EFY Sydney

What a week!  

Back in January of 2012 we were called by Elder Vinson of the area authority to be the session directing couple for Especially for Youth Sydney.  Yay!  So exciting...overwhelming...{mainly me feeling overwhelmed}  Jared was involved with EFY quite a bit in the states so he knew what he was doing...um me..not so much. So for a full year we had lots of meetings  We were blessed with an amazing logistics team who took care of so much.  We called and trained all of our counselors and building counselors and had a great time getting to know them.  So many people helped us out with watching our kids while we attended meetings and held the training meetings.  It's not easy asking people to help.  I had to organize a week of people watching the kids.  I had some of the young women and lots of friends help out.  They were so great to help, truly life savers and we were incredibly grateful. EFY was an amazing experience. It was such a great learning experience.

We had a great website where all the youth could get their information and register.  Here are some pictures from the week.  We had 375 youth ages 14-15.  They were incredible.  We were blown away with their love.  They were so good to us.  Some of the stories and experiences they shared during devotionals and testimony meeting were amazing.  Every morning Jared & I had the chance to give a 50 minute morning devotional.  We also taught several classes and firesides  We got to know the youth and came to really love them.  Jared was awesome...he was totally in his element.  The youth loved him.  Here are some pics...

This was our home for a week.  We stayed at St. Joseph's College.  It is a beautiful campus.

Sam attended EFY in my belly.  He loved it.  My ankles didn't love the hot, hot days, especially the one that got up to 110 degrees.  My cankles were pretty fierce.  I wasn't supposed to wear flip flops but I had to when I took my shoes off one day and couldn't fit my chubby feet back in.

Fun dances...sweaty, sweaty, sweaty...but fun.  I need to upload the video of Jared dancing that I sent to the kids.

Holy pizza! On Wednesday night we had pizza night after the banner & cheers.  We had 300 pizzas.  Kids were stuffing their faces...I mean why not...there was plenty.

Elder & Sister Watson were able to attend 2 days with us.  Elder Watson was the personal secretary for 7 of the prophets of the Church. His stories were amazing.  We learned so much from them and were able to spend some one on one time with them as they gave us encouragement and advice.  Truly great people.

I was able to speak to all the Young Women.  Great girls!

What can I say about this group!  They were soooo great!  These are all of our building counselors, counselors, health and AV counselors and photographer.  They were incredible with the youth.  Love them all!

Being away from the kids for 6 days was hard.  One of the women in our ward, Sister La'ulu was so nice and brought the kids out for the afternoon on Wednesday.  It was so wonderful to see them and kiss their faces.  All of the youth loved them too. 

This is what we looked out over every day.  What a great sight.

                                     We were the judges of the Banners & Cheers.

                                 The variety show was awesome!  So much incredible talent.

We are so grateful we had the chance to cross paths with so many wonderful people during our time at and leading up to EFY.  It was a very spiritual week, a week of learning and growing not only for youth but for us as well.   Here is the link to the website where there are more pictures to browse through.

http://www.efysydney.com/efywelcome/Photos1.html

We came home to this awesome sign made by the kiddos.  The kids were still with friends when we got home and the first thing we did when we walked into the house was sleep for 2 hours.

Left over shirts make good pajamas. :)

Here are some videos for your viewing pleasure...

Love this group. So fun!

The kids think they have the coolest dad ever.

Alright, alright, alright, alright, alright...HEY!

Ron & Barby's 50th Wedding Anniversary

Back in August of last year we went on an amazing trip to Seattle and the San Juan Islands for my parent's 50th wedding anniversary celebration.  It was the first time we had left the kids for more than a night.  We were gone 12 days all up.  So all of my siblings and their spouses were there, minus a few that couldn't make it.  It was such a special time for all of us to be together to honor my parents.

I took a billion pictures so I have tried not to go over board with my post, but there are just so many great ones.

We flew in first and met my brother Jeff & sis in-law Ash and spent the day around Seattle while waiting for everyone else to trickle in.

Love my mom & sistahs.  We always miss my sister Deb and wish she could be with us.

We took a ferry to Friday Harbor where we stayed in two awesome cabins.  The weather was perfect and we were able to spend a lot of time hanging out together eating and talking.  

My pictures are not in order, but you get a good idea of the fun we had together. 

Mike {my oldest brother} and Jared having a good chat.

Friday Harbor is a beautiful island.

                                   We had the cool opportunity to go out Orca whale watching.

                                                                      Ashley, Rob & Jeff

                                                                     Angela & Ryan

                                                                        Mom & Jo

We have a family tradition where we dance around with beeny babies. Haha! 

My sister asked everyone in the family, including all the grand kids, to write their testimony for my parents.  All of my siblings also wrote about what it was like growing up a Schill.  She had it made into a book with photos.  

We all surprised my parents with a special dinner at the restaurant on top of the space needed.

One thing is for sure, we laugh a lot when we are all together.  

We ate so much on this trip and the food was seriously so good.  Here we are at Sizzler.

My mom had the car packed full of all sorts of Costco goodness.

When I was young we traveled a lot and one of the classic things we would do was put our lunch on the hood of the car and use it as a table.  This time we prepared the food lunch on the side of the car. Schill style. :) This time we got a few slices of lunch meat, nit just one slice of Carl Buddig like when we were little.

                                                                      Ma & Pa

                            We went to an alpacha farm.  They are hilarious looking animals.

All the brothers except Mike with mom & Dad on the log.  Another classic Schill pose.

Lots of delicious food was prepared.  Jeff being the garlic bread master maker.

                                                                    The orcas were amazing to see.

I love this picture of my mom.  She is so beautiful inside & out.  Truly!

There are BBQ's and there are BBQ's.  This was good BBQ.

Tender!

We ate at this cute cafe with yummy food.

Italian pizza & Root Beer. YUM! 

More beeny baby dancing.  hahahahaha!!

Some of my favorite time spent was when we were all together in the cabin talking and playing games. Love my family!

We biked around one of the islands.  

We scored the tandum bike.  It was so fun riding together and letting Jared do most of the work :)

Mike & Ryan were determined to catch a crab with their crab catching contraption.

Lots of beautiful hikes & views.

Love these two

We rode on a lot of ferrys from island to island. They had puzzles set out for people to put together to pass the time.  Here they are getting their puzzle on.

More good food!

Steve is the crepe master  I could eat 10,000.

Fat Jack's.  My dad used to make them when I was a kid.

The whole crew in Seattle.  My parents went on their honeymoon to Seattle so that is why we went back there 50 years later.

Lunch on top of the space needle.

This guys was out selling all sorts of tender stuff and my sis in-law was sweet and went and bought something & talked to him.

Missy, Ang & Beck with Rob in the background

Late night walk to Taco Bell

Rob with his Taco Bell stash

Why is it so dang good?

Dennys

Jeff always has to jump in water.  He can't resist.

Taking a relaxing break.

I loved how quaint Friday Harbor was with all the shops.

Rob & Missy at the Lavender farm

Ah hahahaha!

Steve & Jen smooching

Pike's Place market

We sent notes around at the restaurant on the moving ledge.

Two pregnant ladies eating their cupcakes.  Ashley was 21 weeks and I was 13 weeks.

Sibs

The moment we told my parents we were expecting a baby.  We found a plastic baby cupcake topper and dropped it into their hands.  They were surprised.  It was pretty funny.

It was an incredible trip.  I am so grateful my parents were married.  They are such great examples.  I am so grateful for my 5 brothers and 3 sisters and for all of my incredible sister & brother in-laws.  I feel really blessed to be a part of such a great family.