2) Say cheese! If you haven’t noticed, I love taking pictures. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter—you name it, I’m on it. I’m blessed to live in such a beautiful place, travel all over the world and have amazing experiences. I also love sharing these experiences with my fans—which involves taking a lot of pictures. Being able to show off my Damon Smile definitely keeps me confident in front of the camera.

3) Food I love my fruits and veggies, but I don’t love them in my teeth. Luckily, having straight, properly aligned teeth means I don’t have to worry as much if the salad I had for lunch is still front and center. Before my Damon Smile, I was always getting stray pieces of food caught in my not-so-straight teeth. Now, my teeth are straight, easy to clean and SO much healthier! I love to be healthy and having aligned teeth helps with my oral hygiene!

4) Having a gorgeous smile on my BIG day! As my family, friends, and fans know, I’m now a bride-to-be and it seems like there are a million details to think about! These days photography is a big part of every engagement and wedding. With my Damon Smile, I’ll walk down the aisle with confidence, knowing that I’m marrying the love of my life and will smile with him for the rest of my life! I’ll also be able to look back on my pictures for years to come and be happy with my Damon Smile—I couldn’t be more grateful. God is amazing!

Congratulations again to my friends at Damon Smile for the new name refresh! A great smile is truly invaluable and I feel blessed to be part of the Damon family… Show them some love and tell them what you think of their change. Keep smiling and until next time friends, Aloha!

Aloha friends & fans of Bethany!

I am sure you’re as stoked as I am about the exciting event of Bethany and my engagement! Our relationship has been an amazing and blessed adventure. Most importantly my relationship with God has been the most incredible part of my life. If it wasn’t for God, Bethany and I would have never met.

Two years ago I was graduating from college with the calling on my heart to help my friend start Young Life, a youth ministry, on the island of Kauai. It was hard leaving family and friends behind, but I have found that as soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises.

My year commitment to volunteer with YoungLife was coming to an end. However, I had heard God urging me to stay and continue reaching out to the youth. So I committed to stay another year. When we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful, occurrences. As I was working with the youth, I was praying for a close friend, and I was in for an amazing surprise!

Bethany and I met through mutual friends. Right away I could tell she was pretty cool (I mean she jumped a 40 foot cliff into the ocean with me!), she’s down to earth, and I could tell she understood my heart for The Lord and others; and I saw her heart as well. After hanging out several more times, I felt in my heart that I would like to pursue a relationship with her. On the beautiful Na Pali coast I told Bethany what was on my heart and asked if it was ok to pursue a meaningful closer friendship with her. On accident she said “I do!” Haha with a quick, “I mean yes!”

We continued to have fun experiences together and every time we hung together with friends, every hike, every little adventure; I could tell we were being drawn closer together. I find so much joy in who Bethany is, a woman who genuinely seeks after God, kind, funny, adventurous, and joyful.

When we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful, occurrences.

Bethany and I were falling in love. Love is something I have learned to not take lightly. I have seen what true unconditional love is through God’s mercy and grace in my life. To tell someone that you love them is expressing something that only God can give. The fountains from which love flows are in God, not in us. His love is in us because it “has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit . . .” (Romans 5:5). God has been filling my life with His love and an abundant love for Bethany that will never go away.

Every time she says, “I love you,” I can’t help but smile and skip a few heart beats. To feel the love of someone who genuinely loves me for who I am and am becoming, is indescribable (maybe I could if I were a poet). I know her love for me comes from Christ, and I am very thankful.

I was stoked when I asked Bethany’s parents blessing to ask her hand in marriage. They were overjoyed and gave their permission! My parents and family were also in approval! Soon I had a wonderful caper planned to express my love; to ask Bethany’s hand in marriage. When she said, “yes!”, we entered into an even more beautiful continuation of our relationship. We have always sought to have God first and foremost in our relationship, to have Him at the center of it all. Now, we are seeking proper guidance from a Pastor and his wife to prepare us and guide us to continue to keep God in the middle of everything and to love each other the way God has intended us to. I am looking forward to keep getting to know Bethany more and more every day and grow in our love every day. It is exciting to know that we have differences and are not perfect, but that is where we get to show and give God’s unconditional love to one another. One of my favorite things we do, is pray together as much as we can. I want to support Bethany, encourage her, and lift her up as God continues to shape and mold her into the beautiful woman of God that she is.

Bethany, I am so excited for our adventure together for the rest of our lives. I promise to respect you, grow closer to Christ together, and to always love you through the hard times and to celebrate with you in all the awesome times. I love you!

Your,
Adam boy

Spring of 2012 I met the most amazing person of my life.
I immediately was so intrigued by him.
Adam and I first met at the beach, kind of set up by friends.
Not how I would have planned to meet – on somewhat of a “blind date” (haha) – but nooo complaints.

