Theresa

 After my parent's divorce, I did wonder on occasion if my dad would ever find someone to spend the rest of his life with. One Summer when I was 7, my dad, myself, and my sister spend 3 months in California with my grandparents. At the time, my dad was attending the singles' ward in the area. I didn't think too much of us spending time with Theresa. I liked visiting her apartment. We would always go swimming in the pool in her complex, watch The Jungle Book, and when no one was watching, I harassed her poor cat Jasmine, who hated kids. (Don't judge! He was so mean!) Little did I know that my dad and Theresa were getting pretty serious. Theresa was a regular at her singles ward. She had lots of guys wanting to date her and was even purposed to! She just felt like there was something different about my dad. I remember very well the moment that Theresa was going to really be in our lives. We were driving home from California and I told my dad that the drive would be faster and we would get home sooner, if her would take his arm off from around Theresa.... I was such a brat and lucky for me, that didn't scare Theresa off, although- there where many times that came later, that I am sure she wanted to go running to the hills! Theresa and my dad got married in September of 1991. My sister and I were included in the wedding as flower girls. Fast forward over 20 years and my dear step mom is still with us! It was a bumpy ride here and there. It was bound to happen, blending a family together. I remember the first time I lied to Theresa, I took something and then lied about it, she caught me red handed. I apologized and soon learned that I wasn't going to mess with my new step mom.

 Theresa was the glue that held us together growing up. She made new traditions for us with my dad, she made sure that we upheld those traditions. Family home evening, prayer at meal times, making sure we ALL made it to church EVERY Sunday, and the most important one to me growing up was the "Office" policy. When we had an issue with anyone in our family, we had an office policy that we would step into that office "a quiet area" and talk openly about the issue and get it resolved. I feel like that helped me alot growing up to learn how to voice my frustrations and upset. What has been an absolute joy and has made an impact on my life for the better is Theresa bringing my half sister Shelby and half brother Hunter into this world to join our family. Some of the best and most precious moments in my young life, and even now, were getting to care for and be apart of my siblings lives. I love them so much and can't imagine my life without them. As the years have gone on and I have moved away from home, Theresa and I still have this unspoken connection. I still force her to hug me when she is sad and she teaches me to be more humble and respectful. She is a fun loving mother and grandma. Our kids love seeing her and she always has dum dum's and mac and cheese at her house for them. I love Theresa's home cooking, her laugh (when at times can get so out of control, she might pee her pants) the way her sweaters she has owned forever smell (because all of us girls have worn them) how she puts pepper in her mac n' cheese, how organized and prepared she is. Above all, Theresa is strong. She has the attitude of getting things done herself and has taught me to make myself more self reliant. I love you Theresa. I loved you 21 years ago in that car on the way to Utah and I love you now. Hope you know that you are my inspiration!

Katie

Like a good neighbor, Katie is there. I remember so very well the first time Katie entered into my life. I had spent all day moving into our new home and was exhausted. I heard a knock at my door and saw a flash of hot pink standing there. Blond hair, bright smile and a hug welcoming me to the neighborhood. She sat on my front room steps and chatted with me for a while and I knew, Katie was going to be an amazing next door neighbor. Over 5 years have passed since that first visit and we have had countless since then. In her front yard, in her home or mine, or just simply in passing. Before I had my own kids, I spent alot of time with Katie. When John would go to work, I would go to her home and just watch in awe because of the type of wife and mother she is. I have NEVER met anyone as organized and put together as Katie. I would watch her night routine with her small children (who are not so small anymore!) I learned alot about child care from Katie and use to this day some of her trademark child care routines and schedules. She made me feel accepted and welcomed, even though I had no kids at the time. As time went on in our busy crazy lives, I have had the privilege to see Katie in a light only those close to her would be able to see and the same goes for her about me. Seeing her in a cheetah print robe at 8 am to get her morning Diet Coke from the garage, me answering the door looking horrible and not caring because it's just Katie at the door, watching out for each other's packages from UPS, many borrowed cans of food and recipes, being pregnant together, and best of all, just seeing her live her life. My gosh, this woman never stops. She has perfected the art of homemade meals. I remember one day I called to borrow a jar of spaghetti sauce and she informed me that she makes her own! Not to mention grinding her own wheat to make her own bread! Freezer meals (didn't really get the concept of those till I met her) decorating, CLEANING (soft scrub with bleach is my favorite since she introduced me to it!), child care and discipline- I have come to her with so many questions and have always walked away feeling like I could take on anything my kids threw at me because Katie said I would.

