Roostie......

Dear Rooster....

Dad sent me a few pictures he had taken from his phone...and they were of you!

I thought they were the best...and they got me thinking about you and the sweet boy you are.

So I thought I would tell you a little bit about you....at the age of 14.

You are the nicest boy ever!  You have a tender heart especially when you see people or animals

in any sort of pain or distress.  You are quick to try to help those around you, and see their needs.

You do not...however...like to take care of the chickens!  You have been doing it for many years...and

still you complain when it is time to gather the eggs or fill their food and water....ahhhhhh.....

It makes me tired sometimes;)  You do love to drive a tractor, and look for every opportunity

to do so....sometimes you talk your Dad into driving you to the farm in the evening...just so you can

get yourself on a tractor!  All the men who work for us think you are a great boy.
They tell your Dad that you are polite and kind...and you smile alot.  That makes them
feel good, and when you ask for a favor...they are quick to help you out because you are so nice
to them.  You love to be home...You love it when your friends come here, rather than going
to their houses...and...as soon as a friend arrives you make sure they have something to eat
so they feel comfortable and welcome. 

Your latest project has been building a fort with cousin Jackson.  After school everyday you

two would climb on your 4 wheelers and head to "the spot" to chop trees...and move things until you had yourself a little place to hang out. 
Sometimes you would take a bag of candy to enjoy while

you were working hard;)  You even mentioned you had made a table and chairs so you would

have a place to sit while you were "hanging out."  I had planned to go with you to "the fort" to check

it out and take some pictures...but a big storm blew through our town, with very strong winds,

and when you went to check out "the fort" you returned to tell me that it had been wiped out!

I really do think you should rebuild;)

You also love to fish...play golf....and play Monopoly...and you hate anything that requires homework.

I notice how kind you are to the younger cousins...they really love you for that.

You are getting better about eating different kinds of food....but vegetables are not your favorite,

but....you do LOVE chicken and brocoli casserole...you love anything sweet....and

you have successfully finished off a HUGE container of chocolate milk mix....all on your own!

You have taken over many of the jobs your brother did around the house.  Saturday afternoon, without

being asked, you fired up the lawnmower and got to work.  You finished the yard, with

precision...it looked just like the yard your brother trained you to keep.  He would have been really

proud of you.  I love the young man you are developing into.  Most of the time your are responsible...

You are nearly an Eagle Scout....and you honor your Priesthood.

You are a very good son!

You are missing your Missionary Brother terribly....I can see it in the letters that you write to him.

A couple of days after he left for his mission we decided to clean the room you shared with

him.  We moved the beds...cleaned and cleaned...got rid of alot of JUNK!!....and tired to make

the room more yours.  I told you that you could use your brother's bed, until he came home...because

it is larger and according to the Missionary Boy...the best matress in the house!  We got it all ready

for you...hung your pictures on the walls....and that night after you went to bed...I went into your

room to check on you...and found you in the midst of a pile of blankets and pillows...sound asleep

in a corner of your bedroom on the floor.  It took you about a week before you could sleep in

his bed.  You have really missed him!  This Summer I took you to a store and told you that you could

choose a painting to hang in your room, that really touched your heart and made you feel good.

You looked and looked...studying many different painting...then announced that you had

found the painting....It is called 'The Crossing At Sweetwater" and in the painting a young man

is carrying a small child on his back, through nearly frozen water.  Your choice didn't suprise me,

not at all!  In fact, it would have been the painting I would have chosen for you.  I understand why

it speaks to you!  It represents how you feel toward others.

The painting now hangs above your bed, where you can see it each night.

You are a joy to your parents...Roostie....I love you!!