Pew Family Update 2021

It’s been an amazing year! Less masking, more traveling, another baby joined the family...read on to find out the details. 

Gwen-15

9th grade, last year in junior high

Interests: baking, sewing, Ultimate Frisbee, kayaking, shopping, friends

New: ASL, K-Pop especially BTS, K-dramas, first school dance (Halloween), flew for the first time, boogie boarded, snorkeled

Donated hair to charity

Zane-18

12th grade, senior

Interests: sports, playing Ultimate Frisbee, straight As, AP Calc & AP Gov & Pol, school dances, friends, State Champs in Boys Ultimate Frisbee, YCC 2nd place in national club tournament Spirit Award w/ best friend

New: worked at Taco Bell over the summer, boogie boarded, snorkeled

Micah/Elder Pew-19

Permanently reassigned to the Columbus, Ohio Mission (originally called to Peru)

Loving the people and friends he’s made, learning to have humility

Powerful testimony of Jesus Christ

Currently serving on the campus at OSU!

Izak-21

Works full time, returned to old job at CIT and now works in a group home mentoring teenagers

Took some online music writing classes by Ryan Tedder, Charlie Puth & Kygo, he's written some sweet songs

He's also DJed some dances and enjoys sharing his music knowledge with others

He moves out in December and starts college in January through BYU Pathways

Emily-24

Living in Rexburg, Idaho, working for BYU Idaho, has an internship with a bridal shop in Rexburg

Dating a great guy and has great roommates

Still enjoys creative photography and passed her passion of K-dramas and K-pop on to Gwen and some of Gwen’s friends (they order Cupbop and watch k-dramas when she’s in town)

Megan & Timo

Are first time parents to beautiful Autumn. Autumn has Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and was born with omphalocele. They knew of her omphalocele at her ultrasound to find out her sex. They handled the news with courage and grace. She has been in our prayers daily from that day. She’s been a miracle with all her situations since birth being best-case no matter the problem. We are so grateful. At the time of this writing she no longer has a feeding tube, just oxygen that she might be able to get rid of after her next cardiology appointment,  Timo keeps stats on Autumn and continues to play tennis with Tim whenever possible. Megan is a wonderful mother and they are a great team in taking care of Autumn.

Taran, Quinn, Adrian & Lisa

Busy with raising the two busy, darling boys. Working hard to save for a home some day. Taran is in the Elder's quorum Presidency in his ward and Lisa is in the Relief Society Presidency. Adrian started preschool this year. Both boys are obsessed with Batman thanks to Lego Batman.

Rachelle

Felt like she should quit her job at the local bookstore, Deseret Book. She was sad about it and misses her friends but is grateful for the friends and blessings that came from that experience. About a month after quitting she got mono, she then got it again in May after catching a bad cold. It has been a heck of a year of getting healthy but with some good doctors she feels blessed for where she is at this point. She teaches Primary--the 5 year olds at church, tries to go to the temple weekly, yoga daily, walking on good weather or good energy days and helps with the Service Club at the Junior High and High School. Adrian and Quinn come on Wednesdays so life is pretty full without a job. She’s happy she can walk 3 miles at a time which just a couple of months ago was not possible and is hoping to get more use out of her snowshoes this year! 

Tim

Is happy to be back singing with the Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square. They are tested for COVID before each practice and performance. He works from home most of the time. He plays tennis with Timo or his friend Ryan when weather permits and sometimes basketball with co-workers. He did a lot of work on our basement bathroom and it looks fantastic. He and Zane went to the BYU vs. Utah game and it was the perfect game for them to attend! He is in the middle of fixing our dishwasher and is the handiest guy. We celebrated our 30th anniversary by going to Hawaii and it was fantastic. We seriously would love to live on Kauai.

