One Year and Still Here

I just wanted to take this opportunity to give a shout out 'thank you' to everyone in my life. I have been so amazingly blessed to have such an incredible support system around me that includes friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and people that I don't even know but still pray for and support me. I don't know what I have done to receive such love, but I guess that's a good thing because I also don't know how to screw it all up and lose all of that support. Today marks my one year anniversary since I was operated on to receive a new liver, and I think about this miracle every day. I haven't totally figured out why Megan and I have been tested so much recently, but we thank God every day for all of the people we have in our lives that make life so good. I am especially grateful for Megan and her unbelievable heart. Megan blesses the lives of others everywhere she goes and leaves joy and happiness with everyone when she leaves. I am so lucky to have her in my life forever, and her support has blessed me and strengthened me greatly. It's too bad for the rest of you that you don't get to have her as much as I do, but I got her first so deal with that! Anyway, I just want to thank everyone who has helped me be me - not only during this past year, but always. It feels good to look back on where I was a year ago and think about all of the events that have taken me to where I am today. This last year has given Megan and I some difficult times, but we've loved it... I guess I shouldn't speak for Megan - I've loved it. Actually just today I mentioned to Megan how I thought our first trip to the hospital back in mid-April last year was "fun" and she just said, "Fun?" It was fun though, for me. I guess my bed was more comfortable than hers. It was a good learning experience, just as this whole past couple of years have been, and learning is fun, even when it's hard. It also feels good to read back through these blogs and emails and letters and everything that you've all sent us, and realize just how good the people in our lives are. I love you all. I just hope that The Lord will bless everyone who has helped me to know that prayers work, that God is real, and I'm walking proof of that today, and will be for a long, long time. So here's to many more years!
Peace and love.
Alec

Just Keep Running!

We did it! What did we do you ask?! Alec and I ran the marathon and 1/2 marathon together! It all started with a once in a lifetime achievement of me waking up @ 5:00 a.m.! (those who know me are probably shocked and extremely proud of this accomplishment in and of itself, I know I am!).

April has become a very special month for us. We started dating in April, Alec recieved his Liver Transplant in April, and now we finished our first big race in April. The marathon was on April 17th, 2010, which was a significant date since Alec was first called into the Hospital for a possible transplant, on that day a year ago. We REALLY had something to run for, the gift of life that Alec's organ donor gave us. Thank you, thank you, thank you! We just wanted to document a few things about this wonderful experience. Our favorite part of this process was being among the 11,000 runners (all of whom I know had a special reason to run). We were smack dab in the middle and it was a beautiful and overwhelming site to look ahead and behind us at all of the runners.

We turned down 21st south and glanced back to notice the morning sun creating a little halo over all of the runner's heads. We both got a little emotional looking at this site, and after holding hands for a brief moment we seperated at mile 5 when the half marathon and marathon split. I have to admit it was a little difficult at first not running side by side with my sweetheart but it gave me strength knowing that I was the one running the 13 miles and not 26! What a relief!

Alec enjoyed the whole experience but also admits that the uphill stretch from 900 S to South Temple (mile 12 for half, mile 25 for full) along State Street is more of a death march than a section of marathon. I often refer to that section as "the beast." We both ran about an 8'13" mile for the first 9 miles, both got a little slower in the middle, and finished strong. I loved finishing strong with a 6'10" mile (believe me, this time surprised me!) and Alec finished with a 7'20 mile only to be greeted by my loving and supportive in-laws at the finish line.

After a brief celebration of my finish I was able to go back with the fam to find and run along side Alec for about a mile. A little later in the race his sweet lil sis Micah sprinted to give him a banana. Alec is absolutely amazing!! He considers mile 22 "the wall" and it was the perfect time for us to greet him and cheer him along. His motivation and strength came from the amazing support from friends, family and loved ones, especially his DONOR. As soon as he finished "the beast" it was all adrenaline from there. I waited right before the gateway entrance to run along side of him to sort of finish our little journey together, snapping pictures and filming his finish. After a quick flashing of his scar, he said to me, "I'm outta here." He bolted to the finish line not once looking back. I was teary-eyed watching him step over the finish line. What an accomplishment for the both of us, but especially him. The events of the past year all came together in a second as it donned on me that we accomplished so many things together in our young married life. The Rampton family hugged and congratulated him and I just started to bawl. "I'm so proud of you, I'm so proud of you!" were the words I muttered over and over while nestled into his shoulder.

He is my hero! I am excited to say that there is a little news column about his transplant and marathon experience in the Deseret News today. I am thrilled to have this experience documented in the paper because I wish we had known a little bit more about the transplant process and success stories. Hopefully this article can provide peace, comfort and education to those who need it. I am also eager to one day show our little kids that article and tell them that their daddy is superman. We are fortunate for such a positive outcome and realize that it isn't always so. We feel a deeper sense of compassion towards others and their own personal trials no matter how big or small. All in all, Alec just wants everyone to know how important Organ donation is. He is a walking miracle today, and ONLY accomplished this marathon because of someone's decision to be an organ donor. We have never met the donor family, but sincerely pray that they are aware that their loss wasn't in vain. We will eternally be grateful for this gift. To Alec's donor: I will always love you. I can't ever look at Alec without thinking of you. We have many years to look forward to together because of you. We will think of you always, but especially in the springtime, when everything comes to life . . again.

xoxo Megan and Alec

Before in April of '09 and now after April '10

Alec's race to the finish

G'Day from Woop Woop

Thought we'd give a little shout out to our people back in the land of the free from Sydney! We are here to visit my parents who are serving as Mission Presidents in the Sydney South (soon to be just "Sydney") Australia Mission. We have had so much fun so far touring Sydney and getting a taste of the mission my parents have been serving. We flew standby out of Salt Lake on Thursday afternoon and after a seven hour layover in Los Angeles boarded our fifteen hour flight to Sydney around 11:00 pm. It was a crazy long trip, but so far it has been totally worth it!

