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Dear Jacob, Caleb and Samuel:

Many years ago (in high school) your mom was an athlete.  As in – she played a sport for every season.  She wasn't the star of any one thing, but she was decent enough to play and contribute.  Then in college, she was less of an athlete and very much a hard-working student.  But when she could find the time she would go on long runs through the rural parts of central texas and enjoy the wildflowers and beauties around her. 

Then she became a mother.  Athlete was far from her mind.  And young motherhood was enough to keep her busy on its own.  Up and down, here and there, it was enough of a workout at the time.  She always set physical activity goals, but never seemed to make them a priority enough to meet them, which often left her disappointed in herself.

In 2007, 2008 and 2009 she wrote down a goal, "Run a half marathon".  But quickly dismissed it as another goal on paper that wouldn't become a reality.  She even cheered from afar as your dad ran one.  But late last year she got to see the New York marathon and cheer for a friend who ran it and it brought back those feelings of "athlete" in her that had many years ago been buried. 

In September, friends from her ward had decided to train for a half marathon in January…she was excited to think that she could join them.  But slowly each of them backed out for a variety of reasons, and she questioned her own abilities to continue training on her own.  But after the NY marathon, she was able to convince her running friends Dana and Shirlene to register and give it a try (it didn't take much persuading as her friends were already great runners and goal-oriented anyway).  Having others working at the same goal (and encouraging each other) gave her enough "umph" to stick with it herself. 

Sometime mid-December she came home from a training run of 6 miles and said to your dad "I can't do this – it's just too hard – I'll never get to 13 miles".  And once again she felt dejected.  But she remembered all the times she had failed at athletic goals, and resolved that THIS time would be different no matter how hard.  And she pleaded with God to help her – to "consecrate her performance" (and her efforts) for good.  See 2 Nephi 32:9

And He did – as He always does when we ask sincerely for help with righteous endeavors.  He helped her.  And He'll help you as you set worthy goals and work hard to reach them.  He expects us to "confess His hand in all things" (D&C 59:21) and your mom does "acknowledge Him" (Proverbs 3:6) in this and all others things in her life.

On Saturday she ran her half marathon.  She wasn't the fastest.  It wasn't easy.  She didn't even run the whole thing.  But she did move her body for 2 and 1/2 hours.  She did finish with a smile.  And she is now able to say "I did it".

You will sometimes have setbacks and disappointments when you set goals.  But I hope you will remember this story and recognize that "hard work does pay off" and that "you can do hard things".  Your mom is someone who likes winning and believes that sometimes it is important to "win the game" (you probably have some of those competitive genes in your blood) BUT she has learned that sometimes it is enough JUST to PLAY the game.