Bryan ...

This picture was taken approx Spring 1966

Bryan is the chubby one in the striped rugby shirt

My brother passed away yesterday. I can't really wrap my brain around the concept. He was only 44. He was funny and kind and was a good friend. He also was the one person in this life that could make me more crazy than any other human being! :o)


I have 21 things about him here ... so you can know him too!

1. I never had to worry about having someone on my side ... I always knew, no matter what, that he would be there.


2. He used to to the zaniest Steve Martin impression!


3. We both like the "Ghost Whisperer"


4. The most important thing in his life was his family!


5. He has a great wife, Teena, they have a forever family ...


five sons and one daughter


6. Chris, Corey, Anthony, Brandon, Devin and Eric ...


7. Devin is the girl


8. He had a honorary daughter, Rebeca ... Becca, is the mother of his grand kids ... Chaim, Sariah and Jordan


9. He loved to camp ... I hate to camp


10. He was able to go to Chicago with his family to see his son Brandon graduate from boot camp.


11. He could really make me laugh!


12. He knew all the buttons to push to really make me crazy!


13. He overcame many obstacles in his life!


14. He was my friend .. he was a friend to everyone !!! He would help total strangers ...


15. I wish you could have known him!


16. He lived life with passion!


20. He had many talents!


21. After many years of challenging his religious beliefs ... he finally figured it out ... in the long run, that's what mattters most.

This is Bryan's family today:

left to right back row : Devin 20, Becca,Teena(his wife), Bryan, Brandon 22,

left to right front row: Sariah 4, Chaim 6, Anthony 24, Jordan 2, Eric 14

And this is Chris his oldest son, he'll be 27 on July 5th

not pictured is Corey who passed away at age 10 from Cancer ... he would be 25 now.

The Saga of The Neighborhood ducks ...

My friend Melissa blogged about the above neighborhood ducks the other day ... they hang out where ever they want in the neighborhood and amuse us all. I tease Melissa because her husband is the Bishop and when they hang out at her house I have said they were waiting for a temple recommend interview. Well in Melissa 's blog she shared that the female duck had been hit with a car. I was so sad. However, after inquiring on the net I have learned that these types of ducks, though monogamous in there relationships, will find another mate if one expires.

So, this morning while leaving for work I saw two ducks in the grass at my condo and was thrilled to see the female alive and well! OK ... here we have:

A. a male who wasted no time at all finding a new mate

B. He's hangin' with his mom, sister or sister in law

C. They are on the duck activities committee in the stake duck organization and they were planning the yearly duck retreat at the local swim hole

D. They are a completely different couple and there is still a lonely Mallard waddling about the neighborhood

I could go for A B or C ... D just makes me sad.