spotlight

some crazy lady named katrina thought that my life might be an interesting read so hopefully i do not disapoint all of you!

i was born on march 27, 1979 in orange, ca. i am adopted (my birth mother was only 17 when she had me) and my parents got me when i was 6 weeks old. i lived in a foster home for those first 6 weeks while the paper work was going through and my name in the foster home was "deidra". do i look like a deidra to you? ummm... not so much. i have one brother, aaron who is 4 years older than me. we were buddies as young kids but seemed to go our seperate ways as he got into his teenage years. i think seeing how close my LDS friends were with their siblings was a big part of why i was drawn to the church.

i grew up in yorba linda, ca, a.k.a. the o.c. (don't tell lars that i used the term "the o.c." it embarrasses him but he's just jealous that i grew up somewhere that had a tv show named after it!) all of my extended family lived in connecticut and massachusetts (both of my parents are from connecticut). it kind of stunk not ever having family around like all of my friends. i grew up jewish (my mom is jewish and my dad was raised catholic but doesn't practice. he isn't one for organized religion). we always celebrated hannukah & christmas, which was oh so wonderful! the family room was decorated for christmas and the living room was decorated for hannukah. when i was 13 i had a bat mitzvah (thank goodness i don't have a picture of that blessed event available. talk about an awkward stage in life! YIKES!) but pretty much after that i didn't practice any religion.

i loved playing soccer as a kid. i started playing when i was 5 and i played until i was 12. my dad was my coach for all 7 years and my team's name was "the wildcats" for all of those years.

once i hit junior high i was more into dancing & singing. i was in a few musicals and in a traveling show group. in high school i was on the dance team. for the fall & winter we performed the field show at the football game as well as competing at competitions and a parade routine for competitions. i think that this type of thing is more common in ca. than it is here in az. in the spring we did indoor dance competitions which were regular dance routines like jazz and lyrical. this picture is one of my costumes from a field show my junior year. yes, i did dance with it on my head!! (don't be jealous of the costume. after all we can't all prance around in fruit hats)

i graduated from high school in 1997 & i went to Santa Barbara for my first year of college. i decided that it wasn't for me & i came home after one year. it was then that i took the missionary discussions. two of my best friends growing up were LDS so i called one of them up & told her that i wanted to become mormon. i took all of the discussions at my friend's parent's house but decided to think about it before i got baptized. i moved to san diego to go to fashion design school & while i was living there i was baptized. in 2002 i moved to provo, utah to go to cosmetology school. (okay so at this point you are thinking that i am CRAZY for going to 4 different colleges but let's just say i could never figured out what i wanted to do. being a mom was my real desire but now with three kids 3 and under a job at mcdonalds some days sounds appealing!) it was in provo that i met lars on a blind date that actually didn't go horribly wrong for once. we decided that we wanted to be like everyone else in provo so we got married 5 months later. we were married in the los angeles, ca temple on august 16, 2003.

lars graduated from byu in may 2004 with a degree in construction management. he took a job with mccarthy (a commercial construction company) in tempe, az where he works as a senior estimator. so far we have lived in mesa, maricopa & gilbert. we are trying to set some sort of record, the most moves in the shortest period of time. we have moved 4 times in 5 years, good times! we have 3 wonderfully crazy children. reed is 3 1/2, maddux is 1 1/2, & savannah is 3 months old & the erickson family is officially complete (minus the dog that i am dying to have).

things i love: my huusband, my kids, diet coke with a fresh squeezed lime, see's candy, pedicures, getting my hair done, a cadillac escalade (not that i have one but i can still love it, right?), my cell phone (how did i ever live without this magnificent device?), television (the inventor of this must of had toddlers) & lots of other "material" items that i probably shouldn't love!!

things i do not love: my husband's motorcycle (oh the things i could do with the money if he sold it, hmmmmm), direct tv (dish network is sooooo much better but we HAD to have the byu football games), all 3 kids crying at the same time, my body after having a baby, poopy diapers that come from an 18 month old (seriously just sick & wrong)!!

okay, so there you have it the shortened and G rated version of my life thus far. i hope that you enjoyed the show! next week let's delve into the life & times of linette green!!

Spotlight

OK, let me start by saying that it is just so not fun to write about myself, but here I go:
I was born in New Jersey and have a lot of family who live in New York, but I have been in Arizona since I was 6. I guess I was kind of a tomboy when I was growing up.

