This week it is my pleasure to introduce you to Melody.  Melody is a new acquaintance of mine from blogland, but she has impressed me with her thoughtful comments, and it’s easy to see from her interview what a quality person she is.  You can find Melody’s blog here.  Did I mention she’s also adorable?  Here’s Melody:

I am so thrilled at this opportunity, I have loved getting to “meet” all these amazing women and finding kindred spirits all across the world! My name is Melody, I’m 29 (for the first time) and I am currently living in Salt Lake City, Utah- although my husband just got his orders for Fort Lee, Virginia, so we will be there by the end of April. Yay for new adventures! My sweetheart Lee and I have been married for 9 years, and we have two munchkins; Wyatt, age 4 and Jana, age 2. And of course our first baby Skeeter, a German Shepherd mix who is almost 6.

I grew up in Salt Lake City, the youngest of 8 children- six of whom were boys. I remember once my Mom told me that ratio was about right- for all the physical expense of raising rambunctious boys, it took three of them to equal the emotional expense of one daughter. I can’t imagine she meant ME, I was a sweet, obedient lamb…

After high school I went to then-Ricks, graduated from what had become BYU-Idaho, and didn’t walk with my class because I was busy getting married to a darling boy from Rigby, Idaho. I think it’s funny that my husband is also the 8^th child in his family, what are the odds? I went to Idaho State University to complete my Bachelor’s in Nursing, and have happily been working in Labor and Delivery ever since. We lived in Rexburg, Idaho for 7 wonderful years, where both of our children were born. Yes, I delivered my babies in the hospital where I worked, and no, it really isn’t that awkward to know not only the names, but the birthdates, anniversaries, hopes, dreams, names of children and pets, and ridiculous 3:00 am personalities of every single person in the delivery room. My job is so awesome, and the people I have worked with are just plain fabulous. After my husband lost his job last spring we did some fervent praying and soul-searching and decided to join the US Army. We moved to Utah, he left for all his training last October, and we are ecstatic at the prospect of being a family all together again when we go to Virginia!

1.     What’s your favorite part of motherhood?

I love snuggling my kids, especially when they’re sleeping. It reminds me of the book “I’ll Love You Forever,” and makes me just cherish the moments I have when they’re small enough for me to hold and cuddle them. I also love listening to my kids laugh together, even if that laughter indicates they are up to something naughty! I love that they are getting old enough to be able to say “I love you, Mommy.” Best. Thing. EVER.

2.     What part of motherhood would you subcontract out if you could?

Folding laundry. Especially whites. I love the wearers of the tiny undershirts and onesies, but if someone told me today that I would never fold laundry again for the rest of my mortal existence, I’d be fine with that.

3.     Name 2 or 3 items on your “bucket list.”  (Some things you’d like to do before you die.)

I really want to serve a mission, or even a few, with my husband. I want to see the Alaskan Northern Lights with my own eyes. And I want to learn to use a sewing machine. Not necessarily in that order.

4.     Brag for a minute.  Do it.  What are a few things that you’re pretty good at?

I am a good singer and flute player, and I am a pretty good piano player. I have lots of patience (my kids might disagree, but at the hospital I somehow manage to have an endless supply), and I get along well with others. That sounds silly, but it’s interesting when I overhear someone’s negative opinion of a person who they complain is hard to get along with, and I am surprised because I had never thought that. Perhaps my real talent is a combination of being hard to offend and happy to accept people as they are.

5.     What are you loving lately?

Oh, sleep. How I love thee. I’ve been working full-time nights since before I had children, and although I can manage the rest of everything around my job, sleep continues to evade me. I do love me a good nap.

I also LOVE good reading. I just finished “When Times Are Tough” by John Bytheway, and I would recommend it to everyone, everywhere. So many interesting insights, and so many scriptures and quotes that provide the perspective and motivation we all need sometimes to keep going.

