Darren

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The wedding was on an icy winter morning– shivering, but giddy with joy– the photos show Kit and Kevin laughing, embracing their parents and siblings.

Just as they were gathering for the reception at Kevin’s parent’s home, a knock came at the door. The police. There’d been a car accident. Kevin’s brother Ryan was in a coma, his 18 year old girlfriend, Annette, mortally injured, and Darren– Kevin’s fifteen year old baby brother had died at the scene.

I remember receiving a frantic phone call– “Don’t go to the Linkous’ reception!”– I didn’t know Kit and Kevin then, but shared in the collective neighborhood pride of the University of Utah basketball star and his gorgeous bride with the voice of an angel. We all prayed and worried and delivered casseroles to their doorstep as Ryan made a full recovery, Annette and Darren were buried and they settled into the long work of grieving their youngest son and baby brother.

The Linkous’ mourned beautifully and openly– talking about Darren, his humor, his magnificent testimony, his love for the Book of Mormon. Kevin and his father wrote songs about Darren and traveled far and wide, singing and bearing testimony of eternal families, life after death. I remember watching Carma at church and planting her beautiful garden thinking, “if she can survive this, I get through my small trials.”

All of us, watching the Linkous’, hugged our children a little tighter and appreciated birthdays a bit more. And I believe grief is like that– it can be split up, given away in tiny fragments and instead of hurting fellow mourners, it improves them.

Although, Kevin mourned well, he found it impossible to stay in classes at the University of Utah. He dropped out of school, dropped off the team and stepped onto the path of playing professional basketball in France.

Both Kit and Kevin had served LDS missions in France, so it was a natural fit in many ways. And later, when Kit and I became close, I learned another grand advantage of becoming a French employee– state sponsored infertility treatments. This gorgeous couple– anxious to become parents in every way– simply couldn’t have a baby. But Kit cheered with me through my pregnancies and births while my children got in the habit of praying nightly, “Please bless Kit and Kevin to have a baby.”

After seven years of hope and nine long months of pregnancy (with great thanks to God and the French medical community), 10 lb. 10 oz. Kathryn was born. And then Elle. And Eden.

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When Kit learned she was expecting a baby boy last fall, they only considered one name.

Darren.

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And here he is, five days old, 9 lbs. 6 oz., with dimples on each cheek just like his daddy.

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Have you ever gazed directly at pure joy? I have.

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March 3, 2011
March 8, 2011

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15 Comments

  1. Kristin

    March 5, 2011

    Like a little piece of heaven here on earth. Thanks for sharing.

  2. The Planet Pink

    March 5, 2011

    Out of indescribable grief comes unsurpassable joy. Just beautiful.

  3. Claudia

    March 6, 2011

    What a beautiful baby! Surely the heavens rejoiced at his birth. You captured the love so perfectly Michelle.

  4. Lisa

    March 6, 2011

    Oh Miss Michelle, you have Dean and I both crying over this post. I know exactly how it feels to hold a gift from above, and the joy of a baby’s precious name. I have been waiting to see these precious baby boy photos you so beautifully captured. Happiness to everyone!

  5. Tracy

    March 6, 2011

    Sobbing with joy. He is beautiful.
    xoxo

  6. Today's Gift

    March 6, 2011

    What wonderful photos and what a great story of hope. Beautiful.

    (And I Kevin has wonderful curls!)

  7. Brooke Cosper

    March 6, 2011

    Beautiful post!

  8. Jess

    March 6, 2011

    I love how God has poured out not one, not two, not just three, but four beautiful blessings. Isn’t that just how He works sometimes?

    Darren is incredibly beautiful and clearly adored. I love that.

  9. Tifani

    March 7, 2011

    How beautiful that the love lives on. May God bless baby Darren.

  10. Linn

    March 7, 2011

    Thanks for making me cry. And for the reminder that joy is endless, when it comes to our God.

  11. Anne Marie

    March 7, 2011

    Absolutely, completely beautiful. So happy for them to have a Darren in their lives.

  12. michelle

    March 7, 2011

    You really may be my favorite photographer of all time.

    Seriously.

    I love this little (growing) family. Tender story, priceless photos.

    I’m feeling the love all over the place.

  13. Kristi Pohl

    March 8, 2011

    Beautiful story, stunning pictures.

  14. Rachelle

    March 11, 2011

    Okay, that story just sent me over the edge. Wow. And, they named him Darren. All the photos are ridiculously gorgeous, but the top one with the blue hydrangeas… pure love.

  15. Life Trekking Mama

    March 17, 2011

    🙂

Comments are closed.