The first thing we did was jump off a cliff together! And you could say it was love at first cliff jump. We started hanging out often. Just as friends – hiking, beach, tennis, hanging with friends – getting to know each other! The more time we spent together the more I liked Adam. He is genuine, kind, fun, adventurous, easy going, friendly to all, passionate for Christ and just a great guy over all! …and he liked me too!

Learning to love in a new way.
I’ve always loved my parents and my family immensely and found loving friends easy.
I have had a deep love for God since I was really young girl. Christ is the greatest definition of love and it’s been amazing to learn from the greatest! But to open up your heart to a complete stranger and learning to love a new person; it’s different; it’s beautiful. I believe it’s what God has created for us; but it can be intimidating. God knew my heart, my thoughts, concerns and desires; and He has heard my prayers. Ever since I was a young girl I wondered what my special person would be like; so I would pray for the right guy, and do my best to trust that God would give me what I desired one day. I never had the desire to meet a ton of guys, or to “experience” different people. I just wanted to be patient for that right one – the one God had in store for me – to share life with that special someone in a deep and beautiful friendship.

To be loved by another is beautiful. It took a bit of time for me to accept that. I’m not sure why. But I questioned: “Why would this man love me as much as he does?” “How can he accept me, flaws and all?” Not to mention, “Will he accept my unique life and come along side of me in support?” “How can he love me and all that my life is made of?” “Will he love me life-long?” But I know Adam’s love for me is unique – it comes from Christ, and that he will love me forever.

Learning to love. I guess it comes back to my first love besides my family – the unconditional love of Christ. Having that makes it easier to love all. And eventually when you meet that special one you get to take that love of Christ and smother that special one in the love that you know. My love for Adam… I really don’t think I could explain it out to you, it’s strong and it’s unique.

On April 9, 2012, Adam proposed to me and I said, “yes!” I know Adam and I are right for each other and that God has us together for Him. Neither of us is perfect, but in my eyes Adam is just right and I’m thankful to have someone so perfectly perfect to share life with as one.

Marriage – a life commitment to be brought together as one. So beautiful! Adam and I have been taking steps to prepare for a healthy beautiful marriage. It’s been fun! We are doing Bible-based pre-marital guidance with an older and wiser couple. We are going through some books. Often praying together and separately. And in all this, falling more in love and enjoying every bit of our engagement time! We take marriage seriously. Right now things are lovey-dovey and it’s fun and beautiful, but we want our love to remain through thick and thin. When we have hard times, we can rely on Christ and grow closer and stronger in our love and relationship. We know we can only prepare so much, but look forward to learning and growing together as we share life – to love beyond just a feeling. We will choose to love during thick and thin. (1 Corinthians 13)

I’m really glad too that my family loves Adam and approves. They see what a great guy he is. I feel spoiled (;
His family is awesome too. Our families have very different lives, so it’s cool to find beauty in our differences.
I’m really excited to keep getting to know Adam, to adventure with him and to smother him with love and respect!

I hope to grow more and more in love each day for you, Adam my love, and above all in my love for Christ!
I’m so thankful for you and look forward to living life together!
Adam, I love you and I’m here to stay!
~Bethany

Matthew 19:6 (ESV)
“So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

1 John 4:7
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”

Ephesians 5:33
“However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”

Ephesians 5:25
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

1 Peter 3:3-4 (ESV)
“Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”

Genesis 2: 18
“Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.’”

Bethany “SOUL SURFER” Hamilton from Impact Church on Vimeo.

The one and only "Soul Surfer" Bethany Hamilton visits Impact Church and tells all about her deepest thoughts and conversations with God.

FITNESS Tip

Fav. move right now – Sideways Squat Shuffle. I recommend you try this in your daily workout routine. Go for 30 seconds or longer. Should raise your heart rate and get your heart pounding! Try in sand or up a grassy hill for more of a challenge. Great as a warmup. If limited on space, I like to be in squat position and bring legs in and out. Have fun with great tunes!

HEALTH Tip

Chew your food! I’m so guilty of not doing this. Chewing food helps digestion and nutrient absorption.

Intergenerational Disabilities Program from Ev Free Fullerton on Vimeo.

I Skyped in from Morocco!

Photos:

Sun + salt + wind = my hair needs TLC

I do a hair oil treatment when convenient, maybe 1 or 2 times a week, and my hair always feels amazing after! If your hair is not exposed to the elements as much as mine, then you may only need to do this 1 to 4 times a month. But it’s up to you!

I put Organic Virgin Coconut Oil in my hair, saturating it completely, and leave it in for around 30 mins. Feel free to rub it into your scalp too, it’s a good anti-dandruff treatment. Then I shampoo and condition my hair. Note: You might need to shampoo your hair twice to rinse away all of the oil.

Easy and healthy!