The Young Man

Jay had a big day on Sunday, January 3rd, 2021! He graduated from Primary at church and was ordained a deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood. We watched sacrament meeting over Zoom and Jay "walked up front" when his name was called. There are twelve kids turning twelve in our ward this year! NINE of them are boys! It's the same group I had in my cub scout wolf group of yore. They are great guys. 

After we watched sacrament meeting from home via Zoom, we drove to the church for Jay's ordination. Due to the high volume of boys advancing, it was chaotic while everyone divided up into rooms to be ordained. It was just our family of five and one bishopric member in the room when Jay was ordained. I felt the spirit fill the room as Jeff and Brother Rodriguez laid their hands on Jay's head. Words can't describe the warm maternal feeling that filled me while I watched my own sweet son take the next step in his spiritual development. Jay is growing into a young man with faith and compassion and goodness! He is a bright light in our family. 

After his ordination on Sunday, Jay went straight to his first-ever youth Sunday school class, which has 21 kids ages 11-12 in it (bless those teachers' hearts).

Jay is looking forward to passing the sacrament, both at church when he can, and at home for our home-sacrament meetings. Currently our ward is meeting for sacrament meeting and youth meetings in person, but we have chosen to watch sacrament meeting on Zoom (minus the actual sacrament ordinance) until the COVID situation is more controlled. Since Jay's deacon class is so large, all boys will not need to be present to pass the sacrament every week anyways. Our temple is still closed, so Jay will not be able to go do baptisms for the dead right away either. 

Now Jay is in the Young Men's program at church and he feels so grown up. He also looks very grown up. I gave him a haircut on Sunday morning, which definitely contributed to his Young Man look. He is excited to be done with primary and ready to gather weekly with his large class of church buddies on Wednesday nights. 

The sun came out on Sunday for this son.

"Graduating" from primary. The people who were in person wore masks and elbow-bumped the bishop after receiving their certificates. [All too often, during zoom calls, we have messages like "your internet connection is unstable" flashing on the screen. The joys of country living abound.]

The men. I forgot to take a picture at the church, and Jeff had to re-tie his tie so I could get this one outside of our house in the sunshine.

We've got one great son. (I selfishly love how strawberry Jay's hair gets when it grows long. It's special to have a visible obvious link to my son.)

Sunday afternoon games of Sleeping Queens, a Christmas gift from our Missouri cousins. Jeff joined for the subsequent rounds.

Battle Royale in the family room. I had to cancel the indoor levity. The kids were getting downright rambunctious after church on the final day of Christmas break.

One more of Jay: feeling manly, responsible, and dignified.

This type of side-by-side strums my heartstrings almost unbearably.

We love our Jay!