I love life..and I love all of you!!

I've often had a difficult time being able to wrapped around my brain how blessed I have been in life. How could one person be blessed enough to have been born and married into two such wonderful families. My life is rich with all that really matters.

This picture was taken on the day I was blessed. I was greatly blessed to have been born of goodly parents who taught and loved me. I have always felt treasured and loved by them.I have always been very blessed to have three sisters and two brothers who have always been very good to me. They have always watched out for me. I also grew up knowing four wonderful grandparents who loved and adored me. They really made me feel special as an individual as they had me sleep over, stay up late to watch Perry Mason and took me to Arby's. I have ALWAYS had an incredible support system.


I was also extremely blessed have been born into the true gospel of Jesus Christ. I knew from a young age that I belonged to the true church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. This picture was taken just after I was baptized. If you can't tell, I am in the middle on the front row. I was also baptized the same day as my friend Jenny Coolam (the girl on the far left). My primary teacher was our bishop's wife, and I don't really remember anything specific that she taught me, but I do remember how loved she made me feel. She was always so kind, and made me feel so happy to be around her. I have been blessed with many great examples, teachers, bishops, visiting teachers, and ward members. I am so grateful for my testimony, and the gospel. It truly is the plan of happiness and I am grateful for the teaching of Jesus Christ each and every day of my life.


Another great blessing in my life has been my cousin Ann. This picture was taken on a trip that I took with Aunt Win & Uncle Stu and Ann. Between our two families, we were able to give each other different experiences. She wanted to have siblings that were always around. Her brother closest in age (Mark) was thirteen years older. She loved the chaos of a large family. Camping was a new experience for her. She loved coming over. I loved being invited to go to the circus and have cotton candy, my own french fries and staying in hotels. We watched out for each other every step of the way. We have laughed and cried with each other. The day she was married we were in a crowded sealing room and she was asked by Marion D. Hanks if everyone was there. Ann quickly stood up and said "where is Margie." I felt like a million bucks. I was stuck in a corner and she couldn't see me. We have been through a lot together. What a blessing she has been to me. She has greatly impacted my life.



When I was 15, (to young to admit to my Young Women), I found the love of my life. I fell in love with Tim right from the start. We hadn't gone out too many times, when Tim told me that I was special to him. I blurted out "I love you too." I was so embarrassed that I couldn't contain my feelings. It just came out. We always had so much fun together and we have grown up together. This picture was taken when we were seventeen. Megan will be seventeen in just a couple of weeks. Why is it that I thougth it was great to have a boyfriend when I was that age, and I am so grateful that Megan doesn't. She is so much more sensible then I was. I love your goodness Megan!!

Tim and I grew up together. You don't meet at that young age without having a huge impact on each other and your life. I have many happy memories of this time in my life. It is so much fun to watch Megan right now and be at the High School with her during this time in her life. Last year was so sweet having both Sean and Megan in High School together. It was a great blessing to me to be there with both of them. It was a gift to me to spend so much time with the two of you at Weber.
























This picture was taken the day I started school at the University of Utah. My parents had always instilled in my the desire to gain a formal education. Today, I take Sean to begin his first days at BYUI. It is a very tender time and full of emotion. The day I took Melissa to BYUI was one of the most memorable and tender days of my life. We had just come back from England and it was just the two of us driving up to school. Tim was unble to come having taken so much time off for England When we reached Brigham City, she told me she had been saving a song to play for me. She put in "I'm moving on" by Rascall Flatts. We cried all the way from Brigham City to Idaho Falls. When we reached Idaho Falls we cleaned our faces and faced her future. My first baby was leaving home. My heart was so full of love for Melissa, I thought it might burst through my chest!
Today my second baby leaves for college & in a few short months a mission. Life is changing, but it does go on, and it is still good and exciting. I'm proud of you Sean. I must admit, my heart hurts right now.

























My mom always encouraged me to have a variety of opportunites and experiences. I too have grown to really value opportunities. Having experience are way more important to me then things. I don't have a lot of "things." Experiences are much more meaningful to me. I turned twenty in Israel. To this day I still dream of being in the Garden Tomb. I think often about that time in my life and I am so grateful for my mom who encouraged me to take that time for myself. I knew who I was when I got married. There is only a window of oppportunity in ones life that these types of things can happen. I'm grateful Tim had his mission too. Even though it was hard to be apart, I would not have changed anything about it.


I have always been blessed with wonderful friendships. I have many friends and I love them dearly. They enrich my life continually.

This picture was taken when I graduated from the University of Utah. This is about where Melissa is in her life. I was wanting to find a picture of myself at each age of my children. However, even though I am a little younger then Melissa is now, we must not have had a camera for a few years because I can't find any pictures of myself when I was almost 23. I have always been grateful for the opportunity that I did have to go to school and have been glad that I did graduate. Even though I only worked in my field for 3 short years, they were three very important years helping Tim get through school. I have always been grateful for my education and grateful for my opportunity to be a stay at home mom. I desire for all three of my children to gain a formal education. I also desire that my girls have choices and that Sean will be able to give his wife choices too. If that make sense. Keep up the good work Melissa. No one can ever take your education away from you. I am proud of your efforts, and I love you very much!!




I do love life. I have been so richly blessed in every aspect of life. I love to be able to wake up early every morning and workout and sweat really hard. I feel so blessed I can do that. I love coming home to a cool/warm comfortable home that I can get into the shower and get ready for the day and all of its many challenges and opportunites.

I cling on to my Tim. He is my rock and the love of my life. I'm so glad I married you!!


I love that there is not one relationship in my family...husband, children (Adam included), siblings & parents (including the family I married into) that is strained or uncomfortable. We freely tell each other we love each other...and mean it. I love all of you.




















I am so grateful that I have been blessed with three such wonderful children.***Especially Melissa who brings the most joy in my life*** You bring so much joy to me.

Each of you have taught me more about life then I can even express. You make me so happy. I am so proud of you. You are in my thoughts and prayers continually.

I feel the love of the Lord in my life each day and I feel of His tender mercies. I thank each of you for being my gift this day!!

***Edited by Melissa Turney***