Me & my brother & my 3rd grade school picture - can you tell I had P.E. right before the picture was taken?

Me and my brother were the best of friends and I would just as soon play with his toys than any of my dolls. I took tennis, judo (for a little while), and piano. I was also in brownie and girl scouts when I was younger. I actually thought girl scouts was pretty boring. I was totally hoping we would do cool stuff like my brother did in cub scouts, but that never really happened. However, I did love wearing my little brownie uniform to school with the awesome brown felt beanie hat. I thought I was so cool!

Here I am lifting the bar (with no weights on it) in Judo - look at my concentration! Too funny!

In Jr. High I was in the band and I dressed up as our school mascot to pass out candy in a parade. The mascot was supposed to be a roadrunner, but since it was made by the Home Ec. department it looked more like a sad rendition of Big Bird. It had this huge paper mache head that was too big and had to be stuffed with a towel. Even with the towel in there I could hardly tell where I was going because the eye holes moved around so much. Good times.




Me as the awesome Rhodes' roadrunner!

Anyway, I joined the church when I was 13. My mom was actually curious about it and asked me to call my friend who was LDS and see if I could go to church with her. The missionaries later came and taught us and I am so thankful that I found the gospel when I did.
I met Jeff when I was in High School. We met at a church dance (his cousins were in my ward and introduced us). He played football and was on yearbook and track. I was in the Latin Club, Honor Society, and the oh so cool Academic Decathalon. So we might not have even met if we went to the same school! I know it probably sounds like I was a huge nerd in High School, but really I wasn't (well, maybe just a little & OK, maybe I still am!) But, I did also love to play racquetball and church sports - my favorite was Young Women's basketball (why don't we have that anymore?). I also loved to go to concerts - U2, REM, Depeche Mode, and The Cure were some of my favorites.


My junior picture - check out my '80's hair. It took
a lot of hairspray to get it to stay that way!

Jeff went on his mission and I went to Nursing School. And, I started out working at a Nursing Home which was quite the experience. Since I was new I had a pretty bad schedule - sometimes days and then nights - I hated it. So, I kept praying that I would be able to have Sundays off so I could go to church each week. Then one day shortly thereafter, I was offered a new position at work to start up and manage an Assisted Living facility. I was able to work Mon. - Fri. which was definitely an answer to my prayers. The only downside was that when I wasn't at work I was on-call for any problems that came up. This was way back when we had pagers instead of cell phones (not so fun!). It was also pretty bad when one of our buildings caught on fire and we had to relocate our patients from Chandler to Sun City for a while. (That was quite the commute for me!)



our engagement picture
We got engaged about a month after Jeff got home from his mission and were married a little over 4 months later. After a few years and a few miscarriages Mason was finally born, and then 18 months and one day later Easton arrived, followed by Brenlee 6 years later. I love being a mom and being married to my best friend. We have been married 15 years and have lived here for the past 5 years - we love it!







Some things I love: Peanut m&ms, guitar hero, ice cream, reading a good book, happy endings, folding laundry, finding a good bargain, playing games, the funny things kids say, The Amazing Race, scrapbooking, orange tic tacs, cupholders, skiing, the DVR, & rollercoasters.

Some things I hate: Traffic, the squeaky noise styrofoam makes, potty training, school projects, pretty much the entire cartoon network, waiting in line, big crowds, junk mail, barking dogs in the middle of the night, runny noses, playground sand that comes home in kids' shoes, eggs, public speaking, and mosquito bites.

Let's hear from Amy Erickson for next week's spotlight!

Spotlight

I love to read all of your spotlights, but am finding it very hard to talk about myself!! But here it goes...



I was born and raised in Sacramento California, and am the oldest of 3 kids. I have one sister and one brother. I had a pretty normal childhood, and we only moved twice. The first time I was to young to remember and the second time in high school, we moved about 5 miles away. My parents still live in that house today.

I graduated from high school in 1992 and went to Ricks college that fall for 2 years. After I graduated I wasn't sure what I wanted to do or where I wanted to continue my education. So I ended up back in Sacramento where I met Bob!!



After coming back home I enrolled at enrolled at Sacramento State. I got involved with the local institute program and a chapter of the church sponsored sorority. It was through this group I met Bob in a round about way.

