Weekend with the Lairds -- Dubois, Idaho

Mom, Tammy, Brett with Allie Mae, Colby, me

Colby taking a picture

Brett and cousin John Hogan fishing on Medicine Lodge Creek

Spent this last weekend in the small town of Dubois, Idaho with the Laird family. Brett Laird, pictured above, is a good friend in the student singles ward. Brett grew up ranching and farming up Medicine Lodge Canyon, just outside of Dubois, and he kept telling me about the great fishing and squirrel hunting. So, we made a plan of it to head up this past weekend (besides, my main squeeze is out of town. Bev is out of town on a church history vacation to Independence and Nauvoo. So, it made for the perfect weekend to get away).

We drove up Friday night after Brett got done with work. Brett works for Woodside Homes as a home repairman for items under warranty that need fixing in new homes. He says the job is demanding and he's wearing out. He says it's a difficult thing working with angry home owners and subcontractors not wanting to do work they won't get paid for (under warranty). I keep telling him he's a fish out of water...that he should find work up in Idaho Falls or Boise. He's a country boy...he grew up breaking horses and living as much a cowboy as anyone. He sure seems not to fit in the city. He makes it work though. Great guy...great heart. That heart of his was never more evident than when I saw him with his family. He is wonderful with kids. His sister Tammy has two kids, Colby and Allie Mae. He gave those two so much attention and love that they must have felt they were the most important thing in the world. It was a shame that Allie Mae was very sick. She spent a good deal of the time we were there in bed. Little Colby kept us going the entire time. When we got up there we joked, teased, tickled and had a lot of fun with Colby. That just continued all weekend long. Colby and I played soccer in the front yard with a flat volleyball and my favorite was playing tackle football on the trampoline. I got black marks on my jeans from the tramp. He's a real fun kid.

Brett's father died when he was 4 years old. He's the only boy and has 3 older sisters and one younger sister--Tammy, pictured above, is the youngest. He sure loves his Mom and she him. Her Mom has done miracles with that family. Must have been very tough with only one parent.

Saturday we spent up Medicine Lodge Canyon fishing the creek. We drove up and down the fields to get to holes on the river. We caught a fair number of fish. It was overcast and rainy with mixed snow and hail all day. As such, the squirrels never really came out of their holes. Good thing the fish weren't scared of the rain.

Sunday we were able to give Allie Mae and Tammy blessings before we left for home. If anything, I think this is one of the good reasons we came up. I hope our presence gave Brett's Mom, sister and children comfort and confidence with priesthood holders in the home. It was the most important thing we did.