EFY is GREAT

Bethany had an awesome week attending EFY(Especially For Youth). This program is simply amazing. The money is well worth it and the spiritual growth that takes place in just 5 days is a miracle to see. This year the theme was the same as the Young Men/Young Women's theme for the year: an example of the believers. Bethany went with friends Alina Grawrock, Courtney Cray and Emily Basham. They attended a session in Tacoma Washington at the University of Puget Sound. It's a beautiful campus where the youth and youth leaders can feel the spirit. These wonderful leaders were great for Bethany to have around this past week. They prepared and studied so that they could be able to steer and help each young man and young woman.
Becky was an EFY counselor 5 years ago and she described it as a "mini mission". There were girls who had come to EFY only because they were forced to go...Becky saw the change in these girls and their testimony strengthen. I think for those that are struggling to feel and develop a testimony EFY makes it possible in a setting of cool counselors and great youth. For those that already have strong testimonies it only helps them want to be better.
It was a hot week for Tacoma..just as it was for Portland. Thankfully the campus has a lot of trees and that helped.
Pizza night is ALWAYS a hit! The girls gather with the other girls in their group and their counselor and share not only pizza but good times. Bethany has made friends with many this year and these youth are all sources of strength to one another.
These gals and guys are great examples of the believers.


Bethany was home only a few hours and wished she were back...she was obviously touched by EFY and had a great time this past week. It was great that she was able to spend some extra time with her "BFF" Alina too :)

September Wedding

I could tell when I first met Jeff Boudrero that he was someone special. Someone that our daughter Becky has grown little by little, step by step, in love with. I think I knew even after a month of the 2 of them dating that he was "the one" for her. There were others she had dated or liked but he was the one she could share her whole heart with. It has been fun over the past several months to see through her eyes and remember how it feels to find the person that you want to share your life with.
Becky met Jeff on a blind date. How common is that? Jeff's good friend Nathan who worked with Becky introduced them. Nathan was a friend of Jeff's since he was about 8 years old. The 2 of them grew up in Layton Utah. Becky never wanted to marry a guy from Utah. She had ideas of what she wanted and when she wanted to get married...funny how that works out :) He has a calming influence on her. I have seen it as well as most of her friends. Becky is beaming and her outlook on her life has changed so much.
Becky let her friends know on June 25th via facebook that she was engaged. facebook is a great way for friends who lives close by or thousands of miles a part to keep in touch and share life. Many have posted their congratulations and "who is it?" and when is the date and where? They will be getting married September 19th in the Portland Temple. Becky thought of getting married in Utah but she really didn't want to, she always wanted to marry here in Portland. Jeff told her "we are going to get married in your Temple". He wanted their day to be at a Temple that she loved.
Becky has been very organized, as usual, and has nearly every thing set for her day...from the flowers she wants to the colors for her wedding and so forth. She is in Utah and will be until September 10th and what I can get done here I do for her so it will all work out for her day..even down to what she wants her flowers to be like...this sorta the look she's going for..maybe a tad bit different.
and her cake, well this what she's aiming for..minus the red flowers..on top...
It's an exciting time of life for her and I am so happy for her and the decisions she has made thus far that have led her to this worthy man who is worthy of her and that the two of them have their lives ahead of them to learn and love and grow together

Scout Camp 2009 with Troop 888

Bryan and Wes returned a couple days ago from a week long Scout Camp on the Oregon Coast. This year the scouts stayed at Camp Meriwether. This is a beautiful scout camp where the boys can often earn merit badges related to ocean life that they couldn't earn at camps farther in land. Bryan had a fun time and was able to earn 2 badges as well as half of the requirements for a third badge. There were several 12-13 year old boys that attended camp this year...hats off to our great scoutmaster David Sellers! David put a ton of work into this long before camp even happened and alot of work into it for the entire week. Wes and Mike Painter also attended for the entire week and the 3 adults had as much fun as the kids did.I think Bryan's favorite part of scout camp, other than daily trips to the beach were climbing the rock wall. Can you tell by the smile on his face how stoked he is to climb? He did a great job climbing...He was able to get more than half way up the wall before he decided it might be better to be down on the ground. Great effort Bryan!
The food might now always have been the greatest but over all the boys made the best of it and they had a fun time together...the dessert were always a hit. By the end of the week most of the boys and the leaders were pretty tired and ready to come home for a nice warm shower, home cooked meal and a good sleep in their own beds. The dirt on their clothes, faces and everywhere in between! The whole group including the leaders
Will Bryan want to go to scout camp next summer? You betcha he will! He can hardly wait. I don't know if it will be at Meriwether like this year but where ever it is the boys and the "adult boys" will have fun. Here are just a few more photos I wanted to add.
Happy camping!