We have had some fun experiences this year. In June, Tim and Zane flew to Minnesota for a bunch of Ultimate Frisbee games organized by Edina. Normally it would have been high school nationals but because of covid they canceled again. Zane’s team did fantastic and it gave them great experience to build on for this coming year, they’re hoping to go back this coming summer and win! Zane also went to Oregon the week after the Minnesota trip to play in the Oregon state tournament (they didn’t have enough teams so they invited a couple of out-of-state teams). They had a great experience there as well.. Some of us went to San Diego with my side of the family. We enjoyed the beach, kayaking, Legoland, the Zoo, Belmont Park, SeaWorld and the Mormon Battalion Museum. Zane flew out of San Diego to Minnesota in August for his YCC or club team of Utah All Stars. It was already mentioned that they came in second so they would like to take first in this  national tournament next year. In October Tim and Rachelle flew to Kauai with her parents. Then later they flew to Oahu and picked up Gwen and Zane, we met up with our friends the Wykstras at Pearl Harbor. We spent a few days there and then flew back to Kauai to finish out the trip. It was an amazing experience. We are grateful to Rachelle’s parents for making it possible.

        It might seem like we have a perfect life, we don’t .No one has a perfect life. Here we are sharing our highlights.. We can’t help but feel very blessed for our Savior who continues to comfort us and bring us peace through our challenges. We are better for our challenges because they draw us closer to each other and our Savior, Jesus Christ. May you and those you love feel His very real love for you this Christmas and always!  Love, The Pews

Zane & Tim at BYU vs. Utah game

Zane playing in Minnesota

Mini golfing at Belmont Park in San Diego

PCC on Oahu

Queen's bath Kauai

2020 Pew Update

 Hey everyone,

This year has certainly been one for the history books. But seriously, at some point in the next life, I’m convinced that we’re going to find out that 2020 was caused by a group of extremely incompetent time-travellers. How else can we explain the sudden appearance or disappearance of the murder hornets? Or that Poland accidentally invaded the Czech republic? Or that the Pentagon released 3 videos of UFOs? It sounds to me like there’s someone who keeps trying to prevent further disasters, but ends up causing more harm than good.

Despite this year being...well...what it’s been for all of us, we’ve had some good times. A definite highlight was finally making it to Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah with Rachelle’s side of the family. The trip included a few short hikes, lots of pretty red rock, horseback riding, a truly epic dance party/lip-syncing contest, and lots of swimming.

We’ve also had quite a few milestones with our kids.

Taran

(27) graduated this spring with a degree in Spanish and a minor in political science. He started a new job at the end of November with a software company, Avetta. He works in HR.. He and his wife Lisa also welcomed a second baby, Quinn Asher, in the latter end of July. He is what they call a “chunky monkey” and has the world’s cutest sneezes (trust us). Lisa has kept busy with her crafts, starting a YouTube channel, and most of all her boys. Adrian turned 3 at the beginning of November and is still a high-energy, spunky kid who loves swords, Captain America, dinosaurs, dump trucks, and strong female role models such as Mulan and Elsa. We had a fun summer with him around as he helped us pick strawberries and water the plants, and he watched G-Pa mow the lawn. We sure love him!

Timo (25)

also graduated with his masters in statistics, as well as his wife Megan, who majored in biology & conservation. Timo and Megan worked at BYU all summer and they also enjoyed many adventures of the outdoor variety -- hiking and camping and photography.  Megan has also spent time refinishing a table and some chairs for their new apartment, and they’re looking pretty sharp. In August, Timo landed a job with Exact Sciences as a data scientist and their family moved to Salt Lake to be closer to the office (even though it’s remote work for now). Eventually, they could relocate to Wisconsin, where the company’s headquarters are, but they are happy to let him work closer to us for now, which we’re grateful for.

Emily (23) has spent most of this year working as a recruiter for a subcontractor of the Department of Defense. It’s a remote position she’s able to do from anywhere, so the pandemic hasn’t messed up her life schedule too drastically. She also moved to Rexburg in September, where she is pursuing a degree in horticulture and floral design at BYU-Idaho. Aaaaaand that’s really everything. She hopes that next year, her life is more exciting to talk about. It’s been a real step down from last year’s world travels. Thanks, Corona.

Izak

(20) has been in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia over the past couple of years. He is completing his mission in the middle of December. He has served as a zone leader, a district leader, and a trainer of new missionaries. Because of the Coronavirus, he has been quarantined for the past eight or so months in an attempt to keep the missionaries safe, but his testimony about how the work has continued to progress despite the challenges of the day is inspiring to us!