The first few weeks of that summer he was still at BYU during a summer session. I was interested in a friend of his, well that went no where.(thank goodness!) After he came home he joined our large group that did everything together. We all worked full time, and did things together every evening.Those were the day, staying out to 2or 3 and then being to work or school by 7 or 8!!!!
After a few weeks,and a few bad dates I a wrote in my journal, why can't I find someone like Bob or one of the other guys we hang out with. And well the rest is as they say history. We got engaged at the end of summer and got married in the Oakland Temple on December 30, 1994.



We lived in Provo, Utah for 9 months while Bob finished up his engineering degree,I worked part time for the first 4 months at a really awful preschool. It was so bad that I quit and the last few months we lived like really poor college students. We spent our days playing and watching the OJ Simpson trial,and I played homemaker at night while Bob worked.

In Septmeber of 1995 we moved here to Arizona when Bob was hired by Intel. We live in Mesa for a year before buying our first home in Gilbert. We moved here to San Tan Ranch(our second home) in October of 2002.

We have 3 awsome boys now. Brandon is 11 1/2, Zachary is 9 1/2 and Ethan is 5. Number four a GIRL is due in about 4 weeks. We are so excited, we can't wait.



I love to read, if I have any down time you will probably find me with a book. If you have any recommendations bring it on. I am always looking for new things to read.

I love to cook, but hate to bake. I know it doesn't make much sense, but I don't like to measure,and to bake you have to be so precise. I love to try new recipes on my family. Recently I haven't been much of a cook either, but I am hoping after the baby I will enjoy cooking and food again.

I love to go out to eat!!!! My one craving this pregnancy has been sushi and Japanese food. I will eat about anything(once).

Things I don't enjoy- cleaning bathrooms,public speaking and being up front of a large group,folding sock, and kids who whine!!!

This is the most current family picture we have. It is at the top of the list after the baby.



Next time lets hear from ...... Katrina Webb!!!!

Something About Tricia You May or May Not Know

I was a BYU baby (#2 of 4 kids) but our family moved around and eventually to St. Louis, Missouri when I was about 4 yrs. old. I fell off my bunk bed at age 5 - got a concussion, and fractured my neck trying to do acrobatic things when I was 9.

kindergarten 1st grade

We moved to Chandler in the middle of my 7th grade year, which was scary, but turned out to be a good move for us in the end. I was the “new girl” and had lots of boys after me. I'm thankful I always knew the church was true growing up. My family had some trials as we all do…my parents had a business that didn’t work out, and we suffered financially and emotionally because of the stress. I learned a lot about going without, although were always fine thanks to my Grandparents who helped us out. My Grandpa started teaching me violin when I was in 3rd grade and he and my Grandma paid for my private lessons when my parents couldn’t (which was always-).

8th grade, how high can I get those bangs?

I was of course in orchestra my whole schooling, and I felt happy there. It was really the only thing I did really well. (besides kissing but that’s nothing to brag about now right?) My high school (Dobson) had the best orchestra in the state, and it wasn’t just a bunch of nerds. Or so we thought anyway :) My life changed just before 11th grade when the ASU viola professor became my viola teacher. He challenged me to practice 3 hours a day that summer, and I did.

senior (do I look like Mona Lisa? ...braces..)

I was able to get a full scholarship to ASU and became a music education major. It was an intense 4 years of too many credit hours, and trying to have a dating life at the same time. I finally met Duane in May before my senior year through friends at the MCC ward (the guys were too old at ASU). We just kept running into each other, and had so much in common. I had finally found my perfect match!

engagement sorry this is fuzzy?!

I always wanted a husband who loved hiking, and enjoyed sitting through orchestra concerts too! My Dad was scout master my whole life, so that’s why I like hiking I guess. (Funny that Duane has been in scouts our whole marriage almost.) We got married the following March 7, 1998 on a very windy day.

attack of the dress!

Unfortunately we didn’t have a lot to pay a good photographer and only had him scheduled for outside the temple after the ceremony. :( I charged my own dress, and Duane and I enjoyed our first 2 years in our 1 bedroom apartment in the ghetto on Mill and Southern. He changed from being an architect major, thinking about being a chiropractor, to finally a civil engineer in our first year. I taught strings, played weddings and helped get us through his schooling. My summers were spent getting my Masters in viola performance. We had our first of 3 babies after 3 years of marriage and it’s been pretty much insane ever since!
Audrey 7, Annelise 5 and Sadie 3

We especially loved our time in San Tan Ranch and will never forget the friends we have made there.

