Our Cousin Drew

 This last week, my brother and his wife lost a very precious son, just 13 years old. He collapsed while running with a cross-country team and passed away before he could be revived. Everyone that knew Drew is broken-hearted at this loss. He was the happiest, most agreeable kid we knew. I remember him being at my house without anyone close to his age to hang out with, so he found our Duplo blocks and started building even though it is a toy that boys his age don't usually enjoy. He was so content. He didn't complain that I ever remember. His mother always called him the perfect child. He will leave a big hole in not only his immediate family but our extended family as well. 

Here is a poem my aunt shared that seems fitting:

Leave Taking

How I would have liked

to wave goodbye 

and watch until you turned and smiled

and disappeared on the horizon.

You who taught me to dance 

and let me teach you, 

who laughed at my stories 

and winked at me when I was sad.

I can  just see you travelling arm and arm 

with Columbus

See how you have crossed once more

the many waters.

I have a new reason 

to stand in the desert night

with face upturned 

while I look for a star 

that never winked back before.

If you should look back and see me here

leave a light on in Heaven

for one who stayed behind.  

--Margary Boyack Broadbent

I'm sure Drew's parents have many more good pictures of him but this is what I found:

Baby Drew, about 3 months old, sitting on his uncle Brian's lap--upper right is his Aunt Alice who passed away in 2012.

Drew playing the patient Joseph with Camille as Mary and Mindy as donkey:

You can't see him that well, but here he is watching a rousing game of "Father (or King) May I."

At a short family reunion in 2015 at Heber Camp with his cousins:

His baptism. I remember his mother saying what a sweet innocent child he was.

4th of July bike ride, 2022:

With Grandma Ellen:

Family reunion, 2020:

Here are the cousins his age all together. Drew was born first. Family reunion 2020:

Family reunion, 2020:

Drew grew his hair out to potentially be part of the Book of Mormon movies, 2022:

2022:

Right before Thys left on his mission, 2022:

Family reunion, 2022, with the cousins his age:

This was a beautiful fall day when we gathered to rake leaves for Grandpa and Grandma.

Family reunion 2020:

Hiking the Y, Memorial Day in 2020:

Provo Cemetery, 2020:

Home church, 2020:

The favorite activity at Grandma's house:

At Buffalo Peak trailhead:

Hope Campground:

Thanksgiving:

Fourth of July, 2022:

Talent show, family reunion, 2022:

Undokai, 2022:

Phoenix, AZ temple, 2022:

Arizona, 2022:

New Year's Eve, 2022:

Memorial Day, 2023 (Drew is in the red shirt on the far right):

Memorial Day, 2018 (in front of his mom):

Hoover Dam, December 2018, pushing his much older cousin in the stroller:

2019, Grandma Ellen's funeral:

You'll be forever in our hearts, Drew. 💗💗💗💗