My Personal Childhood Web

My mom, Susan, was a teenage mother who gave up the prime part of her adolescence to raise us.  She didn't get the chance to attend her Junior Prom and she traded her college education to become a homemaker.  She was married at 16 and had her first child at 17.  I arrived as another surprise 18 months later.  She and my dad struggled to make ends meet, but they loved my sister and I,  and they loved each other.  I never knew we were poor and how much my mom sacrificed so we could have the things we needed.  She was very creative in her cooking and sewed most of our clothing.  She is also one of the smartest women I know!  She could have become anything she wanted to be had she not had her young family, but I never felt like she resented us or that we were a burden to her.  However, she didn't want her children to have to struggle in life like she and dad did, so she was my biggest cheerleader to get as much education as possible and to pursue the career of my choosing.  She has tried to pass on her ability to be a great homemaker, but I'm too stubborn to listen (I refused to learn to sew and I hate to cook!).  Mom had my brother when I was three, and my youngest sister when I was five.  When all four of us were in elementary school, mom went to work in various jobs, but always ended up in a leadership role because of her strong work ethic and her incredible wisdom.  She is now a savvy business woman, but still makes the time to cook for our family and cuddle her grandkids whenever possible!  I may never love to cook and I still refuse to learn to sew, but mom has still been a huge inspiration in my life, and I hope I have inherited some of her work ethic, leadership skills, wisdom, and  the ability to unconditionally love her family!

                                     

My father, Larry, has always worked very hard for our family.  He also never attended college, but worked his way into a very good career as a jeweler.  I get my stubbornness and strong-will from my dad!  Anytime we'd ask him for something, he'd immediately say, "No!"  However, my dad is a softie at heart and we'd often be able to talk him into most everything with a hug and a kiss.  He always wanted the best for us, and taught us to work hard to earn it.  Even though my dad worked hard, he also taught us to play hard!  I never saw him hang out with the guys or spend much time away from his family.  He was a strong believer in family time and we had a lot of fun just being together!  Dad taught me to slalom water-ski, drive a boat, set up a tent, cook in a dutch-oven, ride a bike, drive a car and most importantly, to work hard for my family!

My oldest sister, Chanon and I are only 18 months apart.  We were always close as children and shared almost everything, but as we grew into teenagers, we became very competitive.  She was pretty much perfect...she got excellent grades, was tall with beautiful long legs,  and she had natural athletic ability (she was an amazing long distance runner, taking first place in the state in the 800 meters).  She was also on the high school student executive council.  Of course, I wanted to be just like her!  I joined the track team, but was mostly interested in the boys rather than the running.  I was never tall with beautiful long legs - I'm 5'3".   However, I did get excellent grades and also served on the student council.  Chanon is a wonderful sister and she and I enjoyed spending time together as children and still do today.  We never stopped competing with each other though... we both married husbands named James (we call her husband, Jim and my hubby, James).  We even raced to see who could deliver the first grand-child, but she beat me by one hour!  Our first sons were born one hour apart in the same hospital by the same doctor, and both are named for their dads (James Logan is her son, and Joshua James is mine).  I love her very much!

My grandma, Raeona is an amazing woman.  She is the most kind and nurturing person I know.  She will make sure everyone else has the things they need before she will think about herself.  I remember her having a special sleep-over at her house for only my cousin, Angie and me.  She took us to the store and let us pick out any goodies we wanted, and then stayed up late with us telling us stories and watching movies until we fell asleep.  She adores her family and never greets me without a hug and a "hello sweetheart!"  Even though I am now a grown woman, I still revert back to a child when grandma gives me that hug!  I look forward to it whenever I see her!

Jen was my first friend when my family moved to St. George when I was in second grade.  She and I are like "peas and carrots" - very different in our personalities, but we blend together so well!  Jen is easy-going, naturally happy, funny and a loyal friend.  We enjoyed many sleepovers that included staying up all night giggling as best friends do.  As we matured, she was not as out-going or flirtatious as I was, so I drug her to social events like dances and football games, and she was my calming influence when my type-A personality caused me to stress out!  We still keep in touch and she is one of my biggest cheerleaders as I continue to develop myself professionally.  She remains easy-going and happy in her quiet life as a homemaker and mother.  We have said that we are jealous of the life the other leads at times, but we are both doing what we love!

Julie is another wonderful childhood friend who remains very close to me today.  Julie is the type to always put others first and would often write me a note or say just the right thing to give me encouragement or lift me up.  Like Jen, Julie is easy-going and calms me.  She is fun and enjoys being spontaneous, which can drive me crazy too because I like to plan!  She has absolutely no sense of direction and we'd often get lost if she was driving, but that was all part of the adventure!  I married at 18 and had my first baby at nearly 20.  I remember being extremely sick the week I brought my son home, and Julie took work off to come and help me care for him.  She is so unselfish and thoughtful!  I appreciate and love Julie for her example and the positive influence she is on my life.