September 14, 2008 - Cape Kiwanda sunset

My parents came into town this past weekend. They made their northwest loop, visiting their 4 children that live in Oregon and Washington. We enjoyed the weekend, and they traded in their old car for a new one while here in Portland. Melissa spoke in sacrament meeting on Sunday morning. Her topic: "How to teach children to honor womanhood." She did a great job. Of particular note was her discussion of teaching chastity and morality to girls. It is so easy for girls to get caught up in the popular culture notion that they need to wear scanty clothing and act disrespectfully toward their bodies. It was a great talk.

After church, we took the liberty of making a day trip to the Oregon coast with my parents in their new car. I tell you what, that thing may be a gas hog, but man is it sweet. It drives so smooth; it is the ideal distance trip vehicle. We went to Cape Kiwanda and strolled on the beach while the sun was going down. It was a hot 90 degree day in Portland, but at the coast it was barely 65 degrees. And it seemed to get colder and colder as we walked. We were regretting not having jackets, blankets and the like. The coldest people in the group ended up using the towels as a blanket around them, that's how chilly it got. Melissa, Brooke, Emery and I climbed up the west side of the sand hill. Moriah wanted to stay by the water and look for animal treasures. Melissa and Brooke were getting cold, so they went down shortly after getting to the top. Emery and I decided to go on an adventure around the dune, so we hiked up around the side and found a cool cove on the northwest end of the Kiwanda dune. It was really cool. After we ran down the dune returned to the car, we didn't know we were in for such a treat. We sat in the dining room of the Pelican Grill (great place to eat) and watched the sunset while we ate. It was beautiful. With that huge rock in the near distance and the sun setting over the water in the far distance. It was great. There's something about the sunset over the ocean. Probably the vast expanse and having the gorgeous contrast of colors and light. It was a sight to behold. And it was great to experience it with the people who matter most.

September 3rd, 2008 - Moriah's 6!

Moriah is 6 years old! Holy cow! Like her sisters, she is a fun one to watch grow up. For her 6th birthday party, she had a choice to make. She REALLY wanted a Barbie Jeep (power wheels - little electric care where her friend can ride with her)…and she wanted birthday cake. We told her, since the Barbie car is so expensive, she could choose to have a full-fledged party with her friends, but no Barbie car. Or, we could have a simple family party with cake and get the Barbie Jeep. She really wanted that Jeep - and she gets the cake to boot! That was a no brainer for her. She loves that little Jeep…and she can drive her sisters/friends, too. Our new driveway/cul-de-sac is very flat, so it's an ideal spot for them to be driving it.

Additionally, Moriah is entering Kindergarten right now as well. The first few days of school were tough for her. She really didn’t want to go. But now that we're a couple of weeks into it, she's adjusted well and enjoying school. Man, do they grow up fast.

August 15th, 2008 - We've moved!

Another exciting thing that happened while we were in Massachusetts during July - our home sold! We had put it on the market the day we left, to take advantage of the time while we were out of town. All the preparation (months) getting it ready to sell paid off! We had to scramble to find a way to accept the offer - eventually finding a place in the nearby town of Pittsfield, MA to fax back our acceptance. That was great. We have now moved a few blocks away to a bigger home. With the birth of our 4th child, our small house was really a bit too small for us to be comfortable and maintain the spirit in our home. That can be hard to do when you're on top of each other all the time!

We feel so blessed to have been able to sell our home while the real estate market was so poor. Most homes are on the market for 3 months and more. We prepared the home, then offered our prayers, which were essentially: "If it's right, please help us find a suitable buyer. If it's not right, we're ok with that." Then, essentially the first day of it on the market (no photos online yet, no sign on the street), a young couple responded to the MLS listing and made an offer the next day. Wow. If that isn’t an answer to prayer… There's more to the story as well. Friends in the ward have had their home on the market for a year. Now, they've moved out of state ant really needed to sell. Our home selling allowed us the opportunity to purchase their home. There were definitely a few bumps and bruises on our way to closing the transaction, but now we are in the new place and loving the space we'd needed.

