Garrett's Birthday Rainbow

Today was Garrett's birthday and we were constantly reminded of the constant love of our Heavenly Father and that Garrett is always watching over us.

For those of you that don't know the significance of Rainbows in our family, the shortened story goes something like this:   After Garrett went missing, we went to Ecuador 4 months later to build a school in his honor in the Andes Mountains.  After we built the school we went on an excursion to Peru to go to Machu Picchu.  When we got to Machu Picchu we had the opportunity to climb the highest peak called Wina Picchu.  Once we made it to the top we could look over and see Machu Pichu and all the wonderful sights.  As we were sitting up there,  my mom, our friend Leslie, and my hair all began to raise and we knew that there was lightening getting ready to strike nearby and we decided we should probably start going back down.  But right as we said that, we looked down and saw two perfect and beautiful rainbows.  As we saw these rainbows we had the overwhelming feeling that Garrett was with us and that he was watching over us.  It was a very spiritual experience and it was amazing to share with our family and very close friends.  The guide that was with us told us that he had hiked up there over a thousand times and he had never seen rainbows.  We sat there and enjoyed the feeling of peace within us.  As we decided to hike back down, the rainbows started to disappear, just like that.  I know those rainbows were for us.  In many times in our life since then (significant moments, Garrett's birthday, when we're especially missing him) rainbows will appear and we are reminded that he is always there with us.  Today we saw a couple different rainbows.  Garrett would be twenty today (last teenager of our family!) and it was a blessing to be reminded of our Heavenly Father and Savior's love in hard times and good times.  

Happy birthday Garrett... And thanks for the rainbows!  I love and miss you!

The plaque on a bench at Salem Pond