Anthony had his unique 2020 graduation today. It was a drive-by graduation. We drove up to the platform, Anthony hopped out walked across the stage, received his diploma, posed for pictures and hopped back into the car.
Video of Anthony receiving his diploma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8ry7j2K-hg#t=1h11m18s (about 15 seconds of Anthony)
Pictures:
Ammon wrote a book about his Mom and how he perceives her. Most of the boys have done this assignment over the years but this is the first time we recorded mom’s first reading and her reactions.
James had a dream a while ago that he arrived home and there was no one to meet him at the airport. His flight arrived 30 minutes early this morning and there was no one there to meet him. We got there about 30 minutes after he arrived. We were suppose to meet him on the 2nd level of the short term parking garage at the Salt Lake airport, but we couldn’t get the van on to the 2nd level because of the bike racks on the roof. So we had to park on level 1 and get out and go up the stairs to level 2 to meet him.
The reunion was very joyous and his mom cried. He was surprised to see how much his brothers had grown and got a long hug from Ammon. We told James that we were going to help him get used to non-missionary life by picking up some chicks on the way home. We stopped by the farm (which is also a petting zoo) but the chicks were not ready. We petted the animals, held baby bunnies and fed baby goats. Then drove home.
The boys had fun showing James all the changes in Spanish Fork over the past two years, and more fun showing off all the changes in our house over the years – new deck, wood floor in the living room, hall bathroom remodel, new carpet on the stairs and in the upstairs bedroom, newly painted upstairs bedroom, new Lazy-boy chairs in the basement, and Julles game closet. Julles worked from home today so she could greet James when he arrived.
LaReita also had a sign company put up a huge sign in the front yard. Tonight we’ll play some games as a family, then have dinner. At 7pm the ward youth are going to do a drive-by to welcome James home.
(Letter to missionary Elder James Berky, by Dad)
Elder James,
Sorry I missed your call yesterday. LaMont and I had our heads down reviewing our Find-A-Code competitors and preparing a plan to offer three versions of FAC with some add-on products bundled in.
I have a big website face-lift that will launch in January and make the website look much more modern. I also want to revise the search tools to combine all the different types of searchable data we have into a single set of results.
Scouts is winding down. Tonight we are going with all the youth to see the SLC Temple lights. Riding the train up there. Sam is the only brother going with me. Anthony has Christmas Concert rehearsal (I heard him and mom practicing last night – you guys should try a duet sometime – he’s also pretty good). Benjamin has a wrestling tournament and Jacob will be at swimming practice.
Last night we went to the Utah Baroque Ensemble’s Christmas Sing-a-long program. Mom likes to go every year. And it was nice to see some of the folks we traveled to Germany with 2 summers ago.
Tomorrow night is Pack Night where Jacob will be getting his Arrow of Light. Then we head to Anthony’s Christmas Concert. Thursday night I’m taking Sam to set up for the next UV Symphony concert and then on to another of Ben’s wrestling tournaments in Provo.
Ben made the Varsity team for the 220 weight class (he’s only 195, but they already had a good wrestler in his weight class and none in the 220 class). Yesterday he had to defend his varsity position against a guy named Carson. They already had a varsity guy in Carson’s class also so he was challenging Ben to take Ben’s spot in the higher weight class. But Ben beat him 7 to 4. Ben was pretty excited when he came home because he usually loses when he wrestles Carson in practice.
Friday night is the only night this week we don’t have a family activity, although Mom is taking Jacob to SLC for a 2 day swim meet that evening. We will all go up Saturday morning to cheer Jacob on and then Saturday night is the UV Symphony concert we’ll attend (and Sam will help take down). Anthony may or may not be there. He started working at the new Spanish Fork Chilil’s restaurant last night training on the grill. So he may have to work Thurs-Sat doing more training. Busy week.
Sunday afternoon Jacob has his Temple and Priesthood introduction meeting. Looks like we be ordaining Jacob, Sam and Ben on January 26th when Berky grandparents are in town. We’ll try to schedule the Eagle Court of Honor for Anthony and Ben also that weekend.
Life keeps moving forward. We make mistakes, repent, and move forward (rinse and repeat). Glad to hear you are having lots of opportunities to give service. Make every day of your mission count. You’ve only got a limited number of days left – end on a strong, high note! <- singing/music tie in!
Love, Dad
Letter to James from Mom:
Dear Eldest Elder Berky,
Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful that we could speak briefly with you today!
Started to snow a little here, but not much.
Grandma is in Saint George with aunt Wyn, because aunt Lynette had back surgery on Tuesday for a severe herniated disc. Lewis’s opted to stay at their house this Thanksgiving .
We had our usual dinner at the Leavitt’s with Aubrey & Joe (with Kendrick and Sterling), a couple of Joe’s single siblings going to BYU, and Kris’ nephew with his small family of wife and 2 kids. Austin flew out from Texas, but Brandon (now in dental school in Missouri), drove with a friend to Ohio for Thanksgiving. He’s saving his plane ticket purchase for Christmas break.
Stewart came over to Leavitts in the evening to hang out with boy cousins while his sisters watched a chick flick.
Dad and LaMont reminisced about their landlord stage with 14 4plexes in West Valley City from 2001-04ish. I should have turned on my voice recorder to capture some of those stories for family history. Then they began talking FindACode business. Of course! The older my brother gets, the more and more he reminds me of dad, your Grandpa Leavitt. Even my older cousins say how uncanny it is that LaMont looks and acts like “Uncle Henry”.
Holly and Tanner live in the basement apartment of LaMont and Kris, and have 2 new kittens. They are soooo adorable! Attached is a cute video of Ammon, Kendrick and Sterling playing with them. Their other cat, Oreo, got hit by a car in the river bottoms down from their house. Tanner’s is a cat person. so a few weeks after they buried Oreo, they got a new kitten. The new kitten is so sociable, but they were gone most of the day. They felt bad for the lonely kitty that they went back and got a kitty sibling so they could keep each other company during the day.
It’s 7:00 and we are still having a great time hanging out, talking, playing board games, and playing with the kittens. I’m writing this now while still here, but my ears needed a break from the boomy great area room. I’m hiding out in the front sitting/music room. Good news is that I didn’t have to bring my headphones this year to manage the pain of the loudness. But that’s partly because the hearing loss is setting in?
I am full of gratitude for the gospel of Jesus Christ, that I am a member of his restored church, temples, and eternal families. We Love you and are so thankful for your desire to serve and to improve yourself each day.
Hugs and love, Mom
