Jonner

Jon is such a classy guy. He is really smart and accomplished but doesn't flaunt it or act arrogantly about it. I always like to talk with Jon because I feel like I have a lot to learn from him. Plus it's easy to talk with him because he doesn't talk down to people. He's really good at tennis, and he beats me mercilessly every time we've played, but he doesn't seem to have a big head about it at all. He is such a good brother to Chad. Jon is an extremely loyal person to his friends and family, and that means the world to Chad. Chad loves to spend time with Jon and has so many great memories of traveling, running marathons and triathlons, hiking, and just hanging out with him. Jon is super funny and always makes us laugh. We're always so happy when we he visits us or we get to see him in Payson or at the cabin.

Nate and Michelle and Fam

Nate:
Nate is such a good brother-in-law, brother, husband, father, and son. He is really good with people--at being a friend, listening, playing with kids, and making people laugh. He is funny, nice, and adventurous. He is so nice to take me and Chad out on his snowmobiles and four-wheelers, and be willing to spend lots of time on the easy trails for me. We've also had a lot of fun on his kayak! I think he even used to own a sailboat and rapelling gear--he's a real outdoorsman and is always good to plan fun outings. He is really ambitious and works hard to achieve his goals. I think one of the things that makes Nate so great is that he isn't judgmental at all, so you feel like he is a real friend to you. Thanks, Nate, for being such a great brother to Chad and me!

Michelle:
Michelle is such a beautiful person. One of the talents Michelle has is being really happy for other people's happiness. I love how excited Michelle will get for me or others when we have good news to share. You can tell she really cares about you and wants you to be happy. This also shows how confident and comfortable she is with herself, which is a trait I really admire in her. She has a quiet confidence about herself, which isn't showy or arrogant, but inviting and uplifting. Another thing I admire in Michelle is how she has been the Primary President for the last nine months! That is so much work (especially for how big her Primary is), and she hadn't even worked in the Primary before she was called to that, and she also has two little ones to look after. I am just amazed by that. But it doesn't surprise me, because Michelle is so talented and wonderful. I hope I can someday be as good of a homemaker and mother as she and the other C* mothers are!

Colby:
Everybody loves Colby. He is really social and loves to be around other people. He has an amazing ability to love other people, and he also has an incredible knack for remembering names. He gets so excited to see you and will always give you a hug and kiss and wave good-bye when you have to leave. He makes you feel really special. So many things are endearing about Colby--the way he runs, his love for chocolate cake, the way he laughs when everyone else is laughing, his love for spelling out names, etc. We're so lucky to have Colby in our family!

Carson:

I ADORE Carson. I just love him to pieces! He is so cute and sweet! I always get so excited to be able to see him when we visit Nate and Michelle. Chad always teases me for how much I like Carson and how excited I get over seeing him. Carson lets me cuddle him and that just makes me so happy. Just look at this face, isn't it so sweet and innocent? But he's grown up a lot since this picture was taken at our wedding and looks older now. He also seems to have a stronger will now than he used to (he has been the most easy-going baby!), which I think is great. I'm excited to see him and all the other C* nieces and nephews grow up!

Curt and Carrie and Fam

Curtis:
One of my favorite things about Curtis is that he refuses to run a marathon like me, so I’m not the only one not participating in the marathon this October! J/K. But really, I love how easy-going and funny Curtis is. He is so good at seeing the humor things and not taking things too seriously. It has always made me so happy that he and Nate will poke fun at me a little from time to time, because it puts me at ease around them. Both he and Carrie are refreshingly real, and I love that. It really makes you feel like you can be yourself around them. Also, Curtis is so patient with his kids and good at playing with them. And he has been such a good big brother to Chad. I can tell Chad really trusts Curtis and feels that he is a resource and strength to him during rough times, which means a lot to him and me.

Carrie:
Carrie (and Curtis) has been the most gracious host to Chad and I on countless occasions. We have shown up to their house on short notice so many times, and she has always made us feel like we weren’t a burden, when I’m sure we made more work for her! We really appreciate her graciousness and selflessness. Carrie is someone that is so easy to talk to. She is a great conversationalist and is very good at asking you questions about your life. She can always get Chad talking about his work—sometimes I think I learn the most about Chad’s work during conversations with Carrie! Carrie is an extremely hard-working, motivated, and intelligent person. Get this—she’s training for a marathon, working part-time, and raising two energetic boys all at the same time. Not to mention all the canning and reading she’s done, either. I admire Carrie so much for her tireless giving of herself to others.

Brady:
I love this kid! He is so much fun. He has the best belly laugh—I can never help but smile when I hear it. I feel like this laugh captures the essence of sheer, undefiled delight. I absolutely love it. Brady seems to experience life really intensely, and so it’s fun to experience his intense enjoyment over the things he loves. But he actually seems to have mellowed out a little over the last six months or so, and it’s been fun to see him become more of a big kid and less of a toddler. It makes me feel so good about myself when he talks about me and gives me hugs!

Landon:
This little guy is a talker! He will just talk and talk, and most of it Chad and I can’t understand. Chad calls it Landon’s “chirping.” It is so cute to see how much he is growing up. He seems to just soak everything in. He used to be our sweet little mellow baby, and now he has turned into a super active almost-two-year-old. It is really fun to see his wide-eyed and fast-paced excitement over life. I wish I had as much energy as he has!

