Nicolas—the Bravest Boy in the World

Once upon a time there was a boy named Nicolas. He lived in Ecuador. When he got old enough, Nicolas went on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.



While he was on his mission, he met another missionary. Her name was Hermana Salmon. He decided after his mission he was going to write her. And so he did.

And Hermana Salmon wrote back and when she went to Ecuador for a visit, they dated, and decided they wanted to get married.

So Nicolas had to do a very brave thing. He had to move to a new country. And that country was not a Spanish-speaking country. It was a country that spoke mostly English (and a little French...). Nicolas had learned a little bit of English when he was on his mission but he didn't know very much.



Nicolas was brave because he had to leave his Mom and Dad and brothers and sisters and cousins and all his friends.

Nicolas was brave because he had to get to know a lot of people who didn't speak any Spanish. And so all he could do sometimes was just smile.



And Nicolas was brave because he went to school and learned English. And when he finished his courses, he went to a college with everyone who had spoken English since they were little and was a FABULOUS student! And all this time he was also being Papa to his little family.



BUT the BRAVEST thing Nicolas did was to let me be his sister-in-law!! Thank you so much for being so brave Nicolas. I don't know what our family would be like without you and all the good things you do for us!



The story doesn't end here of course...but let me be SERIOUS and just say that I'm really looking forward to hanging out with Nicolas this weekend. He's cool. He has great ideas. He makes me laugh...and his laugh is so contagious. Nicolas is a hard worker, he loves his family, and is a BBQ King! I'm MOST GRATEFUL for the way he's treated my parents (his in-laws) as if they were his own. I so appreciate Nicolas and the care and concern he has for them. He is such a great example of that. THANK YOU Nicolas!!



Sooooo...Happy Happy Birthday Nick...love ya tons!

PS—Thanks for the Facebook pictures fam!!