At first glance, one might feel intimidated by this miraculous woman because of all she does, all she sacrifices, and all she is. You are soon surprised because of how open, kind, and honest she is. She has saved me and comforted me in times of my life when I thought no one else would understand. When I had my first child, I was home and terrified. I had a c- section and was confused, bewildered and just plain scared. Katie came over and held me as I wept. I remember not wanting her to ever leave. I remember seeing her tear filled eyes at my door after her sister had moved out of state. After those tender moments, I felt truly connected to Katie. I feel so very blessed to have such a strong, smart, and most of all, human woman living across the street from me. I fear the day that she will move away. No one will be able to replace her. In a world of judgment, feeling inadequate, and having to feel like the perfect mom and wife, I feel that Katie was meant to be apart of my life at this moment. She reminds me what is real and what is true. That no one really has it all together, that no one is ever really perfect. That we are all just trying to get by alive with all our clothes on! She makes me smile and makes me laugh. I love how she wears only black or white, I love how she adores and sacrifices for her kids, I love her laugh, I love how no matter how many days it's been since I saw her last, we pick up where we left off, I love that she can help me when I lock myself out of my house, I love our late night Canasta games with our spouses, I love how predictable and outgoing she is, I love how much she loves my own kids and takes interest in me, but most of all, I am glad I have met her, know her, and get to be around her.. I love you Katie. You are my inspiration!!!

Sally

I thought it to be fitting to have my own mother be this month's highlight. This picture makes me smile. It was taken at Sally's wedding last July with all her grandkids.

Oh boy... where to even start when it comes to my mom. I guess I can start at the begining. My mom married my dad at 17 and had me by the time she was 18. Both her and my dad were very young parents, let alone a young married couple. Both went their seperate ways when I was 5 and I don't ever really remember them being together. (maybe that's for the best) Growing up with my mom was what you would call, an adventure. What's funny about who she was then and who she is now, is that they are pretty much the same person. My mom is positive, outgoing, carasmatic, energetic, silly, playful, honest and funny. Growing up, though.... I didn't realize how important those traits were. My mom made mistakes along the way and we had countless fights about her lifestyle and personal choices. It couldn't have been easy getting in trouble from your 8 year old. Don't get me wrong, my mom, although made some interesting choices in men, dating, and how she spent she free time, was a great mother. When I say great, I mean it. She never put me down, she never turned her back on me,or belittled me. She thought my sister and I hung the moon. Growing up I dealt with some personal issues of my own and in dealing with them, my mom was my biggest cheerleader. She supported me in everything I ever had interest in. She is the whole reason I love soccer. She helped me to feel better about myself when I felt like no one in the world gave me a secong look. I dealt with weight issues all growing up and I never ever heard my mom say a word about it. She always told me how beautiful I was. In watching my mom growing up, I learned alot and it's because of her, that I am who I am today. She doesn't judge me or tell me how I need to do things. She trusts me. I never really appreciated how much she did for me growing up until I became a mom myself. Besides the late night feedings, stress, no sleep and hard days as a mom, my mom was a single mom at age 24 with a 5 and 1 year old. Granted that was her choice, but she held to it and provided for us and took care of us. I can't imagine that being me right now. I couldn't have done it like her. Out on my own with two kids to support and at the same time still growing up too. Like I said, at the time, I really struggled with our life situations and it took me several years to see through those hard times for what they were: life lessons. We really grew up together. As funny as it might sound, some of our arguments went both ways like a teen and mother would do..... "was that really the best choice?" "is this guy you are dating a good one?" I have learned so much from my mom because of her life and by her example. In alot of ways, we are so much alike and it's easy for us to spend extended periods of time together. It's like we are on the same page in alot of things and I come to her often for problem solving advice. I love my mom more than I ever thought I could. At times I resented her and was confused by her. She made me question alot of things at a young age, but in high sight, it helped me more that she will ever know. It made me appreciate my faith and my own personal choices. My mom is an amazing women and I feel like for the first time in her life, she is happy. Happy with her life situation, happy with her choice in spouse, and most of all happy with who she has become. With out my mom....  I am lost. She sees right through me and knows when to help. She even can hear what I am feeling through our phone conversations. I would be so lucky to be anything like my dear momma. She works hard, but plays hard too. How many grandma's do you know that own and ride their own motorcycle? She takes care of her body and is truly an inspiration to me to take care of myself so that I can run half marathons when I am her age! To top it all off, my mom is the BEST Grandma. My kids adore her. She loves them and cares for them. She sees all of their good qualities and truly takes great interest in them. Even though she lives out of state, she takes the time to come and see her grandkids and spend quality time with them. To put in lightly: they are spoiled. I know my mom sacraficed alot for me and in doing so taught me to look beyond the first immpressions of others. I love you mom, and always will. You are my inspiration!

