BIG NEWS!!!

WE ARE MOVING TO UTAH!!!!

If you like us and you live in Utah -- this is good news. If you don't like us and you live in Utah -- this is bad news. If you like us and you live in Boise -- this is bad news. And if you don't like us and you live in Boise -- this is good news. :-)

We have been working on making this decision for months now. An opportunity came up for Charles, and we had to decide if we were willing to take the risk. I will admit -- I am scared. I have never lived in Utah before. I am actually the only one in my family who has never lived there. I have some concerns, for sure. But for now my excitement is overshadowing my anxiety. Thank goodness.

My parents moved away from Utah over 46 years ago, so we could grow up in an environment that was not saturated with Mormons (we lived in Arizona and Alaska). We had interesting experiences growing-up in places where being a Mormon was a rarity -- it was character building. I also had it in my mind that I would NEVER live in Utah, if I could avoid it. I had adopted the same opinions of my parents. But now, after 46 years . . . my parents will be returning (with us) to live in their homeland, the place of their birth, Utah! And I will be raising my family right smack in the heart of "Zion". :-) Funny how things change.

It will be interesting, I am sure of it. This is a BIG change for us, not one we were even planning on -- but that is how life works, sometimes. Things come up out of the blue and suddenly you are packing and heading in a totally different direction!

We are planning on heading-out sometime in June, so we have a few months to prepare. I have to give birth, we need to rent out our house, and the kids need to finish school. (The list of to-do's is incredibly long, but I will not bore you with details!) So much to do . . . so little time. I am so glad I am in the last months of pregnancy for it all! HELP!

So, off to Utah we will go. I am returning to the land of my people. It is the place where my ancestor's (on both sides) helped to settle and build. The Salt Lake Temple bears the hand-prints of my great, great, grandfather, who put his sweat and tears into crafting it. My pioneer ancestors are buried in the graveyards scattered throughout the land there. The homes where my ancestors raised their families still stand. There is so much there . . . so much to pull me there now . . . now that I understand my history. I am SO excited about that. I can do hands-on family history tours! I can walk where they walked, and pay respect to those who have gone before me.

Oh, and let us not forget all the wonderful living relatives I have there, too! ;-) wink!

There is this strange feeling inside of me that has been growing . . . like I am going home.

There is something beyond our control pushing us there . . . to the place I vowed to never live.

UTAH HERE WE COME!

Bread

Grandma Sycamore's Bread . . . need I say more? I LOVE this bread. It is second only to real homemade bread. Last week our family went through 5 loaves of it! We are a bunch of bread-oinkers around here. This bread is SO GOOD it becomes a snack-food. I know it is a little more pricey than some other lessor options -- but if you are going to eat white bread . . . Grandma's is the BEST! Yum!

A Little Empathy, Please . . .

I had a brilliant idea.

Last night for Family Home Evening, I decided we should learn about compassion and understanding. Number one on my agenda was allowing the children to experience how mommy feels being pregnant -- so they could understand why I lay on the couch so much, and why I am not as "peppy" as I normally am.

I loaded a backpack full of rice (12 pounds for William and 24 pounds for the bigger kids), and I strapped it onto their fronts. Looking back now, I really should have added a couple of rice bags on their chests, and a few more on their backsides. :-) I just wanted them to feel the "weight" that I carry so that they could appreciate me a little more, and also be a little happier about helping me when I need it.

After loading them down with weight, we had them do some simple tasks . . .

William is bending-over to clean-up items off of the floor. He grunted, and chuckled, and struggled. It was pretty darn cute, and accurate! He was super funny to watch . . . he spends the most time with me, so he seemed to copy my behavior the best -- waddling and everything. :-)

I should have taken video!

I had them lay down, so they could experience what it is like for me to try and sleep, or rest . . .

This is Sammi saying, "Ugh!"

Sammi was supposed to just find my shoes and put them on . . . it took awhile.

Sammi doing some light cleaning . . . and cracking knees.

(You'll notice Daddy was enjoying this, too. He said he did not need to strap on the weight for empathy -- he gained 20 pounds drinking hot-chocolate every night, during undergrad school.) :-) He, he.

Daniel experiencing lying down with the fantastic crushing-sensation. "Ugh!" he groaned.

Even sitting was uncomfortable . . . he is smiling because it was his last task before he could take it off.

