To My Sister

When I was 8 years old, I prayed for a sister--because lets face it, every girl needs a sister. And I got Julie. Julie is one of the most talented people I have ever met. She's a singer, song writer, hula dancer, my daughter's personal manicurist, and my friend. Julie is joy. In fact we used to call her "Julie Joy." Oh did I mention she's totally hot? Well she is. I've always been totally jealous of her dimples.
Little known facts: Julie has incredibly small pinkie fingers and she inherited my pucker.

Julie is the embodiment of fun and you can't help but be drawn to fun people. Her smile is contagious and I miss her.

I love you Julie!

To My Dad

I owe a lot to my dad.
For starters, he gave me those good lookin' Fox genes (Noah loves to remind me that I used to be a Fox. That joke never gets old. . .)

My dad gave me a love for the outdoors. I can remember just about every time he'd get home from work we'd go on a bike ride or go rolerblading. Over weekends, I remember camping, white water rafting, water skiing, snow skiing, and attempted tennis playing. As a single working dad, he really tried hard to ensure I had fun when I visited him.

I've always known my dad loved me, even though as a teenager we didn't always see eye to eye.

My dad saved my life when I was six years old: during a visit to my grandma's pool, my older cousin, Rachel, was doing inward dives (where you stand with your back facing the water and dive forward head first) and I thought I'd give it a try. Without going into detail my dad was given insight that I was about to do something very dangerous and was able to reach me just before my head slammed into the ground (I failed to jump back so basically I was doing a nose dive into concrete). I remember the force of his hands pushing my body into the pool and being mad at him because it hurt. He's never let me forget the details of what happened and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there are forces outside of myself that have kept me alive, or at the very least walking.

A bit of irony: in highschool I was a diver and mastered that @#$& inward dive.

My dad is a great grandpa and my kids absolutely adore him, calling him "Grandpa Choo Choo" in honor of his modle train collection.

Dad: thank you for helping bring me into the world, for saving my life, for sponsoring my snowboarding days, for attending nearly all of my gymnastics and diving competitions (even if it meant you had to drive 6 hours to be there), and for letting me marry Noah.

Happy father's day, I love you.

My Second Mom

I have been so fortunate in my life to be surrounded by phenomenal people. My step-mom, who by the way is not wicked at all, is most definitely one of them.

Truth be told, my life would be quite different if she had not entered my life. For one, I probably would not have a degree in music were it not for her "discovering" me. She was the one who told me I could sing--and when Irene Peery-Fox (world renowned piano teacher) tells you that you have a musical talent, you believe her. Go on, google her.

Lessons from my Step-mom

Build up your husband: My dad hit the wife jackpot. Watching how my step-mom serves him lovingly and continually compliments him has been truly exemplary to me to me in my own marriage.

Play with your kids: I am continually amazed at the energy my step-mom seems to have even after working a long day (and I know diet coke doesn’t work that well). When we visit, she cooks dinner, reads books, stacks blocks, puts puzzles together, plays with toys—I get exhausted just watching (which is pretty much all I do when we’re there). I know she must be completely spent but she never lets it show. She is an interactive mother and her kids (and grand kids) know they mean the world to her.

Be thoughtful: I am sure that hours upon hours are spent in search of the thoughtful gifts she gives her loved ones. I am frequently surprised at how a comment I make will lead to a gift months later. My own kids tend to prefer her presents over mine (which is fine by the way) and I am learning how to be more thoughtful myself.

Work hard: I think it pretty much goes without saying that to be where my step-mom is professionally (again, just google her), it has taken a great deal of effort and time as well as dedication. When I see what she has been able to accomplish, I know that I am capable of doing great things as well so long as I work hard at them.

Thank you for being apart of my life and being such a great example to me in so many ways. I love you. Happy birthday (I meant to get this done by the 11th, but wanted to make sure I got it right so here it is, a few days late).

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

I met Noah just over nine years ago, when he looked like this:

My first memory of Noah is him entering his apartment and walking behind the couch I was sitting on. I was frightened, yet strangely attracted to this mysterious man. Okay, in reality I just thought he looked like someone I would never date. And then he asked me to go on a date with him (all his roommates were dating all of my roommates, so it was the logical thing to do). That was December 17th. We spent just about every day together during Christmas break and got married 11 months later after a few hiccups along the way.

