This is my daughter Blake and her cousin Jason. They have really taken to each other. She rode to the church with my dad and had to go back to their hotel before the baptism. When Jason and his dad got to the church Barrett ran and jumped into Bob’s arms and Jason asked where his little buddy was. She got back to the church and ran and jumped into Jason’s arms. She sat on his lap the entire service and wanted to sit by him at dinner afterward. Then a little cousin came and wanted to sit by Blake as well, so we moved everyone down one. Then another friend wanted to sit next to Blake so we had to move Jason to the head of the kids section of the table. After the soup was served Blake kept sneaking down to sit on his lap. He’d take a sip of his soup and then give her a spoonful. I was lucky to capture a cute picture of it.

The future isn’t really sure right now with Jason, so when he was leaving I had Blakelynn give him the biggest hug given in the history of the world.

Watching her today with her favorite cousin reminded me of my childhood. I had a favorite uncle. Uncle Brad. I remember being so excited to see him, and running and jumping in his arms. After my parents divorced I didn’t get to see Uncle Brad except at a family Christmas Eve party. Oddly, I still remember the last time I ever saw him. I didn’t know it would be the last time, or I hope I would have given him the biggest hug given in the history of the world. It’s been 31 years since I saw him last, and I’m not sure he’d even remember who I am. I don’t even remember what he looked like–but I have a vivid memory of running into those arms and being hoisted up, and feeling really special that he really liked me too.

So even though I was so happy that Blake had found her “Uncle Brad” in Jason, the uncertainty of the future makes me a little nervous for her as well!