Happy Fathers Day!
Origins
I was born in Utah and grew up in Midvale. That house is now a McDonalds. When I was 12 my family moved to Cottonwood Heights. I lived in Logan while attending USU, then moved back to the valley. Matt and I hopped around the valley for a bit until we bought our home in this ward in 2002.
On the Work Front
After graduating from USU I worked as a graphic desiner for Space Dynamics Laboratory in Logan. When we moved back to the valley, I worked as a graphic designer for RC Willey until two days before Izzy was born. When Asher was in preschool I worked at SLCC for a bit, then dove into the life of a para professional at Terra Linda for a few years at which point I began teaching first grade while going to night school to get my teaching license. I taught at Terra Linda for 5 years. After that, I tutored math at Joel P. Jensen, then taught 7th and 9th grade math for a year. I'm still trying to find out what I want to be when I grow up.
Interests and Hobbies
I am into historical novels and I like to write. I am currently writing about our travels. I enjoy hiking, playing the piano, and movie nights. I am trying to learn Italian so I watch Pixar's Luca in Italian a lot. I love to go to Disney Parks and think about being there when I'm not there. As a child, I loved dance, gymnastics, backpacking, and swimming in my grandma and grandpa's pool.
Favorite Tradition
I have two. I love going to the Greek Festival and stuffing myself with Greek food then watching My Big Fat Greek Wedding or Mamma Mia later that night while eating Greek desserts. My other favorite tradition is going to the Nutcracker Ballet every Christmas Eve.
Challenging Times
Getting in a head-on collision in the middle of nowhere in Alaska in -20 degree weather wasn't fun, nor was the recovery which I'm still in a year and half later. Blah.
Favorite Memory
My wedding day and the birth of my three kids are at the tippy top of my list, but a less obvious one of many would take place in London. We had just finished cruising around the London Zoo, learning about the origins of Winnie the Pooh, and were on our way back to the hotel. We had to make a bus transfer, so when Google Maps told us to get off the first bus, we did. When we looked up we found ourselves in front of 221B Baker Street! And it just so happened that at that time, Sam was taking a Sherlock Holmes literature class online, so, we bought Hound of the Baskervilles at the Sherlock Holmes museum, then ate at the Taco Bell on Baker Street. We spent the next several nights watching Sherlock Holmes with Benedict Cumberbatch.
Something Unique
Our family is a bit on the unconventional side, and so, during a world wide pandemic of all times, we packed a carryon and a backpack and got on a plane. We spent the next year traveling from country to country, getting home just in time for Sam's high school graduation. I think about our adventures every single day and can't wait to get back out there!
One More Thing
Over the last several years, there have been many difficult challenges, but it's because of these challenges that I have learned to worry less and trust more in my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ. They are aware of my every decision, my every emotion, and my every thought, and they are advocating for me! I have come to know of their unconditional love for me. I am learning to depend on them more and more, handing them over my worries and problems that I have no control over, and expecting miracles!