August 2008 - Clara crawling

It's official - Clara is mobile! She's showed signs for a few weeks, but now we can officially say she's crawling. It is so cute!!!

August 8th, 2008 - Daddy-daughter campout

The daddy-daughter campout took place at Mt. Hood this year. It was special to me because it was at a location in Welches, OR near where my parents had a cabin while I was growing up. So I spent a fair amount of time in that area as a kid. I was a bit nostalgic as we were able to eat dinner at the Zig Zag Inn. Lots of memories in these parts. I even drove the girls by the old house. Isn’t it amazing how life moves so rapidly, yet we seem to leave little parts of ourselves scattered about, everywhere we’ve been? Woah.

July 26th, 2008 - Tanglewood Film Night

Upon our return to the Berkshires, we enjoyed a couple more days of swimming and relaxing. Then, Saturday night, our final night there, we were able to go to "film night" at the Tanglewood music shed. This year it was a celebration of the life and work of John Williams, heralded composer. The Boston Symphony Orchestra (Boston Pops) performed with Mr. Williams and a surprise guest host/narrator joined him on stage: Stephen Spielberg. Williams and Spielberg worked on films together, and one of the most memorable collaborations of the two is the "Indiana Jones" films.

One cool thing they did was illustrate the value of the music score in a movie. They used an example from "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". They showed a scene from the film without music (and Spielberg narrating throughout), then they showed the same sequence with Williams' score included. It was night and day. I was amazed at how much life music adds to a motion picture. It was a really cool outdoor event. The weather was horrible leading up to the event, it cleared up during the show, and then it rained hard again that night. We got very lucky. What a great experience. Thanks Murphy's!!!

July 25th, 2008 - The Sacred Grove

Early the next morning, I ventured out to the Sacred Grove at the crack of dawn. I left around 5:50 a.m. and when I got to the parking lot of the grove, it was totally empty. I strolled through the front farm area in the still-semi-dark, reading plaque markers and enjoying the environment. One thing I hadn’t realized was the financial plight of the Smiths at that time. They lived in a homestead log cabin for some time, then were able to build the frame house and moved into it for a short time, but then were forced to move back into the log cabin when they could no longer afford to live in the frame house. Interesting.

I then walked into the grove. What an amazing experience. I had the whole place to myself for over an hour. I was able to drop to my knees anytime throughout the walk and offer prayers for various needs. Some my own, some for others. That place felt so special and sacred, I felt very blessed and humbled to have such a unique opportunity. I also sat on a bench in the middle of the grove, pondering for quite some time while the sun was just beginning to enter. I sat so long that it appeared even the wildlife didn’t notice me, at two squirrels ran and played right next to where I sat. It was serine. My testimony was fortified that day. And as I began the walk out, I was struck with an overwhelming realization regarding the boy Joseph. The COURAGE it must have required for him to relate the events that took place that day in the spring of 1820. It inspired me to write a poem about it:

____________________________________________

"The Courage of that boy" - by Aaron Elton

It was a spring morning, so beautiful and clear,
Questions abounding in his heart so dear.
So he went to the spot to ponder and pray,
Unaware of the importance of that day.
He poured out his heart, so simple and sincere.
A boy's faith - free of prejudice and fear.

Discouragement by the underworld sought to overtake him,
With the Light of that Vision, he was not shaken.

The Father and Son offered guidance and direction.
The answer to prayer; assurance of love and affection.

