Let's Introduce Ourselves!

Hydi - what a wonderful thread to start! My name is Melody Russell. I've been a member of the church my entire life. (BIC) I'm 44 years old and have been married to a non-member for 23 years now. I'm very active in church and very much in love with my husband. He's a dehydrated mormon (just add water) and doesn't know it. He doesn't smoke, drink, use any kind of tabacco, etc. His only vice is he enjoys his coffee which he NEVER has at home. We don't even have any coffee in the cupboard. But he will drink a cup when he goes out to the "coffee shop" in the morning with the "guys". My DH has had the discussions and just can't grasp it. My heart is broken but I respect his free agency and know that like it or not, when he dies I'm having his temple work done and I'm going to be sealed to him. My DH consented and signed a paper allowing me to get my own temple ordinances in 1997. I gained a new prospective of what the Lord meant by "The great and dreadful day". It was great that I was in the temple getting my own ordinances but dreadful because my DH wasn't with me. I've worked a lot in the Relief Society in my life (the homemaking director when it WAS homemaking) but have been in the Primary for the last 7 years or so. I LOVE the Primary. Twice in the last two months the bisho***** and the Primary President have asked me if I was ready to be released. I told them I would like to stay in the Primary but would go wherever the Lord wanted me to serve. My DH and I have 5 children. A son who is 21, a daughter 19, a daughter 16, daughter 5 and a daughter 3. All my girls are active in the church, my son is not. My son has never received the priesthood. My DH would never give permission for him to receive the priesthood and my son stopped going to church so by the time he turned 18 and could receive the priesthood without his father's permission, he could care less about it. My work history is in emergency medicine. My DH and I own an ambulance service. I took full time ambulance duty for 22 years until my disease of multiple sclerosis deteriorated and I was forced to stop. I miss it terribly. Now I only do all the office work (sending out the bills to the patients and the insurance companies). My DH has had two liver transplants 11 years apart. He contracted a disease that destroyed his bile ducts which in turn destroyed his liver and his colon. Along with his liver transplants he has also had his entire colon removed. He's living on borrowed time. My sister tells me the only reason he's still alive is so he can join the church. He looks like walking death. He's 6'4" and weighs 140 lbs. People ask me why I'm so happy all the time, why don't I complain, especially with all the health challenges that I have been given. I have a firm testimony that in the pre-existence we were schooled and educated about what earth life would involve. We were given a choice of "tests" or "challenges" that would be available on the earth. We were also given the corresponding blessings that came with each. I have a firm testimony that I CHOSE my MS in the pre-existance. How can I possibly complain now about something that I CHOSE. I had lap RNY on 3-8-04 and have lost 82 pounds so far. Because of my MS I have to walk using crutches. I still have to use my crutches but it's a lot easier walking when you're carrying around 80 less pounds. That's it in a nutshell. This is a great thread and I'm looking forward to reading all the posts as they come in. Melody

Melody I have noticed many times your positive attitude on this site! It is awsome and you really uplift people because of it! It was good to hear about who you are. For that matter it is really cool to hear more about everyone on here.

Well, my name is Donna and I am married to a wonderful man who is also a member. We were sealed in the ST. Louis Temple last year and we are fine. I have two children from my first marriage. Daughter Vicki is 17 and a Senior in high school. Son Josh is 14 and a deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood and in the 8th grade. He is ADHD, PTSD and depression. A lot for a young man to have to handle. I am the Sunday School Secretary and The teach improvement teacher for the Relief Society. I was baptized at 18 and I have been active off and on over the years. I took it seriously when I had my first baby. I have cerebral palsy and so it was a blessing to have one child let alone two. I had surgery 8 weeks ago and I feel very good now. I have lost about 50 lbs. and I am healing well. I am going to college where I am studying Criminal Justice. I have a very busy schedule and I love it! Donna

