Happy Birthday, Daddy! JR and Ethan last year.
Everyone gets to help with so many candles! It's Reed, JR, Kayla and Mackenzie.
Here are some things I really love about JR:
1. He is an awesome father. He is a get down and play with them Dad. He changes diapers, gives baths, takes care of them when they are sick, reads stories, cleans up their messes, snuggles with them every chance he can, nurtures them, and loves, loves, loves being with his children.
Will she ever be too big for a piggy back ride from Dad?
Mackenzie is old enough to be blessed by her father.
Another beautiful daughter: Kayla is born.
2. He is as devoted a husband as I know. He wants to make Casey happy, and is mindful of what he can do to accomplish that.
Wedding day
JR with Casey, the love of his life, and baby Ethan.
3. He is a selfless person. He puts someone else's needs ahead of his most of the time. Even when JR was a child, he was the one who was the giver. If there was a disagreement over who should have something, JR almost always gave it to the other person (mostly to Sam), not because he was weak, but because he cared about them so much.
JR with Sam
Do you ever just eat your own food?
4. He loves to laugh and kid around. He even laughs at Sam's dumb jokes. JR joins in the fun wherever he finds it.
Sledding with Dad is the most fun.
5. He is patient. He is patient. He is patient! Working with computers requires much patience as things download and upload and all that stuff. He is. Working with people who want their computers working instantly requires patience and calm as he works through the necessary steps and explains all. Being loving with tired, cranky or demanding children takes more patience than most have. JR has it. I could go on, because JR is blessed with more patience than most of us, that is for sure.
It's fun if Kayla is having fun.
6. JR is a problem solver. That is one of the reasons his career fits him so well. He can see the problem and begin to see the solution at the same time. He is also willing to experiment until he comes up with a good solution. This applies both in his work, in relationships, and in life in general.
7. JR can fix almost anything. You may think this is the same as #6 and it sort of is, but he is not afraid to tackle some of the most difficult repair situations. Ask Casey how he fixed her iPhone when Ethan threw it in the toilet. On his mission to Colombia, he was known as McGyver. People had their repair jobs waiting for him when he came over and he always helped them. When he was a little boy, he loved to take things apart to see how they worked. Sometimes he put them back together, sometimes he lost interest and left them strewn around in many pieces. Now he uses this gift to help others.
With his brothers in LAX on his way to Cali, Colombia. Adam was on his way back from a week at Lake Powell.
8. JR loves to participate in sports and play games, but he doesn't care so much who wins. The fun for him is in the playing and association.
9. JR is kind and loving. He knows when I need a hug. He knows that now and then a mom needs to just be held tight. I had an infected toe at a big event and one of the children jumped off a low windowsill onto it and burst it open. JR knew that the thing that would help me most was just to put his arms around me and keep them there to help me stand the pain. When Alan was in his worst moments when he was so sick, it was JR's strong, loving arms that supported me through that first night and day.
Taller than Mom at Junior High graduation. Do you love our hair?
10. JR has always had a strong desire to do what's right. He is quick to apologize if he makes a mistake and makes it right. We named him JR after my wonderful grandfather who was such an inherently good and loving man. JR is living up to his name.
Goodby for two years--the last we saw him as he was entering the MTC.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JR! I LOVE YOU!
