We just got back from Amy's last cello performance in the Boulder City High School orchestra. It was so amazing to hear this eight-year-old group play so beautifully. As parents, we reminisced about hearing them play their first year at the BC Credit Union, when we all wished we had ear plugs! (Few things sound worse than a squeaky violin...unless it's a room full of them!) A select few of the Varsity Orchestra played a very difficult piece from "Pirates of the Caribbean" at the end of the concert and Amy had a wonderful cello solo in it. It was so exciting to listen to - one dad said afterward he wanted it to go on forever! It was lots of fun too, as Amy dressed as a pirate for that song, complete with a great borrowed tri-cornered hat. These past few months have been full of "lasts" for us with Amy, and I've been swallowing a lot of lumps in my throat as we approach her high school graduation. I have been thinking so much about what a joy she has been in our lives.
Eighteen-and-a-half years ago a beautiful baby girl joined our family (in response to the prophet Ezra Taft Benson's Conference talk on mothers in Zion!) She was our second daughter, our fourth child and she made two boys and two girls for us - a perfect family. Brian was almost five years old so Amy was truly the baby and we were so thrilled to have her. Everything she owned was pink and pretty and delicate and I can remember thinking and saying, "I'm going to spoil this one."
Through the years Amy has truly been a joy. She constantly surprises me with her goodness and her many talents. After all the years of music lessons for the other kids, we finally got one who could play - and enjoyed it! We love to hear her on the piano as well as the cello. She had opened up the world of classical music to us. She sings too, and loves to do that also. She is smart, and loves to read, study, and learn. She reads her scriptures daily and many times I have accidently walked in on her when she was kneeling to pray. She brought tears to my eyes one day when she was talking about names she loves for her future children. She wants a "Jack Aubrey" after the captain in the Master and Commander books, and she wants a "Martin" after Marty McFly in the Back to the Future Movies. Those were good, but it Martin's middle name I loved. Martin "Hinckley" - after the prophet, of course.
Amy babysits for people who truly need her and their kids love her and always ask for her first. The funny part of it is - Amy HATES to babysit. When someone calls and needs a sitter though, she never says no if she is available. Amy has never once been late home from a night- time activity. She is ALWAYS back before midnight. The funny part of that is - we never gave Amy a curfew! She set it herself, although I'm sure she thinks we did it! Amy has been Seminary President, president of the Creative Writer's Club, on the Science Bowl team, Laurels class president, National Honor Society secretary, on the bowling team, and has won many awards and distinctions. I could go on and on about her, but I don't want to brag (any more.)
Mostly I just want to say I'm going to miss her so much when she is gone. It just won't be the same around here without her. Maddie says we're going to have to go on a lot of vacations next year. I said, "Why? To go see Amy at BYU?" "No," answered Maddie, "Just to forget that she's not here with us..." Amy will leave a huge hole in our lives when she is gone. We will all miss her incredibly. We know she will go on to do wonderful things. I'm just grateful I DIDN"T spoil this one...I love you, Amy.
