baby willows funeral

today was so heartbreaking. my beautiful friends baby who was born with trisomy 18, was laid to rest at the pinnaroo valley memorial park. from birth, the family knew their time with baby was limited and precious and i have never seen a baby more loved. she was so beautiful with her wise eyes and little giggle when she was held. how blessed they were to be her parents.

i truly admire mel and aitu for their strength and courage they showed today, surrounded by family and friends. their little girl was loved by so many. i absolutely couldn't hold back the tears as her little coffin was carried across to the grave by her sisters and cousins. what an incredible gesture.

i was asked to take photos for the family and i have so many beautiful shots of the girls. how much heartbreak they are feeling i can only imagine, but they were so brave the entire day.

melinda spoke of the blessing of having an eternal family during the church service and i know that it is our greatest blessing as members of the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints. to know that our children will be ours in the eternities to love and hold for all time.

willow you beautiful angel. you've gained your wings, but i know that even though you are separated now, you will be reunited one day and you will be loved by your earthly family for all eternity.

oli's funeral

oli has been laid to rest with her beloved stephen.sleeping peacefully together for all eternity.  

i had the absolute honour of writing her eulogy for doug to deliver. writing is more my thing than his and i honestly think he's had more than enough to deal with over the past week. when oli started to get really sick, i started taking notes of things that she had told me, things that she wanted at her funeral and funny stories from her life. so here they are, all put together.

First and foremost a huge thankyou to all of you from my sister and I for being here to celebrate our mothers life with us. Getting her here proved impossible in the end, but thankfully with the wonderful technology that is available in this day and age, she and other loved ones who aren’t able to be here in person, will still be able to share today with us. I do hope our cameraman might be able to do a little scan of the room so all of you watching via livestream are able to see just how many people are here for our mum. 

We acknowledge those who wish to share this day and are unable to do so due to the lasting effects of the covid-19 pandemic. My sister Dominique and her husband Bryan in the United States, my mother’s brothers, Salevana and his wife Pura and family in Samoa, Willie in New Zealand, Junior and his wife Debra and family in England, Ronie and Pua and their family in Queensland and many other family members and friends both in Australia and around the world. We thank you for your expressions of sympathy and love that have flowed since my mother’s passing last Wednesday. How grateful we are for each and every one. 

Oliveta Kendall was born in Apia, Western Samoa on the 18^th of October 1959 to Peter and Suilolo Paramore. She was the second child and eldest daughter, with one older brother, Taavili and younger siblings Masae, Salevana, Junior and Faavaoa. She grew up in the island way and loved her life and her family. She has always been so proud of her siblings and loved to talk to them and catch up on everything. She attended Pesega College in Samoa and graduated ready to take on the world. A few years later she met a handsome young man by the name of Stephen Kendall and fell pretty hard for him. They were married in 1980 and soon were blessed with me! Mum loved to tell anyone that would listen about when she had a baby with “a red hair” in Samoa and the doctors were so shocked. She said everyone in the hospital wanted to come and see the baby with the red hair. 

When I was still a baby, she and dad made the move to Hastings, New Zealand where they started their life as a family of three. Mum has always been a hard worker and found work picking apples while I chilled in my pram. She rode her bike everywhere and I just went along for the ride. I had the best childhood and was so loved by my mum. People always thought mum was my babysitter and it made her furious. One time I wandered off in the toy section and she couldn’t find me, dad ended up getting a call from the police station asking to come and collect me and she was mortified. Another time I got my foot stuck in the bike spokes as we rode long and ended up in the hospital…another call to dad… After years of waiting, my sister Dominique joined our family in 1989 and my mum was so happy to finally have her little girl. Mum loved to dress us up and always made sure we had new clothes and looked perfect. She was forever buying Dominique frilly new dresses from the markets and carried that tradition on with Madeline. Jade started sending mum “Sunday shots” to show off all the dresses she had bought Maddie for her first Christmas. Mum loved clothes and perfume and looking stylish. She wasn’t one for makeup and fancy hair, but loved to look good. 