They lasted 5 minutes . . . how about 9 months!

We had a good talk about how everyone can help mommy better -- now that they understand I am not just a wimp and I really struggle. Let's hope it worked!

We also wanted to go beyond having pregnancy-empathy, so we added a few more tasks and challenges.

We tied blindfolds over their eyes and had them experiment with some easy tasks in the darkness.

Writing . . .

Walking around . . . looking for particular items in the house. Lots of things were knocked over.

Finding his way to the bathroom . . . it was hard!

We also had them tie their good hand behind their backs, and try and do normal things . . .

Brushing teeth . . . tricky.

Getting a drink of water . . .

Putting on shoes . . .

Not easy!

Tying shoes . . .

It was rough!

It was a fantastic Family Home Evening. We also sang the primary song, "If you don't walk like most people do". We discussed how some people have special challenges that they have to learn to deal with and overcome . . . but also emphasized that nothing is impossible. We had them listen to Beethoven who composed music while deaf, they watched Ray Charles play the piano without being able to see, we discussed the girl from the Soul Surfer movie, and we watched Kyle Mynard climbing a mountain without arms or legs -- amazing!

Empathy for others is an important quality to learn, especially when children are young. I also wanted them to see and understand that people are not defined by their abilities or disabilities --- but by the strength of their heart. It was a really special night. I highly recommend it for a family activity!

Tangled

I think Disney's Tangled is one of the best movies EVER!

I love it. It is so beautiful, fun, creative, and the music is fantastic. It just makes me feel happy . . . like little-kid, blissful, happy.

I think it is time to watch it again . . . it has been awhile!

That is all. Over and Out. :-)

Family Fan Chart

Click on image to make it larger.

This is an awesome tool to help you do your family history. It is called a Family Fan Chart. You just go to the link below, enter your LDS.org ID and password, and it creates your family chart in about 3 seconds. You can save it, print it, whatever.

It is SUPER helpful because you can see where the work needs to be done . . . the blank spots in the family tree. For me it gives me somewhere to focus my attention. It is also neat just to see it all in one place! Technology is FANTASTIC!

Go to: Genealogy Fan Chart and create your very own! AWESOME!

(You may need to enter in some family history info on www.newfamilysearch.org, if you have not done that yet.)

You can also go to: https://www.lds.org/youth/family-history?lang=eng

It has a lot of helpful information/videos on how to get started with family history projects!

The First Kiss

In honor of Valentine's Day, I decided to write about our very first kiss. If you are sensitive to mushy-stuff, young love, or kissing scenes . . . do NOT keep reading! Rated: PG

It had been 2 months of hand-holding, hugging, sitting close, and talking . . . before we actually pressed our lips together. We had made a deal. And that deal was NO KISSING! The reason for the "deal" was because we liked each other so much. We did not want the overwhelming physical-desire that we had to take away from our desire to REALLY get to know each other. Looking back now, what we managed to do was impressive, and the self-control we rendered was close to a miracle!

Institute class was on the U.A.A. campus

We met in a church Institute class in Anchorage, Alaska. To sum it up quickly, we were both asked to teach on the same day. My lesson was on Home and Family and his was on Moral-Schizophrenia. I had never really noticed Charles before that moment, not really. But as he taught (wearing ripped-up jeans, a long sleeve T-Shirt, and soccer shoes) -- I was smitten. There was something about his voice, and his charm. There was a lot there, inside of him, and I wanted to get to know him better. I sat there captivated by his ideas and convictions regarding morals . . . I also noticed his beautiful brown eyes, his broad shoulders, and nice rear-end. When it was my turn to teach, I could feel someone staring at me -- I mean REALLY staring at me (particularly my backside), when I went to turn on the TV. When I turned around, it was him . . . he was noticing me for the first time, too. And so, not willing to let this connection go without result . . . I approached him after class and started the conversation. From there we chatted on the phone late into the night, and decided to meet at a dance the next day . . .

I walked into the church cultural hall, with high-anticipation.

