My house is the hub of my family as my nearby children and a few of my 23 grandchildren buzz in and out of my home. I enjoy hosting family gatherings and planning parties and trips. My newly added great room and back patio allows us to gather comfortably.

I have been a widow since early 2011. My husband of 48 years, died of a rare cancer. I find that I am able to do many things for myself that I had earlier thought "impossible", such as pumping my own gas and doing upkeep on the car, finding a contractor and seeing an addition and remodel through to the end, learning more computer skills, and being alone at night.

I have discovered that the death of a loved one is neither final nor heartbreaking. I have great comfort in the gospel and the plan of salvation which helps me smile and keep a joyful outlook. I have found it possible to feel "alone" even in a large crowd...I suppose that will change with time.

I am thoroughly bitten by the Family History bug and have enjoyed doing research and solving family mysteries for many years. The study of our ancestral towns and villages has developed in me the love of ancient handwriting and old maps and records.

Way back at the dawn of time I was into camping, hiking and roughing it. But, sorry to say, I now would prefer to sleep in a comfy bed, stay away from stairs and strenuous hikes and would prefer the comforts of a cozy cabin or rustic resort.

I was a kid raised in the desert and learned to swim on the couch. (that's where I still prefer to swim!) My High School was very small and I graduated with the same 25 kids I started first grade with. All through school I was the youngest in my class and it usually took me to the middle of the year to finally figure out what was going on...then on to the next class.

Both sets of grandparents and their parents were original settlers of their areas after joining the Church in the East, Great Britain and Denmark then coming across the plains to Zion. I was raised with great pioneer stories and strong testimonies.

I love any sport that I can watch comfortably as long as BYU is one of the teams or one of the players got his or her start at BYU. I think it is great for my man to love the out of doors if he can enjoy it without me there all the time. I really do see it as a good thing to have a few different likes and preferences. You wouldn't need to participate at a Ladies Lunch and Spa Day, would you?

If my political views were different than yours would that be a deal breaker? I think politics are a very personal thing. I will respect your political beliefs and ask that you respect mine. I'm registered but vote for the "man". Enough said.

I love to travel and usually am the planner and navigator for our trips...(mainly because my travel partners prefer it that way.) I recently returned from a 14-day cruise with family and friends. I have been to Sweden, Germany, Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Canada and Mexico which has given me the opportunity to meet new people and experience different cultures. There are still many places in the U.S. I would like to see...Nauvoo and Palmyra (again) and New England again in the Fall.

My husband and I served a proselyting mission in South Florida, and a Family History Library mission during the Olympics. Because my husband served his mission to Brazil (1959-1962) and was fluent in Spanish and Portuguese we served on the International floor. We also served in the archives where we filmed books and papers from the President's vault.(Some of which later became known as the Joseph Smith Papers) For several years we served at the MTC in Provo. We were planning on putting our papers in for another mission. Then he was diagnosed and in less than three months he was gone. I would still love to serve again. The Gospel is the anchor in my life and my testimony grows daily with each new experience and opportunity to serve.

My mantra in life is, "It'll all work out!"