I was born to my parents during their brief stint in a nearby state (I only lived there for three months - as a wee babe). I spent most of my young childhood bouncing between California and various other western states. I think I am a California girl at heart. I love the sun and flowers that bloom all year round and moderate heat and warm rolling ocean waves. I love Oregon, but it is a little hit or miss in all those areas (and forget about ocean water being anything above forty degrees!). I have lived in Oregon for over 30 years and all of our family is here, so it is definitely home, but every winter I am sorely tempted to pack up my family and move ANYWHERE it's warm and the sun shines. Sean says, "no dice", so I'm waiting for the Millennium - I assume it will be sunny then.
Sean and I both grew up in the stake we currently live in and even went to stake youth conferences together, but never met until he was home from his mission. We have a very cool courtship story, but it is VERY long, so I will simply say I believe in love at second-sight, and Sean had (and has) every single one of the 10 qualities I felt were most important in a husband and father (I still have the list in one of my journals). We have been married 21 years and I am hopelessly in love with him.
I enjoy lots of things, but most not as deeply as I wish. I love lists and find myself pretty wrapped up in the day-to-day running of our home and family. However, this is the first time in 20 years I have not had a child at home all day and it's AMAZING! I love the freedom to get completely sucked up in something every now and again and not feel like I'm ignoring anyone. So, when I can throw all time and caution to the wind, I read - mostly non-fiction - scriptures, organizing, design, healthy living, business management (this one baffles me - I have no explanation for my affinity), gardening, flower arranging, weddings, yoga (although the past couple of years I have been loving Tai Chi), sewing, photography, cleaning, and whatever else strikes my fancy. And basically what I read about is what I do. I think it is a strange compulsion that I do not seem to be able to do anything without reading about it as well. But it's all very sporadic and short-lived. I think it's called "Shiny Object Syndrome".
Sean and I have five beautiful children all of whom I am trying desperately to learn how to love better and more. Djeryd is our oldest and he is serving a mission in Fiji (and gets home in less than 8 months!!!!!!). Erik is sweet and strong and brave. Anna is my constant example in pretty much everything. Alyx bubbles over with compassion and all things crafty. Elle is so melt-my-heart yummy I find myself simply wanting to wrap her up in my arms as often as she'll let me.
My guilty pleasure is 80's TV mystery shows. I have shamefully indoctrinated my children with them and they will probably struggle socially as a result for the rest of their lives. On the upside, their teachers greatly appreciate that at least someone in class gets the cultural references from their glory days. Favorites are Remington Steele, Murder, She Wrote, Scarecrow & Mrs. King, Matlock, and Perry Mason (yes, I know that one is from the 60's, but I watched the re-runs in the 80's - thank you, Mom).
If I could only eat one food forever it would be salad. But I know that's a cheaters thing - because it's a dish of endless variety. But, yeah, that's what I would eat.
Something nobody knows, and is a teeny bit embarrassing, is that when I was in high school, I used to sit in front of my bedroom mirror and practice giving my acceptance speech for Best Actress for the Academy Awards. Night after night after night after night . . . I just wanted to make sure I didn't forget to thank anyone.
My relationship with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are the absolute most important things to me. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I have a deep and growing testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the incredible breadth of it. None of us would be who we are or where we are without it. I love the scriptures. I love our prophet. I want him to be prophet forever - I just love him. I love my family beyond anything I can express and I am eternally grateful for the eternal validity of the eternal sealing ordinances. I love to learn. There is always something to learn, always some way to grow and improve. I love that. I am so excited for the Second Coming. I want to be ready. I want my family to be ready. That is becoming increasingly important to me; almost pressing upon me. The Church is true! Jesus is the Christ! I love it!
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