I looked around to find Charles -- he was talking to another girl (she was a nice girl, that I liked a lot, but she was still another girl). Aargh. In an effort to make him jealous, I went and talked to another boy, before approaching Charles. (He has since let me know that that drove him crazy.) He continued talking to this girl, while I decided to sneak up next to him and pinch him on the butt. That quickly turned his attention to me. (Yeah, I am not one for subtle, or wasting time.) And then, just in time, a sappy love song played over the speakers, and we decided it was time for us to dance. It is strange, I do not remember the song that played, but it was a traditional LDS slow-dance song (Lady in Red? I Swear? Everything I Do, I Do it for You?). I do not recall the song, but I clearly recall the way I felt when Charles took my hand in his, and placed his hand on my waist . . .

It was MAGIC.

From that moment on, I knew things were going to be different. I had danced with a lot of boys . . . but it had NEVER felt like . . . well, I can't explain it, other than to say . . . it was RIGHT. I would embarrass you (and myself) if I went into detail about magnets, puzzle-pieces, and electricity. So, I will leave the juicy details to myself! But just thinking about that moment makes my heart beat faster, even now. Wow, it was powerful. It was truly like finding the one that was meant just for me. I felt it. In that moment. A fire began brewing inside of me.

That feeling was strong. It was stronger than anything I had ever felt before. It was SO strong, that we committed to our NO KISSING rule. It was crucial that we waited, that we talked, and discussed, and explored the world without our faces locked together, constantly. I can remember one of our first nights we spent talking, he merely touched my hair, and it sent shivers down my spine . . . Edward and Bella had NOTHING on us! So, we had to be really careful. And we were.

Edward and Bella = Wimpy Love

Weeks went by . . . we talked, we dated, we explored, we even traveled. We took a trip down from Alaska to visit family, and then we traveled together from Arizona to Utah (chaperoned by my sister Beth -- THANKS BETH!). We were in very close proximity in his mom's truck (the very same blue-beast of a truck he drives today) and still, NO kissing! It was not easy, though. I almost broke the rule on that trip. It was such a magical time for us. One night in Utah, under the stars, on my Nan's porch . . . I wanted to end our commitment -- I wanted to KISS! But he would not give into my weakness. He gently reminded me of our agreement, and that HE wanted to keep it. (What a good boy.) But I was getting tired of our agreement at that point -- I was ready to smooch! It would have been such a lovely moment, too, under the stars . . .

Riding next to each other in his truck . . . Beth took the picture.

The first picture of us ever taken, June 1999 . . . in front of the Salt Lake Temple -- too bad it did not turn out better!

We returned home after the trip, and my friend Melinda, from Arizona, returned with us. (I have vast amounts of e-mails I sent to Melinda about Charles, all saved in my journal -- they are hilarious!) We spent our time doing things together during the day, and at night we would all watch movies on our projector in the basement.

Melinda and Me during her visit

Charles and I had been together for 2 months at this point and still NO KISSING! After being rejected on the porch and seeing Charles' commitment, I was getting used to no kissing, and I was almost willing to wait until the altar (do you know how irresistible that made him?? Saying "no" to me made me want him even more!). However, we received some wise council against waiting to kiss -- from someone who actually kissed her husband for the FIRST TIME over the altar! WOW! (Cheryl Ekstrom, you are SUPER IMPRESSIVE!!)

So, after all of this amazing self-control and commitment-keeping . . . we were in the basement of my parents house, watching a movie surrounded by friends and siblings. (Our basement was always full of people.) I was sitting close to Charles on the couch, we had our fingers entwined, and our faces leaning close together -- watching Jurassic Park. (It was a BIG-deal movie in it's day!)

The next thing I knew there was a large Dinosaur, ripping someone apart -- and Charles had his lips pressed against mine! Say what? Traitor!

After all the weeks, and months, and romantic moments that had gone by -- he picked a crowded room, in the basement, watching Jurassic Park? I was shocked! It was NOT how it was supposed to be! So, at my request, I determined we should leave the crowded room, go upstairs in the light, and try it again. And from that moment on -- for six months until we were married -- we made up for lost time . . .

And we have never stopped kissing since. :-)

SMOOCH!

Chocolate-Covered

I LOVE Chocolate-Covered Raisins.

When I am in the hospital, after giving birth -- I request them every time. (And will likely request them this time, too!) Of course, I love most chocolate items. If I had to pick between chocolate and any other flavor, chocolate always wins.

I can remember, years ago, I was at home and there was no scrap of chocolate in my house and I started to panic. I really freaked, it was ridiculous! Luckily, as if an answer to prayer . . . a kind neighbor randomly brought me some chocolate-covered strawberries. Bless her heart. It was then that I realized I was actually addicted to chocolate. I needed it.

