Happy Birthday, Princess Buttercup!

My sweet Natalie is celebrating a birthday today and I have not yet got the opportunity to do a blog for her on her special day so I am excited to let you know why she is one of my dearest friends.

Natalie just radiates the spirit of the Lord. The reason why is because she is so selfless and would give or do anything for anyone.

She has been to many foreign countries doing just that. Her most recent one was just a couple years ago when she went to Taiwan to teach English. She even made it on a billboard in Taiwan! (Look closely, she is in Blue on the left)

I met Natalie (like most of the greatest people I know) at EFY. Instantly I was drawn to her. I loved her. I could tell that she was real and sincere. Fun and loving. I wanted to INSTANTLY be friends with her!

In 2004 I got to work on the same BC (Building Counselor) team with her. We had so many laughs, sleepless nights and memories created during that time. I was so lucky to work side by side this spiritual, serving giant. The next year we got to be coordinators together (not at the same sessions though) and we did lots of our work to prepare for the summer together. The following summer I was working in the Midwest and able to drive over to her sessions in Buena Vista, VA and watch her at work. She really knows what she is doing and does a brilliant job!
Natalie has blessed me with so many awesome phone chats, gifts, lunches, sleepovers, problem solving, girl talk over our friendship. I am just so blessed!

Natalie became one of the 10%-ers for EFY when she married one of my other EFY buddies Kevin Peterson! What a match made in heaven, I tell you! I was so blessed to be able to go with Nat to pick out her dress. I nearly passed out from how radiant she looked in her wedding dress. The world hasn't seen too many brides as beautiful as she was! In fact, at their wedding photo shoot (following their sealing) Her and her husband were all the rave on temple square. Strangers were taking pictures of them, people were asking if it was a magazine shoot! It was a riot, it looked too perfect to be real!

Primary Children's is so lucky to have her as a nurse in the NICU. I am sure she makes a lot of very stressed out parents feel at ease.

Natalie is uber talented. She is an amazing friend, wife, scrap booker, baker, decorator, crafter, hilarious, thoughtful, service oriented, big hearted, coolest handwriting, planner, organizer, and I could keep going!Natalie, thanks for always being there for me. For caring, really caring about my needs, my feelings and my life! Thank you for living a life that is worthy of emulation! You make me strive to be a better person every time I am around you! I love you sweet Nat!

HAPPY, HAPPY Birthday!

"The Two Shall Become One": Meet the Peterson's!

I am still rejoicing over this eternal union! I have been a fan of this couple since before they were even a couple! Some people are just supposed to be together and these two are a PERFECT example of that!This is Kevin and Natalie. I was blessed to meet them both at EFY (are you all surprised?!) . I have always been SUPER impressed by them both and just wanted to be around them as much as I could manage because there was ALWAYS good conversation and lots of fun when they were around(together or separate).

Years ago I nicknamed Nat "Princess Buttercup" because anyone that knows her wants to do "as you wish" for her because she is so sweet and doesn't expect anything of you but to just be yourself! Kev was nicknamed "Ken" cause doesn't he just fit the part?! Practically perfect in every way!

I was so blessed and thankful to be involved in all of their wedding activities! They had such a fun dinner the night before at The Joseph Smith Memorial Building complete with a quiz we all had to do to figure out how well we knew them individually and as a couple!

A lot of neat things were said about them at their sealing. The sealer kept referring to the light that they possess as a couple that they just "twinkle". He even said that he was worried that they were going to be translated before they even made it to get sealed! They did look so beautiful and he was right the radiated true love!

Outside those temple walls it was no less beautiful! The weather was picture perfect! It was cool and breezy yet clear and sunny! There was some GREAT people who also were celebrating with me today! As you know these THREE are some of my fav gals.. they are NO STRANGERS to this blog! Wow they are glowing too! hahaha see Kev and Nat rub off on us all!

I don't know if I have ever seen a couple have more fun at their after wedding photo shoots! They were skipping, growling, Tarzan calls, and letting their true FUN values come out! Here is one such moment! The reception didn't disappoint either. It was just as gorgeous, just as exciting with so many fun people attending and I hear the chocolate bar was a HIT! Be proud of me, I stayed away with only a half of mint cookie eaten :) (It was the chocolate mint Schmidt's Bakery cookies, I just had to indulge!)