Some Things I have done: hiked and slept at the bottom of Grand Canyon, been in a Tostitos Fiesta bowl commercial (ok, just in the cheering crowd) I made $75.00 and for a split second...was on tv. I worked at a movie theatre, and Burger King (for 3 horrible months) when a teen. Been to almost every Depeche Mode concert here since I was 14 (5 or so), also The Cure twice, Dave Mathews Band twice, Live, Duran Duran, and Morissey, but no I was no "mod"

Likes: sweets, dark chocolate,vacations ,hiking, snowskiing ,pilates, and other excercising although not always, and bargain shopping....

Dislikes: this could be long….ketchup, mustard, mayo,cream cheese, CHEESECAKE, pickles, fighting kids, giving birth w/ no epidural(2 times), people dying…ok maybe that’s getting too deep

The MUST HAVE in the kitchen: The giant roll of professional quality plastic wrap from Costco. Nothing else works and I’ve had mine for like 4 years, no joke. Now that’s a bargain!

Tricia

This picture is really bad of me but good of Duane. He hates smiling for pictures. He usually does the Chandler Bing- for you freinds fans.



Next time lets hear from Debbie Wallace!

Spotlight continues

Who is this Brownie? Yes, it is me Kelly Blackham.

One of my (not so good class) pictures. I think this is 4 grade. Yes I actually had curls in my hair, naturally. I am the youngest of 3 kids and the only girl. My brothers would say I was spoiled, but I don't think so. My dad was in the air force so we moved about every 3 years. I have lived in D.C., Colorado, Nebraska, Germany, Nevada and Arizona. I was a pretty innocent kid up till high school. I just don't know what happens when kids hit that time. Lets jump forward and learn some more.





Me in my skinnier days. Yep, in high school (weren't we all). I did love my dad just wouldn't admit for a couple more years. For not growing up in the church I was pretty lucky to have the same parents I was born with. High School, High school, were should I begin. For the good part: I was a good student always keeping a b average. I played volleyball for 3 years, and cheer for 1 semester. I got my first job at Bank of America shortly after turning 16 plus my brothers hand me down car. I still thought I was cool, because I had a car at 16. For the juicy stuff: I started dating way to early about 15, without my parents knowing (later they found out). I was engaged at 16, to who I thought was the love of my life. Ended up just being a totally jerk who abused me. I dated my far share of losers as my dad would call them. I wonder why I did not like my dad, but boy was he right. We moved to Arizona shortly after I graduated.

After moving to Arizona I started CGCC and was still working at Bank of America. My mom got a job in the cash balancing which was up stairs where I worked at the branch. I would go up and visit her from time to time and would always notice this guy. So my mom gave him my phone number and it took him 2 weeks to call. Our first date was cancelled because his pregnant sister had gotten in a car accident. Yes, I am talking about Jeremy. By the time we finally had our first date, it had to be good right. Wrong. I guess he did not know how picky of an eater I was and he had ordered a Greek salad. Then we went and saw Excess Baggage. But it was love at first sight. Our first date was Sept 3rd, we were engaged by Thanksgiving and married that following May. School stopped shortly there after, 3 class away from my AA.

I thought this would be the wedding of my dreams, I had the dress and the guy. We'll the day before my wedding my brother signed his divorce papers (she was suppose to be in the wedding). My soon to be sister in laws (to say it nicely) weren't thrilled to be there. I don't think I saw them smile once the whole wedding. We were married by a Mormon Bishop. It was his first time doing a non-member wedding and he was totally nervous. We did not even recite our vows. It is so true how fast the day goes by you. I wish I could have remembered more. I LOVED my dress and I LOVED my husband.



After being married for about 1 1/2 years we decided it was time to try and have some babies. Well 2 years and 6 miscarriages later we had Brody. We found out later that my body does not produce enough progesterone in the first stage of pregnancy and had to be on suppositories for the first 3 months of each pregnancy. Brody was 26 hour labor with pain medicine. We still joke that he is a mommy's boy to this day. So anyways. I did not go back on birth control because it took so long the first time. Well on Brody's first birthday I found out I was pregnant with Allie. She was all of 2 hours from the 1st contraction and because I went so quick I had her all natural (NOT BY CHOICE). I was not the best pregnant person so 8 weeks later I had my tubes tied. I still sometimes wish to have another baby. That's why I babysit babies.
We never went to church and moved quite often (5 houses in 10 years). But we now know why we are in this house. About 1 year ago, I told Jeremy that I thought we should start going to church (boy was he shocked) and 2 months later I was baptised. I have met some wonderful friends through the church and hope to meet more. I can't say it is easy being the only Mormon on my side of the family but I think it has made my immediate family stronger. This December we will be sealed as a family in the temple.



