camilleasamom@blogspot.com

I sent this as text to my boys young men leaders following Lee's incarceration in Bell County, TX jail after charges of assault.  I just wanted to reach out to you regarding my boys and let you know that we have had some very unhappy events this past week and that they are emotionally struggling. In particular Hamilton. Hamilton struggles with having good friends, having a good attitude and for the most part is angry a lot of the time. He struggles with having me as a mom and the limits that I have set for him. So this recent event has only compounded the problem. My boys love each of you and feel the love you have for him. So, I just wanted to make you aware of some struggles they are experiencing and to ask you to put your arms around my boys and let them know you love them. They LOVE you and have enjoyed the leaders in our ward and I am so grateful to you for nurturing, loving and guiding my boys. Thank you for sacrifice in doing your calling and for helping me raise my boys int...

 It seems like all of sudden Hamilton is interested in being social. He made the comment last week, "I guess in High School its important that you be social." He has even made some effort like walking Hennessey to her friend Summer's door to meet Summer's sister. He has also mentioned that he wants to be like his Uncle Lance and be cool like him and be social in high school. I'm wondering if his experience at EFY/AFY contributed to his change in attitude. It doesn't seem like much but that is progress for Hamilton. I hope that he makes an effort to be social and to have friends. Good friends will make all the difference. Happy to see that maybe he will make more of an effort. 

Last week the kids and I were in Payson (going back and forth to a soccer tournament in Park City) and I took Harrison, Esmae, Aiden and Teja to the Payson Temple to do baptisms (Hamilton chose not to go). While waiting in line to get baptism clothing, Harrison saw a box that said "prayer roll." He asked what that was for and I explained to him that you can put in someone's name in the temple who is struggling with different things and they are prayed for. Harrison said, "We should put dads name in there." I started to cry as I realized that this sweet boy recognized that his dad is struggling in Texas alone from his family and not loving his job and that Harrison has faith that extra prayers would help. Harrison proceeded to write his father's name on a slip and put it into the prayer roll box.