Judy & Giles

Giles with his "Coos Bay Youth" and their spouses and children
This was taken this summer at our reunion.

Marilyn (my mom), Sabrina, Judy, Eva, Leah, Naomi, Michelle, me

When my family and I were in Coos Bay for my stepfather's funeral we stayed with the Parkers. We were thinking that my mom would have a full house and so when Judy offered to let us stay with them we took them up on the offer. We stayed there for four nights and it was wonderful.

One night the girls were in bed, Chris was working on his computer in the bedroom and Judy was asleep. As I was getting ready for bed myself I heard music coming from the family room. It was Giles playing the Ukulele. I listened to him play and sing along for a little while and then quietly went to sit down in the chair opposite of him. In the dim lighted room he told me about the songs, their history and how he learned to play. I have always known that he played but I didn't know how much a part of his life it was. It was beautiful and and made me happy that he has found opportunities to play and continue with his talent. He told me the story of receiving his bass ukelele from co-workers when he retired as supertintendent. I sat there listening to him play and sing. It was great. He admitted later that he doesn't play for very many people. I felt extremely blessed and special to have had that moment with him. I count him and Judy as two of the most special people in my life and I know that the other LDS girls I graduated with will all tell you the same thing. Giles was our bishop and a bishop like no other bishop I can guarantee that. We are all still very close with him and Judy and count them as extended family and they count us as the same. Also while I was there I was able to read his account of the events leading up to their move to Coos Bay. Wow. I now know that Heavenly Father meant for him to be our bishop and for their family to be in Coos Bay during that time.

Naomi, Giles, Me and Makenzie

During that same trip I went up to our barn and got some of my things out of a storage bin to bring home. One of which was my personal progress book from Young Womens. I thought it would be fun to show my girls, especially Makenzie who just completed hers recently. As I was flipping through its pages I found some certificates of completion that had been signed by my YW leaders as well as my bishop. There was an area to leave comments and when I read the comments from my Bishop (Giles) I was dumbfounded at how well he knew me at the time. Way better than I knew myself. I remember feeling so frustrated at times with his advice to me and thinking he just "didn't know." Now, looking back at my life and the things going on in my life at the time I have no doubt that he was praying for each of us, his youth, his kids, his girls as he calls us. I am grateful that Heavenly Father sent Judy and Giles to us in Coos Bay. Fourteen young youth were baptized during the time he was bishop, most of which are still active in the church, amazing. A large part of who we are is because of the inspiration of a Bishop who knew how to reach and teach each of us.