6.     Do you have a favorite scripture or quote?  Why?

My current favorite quote is a simple one from Neal A. Maxwell that hangs on the wall in my bedroom: “Faith in God includes faith in His timing.” The most difficult things we do in life are rarely acute, short trials. It’s the long journeys and chronic heartaches that require true faith and endurance. A friend shared a quote from a recent Stake Conference, where the Stake President taught that, “The thing that God is doing IN you may be more important than the thing you are waiting for.” I suspect there are things we are all waiting and longing for, but we must wait for God’s timing to be right, and in the meantime find joy in the everyday experiences of life.

7.     What do you gravitate toward during your unscheduled time?

I so admire people who make crafts and quilts and delicious treats, and have grand aspirations for learning and doing those things when I have a slightly larger quantity of this “unscheduled time” (read: not working full-time nights!). As for now, I like to play with my munchkins, play the piano (these days it’s mostly the Sesame Street Songbook and the Children’s Songbook, and I’m cool with that) read, nap, or zone out for a little while with a silly computer game.

8.     Tell us some of your best mom-tricks (things you’ve figured out that work well for you).

I am amused when people dish out advice on topics they have no clue about. And I feel like I’m in that realm here. My kids are young and I have so much to learn yet that I am too chicken to really say anything here! I have learned that if I want my kids to be polite and kind, I have to show them that example every moment of every day. And if I want them to have short tempers and full meltdown tantrums, I have to show them that example…just once.

9.     What’s something you don’t usually want people to know about you, but that they need to know if they’re going to be your friend?

Um, I am a spelling and grammar geek. Seriously, I’m that weird person who actually snickers when I see a billboard that uses a superfluous apostrophe when no possessive is indicated. Misplaced modifiers make me giggle, and I laugh out loud when I see a misspelling that alters the meaning of a statement (for example, I recently read a transcribed dictation in a patient’s chart that said, “Liver born with apgar scores of 8 and 9.” It should have said “live born”. I was so entertained at the thought of such a miraculous and precocious liver). Don’t misunderstand me, I do NOT judge the writers thereof, it’s just a bizarre source of my own silly mind’s enjoyment. And there, my inner nerd is revealed!

10. If you were in charge of a girls’ night out, what kind of activity would you love to plan?

I too am a homebody, and would love a girl’s night in- like a chick flick/fondue party! Only it would include all things dippable- I love fry sauce, ranch dressing, ketchup (or catsup, take your pick), that melty garlic/butter stuff from Papa John’s, nacho cheese, salsa, spinach artichoke dip…heaven.  And for dessert, a chocolate fountain with fruit and marshmallows and caramels and anything else that sounds yummy.  As you can easily conclude, I am one of those souls who occasionally like to indulge in the kitchen and repent on the treadmill later.

11. Friends are great for venting.  What’s been frustrating you lately?

Ha. The Army. *smile*

Actually, I get frustrated when I see people not cutting each other enough slack. I know the trials I go through, and the things I struggle with, and I sincerely hope people don’t stand around and speak ill of me because of the things I’m just not able to do, or cannot do well enough. You never, ever know when someone is struggling with a broken marriage, depression, heartache, the feeling of not being able to face even one more day, or worse. I much prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt, and if I can’t directly make their burden lighter, at the very least I strive not to make it heavier with insensitive words or actions.

12. What parts of your testimony are you the most sure of?

That the Savior lives, and that the power of our temple covenants is real, and families really can be together forever. I wouldn’t have pictured myself as an Army wife EVER, but because of faith and personal revelation here I am. I don’t care to dwell much on the what-ifs, but I do know that there is nothing…and I mean NOTHING that can take my family away from me if we are true and faithful. Happiness in life is nice, but peace in life is what I really want and need, and my temple covenants afford me that.

Melody’s blog is called The Anderson Family.  Drop in and visit her sometime.

Thanks so much, Melody.  To you and to my readers, have a wonderful General Conference weekend.  Take notes.  I might do a pop quiz again for a fun prize.  🙂  (And I hope to see more of your shining comments on the next round of General Conference Book Club.)

