Oh, to Be Twenty

Or maybe that should be Ode to Be Twenty... I'm happy for him and glad it's not me!

The Boy's Got Skills

When we were in Hawaii last year, we spotted this guy on the Big Island near Waipio Valley. I had completely forgotten about him until Luke decided to paint him in his art class. Yup, the boy's got skills.

Totally off-topic, it was a beautiful sunny spring-like day today. Winter seems to be losing its grip on the reservoir which is melting around the edges. They say it's going to snow tomorrow, but I've stopped worrying about whether it is or it isn't and if we're ever going to get some decent snow for skiing. Honestly, at this stage I'm ready for spring...which means, of course, that we'll probably start having weather soon and it will last until June. Go figure. I couldn't pass up shooting the ice, though, while we have it.

Good Sons

While we're on the subject of missionaries, let me tell you about another one. While not officially my son, I think of Ryan as part of my extended family and even like a son. We recently asked him to speak at a youth conference, and without hesitating, he said yes.

Were he to introduce himself, he would say he's an ordinary Joe, a stats nerd at BYU who happened to serve a mission and play some sports. But since I got to introduce him, I got to paint a little more accurate picture of who he is. Ryan was the US national rugby player of the year this past year. He was selected for the all-American traveling team this summer. He served a two year full-time mission in Romania, where he learned to speak the language fluently. He's not really a nerd, but he is studying statistics, a subject that most people stay as far away from as possible. He's smart, kind, funny, humble, selfless, a great athlete, a powerful leader and many more things.

I'm grateful for these fine young men who are great examples of how to live a good life and who are good sons. What a joy they are.

One Week Countdown

I could just show you the irrigation ditch I mentioned yesterday (I still think it's pretty and thought I'd give it one more chance to be photographed) or the horse grazing happily in the meadow next to it, but there's something else on my mind.

One week from today we'll be making that seemingly endless drive to the Missionary Training Center in Provo where we'll drop off Lucas to begin his two year mission to Edmonton Canada for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Lucas is an amazing young man. I don't think I could write all the ways in which he has impressed me, but let me try to capture a few. First off, he's genuinely pleasant to be around. He's very even keeled and positive. I can't say I've ever really seen him in a funk or mean or nasty, even when he's had ample reason to be that way.  Second, he's always helpful - he does dishes without being asked, clears the table, sets the table, compliments the cook (ah, yes that would mostly be me) and offers to help with whatever he thinks might be needed. Third, he's far more mature in his thinking and demeanor than one might expect of a 19 year-old, and at the same time he definitely knows how to have a good time.  He knows the difference between right and wrong and when someone is yanking his chain. I admire his resolve in doing what's right, even when it's not popular or easy. And fourth through whatever, he's creative, smart, funny, serious, committed, kind, thoughtful, unselfish, determined, etc etc etc.  One thing for sure, I'm going to miss having him around, and so will his dad.

  Without him, we'd have had a hard time making as much progress on the garage/studio. He was right there, eager to help tilt up the walls and set the roof beams. I wish I had a photo of him rappelling off the walls as he waited for his dad to cut the beams. You'll have to imagine it for yourself.

Yup, we're going to miss that guy, with his dirt biking, snow boarding, and all the other things he does. We'll miss his great friends who've been regulars in our home. We'll miss the puppies' excitement whenever he comes home. We'll miss his laughter, good humor and his great spirit. 

I think it's only just beginning to set in how much we're going to miss him, especially his dad who knows he has a kindred spirit in Luke, his youngest child.