Micah

(18) received his mission call to Piura, Peru in March, right at the beginning of the quarantine. He graduated in May (having been crowned Homecoming King as well as Mr. Talent over the course of his senior year). He was bummed that the last part of his senior year was so affected by the pandemic, but he and his friends were still able to have a lot of fun moments, like an improvised Prom date and a cabin trip with some friends. Despite a lot of uncertainty, he decided to leave on his mission right away rather than wait for Peru to open back up. While doing his at-home missionary training, he received a temporary reassignment to the Columbus, Ohio mission, and left to go there in early September. Luckily, he was able to attend the temple the Friday before he left for Ohio. That was a great blessing. He has loved Ohio so far and is now training a brand-new missionary, but he still hopes Peru opens back up soon.

Zane

(17) is in his junior year and enjoys all things music, sports, and politics. He, like his brothers before him, is involved in the high school’s ultimate frisbee club team, and this year, he made the A-Team (which is equivalent to the varsity level for normal sports). He hopes that the pandemic will be under control enough to let him participate in the various tournaments the team usually attends across the country. He had his first date and many since. He is a hard worker and always gets his homework done.

Gwen

(14) is in eighth grade, and she started playing ultimate frisbee this year as well! This was pleasantly surprising to her brothers, but she’s been having a lot of fun with it. She even recruited several of her friends to join her, and her 5v5 team won the middle school tournament. During the summer, she had girls’ camp in her backyard with several friends. They did a lot of fun things, including kayaking and space camp. She is also liking her Spanish class and her woodworking class. She has continued with her sewing and her baking -- she made pajama pants and a skirt in her sewing class that she was very proud of. She has also been expanding her ankle boot collection.

Tim

(750) is enjoying watching General Conference from home, but he’s bummed about the Tabernacle Choir’s tour to Scandinavia being postponed. He’s been working from home since the quarantine, and has enjoyed the extra time to play tennis with various adversaries. The most bitter of these is Timo, who has begun to overtake him in skill, but this is only because Timo is still a callow youth. He doesn't mind working at home and is thoroughly enjoying BYU Football being ranked this year!

Rachelle

is still enjoying her job at Deseret Book working in the distribution center. She still loves to have her grandbabies close to her. As always, she has fun serving others and almost remembering everyone’s birthdays. She still does yoga almost everyday and enjoyed several new hikes with friends and Tim this year. She’s read or listened to a bazillion books this year thanks to her Bookshelf App. 

I’d like to thank Emily for doing our family update this year!

We hope you and your family are doing well! We hope you are healthy and happy. We are so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ who has brought us much peace and hope during this bizarre year. Despite the challenges we have much to thank God for: our health, our livelihood, our family and our friends. We know as we focus on Him and his love, example and teachings we can find joy despite what is going on around us! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Much love, The Pews 

Pews Update 2019

Merry Christmas! Pews Update 2019

We started out the year with a leaking bathroom upstairs into the bathroom and bedroom downstairs. During this time we were getting ready to send Izak off on the mission. It was crazy. It took months to get a plumber to come diagnose the issue. There is a construction boom going on here and no one has time for a small job! We finally found a guy who does plumbing on the side to fix it. Tim and our neighbors did the dry wall in the upstairs bathroom and the bedroom downstairs. The other bathroom is still torn apart at this writing! Life is full of surprises! We just have to learn to be flexible and patient! Here are some of the surprises we had this year!

Gwen (13) -finished 6^th grade/elementary school

-NOVA award for creative rocket, out of seashells

-first Girl's Camp, had a blast

-piano, sewing and baking classes

-started junior high at Mountain Ridge, great old friends and some great new friends, favorite class: Film Lit

-earned her Young Women Medallion which was a lot of work for one year of doing it

Zane(16)-finished Junior High

-High honor roll award

-traveled to Tennessee for Ultimate Frisbee, had a blast

-learning to drive, needs to take Driver's Ed

-went to Wyoming for Scout Camp and had a blast

-earned his Eagle Scout award, yay!

