To Owen

Owen is going to camp this week with some of the Young Men at church. I was asked to write him a letter which he will read while there. It is my tribute to him. Dear Owen, I am grateful for the opportunity to tell you why I think you are so unique; so special. And also to tell you why I am so proud that you are my son. If Heavenly Father had given you to another woman instead of me I would still see your sweet nature and be impressed by your kindness. But I am lucky because He did not choose to do that. Instead he gave you to me to raise. He trusted me to see your worth and guide you into adulthood. How Blessed I am by that gift! You are precious to me. I look at you now and see the man you are becoming. I know that you will be strong, loyal, committed, honest, loving and kind. You will be an excellent husband and father. I know all this because of what I see in you today. You are already strong, loyal, committed, honest, loving and kind. You make me laugh. You teach me. And I am grateful for your goofiness; your incredible sense of humor. Even at the moments when I am angry and frustrated with you I still see your heart. I see the big picture -- and where you are going to be when we get through that temporary difficulty. You are a good person. I am proud of you for that. I know the good choices are not always easy and so I am impressed that you continue to strive to make them even when others around you may not be doing the same. Heavenly Father will always lead you to make the right choices. I know that he provides a compass in my life. And in yours. But to use that compass requires an effort. You must ask for the guidance and you must follow the path He provides. If you do that, He will always help you. I know that He will always give us the guidance we need. Even when I am not with you to help you, He is. The Holy Ghost will speak to you and tell you the right choice. Prayer is the most powerful tool you have. I have not shared my Testimony with you often enough. I should remind you every day that I know He guides us. I have failed to do that, but I am telling you now. Rely on Him. He teaches us; leads us. Follow His path and you will always have the strength to make the right choices. Those choices will only become more difficult in the next few years, so please remember that He is with you even when your dad and I are not. I love you immensely. With Love from Your Lucky Mom

My birthday boy.

I met Greg in January 1994 and married him in April 1995. Like all people we have had some rough times. We lived through the suicides of his brother and two of my cousins, the miscarriages of three children, his shoulder surgery, and my many battles with health. Through all of it Greg has remained strong. He has been the grounding force in our marriage. During the long days when I could barely crawl out of bed he kicked in to caretaker mode. He loved me, he cared for our children, cooked for us and allowed me to cry when I needed to. After the losses of our children he helped me to say my goodbyes. My husband is funny, though many don't see it. He is astoundingly bright, and even more loyal. He is strong, kind, committed to us. And to the kids he teaches. Greg is a teacher. I love that his students become part of the fabric of our lives. Many of them don't know me... but I know them. And I love them because Greg loves them. He is a teacher in the best sense of the word. They are lucky to have him. He is a friend. A dad. A thinker. A reader. A man. Best of all he is mine. My husband. I like him, and I love him.