Hero's and True Friends.

A true Hero and a friend.

A Tribute to Dallin Beck:
How do you say thank you to a friend?   I think it starts out with actions, events and time together, and then moves to words.  Words...hum...how to pick the right ones?  We'll start off with attributes. Dallin is someone who made a choice.  He choose to accept Garrett for who he is.  When it comes to the friendship that Garrett and Dallin have, Dallin is thoughtful, kind, energenic, caring, patient, and someone who listens to Garrett.  Truly listens to him.  Garrett can feel and sense all of this, and so he trusts him.

When it came time for Garrett to be baptized, he asked Dallin to do it.  Dallin accepted and performed a saving ordinance for Garrett.  How do you show gratitude for that?  Again, with an attempt with words...

Garrett's Baptism

Who does Garrett invite to his parties?  His 16 year old cousin...Dallin

 Garrett and Dallin have a connection that is simple, possibly one sided (for Garrett's sake), but for Garrett Dallin fills a friendship that is needed.  Dallin is nicknamed the "protector".  When I asked Garrett, "Why is Dallin the protector?" He responded with, "he is so strong looking, and he he can save me from any bad guy."  Well said.

Garrett at the Sidewalk art show...

Garrett is 9...who knew where this would lead him?

How do feel about Dallin? He is the best-est EVER!

Dallin and Garrett's Special friendship captured...

Sharing a secret...sweet.

 Garrett and Dallin shared a day together recently.  Garrett invited Dallin to be his guest at the Museum Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point, and I quote, "The greatest place of earth!" I dropped Garrett off and Dallin drove them down.  Garrett had saved his money to use to pay for Dallin's entrance fee, movie, and lunch.  Garrett said that it would take all day to see the museum correctly...8 hours later, they had seend it all.

 Anyway, throughout the drive, they talked about many different things: school, likes, dislikes and relationships with girls (Garrett has a girl friend.  Her name is DW--yep from the cartoon Authur--cute, but not real, sigh).  Garrett was talking about how sad he sometimes when DW doesn't listen to him, and how that can hurt his feelings...Dallin started relating right away with some of the relationships that he has had.   He just kept listening and empathizing with Garrett...talk about friends...he really understood some of his pain.

 During this same trip, Dallin experienced an opportunity to have great patience.  This was during the gift shop adventure.  One of Garrett's favorite things to purchase are the dino's for his dioramas.  Dallin had promised him that he could buy one.  Garrett took about 24 minutes at the counter to narrow down out of the 34 he had brought to the counter which one he was going to get.  Dallin soon discovered the fascinating way that Garrett makes decisions: complete with sound effects, sound tracks, and flying dinosaurs.

 In the words of Dallin it became the battle of champions; complete with brackets, heats, and play-offs.  (Thankfully there weren't too many other people in the gift shop waiting to buy anything.  Although they had gathered quite a crowd to witness the battle of champions! Now as is any battle, there were dinosaurs attacking each other, death and carnage, and well when they finally were dimissed--remember that Garrett is humming/chanting music throughout the battle and explanation of each characteristic of the dinosaurs, suddenly the looser would be thrown over Garrett's shoulder in luckily into the SWIFT hands of Dallin.)

Garrett is standing proud.  He had the "best day of this life!!" 

  In the end, one of the dinosaurs was determined the winner and they finally left the check out stand.  Test in Patience...Dallin, you will learn many more of these on your Mission--although I'm not sure that they will have sound effects, visual effects, or a full sound track to accompany it. :)

Dallin's job was to lift Garrett to see all of exhibits up close.  and then help to categorize all of them...again patience.

Dallin Shawn Beck a true hero and  friend to Garrett.  Thank you for everything.

Dallin, Thank you for accepting, loving, teaching, and showing Christ-like love to Garrett.  You are just so cool with him! Your friendship to Garrett means so much to him...and to me as a mom.  I'm so proud of you...my heart is bursting!