BYU THURSDAY'S HERO: Incredible!!!!

Thursday Sept. 5th was nothing short of INCREDIBLE!!!!

A few months ago we were given the opportunity to apply for BYU's Thursday's Hero program.
And this week we were chosen and was able to go!!
Bronco Mendenhall created this program and it is so awesome!!
He personally took the time to sit down and have a conversation with my Riley, asking him about school, his favorite colors, his birthday...... He is a stand up guy in my book!!! 

Riley had to keep a hold of his powdered sucker!!! I think it was his security!!

First we went and had a little tour......

Ready to roll out!!

Am I tough enough??!!

This is where they practice football outside!!

Then we went to the indoor football field to watch the football players practice!!

It's so big!!!

They were so nice! They would walk back one at a time and say "hi" to us!!

Then after they finished practice they all huddled around and presented Riley with a bag full of goodies!!!

123 players plus coaches!!!

 Showing support and love for my Ri guy!!!

 One of the players was teasing him and wanted his sucker!!! It was so cute!!

 They gave him a signed football, a play football, #1 Jersey, hats, shirts, headphones, backpack, Bronco's book he wrote and a signed Y flag!!!

But this was the most special..... They have a team flag that they hang at every game with all the signatures on it, they asked Riley to sign his name because he was a part of the team and their family now!! 

I was so emotional and couldn't stop the tears!!
The team was so great, they all hollered and cheered!!
These BIG, BAD, AMAZING, POWERFUL players stopped to give my son some attention and kindness that he will never forget!! Both the boys will always remember this!!
After they presented him stuff, they all huddled around and put in their fists and Riley got to count to 3, then they all hollered "GO COUGARS"!! It was so unreal!! Then they all came up to him and gave him knuckles or high fives and told us "thank you for coming", what??? No, THANK YOU!!!

By now Riley was pretty done and didn't want to take any pictures!! That's okay Ri, it's been a good day anyway!! One day you'll look at this and wish you would have smiled though!!

Before we left the field, Spencer Hadley, a starting defence inside linebacker, started to play catch with Hunter!! It was so cool!! What a great guy!!! (I wish I had a picture of this, but we got it all on video!!!)

 Last but not least..... we got to go to the conference room where the players sit and discuss things everyday, and watch a football clip and a very special clip they did for Riley!!!
Thanks for making a momma cry even harder!!!

On our way out!!! WHAT AN AMAZING TIME!!!!
Thank you so very much Bronco and the team!! Our hearts are so happy and full right now!! We are on cloud 9!!

Riley is now a FOOTBALL player!! He has a per ma grin!!! He is a BYU Cougar through and through!!!

 Riley is going around the house saying "I am #1 and Hunter you are #2!!"  I think they are both #1!!

 Here is the signed Y flag that we will treasure always!! Hanging proudly right where Riley can see it everyday!!!

Bronco told Riley he can come back to practice anytime he wants!! He also gave me a hug and said "thanks"!!  We are now apart of the family and will get to do Thursday's Heroes stuff every year!
How amazing!!!
THANK YOU!!!
It was great grandpa Dalley's birthday and he was the biggest BYU fan there ever lived!! He has been passed away for 3 years now but we knew he was there with us the whole time!!!

Blessing sure do come right along with the hard times. You just have to look for them!!