Mum would spoil me rotten and my cousins still talk about all the cool toys I had… but she was strict as anything with me as a kid, especially with church. When I was given an assignment in primary, it wasn’t good enough to be ready, I had to have my talk memorised and had better not make a mistake. She loved working in primary and never wanted to be anywhere else. She just loved kids. Bishop suggested that she be released a few months ago when she was particularly unwell and she was not having a bar of it. “Don’t you dare!” she said. She would tell off the kids in primary with no filter and I’m amazed they liked her. To be honest, it was probably more treats. She always had treats. 

She was the hardest worker I know. She worked two (and even sometimes three) jobs for years! When she and dad moved to Perth in 2016 it was the first time she had worked only one (and part time at that) for as long as I could remember. I still remember Jade recalling her conversation with the person she spoke to at Lite ‘n Easy about a transfer when they arrived. She had yelled down the phone, absolutely furious… “I could be the best worker you’d ever have but you’ll never know ‘cause you won’t give me a chance!” No idea why, but they hired her the week after. She loved her job and the staff and had many firm friendships there. She was devastated to have to be on long term medical leave and was forever asking her Dr when she could get back to work. 

Mum was such an adoring grandmother and spoiled our kids so much. She would buy them presents all the time, always had food stashed for them and just couldn’t get enough of them. She was so thrilled when Jade told her she was pregnant with Alex as it was the first time she had been living nearby and would be able to have her newborn grandchild in arms reach. She and Alex had such a special relationship. One of his first words was grandma and he just adored her. She made us laugh with the kids, she’d hold them, they’d go to sleep, she’d go to sleep too, but if we tried to take them she’d wake up and tell us off. NO. I’m holding him! She loved them so much that Jade would be scared to take Alex around if he had a bruise on his head (which was hard with a new one most days) because mum would yell at her. WHAT IS THAT?! What did you do to him? If there was a stabbing, a storm or an accident within a 500km radius of us, she’d be on the phone checking in to make sure that it wasn’t us and reminding to be careful. 

Mum was absolutely one of a kind. She either liked you or she didn’t, there was no in-between. Sometimes she was a straight up savage, like the time we took her new car for a test drive and when the salesman asked if she liked it, she responded, I don’t care, I’ll be dead. Plus she was mad that I hadn’t chosen a Toyota and kept bringing it up. It was so awkward for the poor guy. When she didn’t like my music I’d hear all about it. “Douglas! If you spent as much time memorising your scriptures as you do these rap songs, you’d be the stake president!” She would tell off the kids and get it a little bit wrong making them roar with laughter. Seffa! Your eyes are bigger than your head! When there was too much food on his plate. Maddie! Don’t have any friends! Because Maddie had mentioned too many people in conversation. Aleki! Can’t you walk?! Because he was too busy running. Mum had the best grasp of the English language, but would still say the funniest things. 

Mum and dad moved here to be close to their grandchildren, but none of us had any idea what was to come. Not long after they arrived, dad got sick. Not long after Alex was born, mum got sick. Mum was hooked up to chemo the day dad died and we had to have her unhooked and rush to the hospital to say goodbye. Having one parent go through this is unimaginable; having both parents going through it is horrendous. After dad died, mum showed up. She went back to work and lost herself in that and her grandkids. She worked any hours they would give her. She said the busier she was the easier it was to make it through the week. It was hard on her though and last year in November it got too much for her. The drs had been absolutely gobsmacked every time she went for her chemo treatments that she was still working. She was admitted to hospital and the doctors found that the chemotherapy, which up to that point had been quite effective, was no longer working. They tried radiation, they tried another type of chemo, she lost her hair… and then she started to get tired. She spoke of how much she missed dad and how nice it would be to see him again. She ate less and less… and eventually it all got to be too much. She said her feet were hurting last Thursday, that she didn’t feel too good on Friday, was admitted to hospital Tuesday morning and after a restless night, went to sleep for the last time around lunchtime then just peacefully drifted away. What an absolute blessing it was for us to be with her and watch her sleep, pain free for the first time in months. Ready to be with dad again and enjoy eternal rest. She fought so hard and for so long and has earned her rest. But she never complained. When someone asked how she was, she would always answer, not too bad. Even on the morning she passed away, she spoke briefly to her dr and when he asked how she was, she croaked out, not too bad. She never, ever, ever complained. 

