1st Letter!!!! How can one little piece of notebook paper make a mom SO happy?

We just received Elder Bennion's first letter! I am proud of him! So very proud! He is doing very well. He likes the food (lots lots better than the food at BYUH), and got to play basketball. He is HAPPY!!! He said that they are extremely busy and that they were told to write home the 1st day, but that he was just to busy. He said his brain feels fried from all the studying they do.
He saw a friend from BYUH that is going to Mexico on his mission and said it was really nice to see a familiar face.
He's really happy and feel so blessed to be in the MTC learning so much.
I am going to try and scan his letter and post it. For some reason it isn't allowing me to upload it on blogger. It scanned into a pdf fine but I couldn't get it to upload. I am not so great at this...be patient. =)

MTC Address for Elder Bennion

Here is Elder Bennions's address:

Elder Cameron Bennion
Utah St. George Mission
Box # 343-0425
Provo MTC
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604

I am sure he would love to hear from all of you! =)

Here is another way to send him a letter http://www.dearelder.com/index/inc_name/home  They print your letter and seal it in an envelope and deliver it THE NEXT DAY!!! ALL for FREE! I think this is a great way to send him letters. Thanks for the idea Kaylee!

Feb 23, 2011 TIme approx 10:55 am ELDER CAMERON R. BENNION has now reported to the MTC

The lump in my throat is still there...There is just very little I can say right now about taking Cameron to the MTC, other than if I didn't know for sure that he was meant to go and serve The Lord, I could NEVER do this. I can't write this without tears welling up. I miss him. I miss him A LOT, but I am so GRATEFUL for his obedience to Our Heavenly Father's commandments. We were blessed to have this amazing young man  in our lives. He loves each of you his friends and family. He wants to make us all proud of him, but mostly His Heavenly Father. He truly loves HIM. Thank you all for the support you have shown him and our family. It is heart warming to have had so many of you come and join us for church @ his Open House this past Sunday.
I will post pictures later. There are lots to share!
Please remember the missionaries in your prayers!!! =)

Counting today we have 7 days till Cameron reports but only 4 days till we leave

The time has flown by. We very few wake ups together here at home. I feel like it almost isn't real. Like I am walking in a fog.
We are not organized and haven't even picked up all of his suits and shoes down in Lake Oswego. Yikes, I just hate being so unorganized but somehow I can't get my act together...and the boys aren't either LOL.
We hope to see you all at Cameron's farewell or Open House Sunday. Call or txt Cameron or I if you need directions.
I am a bit nervous about the drive to Utah. We can't decide if we should take the Honda to Provo or if we should take Darrell's Toyota 4 wheel drive. The weather is hard to predict and I don't want to get stuck. We have had a dusting of snow here this week...I would guess that Idaho and Utah would be sure to have snow if we do.=/
In the midst of everything...we are getting a new puppy. She was a rescue from Tri-cities area. She is a 12 week old pug-terrier mix.
We can't wait to get her home. She is coming today.



This photo was taken shortly after Cameron, Kodi, Zach and Addison Reeves met. They were about 2 and 4 years old in this pic. 
 Zach will be leaving on his mission to Brazil this spring. It was fun to get the boys together for this one last time before they take off to serve.



Special day, special memories. I am grateful that we have had friends like these in our lives. Now, for both of our oldest boys to be going off to serve missions at about the same time!!! WOW!! It makes me happy...not just to see my son Cameron, but to also see Zach headed off to serve too! I am so proud of both of them. They are great boys who love the Lord. I am so glad for the example they are are setting.

Sunday Feb. 20th 9 am Orchards Chapel & Open House 6:30 pm ~ 8:30 pm at The Woods

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Time is ticking fast...Cameron will be speaking in church on Sunday Feb. 20th 9 am at the Orchard's Chapel for any of you who would like to come. BTW Does any one know the best way to try and record (voice only) Cameron's talk? Call me with ideas! I would really like to have it recorded.

Then that evening at Bishop and Peggy Wood's home we will be having an Open House from 6:30 ~ 8:30pm Everyone is welcome.

The picture I chose to post was taken 1 year ago (last Sunday)on Cameron's baptism day. FEB.6th ,2010 I can't believe it has only been one year!!!! Cameron and Elder Matt Prawitt. So grateful for the example he was/is. We love you Matt!

Jan.22,2011

This was such a special day. Thank you for those who came and were there with him/us. We wish we could have gotten a group picture. The family picture was the only group picture we got. Thank you all for the love and support by our family and our Ward family, The Orchards Ward Vancouver WA. Thank you to  Bishop Grove and Sis. Grove, Bishop Wood and Sis Wood, Brad Hart, The Litchford's,  Aunt Cheryl, Uncle Mark, Aunt Linda, David Ellingson, Michael and Heather Ellingson, Stefani Barkley, Grandma and Grandpa Ellingson, Jade Ellingson who came for this special day. Thank you Michael for the pictures. Thank you all for making the time to be there and making the day all the more memorable. 

 

Cameron and Kodi (his brother) Jan. 22,2011 the day Cameron got to go through the temple for the 1st time.

Kodi and Uncle Mark Ellingson

Cameron and cousin Michael Ellingson

Portland Oregon Temple

Cameron, me his mom and Kodi (brother)

Cameron, Kodi, Dayna and Grandparents

Family 

Family...we love you all!

The link is below is  about Cameron's cousin, my nephew Jared Nelson who was one of 2 that survived an accident that killed 9 people in a rollover crash while attending the University of Utah. He was on a field trip with the agriculture class when the accident occurred due to a faulty tire. Cameron, Kodi and I had the privilege of going to OHSU and help care for him in the evenings for about a month. He had a profound impact on our family.
Typically I wouldn't post anything other than missionary related info on Cameron's blog, but to me his story is faith building...We all love Jared and so look forward to seeing him whole again. We look forward to hearing his silly jokes and jovial laughter.

Kodi and Jared while he was still at OHSU. The video is great. Take a moment to watch it. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKS1jbS_4ig