I am really excited for you to meet “Lisaway.”  She is one of my first and favorite blog friends.  We haven’t met yet, because Hello! she lives in Poland, but I already know we get along.  Really.  To be honest, I think that her blog may be the very first place I ever left a blog comment.  She and her family did a video of their testimony, and I loved it because she was doing with her blog what I hoped to accomplish in my blogging infancy. (Hey, I found it.  Ooh, she’s going to kill me for that.) Looking back, she may have even given me more courage to do it.  Only click over to Lisa’s blog if you’re sure you have time for another friend because to know her is to love her.  You’ve been warned.  Meet Lisa:

Stephanie said I could only answer the following questions if I first said how much I love her. [She’s a liar.] I love her a lot.  As a matter of fact, I think that once I learn a lot more stuff and get to be a better person we will be almost exactly the same, Steph and I.  Assuming she stops learning things and getting better for a decade or two.

My name is Lisa.  I live in the medium-sized town of Mielec, Poland with my husband of 13 years, Greg (well, Grzegorz really, but he introduced himself as Greg 14 years ago and that’s all he’s ever been to me) and our 4 kids Ewelina (11), David (9), Aaron (almost 4) and Spencer (1).

Greg was baptized in Poland and served a Polish-speaking mission in Chicago, from whence he headed to BYU.

I graduated from Ricks College with a specialized associate (no GE!) in early childhood education (specifically Professional Preschool Education).  That was the end of my formal education, and I have to tell everyone when we give our “how we met each other” story that “we met at BYU, he was attending, and I was just there working”.  Can’t have anyone thinking I made it into BYU!  (seriously.  I didn’t.  And seriously.  I am that excruciatingly honest that I can’t leave it at “we met at BYU”)

We’ve lived in Poland for 10 years, the last three kids were born here (no anesthesia!)  We don’t have a branch of the church where we live but the two nearest ones are 2 hours away and each have 4-10 regularly attending members (not counting us and missionaries).  We travel to branches that are farther away regularly for Greg’s calling.

I love living in Poland.  It is beautiful, full of forests and villages and old churches.  It is a country with a rich, tragic and noble past and an amazing future.  I miss America and my family, but most everything else I love is right here where I want it.

I’m sarcastic and kind of boring.  Are you excited to get to know me?  Read on for more thrills!

1.     What’s your favorite part of motherhood?

Babies.  Baby cheeks.  Baby necks.  Baby hands.  The slap, slap, slap of chunky, bare baby feet on the floor.  Nursing.  First words.  “Words” that only I can understand.  Kids figuring stuff out.  Kids talking about Jesus and Heavenly Father.  Kids with soft, peach fuzzy faces.  Kids sacrificing for siblings.  Kids doing things that are hard and knowing they are better for having done them.  Kids.  Knowing that the kids will become adolescents and then adults and that they will still be mine.  Forever.

2.     What part of motherhood would you subcontract out if you could?

Hmmm.  The only thing I hate hate hate is changing sheets.  I hate hate hate it.  Over here there are only duvet covers and flat sheets.  I hate sticking blankets in the huge cases and trying to get flat sheets all tucked in around mattresses.  I should really stagger sheet changing, but after I’ve changed 5 beds in one evening I sort of feel like I’ve completed some Olympic feat.  I love putting freshly scrubbed, sweet-smelling children in freshly changed, sweet-smelling beds.  Pure gold.  (so maybe I wouldn’t subcontract it?  What’s my point here?  Even the things I hate hate hate I love?  Whatever.)

I don’t believe in bucket lists.  I’m highly superstitious and am sure that if I list the things I want to do before I die they will NEVER HAPPEN.  Just kidding.  I’m the least superstitious person on Earth (which makes living in extremely superstitious Poland interesting), but I don’t have a bucket list.  However, I wouldn’t mind serving a mission with Greg, going on an Alaskan cruise and… something else before I die, I’m sure.

5.     What are you loving lately?

Currently I am loving traveling.  Last weekend we were in Warsaw and went to an awesome science museum (while Greg attended meetings).  This weekend we’ll be visiting my favorite castle, Pieskowa Skała, for a church graduation-type ceremony.

We have 4 great travelers, which I know for a fact (?) is because Someone loves us and really wants us to travel for the church.  I would not be overjoyed to do that if we had kids with motion sickness or travel-whininess.  None of our kids suffer from either ailment.  This cannot be a coincidence.