One of my happiest memories with mum is being able to visit Samoa in 2014 with her, Jade, Madeline and Joseph. She was just so unbelievable happy to be home and told us over and over we’d have to go again. I’m sure she and dad are drifting together on an island breeze and I can only imagine the reunion they would have had. She has missed him terribly and it is such a comfort to know they are together again and that she will have been reunited with Mama and Papa. Families are forever and I know that we will see her again one day. 

Mum my life will be a little bit darker without you in it. I promise I’ll do my best to be the man you wanted me to be and maybe even start memorising scriptures instead of Wu Tang. But then again, maybe not. I love you.

before we began her service in the chapel we had a last farewell with the family in one of the side rooms in the chapel

then when her service ended, her beautiful namesake oliveta and i took her coffin out to be placed in the hearse for her final journey, to the pinaroo valley memorial park.

i then had the greatest honour in all my years being involved in funerals, i asked ellie if i could walk the hearse off as they pulled out into the street. traditionally, a hearse is escorted by the funeral director and i have literally done this hundreds of times. mostly on to an extremely busy road in subiaco, but this time meant the most. as i lead her hearse onto the road, i was crying (of course) just ask madeline, i cry at everything. it was such an honour.

at the cemetery, her coffin was carried across to her final resting place by ready hands and willing hearts of her son douglas, her brother in law fatu, her nephew matthew and her great nephew matthew-douglas.

but first it was wrapped in the tapa cloth used last night as a final gesture.

what a beautiful and loving send off she was able to have surrounded by family and friends until the very end.

❤

her grave was then dedicated by douglas 

prior to the lowering by the pallbearers

with her grandbabies looking on

before everyone got to work filling the sand in before we would leave.

i love that doug wore his suit coat during the service and as he carried the coffin across before donning his family t-shirt. his mum was always at him for not wearing a suit and i know that she would have loved that he wore one just for her today.

and joseph had a haircut, much to his disgust. he likes his hair long, but cut it "just for grandma." seeing these two assist was so touching. maddie opened the funeral by singing "families can be together forever" and then spoke during the service as well, i am so proud of her.

God saw you were getting tired

and when a cure was not to be

He wrapped His arms around you

and whispered "come to me"

Good morning everyone, my name is Madeline and I loved my grandma very much. She has been sick for quite some time, but has always had time for my brothers and I. Even when she was at her sickest, she would be so happy to see us and it never seemed to matter if she wasn't feeling up to going anywhere.

Every Sunday Grandma would have a lunch box ready for us to eat in church, she gave us snacks that mum wouldn't buy for our school lunches and would buy us pretty much anything we wanted, even when dad said no. She said that's what Grandma's do. 

We are both happy and sad that she's gone. We are happy that she is with my poppy again and she's not in any more pain - but we are sad that she can't physically be with us anymore. I would be so happy to give her one last hug.

Everyone loved my grandma because she was funny and friendly, and always had lollies in her bag. Thank you for sharing today with us. I’d like to read a poem in memory of my Grandma called “You’ve just walked on ahead of me.”

You’ve just walked on ahead of me

And I’ve got to understand

You must release the ones you love

And let go of their hand.

I try and cope the best I can

But I’m missing you so much

If I could only see you

And once more feel your touch.

You’ve just walked on ahead of me

Don’t worry I’ll be fine

But every now and then I feel

Your hand surrounding mine

I love you grandma and I will never forget you.You’ll always be in my thoughts. Love, Maddie.

i love that doug has such a support from the boys at his work too. there has been so many messages of love he has been told to take as long as he needs before he returns to work. i know that they have meant the world to him.

at the end of one of the longest days of my life. the entire family together in our oli shirts. ❤

and the cutest little gestures. dougs cousins spent hours filling these little bags with chocolates to give everyone that attended the funeral. it was well known that oli always had chocolate in her bag and they wanted her to be able to give everyone a treat one last time.

and they also had a perth island food store make up these packs to distribute to all the guests/ funeral/ cemetery staff after the funeral. it was such a lovely gesture, she loved her food.

today was definitely one of the saddest days of my life. there has already been so many times in just a week where i have just wanted to call and tell her something that happened, something that she would have laughed at, something that would have made her mad, something the kids did... and i can't. it absolutely breaks my heart that she is gone, though i am so happy that she is pain free and back with her stephen. but i already miss her so much. doug found me the other day sitting in our closet crying and i don't know when it's going to get any better, but i just have to believe it will.