We weren't looking forward to a long seven hour layover in the Los Angeles airport, so we decided to take off in a cab to eat on the harbor at Redondo Beach and walk around to pass the time.

We eventually made it on our plane to Sydney though. The flight was loooooooooonnnnnnnnggggggg. Alec took an ambien and dozed in and out of sleep for most of the trip. I managed to curl up in a small ball and sleep under the seats (I have been feeling the effects on my back ever since). Oh well, at least I slept. Then, after 14 and a half hours or so we could see famous Sydney Harbor out our window. It was beautiful!

We passed through customs (after 40 minutes in line) and found my mom and dad at the bottom of the ramp waiting for us. There was a red line that was painted on the airport floor to separate the passengers from the people waiting for their family and friends. You are not allowed to cross it. Apparently my mom was impatient (surprise, surprise) and crossed the red line a couple times hoping she could see us. We finally came down the ramp and saw my parents! I was so happy to see them! I've missed them so much and it was so great to get a hug from my mom and a big bear hug from my dad! My mom said, "I'm glad you are finally here! I crossed the red line 2 times and I was told if I crossed it one more time I'd be arrested!" (It's so comforting to know she is still "Diane.") They are incredible parents and I am so lucky to have them.

We first met some of the many friends my mom has made with the people that live in her neighborhood. We met Manny the Greek chicken man, Jimmy the fruit man with all of the beautifully-colored fruits in the picture above, Matt the butcher, Lisa, Emerson and Michelle who make our seafood and chips with chicken salt (so good!), and others.

My parents live in a little town called Oatley and are in the the Mortdale ward. There are more trains that leave from the Mortdale train station than the Oatley station, so after a quick run to get our legs moving, we boarded a train from Mortdale to Circular Quay where Sydney Harbor is. That's where you can see the Opera House, the Harbor Bridge, and take Ferries to different parts of the Sydney area and different ports and beaches. We headed to Manly beach on a ferry that gives such an amazing view of everything!

Alec was trying to look like a pirate but left his eye patch in another pair of pants.

We had to strike a "manly" pose on Manly Beach.

We had to do it.

On our second day in Australia we went to Stake Conference for the Mortdale Stake in the morning. It was such a spiritual meeting! It was so cool to sit there in the stake center on the front row and look up at my parents sitting on the stand with their missionary name tags and watch the happiness you can see in their soul for the love of their mission and the Australian people. I love this place! It is so beautiful! The people are so friendly and no matter what they say, whether it is a hello or directions to a bathroom, it sounds so cool! Later we went with my mom to Sydney's Botanical Gardens with beautiful grounds, statues, amazing harbor views, bats and Mrs. McQuarie's chair. Mrs. McQuarie was the wife of a Sydney Governor who loved to view the harbor from a certain spot, so her "chair" is huge for some reason, but there it is.

The Chair

A deodorant check immortalized in stone, and another young boy who is extracting a thorn from his foot but ignoring the fact that his left arm is missing.

Our third day was bittersweet. We went to a transfer meeting in the morning and met all of the Elders and Sisters who were getting new companions or going home. After the meeting we went to see the new home my parents will be living in after the North and South missions merge which was near the Sydney Temple.

That night we had the departing missionaries dinner and testimony meeting. This was the part that was bittersweet. Their testimonies brought such a strong spirit, and in the short time we got to know them, it was already hard to say goodbye to them. They will be such strong members and we see now why these transfer times are so hard for my parents.

Well that's it for now, plus some videos. We'll post more as we do more.

Bye for now from Australia!

Megan "The Southern Cross" Rampton

and

Alec "What's a Rumpus Room?" Rampton

An Aborigine Show

Singing by the Missionaries

Life is Good!

Whenever I tell people that I am 25 years old they can't believe it. The average age people have me at is 16 years old. I am in the Young Women's presidency in my ward, and even the kids forget that I am a leader. One girl who didn't know my name yet said, "Hey! The leader that looks like she's a young woman come here!"

Someone even wanted to set me up with their grandson as soon as I turned 18. I told the lady that I was 25 and already married. She thought that I was 14 years old. Why she thought to set me up with her grandson I am not sure?! I have been driving for almost 10 years people!
I don't know if it's my chubby cheeks or my playful and probably oh so immature behavior. Or, it could be my husband too. He's a lot like me only he's serious when he says he wants to go doorbell ditching!
I was looking through these pictures and I maybe can see why people think I am so young. Hopefully when I am 40 or something I will still look like I'm 20! I guess 16 is ok for now, atleast people won't have high expectations for me! haha

The Yurt - January 8-9, 2010

We'd like to thank our friends Spencer, Amy, Kat, Haynie, Bill and Lucy for an awesome weekend at "The Yurt." Alec and I started the day last Friday with a nice hot chocolate and oatmeal from Starbuck's and then headed over to the Tingey's to pick everyone up. We drove about 2 or so hours into Wyoming and back into Utah and then cross-country skied 3 miles up the mountain until we reached "Da Yurt." For those of you who don't know what a Yurt is (because I had never heard of it until now) it is "a portable, felt-covered, wood latticed-framed dwelling structure traditionally used by the nomads in the steppes of Central Asia."

Thank you Wikipedia!

We had an awesome time skiing in, hanging out in the yurt, skiing to and across Lily Lake where we had a race (Bill won after he gave Lucy the forearm shiv), playing games and singing John Denver songs. We loved it!

Here are some more photos of our awesome trip... and a coyote head that we found.

Yikes

The Yurt - 2010