Day 1

Day 1 of 30 Day Challenge  (see prior post):  

Post a recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself

This is about as recent as it's going to get.  I have no pictures of me from my camera because I'm always behind it.  So I asked Brent if he had any on his camera, and next thing I knew there was a flash and he said he did now.  It works.


15 Interesting Facts About Me:
(Note:  I really don't think there's much interesting about me, and consider myself to be quite milk toast dull - and since most of those who read this blog probably have never had milk toast, that just shows how totally dull I am.  So here are simply 15 facts about me, and if you find any of them interesting, then you are my friend forever.)

1.  I love taking pictures.  I'm just not sure why I hate being on the other end of the lens.  One day out at Bill's for dinner, someone else was taking pictures and when the flash went off, Edna asked Karsyn (who was sitting on her lap) "What was that?"   "Oh," piped in Kamryn, "that's just Grandma taking pictures."  Yeah, I guess I'm notorious for it. 

2.  I am tall, I guess - standing at 5'8" most women are smaller than me. Most women are thinner, too.  I guess that means I'm 'outstanding.'   (I have a lame sense of humor, but I love jokes.)

3.  My hair, which was naturally dark brown, is now naturally gray.  I told Heather a few years ago that I was thinking about letting the gray grow out, but she said, "That's fine,  Mom, as soon as I'm out of high school."  She's been out of high school for a while now.  Guess I wasn't really serious.  Maybe when I turn 60...

4.  I love to read.  I love to write.  I love to scrapbook.  I love to draw and to paint and to do crafts ... I think I'm in love with paper.

5.  I also love to compose music and helped write a musical for Lehi that had over twenty songs in it (at least 15 were ones I wrote).  I haven't done much since then, probably because the ones I wrote for the musical really were with the Lord's help.  It was a very spiritual experience to be part of that for Him.

6.   I was born in Twin Falls, Idaho.  When I was going into sixth grade, my family moved to Lewiston, Idaho, and then in the final quarter of my Junior year, we moved back down to Wendell, Idaho, a tiny town near Twin Falls, where I graduated from high school, and departed for BYU.

7.  I met my husband my first (and last) year at BYU.  He proposed to me at midnight on New Year's Eve, in Wendell, at the ward party.  I got a bloody nose as soon as I realized he was giving me the ring.  It's not like I didn't know about the ring - I helped design it - I just wasn't expecting it that night, and suddenly the reality of it all hit me like the balloons popping around us, and my nose just started bleeding like a faucet.  I've never had that happen before or since.

8.  I was a stay-at-home Mom until Heather turned three and Sean was going on his mission.  I've been working part-time jobs ever since.  I wish I could go back to being a stay-at-home Mom/Grandma.


9.   I am super proud of every one of my children.  I love their spouses, and am truly in love with each of my nine grandkids.  The older I get the more I realize just what a treasure my family is. You are all wonderful!

10. When my sons were Scouts, I was on the troop committee and I even went to Woodbadge - a week long camp for Scout leaders.  It was a terrific experience, and I've used the leadership skills I learned there as I've served in the stake Primary, the ward Young Women, Council PTA, and Relief Society presidencies - everything but Scouting.
      Just this week, I've been asked to serve again in Scouting - Cub training with the District.  Just not exactly sure what that's going to involve, but I'm looking forward to working in Scouting again.  When we met with the member of the Stake Presidency he said they just felt like they should call me to that position.  He had no idea about my previous experience.  But the Lord knew.

11.  Brent and I were married in the Idaho Falls Temple 40 years ago June 18.  I'd do it again today in a heartbeat, and am looking forward to the next 40.

12.  I believe in Christ, I believe Christ, and I am one of His disciples.  

13.  I work for a man who is famous among radiologists in the world and infamous among his neighbors in Mapleton.  I've done everything from preparing over 200 illustrations for a textbook he helped write and edit, to manning a booth in the big radiology convention in Chicago, and being in the same room with his very famous patients,  to getting lunch for his dad and cleaning toilets at work.  I do enjoy the work (except for the toilets), but I can honestly say nothing can compare to the job of being a Mom and Grandmother.

14.  I have excellent vision.  But now, after all these years, I can't even go shopping without my reading glasses. My body is just not what it used to be.  So I go around with a pair of glasses on my head, and because I can't find those, usually one hanging from my shirt collar or sliding down my nose, as well.  I hide glasses in drawers all around the house so I'll have them easily accessible, but still usually can't find a pair when I'm looking for them.

15.  For a while I was a reporter for a local paper, and my assignments including writing special tributes about some of the local people.  I loved doing that.  I truly believe there is not a person in the world who doesn't have a fascinating story to tell about themselves.  We miss out on so much when we don't take time to listen to them.