6.     Do you have a favorite scripture or quote?

I’ve always (since seminary) loved Ezekiel 37.  I love the whole thing because it’s exciting and kind of what it’s all about.  I love in verse 24 where it says: “And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.” I especially love it after reading all the stuff that comes before it.  I love being one of the fold and knowing my shepherd, trying to listen to and trust his voice.  I love that one day the shepherd will be recognized as King by all.

7.     What do you gravitate toward during your unscheduled time?

Checking email.

9.     What’s something you don’t usually want people to know about you, but that they need to know if they’re going to be your friend?

Hmmm.  I’m very Molly.  I’m extremely far from perfect (except, again, when it comes to email checking) but I believe in trying to keep ALL the commandments.  At least all the basic ones and then do your best with the others (I guess that’s a bit subjective…).  I don’t much care for people to talk about how boring church is (which it is sometimes, of course, but it’s not something I roll my eyes about) or talk about things that I feel are inappropriate.  If you do I will just change the subject.  Or skip to another blog.

10. If you were in charge of a girls’ night out, what kind of activity would you love to plan?

Oh dear.  I am a homebody.  I think everyone would bring their favorite treat and we’d eat and chat and chat and chat.  I like chatting.  Boring, maybe.  And also not really “out” as a GNO probably should be… (I don’t think I’ve answered a single question properly.  Sorry about that.)

11. Friends are great for venting.  What’s been frustrating you lately?

I never get frustrated about anything. [Ha!  She’s lying again.  Look, I found proof.]

Can I say the whole thing?  I believe the gospel (and it’s partner the Church) is not just a good idea.  I think it’s real.  It doesn’t all make perfect sense, but one day it will, when we’re all 100% smart.  I know that for sure.  The plan of salvation is awesome and obviously designed by a perfect Father and made possible through his perfect Son.  I just think it’s fabulous and it makes me want to do all those little things that are sometimes so hard but always so worth it.

My blog is called Away From It All because I am.  Poland is a different world than the one I come from in many ways and I sometimes write about that.  Sometimes I write about something that happened to me a thousand years ago or something cute my baby did yesterday.  I often write about something I’ve been thinking about that nobody should really care about.  I consider my blog my journal that is open to the public.  I don’t think a lot about that public as I write (though I sometimes address it to YOU GUYS) but I absolutely love interacting with people on their blogs and mine.

Thank you, Lisa.  So much.  Now go add her to your blog list.  You’ll be glad you did.

Today I’m excited to introduce you to someone who knows my husband much better than she knows me.  Notwithstanding her limited knowledge about me, she has been one of my biggest “fans,” and that’s a really cool gift.  I’ll let her tell you more about that.  Blog friends, meet a new friend:  Lacy.

Hi! First of all, I have to say that Stephanie’s blog is wonderful and “Diapers and Divinity” is part of the reason I decided to start my own blog. My husband and I went to high school with Stephanie’s husband, Matt, and I’ve actually had the privilege of meeting her a couple times. Let me tell you, she is just as fabulous in person as she is on her blog! Quite frankly, for the simple fact that she married Matt, she is way up there in my book. Matt was a good friend to us, especially my husband.

Anyway, my name is Lacy. I’m 36 years old and I live in Logan, Utah.

I’ve been married to my high-school sweetheart for 15 years. My husband JUST FINISHED a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering in December 2010! It’s been a loooong road, but we did it!

Right now, I am a “Stay at Home Mom” to 4 VERY busy and beautiful children; 2 sons: Gabe (13) and Beck (3), and 2 daughters: Zoe (10) and Kaia (almost 7). My sons have blue eyes and blond hair like me and my daughters have brown hair and brown eyes like my husband. I think it’s really cool! We also have 3 crazy cats who make our home crazy and furry and fun. Oh, and an aquarium full of fish… I’ve had an aquarium basically since I was 10 (even during college).

I was born and raised in Salina, Utah. I am the youngest of 4 children and STILL get teased about being the baby of the family. In Salina, I met my future husband, Zeke; I was 10, and he was 12. The feeling was mutual – we HATED each others guts!