Well, I can't say that I have improved much (or at all). I still love me some chocolate. And thanks to Winco's bulk barrels . . . there are chocolate-covered raisins in my cupboard RIGHT NOW. Hooray! Chocolate-need filled. I can relax . . . no need to panic.

Disappointed

The following thoughts and comments are on a delicate subject, not suitable for children. Also, I am not a politician, a professional writer, a journalist, nor do I claim to be important in any way. But I do have a voice. And I will lift my voice -- every now-and-again -- when I feel something is important. The views I express are my own.

I am disappointed. I am disappointed that the votes of a few over-threw the votes of the millions. I am disappointed that it seems society at large is beginning to accept wrong as right and right as wrong. I am disappointed that the media has so much influence on the actions of the people. I am concerned that so many people have become detrimentally desensitized to whether something is right, or wrong. I am extremely concerned for our country, for our freedoms (especially freedom of religion), and I am saddened by the degradation of morals in our society -- and in the world.

Yes. I am talking about Gay Marriage. Controversial, I know.

I feel like sin is now sugar-coated. I sense that because of mass amounts of "positive" exposure, information, and entertainment in the media -- through TV, movies, ads, facebook comments, pinterest posts, etc., etc., so many people have become complacent on the issue. After being fed a steady stream of poop in their sugar-coated pie, they don't realize that the poop is even there. They do not care anymore. It does not matter to them. You can't even taste it. Perhaps some sit in a "gray area" unsure of what is right and what is wrong -- in regards to the Gay Marriage issue. Slowly all of these messages creep-in, and over time some find themselves wondering, "is it really wrong?" And in the gray, is where they'll stay.

I am afraid I have never been much for fence-sitting, or dwelling in the gray area. To me there is right, and there is wrong. (Let me make it clear, I am not perfect in the execution of right and wrong, but I TRY to do what is right!). I believe there is a right and a wrong, because I believe in something. I believe in God. I believe God has a plan for his children and that plan is Father, Mother, Children . . . continued throughout eternity. As you know I am a family history nut, take a look at a pedigree chart . . . Father, Mother, Children is how it is meant to be -- forever. It is a perfect and beautiful plan. It is meant for everyone. I know it is true.

I recognize that not everyone believes in something. It is becoming more and more common for people to walk away from religion because they just want to live their own life, and do their own thing -- without restrictions, rules, regulations. To think that freedom exists without rules is folly. And because God is a God of order, rules, and law . . . we have certain commandments in place. And those commandments, believe it or not -- are for our happiness! He wants us to be happy! Following the rules makes you happy? YES!!!

But, this world is fraught with evil, we all know that. The adversary weaves his web of sin with skill, always looking for new prey. There are temptations so varied, so horrific -- the list is endless. The consequences to succumbing to temptation are severe, and painful. Same-gender attraction is one of those temptations. It will never lead to happiness. Pleasure for a time, maybe -- but never, ever, true and lasting happiness. It is NOT part of the plan. It is a temptation created by the adversary to keep one FROM the plan.

Temptations are meant to be alluring, enticing, attractive -- appearing good and desirable. But "all that glitters is not gold" . . . as anyone who recognizes they are caught in a web will tell you.

I am very concerned with the decisions of our elected officials, and I am also concerned with the voice (or lack there of) of the people. This is NOT a civil rights issues. This is an issue about life-style choices. If those in power are not careful we will soon be living under the "anything goes" law. Whatever you choose to do, however you want to live -- just go for it. That would be truly scary. We are walking ever closer to that carnal concept.

I find it interesting that my pioneer ancestors were persecuted in this country for practicing a principal of their religion, Polygamy. My great, great, great, great, Grandfather was imprisoned for practicing his religious beliefs -- he had to split up his family, he was forced to build an extra home for one of his wives and children to live in. This was a common occurrence amongst those who practiced polygamy. Freedom of religion? They did not have it. This was not too long ago, in our country.

And now, here we are . . . discussing laws and rights for people of the same gender to marry? You cannot practice a religous principle, like polygamy, but men can marry men, and women can marry women? Interesting. How backwards is society? If anything goes in our country . . . if you can marry whomever you choose . . . and do whatever you want, then why NOT polygamy? Why not more than one husband? Or both? Or whatever it is that suits your desires . . . why have any rules at all?

