50 Things About Me at 50
I did this journaling exercise about 17 years ago and thought it was so interesting to go back and read it. Maybe it’s time for another one.
I've lived in Edmonton, Alberta - Delta, British Columbia - Rexburg, Idaho - Provo, Utah -Montgomery Village, Maryland - DuPont, Washington - Midland, Georgia - Heidelberg, Germany - Colorado Springs, Colorado, St. George, Utah and now Washington, Utah.
We’ve been in our new home in Washington, Utah for just over seven months and WE LOVE IT.
I am married to my perfect companion and we have the most fulfilling beautiful marriage. I’m grateful for him everyday.
I am mom to six amazing kids and I’m so grateful to have used up my life in the service of motherhood. (A phrase I love from a recent podcast)
I’m mom to Ryan (27) and his wife, Cassie (26) who have been married for almost 4 years and live in Tulsa, Oklaholma with their little dog, Dixie. They are the cutest. I’m going to be grandma to a baby coming early January! Ryan and Cassie are expecting a little boy and I’m so excited!!
I’m mom to Katie (almost 25) and her husband, Taylor (25) who have been married for almost a year, live in Orem, Utah and are spending the summer in Asia traveling around as HXP Region Head’s. They are amazing.
I’m mom to Emily (22) who has graduated from BYU and will start her Grad Program in Speech Pathology at St. Xavier’s in Chicago starting in August. She’s incredible.
I’m mom to Megan (20) who is serving a mission in the New York, New York City Mission — currently in the Bronx and will get home in November. She’s thriving.
I’m mom to Luke (17) who just finished his Junior year, loves to flip, skim board, trampoline, hang out with Matt, do trick shots and master his kendama. He makes me laugh.
I’m mom to Matt (16) who just finished his Sophomore year, loves to trampoline, run cross country, hang out with Luke, do trick shots and desires to be a rock climber. He’s the best.
My amazing husband, Chris, works in WY every third week. He also has a habit of picking up extra jobs and is currently working in Tuba City, Arizona from time to time as well. In his spare time, Mr. likes to take me on vacations around the world - This year we’ve gone to Mexico with the Johnsons, Bora Bora with the Christoffersons, Maui with the boys, Amalfi Coast with my siblings and the summer hasn’t even started. He’s always wanting to plan something fun and he’s really the best travel buddy.
A year ago we got home from our school year abroad with Luke and Matt. We traveled to Switzerland, Greece, Turkey, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Tenerife, Spain, Portugal. Then home for Thanksgiving and Christmas and back to enjoy New Zealand and Australia. IT WAS AMAZING.
I love playing boardgames with my family. Favorites right now are any of the AZUL games, Castles of Burgandy, Castles of Tuscany, Quacks of Quedlinburg, and Seven Wonders. The only online phone game I play is Dominion - and usually just on the airplane - unless Ryan is hosting a tournament!
I eat a lot of sweet potatoes and cottage cheese, chips and homemade salsa, and yogurt and granola. Simple and easy real ingredients are my favorite. Another new favorite recipe is Tuna Crunch. I usually have a chocolate protein shake for late breakfast - protein powder from Just Ingredients, creatine, collagen, ice, almond milk, spinach and a little peanut butter. I don’t love pancakes, but I do like waffles and French toast for a treat.
I’m working on a study of all of President Nelson’s General Conference talks since he became the Prophet. I’ve made a little spreadsheet to take notes and added a column for what was going on in my family at the time he gave us the address. I love it.
I love being in my house. It just brings me so much joy to be at home. I’m currently loving a medium sage colored green and have used it in almost every room in the house. So grateful for automatic blinds that close just after sunset each night.
I love to walk. Outside with friends in the sunshine or on the treadmill - usually while watching an episode of whatever BBC show I’m watching. A couple of times a week I lift weights. When I have the time, I listen to a podcast, or text family and friends while I sit in the sauna for 30 minutes.
I like to take and edit pictures, journal, and record memories. It’s just a passion. Everyday I hope to make a little time for it!
I feel the Spirit deeply, which usually causes me to cry — especially if others are crying too. It’s a spiritual gift and I love it.
Guilty pleasures include a Monster Trail mix from Target, a Beach Babe drink at Swig or a bowl of Blue Bell Ice Cream, which has recently arrived in St. George and we couldn’t be more thrilled. I also love dark chocolate peanut butter cups from Trader Joe’s and Haribo Fuzzy peaches.
I love a hot bath every night before bed.
I’m loving my adjustable bed and usually sleep with my head and feet raised a little bit and love to turn on the vibration at the foot of my bed as I’m falling asleep.
