Today was the day. I have fretted and fussed all week. I've been focusing on the quilt. I finished up the last pieces of applique yesterday at the Oswald Family Reunion. More on that later.
Today I got up and started on my remarks. I let Josh read and edit them a bit.
This is the Program
Official BSA cardstock. I felt bad because I didn't send out invitations. I created a Facebook event and also relied on word of mouth and announcements at Church.
This is the Program.
Eagle Court of Honor for Josh Oswald
July 19, 2015
Welcome:
Master of Ceremony – David Holloway
Opening Flag
Ceremony – Troop 257
Opening
Prayer – Brad Oswald (uncle)
All Eagle
Scouts invited to sit in the Eagles nest
Remarks –
Wendy Oswald
Scoutmaster
minute – Courtney Patten
Remarks –
Josh Oswald
Presentation
of Eagle Scout Award – Court Patten
Special
Presentation
Closing
Remarks – MC
Closing Flag
Ceremony – Troop 257
Closing
Prayer – Peter Knight (uncle)
Refreshments
Thank you
for coming and celebrating with us.
We included a quote from Baden-Powell, the founder of Boy Scouts:
"It's the spirit within, not the veneer without, that makes a man."
This is my talk:
I have been thinking about our scouting journey. I have been
remembering the names of leaders who have been there for my boy. Names like
Tracey Jenkins, Ryan Sayer, Shananndoah Trombley, Dean Smith, David Dougal,
Terry Carson, Courteny Patten, David Holloway, Weldon Richardson, and of course
Bishop Mendenhall. Those are the obvious names. I’m sure I am forgetting some.
And there are other names that I don’t even know. Those who gave up a month
during the spring for Scout Pow wows. Those who gave up their summers for Scout
Camp. Those who showed up for boards of review. Those who showed up at the pool
and at weekday activities. I am indebted to all you.
This was basically my goal. I bribed my way here. Josh is a
good boy and he complied with the program. When things got hard and he asked
why, I told him that scouting would help him grow into a man. I told him that
when we sustain people in their callings, we need to go to the activities they
plan for us. I told him that school came so easy for him, he needed something
that was hard so he could learn to do hard things. I told him a lot of things,
but those are the ones I remember most.
I have watched him grow while he was on this journey. And
while it is true, he would have grown anyway, there are somethings that I can
definitely attribute to scouting.
In scouting he was introduced to pull-ups. The physical
fitness is more than just pull-ups, but his dad does the other stuff. I
remember him working so hard to get that one pull-up. I bought a pull-up bar
and it sat around mostly. Occasionally it would be pulled out and used. It held
his hat or his jacket. It was a decoration on his door. I was surprised when he
recently came home from school (I think) and proudly reported that he had done
20 pull-ups. That is huge.
Scouting introduced him to running. He would have gotten
there in school, but his first timed mile run was for scouting. At the end of
this year in track he ran a mile in 5 minutes 24 seconds.
Scouting introduced him to camping. Honestly, as a family we
go to hotels or family cabins with running water and electricity. Actually,
just yesterday, we were at a “cabin” that is more like a mansion. This cabin is
nicer than any home I’ve been in. Our summer vacations are based more on family
gatherings, and we gather at water parks, in cities and in each other’s homes. Josh has learned how to make fires, although
just yesterday his uncle Brad showed him he is king at this skill for the
moment. He can set up and take down a tent. He can pack his pack and has
snow-shoed. He knows the importance of keeping his feet dry and warm. He has caught
fish and knows how to clean and cook them.
Josh learned how to cook with Dutch ovens and portable
stoves and open flames. We have some in our family who are absolutely fabulous
with Dutch ovens. We are happy to let them be fabulous. Josh has learned what
he knows about Dutch ovens from scouting. I listened with a bit of wonder last
month as Brother Patten reminded Josh about how to cook breakfast, and Josh was
confident and not worried. I’m not sure if he actually cooked breakfast in the
Dutch ovens, but he knew how to do it.
He learned about cars at scouting. He learned about welding
at scouting. He made a knife – and it is really a cool knife. He made a model
rocket and learned about space. He learned about guns. He learned about
kayaking and canoeing. He has learned about zip lines. He learned about first
aid. And then he learned about first aid. And then he learned about first aid
again.
