Elder Rowley Update

This week we received our first pictures from the MTC along with our weekly letter.  Brian sounds great!  The pictures cracked me up.  They are the "quintessential" MTC photos.

I'm also attaching an excerpt from his letter:

[Everything is so good.  I love you and miss you.  This week was amazing.  Richard G. Scott or I just call him Rich is so funny.  His talk was so good.  Also, yesterday, the Fox herself came to talk to us...  Sheri Dew.  You know one of my favorite hymns is "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing".  We sang that to open the fireside and then we sang "Armies of Helaman."  It was so powerful.  Then Sheri Dew gave a great fireside.  One thing she said was in 1998 Priesthood, Gordon B. Hinckley said, "the economy is fragile, so get out of debt.  I want to say this with all the emphasis of my heart."  Also, Thomas S. Monson in April 2008 said, "We have no reason to fear, for the Lord is at the helm... we can and will win.  It was so good.]

I loved the letter:  filled with Brian's special blend of sacrilege and testimony.  I just hope the Chinese and the French are ready for him!

During a grueling week at work and facing a weekend of chores, it was a great shot of positive energy to hear from Brian and see that he appears to be thriving...

The infamous "Matrix" shot.  Also known as the laying on the ironing board shot.  Either way you slice it, very cool.  Please also note that Brian is wearing his Back Street Boys shirt in the photo op.

Steve must have laughed for 10 minutes when he saw this one.

This was my favorite!  Brian and his cousin Matt (who is now serving in Boston, MA)

Brian and his companion and zone leaders

See?  He knows where France is!  He is not an Ugly American.  Frenchies, please treat him kindly!

I'M READY TO PARTY! ARE YOU WITH ME?

I have a confession to make: I love our Family Reunions.

I love the weird smell of Fort Worden and the Ghost Stories. I love taking a nap in the afternoon and hearing the laughter float up the stairs. I love the cousins. I love the lazy walks down to the water. I love the food (God bless you Amanda!), I love the memories from seven different reunions over 17 years: cakes shaped like Africa, fireworks, photo shoots, the crafts... ahhh, the crafts, holding little ones (in 1992 it was my little one, in 2008, it will be my great niece and nephews), the canoe ride with only one oar, being scared spitless by a scarecrow sitting on the toilet at midnight. I love the comraderie and that special kind of joy that I feel only at Fort Worden with my family.

And this year, I'm even more excited. It may be that it will be at Halloween, and what could be cooler than Fort Worden at Halloween? It might be that I'm missing my boy, so it will be extra special to hang out with the family. It may just be that work really sucks right now and I just need to get out of that place, but however you spell it, I can't wait!

If you are a family member reading this, know that I love you more than I can say. If you are a friend, you may feel quietly jealous. Because my family rocks!!!! We may not have talent, looks, intellect or any other redeemable quality, but we have do have some powerfully forged bonds: the same twisted sense of humor, a shared faith in God, and a loyalty that has run through weddings, births, funerals and in out of days and years. I have always loved my family, but it has taken me years to realize how precious this incredible blessing is. The blessing of being Beagley... who knew?

The girls at Madison's shower. Madison might be a more powerful force this year, do you think?

Megan wearing the infamous sweat shirt that once beat out a forest fire

Caiden makes his first appearance at the 2006 reunion

The Beagley Men: Feel the Testosterone

The last morning of the 2006 reunion. If you look closely you'll see a tear in Mike McLaughlin's eye. "Is it over already?"

these boys can quilt!

'hard to believe that two of these boys are now "bringing the world His truth". Heaven help us.

The Armstrongs Represent! (I love that Jolene totally looks like she is starting a cheer!)

Can you say "Craft Nazi"?
preparing the baked french toast.... mmmmmmm.

the Gangstahs

Here's everyone saying goodbye two years ago. 'Just two more weeks until we're back in the damp fog that is Fort Worden. I love you all and can't wait to see you!

Fall into Autumn

I may need to come to terms with the fact that life will go on... even while Brian is far away. Nothing else can account for the fact that we had a great autumn weekend with each other and friends and family. Friday, during a horrible day at the office (I don't know if anyone's checked the market lately....), I got a text (I'm very hip) from our friend and neighbor John. He was in town for a weekend home from Western. He invited us to dinner with the Hills and the Pearsons. It was so great to see them all again, and share tales of these young men who are onto life's great adventures. It was the beginning of a wonderful respite from the madness.

