It's been over a month, almost six weeks, and I still don't know how to do this. On March 11, Alex was killed in a Trax train accident. He was in Salt Lake for some training for his job at KFC. Part of the training was to visit other stores and see how they did things. Alex was driving with three other people in his car. We don't know why, but he went around the arms at the train crossing, and was hit directly by the train. He was killed instantly along with one of his passengers, and the other two were badly injured.
In 1988, when we moved to Utah from California for Dennis to attend BYU law school, we lived in an apartment at Amiron Village in Orem. The day we moved in, before we even started unloading, Jana and Bryan Amundson came over to welcome us and help us unload. We were instant friends, and have been more like family ever since. Alex was born just a few days later.
We lived in the apartments together for a couple of years, then they bought a house in Orem, and we bought one in Provo. In 1994, we built homes next door to each other in Spanish Fork so that we could raise our families together. We spent holidays, birthdays and vacations together. Two families couldn't have been closer.
Alex was especially close to Jennifer. They were good buddies, and usually off on some adventure together. We used to joke that they would get married some day and travel the world on one adventure after another.
Alex was a sweet and funny boy, and always brought a smile to my face. He was always into mischief though, and was very imaginative in his activities. We always loved him though, even when he was being naughty.
Alex was outgoing and fun loving. He was fun loving, and had lots of friends as a little boy.
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When he was in 9th (?) grade, he grew from a beanpole into an oak tree. Alex became a huge man at 6"4" ish and 280 lbs when he died. He had some struggles with life, but he was working hard to turn his life around, and was on the right path. He had been clean for six months, passed his GED with high marks, and was preparing to serve the Lord on a mission. He was a good boy with a loving heart who had just made some poor choices.
How do you comfort your friend when her son dies? How do you be a strength to someone when you are hurting too? I was certain that Jana would fall apart. I thought she would hide in a hole and never come out. I couldn't have been more wrong. She has been so strong, I have been amazed. I know it's been harder than I can possibly imagine, and I'm sure she is putting on a good front, but she is an inspiration to me.
When Alex was released from jail in September, he wrote in his journal about his experience. He shared his testimony of the Gospel and of the love he felt from our Heavenly Father. They put this testimony into several copies of the Book of Mormon, and have given many to his friends, and to missionaries so that they can be shared with those who are searching for the truth. Alex got his wish. He is serving the Lord as a missionary. Not in the way any of us imagined, but nonetheless he is serving and helping others to find the peace of the gospel.
I am so grateful for my knowledge of the gospel. We are so blessed to have temples and to be sealed to our families forever. I know that Jana and Bryan will hold their boy again, and I know that we will see him again. I know that he is ok, better than ok, I know he is doing well. I know our Savior lives, and that we will too. Thank goodness for eternal families!!
This is Ammon running the 4 x 100 relay. The funny thing about this picture is that right as he made the hand off, he fell and rolled over!!
Ammon could have done really well at the long jump if anyone had been able to teach him the correct way to do it. At the one meet he tried, he jumped almost 18 feet, which would have been a winning distance, but he scratched every time. We can't wait until next year when he can get some good coaching.
Matthew loves soccer, and if only we could light a fire under him, he'd be pretty good. He is getting better all the time, we just need to teach him to be a little more aggressive.
Jordyn let me put make-up on her for the recital, you should have seen those eyelashes!! Her class did two dances. The first was a tap dance to "Twist and Shout".
They also did a dance with maracas to "Conga". She did great, and it was fun to watch her!
Master Bedroom
After building our home, and living there for the past 16 years, it's a little hard to leave, but it was time for a change. We loved our home, our neighborhood, and our ward, and it is the only home that our children have known. Only Jayme remembers living anywhere else. Dennis lived longer in this home than anywhere else in his life. I still had a few years to go to pass my length of time in Orange. But all good things must come to an end. I don't know why, but I felt increasingly unsettled in our home, and a need to move on. 
We had 1/3 of an acre, which was great. Lots of room for kids to run, and room for fruit trees.
When we first moved into this house from the 3-plex, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Every morning as I walked down the stairs, I thought, "when are the real owners going to come and kick me out?" We had 2300 sf finished, and an unfinished basement. Three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, a family room, dining room AND a living room. What was I ever going to do with so much space?
Our living room was perfect for Christmas. It looks so nice with the tree and lights and all. 
In 1988, when we moved to Utah from California for Dennis to attend BYU law school, we lived in an apartment at Amiron Village in Orem. The day we moved in, before we even started unloading, Jana and Bryan Amundson came over to welcome us and help us unload. We were instant friends, and have been more like family ever since. Alex was born just a few days later.