Once we got to high school though, things changed… and the rest is history… a very long history (including a mission, a “Dear John” and a refused marriage proposal), but a good one! Zeke graduated in 1991 and I graduated in 1993 from North Sevier High School in a class of 68 seniors.

I earned an Associates Degree from Snow College in 1995, where I enjoyed taking several Entomology classes (Yes, I like BUGS!). I feel like Snow College was my mission, and I was the only convert. This changed my life forever. I am so thankful to have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is everything to me.

In March of 1996, I was sealed in the Manti temple to my high school sweetheart, Zeke. He is my very best friend and seriously the coolest guy ever!

I also have a degree in Interior Decorating via correspondence courses. I did this during my last two months of my pregnancy with Gabe and it was a really fun way to pass the time. I’m not sure how talented I am with decorating, but I enjoy it.

I worked in the Fisheries and Wildlife Department at USU for few years as a “Bug Sorter”. I would sit at a microscope for 8 hours a day sorting through river samples to find and classify insects in order to help determine water quality. It was absolutely fascinating, although a bit tedious at times. I quit working there when my son, Gabe, was a few months old. I’ve yet to finish my Biology degree and I hope to go back someday soon and get a teaching certificate as well. It’s my dream to be a middle school science teacher, like Ms. Frizzle on the “Magic School Bus.”

1.     What’s your favorite part of motherhood? When my kids tell me “I love you.” without me saying it first…. oh, it’s the best. I love laughing with them and making crafts and stuff in the kitchen. We also like to read and listen to books together.

2.     What part of motherhood would you subcontract out if you could? #1 Potty training for sure! I’ve only got one more child to go and it’s been a struggle to say the least. #2 Getting up in the middle of the night for anything my children need. I love my sleep and once I wake up I usually can’t fall asleep again. It’s really hard for me to function without sleep.

Serve a mission with my hubby…. it is my dream. I wanted to serve a mission myself, but I just happened to get engaged about 5 months before I turned 21.

Visit the Sacred Grove…and New York and… actually well, I’d like to travel and see lots of places… I haven’t visited many yet.

Be a temple worker, I can’t think of any more fabulous way to spend my free time when I get older.

5.     What are you loving lately? #1 My husband. He really is the greatest thing about me. #2 One-on-one time with my kids – I think this is SO important. #3 My husband is graduated and we’re making enough money to finally breathe a little. The last 3 years have been rough (and that’s an understatement).

6.     Do you have a favorite scripture or quote? Alma 26:12 “Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things.” Why? I found this scripture when I was reading the Book of Mormon for the first time back in 1994. It has really stuck with me and helped me have more faith in God when I’m struggling. I love Ammon and his faith and testimony.

7.     What do you gravitate toward during your unscheduled time? If Zeke is home we love to watch movies and play board/card games. If it’s just me, I love reading, cooking, watching movies, sewing, letter-boxing, painting, and blogging (of course). One of my favorite family activities is feeding the ducks at Willow Park. It is so relaxing to me.

If you have rules and there is a consequence if those rules are broken, you MUST follow through with the consequences, even when it’s hard. It really does pay off.

Also, we need to build our children up as much as we can. The world can be a hard place to live in. They need to know that they are great and capable and loved. Keep their “emotional bank account” full – you should always give out more positives than negatives.

Let them make choices. It builds their self-esteem and teaches them responsibility. It’s important to give them choices that you are okay with no matter what they choose. This way you both win.

For example, as quirky and colorful as they may appear, I always let my children choose what clothes they want to wear (as long as they are weather appropriate). This has been a great source of creativity and increased self-esteem for them. It also makes life much easier for me. I don’t care if you think my kids look silly – I think it’s fun and so do they.

9.     What’s something you don’t usually want people to know about you, but that they need to know if they’re going to be your friend? I’m a self-proclaimed prude and I really do want you to know about it. I believe Stephanie has said this before as well (that’s another reason why I like her so much). I really try to watch, read, and listen to wholesome media. I really want to have the influence of the Holy Ghost with me 24/7. Don’t you? I have walked out of several movies and written some harsh reviews on Good Reads. If something isn’t “virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy” I try to stay away. I need all the help I can get.

