ANOTHER Fun 2 Days in Portland and Eugene

John on the court

We started the day with TENNIS!  John, Johnny and Brittney had fun competing against each other.  Then they all ran and worked out.  Lazy me, just watched and then got ready for the day. We had a wonderful barbecue with Brittney's stepdad's family.  Cal's father lives right on the Willamette river and the setting is so beautiful.  We had great food and we met some nice new friends.  Cal's family is GREAT!  We even met a man that graduated from Weber High years ago...The world can be a small place.  

Brittney has a fierce backhand

Johnny won but it was a hard battle

We left the barbecue to go to the Portland Beaver's baseball game.  It was so much fun and there were enough interesting people sitting right in front of us to blog for days about human nature.  The Beavers were down the entire game 3-1 until the 8th inning.  The Tacoma team replaced the starting pitcher and it was all down hill from there.  The relief pitcher walked enough players to have one cross home plate and put 3 others on base.  The star of the night hit a grand slam and the Beavers won 8-3.  It was exciting!  Now to the people sitting in front of us. Brittney will tell you about the people, but I wanted to write about one girl in particular.  She kept turning around and kind of looked at us.  Then she started to talk to us.  She asked about our children and how old Johnny, Brittney and Jocelyn were.  She wanted to hear how Johnny and Brittney met.  The minute they said that they met at BYU-Idaho, she exclaimed, "I knew you were Mormons."  She then said, "I'm a Mormon too, but I drink." (she had to qualify that because of what we saw)  She then went on to say, "I am coming to Utah in December too because the missionary that baptized our family is going home then."  She also said, "My family was sealed in the Portland temple. (as she is holding a mixed drink and a Bud Light in her hand)  My heart went out to this darling girl.  She needs good friends and good influences.  She said that she wants to marry a Mormon boy.  I know Heavenly Father is looking out for this girl and that we sat there as a reminder of family and what she wants for her life.  I got her email address and hope to get to know her.  After that evening, I counted my blessings and especially felt thankful for my husband and children, their spouses, and grandchildren.  How blessed I feel to have the gospel and know what life is all about....where I came from, why I am here, and where I am going.  I am so grateful for my testimony and knowledge of the Savior and the gospel.  I am blessed!

Fireworks after the baseball game

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

Jocelyn occasionally looked up from her book to watch the game.

All the gang at the game

They had mascot night and this one ate an entire baseball player and then spit out his clothes, helmet, shoes etc. and then the player crawled out of the mouth and ran out of the stadium in only his boxers.

This Rhino could really shake his booty....

Exciting plays all night long

We had an amazing day at the Olympic Track Trials.  Hayward Field is world renowned for not only its incredible stadium and track facilities, but also for the great runners that have come out of the Oregon track team.  There were 20,000 people cheering the track athletes on today.  Perfect day and perfect weather.....70 degrees.  

Johnny and Brittney even got to pose with the DUCK!

We had such a good day at the Olympic Track Trials!  Track is exciting and inspiring.

The high jump event was awesome.  Only one man qualified with a jump over 7'6" in the initial competition.  They had to have a jump off and only one other man jumped over 7'5" so he was able to go as the third jumper.  One other goes as the second jumper because he previously did jump over 7'5".  I have to admit I was NOT HOPING the winner today would break the Hayward Field high jump record of  7'8 1/2".  The record is held by Charles Clinger....a great friend of Todd's from Weber State.  They were on the track team there together.   YEAH, CHARLIE!  YOUR RECORD STAYS!

Tyson Gay is the man in the middle.  He is the fastest man on earth right now.  Unfortunately, as he was running in the 200 meter quarterfinals, he fell and was unable to race.  You should have heard the people in the stadium yell and gasp.  He had to be taken out on a cart and we were afraid he wouldn't be able to run in the 100  meter race in the Olympics.  We found out later that he collapsed because of a horrific cramp.  Good news!  He will run in China.

This is Josh McAdams.  He ran at BYU and finished third in a close and exciting race of the 3,000 meter finals.  YEAH!  Josh is going to China to represent the USA.