Aya's Blessing and Brig's Graduation Party...

We threw a combined party for Brig and Aya... and it was a beautiful day (the park just smelled like a cow farm.) Aya was blessed in our ward beforehand. I pretty much made Brig participate in his graduation ceremony and we surprised him today (as the real reason for the party was him!) He deserves to be celebrated... I mentioned today to everyone that we are really proud of him for his accomplishment... and that is a big deal for sure but to us his greatest accomplishment is to have already figured out what matters most in life. He worked hard and played hard (intramurals soccer and basketball were his fave things) and most of the time when the stress was on, he never forgot to do the "little things" and serve those around him. Finals time was always real crazy around here, and would be just for finals alone but we met challenges almost every semester. Brig's first year - Avalon was in the hospital for a concussion/dehydration/strep and he studied and slept in the chair next to her. His second year we had Silas at the beginning and at the end right before finals, he spent a week taking care of Camie in San Diego before she passed away. During finals the first semester his third year, we had Aya one day before his last final and he spent the evening and well into the early hours of the morning in the waiting room with his books. To end it all with a bang, this last semester, we are moving out of our house this week and the mother of someone he home teaches passed away and he went to give blessings of comfort, attended the funeral, dedicated the grave, and gave assistance in many other ways. He did it all without complaint and realized that law school was important but others things matter more... and almost every night during law school, he told Max, Avalon, and (now Silas) a story and kissed them a hundred times (not exaggerating). He's got his priorities straight and is a good man. We are grateful for all who helped us during our adventure (watching babies during births of other babies, new outfits for kids, babysitters, meals, moving help, encouragement, love, and support).