I love being back in the Young Women’s program (currently serving as an advisor to the oldest group of girls) — which is where I’ve served for most of my married life. Serving with Lauren and Alycia right now.
We just got back from a trip to the Amalfi Coast in Italy with my five siblings, their spouses and my mom. It was wonderful. Love my family so much!! Scott and Elisha are in Orem. (Molly headed on a mission soon.) Dan and Sarah are in Reno. (Annie is on her mission in Mexico). Amy and Chris are in Mansfield, TX. Mike and Carly are in Orem. Brian is in a new old house in American Fork. My mom is in her cute house on the hill in Provo.
I’m ultra organized. Papers, cupboards, shelves, bins… everything has a place. A good friend commented that Chris and I live a simple life - that everything is uncluttered, and not overdone. That everything has a place and that there is order everywhere you look. I love it.
I love a good spreadsheet — or actually a good table/chart in google docs to organize my study, goals, lists and life.
I love silence. When I drive in the van I’m either listening to a podcast, talking with my mom or daughters or just thinking in complete silence. I like to pray while I’m driving too. I like music but I only listen to it when someone else turns it on.
I love texting and hearing from family and friends to stay connected.
Podcasts I’m currently listening to: Into the Well, All In, Come Follow Him, Inklings, Lean in with Lizzy and occasionally Live Your Why.
I always have a pack of Breathsavers 3 hour mints in my purse and in my desk. After Sacrament Meeting everyone leans over to ask for a mint before heading to class. It’s just a thing.
I really liked the movie WONKA and just love the fun music. My kids comment about it all the time and the boys roll their eyes in frustration when I jokingly suggest it or change their music for Wonka songs.
I love getting my nails done these days. Just a simple light pink gel nail every couple of weeks.
I cut my boys hair and they especially love that I give them a head massage at the end. I’ve always cut Chris’ hair, and the girls and then the boys and now even Taylor’s hair. I’m not very trained but I’ve had years of experience and the boys just tell me exactly what they want.
I’m the pool girl now. I manage the sweeping and putting in the pool vac. It takes some time each day but I’m just so excited about having a pool that I’m glad to do it.
I love a good Swedish massage. I’ve recently tried a couple head, feet and hand massages from Fika Reflexology and they have been great as well.
My favorite St. George restaurants currently are: Red Fort Indian, Wood Ash Rye, Cliffside, the Catania Salad at Pizzeria Limone, Viva Chicken, and Benja Thai. My favorite stores to shop at currently are Bohme, Called to Surf and Madewell.
I love our Queensridge neighborhood and Majestic View Ward. The people are really wonderful and I’m excited to get to know them all better. Once a month neighborhood lunches are so fun! I’m part of a neighborhood Bunko group and it’s been fun to get to know new friends at our game nights once a month.
I love boardgames like Ryan does.
I love massages and gel nails like Katie does.
I love alone time and Little Women like Emily does.
I love hand written letters like Megan does.
I like pina coloda electrolytes and fire talks like Luke does.
I like Coldplay like Matt does.
I drive a champagne colored Chrysler Pacifica mini van and I still love it. It’s nearly the end and we’ll probably get something new soon, but probably not until Luke leaves.
I’m a Words of Affirmation and Quality Time girl. I used to value more Acts of Service but Quality Time may be more important to me these days — especially since I don’t have the chaos and messy house I had when all the kids were home. My Enneagram number is 9 - Peacemaker.
I love Musicals and have seen quite a few… Wicked (3 times), Phantom of the Opera (3 times), Hamilton (2 times), Jersey Boys (2 times), Les Miserables (2 times), Joseph and the Techno Colored Dream Coat (2 times), Newsies, Aladdin, Anastasia (2 times), Cats, Cinderella, The Waitress, Elf, Dear Evan Hansen, Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins, Wonderland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory… that’s all I can think of right now.
I’m not a thrill seeker and totally ok with it. Very happy to watch and photograph other people doing high adventure and daring things.
I have a good sense of what I can say yes to (and what I have to turn down) to maintain good balance and mental health. It’s easy for me to say no to things that might be too much. FOMO doesn’t regulate my life.
I’m grateful for good friends. I treasure my lifelong friendships and value time, trips and connection with each of them. I love to have deep talks about relationships, personalities, motherhood, goals and the gospel.
I constantly talk about taking trips to places I’ve already been or new places I want to go and LOVE everywhere I go (but still don’t want to travel as frequently as Chris does! He has endless travel energy.) I’m a window seat kind of gal. I like to bring my big pillow with me and I’m often asleep as the plane takes off. Nibs are often my plane treat and I usually ask for a tomato juice to drink.