10. If you were in charge of a girls’ night out, what kind of activity would you love to plan? Well, I just joined a book club and it’s so much fun. We don’t really talk about the books much, but we sure talk about everything else! I think just a night together with yummy treats and fun games would be great.

11. Friends are great for venting.  What’s been frustrating you lately? My 3 year old…. oh man, that consistency thing is wearing on me. I think he actually might be more stubborn than I am.

I love the scripture in Proverbs 3: 5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Sometimes things don’t make any sense. Life doesn’t seem fair, but Heavenly Father knows all things and He has a plan for us. He really will help us.

Also tithing…. the windows of heaven opening up and pouring out a blessing upon you is a VERY real thing. It doesn’t take money to pay tithing, it only takes faith.

My blog is called Uphill and Smiling. I’m new to blogging. I’ve been reading blogs for while, but just started writing one last May after I was released from my calling in the Young Women’s. This was really hard for me and I wanted a place to share my thoughts and feelings and find new friends. I also hope to share my testimony of the Gospel through my blog. I’m amazed at how many wonderful people I have “met” through blogging. It’s been more fun than I ever thought it would be.

My life is an uphill climb and I’m going to smile everyday.

You go, Lacy!  Thanks for letting us get to know you.

I’m excited for you to meet my newfound blog friend Stepper.  When I moved to Utah, I had to chance to to take a small roadtrip and meet up with some blog friends.  Stepper was previously unknown to me, but we ended up laughing, talking, (and eating) late into the night and the following day and making a wonderful connection.  We found out that our love stories were almost identical, and I decided that we might have been supervised by the same guardian angel/wedding planner.  And you’re not going to believe this ladies:  She wrote this interview while she was IN LABOR and delivered a baby just hours after she sent it to me!  Stepper is a rock star.  I hope you love meeting her as much as I did.  Here’s Stepper:

Greetings, Diapers & Divinity followers! Congrats on exemplifying such great taste in blog reading. I’m honored to take part in the Find-A-Friend Friday feature, here. I think that Stephanie is wonderful – and I love what she does with this blog. I had read her before, but became a regular reader after meeting her in person on an adventure in St. George (where we discovered that we live about five minutes away from each other. We still don’t hang out, though – mostly because right now I’m pregnant and therefor evil). My name is Stephanie also – but everyone calls me Stepper. That’s a story for another time. I’m 31 – a fact that shocked me the other day when I could have sworn I was still 30, and my husband had to remind me that I don’t get to stay 30 for 15 months. I share a birthday with Joseph Smith, which makes me awesome, don’t you think? I have a wonderful and incredibly talented husband, a three year old Wyatt, a one year old Daphne, and my little Third is due any second. Seriously. We suspect I may be in labor right…now…

I grew up in Utah, but my heart belongs to Washington State. I am the second in a family of four daughters. I was born 13 short months after my older sister – I was a bit of an oops! – which was great for my sister and I growing up, but now that I have kids of my own, I constantly wonder how my mom did it (plus earn a masters in Speech Pathology). I have a bachelors degree in English Literature with a minor in art. I’ve had a few careers that I’ve loved (mainly in office management) – but am now a Stay At Home Mom. My family has made great sacrifices to bring me home, and I’m grateful for it every day. Even when I’m divinely covered in diapers.

1.     What’s your favorite part of motherhood? I love that these two (almost three!) amazing little people belong to me. Knowing that Father in Heaven trusted me with these incredible individuals is humbling and exhilarating all at once. There are so many moments when I feel such motherly pride in my kids – and so many moments when I am blown away by how much better they are than I am.

2.     What part of motherhood would you subcontract out if you could? Right now, I would subcontract the bedtime routine. My 3 year old is going through a phase where he gets out of bed every 20 minutes ALL NIGHT LONG. Husband and I are exhausted, thinking: our newborn will not be *this* tiring! Ah, to have a full night’s sleep!