Some of my dislikes are: people who lie, rude people, a messy house, the smell of sweaty kids and cooking dinner.



Some of my loves: My kids, hanging out with the girls, scrapbooking or doing crafts, baking and volunteering in my kids classrooms.

My dream job (if I could go back and finish school) would be a nurse. For now I am a mommy.




There is so much more to me. But not the kind of stuff to post on the internet. So you will just have to talk to me to find out.

NEXT WEEK LETS HEAR FROM TRICIA DANA

SPOTLIGHT !

Who is this bald babe?

3 truths and some lies: you decide!

I am a late 30’s something beauty that has been married to an agile, good looking stud for almost 16 years. Those of you that are acquainted with us know that this is true! :) We have 4 very well behaved, smart, talented, adorable, obedient, service oriented children that always think of others before themselves…(they’ve been taught well!)…3 girls; 11, 9, & 3, and 1 boy; 5! (I’m interested to know what you thought was the truths in each sentence and which was the lies! Ha ha ha )

Now on to the truth!
I am the oldest of 3 kids. I was adopted and then of course my mom got pregnant…twice! My dad gets bored VERY easily, and so we moved a lot while growing up! During the ages of 6-11, I lived in Snowflake, AZ where we still have some close ties. I have spent the longest time in Mesa though. In our brief but hellious stay in Louisiana, my mom got sick. This story is much much too long to share in a blog, so in short, she was diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis). She has had it since I was 11. Currently she is in an assisted living home not far from here. When I was 14, my parents divorced. I became a nanny for a little boy whose mom owned a flower shop. My mom was a silk florist and had taught me, so I gradually learned fresh flowers also. On top of that job, when I was 17, I started working at a local video store, (I love to quote movies). I graduated High School…well almost…that’s another long story. Let it be known that I do have a diploma! :) I went to cosmetology school…and passed my boards thank you very much! But I DO NOT do hair, so don’t ask! Ha ha I just keep my license up in case I need to fall back on it someday!

I met Kevin 2 weeks before he left on his mission to Mexico! I didn’t want anything to do with a “Molly Mormon” so to “Scare” him off, after that first date, I leaned over and kissed him, thinking he would think I was easy or something…I was wrong. He called the next morning! He had a girlfriend, we were just NCMO’s. A few days before he left, I went scripture shopping with him. He held up a blue scripture in one hand and a black in the other and asked which one…that was it! I was hooked! (Didn’t tell him though!) We wrote his entire mission. I was waiting but dating! He came home, took 4 days to kiss me again, then proposed on the 7th day. So technically we dated for 3 weeks before engagement! Our cake top was a boy and girl kissing, and of course, it fell the night before our wedding, and the the boys head broke into pieces. (was that a sign? ) So we put it on the cake anyways with the pieces laying in the frosting and a sign out the neck of the boys body that read: “She kissed me and I lost my head!” I love being married to him and being a mom to my kids! It’s the greatest job ever!

TIDBITS:
Dr.Pepper easy ice. That’s my drink of choice. I have bad luck. We just laugh about it because we just assume that something is probably going to go wrong…and it usually does. When you expect it, it isn’t that bad when it happens! Scrapbooking. The old way! It relaxes me! Pedicures, massages, facials. I love to be pampered. And you should too! Cleaning Lady. When I can afford her I don’t miss a chance to have her! I love it! Do you want her #? CHOCOLATE! I am a true choco-holic! Weird things happen! Katrina calls them "I Love Lucy" moments, but there are so many of them that it's too much to share. You can ask her about them sometime! Mexican Food. I could eat it everyday! Abuelo’s, LuLu’s, and used to be Mattas are a few of my favorites! Adult ChitChat I get it when I can! DVR. Everyone should get it and I want it on my radio now! 2 movies that should be on every woman’s ‘must see’ list: Steel Magnolias and Pillow talk!

