Sunday, June 16, 2013

Father's Day 2013

So… This is the last Father’s Day with my dad for two years. And it’s the end of those memorable “High School Years” that I’m told so often that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It’s a time of huge change in my life, and so many things are now left to memories.

"My dad? Him only got one leg."

I’m sure gonna remember this adventure. The 100 yards of road in front of my house that I’ve passed so many times are going to mean something different now. Every costume, all the laughs, the shocks, the confusions of outdated costumes that I don’t get, they all come together to make a memory of my dad that I will never forget. But is it embarrassment that I remember? No. What do I remember then? I remember the question after school that he would ask without fail, “So what’d you think of the costume today?” What did I think? Better yet, what do I think NOW? Now that it’s over? I think that my dad is nothing short of incredible. He chose to be a part of my life through these pivotal years. I can’t say I appreciated him being there every single moment of it, but I’m so glad he was. He was there with me in New York City. He was there with me in Los Angeles. He was next to me for the phone calls, the interviews, and every moment of this whirlwind. Most importantly, he’s been there when I need him. He’s understanding, he gives me advice, and most of all, he’s helped make me who I am today. He’s taught me more than just how to change the brakes on a car; he’s taught me how to be a responsible and respectable human being. He's taught me to work when the finish isn’t in sight. He’s taught me to be the bigger man and say sorry. He hasn’t simply waved as my life goes by on a bus; he’s been on the bus with me, pointing out the sights on the side of the road, telling me stories, making me laugh, encouraging me, and teaching me. Showing me that I’m the one driving, and there are so many places I can go.

He’s more than just a weird dad who waves at his kid in costumes.

He’s my dad. And I’m proud to be his son. 

Thank you, Dad.

Happy Father's Day!

--Rain

Thursday, June 13, 2013

The Next Chapter

What's next for Rain? He's been accepted to Brigham Young University and currently plans on majoring in Electrical Engineering. He will not, however, begin his attendance there just yet. Rain has chosen to defer his enrollment until after he serves as a missionary for our church (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). In April he "submitted his papers" (basically his application for consideration as a missionary) and last month he "received his call." Missionaries do not choose the city or country where they will serve, they are assigned a location based on what we believe to be inspiration. Here's a video of Rain opening his mission call letter and learning that he has been assigned to serve in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa:


We are excited for this upcoming adventure. Rain will report to a Missionary Training Center in Accra, Ghana, on September 20th. After twelve days in Ghana he will head to Liberia for ongoing training and real life missionary experiences... for two years.

For the next ninety seven days we will be preparing for his journey, spending family time together, learning all we can about Liberia, and laughing. We will share some of these good times here on the blog. Then we will share stories from Africa, as Rain waves back.

And as our nephew, Cameron (the world's beloved Ken doll), pointed out, our prayers for the next two years may be sounding a lot like a Toto song, "I bless the Rains down in Africa."


Thursday, June 6, 2013

Y3: Graduation Day


"It kills you to see them grow up. But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't."
~Barbara Kingsolver
 
The diploma. Rain graduated with honors and Magna Cum Laude.

 

"Go confidently in your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."
~Henry David Thoreau