Semi-annual update! Sorry, it seems to be the best I can do.

Alot has happened since I last posted. Some good, some not so good, and some that is fabulously fantastic. To start, on a sadder note, Amber's husband Levi, left her in early September for reasons we will never fully understand nor do I want to spend any time explaining. It's been about 4 months since her divorce was final. Although it has been very difficult, not to mention devastating, it has also been a blessing in many ways. We have seen the Lord's tender mercies throughout and I am so grateful for my testimony and for the attonement of Jesus Christ. I know that someday, somehow, all will be made right. Amber is doing well and has recognized the hand of the Lord through all of this. She has an inner strength that is amazing. She is currently living in Logan with Heidi and Derek and will be graduating in dietetics this May. Yeah!!! She has decided to return to school in the fall and get a degree in Exercise Physiology to go along with her dietetics. Then she is going to be my personal trainer and nutritionist and all at NO cost to me! I'm planning to live to at least 110! Just kidding. . .arrrgh!

Heidi and Derek have decided to put their roots down in the Cache Valley and so they bought a cute little home in Providence. Derek (and a little help from Cameron) has done a great job fixing things up and Heidi has decorated it so cute. They just recently bought a dog. Everything would be perfect if I only had a grandchild. Just kidding Heidi! I know it will happen when the time is right. Problem is. . . . .MY time is right, right now. Heidi has a fabulous job working at a private school teaching kindergarten/first grade. She loves her job and those kids. She is truly a remarkable teacher and I'm not just saying that because I'm her mother. LOL! I've seen her at work with kids and she truly has a gift. She is going to be a great mother. Derek is going to school full time and working full time. He loves his job and can work into a higher position at the same company when he graduates. He is our computer go to guy for all of our virus's, problems, etc. Poor guy!

Cameron went up to Utah State in January and is living in an apartment just off campus. He doesn't actually LOVE school but he is doing very well. He has made some friends and can see three of his four siblings on any given day since they all live up there too. It's weird to think that there is more of my family in Logan than there are here at home. He is an Aggie basketball fan for sure. He plans to move home at the end of the semester and go back to work for Centerville City.

Derek is also attending Utah State and trying to hang on to the academic scholarship he is on. He has discovered snowboarding and has conveniently scheduled his classes so he is free every Tuesday and Thursday. From what I hear he is pretty good at snowboarding. And, he actually WON this awesome, very expensive snowboard in a raffle at a Snowboard Tour in Park City that was sponsored by XBOX 360. Shaun White was it it and that really fired Derek up about the sport. Derek fractured his hand and had to wear a cast for awhile but managed to snowboard and even play a little basketball with the cast on. Derek has managed to live on next to no money during this year. He plans to come home at the end of the semester and will also work at Centerville City and SAVE LOTS of money.

Matthew just recently turned 14. His birthday is on Valentine's day and it happened to fall on a Sunday so everyone, including Grandma and Grandpa Woodbury, came to dinner to celebrate. He was also ordained to the office of a Teacher by his Dad on that day. Matthew plays a lot of basketball. . . . . .seems like every night of the week. But he loves it and is pretty good at it. He is already over 6 feet tall so it seems like a good sport to go for.

Scott is still working at Workman Nydegger as a patent attorney and it consumes most of his working hours. He manages to still play some basketball and even rides his bike in the frigid cold weather. He is teaching gospel doctrine in our ward and loves that. He is a very good teacher.

I, Wendy, am still working full time. Arrrgghhh! Maybe someday I can quit or at least go part time. Fortunately I have a job that I love almost all the time, with just a few recent exceptions. Because of directives from the Department of Health and working with a program funded by state dollars, I had to lay off three employees in my office. These were great employees and good friends and it was a really hard and difficult process with a lot of hurt involved. I hope never to be in a position like that again. I am now trying to look forward with the great people I have left in my office. I am serving as the secretary in our Relief Society Presidency. I work with great women in a great ward. They have been a blessing to me in what has been a difficult year for our family in many ways. I like to go to the gym and am trying to be in good enough shape to hold my own on the bike when the weather gets good. We went yesterday and it was fabulous. I'm still holding out for a 60 degree day though.

Man, reading back over this, it sure sounds like one of those corny Christmas letters. The corny Christmas letters I love receiving from many of you by the way. It's all good!

Now for the good stuff. . . .some pictures.

Christmas 2009

Cameron, Amber and Derek at our little family Christmas party hosted by Heidi and Derek.





Christmas Eve always consists of dinner, the Christmas story, new pajamas of course, and singing around the piano. This is my favorite part of Christmas.













Grandma and Grandpa Woodbury



















WE HAD A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

EIGHT MONTHS LATER AND WE ARE BACK!!

Cache Valley Century - August 2009 We Rocked!

Salt Lake Century - May 2009

Great riding companions with Scott, Heidi, and Derek.

Heidi a 2009 Utah State University Graduate!