He left that Grove a different person than when he went in,
A life of devotion, perspiration and inspiration begins.
The world would scoff, but the sincere would hear.
The results of simple faith - free of prejudice and fear.
Waves of persecution, waves of Joy.
A faith the underworld simply could not destroy.
Let us not underestimate, the Courage of that boy.
_________________________________________

Later that morning, our whole group was able to go to the Grove together. We went into the frame house and enjoyed our surroundings as we entered the Grove. Many teenagers and other tourists were there by then as well, but it did not distract from the sacred nature of the visit. As we walked, I was able to lag behind and watch my beautiful wife and children walk and breathe in a very special place. I was struck by the sheer serenity of the moment. I'm so grateful for my family, and the trust that has been placed in me. I am also grateful for the testimony that I have burning in my heart, which so often offers comfort during sojourn through mortality. I can rely on my testimony and the basic tenets of the Gospel to help guide me through life. I am grateful for moments like this - and for geographical places like this to remind me of what's important and not to let distractions take away from clear, simple comprehension of what True priorities should be guiding my actions. The Sacred Grove and my experience there helped me gain a little better perspective.

Oh yeah, and the kids found a slug, too.

July 24th, 2008 - Palmyra

After our time at Niagara Falls, we headed east again to Palmyra - the place where the Prophet Joseph Smith was raised. There are so many significant events that took place in this area. We checked-in to our hotel, the "Palmyra Inn" which is a great spot. It was recently built and is a perfect place to stay while enjoying the area's historical attractions. The rooms are reasonable and set up very well for families to stay in.

After checking in, we went to dinner. While the group was waiting for our food, I snuck away in hopes of seeing the Grandin building - the historical site of the first printing/publication of the Book of Mormon - a few blocks away from the restaurant. It was great. I did a quick tour of the building, learned a few things about the printing, and scurried back to the restaurant. It was really cool to see the place where the printing took place. 5,000 copies - monumental at the time. Martin Harris had to mortgage his farm in order to pay for it. Pretty amazing.

After dinner, we headed to Cumorah, the site where the plates were buried for around 1,400 years. The Palmyra pageant had ended a week earlier, so there were still hints of the throngs of people who had been there recently. The hill is ordinary in many ways, particularly considering the extraordinary things that have taken place there. We spent a few minutes taking pictures at the monument on the top of the hill, then visited the visitor center at the base of the hill. The open room in the front of the building where the statue of Christ is located is very impressive. We took to opportunity to sing some hymns there (I mainly listened, as my bad singing voice typically just ruins the moment). The Murphy’s have such great voices. And they are teaching their kids the value of music as well. It was a really memorable experience.

July 24, 2008 - Niagara Falls

After the Whitmer farm, we drove all the way on to Niagara Falls. We crossed the US-Canada border and got there just as the sun was setting. Unfortunately, due to a mix-up finding a hotel, we just barely missed the fireworks show over the Falls (happens once a week on Wednesdays). That would have been really cool. But we were able to see the falls at night. Very cool. The next morning we were able to do some of the touristy things. Primarily, we rode the "Maid of the Mist" boat that goes directly into the main horseshoe falls. The sheer force of that water is amazing. We missed out on a lot of other things that would have been cool: The cable-car ride over the river, exploring the caves beneath, and the IMAX films about the fury of Niagara. There are a lot of things to do there. But I think my dad got it right when he was giving me some advice about the trip: Niagara is more of a couples-thing, not necessarily a kid’s thing. The kids enjoyed it, but getting to some of the other attractions would have been too much for the group. We hope to see those things another time - some day. It was a cool place to visit… So we'll go back some day, I'm sure. I had been there once when I was 9 years old, but going as an adult was totally different and really cool.

Gripe warning: To be honest, by the time we were leaving, man was I ready to leave. It felt like the city was nickel-and-diming us to death. Breakfast didn’t even include water! I just wanted some tap water - please. But no, they said I could purchase bottled water, but tap water is not served. So, if you wanted something wet…anything wet, you had to pay a large drink fee. I think it was $3-ish for a juice. We're talking about 4 adults and 6 kids with our group. That adds up fast. The "cheap" breakfast we thought we were getting ended up being a lot more. It felt like there was a little fee for every little thing… I mean, I understand the tourist trap thing, but sometimes it's excessive and the perceived value just is not there. So I learned a little something while there as well.

