OUR FRIEND TY

I guess this is more of a therapeutic blog entry for me. But I feel like I need to do something, while I am just sitting here at home thinking about my friend and brother Tyler.

I got a call from my mom on Friday night and I knew something was wrong when we started talking, and prepared myself for the worst. But nothing had prepared me for what she told me. My friend Tyler Graham had passed away earlier that day.

Ever since we have lived in Stayton, Oregon (1995) our lives have been intertwined with the Graham family. We all started out as friends and it grew from there into a family relationship. Tyler has always been like a little brother to me. He was so easy to like and love. If you saw Ty smile, there was no way that you couldn't smile. It was so infectious! He had the BIGGEST heart in the world. And had more love for animals than anyone I have ever met...I remember his baby skunk (that wasn't very nice), his ferret, his chinchilla, his 2 or 3 pugs, and probably a whole bunch more that I never had the pleasure of meeting.

Ty was one of a kind, and everyone who knew him knows what I mean. There just wasn't anyone like him. He always put a smile on your face and made you feel so good about yourself.

I have a lot of great memories of Ty, but ones that I will treasure the most came right after I came home from my mission. Him and Brolin were preparing to go on missions and I was trying to adjust back into everyday life. Many mornings we would meet and go out on the Graham's trampoline and have a morning scripture study. It was so fun telling them experiences I had and share with them my testimony of the Gospel and vice versa. Ty and Brolin really helped me to adjust back to normal life and I will be forever grateful for those times that we spent together laughing and just enjoying each others company. I'm so grateful that I have memories to look back on and remember Ty. He will be sorely missed by myself and so many other people.

Thank you Ty for always being yourself, and not being afraid to stand up for what you believe. Thank you for your testimony of the Gospel that brought the Spirit into so many people's lives. I love you and miss you so much!

http://tylermemorial.blogspot.com/ (here's a blog for Ty)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BERKLEY!!!

We have had nothing but 12 months of pure AWESOMENESS! I am SO incredibly grateful for my beautiful daughter Berkley and how much joy she has brought into our lives. She continues to surprise me each day with how smart she is and how sweet she is. It has been truly amazing to watch her grow and learn. I love everything about her! She makes us laugh on a daily basis, and she is loved by everyone around her. So Happy 1st Birthday Berkley! We love you so much!

Here is a look back at the last 12 months! Enjoy!

MY NEW LOVE...

So...I've always loved photography, but have recently decided to do it on a more professionsl level. Now...I have A LOT (A LOT) to learn, but I've been reading, practicing and will sometime in the near future shadow another photographer and learn a good deal more from her. I'm hoping to someday be able to do it full time and help contibute more to my family's income as well as do something that I love! I wanted to thank everyone who has encourgaged me and helped me. I did make a blog, so feel free to check it out once in a while...and if you know anyone who wants pictures taken...I don't charge very much! Lately I've just been doing couples and portraits, but am hoping to get better at family pictures. I just need a few willing subjects to practice on. :) Here's a link to my blog, but it is also over in the "blogs we dig" column.

http://valoryjeanphotography.blogspot.com/

PLEASE READ THIS FRIENDS!

Hey Everyone! Well I've been messing around with our blog layout and probably doing stuff I shouldn't with it...and in the process I lost nearly ALL of the blog of our friends and family. I have about 10 or so that I saved...So I need you to put your blog addresses in the comments for me so I can re-add them to our list! Thanks so much!!!

RUB-A-DUB-DUB