3 Marches and a December

I've got some time to make up, so let me backpedal and start with Mike.... Michael Maughan! A Christmas gift for the whole world! :) We first met Mike while he and April were dating down at BYU. She was soon giddy in love, and still is! We had the incredible good fortune to live next door to them for their first couple(?) years while they finished up school. It was neat to see him help fix up that house for April, first the basement and then the upstairs. Susan loved running over to visit them, and they would often babysit the girls in order to send us out on a date (a gift they probably only now realize how much we appreciated!). They were also invaluable at helping me pull together party details. Mike has a talent for exactness and precision that I can only dream of, but definitely admire. He has a profound sense of honor, yet also a side that is playful, and he is particularly good at entertaining children. It is so inspiring to see the beautiful family he and April are creating together. Happy belated birthday, Mike!

Nathan. For almost all of his single life, Nathan was Raymond's only brother, one of the most meaningful relationships I think he has. Raymond loved everything about about him--his happy nature, his rolling laugh when he would bounce him on the mattress, his competitive eating and waterskiing, his creative adventures, his drive and ambition. Ray especially loved it when Nathan grew up and came to school and they would lift at the gym together and performed in Fiddler on the Roof. Then that must have been weird for Nathan... he left on his mission and came home to three new siblings--a new brother, a brother-in-law, and a sister-in-law! But he was nice about it (what could he do?). We also got to live next door to Nathan for a while which was fun, and exhausting, for those months that we had to pray so vigorously for him to marry Amy! But what a match made in heaven! And what caring and thoughtful parents to (almost) five very lucky children! They are great friends, and we truly look up to them. I am especially grateful to Nathan for being someone Ray can call and talk about things man-to-man (and to Amy for giving up the husband time!); he sometimes needs a man's perspective and it's a role I just can't play.  Thanks, Nathan.

Charity! I heard all kinds of stories about you before I even met you! Ray told so many "Charity stories," you were a Dancers' Company legend. But to meet you in your little three-year-old person was all the better. Curly hair, painted fingernails, and the vocabulary of a college student. You could hold up an adult conversation with the best of them (I still remember you giving a review of the latest movie while we were hanging out in the hot tub, just like you were a miniature Siskel and Ebert.). And you still have that precocious quality! I love to talk to you and hear about your experiences and plans. You have grown up to be a lovely person, and I appreciate your example, to me and to my girls who are trying to grow up to be like you. They watch the way you talk, act, dress, do your hair, anything Charity. So thanks for making it a worthwhile endeavor! I love you, my friend!

And Dave, let me be the first to sing your praise! It was so fun to watch Rachael try to figure out just what she was looking for in a husband, and to hear about this neat guy out on his mission, that both she and Mom were guessing was it! And you were! I truly admire your dedication and loyalty to your wife and children. You are always there with a watchful eye, protecting them and providing for their every need. I just know you will be ever faithful and true. But as seriously as you take these important roles, there is still a side of you that is willing to dress up in a wig with a mullet and play an air guitar. Totally radical, dude!

Mom's Memories of Mike

My first memory of Mike was of him sitting at the table in April's apartment at Heritage Halls BYU with longer hair on top.  He was pretty cute, but I was concerned he might be a "player".  Then the story continued ... We worked together on them living in the Provo house by Raymond and Julie, so it was so nice to get comfortable talking about money.  After they were married, I remember how nice it was that he would play with my younger children.  That is the key to a mother's heart.  I think one of my favorite memories was watching them make the snow cave in the backyard.  When Mike does something, it's always first rate...cubed blocks.  It was so cool.  no pun intended.  It has also been fun having Mike be willing to share his neat family with us.  His parents' mission farewell was very cool and such neat siblings!!!  Thanks for sharing with us.  I also love how Mike makes us feel hosted at his house, wherever that may be.  He cooks on the grill.  He tries to find interesting things to entertain us and he can just sit around and visit.    Another neat thing about Mike is his unselfishness.  How he was willing to let Emma be baptized in the midst of extended family instead of waiting until he came back.  So unselfish.  Mike has been a participator from the beginning.  That is so helpful when trying to build a family. Mike also has great discipline over himself.  This trait gives me confidence that he will follow the Master.  He is not hesitant to repent and make his life to model the Saviors.  Changing is possible for him.   Mostly, I love his total devotion to his wife.  He tries endlessly to please her, to take care of her and to love her.

Memories of Mike (how alliterative)

Well I guess my Christmas post kind of covered some favorite memories of Mike, but don’t worry because I have more! :)  Mostly I remember being younger and playing with Mike a lot.  He was sort of the Jester for Andrew and I.  Sometimes we would just sit and listen to him tell us about Japan and Guam.  I really couldn’t get enough of hearing about cultural differences and foreign foods.  He also demonstrated Chinese water torture, which I have never forgotten. :)  I was also inspired by Mike to read Phantom of the Opera—great book.  When April and Mike were living in Provo and we would visit we’d always play games, my favorite being Harry Potter Uno.  It was also with them that I first watched the 6-hour Pride and Prejudice, which of course was life changing.  It’s just always fun having Mike around!  Love ya!

Charity

Highlights in My Memories of Mike

I really do love reminiscing about all of my favorite people. We seriously have an outstanding family, and the people we've chosen to marry are no exception! My first memory of Mike was before I even met him. hahaha Since I am two years younger than April I had a lot of opportunity to observe April in various stages of 'like' with boys (not that it happened as frequently as it did with me). The Christmas break after April started dating Mike I was forcibly struck by just how much she liked this Mike guy. I had never seen her so . . . giddy! It was a strange thing to witness because while I knew I'd gotten giddy frequently, I'd seen her like guys but it had never affected her in this way. I was pretty sure that this was going to end up in a marriage. During that break we got to meet Mike, and I was so impressed with him for being open enough to give us all hugs - good ones, too! :) He is clearly a good match for April, because April is never more happy than when Mike's around.
It's already been mentioned in a Christmas memory from Charity, but the first Christmas after they were married, Mike set a trap for Charity and I to get past to reach the presents. To us it was pretty complicated, although Mike later told us that it was like one that his dad had set when he was really young. That made me feel pretty smart. hahahaha Charity and I slept in the loft so he could set it on the stairs, and she seriously woke me up every hour starting at 2! I finally gave up trying to make her sleep at 5, and we started attempting to get past the trap. :)
One last memory. April and Mike were still living in Provo when I was there for a summer term. It was my junior year. I was taking a calculus class (because I had to), and I hadn't had a math class since my junior year of high school -- and it wasn't even pre-calculus! Math does not come easily or quickly for me, but Mike took the time to personally tutor me. He was so patient and encouraging. I was convinced that I was just a math idiot, but he bolstered my confidence. I got an A- on the final. It was just too bad that I didn't get to have that as my final grade. I ended up getting a C . . . that's how badly I was doing before I got Mike's help.
Mike, you rock. I'm glad you're part of our family!
Added later: I was pondering what to write about after I sent the prompt out, but I forgot one of the things I thought about. I totally hung out with April & Mike while I was in Provo. One of my favorite memories is watching Pride & Prejudice with them. I totally love it that Mike was completely masculine, and still loved a high quality chick flick. :) April scored. I did, too, even though Dave doesn't like to watch Jane Austen movies with me. hahaha