30 in 11

I dated a lot at BYU. I hung-out with a lot of guys at BYU. I didn't want to get serious with anyone at BYU. Then I met HIM!!!

Actually we had a lot of run-ins. Our first meeting was when I went over to some of my guy friends' apartment and he was playing Hearts with them. They were into the card game and not the girl (ummm, me!) so I left annoyed that they hadn't paid more attention to me. Then I met him at Battle of the Bands. I said, "Hi" and he just looked right over me (he is a foot taller!). He swears he has no recollection of this! He remembers meeting me at his apartment when he had a party. He was dancing with one of his friends and all the girls were circled around them like a bunch of groupies. I was in the kitchen, and I thought he was cute, but I couldn't bring myself to ooh and aah with all the other girls so my roommate and I left. Then in January of 2003, my roommate and I had a spaghetti dinner at our house and we invited a few guy friends over, okay like 20 guy friends (no girls, that would have been silly!). And he came...he wasn't supposed to, but his roommate talked him into it. He was dressed in his white shirt and tie because he had been teaching at the MTC that day. We spoke for over and hour and I was so excited! I desperately wanted him to ask me out. We both played it cool and saw each other once or twice over the next few days then he asked me out on the steps of the WILK. I remember us separating to walk to our classes after he asked me out and I tried not to skip! He made me pesto, we played cards and watched Moulin Rouge (I still have the VHS we watched!) on that first date. We both had some dates we had already committed to, so we both went out with a few other people. (I won't get into the night he was supposed to come to my house for a party and I saw his roommate that night and he said, "Isn't Joey on a date with you?" My thought was, "No but it sounds like he is on a date with someone!" Nope, I'm over that!) Anyway, a few weeks later we had been out, talked a ton and we just stopped seeing other people. We hung out all the time and talked more than I've ever talked to another person.


In March we went to California so I could meet his family and he popped the question on a beautiful beach in Santa Cruz. He asked me three questions. Are you committed to living the gospel? Are you committed to loving me? and Would I marry Him? I answered "I promise" to the first two questions then "Yes" to the final question (I had the words "I promise" inscribed in Joey's wedding ring) I was shocked and happier than I had ever been. Joey makes me want to be better. He sees so much potential in me. He loves me more than anything. He wants me to be happy. He has made me realize that I'm worth loving and I really, really love him for that.

This is after he proposed. We drove back to his parents house and I was so happy. I tried to find the picture that the hippy took of us right after he proposed but I couldn't find it! So these are about an hour after the actual proposal:)

30 in 12

Yes, I missed some days and I'm just going to skip them because it will make my life a little easier:)


College! I loved college! I had great friends and we had a great time! My Darcy, Meagan and Megan made life fun and we had some great times. (This picture is missing Megan and Alisa is in it...sorry I didn't have one of all 4 of us)



Megan has been one of my closest friends since 7th grade. We were freshman roommates and she was always a rock for me. She was friends with everyone and was always up for a party! She gave so much of herself and even spent a semester in Guatemala teaching English. She was very independent and never did anything just because it was cool. She did things because she wanted to do them. She could get any guy to like her...she had a knack for hanging out with a guy and just being cool and then before you knew it, the guy was madly in love! She listened and still listens whenever I need her and I'm so grateful for her! (Are you glad I didn't post "the picture"?)



Meagan and I had way too much fun together! We were so spontaneous and if we were always up for anything. Weekend in Vegas, let's go! Snowboarding trip to Colorado, when can we leave? We were each like a half of a whole. We ate the same food, worked at the same places and even dated some of the same guys (no Joey was not one of them). Hill Air Force Base, baseball players and late nights to the gym. Her family was very good to me and let me crash Thanksgiving. I loved that her parents loved me for me but expected me to be better. I felt like a 6th child. We could talk about anything and I'm grateful she is still a part of my life.




Darcy is one of those amazingly talented people who write their name and you can tell they are artistic. She was always cooking something yummy. She has the best laugh! When were 18-years-old she would give me advice and I felt like I was talking to an old woman. She is wise! She is beautiful and she has finally come to grips with that at 30-years-old. She was always hard on herself but has realized how wonderful she is. Love you Darcy!

I'm so grateful for these three wonderful women in my life. They are wonderful and I'm grateful we've grown together. Now instead of figuring out what to wear to a party on Friday night we talk about how the only day we take a shower in Sunday! Love these ladies!!!

