Happy Anniversary Baby, 'Got You On My Mind

Dear Steve

Happy Anniversary!

We've joked for years about what a "blessed woman" I am, but you know what? It's true.

I am blessed. Your combination of laughter, faith and good heart, tinged with just the perfect dose of sarcasm, are just what I need. You remind me of what is really important and sometimes you can even get me to slow down and enjoy the view!

Our different parenting styles at times made me want to scream (and I think I did a time or two!), but I look at Brian now and think maybe we're a good combo. He certainly makes us look good, doesn't he?

You've always given me the credit for the fact that we have such good friends, but I know better. I might be better at making friends, but you are the best at keeping them. You do it again by your humor, easy going nature and the fact that you people feel better when they're around you.

Thank you for your acceptance and love. Thanks for loving me for who I am and not some expectation you had of me. Thank you for believing in me more than I do in myself. Thank you for making me laugh.

I know our lives are in a very quiet chapter, but I love that! I love knowing that tonight we chose to spend another quiet evening at home together to celebrate 26 years together. We must be doing something right. I love you with all my heart!

Lynn

My Man's Evolvin'

First, let me say that I consider my husband to be a Renaissance Man.  He has it all:  he's athletic, intelligent, the funniest person I know and even does the laundry.  I have it good.  He taught his son to respect women and NEVER once in 26 years of marriage has asked me, "what's for dinner"?  Yes, I am a lucky woman.

I have had one complaint that I've held to my heart for many, many years.  While Steve is a great reader who loves The Great American Novel, he has held one prejudice to his heart:  the man won't read women authors!  For years, I've tried to introduce him to the likes of Willa Cather, Toni Morrison and George Eliot (never mind Jane Austen... I knew I wouldn't make any headway there).  I can't express how much this annoys me and how many arguments I've made over the years trying to expand this man's horizons.  I mean you're only missing out on the perceptions of slightly over half the worlds' population, but whatever.

So on Sunday afternoon between desperation and my nagging, Steve broke down and started Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton yesterday afternoon.  He finished it two sittings and pronounced it one of the best books he'd ever read and has talked of little else since he finished it.  Can Jane be far behind?  (okay, to be perfectly honest I don't know that I want to be married to a man who loves to read Austen... maybe I need some enlightenment myself!)

Nevertheless, I am vindicated.  Indeed, I am a lucky woman.

Where In the World.....?

We heard last month that our dear friend Alicia decided to serve an LDS mission.  As of last Sunday,  Alicia's Papers are in!  She should hear late next week where she will be serving. 

Steve is predicting that Alicia will be called to Costa Rica.  (If she is called to serve there, Steve is also predicting that we will be visiting her during her mission there!)  I am predicting Nicaragua, South Carolina or Taiwan (somewhere in that neighborhood anyway).  

Wherever Alicia serves, she will be such a powerful force.  Her love of others and her love of the Gospel are just two of the qualities she'll take with her.  We are so blessed by what she means to us and to Brian.

Where do you think she'll be called?  Bragging rights and a pizza to the closest pick!

Validation: I've Finally Been Tagged!

Wendy, thank you for loving me enough to tag me. It is a heady feeling, I'm tellin' you.

8 Favorite TV Shows

1. The Office

2. The Office

3. The Office

4. Project Runway
(you have not lived until you've heard Steve and Brian Rowley vehemently argue over fashion)

5. 30 Rock
(thank you Bethany and Nathan for the recommendation. Life changing)