DISLIKES:
Laundry, being late, whining kids, FISH, slow drivers, stuff just left around…like I’m gonna pick it up for them! , snotty nosed kids (gag), Zack & Cody & Drake & Josh (they drive me nuts!!!!!!!!).

You gotta have this! My sister said I had to have it and bought me one while visiting here in July! LOVE IT!!! And the kids love to use it too! It's great for tile, corners, rugs...no more sweeping (well almost no more!)

Next Friday, we want to hear from Nancy Chatwin!

Spotlight: Kristi Whetten

Who is this?

I bet the red hair is a dead give away!

Our family in Liberty Jail.

What a great trip!

I was born in Mesa, Arizona on August 17,1974 (34yrs.

ago today!) I have 3 brothers and 3 sisters. I was

raised not too far from here on a dairy farm on

the corner of Riggs and Higley. As you can see I was

born with "fire" red hair that matched my personality

to a T! Unfortunately this is a trait I have carried with

me my whole life. Growing up on a dairy was great.

I had 80 acres of land to run around on and explore.

I learned at a very young age that I loved to be the

center of attention. I went to Chandler High and there

caught the acting bug for sure. I also joined the choir

program and loved traveling in a show choir that

went all the way to New York's Carnegie Hall. My

parents loved to travel and because of that I have

been able to visit all 50 states. I hope to be able to

do this with my children. After high school I attended

cosmetology school. I love doing hair and nails and

although I don't have the time to do a lot of it right

now it's nice to have the skill. During cosmetology school

I was going to the young adult ward in Gilbert. My

good friend told me there was a good looking guy

that had just gotten home from his mission. She

wanted to ask him out and wanted me to go on a

double date with her. I was not into it but because

I was a good friend I let her set me up on a blind date

with this guy she knew.To make a long story short,

it was Jason and I spent the entire night wishing I was

with him and not the guy I was with! A few days later

I was with the same friend at a young adult country

dance and guess who showed up! Jason! I was so

excited to see him and even though he was in a pair of

Levis and a preppy polo shirt he looked great to me.

By the end of the night my friend could tell I was

moving in on "her" man. Julie if you're reading this

"SORRY". We began dating in September of 1993

and were engaged by November! I know it was quick!

We were married on January 8th 1994. I began

working for an eye doctor in Tempe and Jason worked

for Chase bank. Over the next ten years we had three kids:

Logan is 13, Blake is 10, and Lacey is 8. About 6yrs. ago

Jason decided to switch careers from banking to dentistry!

We had no idea what challenges were headed our way!

In June he graduated and now we can look back

on that experience and say it was worth it!

We just bought a practice in Florence and are so

excited for this new set of challenges! This January

we will celebrate our 15th anniversary! I can hardly

believe it! I have so many things in my life to be grateful for.

I have a wonderful husband and 3 great kids. Life is good!

This my family minus a few new babies!

Loves: Family, Costa Vida (sweet pork salads), scrapbooking, pedicures, a clean house,
traveling, camping, Sonic soda, the smell of a new baby, downy fabric softener,
shopping with my sisters, girls day with Lacey, new cars, and making jewelry

Dislike: My dirty garage, husbands dental floss left on the nightstand, hot weather, flat sodas,
Capri Sun straw covers, commercials (thank you Tivo!), telemarketers, grumpy people, and dirty dishes (who doesn't)

I love...........

Pledge Multi purpose spray/wipes

This is the best cleaner for dusting all surfaces.

It is also a great glass cleaner! It works on everything.

Glade White Tea and Lily

The best smell in the world!

I think I'm addicted!!

The best invention! The Ped Egg!

Thanks to Angela Walker I now own this little miracle

for rough heels! It works like a charm! What a good friend

to share her secrets and now I pass it on to you!

Next week I would love to learn more about Kristen Neus!

Spotlight: Who Am I?

Can you guess who I am from this baby picture? Answer these five questions to see who I am and just how much about me you already know!(the winner will receive....go pick up something nice for yourself!)