He learned how to plan things. I remember when he was in
fourth grade, he was put in charge of a class party. He didn’t know how to do
it and he didn’t want me to help him. I tried to tell him about delegation and
assignments. I tried to tell him that he didn’t have to do everything. The
teacher helped out and assignments were made and it was fun. Those basic skills
were practiced and honed in his years in scouting. He has learned how to be a
leader. He has learned how to plan. He has learned patience with those he
leads. He has learned how to make phone calls to peers and leaders. He has
learned how to talk to strangers - peers and adults.
He has learned how to conduct a meeting: how to begin and
how to end. He has learned how to write an agenda or plan and then he has learned
to follow it. He has learned how to
involve others and share the load. He has learned how to speak in front of
people.
He has learned about service. He has worked in other
people’s yards. He has shoveled snow, and snow and more snow. He has cleaned up
camp sites. He has helped in the community dinners. He has helped people with
disabilities. He has helped with the
cows – and that was an education. And so many things that I can’t remember at
this moment.
Scouting has taught Josh how to set goals and work towards
them. It has taught him diligence and endurance. Because, let’s face it, the
citizenship badges and communication badge require diligence and endurance. He
has learned how to do hard things. He has learned how to be part of a team. He
has learned the joy of shared success and accomplishment.
His idea of what a man is has been expanded by all the good
men that he has worked with. He has more knowledge and information. He has seen
different styles of what being a man means. All this will help him as decides
what being a man means for him.
Eagles are magnificent animals. They are apex predators.
They have no natural enemies. They nest in impossible places that keep their
young safe from everything but the elements, and they provide protection from
the elements themselves. They can see clear and long. They fly and glide in the
thermals, up so high that is all but impossible to see them from the ground.
They are BOSS!
Eagles have characterized power and nobility. They represent
vision and protection. They are a symbol of fearlessness and freedom.
Josh you have achieved a great thing. The full value might be
hard to see right now. I am confident the value will grow through out your
life. You have joined an elite brotherhood. I am so proud of you.
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Brother Patten did a fabulous job. Josh did an amazing job. I was a little glow-y through the whole thing.
I had Kayla take a video of the ceremony. I didn't take but two pictures. Shame on me.
I did one with his good friends.
Chelsea Brown, Mia Toussant, Cami Dougal, Hannah Ricks, Josh, Cade Ricks, Seth Campbell.
This is such a good group of kids. I will miss them and Josh is trying to be not fall apart at the thought of moving away from them. We will be coming back, and I say we will come to Church in Blackfoot when we visit. Plus we will be living in a highly desirable vacation location. And there is FB, Xbox, texting, etc.
This is the amazing cake. I cut too big of pieces and ended up not getting a piece for me. But I snuck a taste of my sister-in-laws. It was yummy.
Shout out to Paisley Cakes for making an awesome cake. Yellow cake with chocolate Bavarian cream filling. Delish!
I didn't have a guest sign in book. So I had Boaz help me try and remember the people.
Josh, Boaz, and I.
Mom, Deb, Devon, Raven Nicko, Brittney, Wyatt Paraso, Willa, Peter, Kayla Knight, Ivan Harris.
Dawn Oswald, Sandy and Alan Cooper, Brad, Kris, Ashlyn, Bowen, Tayven Oswald, LuRose and Tony Mecham.
Bishop and Vickie Mendenhall. David Holloway. Robert Smith. Dean, Staci, Jesse, Zach, Logan and Kayden Smith. Ryan, Lynette, Ben, Kelsey, Rachel, and Rob Sayre. Jason, Becky, Clara, Jacob, Martha, Sarah, Hyrum, Emma and Benson Arnold. Mikkal and Cami Dougal. (David got called away just before we started. I'm still counting him.) Greg and Candy High. Tim and Diana Pearson. Reed and Melanie Hanni. Mia and Miles Toussant. Bobby Jo and Seth Campbell. Cade and Hannah Ricks. Bart, Dana, and Chelsea Brown. Courtney and Ralene Patten. Weldon Richardson.
I am so grateful for all the love and support we were showered with today. We have made amazing friends that we count as family. I am so happy to be able to share this with these wonderful people.