6. The Cosby Show

7. Cheers

8. Taxi
(who DOESN'T love Nick at Night?)

8 Things I Did Yesterday

1. Sat in a meeting that was too long.

2. Sat in another meeting that was too long.
(fun afternoon, as you can see)

3. Read my scriptures. (don't ask about my journal!)

4. Cuddled on couch with Steve and re-watched Thursday's Office and 30 Rock episodes (see above)

5. Tried Costco's lettuce wraps for dinner. (this should be avoided)

6. Read my book in a hot bath.

7. Wrote to Brian.

8. Sat on hold with the IRS. (again, a fun afternoon)

8 Things I Look Forward To

1. September 2010

2. Vacation... any Vacation

3. Weekends

4. Retirement

5. Going to the Movies

6. This Stinkin' Economy to Recover

7. My Next Meal

8. Finding out where Alicia will be serving her mission!

8 Favorite Restaurants

1. Thin Pan
(you should have known this one already... and no, it still hasn't closed)

2. Tres Hermanos
(certainly not for the food, but many great memories)

3. The Met

4. Etta's
(their salmon is the best I've ever eaten)

5. Asian Wok

6. Palomino

7. Wild Ginger

8. Brad's
(only Gail and Anne will get this, but it cracked me up and brought back memories of soda fountains and sliding your tray down that glorious buffet line. Bremerton had a lot to offer, didn't it?)

8 Items on My Wish List
(mostly places to go, rather than things to dust)

1. Fiji

2. Peru

3. Greek Islands

4. New Living Room Furniture

5. Viet Nam

6. Photography Class

7. Wimbledon
(to go watch, not play in!)

8. A Lexus Convertible (this I wouldn't mind dusting)

8 People I Tag

1. Bethany

2. Emily

3. Karine

4. Megan

5. Melissa

6. Stephanie

7. Lisette

8. Colene

Now, will you actually read my blog and respond to my tag? I'll wait patiently for your validation (gulp.)

We Are Fam-I-Ly

Well, we survived another one! Thirty plus Beagley's together for 3 days and no bloodshed... other than that may have been hidden under Caiden's plethura of bandaids!

Some of the highlights:

*Trick Or Treating in downtown Port Townsend
*Henry's Bowing at the end of each "performance". He must have some stage mother, huh?
*Caiden's Star Wars Move (what WAS that?!?!?)
*Family Olympics
(who was that being that took over Gail's body and what did she do with my sister?)
*Ping Pong.
Nathan, remember when Aunt Lynn beat you??? I just wanted to be sure you remembered....
*Watching the Great Nieces and Nephews color and eat color crayons (sorry Grandpa)
*The candy fest on Saturday night. Watching Gibson two fisting lolly pops was truly impressive.

Along with these, it was great to just visit at meal times with nieces and nephews. I am so blessed by the fun, wise and good family members who surround me. One personal note: Spending time with Mike McLaughlin was such a blessing. His words of comfort and wisdom meant the world to me. I was struck at how none of go through challenges without reason. Because of his faith during trying times, it bolstered mine.

The Reunion Committee did an outstanding job! Generation 3 of the Beagley Clan could truly run the world. Thank you guys so much. I love you all (and that is AFTER the reunion. Impressive, huh?)

Dad Beagley and his four kids. He must be so...... proud?

Bethany and Megan

Darling, Beautiful Maddie

Emily and Baby Ethan -He and Beck had quite the Cheek Contest. Winner still TBD.

I'm not sure what this is, but Gail just cracked me up and had to share.

We'll never outgrow Halloween Candy!

Steve must have been jacked-up on sugar as well.

Caiden at the drums. He's already learned that chicks dig Rockers.

It was so fun to see and visit with Kristin - I love this girl.

Family Olympics Survivors - Go Team 1!!!!!

Do you think that Uncle Derek may have thrown Henry just a bit TOO high?

Nathan and the Boys (he's carrying Ethan)
Caiden running to Daddy

Gibson and Grandpa! Hip Hip Hurray!

Preparing for Trick Or Treat. Believe it or not, this was the best group Shot. Herding Cats would be easier!

Beckett: Rooster. Gibson: Giraffe. Caiden: Dragonfly... w/ gun? Madison: Lady Bug. Henry and Ethan: Butch and Sundance.

A World Where Two Giraffes Colide!

Gibson spotted this little girl trick or treating in his same costume. It was hysterical! They had a stare-down that lasted a full minute, then Gibson went in for a hug and the little girl burst into tears! Best Halloween moment ever!

Aunt Bethany aka Annie Oakley

The Rockers at Work.... Steve will be cool forever in his nephews eyes. Any "grown up" (and I use that term loosely) who can score 94% on Rock Band must be respected.

Manda and Mark checking out the Jolene Memory Book. Thanks to both of you for all your work and the fun you added! Amanda is directly responsible for the two-15 minute time periods when the great grand babies were calm and quiet. You two are the best!

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!