I met Ken less than a month before he left for his mission. Still, it feels like one of those "I've known you forever" things. And thanks to the wonder that is the internet, we were able to keep in touch. It was awesome to see him again, but it ALMOST feels like he never left. Though I'm sure those who live/lived with him felt differently.
Our previous attempts to get to Colorado didn't work out due to various forces working against us. But we really wanted to be there to see Kenneth again. So without blizzards or viruses to get in our way, we made it to Longmont, CO safe and sound.
When we arrived, we were greeted with spaghetti, which was really good, but my car-sick stomach kept me from enjoying it as much. After dinner, Steve, Ty, Ken, and Noah all practiced a hymn they would sing the next day in church. Below is a picture of them practicing; then us sitting around listening to mission stories and such; and the shock-ed and amaz-ed RM (yes, he was posing for the picture).
On Sunday, the whole family went to church. Just before the testimony portion of sacrament meeting, the Kenworthy men sang "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy" (Hymn #335). Like those who approached them afterwards, I'm not one to give praise to people singing (except to Jenn), but they sounded incredible. After church, we were all able to witness Noah receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. Then someone from their ward took family pictures and couple pictures, which we'll be sure to show off when we get them.
We then ate dinner as a family again. Then came the talent show. Ken wanted us to hear an arrangement he wrote while on his mission. Jenn had always told me that Kenny could read and write music and hear it without actually hearing it. He told us that he came up with this arrangement one night when he couldn't sleep, and he wrote the notes down in a little notebook. Then he took it to a sister in Florida who played it for him so he could hear it. When he got home, he plugged those notes into a music program he has so we all could hear it as well.
After that, Noah and Cubby played and sang songs they had written. Tori also sang. The musical skill of the Kenworthy family is unbelievable. Jenn and I were wishing she had her mandolin to play, but we didn't bring it for fear of it getting damaged during travel.
Ty, Cami, Jenn and I all needed to get back home on Monday, but no one seemed to be in a big hurry as we played and hung out in the park for hours that morning. I don't remember who started it, but Ty, Noah, and I were throwing a frizbee to each other. Then, one by one, more people joined. Before long, all of the siblings were throwing the frizbee in a giant circle. Ty threw it to me, me to Cami, Cami to Jenn, Jenn to Kenny, Kenny to Noah, Noah to Cubby, Cubby to Tori, and Tori to Ty. It was a very nice family moment that I was glad to be a part of.
Here we are throwing the frizbee; me catching the frizbee; Jenn missing the frizbee; Steve, Karen, and Zuzu watching us; and Cubby in a tree. There was also a squirrel running around that seemed to be playing with us and the dogs. It would get very close to us and teased and taunted Cricket. It was pretty funny.
Jenn and I took some pictures of each other at the park. Then Karen took some of the two of us together.
We then did some more family pictures on our own. We didn't use our camera, but here are some that Ty posted on Facebook. In order to get everyone in there, they set the timer on each of the cameras, then ran to get in the picture. The best was when we took a picture from the other side of a creek, so Ken had to run around and across the bridge to get in the picture. Sadly, we don't have a copy of that one yet. But all the pictures turned out well for us having to hold the poses for 10-20 seconds each time.
As Jenn and I were preparing to leave, Ty and Noah were looking at the creek running through the park and talking about the possibility of jumping across it. There was an "I'll do it if you do it" discussion, and Noah went for it. After seeing what happened, I can understand why Ty didn't try it. Here's the video...
...and here are the bloody results. While Noah was being treated for his injuries, and the damage was done, we said our goodbyes.
All in all, it was a great trip.
1 comment:
Thank you so much Adam. What a great post. It was one of the best gatherings in my memory. Having us all together, enjoying being together, sharing talents, hearing great stories and all being together to see Noah ordained...so much and so perfect! I love the pictures! I really don't know how Steve and I managed it, but we have an AMAZING family! Thanks again for the post. You rock!
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