May 2009 Mother's Day Surprise Visit

 

Mother's Day was pretty quiet at our house this year with Kira being in Tucson, McKay in Alaska, Ty and Nat in Indiana and Dallin in Japan. That left Brooke and Whit who stopped and went to church with us on their way back from Tuachan. After a gourmet meal of grilled shrimp and asparagus, we went to the cemetery to visit Bryce's gravesite. When we returned there was a vehicle parked in front of our house and we discovered Austin, Afton, Tommy, Tyler F. McKell, and later Willy, James, and Drew. I don't know why I didn't remember to take their pictures but I did get a photo of the flowers that they all brought along with a Family Illustrated Hymnbook. As we visited, I asked the gang if they could remember and tell me some stories about Bryce since they saw him in an entirely different light from me. Austin remembered telling Bryce to rub McKell's dog's ears because he really liked it but failed to tell him that the dogs ears were infected and released a horrible oder. Austin got a great workout as Bryce chased him outside for a while. Drew remembered a camp out where Bryce got very hyper on sugar and jumped over the fire they had going a couple of times. They also remembered Bryce using his arm in a cotton candy machine instead of the cardboard cones to wrap the candy around. It was very amazing to me that all these guys would think of us and spend their afternoon being grilled by Bryce's mom. It was very touching to me. I am very grateful that Bryce had such great friends. I miss Bryce alot but I am always lifted and happy when I see his friends and remember when they would come and make noise.
The other surprise on Mother's Day was the calling card to Dallin in Japan. It was not very functional and our conversation was brief and stilted. After Bryce's friends left and Brooke and Whit headed home, we started to walk outside and then turn around and get in the car and head to Provo. Kim called the Mission Home and told them what had happened and they contacted Dallin, happily for us in his apartment eating lunch and we had a great 1/2 hour visit. Here is to all the wonderful mothers now and to be in the world.