Some things you should know about Noah:

1. He hears his name every where, like when people can't make up their mind and they say, "no...uhh..." or when someone yells "No One come in here."
2. He can't hold still if he's talking on the phone. He paces back and forth from room to room.
3. He loves to travel. Did you know that we spent the first six months of our marriage in Xingang, China (the province right above Tibet that borders Afghanistan)?
   This is Peggy, one of our students. In the background you can see the school we lived at.
   
   

Noah and I got to spend just about every every waking moment together while we were in China. We wouldn't change that opportunity for anything.

4. Noah is an incredible, interactive father.

One thing I absolutely love about Noah is that when he's home from work, he's home. He plays with the kids or helps me if I need help.

He's the "Cool dad"

6. Noah is the ultimate underdog. Did you know he barely graduated high school? He's now just three classes away from his masters degree (he would have finished it by now, but the move kind of interfered with school). Oh, and he has a 4.0 GPA.

7. Noah can do anything. Remember this house?

Every time I look at the pictures of this house, I'm blown over by how much Noah did while being a full-time student and working as a machinist part time.

8. Noah is no complainer. Unfortunately, I was the primary complainer during the house- building project. I'm sorry Noah.

9. Noah can make me laugh harder than anybody else.

10. Noah is the love of my life. And he's an awfully good kisser. 11. He was born on March 3rd.

Happy birthday Noah.

Here's to You Mom...

Since it's almost Valentines day and it's also Black History month, I've been thinking a lot about my mom.

Yes I know she's not black, but shhhh. . . she doesn't know that.

My mom is quite honestly one of the most phenomenal women I have ever met (and I'm not just saying that because she's my mom or even because she's kind of a big deal). My mom is the reason I know how to be a good mom (not that I always choose to be a good mom, but it is because of her that I know how to be good).

Lessons from My Mom:

As a single mom when I was just three, she taught me to make the best of every situation and/ or place. we actually lived in my grandparent's garage for a bit, which she decorated in a Strawberry Shortcake theme. For Christmas we couldn't afford Christmas decorations, so she sewed teddy bears and strawberry shortcake ornaments (which still grace my tree every year).

She gave me my love for opera music, though as a child I was mortified every time she'd pick up the broom and start singing (I'm now getting pay back from my own children).

She taught me to make things beautiful by changing things up in our house almost yearly when I was growing up (my younger sister and I would go to the parade of homes with her EVERY year to get ideas). I got to design my room repeatedly and still enjoy keeping things interesting and ever changing in my own house.

My mom taught me to be creative. As a child I can remember many days spent at Provo Craft picking out ceramics to paint, cotton balls to turn into bears, clothespins to turn into dolls, even dryer lint became pillows. This aspect of my childhood is something I want so much for my own children to have.

My mom taught me to love Halloween by making (not buying) many of my unique childhood costumes, which included: a witch, a Native American princess, Lady Lovely locks, a mermaid, the Snow Queen, a clown . . . in fact I can remember more Halloween costumes than I can remember Christmas presents.

My mom unknowingly gave me a love for cooking. This is an area my mom wasn't too fond of, but as a result she didn't mind at all when I would pull out a recipe from the Friend (or other cookbook) to make.

My mom taught me to open my door to everyone, even my entire 6th grade class (around 30 kids). She actually let me to invite everyone to my birthday party. Wow. In addition to that one act though, everyone feels welcome and unjudged at my family's modest house, especially my children.

My mom taught me to be a strong woman. Because she was strong by example.

My mom taught me to be passionate about life and about what I choose to do with it. She herself has written and published numerous books (including a ground breaking trilogy about black Mormon pioneers called Standing on the promises). Most recently, she produced and directed a documentary about African-American Latter Day Saints, entitled Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons).

I could go on and on, but at the risk of sounding boastful, I wont.

So here's to you mom. . . thank you for being mine.

P.S. Isn't she Beautiful?!