Happy Sweet 16 Bethany

16 years ago today an Angel entered my life. She has brought so much joy and laughter to our home so many times...I couldn't even write enough to describe her. She's funny, she will act out what happened at some funny event and leave us in stitches. Like most girls her age she in non-stop talk but that's okay..I love her for it.
She is tender hearted and touched by many sad things that have occurred lately in her life. The death of dear friends and the sadness she feels as she misses them. Just a couple weeks ago after attending a boys funeral that she knew she told me "Mom...if I die, these are the pictures I want you display at my funeral." She said it so calmly and matter a fact like that all I could do was say "Okay"...just as she did. Oh her heart is big and she feels so much!
Bethany is SO EXCITED to be able to date now. She is wondering who will be the first boy to ask her out. Bethany's friend Alina and her already have great plans for amazing group dates. They are having fun thinking about it.
Happy Birthday Bethany...I love you bunches.

Girl's Camp 2009: The Hero Within

Girls Camp was GREAT this year for my daughter and for many girls throughout the Stake..not to mention the Young Women Leaders. This was Bethany's 5th year of attending camp and each year she has looked forward to it and loved it. Partly because she knew how much Becky loved it and partly because each year that Bethany has gone she has grown in spirit and testimony. She has formed strong bonds with other girls throughout the Stake that help her keep strong and remember to live the Gospel. To be "steadfast, immovable and unwavering." Last night after a week of camp President Gale shared his thoughts with the girls and the parents of how great camp was this week. So great that even Satan could not get his toe in that camp because the love and caring that the girls and leaders shared made it impossible. What a great experience!The young women and leaders of the Hazeldale Ward had an great time.
Bethany and her friend Alina posing for a picture
another photo of 3 young women from our Ward: MaKenzie, Allie and Samantha
Wes had the chance to go up on Bishopric night and loved the chance to spend time with the girls and listen to how excited they were to be at camp and the fun they were having. Bethany and Wes
Of course nearly all the girls couldn't wait to ask our wonderful Stake President questions. He loved it!
I am thankful for the great leaders that our Ward has had guide them this past week. They are the BEST!
Tara Feinaur and Jill Allen( our former YWs leader)
Darilyn May and her daughter MaKenzie
Thank you all you great leaders who help our young women grow in self esteem and gospel principles. It was a great week

Elder Sean Whitnah

Sean has been on his mission now for a total of 6 months. Usually when you are the Mom or Dad of a missionary you feel like the time goes SO SLOW but for some reason it seems like the past months have shot by quickly. I have asked Sean to send some pictures just because I want to see how he looks or how he is doing. Finally he sent some. Boy...Germany sure is beautiful. The Frankfurt Mission areas are definitely different looking than the areas that Becky served in while in Berlin(the former East Germany). Sean and his companion have taught a lot of people but often times these people don't want to be bothered or visited again. That is frustrating to Sean and any other missionary that is trying to teach. He is loving his mission and nearly every email he speaks of the food that he tries. I wonder if he'll come home a few pounds heavier?? If he did it wouldn't hurt him a bit. He left here weighing in at only 120 lbs. One of the foods he loves to eat are these things called donars...they are actually a Turkish dish but with so many Turks in Germany the Germans love them too.
From the angle Sean is holding it the donor doesn't appear quite that big...but take a look at how big it is as his companion shows it...I know I couldn't eat all of that!
A few weeks ago Sean and his companion took a hike on the outskirts of Dusseldorf. Dusseldorf it a HUGE city...nearly 600,000 people. Sean had hoped to serve in smaller areas and so far has been in fairly big areas. I know he enjoyed his hike into the country and wooded areas. This picture in the woods blew me away...it is so beautiful there. Here are a couple more photos that he recently sent. Germany reminds me a lot of Pennsylvania, where I grew up. I can see why so many Germans made Pennsylvania there home when they moved to the United States. The climate and all are very similar. This photo of Sean on their hike...i bet it was a great day. The weather looked perfect for it and even though the picture is a bit grainy it is good to see that Sean is loving it!