This month it was Mike's birthday - Toby's dad! He is very loved and greatly missed by us all.
C.J. and Mike - Honeymoon.
Mike and C.J.'s wedding day in November. They later joined the church together after they had a couple of children. I am very blessed that they joined the church, or I probably wouldn't have met Toby.
Toby and our kiddos! You are a wonderful daddy Toby!! Our kids love you so much!! I know your dad is proud of the father and husband you are!!
Toby and his family with his dad holding him as a baby in a family picture.
He was a commercial artist - very talented, witty, funny man. He was a family man and loved his family very much! His laugh was contagious and brought light into every room he entered. He was a jokester and loved to make people happy! We named Mikenna after him - and Mikenna is very much like her grand dad in a lot of ways! We talk about him a lot in our home - and make sure our children know the kind of person he was. He was a friend to all, loved people and the gospel. He was a wonderful father and husband - and put his family first - and was the center of a good time! He touched so many peoples lives in the short amount of time he was with us. He passed away when Toby was 13 years old - the same age Jaron is now. Knowing that - and how much a boy needs his father during those teenage years, you would never guess Toby grew up without him here in the physical sense. He had a strong impact on his children and didn't waste any time loving them, teaching them, showing by example, and always making the most out of each moment he had with his family. I feel so blessed to be married to a man that has the same qualities that his dad did. It's a reminder to me each year - not only how wonderful Mike is - but how wonderful Toby is - and how blessed I am to have them in my life. This time of year - I miss loved ones that have passed on - my grandma and grandpa Winder - and my grandpa Higley - my father-in-law Mike......I feel them especially close in the Fall season. Even though they are not here physically, I can still feel them around me loving me, encouraging me- and still a big part of my life. I have never met him here - but I feel a closeness to him and have on many occasions felt his spirit in our home. I feel like I have met him and know him - and miss him. I am so grateful for Mike and for Toby - and for the wonderful fathers they are. My kids are so blessed! And I know I am equally blessed! I love you Toby, and I am grateful for all you do for me and our family. I know you miss your dad. I know he is so proud of you, and the man you are, the father and husband you are. Some day you will have him by your side again, and be able to talk to him again, and joke again and spend time together.
Toby - he is so cute!!!
Mike - always the jokester....this is a picture of him playing a villain in a play.
Mike jumping on the trampoline joking around again.
Toby - and his family on one of the last vacations they took as a family. Mike designed the t-shirts they are all wearing - Colorado Clan-and has all of their names on each shirt. There are 8 kids in the family - one was adopted and not in this picture. They had Rasmussen cheers they would do as a family.
Toby and his brothers - Cody and Casey- Perry is missing in this picture. 
Toby's brother Casey-wearing Mike's glasses - and holding up a picture of him in honor of his birthday!
Casey - thanks for sharing this! It made us smile!!