The Wonderful H* Family

Dale and Crystal and Fam

Dale:

I've known Dale for a lot longer than I've known most of the C* family. I've always thought of him as one of the most compassionate, patient, and considerate people I know. As I've gotten older I've come to appreciate more how good of a listener and friend he is. He asks you questions and listens to your answers as though your life was really important to him and should be to everyone else. Dale is good at putting people to ease and making them feel comfortable about themselves, including their weaknesses and faults. I appreciate that he is honest and doesn't try to put on any pretenses to impress anybody. I love you, Dale!

Crystal:

Crystal is the genius behind Chad and my meeting, so we owe her big time! She was SO good to be really supportive of our relationship without pressuring us into marriage. I have always really admired how out-going and proactive Crystal is. She is always up and doing, "anxiously engaged" in good causes. She is really productive and seems to have a lot of energy to do a lot of fun things! I have also been so impressed with how she teaches her children and disciplines them in love and wisdom. She is so smart and thinks carefully about things. One more thing--I love how Crystal is confident in sharing her talents to benefit others. This Mother's Day we went to her ward with her, and she sang in sacrament meeting with her children. I think that's so great she would be willing to share her talent of singing with others! A lot of people would be too shy to do that, and I love that Crystal isn't. Crystal, you are awesome!

Natalie:
Natalie is a pure joy. She is so affectionate and social and loves to be around people. I've noticed that during play with big groups of kids, she is very inviting and kind and patient with children who are younger than her. She is also such a jokster! She loves to share jokes with others and play practical jokes on them. One time while Chad and I were dating and were visiting Nate and Michelle, she was there and suggested that Chad and I stay the night and sleep in the guest bed together--knowing full well that was not allowed. She loves to tease us, and I think that's so great. We love Natalie!

Preston:
Preston is so much fun to talk with! He is witty, intelligent, genuine, and frank. I always look forward to chatting with Preston, because he is just such a delight. (You can really tell how smart Dale and Crystal are by talking with their kids--they are all so smart!) He loves to read and play the wii. In fact, when they were visiting us once, he showed what a champion wii bowler he is. I think he even beat Chad, who isn't bad at wii bowling!

Logan:
Logan is so full of life! He is definitely a character! He is enthusiastic, astute, perceptive, emotional, active, imaginative, stubborn, and totally sweet!! He loves attention and it is so fun to see his huge smile when you give it to him. He loves tickles and has the best laugh when you tickle him. Logan is one of those kids that you can have so much fun with, but can also wear you out. Props to you, Crystal, for having enough energy to keep up with this one! But his energy makes him all the more lovable.




Julia: Julia is so CUTE!! She is such a doll and has a mind of her own. She is such a sweetie. I absolutely loved it when she fell asleep in my arms the same night that Preston beat us all in wii bowling. We are so happy she is in our family!


We love you, H* family!

P.S. Sorry, Dale and Preston, that I don't have a close-up picture of you guys!

The Wonderful C* Fam

This summer Chad and I have been so blessed to be able to spend great quality time with the C* family. They are so great, and we have had so much fun with them. I keep thinking how lucky I am to be a part of such an awesome family, and how I should highlight them in my blog. So I'm finally getting around to it!

Neal and Carol

Neal:
Before I ever met Neal, Chad told me how much he admired his father and wanted to be like him. I was impressed with how much Chad seemed to revere his father, and I looked forward to meeting him. Neal was so kind to me from the very beginning. He'd always give me a hug and made me feel so welcome in their family get-togethers. He has a quiet way of going about and making people feel important. One of the first things I discovered about Neal at the M* family reunion was that he admires his ancestors and wants to keep their legacy alive, which I think is so admirable. Since that time, I have also learned how hard-working Neal is. He is always about doing things to help others. He has even driven hours and hours to help us fix our a.c. He is a great handy-man and uses those skills to serve others. I am so grateful that I have such a kind, personable father-in-law!

Carol:
Carol is one of the most tender-hearted, loving people I have ever met. She has a great capacity to love freely, even people she doesn't know all that well. She is so good at talking to people she hasn't met before and expressing her love for them in casual, everyday terms. She is also so devoted to the gospel and to doing what is right! I really admire and appreciate how she taught and continues to teach her children from the scriptures, and has instilled in them a desire to do good. She also was very good at teaching her children how to work. All her children are such hard workers, and that is something I really appreciate! :) I also really love how Carol has a great sense of humor, and a great sense of humor about herself as well. She is always laughing and helping others around her laugh. I am so lucky to have such a loving, good-natured, and exemplary mother-in-law!

For mothers

This poem goes out to all you mothers who sacrifice so much for your children. I think it speaks volumes of a mother's love and the worth of a child.

You are the trip I did not take;
You are the pearls I cannot buy;
You are my blue Italian lake;
You are my piece of foreign sky.
(“To My Child,” quoted in Charles L. Wallis, ed., The Treasure Chest [1965], 54)

Thank you, moms, for all you do! And thank you, Mom, for all you do for me! You do so much for me and I hope you know how much I love and admire and appreciate you!!!

Help!

I am trying to find a poem in which a mother is speaking to her child about how even though she wasn't able to travel, she was able to travel through her child--she was able to see the world through the life of her child. If I remember right, it sounds something like, "You are my Spanish sky, you are my..." etc. Does this sound familiar to any of you? And if it does, do you know the title of it, the author, or where I could find it? It's driving me crazy that I can't find it. Thanks! (Once I find it, I will post it all for you, because it's a great poem.)