-played on Utah's Youth Club for Ultimate Frisbee the Swarm, they went to Minnesota got 3^rd in this National Tournament

-started high school at Lone Peak

-won state in mixed (co-ed) Ultimate Frisbee, was on Micah's team

-lots of great friends

Homecoming King & Junior Prince, his good friend Apollo

Micah (17-1/2)- went to Tennessee for Ultimate Frisbee, had a blast

-tore hamstring, not fun, physical therapy every week

-went with Ultimate Frisbee team to Georgia and North Carolina and watched because of hamstring

-school dances, lots of fun

-better by State tournament, got First Team All State despite barely playing all spring

-won State with team

-went to Nationals in Chicago with Ultimate Frisbee Team, got 3^rd pretty great first showing

-went to a Cubs game on trip and ate lots of pizza

-worked as a custodian all summer at the local elementary school

-enjoyed Scout Camp in Wyoming as well

-went to St. George with friends

-Homecoming King and then Mr. Talent in the Sir Knight Pageant

-Flag Football rec team won championship

-won state in mixed (co-ed) Ultimate Frisbee with Zane

-applying for college, thinking about a mission next summer

-lots of great friends

A cool photo taken of Micah at Nationals

Izak, or Elder Pew (19)-entered the MTC in January, serving in the Baltimore Maryland mission (11 months)

-has served in Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Virginia so far

-currently made Zone Leader

-learning and growing in his love of God and Christ and his fellow brothers and sisters

-enjoys calling home and catching up on our lives

Emily (22) -at BYU Provo

In Portugal

-loves her economics class

-spent spring and part of summer in Europe, mostly Italy as an au pair, teaching English to the host family's children

-Disney Paris, Notre Dame before the fire (lucky), Portugal, Venice, Rome, Milan, Florence, Switzerland are some highlights

-working at BYU all summer with a few trips here and there

-ward choir director and loving it

Alaska

Timo and Megan-at BYU Provo

-seniors, Applied Stats Bachelor & Masters combined and Conservation/Biology

-summer in Florida for Megan's internship studying dolphins, amazing!

-also a visit to Alaska to Megan's parents

-applying for jobs with graduation in spring

-ward missionary and Primary secretary

Taran and Lisa and Adrian-Taran senior at BYU Provo, Spanish major, Political Science Minor, ward organist

-Still works full-time at Nu Skin but has changed to different position since last year

-graduates in the spring

-Lisa worked part-time at Deseret Book in Orem but quit to be home for Adrian

-trip to Disneyland just the 2 of them and then helped Timo drive to Florida

-Adrian (2) busy as ever and talking up a storm, everyone's favorite

-loves big machines like excavators, garbage trucks, fire trucks...also enjoys baseball and the movie Coco

-looks forward to visiting us every Wednesday, highlight of our week

Tim and Rachelle-Tim is still at Family Search & in the Tabernacle Choir

-Rachelle started working part-time at Deseret Book in American Fork in the distribution part this fall, and loves it

-Rachelle won a trip to Disneyland for 2 so we went in February, it was a blast

-Tim traveled to Nationals in Chicago (Ultimate Frisbee) with Micah and enjoyed the experience especially seeing the Cubs play

-Tim also traveled to Minnesota with Zane for the National YCC tournament for Ultimate Frisbee, got stuck in Denver on the way home and hung out with our friends the Burnsides for couple of days and had a blast (they were great hosts)

-Tim worked every spare moment this spring on the bathrooms and Micah's bedroom, only one bathroom to go!

-looking for a new car is Tim's latest hobby as our old cars are dying off, not a fun surprise

-weekly temple trips, family history, reading, yoga and coming with projects for Tim are Rachelle's hobbies

-basketball, tennis and pickle ball keep Tim active besides hiking or snowshoeing with Rachelle

We hope this season if full joy, peace and love as we focus on our Savior Jesus Christ. He truly loves each of us and knows our sorrows so He can comfort and bless us. The focus on Him daily can bring this same joy and peace we feel during Christmas! We hope you feel His love for you daily this year!

Much love, The Pews