A Partridge in an Afghan Tree

Welcome to the last day of 2019.  I wanted to leave a quick note here to mention a few things that have happened during then end of this year.

First and most important, David was baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It was a sweet privilege to be able to go into the water with him and welcome him to the fold.  D is a genuinely good human being.  Humble and shy and yet the most aggressive and boisterous when it suits him.  He has a way of sharing both a timidity and a boastfulness that is fascinating to watch in such a little skinny blonde kid.  We went to Thanksgiving Point and took pictures of the baptism boy just like with did for the other two.  They captured him incredibly.  Brighams was in our back yard, Mackay on the shore of the Sound and David with the fall colors.  Those pictures will forever be some of the greatest pleasures we have.

Then I left.  I took off on another deployment.  I think this is my third Christmas away from my family.  It's stupid.  I enjoy what I do over here and I feel very comfortable but it sucks to miss things like this.  I believe this is David's last Christmas where he sort of believes.  I know his brothers have let him in on the secret but he still wants to believe.  And I missed it.

Brigham is now officially a teenager.  Remarkable.  Mom threw him a friend birthday party at the Trampoline park and he had a great time.  Threw a bit of a teenager fit, worked it out in the bathroom and then came out to try again.  Sometimes he is impossible, other times he is the only sane one to help his mother.  He got his first phone.  It's a special phone that only makes and receives calls and texts, though it still looks like a smart phone.  It's enough to gradually work his way into tech without a dependence on the stupid stuff.  He was happy but slightly disappointed.  Aren't we all?

For Christmas Michelle and the boys went south.  They have stayed in St. George for the last week or so and enjoyed the company of Meema and Buhpa in their new little winter time house.  I was fortunate enough to not be flying Christmas morning so I called in and enjoyed the present opening via Facebook Messenger video.  Pretty cool ... not the same.  I miss my little family but at the same time am grateful for all those who try so hard to protect and build them up.  I suppose I have very little or next to nothing to complain about.  Indeed we are very blessed people.

Happy New Year.