3.     Name 2 or 3 items on your “bucket list.”  (Some things you’d like to do before you die.) I’d love to write a really great YA novel and have it published. I’d love to see Europe. Pretty much ANY part of Europe. I want to run a marathon without dying.

4.     Brag for a minute.  Do it.  What are a few things that you’re pretty good at? I’m good at hostessing parties. I love the details of it – and if I can hostess a party *for* someone else? Like a baby shower or birthday party? I’m in my happy place. I’m also pretty darn good at drawing hands and feet. I earned that one through lots of practice.

5.     What are you loving lately? My husband. He has really stepped up and helped me with these last few preparations for our little man to arrive, and he is so patient with our two kids, and he is always so willing to give me a foot rub. I just keep thinking, man. You don’t have to do all this. But he does it willingly and lovingly – and I have a hard time not falling at his feet, clinging to his pant legs, crying “I’m not worthy!” Also, lately, I’m loving Costco’s grapefruits. Huge. Juicy. Sweet. They’re kind of unreal.

6.     Do you have a favorite scripture or quote?  Why? One of my favorites is “Be Still, and know that I am God.” My mind and heart often go into overdrive with worry, concern, or just get overwhelmed – and I like this constant reminder that He’s got it all under control. What I need to do is not PANIC – but take the time to Be Still, and Know.

7.     What do you gravitate toward during your unscheduled time? Reading and blogs (writing mine and reading others). Often times, I sit there looking between my book and my computer, playing attention-tug-of-war with which I’d like to do. Unless Bill has a rare evening free from work or homework, and then we’re watching Dr. Who or Pushing Daisies with a bowl of frozen yogurt.

8.     Tell us some of your best mom-tricks  (things you’ve figured out that work well for you). Make your chores a game for the kids. Wyatt LOVES to help me haul the laundry upstairs if we do it train style, and he’ll help me load it if we can both be cranes. This way, I can get done what I need to without little hearts feeling neglected. Because, otherwise, I’d never get ANYTHING done! The curse of overly cute kids.

9.     What’s something you don’t usually want people to know about you, but that they need to know if they’re going to be your friend? I hate hate hate the cellphone. I don’t answer it. I usually don’t even have it on my person. The kids think it’s theirs because I let them chew on it/throw it against walls/call China with it. Right now, it’s sitting on the desk behind me, chirping that it’s almost out of batteries, and I think dagger thoughts at it that I don’t care. I hate talking on the phone. Even if you’re my best friend and have been for fifteen years – I still won’t answer your call. People take this personally. Then I remind them that twenty years ago, there weren’t cellphones. This doesn’t help, somehow. This is just one element of technology that has never agreed with me.

10. If you were in charge of a girls’ night out, what kind of activity would you love to plan? I’d want to do something elegant – like a nice meal out, because my women folk and I would appreciate the effort that goes into something like that – and I’d want to do something creative. So that we leave our girls’ night out feeling both pampered and uplifted. I’d also want to buy them all a really great handbag or something. Am I rich in this scenario?

11. Friends are great for venting.  What’s been frustrating you lately? Picking up after other people. I know, great frustration to have when you’re a mom! What can I say – I’m in the ornery stages of pregnancy <grin>. Also, when someone dumps the food from their dish into the disposal side of the sink (good idea) but leaves it there instead of rinsing and running it down (bad idea). Especially if it involves bread which then gets soggy. Soggy bread is my kryptonite. I just can’t handle it.

12.  What parts of your testimony are you the most sure of? Great question. The past year and a half, my testimony that God knows me individually and has an individual plan for me and my family has grown tenfold. That He works miracles in our everyday lives, and that He is willing to let us suffer – even though it pains Him – to answer our prayers to become better people. And – maybe most importantly – that His plan is waaaaaaay better (and cooler and more intricate and complete) than anything I can come up with.

Tell us about your blog: I write over at Stepper Was Here. Simple as its name, my blog is basically a place for me to explore what it means to me to be Mormon, a Wife/Mother, and a human being.

Thank you so much, Stepper.  Hug that sweet little new baby of yours and bask in our admiration.