No Matter What...

Dear Madey,

There is so much that I would like to say to you, I don't know exactly where to begin so I guess I will just jump in. I miss you. I have been thinking about all of the things that are different now that you are in Heavenly Fathers care. The first thing that comes to mind is how quiet our house is, with Lindy living in Logan, and Hillary in Provo its just quiet. There is no girl drama in our house, except for your mom and that's minimal. There are also no basketball shorts, stinky sweat socks, sports bras or sliding shorts on the floor in your room. I miss having you tell Landon all the things he does that bug you. There are about a million and one more things that I could list, I miss hearing you laugh, watching you play ball, car rides home from the game, your lame practical jokes that really never worked, watching you play with Max, listening to you play your guitar and singing at the top of your lungs, what a beautiful voice you have, and how you always cheered for the underdog.

There is so much I would like to know about where you are and what you do, sights, sounds, people you've met, who you spend your time with, how my dad is doing, what your grandparents are up to, the list goes on and on. Since I will have to wait to know all of those things, I suppose I will tell you what is going on here.

Lindy and Cameron are still living in Logan. Lindy has just a year of school left at Utah State and she should graduate in elementary education. I think she will be an awesome grade school teacher, there. will plenty of little boys with teacher crushes on your sister.

Hillary is in Provo at BYU, its a good fit for her. She has finished her first semester and her grades were good, shocking...not, and she has a job on campus that she seems to like a lot.

Landon likes fairfield jr. he is starting to want to go to the mall and shop for stuff like jeans and shirts. He doesn't ask to go to Toy R Us or Chuckie Cheese anymore, he thinks he is a grown up.

Mom is working at Interform now, its a little weird not having her work from home. It has turned her world upside down and inside out. She just finished reading the Book of Mormon so she could get her honor bee, in honor of you.

I have been teaching at Layton again, I see your friends all the time. It still seems strange to watch them and you not be with them. I won't see them much this next semester, they want me to teach at Clearfield starting next week, I think it will be a good move.

I get random emails and people still stop me from time to time to tell me how much you have impacted their lives. When the scriptures teach that "the worth of souls is great in the sight of God" I believe that is something you understood more than I knew. I am amazed at the number of people your life has impacted and the impact your memory continues to have on others. Whether it was your smile, your kind and reassuring friendship, your laugh or your willingness to serve, it seems everything you did made a difference for someone. I guess I write that not only because its true but because my life is forever impacted by the privilege it is to be your father. I think I'm a little bit kinder, a little more patient, and a lot more willing to help others because of you.

Now Madey, I just want you and anyone else who cares to know that the separation we are experiencing now is temporary. I know the day will come when our family will all be reunited because of the grace, and mercy of the atonement of Jesus Christ. And wow! what a day that will be!

I love you...no matter what. No matter if you are here or there the love of our family is eternal.

Happy Angel Day!

Love, Dad