Celebrating 80 Years of a Renaissance Man — And More Jackson HOle

Today is the day this self-proclaimed “octogenarian” becomes officially that: 80 years old.

He is celebrating by playing in a tennis tournament in Las Vegas, because that’s the kind guy he is. And also, the “80s” category? He’s been chomping at the bit to get into that sucker. Some day he’ll win the National Gold Slam Championship I’m sure. He is ranked #1 in the Intermountain West I believe, and #17 in the nation. Pretty impressive, Dad!

Renaissance Man

Deep thoughts and poems spill out of his heart, into volumes of leather-bound books filled with artistic charts and shapes filled with goals.

“Lifebalance” books, worn from use and wear and planning fill his desk.

He moves people. Physically like his family following like ducks in a row through foreign countries and to look for “signs of spring.” But also mentally and spiritually as he moves them to think differently. Reach higher. And deeper.

He somehow knew how to beautifully answer the gospel questions a quiet brown-eyed teenager would ask. But mostly pointed her to God to figure them out herself.

Not only does he ride horses, he takes of his own, chewing on sagebrush. Grandkids feeding them amidst the sagebrush lit with the slanting sun at Bear Lake.

He tastes nature (literally). He stops to listen to the music of a stream.

There is always a gleam in his eye for imagination. “Characters” he would morph into would put us to bed as kids. Stories filled with his fantastical characters would calm us to sleep.

“Grandfather’s secrets” fill his grandkids’ hearts.

He knows the “speed of going slow” and doesn’t let life hurry him too much.

Wind fills the sails above him on his sailboat he has learned to maneuver, and has taught a gaggle of grandkids to do the same.

He loves my mom “just a little more” than he loves me:)

Sometimes I wonder how this little boy from a small town in Utah grew up to be this man so full of big ideas.

I think he was never afraid to try new things, to meet new people, and to push himself on new adventures. I’m the luckiest he’s mine.

Celebrating 80 Years in Jackson Hole

First of all so fun we got to celebrate my Dad’s 80th just within a month or two of celebrating Dave’s mom‘s 80th (at the same time as the 60th wedding anniversary).

It was fitting that my dad chose Jackson Hole to celebrate the big 80 years. We spent a lot of time here growing up. And then I haven’t been back for years and years and it just so happened I sent up two weeks before with my girlfriends too. But I wasn’t complaining…sure love that place.

And loved being here with all these people. Even my brother from Switzerland (missed his wife Anita so much who stayed to hold down the fort) and Jo & Aja from Hawaii were there. Missed David, who had to be situating Lucy back in school after being gone for Fall Break. Also, this photo was before my brother Josh arrived, who was stuck in Florida with the hurricane (he had gone for his own Fall break to visit Kennedy Space Center and had quite the adventure there).

Poems & Favorite Memories

I arrived late at night to this beautiful spot where everyone was sharing favorite poems and memories about our dad.

I shared Good Timber Doesn’t Grow with Ease and how my Dad taught us to lean into the wind.

Basking in Beauty

Oh my goodness, it was so beautiful. Despite the still-raging forest fire that created quite a smoky sky at times, we all adored doing what our Dad has taught us so well: basking in the beauty.

Growing-Up Memories

We went back and visited the condo we used to own and would come to often. Oh this place holds so many memories.

These guys cracked me up trying to recreate a photo from when we were little:

Ha!

We played the same game Dave and I had put together for his mom on the cruise, but switched it a little. We had everyone put memories of my dad on little slips of paper and played Reverse Charades with them, the boys against the girls.

It was pretty funny.

Church and What We Pray For

My dad asked us to share three things we are praying for before church. I loved that little discussion and being able to connect better through getting deeper.

Horseback Riding

It was only fitting that we would go horseback riding with my Dad the horse-lover.

More Beauty All Around

Mormon Row one More Time

Polar Plunging helps take in nature a little deeper…

MFME

Split up for lunch one day…

…then got back together, growing-up memories infiltrating into everything in this little downtown.

One last smoky walk through the beauty:

…along with the grapevine, of course (my dad’s favorite).

And there we have it, the celebration of a boy.

Who became a renaissance man, adored by us all with all our hearts.

Happy Birthday Dad!! Love you forever.