I was able to get to set up the centerpieces and chairs and decorate the cake with fresh flowers (my first time ever!) I had a blast helping them out a little bit. It was fun for once to not "be in charge" during the reception, especially with so many friends there! I have taken a TON of pictures at ALL the events so I am going to end with a collage of the reception. (to see bigger views click on it!) Kev and Nat, you will have a full life filled with love, the gospel of Jesus Christ and FUN! What more could ANYONE ever want?!
Love you both SOO much!

Let's here it for the Girl... The Birthday Girl DEVENEY!

I couldn't start my day off with out a shout out to my sweet Deveney! She has celebrated my birthday with me oh so many times since our blessed meeting at EFY! I even have a birthday picturebook she made me one year! One of my prized possessions!
Dev is an all star! She is a trend setter! She is the first to make you laugh your guts out! She is the life of the party, a diva! If only I could come close to looking so fashionable ALL the time, even when she is dressed down! Dev is the only person I have EVER turned over a nanny family too. She became a member of the family! I was so glad that it worked out! I knew they would love her as much as I did!

We have had more fun in groups than I could ever count! I worked a summer with her on my specific team at EFY and I don't think I have ever had more fun and she was always so good at entertaining my wacky ideas... tuck in anyone?

Then the day came when she found her one true love.. Oh how we love Chris!

They started their Happily ever after and now how this most adorable baby, Paisley that I have yet to meet but can tell from all the pictures that I see that she is a bundle of personalty like her Mommy!

Dev I miss your smile, your laugh, your look, your fun... I miss having you at get together's. You are the BEST!! I hope this Birthday brings you a day full of love and magical memories!

I love you my sweet Dev!

** I am sorry if I have missed your Birthday. I depend of facebook to remind me. If you aren't in there or you don't have your Birthday listed chances are I won't remember to do a birthday blog for you. Sorry...

You have arrived... HAPPY 30th KEV!

THIRTY ~ FLIRTY~AND THRIVING!

How could we not celebrate the birth of our sweet Kev! I love this boy!

You can always count of Kev for a great phone chat, a listening ear, a big chuckle or as a stalwart friend. I love the spontaneous side of Kev where he breaks out into song or dance. Where he gets everyone involved in a fun themed party or a game that pulls you out of your comfort zone. He always has been the glue that holds such good friends together. He is the first to build you up and make you feel that you couldn't have done better and will also laugh with you when things go differently than imagined. Kev has a million dollar smile that never stops!

I love when I see him or even a picture of him, it INSTANTLY brings a smile to my face. He is always so great at keeping in touch and keeping track of people through emails, get togethers, phone calls and texts. And he is so intuitive as to when he does contact you, it is EXACTLY when you need it!

One of my favorite memories of Kev was from my first BC summer at EFY. When we were checking in for BC training registration I went to his table he was busy at work as always and didn't realize that he didn't look up. When I saw that he didn't know who was standing there I took advantage of the situation and when he said, "your name please?" I looked down at the name tags there and saw one that said Barbie (for Barbie Brett) and he looked up and gave me a grimise and I said, "PLUS SIZE Barbie" it was the talk and joke of BC training and so the first week of EFY. I made him Ken, Julie Little, Skipper, the real Barbie, barbie of course and I was Plus size Barbie and I made them all shirts and we were the Barbie family! I don't know where the picture is where ALL of us are in it together.. but here is a sample! There is not a single person you will ever meet that does not adore him or have something positive to say about him! I admire his people skills and the fact that he realizes the most important part of life besides the gospel of Jesus Christ is the truth that it is the people that matter most. Kev thanks for your abounding love and friendship to all of us! Thanks for you constancy in our lives. For the things that you share and for the ways that you love that is so unique to people in our days. I love that I know I will always be in contact with you. That I can count on Peterson family parties and themed get togethers forever because that is who you are! I love how you know how to love so individually to fit peoples needs and that you aren't afraid of embracing the creative things (scrapbooks, chick flicks, decor, cooking) in life, in fact you do it head on! You are truly amazing and I love you! HAPPY 30th!
CELEBRATE WELL!

Tribute Tuesday: Especially For Youth (EFY), The program of miracles

Today I wanted to pay homage to a program that I adore most in the world! I worked 5 years (and would do more if I was allowed) of summers as a counselor, building counselor and coordinator for this program.


The programs sole purpose is to bring youth closer to Christ in all elements of their life. It shows them how you can have such a fun time at places such as activities and dances dances and still keep high standards. It teaches the youth Christ-like principles that they can take home with them and make a difference in their communties.