30 in 15

This is me at my high school graduation. My parents were living in Japan at the time and flew back so they could attend. I spoke at my high school graduation and I remember it so clearly. I spoke about enjoying life, especially the little moments. I laugh at myself because I had so little life experience but my words still ring so true. I read my speech from that day and I can apply so much of what I said to my almost 30-year-old self. Sometimes I'm waiting for that next big thing to happen, but if I'm always waiting then I miss out on the wonderful, little moments that are always happening. Now that I've graduated from BYU, been married, seen my hubby graduate from law school, purchased a home, and had 4 children, many of my BIG moments have passed. I'm sure there will be more, but we had a lot in a short amount of time. Now it's time for me to enjoy my children, my husband and my wonderful life...it's time to stop and smell the daisies (that was the theme of my graduation speech from more than 10 years ago).

30 in 16

I had really great friends in high school. Unfortunately I haven't been back to Indiana since I graduated from high school and I've only seen two of my friends in the past 10 years. Sometimes it makes me sad that the people who knew me in my teens aren't a part of my life now. You share so much of your inner self with your 17-year-old girlfriends! I've changed and they've changed and it would have been great to see them and catch-up. BUT I have made amazing new friends and I have the best family, so even though I don't have "old" friends, I have great "new" friends.

30 in 17

I don't remember much about my baptism day so I'm really glad there are pictures to prove it happened! I'm so grateful for that day. I'm grateful I have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. And I'm really grateful my little Hayden is getting baptized next year so I can reflect on what a wonderful and important decision it is. (She will probably not get baptized until January of 2013 because she has a December birthday)

30 in 18

Growing up I thought we had the "perfect" family. A mom, a dad, two boys and two girls. Here are the kids in all our glory: Elizabeth Ann, Brennan Marlowe, Kipp Richard and Katie Ruth.





I don't know when I was told that I had an older brother that passed away before I was born. His name was Spencer Dee Wood and he died when he was 6 months old from SIDS. He died on my parents anniversary, just 6 days before Christmas. I never thought I could be sad about him (not because my parents said I couldn't, but because I didn't know him). Then I met a friend who lost her son in a sledding accident just 4 years ago. Talking to her I better realized the pain my parents went through. Talking to her I realized that, to my parents, Spencer is still a very integral part of our family. Talking to her I realized that I also experienced a loss. It was very different for me because I never knew him but our family misses him because he was supposed to be a part of our family and we love him and we want to see him again. Last year I made a book for my mom about Spencer. I talked to family members and got stories of memories they had of this little boy. It was an amazing experience and I'm grateful I got to know Spencer a little better.

Isn't he beautiful? This is my favorite picture of him!


I am so grateful for eternal families. I know we can be together again. I know my children are mine for eternity. I don't think this feeling called "love" could exist without a God who intended for us to be together again. This love we have for one another didn't just happen when the universe came to be. It's not made up. That just doesn't make sense. This love has existed forever and will continue to exist forever. I don't know much. I feel like in the gospel of Jesus Christ I am still learning and figuring it out but what I do know is that this unit we call a family is eternal. If we do our best and live this life in the best way we know, we can be together again. This keeps me going. I want to see Spencer Dee again and I want to be with Joey and my children forever.

30 in 19

This was my cat, Carmel. I loved this cat. She was my little buddy. My dad didn't know how much I loved this cat, and to be honest, I was a little kid and I probably didn't do a good job taking care of her, but I still did care about her. My dad thought he would get rid of the cat because he didn't think any of us kids would notice, so he took Carmel up to the cemetery which was about 5 miles outside of town and left her. Sad, huh! Well he got home and the first thing I asked him was, "Where is Carmel?" He played dumb but thought, "Oh no! What have I done!" He secretly went back to the cemetery and looked for her but couldn't find her. I was sad. I missed my kitty. Weeks later a mangy, beat-up cat arrived back at our house. Yup, Carmel found her way home! And my dad was really, really good to that cat after that.

I'm not an animal person anymore. I'm the first person to admit that. But I want my kids to have an animal. It's a relationship that kids should have. They should have a dog they love to play with or a kitty they like to pet. As soon as we figure out Hayden's allergies, we need a dog. And a bigger house...yeah, it might be a while before we get a dog!