Your Friends are Our Friends

Caleb,

The last couple of weeks have been full.

Your sister Eryn received her mission call. She leaves in April. Because her departure is coming so quickly, we hurried to plan a weekend to go see your people - your mission friends. Your siblings rearranged work schedules and obligations so we could all go.

All seven of us.

You know how our family trips always count eight. 

Six kids. Two parents.

Seven felt… noticeable. A little tender. A little incomplete.

But as we counted off in that van, every single one of us felt it - there were eight.

You were with us the entire trip.

Thank you for helping us feel whole.

Buddy, this weekend was about you. The music. The hiking. The long stretches of driving. We wanted to understand you better, and in so many quiet ways, it felt like you were guiding us.

What did we learn?

  • Your gift to see people deeply was real. The people you served felt seen.

  • You loved using your priesthood to bless and lift others.

  • You were a goofball, even away from home.

  • Your natural, effortless love changed lives. It still is.

  •  We understand why you love the Navajo people so much.

  • Your axe was wildly inefficient and far too heavy, and you loved it anyway. 

  • A 12-passenger van does not belong on muddy Navajo Reservation roads. You were right there laughing with Jesse, Paige, Elder Walker, and Elder Johnson as they covered themselves in mud trying to get us unstuck.

We are so proud of you. And we love you in ways that feel deeper now than ever before.

We visited 

  • Monticello, Utah                                                                
  • Fort Wingate, New Mexico
  • Chinle, Arizona
  • We also met with your mission district 
 In each place there were sacred conversations and in those spaces, healing began to grow. We hope, in some small way, we brought healing to others too. The stories will be shared as they need to be. For now, just know we loved meeting your people.

Jesse helped troubleshoot dryer problems and walked away with 2 new ties from your friend Mary, and many new friends everywhere we went.

Brielle sang for you. Her song was sacred and beautiful. You were there at that Sacred Spring. You know. She also met someone who shared your love of music - it was a special connection.

Paige dove straight into the mud to free the van. She embraced the Reservation, snowball fights at Newspaper Rock, and every messy minute of it.

Kylee had quiet, meaningful conversations. Being your twin brought special moments for her, attention she doesn’t seek but carries with quiet pride. She misses you. They all do.

Eryn bore powerful testimony to hurting friends in Chinle, who were shocked to hear of your passing and trying to figure out how to process their grief, and we were able to visit them. It was a special meeting.  Eryn leaves on her mission soon, fully expecting you to be part of it - just like you were part of this weekend.

Dad and I spoke in Monticello about the miracles we’ve witnessed. We shared in Sacrament Meeting at Fort Wingate and felt wrapped in love. And that morning with your district - what a gift.

You are woven into all of it.

There were eight of us in that van.

There always will be.

Love, Mom

PS. These pictures represent stories yet to be told.  


 














 

Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 4, 2026 at 8:15 PM

    It was such a privilege to meet you all! We will never forget Caleb.

    ReplyDelete

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