The days of Todd's lives

Todd got an unexpected call from his aunt Joni last week. She was calling to tell him that she was in Los Angeles for her niece's wedding and asked if we could come to the reception. It was WAAAYY across this sprawling city, but we decided to go because it was a very rare opportunity for Todd to see some very important people in his life.

When Todd was 13ish he went to live with a foster family in Rigby, ID. Incidentally, this is only a few miles from where I grew up. He lived with his aunt's family (she is an aunt through marriage) for a year or two and it was difficult in many ways, but also had some very bright spots. Joyce, for instance, was one of them.

Joyce, Todd, Joni

 Joyce, Virgil, Todd

Joyce's husband, Virgil, was often grumpy and bossy. Todd really struggled having to be an indentured servant on his farm. Joyce was always sticking up for Todd, though, and pouring out tremendous amounts of love on him. At one point, Todd left their house rather abruptly (he ran away) and Joyce said multiple times the evening we saw her how much she wished he'd stayed. She really was such a sweetheart and you could tell she really cared for Todd. 

Joyce & Virgil have a son named Niels who is an artist and was attending art school when Todd lived at his parent's home. In this picture, Todd is explaining to Niels that one time when Niels was at home, he gave Todd his first sketch book and how pivotal this moment was in Todd's life.

It was really great to watch Todd catch up with these people and listen to their stories about him living at their home. I was wishing I could go back and witness Todd at that time on all his adventures - riding motorcycles into canals, blowing things up, etc. Who knows, maybe I did see him riding his bike at the park and noted how gosh durn handsome he was.  ;)