*I want to make it CLEAR that polygamy was discontinued long ago, and is no longer practiced as part of the LDS religion. (Thank goodness, I am way too selfish!) It was a principal put into place by revelation, and was taken away in like manner. Polygamy is not a hard thing to understand if you understand the pioneers and their lifetime. It was not an easy commandment for them to embrace, and many could not handle it. Mormons were extremely persecuted for their beliefs and religion -- in a country that claimed to allow religious freedom. Practicing their religion did not warrant going to prison, splitting up families, and often death. The Mormon Pioneers were treated wrong.

The concept of right and wrong in society seems SO distorted when viewed in the light. All I am saying is that it sure seems strange that polygamy (which was a religious practice, that should have been protected) is viewed as wrong, when gay marriage (a lustful, lifestyle-choice) is being made to appear right. Oh the web . . . the sticky web. The craftiness of men. The best way to keep people from doing anything is confusion. It seems to be working.

This topic (gay rights, etc.) makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. I have dealt with this issue since high school. My best friend's father had an affair, filed for divorce, and the following day she announced that she was interested in girls. We parted ways and from then on she walked the halls hand-in-hand (amongst other gestures) with a girl. It was heart-breaking to observe her actions, she was my best friend! In high school, I also tried to fight against the formation of a Gay-Straight-Alliance club, but to no avail. I did not know how politics worked -- all I had at the time were strong feelings, and that was not good enough. Even then, in my youth, I knew it was wrong.

I wanted to add a quote by Spencer W. Kimball, he was our prophet a few generations back. I just love his straight-forwardness. That is how I like it -- just tell me how it is!

It is an excerpt from The Miracle of Forgiveness written back in 1969:

All such deviations from normal, proper heterosexual relationships are not merely unnatural but wrong in the sight of God. Like adultery, incest, and bestiality they carried the death penalty under the Mosaic Law.

If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death . . . .

And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye slay the beast.

And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death . . . . (Lev. 2-:13, 15-16.)

The law is less severe now, and so regrettably is the community's attitude to these grave sins--another evidence of the deterioration of society. In some countries the act per se is not even illegal. This "liberalizing" process is reflected in the United States by communities of homosexuals in our larger cities who demand acceptance of their deviate beliefs and practices as "normal," who sponsor formally organized, and who even print their own perverted journals. All this is done in the open, to the detriment alike of impressionable minds, susceptible urges, and our national decency.

But let us emphasize that right and wrong, righteousness and sin, are not dependent upon man's interpretations, conventions and attitudes. Social acceptance does not change the status of an act, making wrong into right. If all the people in the world were to accept homosexuality, as it seems to have been accepted in Sodom and Gomorrah, the practice would still be deep, dark sin.

Those who would claim that homosexual is a third sex and that there is nothing wrong in such associations can hardly believe in God or in his scriptures. If God did not exist, such an unnatural and improper practice might be viewed differently, but one could never justify it while accepting the holy scriptures.

-End Quote

I feel strongly about this issue now. I want it to be known that I do not hate the sinner -- just the sin . . . for are we not all sinners? I will not throw stones, but I will stand up for truth. I am not narrow-minded, or intolerant of others and their "diversity" -- I love all of God's children (some more than others). But God's children make mistakes (we ALL do!), often they make poor choices . . . even choices that affect the whole of society -- choices that I cannot condone as right. With that being said, I know that gay marriage is wrong. It is wrong. And no amount of law, and acceptance by the people, or by society -- will ever make it right.

I support traditional marriage. I believe in the sanctity of families. I believe in Father, Mother, Children. I believe that the family needs to be protected, now more than ever before. Of course, the best way to do that is in your own home. But every now and then, you need to raise your voice, you need to get off the fence, arise out of the gray area, and you need fight for what if right!

There may come a day when you will have to know where you stand . . . it may come soon.

Family Search Indexing

Our ward has accepted the challenge to index 10,000 names in the month of March. (It is basically data-entry -- reading handwritten census info, death certificates, etc., and getting them ready for computer use.) At first I thought this sounded a little crazy, the number seemed a little high. So I decided I better be a part of it! :-) I have been doing indexing for 2 days and I am at 300 names so far . . . only 700 more names to reach my goal. I think I may have to set my goal a little higher? 10,000 names in a month, by the whole ward -- piece of cake!
Anyhow, if you can -- you should do it, too. It is awesome. Any little bit helps. Take a little of the time you use browsing facebook, or pinterest, or blogs, and help to save a soul, or two . . . or a thousand . . . or more. You want more friends -- here is one way to get them!

