Special Family Christmas Gift
For Christmas Marv did something very special for me. He commissioned an LDS artist to sketch this portrait of my dad. This was a complete surprise. I had no idea he was going to do this. The artist is Jean Keaton. She happens to be our neighbor just living across the street. Right after we moved in, Marv started talking to Jean about sketching this picture. Jean does many of these portraits. She told Marv that it probably would be a year wait for her to finish, just because there is that long of a waiting list. That was in July, she was able to finish this portrait on Friday, December 19th, the day before we went to Vernal to celebrate Christmas.
Marv collected different pictures of my dad and gave them to Jean. During one of the conversations he had with Jean, Jean asked if there was just the three kids in my family. Marv said no, that I had a brother who passed away just after he was born. So in the picture she sketched my dad holding my brother Josh. If Josh were alive today, he would be 37 years old, Marv’s age. When Marv told Jean that she asked if she should put a baby in the picture as well. And he said yes! There was some divine guidance.
Marv gave this picture to me on December 20th when we were in Vernal. The way he did it was just perfect. After we opened presents with my family, Jessi, my sister said she had a video to show us that she put together. The video was titled “Growing up as a Hacking”. It was pictures of my family and all of us growing up on the ranch. It was amazing! Marv had no idea that Jessi was going to do this. And it set the stage for his gift. After the video was finished, Marv said he had a special gift to give. He then showed us the portrait and went on to explain the process he went through to have it put together. We were all amazed! And yes, we were all crying our eyes out! It was so neat! Marv had typed up his thoughts of my dad and experiences he has had. It was beautiful!
This was such a special Christmas gift. I absolutely love the portrait. Jean did an amazing job at portraying my dad. It looks so much like him. I love to look at this picture and know that my dad is now happy and he is with my brother. I am so thankful that Marv did this for me and my family. My mom said to me later, “Marv sure made our Christmas.” I completely agree with her. This gift was given at just the right time. Not two days before, I was commenting to Marv about how I wish we did more for my dad at Christmas and even remembered my brother more. And then he did this. Amazing! It is amazing how things work out!