i can't even explain how hard this has been. having to have family here while were grieving and having to be sociable, when all we really wanted was some time alone. please don't get me wrong, we are so grateful they were here to see her off and to offer their love and support, we just needed some space. i'm so glad this is over and we can finally breathe. 

oli's family service

tonight we had oli's family service at the chapel in the hall. it was a lovely evening, a little less formal than tomorrow will be, with the coffin open and lots of stories and laughs and food afterwards. it was beautifully set up, with white wreaths ordered for the occasion and tapa cloth set out for the coffin to rest by.

it was all perfect for her and she looked like an angel all in white. 

after stephen died, oli had told me every single thing she wanted for her funeral and i had spent months adding to my notes about what she wanted so that things would be perfect. she didn't want any fuss and wanted things just like stephen had had. the same coffin even. a few months ago i found a measure of white lace and showed it to her, as one of her requests was to have a white lace covering on her coffin. it had been hemmed and waiting in a bag and finally went on her coffin today. 

dominique chose her flowers from photos we sent, so she still had the chance to be included and we spent hours and hours on facetime oganising things, working out the eulogy and every other detail. it proved just too hard to get her into australia with the restrictions being that she isn't an australian citizen, so we don't know if her application would be accepted, the air fares plus hotel quarantine costs was almost $30k, then getting her back into the us would be a whole nother story again. in the end we decided as a family that staying there was safer.

❤

dog was asked by his mothers sisters to conduct the evening and did an incredible job, held it together like you wouldn't believe and was so strong. with the wonders of modern technology, we even managed to have this family service as well as the church and burial services tomorrow live streamed  and available for a later download for all her loved ones who were not able to attend.

the most incredible part of the evening was matthew douglas sending his great aunt out with a heartfelt haka. 

the spirit in the room was so strong and felt by all who were lucky enough to be a part of the evening.

we even displayed some lovely things of hers in the passage outside the hall, some family photos and her favourite quilt. her quilt has been with her for the last 6 months, almost to the day. she had always wanted a quilt all of her own and this was made especially for her, by my mother with samoan fabrics as a gift when douglas turned 40. she loved it so much and was brought to tears. she has had it with her at home and for every hospital stay and was even covered with it when she slipped from this life to the next. she treasured it so much and i know she would have loved that it was with her today too.

now to make it through tomorrow. deep breaths.

stephen's funeral

yesterday we said our last goodbye to stephen as we laid him to rest at the pinnaroo valley memorial park.  i had spoken to him about what he wanted for his funeral in the weeks leading up to his death and i can honestly say that more love went into his funeral than any other i have ever arranged in all my years at the funeral homes i worked in.

he wanted it to be simple. no fuss. just family and some friends, celebrating his life. no misery and as many laughs as we could muster. with oliveta's samoan background, a body would normally be taken to the family home for a few days where all of us would sleep around the body and spend time with it, but he didn't want that. instead, the night before all of our family gathered together at the funeral home with his open coffin and each spoke about what he meant to us. it was a beautiful, special and an intimate final time for all of us. we had also gone as an immediate family a few days earlier to dress him before he was placed in his coffin.

after our time on thursday evening, when we closed the coffin, dominique deliberately left one of the coffin screws slightly off centre, just to annoy him one more time. it entertained us all to no end when the coffin arrived at the chapel which was the best part.

at the funeral service we had a lot of family input. madeline sang a prelude item, "i feel my saviours love" and then spoke during the service.

God saw you were getting tired

and when a cure was not to be

He wrapped his arms around you

and whispered “come to me”

Hi my name is Madeline and I loved my poppy very much. He has been sick for a very long time, but he always had time to laugh with my brothers and I.

On New Year’s Eve, our family went to the hospital to have a party with poppy. We had so much fun, we listened to ACDC, popped party poppers, had glow sticks, ate pizza, drank sparkling juice and played games. It was the best! 

I’m so glad we got to spend that last time with him before we said goodbye. I miss him so much, but I know he’s not sick anymore, so I’m happy for him. 

I am going to read a little poem to remember him with. It’s called “Miss Me But Let Me Go.”

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me

I want no tears in a gloom-filled room

Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little-but not too long

And not with your head bowed low

Remember the laughs that we once shared

Miss me-but let me go

For this is a journey that we all must take

And each must go alone.