Kathy

I decided to highlight my Grandma Kathy this month. She doesn't really look like a grandma does she? Let alone a great grandmother! BUT she is and she is a great one! My grandma and I have always been close. I have always felt special in her eyes. I would even go as far as to say I am "the favorite" of all her grand kids. (Just a little joke we throw around in our family because I am the oldest and greatest of all the grand kids ;-) What I mean when I say I feel special is because when I have had really hard times in my life, she has always been there. When my parents divorced at the age of 5, I think she was super concerned for me. I remember moving in with her and living in her basement. I only went to school and lived with her, my mom, and sister for a part of the year, but I do remember not wanting to leave. When we did leave, I recall her telling me to call her anytime, night or day and she would be there. That still rings true to this day. I have called her many nights as late as 2 am in tears needing advice or comfort. She has ALWAYS answered the phone. When I have needed her, she without fail, comes to the rescue, she does this with all her grand kids. As a super independent latch key kid at 7 years of age, she would call almost daily to check up on me and make sure I was OK. Growing up, she has always been a huge part of my life. She hasn't missed one big event, or the small ones now that I come to think of it. Before I had kids, she would come to my soccer games to cheer her 25 year old granddaughter on. I have received random notes from her in the mail telling me how much she loves me. Back when I said she is there for all of her grand kids, she really is. Rain or shine, failure or success, disappointments or triumphs- she will take us just as we are, casting no judgement. She tries her very best to make everything fair and equal.
She also taught me the that every person has value and is worth a second look. Kathy has spent most of her life caring for people with disabilities, including her own daughter. She has been such an example to me when it comes to first appearances in others. We worked together for a group home company and I watched in admiration as she treated others with such respect and love. It was second nature for her and I wanted to be like that too. I feel that because I was taught and shown how you appropriately treat people who seem different, I have learned to be more accepting and loving to those that are different from me, including my own children!
How lucky am I to have such a young and vibrant woman in my life! How lucky are my kids? They are dang lucky. Johnny and Char have been spending alot of time recently with my grandparents and it is my hope that because Kathy is so young, she will be around for a very long time so that my kids will not only remember what memories they are making with her now, but that they will be able to make the kind of memories that I have made and continue to make with her. She is so sweet and dear to them. They sleep over at her home, know where all the toys and books are, play on the in ground tramp that I used to jump on, Johnny has even been camping with them and I am sure Char will also share this same memory.
I love my grandma. What an amazing woman she truly is. It's people like her in my life that make the difference. She knows how to be honest and open with me, even if it's something I wouldn't want to hear. A couple weeks ago, I was at her home and she was telling me how sorry she is that I got the same body type from her and that we will always have to work on our weight. Driving home after I left, all I could think was " I am so glad that being a little stout is not all I got from her." In some of the darkest times of my life, Kathy has been there and been a realistic and honest lifeline to me. If I have to take being her body type to be like her, I will take all the other great things about her too. She too, has been through alot, and it means the world to me when she shares her experiences and down falls so that I might learn from them. Thank you Grandma. Thank you for always being here for me and making me feel like I am your only and favorite grandchild. You mean more to me that words can possibly be said, but it is my hope that someday, very very far in the distant future, went you leave this earth and continue on- that you will know how much you have meant to me and always will, you are my inspiration!

