I've loved reading all the memories on this page. My favorite memories of Kyle are wrapped up in a particular season of life.
Growing up, I got to know Kyle through our church youth group. We were friends at the time but weren't super close yet. I always admired Kyle but I was just too much of a selfish and distracted teenager to truly appreciate his amazing character.
It wasn't until my senior year of college that I really got to know Kyle. My junior year abroad was an important year of my life because that is when God really recaptured my heart and brought me back to Him. When I came back from that year, I really tried to lean into seeing the best in people and loving others. I immediately recognized these traits in two of my friends more than I ever had before. These friends were Kyle and Mario Arenas. Kyle and Mario are two of the most fun and adventurous people I've ever known and their love of Christ was infectious, too.
Over the next couple of years, I loved getting to hangout with Kyle and Mario whenever I could and getting closer to them, both. When Kyle asked me to be one of his groomsmen alongside Mario and his cousin John Harbin, I was honored. I'll never forget that Kyle's bachelor party was building a bridge for Kyle's and Vanessa's wedding. We cut down two large pines in his parents' backyard and used Kyle's jeep and Mario's truck to move them to the creek. To this day, I'm still not sure how we pulled that off. After an awesome day of hard work, we all went inside and Kyle's mom Kay made us steaks and baked potatoes. It remains the best bachelor party I've ever been to.
Kyle had an incredible blend of genuineness, kindness, and an adventurous spirit. I'll never forget Kyle and that wonderful season of Christian brotherhood. I can't wait to see him again one day and we will continue to pray for his precious family.