A Year After Kalem Left

Kalem drowned in the Deer Creek Resevoir one year ago today. He was only 17 years old. He was a true athlete, great example and all around good kid. He was so handsome too. I remember when we moved in the ward thinking, "Edward Cullen. He looks just like I imagine Edward Cullen would look like."

When we went to Youth Conference with the ward. I remember being confused at how he and his friends managed to repeatedly climb up and jump off the roof of the pavilion where we were eating lunch. I was also amazed at how hard he worked. At our camping spot, he decided to make a raft out of logs that he'd found. He spend hours on that thing and sure enough, the next day, he brought us down to the lake to show us his raft (which he rowed out to the middle of the lake and did a back-flip off of.) I have video footage of it somewhere. I've been wanting to see it again, and share it with his family.

His mom is a very good friend of mine who I've always looked up to and admired. She cried with me when I miscarried. I had no idea that I'd later be crying with her over her Kalem's coffin. I love their family. They lived up the street from me.  A friend of his posted the picture below on facebook and I'm so glad he did. It is of Wasatch High School's graduation this year. They presented his parents with a diploma for Kalem. They say a picture paints a thousand words. But I can't find any that can adequately describe how I feel when I see this picture
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Kalem, you are missed. There is a void in your family and this community. But I know heaven is that much stronger, now that you're there. Who knows how many hearts you've turned to God, and how many paths you've straightened, just by being you.