I say this a lot, but I think most people hear about family history and think it is that "one more thing" that is just too much. Well, I disagree. I totally disagree. I know that if you become involved in family history work you will have strength beyond your own to accomplish the things you need to do, and would like to do. I know this from personal experience. You will have people beyond the veil who will "have your back" or be at your side when you need them. Family History gives you POWER. You don't want to miss out on it, I assure you. If you want to feel a greater depth and meaning to life -- reach beyond that of your own. It does not even have to be your own family . . . we are ALL connected.

To get started with Family Search Indexing go to:

https://www.familysearch.org/

Find the "Indexing" tab and follow the instructions.

You will need to download the program on your computer but that took about 2-5 minutes to do. There are how-to videos (really short ones) and then you can just go for it. Make sure and set your goal number and watch your number go up as you do more entries -- it becomes a fun challenge. You can do it on your phone, your laptop, whatever . . . it is ideal for my pregnant self. I can sit on the couch and really go for it. Of course, if you need help -- let me know!

I have had many blessings throughout my life that talk about me being a good missionary. As far as I know, I have never converted one living soul to the gospel. I am just not that good with people, I guess. HOWEVER, since beginning family history work, I have been able to do work for hundreds (if not more) of the souls of God's children. Whether or not they accept the gospel beyond the veil is totally up to them . . . but I have felt special confirmations that many of them have, and are extremely grateful. It has been an awesome experience.

Life is all about family.

Family that has gone before, and family yet to come. There is a great sense of peace that comes when you know who you are. Family History work is the great work of the Latter-days. There has been a HUGE push lately to do the work, with amazing strides forward, making tremendous things possible, and making it so easy for everyone to participate.

We live in trying times, no doubt. I think we could all use a little more power to deal with the trials of the day. Our ancestors are always with us, no matter what we face -- kind of like in Harry Potter . . .

But they are closer to us, when we draw closer to them. You CAN feel them. I know it.

This is our work to do. This is our time to do it.
“Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—

“To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—

“Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors” (D&C 110:14–16).

So sign-up and make it happen! There is a great source of power to tap into. Don't miss out!

I Still Want You More

I wrote this song awhile ago but I thought it was a good, lovey, Valentine-ish thing to share. ;-) My electric-piano broke, and so I have been piano-less for a long time. I miss it! Music has been missing from our home ever since! Aargh! Anyway, if you can't tell from the video . . . I LOVE CHARLES!

Courageous

I highly recommend NOT watching this movie if you are pregnant. I cried like a baby. I cried so hard, it hurt. I was doing the weird, shaky, lip-quivering, stroking-my-own-hair-to-distract-myself cry. (It was not pretty!) But despite the water-works, it was a fantastic movie! It is a movie EVERY father (and mother!) should see.

If you have a movie-night coming-up, it is out for rent. Rent it!

(Older kids could watch it, but it is pretty emotionally-intense. I would say age 12 and up.)

The movie made me think about Charles. Oh, how I love my courageous husband. He endures the world . . . to protect and provide for his family. There is nothing more beautiful to me than a faithful father. There is nothing more beautiful to me than my Charles. He is my hero.

Thank you beautiful, courageous, strong, Daddies . . . for ALL that you do.

Happy Birthday to ME!

I was born a fiery red -- with too many red blood cells. After a blood transfusion, my insides and my flaming skin were corrected . . . but may my fire for life never go out!

Today I celebrate 32 years of Life.

It has been a good life, with much joy in it. Looking over the years I feel like time has just flown by, without ever letting me catch-up. I still feel like a sixteen year-old girl, but now, I am double that! How does that happen? I am excited about the future -- and all the possibilities. I hope the next 32 years will be as sweet . . . and 32 more years after that. :-)

A walk down memory lane with Mari . . .

Big Eyes

Nice Bangs!

The Teenage Years . . .

Becoming an "Adult"

Becoming a Mommy

It was a rough start coming into the world 32 years ago . . . but it has been worth it. :-)