Reflections....thoughts and stories about Brian Syddall  

I'm sure it wasn't easy for Hunter and Hayden to get up and talk about their dad at his funeral, but they both did an excellent job. I'm not positive but I think they are 16 and 18 years old. Matt Barron, Angela's husband spoke next. Angela being the only sister and baby in this Syddall family. Matt also did an excellent job on his talk.

                                                                Brian Syddall

As Jeff got up to the pulpit to talk at his brothers funeral he set the stage for their life story in a way. He told of their parents, who as young newlyweds talked about their future family. One wanted two children...the other four. So they had two children....and seven years later started on the next batch of four children! Six children, two different generations! Jeff was the little brother, who had two older brothers, the oldest "little Billy" (Billy Syddall Jr) and two years younger, Brian. I enjoyed Jeff's talk, the stories he told, the setting into their family life. It was also very enlightening, entertaining and uplifting to hear Bill's talk. Jeff talked from his heart as far as I could tell didn't have a script. He knew what he wanted to say and he tried to say what he felt his brother would want him to say.... Jeff said Brian was the "glue" in their family. He expressed what a good example he had been and told that Brian was proud that he had never touched alcohol in his life. Bill had a very well prepared talk that I even asked for a copy of. It's one I want to share with my children. Jeff called Bill "the wise" brother. It was easy to see why that might be so! Bill, the oldest brother, is perhaps the smallest of all the boys in the family, even though he is the first born. He told a story about when he was six years old and his brother Brian only four some bigger boys came into the yard where they were playing and started to pick on them. Little Brian held up his fists in front of his face and then punched the boy in front of him as hard as he could in the nose. They all took off running and the two brothers headed into the house to tell their mom about this. Little Brian was jumping up and down saying "I did it! I did it! I punched him in the face!" Bill said at four years old his little brother had his back! And as he grew he played football and wrestled and on many occasions had lots of other backs. Bill told a story about the last significant fight he had with his brother. He was 13 years old, Brian was 11. He said it must have been a day when not much exciting was happening and they had been fighting for most of the day. Their mother was fed up with the arguing and fighting and told them that when their dad got home he would be dealing with them. When they heard his truck pull into the driveway they ran for their shared room. He came in a few minutes later with a big grin on his face. He told them they could get their spanking over with right now or they could go with plan "B". But if they didn't do plan "B" they would get a spanking anyway...right where they were at the time. Having a choice! They decided to go with the non-spanking punishment, even though they didn't know what it was. The first part was to go out and jump into the back of their dad's truck. He then informed them that he was going to drive around the neighbor hood and every time he honked they were to raise their hands up and punch the air as they shouted "I LOVE MY BROTHER!" .....but that wasn't all. Then they were to kiss on the lips. Bill said "I was 13!" I knew that we had already commited to this punishment and if I backed out now we would get the spanking outside where everyone could see. They looked at each other in resignation and agreement. Their dad jumped into the truck and started driving. Everytime he saw a neighbor or friends he honked. The boys did their part like they were supposed to. Bill said it was the LAST time he fought with his brother. He said "Oh what I would give to be able to crawl up into the back of the truck and shout at the top of my lungs "I LOVE MY BROTHER!" again.

In between Jeff and Bill's talks Taylor Syddall, a nephew and his wife sang a song "Overwhelmed" Taylor played the guitar and they both sang.
I've left out a whole bunch but there was two hours (it didn't seem like that much time at all) but the spirit that was there was really overwhelming. Tender...tugged at your heart strings...and made me ponder many things in my own life. Relationships, priorities, the atonement, thoughts about what my siblings might say about me if I were the one laying in the casket... what I have accomplished in this life...and the things that I haven't. Mortality. Forgiveness. Second chances. How hard it is to have a child die before you...How hard it is to have your husband die... So many other things and thoughts. I may of said it too many times "I hate funerals." But really I should beg forgiveness for saying that. It was an honor to be there...and to be a part of this amazing family.

I know Brian is here...and so is Wes!

Here is a grown up Brian with his boys

Here is Uncle Joe, Wes, Grandma Taylor, Kathy with little Brian on her lap and little Billy