Saturday morning, we returned for our annual sojourn for apples in Leavenworth. I must admit it wasn't the same without Brian stuffed in the back set, playing Nintendo (no, not PS2, but full-blown Nintendo that his father rigged for him to be able to play in the car) and whining the entire trip. I've never understood why the drive was so horrible when he was playing video games, exactly as he would be at home, but Brian is never one to suffer in silence... This year, instead of a bored teenager, we took our friends Dave and Leslie. It was a little strange, as the Blakely's seemed to actually enjoy the scenery and the company. After the first few miles adjusting, we found it quite a pleasant experience. The changing leaves were amazing. After gathering apples from the greatest fruit stand on the planet (see photos below), we headed back and stopped by the river to enjoy the day. Then we gorged on Zeke's burgers, malts and onion rings (sorry, Brian... this part he really will miss!) and headed back to the west side of the state. It's odd as we spent much of the drive reminiscing about watching our kids grow: when did we get to this stage? That being said, in many ways, this stage rocks!

After dropping the Blakely's off, we hopped back in the car and headed in the opposite direction to Port Orchard for a family birthday celebration at the Rowley's. There were fewer numbers than in celebrations past, but it was so fun to watch Steve with his brothers, Wayne and Wade. To hear Steve's sense of humor and deep chuckle times 3 is always a treat. Mom is a wonderful hostess and everything was as wonderful as we've all come to expect and demand!

It was a great day that reminds of how blessed we are to live in a beautiful place and surrounded by loving friends and family. I do have to head back to the office tomorrow, but I'll have plenty of apples to slice and prep to remind me of the great weekend!

This is what Eve looked like when she hit 45!


I have not done this pose since Sadie Hawkins 1980!

Our Bishop has many spiritual insights to share:

some of them are from The Karate Kid

Watching the cousins play was a highlight of the night. They truly adore each other!

A Good Day!

Is it ever good news when the phone rings at 5:40 am?  If you asked me this question at 5:39 this morning, I would give you a resounding, "NO!" but I've since changed my tune.  When I heard the phone ring I was sure that the server was down at the office or something worse.  Even when I saw the "pay phone" with an area code 801, it didn't sink in.  But when I heard my boy's voice at the end of the line, I was awake and alert!

Elder Rowley had some visa issues he needed to clear up.  So, he took a "day trip" to San Francisco with a few other Elders.  'Such a mover and a shaker.  He was able to call us from the airport.

He sounded upbeat and like life is good.  He says it's hard and that the long hours of study challenge him.  He also said that he is "getting better at it" and that his favorite part of study is reading his scriptures.  He says he loves his time with the scriptures.  I took this as a very good sign.  He mentioned the powerful Spirit that he feels in the MTC in both his letters and his conversation today.

He's been overwhelmed with the packages and letters he's received.  It's meant the world to him during a pretty big transition.  Thanks to all who've given him so much support.

On the phone he mentioned that he's supposed to exude "quiet dignity.... whatever that means."  I love that boy! 

He also says he's very impressed with the Sister Missionaries.  He says it's liberating to be around girls without any need to impress them.  He mentioned that he is doing his best to make himself as "unattractive as possible" to them.   I am in awe of the sacrifices this young man continues to make.  I hope he is able to shield enough of his charisma so that he won't be a distraction to the young maidens.  

Having a surprise call was incredible and it was a wonderful way to spend an hour!

If by chance you want to write to him:

ELDER BRIAN NASH ROWLEY

MTC Mailbox #183

FRA-PAR 1201

2005 N 900 E

Provo, UT  84604-1793

you can also use www.dearelder.com.  Letters are delivered for free the same day you send them (if prior to noon).

This One's for Lisette

After what has been a very rough few weeks at work, I've been feeling pretty sorry for myself.  Worse than that, I'm actually beginning to take myself seriously.  To try to fight off this ridiculous behavior, I've actually started a journal again after a small hiatus (I believe my last recorded entry was prior to Brian's birth, but who's counting?).   As a part of my journal entries, I've taken President Eyring and Steve Rowley's advice to do a daily "Hand of the Lord" entry.  This is acknowledging something in your day where you see the Lord in your life.  It's been a pretty amazing experiment.  As you write down these items, you realize how intimately the Lord is involved in your life.  And, I believe, as you acknowledge the experiences you have, you are blessed with more.  Each day since I've started I've had at least one powerful experience to give me what I've needed during a difficult time.

Today I had the chance to walk with my friend Lisette.  I was telling her about these entries.  As I was blabbing away about this and all the other information I poured over her during our walk, I realized that she was one evidence of the Lord's hand in my life.  Though Lisette has plenty going on in her own life, she listened to me, validated me and gave me some wise counsel.  All this while burning calories and watching the sun set over the Puget Sound (oh, and watch a scene from some movie being filmed).  Can a woman ask more than this?  I think not.

I'm thankful for her humor, thoughtfulness and how she never does anything half way.   What she offered me this evening was exactly what I needed and it reminds me that my Heavenly Father loves me and watches out for me every day. 

P.S.  Apparently, Brian is doing just fine in the MTC.  His emails contain many more exclamation points than they do details.  He just lets us know that he is doing sooooooooooooo awesome and his roommates are soooooooooooo funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I'll have to post some of his entries so you can see that I do not exaggerate.   Thanks to every one for supporting him at this exciting time in his life.