July 23rd, 2008 - The Whitmer Farm

After spending a couple of days in the Berkshires, we ventured off to upstate New York to see some Church historical sites and Niagara Falls. The first stop was Fayette, New York and the Peter Whitmer farmhouse. The place where the Church was officially organized on April 6, 1830. It is also the site of a great deal of translation of the Book of Mormon. It was really neat to see the replica house and get a feel for the geography of the area. One thing that struck us about the old homes like this is that they look so small from the outside, but when you go in, there's more room than one might expect. And an upper floor with more space as well. This site is especially important because multiple significant events took place here. Primarily, the Whitmer's provided a place where Joseph Smith and company (Oliver, etc) could work in peace. It was a place where they could focus on the monumental translation task at hand. It was also a humble, yet ideal, setting for the organization of the Church. Think about it. A farm is pristine and beautiful; it also represents a place where hard work provides a crop, which sustains life. There is a metaphor for the Church in a simple, beautiful place like this. An ideal place for the 'birthplace" of the restoration.

July 21st, 2008 - The Berkshires

The next stop on our east coast trip was also the true destination: The Berkshires. What a cool spot. The home that we stayed at is technically in the town of Richmond, MA. It is nestled in the Berkshire mountains and the house recently had a new swimming pool and tennis courts added to the enormous back yard. It was the perfect spot to spend some time, enjoy each other and create some lasting memories. One very exciting development is that both Emery and Moriah both learned how to swim during a two-day period. Previously, they both required life-jackets to swim in a pool deeper than their waist. Here, they jumped off the diving board a few times with their life jackets on. But then a funny thing happened. Emery wanted to try it without the life jacket. She did - and swam just fine. Then, Moriah wanted to do it, too. Splash! All of a sudden, the two of them were swimming without floatation devices. That made the diving board a very popular spot! We all wanted our turn. I hadn't done a flip for a few years, but man is that fun! The place was awesome. But most importantly, spending time with family (cousins and grandparents who were there) was so great. It was a great environment to simply relax and not think too much about external cares.

July 19th, 2008 - Boston

We were blessed to finally take our long-awaited trip to Boston. Yup, with all our kids. Melissa's sister lives there with her husband and their little girls. We've wanted to visit them for so long, but we finally were able to do so this summer. And what an eventful trip it was! My next few posts will be about various events that took place during that 10-day trip.

First, on Saturday 7/20/08, we rode the city bus into town and rode the subway around to a few places in downtown Boston. Of course, we went to Boston Common, the large historical city park in the heart of downtown. That day, there happened to be a free concert for kids featuring "Steve Songs" - a celebrated children's performer. It was cool for our kids because they've been listening to his music lately. That day was exceptionally hot, so we also swam in the frog pond (wading pool) in the Boston Common. Considering we were roasting hot by then, and we had a brave pregnant woman with us, we ate lunch and decided it was wise to cool down and see a movie in the theater. We saw "Wall-E", the new Disney Pixar film. What a disappointment. But it was still nice to sit in the air-conditioned (and less-humid) movie theater for a couple hours. We then were able to go over to Faneuil Hall Marketplace, a historic marketplace. Cool spot.

Boston is a really cool city. Due to my NBA fan-dom, I thought I'd see more Celtics "we're the champs" indicators, but I saw nothing. I imagine that comes with the fact that the city has become such a sports Mecca lately - with winning programs in almost every major sport. So, I wasn't surprised, per-se. It was just a further indicator of what a one-horse town Portland is, with our one major professional team and clamor for everything they do. But that also makes Portland all that more charming, I think. We have something to really enjoy. Well, that's how I can rationalize it, anyway. Reality is: I still like it the "Portland way", regardless.

While in Boston, I also had hoped to see more historical sites, but considering we were traveling with 6 kids and a pregnant woman, I'm amazed at how much walking we did with very little complaint. It was a great day to check out Boston. And the group had fun - exhausted, but fun.