It's all part of the Master's plan

A step on the road back home

When you are lonely and sad in your heart

With time, things get better, you know

Remember me, as you laugh each day

Miss me but let me go

I love you Poppy and I’ll never forget you.

I promise Joseph and I will tell Alex all about you.

Love, Maddie.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

 i sang "where can i turn for peace?" which i somehow made it through... who knows how, but i felt so good being able to do one more thing for him. 

douglas gave the eulogy, which was just right. it explained him perfectly, which helped a lot of people who hadn't ever been able to get to know him the way we had.

For those of you who don't know my wife Jade, she worked for many years as a funeral director. I remember she once told me that a funeral is just like a wedding. You have your flowers, your groomsmen (or in this case, your pallbearers) and the coffin is your expensive dress. So, dad - I hope you like your new dress!

Stephen Douglas Kendall was born in Gisborne, New Zealand on the 6^th of May,1954, to Evan and Louisa Kendall. He was the oldest of three, with two younger sisters, Paula and Wanda. He always wanted to be a truck driver, from when he was a child. His mother wasn’t impressed with that and told him he had better go and learn a trade, so he became a carpenter. When he was 25 he travelled to Western Samoa for work, for Craig Construction. He loved the island life and became comfortable there, even finding himself a wife! Mum and Dad were married and I arrived in 1980. We moved back to NZ when I was still a baby – then became a family of 4 when my sister Dominique arrived in 1989. On the move again, we moved to Brisbane in 1991, dad first, to set us up and then the rest of us joined him.

Life was good to him there, we built a family home and he was working as a spreader driver for Allens Asphalt. Dad lived and breathed for that place. He loved his trucks and he loved his job. When we contacted Brad Allen a few weeks back to let him know about dad he wrote back something I’d love to share: "Your Dad was the most loyal and hard working out of all the people who have ever worked for me and he was only one of two employees who passed the 10 year mark. I miss those years at Allens we had such a great crew and plenty of fond memories. Tell him to stay positive to the end as he will live on in his family and friends memories always."

He was well known and liked at Allens, earning himself a great reputation amongst the staff and the nickname “LEGEND.” His work spoke for itself, meticulously finished, he took great pride in presenting all he did. If someone said it couldn’t be done, he’d be off to prove them wrong.

Mum and Dad moved to Perth in 2015, to be closer to family. Everything fell into place piece by piece and he said that was a sure sign it was the right move. He was happy with their new place, settled into work at Boral and was happy here spending time with family, especially his ratbag grandkids. One of his proudest moments was when Dominique returned from her mission and married Bryan. He said walking her down the aisle was something he had waited his whole life for and you couldn’t wipe the smile off his face that entire day.

As life would have it though, things became harder for him, from that time on. He was first diagnosed with cancer in 2012, which he overcame, only to have it return mid 2016. This time it was harder for him, the cancer more aggressive and he struggled to keep well. We watched him go from being the toughest bloke we knew, to relying on others, which he hated, as it got worse and worse. He was admitted to hospital time and time again, with the doctors baffled by how things progressed. But, it was his time. He was admitted for a final time in late November, moved to the Palliative Room on New Years Eve, where we began the new year as a family, and he left us on January 3^rd. He fought so hard to stay, made all kinds of plans for the future, but it just wasn’t to be. Mum, my sister and I were so lucky to be able to be with him as he took his final breaths. We know of the promise of our family being sealed for eternity and take comfort in knowing we will one day be together again.

Although he wasn’t able to attend church much over the past few years due to his illness, he knew of the truth of the gospel. We found a piece of paper in his room after he passed that read, FAITH: to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see. Well dad, we cannot see you any longer, but I am certain you have gone to a better place. A place where you are whole again, and can finally get back to work.

Dad was so fiercely independent, he hated not being able to work. He often lamented that he felt useless and just wanted to “get back to it.” We wanted that for you dad. He was so proud of his family, he would always tell us how proud he was of all we did, but wasn’t afraid to tell us when we were being tools either.

Dad was a proud and hardworking man, with a love for three things: classic rock, anything with an engine and bad jokes.

