Donovan Letters.... #1

Dear Donovan,

I’m sitting in my hotel room in San Francisco thinking of you… like I have every minute of every waking moment since I last saw you in the rear view mirror.  You stood there with tears in your eyes, standing tall, and not wanting, but willing, to stay at camp.  The pride I felt in you at that moment has never been higher.  My confidence in you, when I saw those rainbows on the way home, never stronger.  God has blessed us with your strength, determination, charm and joy for life.

Yes you are determined, stubborn, relentless, strong, and challenging!  All qualities that will get you where you want to go and enrich the lives around you.  I’m proud of you as well as, Carl and Emma.  

Since you have departed (ok were abandoned) we’ve seen little steps and big steps from your best friends (who are your siblings) that are quite amazing and yet not.  They have taken strides of their own during this journey that reassures me you three will (along with your great group of cousins) continue our family’s great tradition of sticking together, supporting one another and always having a good time, no matter the road blocks that need to be overcome.

Sharing in both good and challenging times, always willing to come running at a drop of a hat when necessary for family or friend. 

Watching the three of you on the way to camp laugh, giggle and goof around is always a joy.  Seeing you fishing with the Johnson boys, and how Ricky, Emit and Elliot always take care of you, creating special events for you, and yet treat you like just another one of the gang is just simply incredible and yet not. 

It is just our family.  What it is supposed to be, what we are blessed with, what your grandmothers, grandfathers, great uncles and aunts gave us, your parents and aunts and uncles…. Strong families, traditions, strengths, and determination and skills to overcome our own weaknesses and mistakes.  Yeh, we’ve made a few, like you will someday.  But what your generation of our families, are learning now from your strength to overcome the fear of being away from camp, is the knowledge to address your fears and have the confidence to learn from it and thrive.

Can't stand and fish... Ricky gets him a chair... Donovan lands the biggest fish of the day!

  Or as your grandpa Don would say… “pull up your socks, wipe your nose, and keep going”  Not sure that is an exact quote, but you get the jest…. Just another mistake of your dad that your mom or one of your aunts or uncles will correct me on later…..