When we left town the next day, on our way to western Massachusetts, we experienced one of the worst rain storms I've ever seen. Loud lightning and giant drops…no, more like balls… of rain coming down. The streets were overflowing with water, with near river-like force. It was amazing. Once we got out on the highway, the rain had cleared and it was a beautiful drive.

July 12th, 2008 - AJ's Baptism

We were able to attend my nephew's baptism in Bellevue, Washington on July12th. That was really cool. The best part was seeing the support from so many people in their ward. That room was packed with people who were supporting such an important ordinance. He's a unique, well-loved kid. And it was neat to be able to be part of it.

July 5th, 2008 - Emery's Baptism

On July 5th, we had a very special day. Emery, our oldest child, was baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Letter-day Saints. I performed the baptismal ordinance and confirmation. It was a very special event - for everyone, of course - and particularly for me. I am so glad that she is on the path of testimony and gaining a stronger relationship with Our Savior. There were a lot of special things about this day. I think what stood out the most to me was what she said to her mom after getting out of the font. She told her mother: "I feel Jesus in my heart." It's real, Emery. And it’s true.

July 3rd, 2008 - Elton's Visit - Pacific City, OR

My brother, his wife and three little girls visited us for a few days in July. We don’t get to see them often enough, so it was a real treat to have them at our home. We also got to venture out to the Oregon coast together. We spent many of the daylight hours on the beach at Lincoln City. Then we went up to Pacific City where we checked in to our hotel, then got dinner at the "Doryland Pizza Co." Then the cool part, we drove out on the beach at Cape Kiwanda and lit a campfire. We roasted some S'mores. Melissa's parents and sister Heather were also able to join us. It was really cool.

The next day, we climbed the sand dune on the north end of Kiwanda. It's pretty challenging to get to the top. The funny part, it's a lot easier for kids to get up there. As an adult, your body weight makes your feet sink way down with every step, so with a 3-foot stride, you literally only make probably 3 or 4 inches of progress. By contrast, lighter kids seem to breeze right up the hill. Not fair, man. Especially considering I ended up carrying 1 or a couple at a time! It was cool to experience the summit with Barlow and his little ones along with my little ladies. True dat.

June 16, 2008 - Emery's Birthday & Mariner Game

Emery had her birthday party on June 13th. It was a party just for Emery, her friends and her mom. Little sisters were NOT invited (a sign of growing up, I suppose). So it was dad's job (mine) to find a way to entertain my three youngest girls for a few hours while Emery has her party. Then my sister Abbie called. Her family shares a suite at SafeCo field and invited us up for the Mariner's game that night against the Washington Nationals. Man, a suite is such a great way to attend a game as a family. Going to that game also helped me put into perspective how 'big' the 'big leagues' really are and what kind of support Portland would need in order to support a major league baseball team. Big stadium, lots of people. Portland has a great baseball following, but I can see why it might be a stretch to think a smaller city could support the big leagues. But the statistics say we can. I'd love to have baseball in Portland. Even a bad team playing a bad team (Mariner's vs. Nationals) helped me put into perspective how great it is to just go to the ballgame and enjoy the atmosphere. Then how much greater it would be if the team were actually good - and winning!

We drove home after the game. Sheesh. I didn’t get home until after 2:30 in the morning. Had to stop at a rest area to cure the mid-trip drowsiness. But we got home safe and sound. Emery's party was a success and the little sisters got to see a big league game! Happy times for all.

June 4th, 2008 - My birthday

I turned 31 on June 4th. The ladies treated me to my favorite pizza joint: "The Vancouver Pizza Co.". We had to drive all the way to Vancouver, WA for it. But man is it worth it - I love their stuff. We also checked out our old apartment complex where we lived in 2005. OK, but it definitely reminded us why we moved on. Life is treating us well - even if I do have to keep getting older.