Thinking...

I have been thinking a lot lately as I have been going through many of my mom's pictures getting ready to make her a scrapbook for her 70th birthday. Thus the picture on the title of my blog. This is me and my 4 older brothers when I was 2 years old. I am surprised at how much I can't remember about my childhood. I have loved going through my mom's old pictures of when she was a teenager and the other things that she has kept. (a few break-up notes?) I loved reading her journal and letters from her mom and dad. It made me wish I had kept more from my childhood. The things that I thought would never matter to my children, have mattered to me. I feel like I have come to know my mom better as a person that went through teenage years just like I did. I have realized that the things that I think don't matter will someday. The cute little notes that I have kept from when my children were young, the cards with my mom and dad's notes, even if they just say "i love you". How much more that means to me now, not knowing how much longer I will have them here on earth. Maybe in a thousand years, that STUFF won't matter but for right now I will cherish the little things and keep saving so that one day when my children or grandchildren go through my treasures they will come to know a little piece of me.

My Cousin Kevin

This week we recieved news that my cousin was missing. He works in Cokeville Wyoming for the State as a Land Hydrographer. Monday he didn't show up to work and by Tuesday morrning there was a search and rescue team out looking. It was a long couple of days with lots of prayers and fasting for his safe return. Wednesday the bad news came, Kevin had taken his own life. Many questions are running through our minds at this time. The biggest one is WHY? We loved him and he was loved by his family, friends and the community. Who knows what drives a person to take their own life with no explanation, no signs, no nothing? While the family has the Gospel and has been comforted the question still remain...WHY? I only hope that the pain he felt is now gone and that he feels love that somehow he didn't feel here. Good bye Kevin, Cousin, Friend, you will be missed.