1. What was my native language? What is it now? (duh!)
2. Where was I born? (Think Toto)
3. How many years was I in school? (think "a lot")
4. What instrument do I play? (I once heard that people who play this instrument are the most practical of all musicians-they brown bag their lunch and wear practical shoes)
5. What would I really like to go back to school for, but never will? (night or weekend classes eventually would be nice in this)

I was born in the land of Oz (Kansas City, Kansas) to Taiwanese immigrants, the youngest of three (that explains it!). My native name was Chun-Se, but I was dubbed Judy at birth as well. Yes, my native language was Taiwanese, but I can only understand at a toddler level now. My family moved around and eventually relocated to Kentucky while I was a teenager. My fondest memories are of hiking, board game tournaments, and roaming the countryside unchecked. I began playing the cello at the age of eight; this quickly became an all-consuming passion until college graduation. I was a parent's worst nightmare-cello lessons, youth orchestra and quartet rehearsals, and daily screech-I mean practice-sessions. While in high school, I thought I wanted a career in medicine, but while at the University of Kentucky I began seriously dating someone and realized I actually wanted a family. (I was slightly anti-family, anti-homemaker when in high school. Funny how things turn out, huh!) So, I made one of the best decisions of my life and finished graduate school as a physical therapist. (From the tender age of 5 to the oh-so- young age of 25-TWO DECADES behind a desk!) While at the meat market (AKA the Singles Branch) at UK, I met my wonderful, Jeep-obsessed, engineer-geek husband, Frank Evans. We were sealed in the Atlanta, GA Temple in 1997 after a whirlwind romance (sigh-those were the days!). We have lived in 4 states over the years of our marriage-Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, and finally Arizona-hopefully leaving each a better place than when we arrived. My two children, Alex and Emily (I won't be too sappy now, but I am so proud of them), were both born in MS. (I have a great L and D story when Alex was born, but I won't share it all here-just this-"Stop what you're doing! I can feel the knife!") Now, I am enjoying the ride of being a domestic engineer, while wondering exactly what is around the next bend, as Alex and Emily just refuse to stop growing up! When there's a little more time for me, I hope to go back to coaching people through their physical rehab, play in an orchestra again, and take cooking classes.

My loves: peace, nature, good-tasting healthy food, sweating while exercising, reading, kids' laughter, a balanced checkbook. What can I say except "Simple minds, simple pleasures."

My pet peeves: they change according to my mood, so watch out!

I pass next week's spotlight torch to.....Kristi Whetten!

Spotlight: Kristin Dearden

I enjoy reading about everyone else, and I think I am pretty boring in comparison, so I will try to dig deep for something interesting…

I was born in California but spent the next eighteen years in Loveland, Colorado. I left to go to BYU where I graduated with a major in Psychology and minors in Gerontology and Family Science. Since graduating, the only paying job I have had was at Brick Oven in Provo… I met Craig my Freshman year at a football game. What I remember about my first impression of him was his hairy legs. Ha! We dated for almost two years before getting married in August of 1993 in the Denver temple. It seems crazy to me that we have been married for 15 years. (Since the time has gone by so fast, not because I didn’t think we would make it that long). I am so happy to be a stay at home Mom and my happiest moments and memories are of fun times spent with my family. I seriously believe having children is the best entertainment ever! We lived in Utah for a total of thirteen years, in Provo, Orem and Pleasant Grove for the last seven. We moved here to Gilbert four years ago and aside from the summer heat, we love it here!

My hobbies include cross-stitching and crocheting, although I don’t get around to doing it very often. I love to play most any kind of game, and I like to win.  I played volleyball and basketball in high school and wish we had a ward team! I am addicted to fantasy sports and play with my Dad and siblings on several different teams. I like to shop, but usually only buy if there is a good sale. I am a morning person and used to get teased by my friends that “every party needs a pooper, that’s why we invited you”…since I was usually the first one to fall asleep. One special talent I have, that will come in handy if this ever comes back into style, is making big hair! I had the biggest, most perfectly hairsprayed bangs back in the day… along with the wings, you remember?

Least Favorite Things: squash, seafood, cleaning showers and blinds, public speaking, doctor appointments and one of my pet peeves is when there are shopping carts left all over the parking lot.

Most Favorite Things: family vacations, good chick flicks, Costa Vida, Cold Stone, watching American Idol or Amazing Race, and holidays.

Here are two products I love:



My SIL suggested this and it works great at getting stains out. I just started carrying one in my purse, because I inevitably get a spot every time I am wearing a white shirt and we are out!



I love these liners! Mostly because I can be lazy and don’t have to clean my crockpot. So easy!

That is pretty much it… So next week let’s hear from… Judy Evans!