Today is the Birthday of our first born child…Jared Craig Wintle. Jared was born on September 23, 1973 in the Cottonwood Hospital in Murray Utah. How excited we were to have a child and especially to have a son. I grew up with big sisters, but no big brother, and I always wanted one. So, I was really excited that the rest of my children would have a big brother to watch over and protect them.
Jared was a quiet, rather shy child. He was the kind of child that you could have a dozen or so of and never be bothered. I remember I was excited when he made friends because he was so quiet. Greg Oakeson was his first friend. They were friends from the time they were 2 or 3 years old. One day they wondered off together and Greg's dad found them across the other side of the rail road tracks. A chain link fence was put up around the yard that summer.
He is a great combination of the men around him. He looks so very much like his Grandpa Wintle; much of his personality comes from his Dad (some of which can be a little tormenting, but for the most part it is very very good) and then he got his love for animals from his Grandpa Bagley. Jared has always loved animals. When we would go to my parents house he would head straight up the hill to see Dad's chickens. When he was just young his Grandpa Bagley gave him some chickens. He loved those chickens and I think one of the highlights in his young life was when he entered one in the County Fair. His chicken received a 2nd Place ribbon. Of course it got some disease from the other chickens at the fair and died not long after he brought it back home…but he was still very proud that it had received that 2nd Place Ribbon. He loved dogs. When he was around 12 he begged for a dog. I told him when he could provide a kennel for one he could have one. So he and Greg went to work and built a kennel out of old pallets or some kind of scrap wood. It was awful, but what could I do…I had not specified what kind of kennel, just said a kennel. So Jared got a dog. I must say he has been through several dogs during his life. Still has dogs and yes, chickens too. I can just imagine that his Grandpa Bagley just looks down and smiles at him, proud as ever.
When Jared was in 1st grade he broke his arm. He would try to hide his arm because he did not want anyone to see it. He absolutely would not allow anyone to sign their name on his cast.
In third grade, for Famous People Day he was Louis Pasteur. I can remember him working so hard on that report and memorizing it so that he could tell the class about him. We made him a beard so that he could look like him when he did his report. For some reason that was a really big deal to him.
When Jared was in 5th grade he decided that someone was going to poison him. So he would have to take lunch from home. His lunch box went into his book bag which was pad locked and that is how it stayed until lunch time. Fortunately his teacher, Mrs. Summers, was a very wise person and helped him get over that. I think he will be teased his entire life about locking his lunch in his book bag.
Jared played the baritone in band at Mt. Jordan Jr. High and did very well. His teacher would talk about how he had learned so fast and how great he was doing. His sophomore year he played in the marching band at Jordan. Well, at least he played for a while. After marching at 2 or 3 football games he decided it was not cool, so he transferred out.
Jared continued to be shy. He never asked a girl to a school dance until the last dance of his senior year and then I had to bribe him into asking Megan Simon to a dance and I had to pay for the date as well.
The one thing he did that totally surprised us all was when he and Greg agreed to dance in the Church Dance Festival at the Salt Palace.
After graduation, he met Bridget and all that changed.
He has grown up to become a wonderful husband and provider and the best Dad a child could possibly have. I love to watch him with his children…the way he interacts with them, the patience his displays with then and the great love that radiates for them.
Jared, I cannot express how proud we are of the man you have become. We love you so very much. Happy Birthday!!!