Congratulations Heidi! She already has a dream job teaching kindergarten/first grade at a private school and is loving it.

Cameron all spiffed up for Prom 2009. We were in Logan and he never got me pictures of him with his date. Bad Cameron!

Derek an EAGLE SCOUT finally!

Court of Honor - May 2009

Derek with his awesome scoutmaster, Bruce Cox, and his forever buddy, Eric Armstrong.

VIEWMONT VIKING GRADUATE 2009!

Seminary Graduation

May 2009

Derek and his best friend, Kyle Richens.

The Brookhurst Ward Seminary Graduates 2009. Back row: Derek, Jordan Strong, Taylor Keddington, Cody Bauman, Colby Horn, Bishop Gary Flinders. Front Row: Rachel Moon, Alyssa Henrie, Kailey Johnson.

And enough of Derek already!! Just kidding. . . . .I'm one proud momma.




Cameron was in an accident in my car on the way to our Fletcher Family Reunion. Fortunately nobody was hurt and it WAS NOT his fault. Yeah! I got my car back as good as new about 6 weeks later.

Fletcher Reunion at The Heber Valley Camp - June 2009

Zion's Century in late February 2009. Sooooo many hills. . . . .it nearly killed me.

Matthew's 13th Birthday and Valentine's Day. Mostly Matt's birthday though.

Matthew's winning "Rebels" basketball team at the end of the season. Matt is getting to be an awesome player. He is the BIG guy underneath and looking forward to the next season coming on.

Scout Camp at Bear Lake - July 2009

Park City Trip - August 2009

We had a blast even though people were maimed.

One day we rented bikes and went down hill mountain biking at Deer Valley. Everyone crashed or got hurt in one way or another but what a fabulous rush!

Derek Smith had an awesome crash where his head made great contact with a lot of dirt, rocks, etc. Let's just say it was a really good thing he was wearing a helmet. . . . . .it was cracked!

Cameron won the prize for sustained injuries. After about a dozen crashes and getting back on the bike he had a big one and ended up with 5 stitches on his elbow and lots of road rash everywhere else. I hate to say it, but he kind of deserved it. He was acting like such a GUY!

Welcome Home!

Hi everyone,

Wanted to let everyone know that Cameron came home from his mission Monday. He has been "pretending" that he was doing well when in reality he was coming apart at the seams. In spite of having a good companion he was very depressed and having a tremendous amount of anxiety and the mission president felt it best to have him come home. In less than twenty four hours he was already beginning to feel better. He is embarassed but his anxiety level is so much better. Because of this quick adjustment we are pretty sure that it is the Separation Anxiety that was rearing it's ugly head. He's had that for many years but we thought we had a handle on it by having him be away from home for a week or so at a time and him handling it. We had a great talk with the stake president that helped Cameron feel better. He told him that he had willingly and faithfully served a mission and has done all that the Lord has asked of him and that it doesn't matter where you serve but your willingness to serve. And Cameron was definitely willing. We couldn't be more proud of him!

Over the last couple of weeks I've had a lot of questions, wondering why we felt so good about having him go on a mission when in the end it wouldn't work out. It became clear to me as we spent time together as a family and Cameron shared his testimony and the experiences he had at the MTC and in Washington, that he had the mission experience and that was important. Our stake president told him to consider himself a returned missionary and that he was being extended an honorable medical release. Cameron is a good young man with a strong testimony and I'm confident that he is going to be okay. He did his very best (probably more than that in fact) and fulfilled his duty and I hope he will continue to feel good about that. He may consider a service mission. Lots of things to think about and consider now. I so appreciate everyone's love and support in getting him on his mission and know that you will all understand and continue to support him now when he needs it the most. I love you all!!!

Elder Woodbury in Vancouver, Washington

As most of you know, Cameron entered the MTC on December 17, 2008. Thanks to everyone who came to hear him speak. It meant the world to him and to me. It was really weird having him gone on Christmas. I miss him so much but I'm so happy for him! I'm not going to lie, the MTC was difficult for Cameron. Long days and lots of sitting is hard on him. But he perservered and learned so much. He bears a very strong testimony and is ready to start teaching.

Elder Woodbury left the MTC and entered the Washington Kennewick mission on January 13, 2009. We got to talk with him for about an hour while he was at the airport. He was nervous, anxious, and excited. It was great to hear his voice! We got another call from the mission president's wife, Sister Belnap, that evening. She informed us that he arrived safely and gave us the address of where he is going. Vancouver, Washington! It's just across the river from Portland, Oregon. I guess it's very green and rainy most of the time. He is living in the home of a couple who are members of the church. The short note we got in the mail yesterday says he likes his companion and his Mission President. It is a biking area so he has already bought a bike. Thanks to everyone who has prayed in Cameron's behalf. He is begging for letters so I am posting his address.

Elder Cameron Woodbury

13217 NE 49th Street

Vancouver, WA 98682