Court of Honor

Last Sunday, we attended our nephew's Eagle Scout Court of Honor. It was, without a doubt, a very special night.

I've always admired Eagle Scouts. From the days of my youth, when Ryan Alley and others of my classmates earned their Eagles, I was always very proud of them and impressed by them (and perhaps crushed on them a little too.) As I grew older, and earned my Young Women in Excellence Medallion, I became more impressed that these boys accomplished their feat at such a young age. I had worked very hard on my projects, I knew how much planning and commitment when into each of them. Though I often wished I could be done with it between ages 14 and 16, (Like they can now, lucky ducks!) I don't think I actually could have. Thus my admiration grew.

As I graduated from high school and was eager to find a husband (poor sap!) I found occasion, in the intervening 3 years, to create a list of "the ideal man". I haven't thought of this list in a long time. However as my anniversary is today, coupled with Sunday's events, I have been thinking about it a lot this week. The four things that really stick out on that list were that I wanted him to be able to speak Spanish, be a returned missionary,be seeking a higher education, and I wanted him to be an Eagle Scout. I knew that if he was an Eagle Scout, he would be persistent and dependable. Or at least that he could be pressed into being persistent and dependable by a sweet and wonderful woman who loved him. Let's face it, we all know the mother's deserve these awards as much as their sons. :)

As it turns out, I was fortunate enough to find all the qualities I was looking for in a man. As we've been married, I've watched my nephews grow into fine, stalwart young men. Men that I desperately would love for my own sons to emulate. Sunday's nephew was no exception. He is incredibly smart, handsome, musically inclined, and a charmer. He is witty, and ruthless at board games. He is a great example to the boys in his ward and all who look to him.

As we prepared for his Court of Honor, I struggled with what to get him. He didn't expect anything of course, but he didn't know my tender feelings about his accomplishment either. Interestingly enough ;) I remembered something that I had on the website that would be perfect. The Scout Sign Statue by One Moment in Time. I worried however. Would a 14.5 year old boy appreciate such a gift, or would he think it was hokey? I decided to get it for him anyway. I knew his mom would like it even if he didn't. As I was helping with the refreshments afterward, I didn't get to witness his reaction in person. However, I was told by a couple of different people that he was stunned and he loved it! I was very pleased. I truly hope that our nephew knows how much we love him and how grateful we are to have him in our family.