Hi, I'm Gordon Lively and I have not been a member of the church all my life...yet! I was baptized 1962 and no, I haven't been a member all my life, they wouldn't baptize me until I was eight years old. I went thru all the typical teenage rebellion and joined the Navy at eighteen and didn't come back into activity until I was twenty eight. Been very busy since. Had a wonderful wife and two kids. The wife died at age 44 and the kids went wild and lost their membership. I have re-married to a woman that has 4 grown kids and 11 grand kids. My two gave me a grandchild each so I have a total of thirteen grandkids. The callings I've had are all serious leadership positions(lots of opportunity in the south) including stake clerk and bisho*****ouncilor 6 times. My testimony is very strong and as Pres Faust described came a little at a time over a long period of time. May the Lord Bless each of us as we go through this journey to regain our health...Gordon

Well Gordon, it was nice to hear from you. How did you guys fare through the hurricanes? Did you see any of the action? I served my mission in the south, Talahassee, so it was right where one of the hurricane**** I find it very interesting. By the way, have you ever met a man named Chris Marcey? Just wondering. C'ya later.

Gordon I enjoy your sense of humor. I bet you're a hoot to be around. You are one of the few men who post with us women and I, for one, appreciate the priesthood influence. Keep us smiling and laughing. Melody

Hi All, My name is Kaye Atkinson. I am a Utah Mormon. I live about 60 miles North of Salt Lake in a little town called Brigham City. I had surgery about 14 months ago, lost 105 pounds and have been trying to maintain (not lose anymore) since March. I have 4 children ages 14, 16, 20 and 22. MY oldest, a girl has been married for about a year and a half and just told us on Saturday that we are going to be grandparents. My son is currently serving a mission in the Everrett Washington mission. He has been out for a year. The 2 youngest are girls and are very busy with cheerleading and dance. My husband and I have been married for 23 years. I teach preschool to children who are disabled and love my job. It is so fun and rewarding. I teach Relief Society. I am very grateful to my Father in Heaven for the blessing of this surgery.

A new grandma! How exciting! Congradulations!!!

Oh, what a great post! I have been wanting to get to know you all better! I was BIC. #6 of 14 kids. I rebelled for a bit and married a man that I fell in love with in AZ. We moved back here with his daughter in tow and had three boys. 17, 14, and 11. Talk about a handful! The daughter, who is now 24 is reactive attachment, bipolar. the seventeen year old is bipolar and the 11 year old is extremely ADHD and oppositional defiant. I owe my sanity to the church who helped me place my uncontrollable 17 yr old at the Utah Boys Ranch and they are helping with issues of the 11 yr old too...VERY LONG BORING STORY! My dd took the discussion when she was 10 and joined the church. my older two now hold the priesthood. My dh joined the church in 93 and FINALLY we were sealed in the Jordan River Temple this last April. I am continually amazed at the grace, mercy and love of our heavenly Father. I have one granddaughter who passed away in 2002 but it was her spirit that helped guide me to the temple without my hubby. I was endowed 2 years before he was and yes, it was "a great and dreadful day!" I have held many callings unfortunately here in my home area it is becoming increasingly ness. to hold more than one. Our sis from alaska mentioned splitting the ward...we just had to go from 7 wards in the stake to 5 to absorb the inactive and nonmembers in the area. I have an ever growing testimony of the truthfullness of the gospel. I am taken aback by people who do not believe we are christian. A dear friend of many many years was just born again and told me that we do not believe in christ. I just sat there with a stupied look on my face and said...If we do not believe in christ, then how come the name of our church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? He then tried to tell me that we worship Joseph Smith as a modern day Christ.....I just don't get it. I would love to get to know each of you better through the boards. I feel such a brotherhood and sisterhood when I am here. Trudi Longest post I have EVER written!

Wow, you've got some choice trials! I'm amazed at how many of you have such difficult family lives. My brother has ADHD and I know how difficult it is for my mom. I feel for you. What is it that the scriptures say? "and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good . . . " I'm amazed by your strength and the blessings you'll recieve from your trials.