For those of you who wonder what this is all about, it a what most people understand as a "Bible camp". It is for youth ages 14-18 who are committed to living wholesome standards in a time of life where the world says it is okay to just be part of the world.





These youth come to campuses all over the US, Canada, Mexico and Europe. Some of them travel long distances to get there.
This is a picture of some youth in Massachucets that traveled hours in a van together to attend EFY at UMASS.

The youth are placed in groups that are with kids their ages about 16-50 depending of the size of the camp that week. Together they study Christlike attributes and pray in the mornings. They have opportunities to attend spiritually uplifting, as well as fun classes, to learn different ways to apply those principles and then of course there are dances,activity nights,and service opportunities to create a immediate sense of love and friendship among those who are going through this experience together. They come and strangers and leave as the best of friends!

A back stage pass to EFY (counselor style) is the flip side of the program which includes the number of counselor and leadership marriages that come out of this program! They say that 10% of counselors marry eachother. I am pretty sure it is higher than that, but we will go with that for now :)This is Brandon and "ERO" who are one of those 10% couples. They were acting this out for an EFY video skit but what people didn't really know is that at this time they were secretly dating eachother. Infact they got to be coordinator partners together for the whole summer and no one knew they were in LOVE! :)

Some might ask how do the counselors get to know eachother well enough to know if they like eachother when they are so busy spending time with the youth?

Counselors spend a lot of time on preparations before the youth arrive on Monday. This is the midwest counselor at their weekly door tag making party (the youth have their names placed on their doors when they arrive first thing on Monday morning)

On free time, they get together and sometimes create some funny memories together. This proves that counselors are hillarious! Thanks to Al Doan and Hans Hassell

And more than anything as counselors we create a strong support group and the love just builds week after week... it is quite awesome! I am so grateful for the friends I met at EFY and the youth that I have forever friendships with. I have see many miracles happen there.Below: This is one of my youth and 3 of the counselor partners that I had my second summer working at BYU. What a great time we all had together!This is a picture of Matt and I when I spent a week in a wheelchair after tearing all the ligaments in my foot when I was doing the train with my youth. A miracle happened and I was supposed to be wheelchair bound for 6 weeks. The next week I was jumping and walking around.As you can see... some of my greatest friends and blessings came from giving my all to this program that I love!

THANK YOU EFY!

RE-UNITED AND FEELS SO GOOD..EFY FRIENDS FOREVER!

As you can tell this weekend was bitter sweet. Not only did I have a funeral but I had a WONDERFUL EFY Old School Reunion. What a blessing that was. I saw people that I haven't seen in over 5 yrs! So much fun! Not to mention 4 EFY babies on the way!

The thing that I found most amusing was that many of the couples that showed were the 10% couples. If you aren't familiar with that. It has been said that 10% of EFY counselors marry eachother.. I don't think that is quite right... I think personally it is much higher! Here are some snipits of pictures from the night...
These are the people that came.. that I have been able to remember... I am so sorry if I forgot you!

• Jackson Westenschow and Heather Brinkerhoff Westenschow (pregnant w/ child)
  Troy Anderson and Heidi Brinkerhoff Anderson
  Fernando (sharon was in Cali with the kids)
  Kurt Johnson, wife and 2 kids
  Julie Little Erikson and hubby Phil (pregnant with child)
  Anna Osmond Poole and Marcus Poole and son Connor (pregnant with Child)
  Deveney Tucker Jensen (pregnant with child)
  Desiree Marchant Syme and hubby Chuck
  Kylee Shields
  Kevin Peterson
  Staci Yamada
  Jen Willahan
  Adam Esenshroder
  Amy Peese Bellamy and hubby Adam with Baby Boston
  Kristen Mcmullin
  Randilyn Nordstrom
  Emilie Johnson Adams plus 2 kids, Mckenna and Hadley
  Katie Montgomery
  Tiffany Stephen
  Jessica and Greg Warner
  Tyson Ripley
  Andrea A
  Don Osmond
  Carrie Drake
  Brett Barrett and Sister Jamie Barrett
  Cindy King Merryweather and husband Reid
  Ry Guy tucker
  Mark Millet (wife Mary was at Girl's Camp)
  Meg Gazaway (hahaha)
  Emily Hansen, husband and kids
  Tammy Burton Lamm and husband and baby girl Emma
• Sharylann Goertzen
  I know there are people I am missing.. sorry!

EFY FOREVER BABY!