls Camp up High Creek. That spring there had been heavy rains and very high rivers due to spring run off. We were on our day hike and were hiking to High Creek Lake. Because of the high waters, many (if not all) of the bridges were washed away. Our leaders decided to find a safe place to cross the creek and then continue on our way. As we were crossing, the swift current swept me off my feet and I went down the river. I remember thinking I was living out the last few moments of my life. I heard people yelling "grab a tree branch, grab a branch." I was so disoriented I didn't know where a tree branch was. Thankfully and miraculously, another girl from our ward realized my desperate situation and voluntarily entered the water to save me. Obviously, all turned out okay - but cetainly left me with some tramatic memories and a fear of water, without a life jacket.

Each time Tyler goes to scout camp, I pray that he will return safely. While he's gone, I pray I can wrap my arms around him and tell him I love him when he returns. Since I'm being completely honest, there have been times I'm grateful we've had previous events scheduled and Tyler hasn't been able to go to scout camp. I find myself dreading scout camps. I know that it is simply because of this accident I saw. Tyler is probably safer camping than he is "hot roding" around the pasture on the 4 wheeler, but just knowing he's close to home gives me comfort.

Tonight I sent him out the door, only to receive a phone call a few minutes later asking me to bring him an extra pair of shoes. After inquiring why, I find out that the place they are hiking to, Flat Top, will require them to cross the river a five times. Almost immediately, my memories of my experience came flooding back. I told his leader I wasn't very comfortable with that decision. He promised me they'd be safe. Well you know what, I remember my leaders telling me the same thing. His leader told me he hiked it last week and only got wet 3 of the 5 times. It only takes one swift current. I know how fast things can happen. I put on my "brave mom" face and told Tyler to have fun and be careful.

I'm typing this with tears of worry running down my face. I know that I have to place my trust in my Heavenly Father but I'm struggling with that right now. I just want Tyler to come back home alive and safe! So please, please, please, say a prayer for Tyler and his scout troop -- and while you are at it, maybe say a prayer for this worried mom as well.