Lisa

Lisa is one of those dear friends that comes into your life and you think you might stay friends, and then because of who she is as a friend, you stay friends even in all different stages of life. I met Lisa in 2005 while working at the TKJ Inc. group home. I hired this adorable 18 year old not knowing she would become one of my very best friends. Soon after hiring her, I decided to work every shift with her because I enjoyed her company. She always made me laugh. We would have long, deep, meaningful conversations. I started to notice that Lisa would stay at work and hang out with me long after her shift was over. I felt myself open up to Lisa the way I would only open up to close friends I knew all my life or my family. At work, there was a communication log, and on the very rare days that I didn't work with Lisa, she would write me a huge long note saying how her shift went. It made me smile to see the smudges all along the notes because she is left handed.... still something I look forward to when I recieve something from her in the mail. Lisa is an amazing worker. She does her best and did her job in such a caring and loving way. I will have to admit, she was my favorite employee and I showed her special attention. I couldn't help it. It was like we were ment to find each other. Although I am a little older than Lisa, I feel like we watched each other grow up... from high school graduations, college, relationships coming and going, even hardships that changed lives. I eventually moved on from the group home when graduating from college and Lisa took my place as manager. I KNEW I was leaving the clients I had spent so much time with in the best of hands. We stayed in touch after I left and we were still very much apart of each other's lives. She would even come over for sleep overs. Then Lisa made a brave choice to move away from Utah. I have to admit, at the time I didn't think it would be too hard. We would stay in touch over the phone and write letters. It was harder than I thought. Lisa would post on her blog about her new life in Seattle and I felt connected to her when I would read her rants about her 400th time trying to quite drinking Diet Coke, I would beam with pride when she would post about getting organized, and I was thrilled to see she had met someone that really loved her for her and he made her happy. Lisa would come back to Utah to visit family and it would make me so happy that she made time for me. When she would come back, it would be like nothing had really changed. It was so comforting to see her connect with my kids when meeting them for the first time and it is my hopes that my kids will call her Aunt Lisa. I was honored to be apart of the most exciting times in her life. Her endowment, her sealing to her husband, and to be apart of the life of her son Henry. I have recently been to Seattle a couple times to visit and it's hard for me to leave. For someone who has grown so much in the last several years we have known each other, she hasn't changed that much. True, she is a wife amd mother now, but there is a familier love and freindship that is felt whenever I am with her or talk to her over the phone.

I will always remember and cherish those group home days. Night shifts sobbing over the notebook, Lisa eating and pretending to like sushi because she knew I liked it. Cooking dinner together. Taking clients to movies and parties. Don't even get me started on Thursday mutual nights. Target, Target, Target (we spent alot of time there) Teaching her how to drive on he freeway. Watching her graduate. Let's not forget St. George trip of 2006, I think we ate the whole time. This list could seriously go on and on.

I love you Lisa. Thank you for always being here for me. Seriously. It's nice to know that something will remain the same in this ever changing world. Thank you for loving me, even when I didn't love myself. Thank you for never casting judgment on me. You inspire me with your kindness towards others. You are open and honest. Being with you reminds me to take a deep breath and appreciate what I know and love. You have come a long way. We have together. I hope it will always be this way. Lisa, you are my inspiration!

Tara

Is it possible to meet someone when you are 9 years old at a soccer try out of all things and remain friends with them almost 20 years later? When it comes to Tara, it's possible. I met Tara at that Airhead soccer try out. She came right up to me and introduced herself in her loud outgoing voice. We never looked back. After that it was a whirl wind of of life together growing up. There are very few memories of my early adolescence that don't have Tara in them. We grew up together and we still are growing up together. We saw each other through: soccer games, try outs, practices, boys, boyfriends, stake dances, family get togethers, countless sleep overs, high school drama, making new friends, heart ache, family drama, working together at TKJ, Rascal Flatts, dating our spouces, our marraiges, our childrens' births, and life as we know it now. The summer before I started dating John seriously, we spent almost everyday together. I kid you not, I pretty much lived at her house. I will never forget that summer. The walls of Tara's room plastered in Backstreet Boys posters, her orange soccer ball that we would kick back and forth, staying up late talking about Kade (he was on his mission) watching damn Dawson's Creek over and over. I really do feel like at different points in our lives, we saved each other, from sadness, grief, despair and worry. Tara truly is my sister. I still talk to her a lot and even though our lives are crazy and we don't live super close, we always find a way to make time for each other. Tara is very much like me, but as much as we both are dramatic, we are dramatic about very different things, which evens out for both of us. Well, at least it does for me! One of Tara's best qualities is that she is a great listener. She has so many friends in her life, including myself, that call her all the time. She listens and gives great advice. I know Tara will always be on my side. That's a rare thing to find. She also is an amazing wife and mother. She finished school and is working in her degree she gratuated with. I am so proud of her, She does it all. She works, cooks, spends quality time with her kids, and loves, loves, LOVES her husband. They were high school sweethearts. It is so fun to watch them together because they have been together for so long. They are a great example of what a good marriage is.
Another thing that is so interesting about us, is that since the day we bacame friends, people are convienced that we are sisters, a claim I believe to be true.This picture was taken in September of last year at yet another Rascal Flatts concert. (will never forget the first one!) I love you Tara. Thank you for being my shoulder to cry on, for never turning your back on me, and for making me believe in myself. Tara- You are my inspiration!!!!!!