His facebook profile “about me” still reads: I like rock music. Real rock. Not that modern crap. He loved to spend his days listening to his rock, but his all-time favourite was his precious AC/DC. He loved Bon Scott and was so excited when we showed him his special memorial area at the Fremantle Cemetery and his statue at the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour. During his final weeks, his greatest joy was listening to music on his portable speaker just loud enough to not receive noise complaints from other members of the hospital ward. Music was life to him. Back in his younger days he could be found listening to his music collection or playing a guitar. He had a very extensive collection of music, all rock.

Dad’s dream was always to own a Harley Davidson motorbike. It’s all he ever wanted. But every time the opportunity arose, he always found somewhere else the money was needed. He was forever putting our family first. We’ve found a way to make his dream come true today as he will be escorted on his final journey by two nice and loud motorbikes as we make our way to the Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park.

Back in his younger years he restored quite a few vehicles and brought them back to life. He took great delight in telling us that a few of them were purchased by members of the mongrel mob in New Zealand. He just loved grease and petrol and keeping his hands busy. In the final weeks of his life, he went downhill so quickly, becoming so weak and I know the thing that hurt the most was no longer being able to use his hands. He struggled knowing he had always been able to keep busy, doing things all the time and hated relying on others to do everything for him.

Our family will forever be thankful for the team at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital for the amazing care he received. Their staff on his ward are truly the best of the best. They always had kind words for dad, a smile and stacks of extra jelly in every colour. The nurses loved dad, he would joke with them and mess about. “Mr Kendall, How are you today?” “Ugh, not again.” “Mr Kendall did you have any other questions?” “Yes. Do these windows open?”

Dad, my life will not be the same without you in it. You were my greatest friend and the one person who was always ready with a joke, mostly at my expense. I know you were so proud of me and I’ll always try to live up to that. We all miss you, but know that you’re somewhere, probably having a jam with Bon Scott or working on another car.

We’d like to leave you today with dad’s favourite joke. It’s terrible, barely funny and straight up silly, but we promised we would tell it one last time.

A duck walks into a bar and asks the barman, “got any bread?”

“No?” says the barman

Next day the duck comes back and asks the barman again, “got any bread?”

“No” says the barman

The next day he comes in again. “Got any bread?”

“NO,” says the barman. “Now get out here before I nail your beak to the bar!”

“Got any nails?” asked the duck.

“No,” says the bartender.

“Got any bread?”

*******************************

as you read above - steve's whole life, all he wanted was a harley. he had spoken to us about it time and time again, and then something would always come up and it would go on the back burner again. for this reason, i wanted to make his dream a reality as we said goodbye to him. i contacted a local charity motorcycle club in a wild hope that they would possibly be able to help us by sending two of their members to escort him on his finally journey. to my absolute amazement they said yes! and were there with two shining harleys at the end of the service. nothing made me more emotional the whole day than watching them ride away escorting him.

stephen's escort on the way to pinnaroo cemetery. 

when we arrived at the grave, they waited for our pallbearers to carry the coffin across and then made a lot of noise as they rode away leaving us to have our burial. it was a perfect tribute.

  

stephens pallbearers were:

douglas (son)

bryan (son-in-law)

james (douglas's best friend, from childhood and still)

stephen (a friend from church who was there for him particularly at the end)

salevana (brother-in-law)

gerard (a cousin)

at the conclusion of the graveside service, dominique and i draped the lace cloth that had been covering his coffin over his coffin in the grave. it was a beautiful moment for us and looked really lovely to those who were there. we also threw pieces of asphalt into the grave which was such a cute goodbye, knowing that that had been such a huge piece of his life. we had also asked him to pick the songs for this part of the service and we had "back in black" by acdc, (we had to talk him out of highway to hell hahah), "old man" by neil young and he had jokingly told us he wanted "macho man" by the village people, so we did that too. i am sure he would have had a giggle about it.

(update - february 2020

we ended up selling stephen's car to his friend stephen from church and he told us a couple of days later that instead of throwing his piece of asphalt into the grave, he had slipped it into his pocket instead. it is now in the side pocket in the car and he gets to ride around with him all day every day. we thought that was so special.)

it was such a special day and truly the perfect goodbye. we were so grateful to have had so many family members here with us, even if that is what delayed the funeral taking place sooner. it was worth the wait. one of the most special parts was watching baby alexander james hanging out with his uncle james. i'm so glad they had the chance to meet, even in a time like this.