Special Olympics State Swim Meet October 2021

                                                         Max loved the State swim meet.

      He had the opportunity to swim a 100 IM for the first time.

Max swimming a relay with his swim team.

Max and one of the swimmers from Tempe team

Monday Schedule

 Elder Reynolds starts his Monday mornings off at 4:30am and sometimes even earlier than that. Before he leaves for the pool he makes a sack of foods to eat for breakfast and gathers all his clothes he will need while he serves at the temple grounds. Elder Reynolds has stated many times that swimming from 5 to 6:15am,  Monday- Saturday makes him feel happy, calm, peaceful and comfort. I have noticed that ever since Elder Reynolds has been swimming he has not needed to have deep compressions or wear a backpack with weights in it to help him. After a good swim of over 140 laps he changes at the pool out of his swim trunks and into his gardening clothes. While traveling to the temple grounds he eats his breakfast. What a wonderful way for Elder Reynolds to start off his week. 

   Elder Reynolds after swim practice. 

We can not forget about Sundays...they are busy days for Elder Reynolds. He attends several different sacraments, during the morning and afternoon, plus he attends missionary devotionals, and Missionary meetings every Sunday evening. Yesterday he shared with us how he learn better ways to study scriptures and have missionary companionship study.

After Elder Reynolds serves at the Gilbert Temple he works in the backyard with his eleven chickens making sure they have food and water. Lunch is a must before he decides what next needs to be done. He loves his garden and studies about planting soils and gardening tips.

We are in the process of putting in a fall garden. Yay!

                                                

                                                

Elder Reynolds also goes over to our friends home to take her barrels up that he put out the night before for garbage pickup. Elder Reynolds loves this lady that he serves and often tells me how much he enjoys being with around her. She has been a blessing to our family. 

He states how special she is to him all the time. 

Elder Reynolds works on laundry, planning his week out and make sure he has everything he needs for the rest of his week. Every evening he checks on his chickens to make sure they are secure in their coop and that they have enough water and food for the following morning and he never forgets about collecting the eggs. 

Pictures of USA Games Special Olympics

Max's swim Arizona Swim Team

The platform for receiving awards

 The American flag above the pool

A sign that was behind the platform for getting awards

One of the other swimmers that got second place in Max's race

He was so  happy. 

Max getting his gold medal

Max and the other swimmers in his swim heat.

The sign outside the pool parking lot

Everyday Max and his team mates had to ride the bus from Seattle to Federal Way. It was a 30 to 45 minute bus ride. They would have to get up at 5:00am or 4:30am to get to the pool on time. 

This is where they swam at. It was a beautiful facility 

Max got 2 towel to keep when he arrived at the hotel. 

Max had a swim meet on March 2 for the Rio Swim team. He was so thrilled to meet

Melissa Belote Ripley, who is an American former competition swimmer,

three-time Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in two events.

She represented the United States at the 1972 and 1976 Olympics.

Melissa Belote Ripley and Max at Evo Swim 

After his swim meet on Friday night Max had his swim practice with his 

Arizona Special Olympic Swim team Saturday morning.

The Arizona Special Olympics swim team are working hard

for the USA Games 2018, in Seattle this coming July. 

Max is learning the value of eating healthy and exercising. 

Max won 4 gold medals!

Max had Special Olympics swim meet on September 23, 2017

He swam the 50 butterfly, 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and did a relay 4 x 50 freestyle.

He had a wonderful time. 

I'm so grateful for Special Olympics because it has given Max opportunities to develop skills

that make him feel like he matters.

Max's relay team. 

Max found a classmate he had in his first through sixth grade class.

He was so happy to see her. 

They remember each other as though it was just yesterday that the saw one another.