Emily's blog: Love

There was a lot of love to go around this Valentine's Day. It started with Kyle making a yummy breakfast. Over breakfast Kyle was brought to tears after receiving a jar full of love from Jaden. Little slips of paper with written messages of love and appreciation written for both myself and Kyle. It was very thoughtful but wasn't unlike something we know Jaden to do. Kyle was extra sentimental that day as it was the first meal together after nearly 7 days of tiresome and emotional work that involved a company gas explosion where a father of three young children lost his life. It hit close to home. He was grateful to be with each of us and we were grateful to have him safe at home making us french toast and such.

I've decided that if Kyle were a Care Bear -- he'd be Tender-Heart-Bear. (He'd bury his head in my neck with embarrassment right now if he knew I were writing this. Not that that revelation doesn't bring it's own string of humiliation! But these are things I want to remember.) As an illustration I'll share this sweet memory I have on a cold December night at a rest home in Provo, Utah. Where Kyle, Pat and I sat introducing a four-month-old, Jaden, to Kyle's grandmother, Lavone. Not long after placing Jaden on Lavone's lap did we witness tears well up in Kyle as he sensed the magnitude and significance of that event; two worlds colliding -- a life just beginning and the other near its end. It brought all of us to tears. A Tender Heart Bear he is.

Reese was beyond thrilled to have pulled Kyle's name from a hat allowing her to make him a conversation heart love note. However, in true sibling rivalry Ty announced that he really hoped not to pick Jaden's name -- which made it all the more frustrating (for him) and hilarious (for us) when he picked Jaden. He ended up making a comical and sweet card for her in the end.