Feature Friday: Me!

I promise that I have been working on tons of projects, I just don't have an entire room ready to feature so today I have decided to tell you a little about me.  I'll give you ten things about my life and five things I want in the future.  Ready?

1. I grew up in a small town in Utah.  The population is about 130 on a good day.  My grandparents lived down the street and two aunts lived within 4 miles.  My other grandparents lived in a town 15 miles away (where the high school is).  My dad is a nurse and my mom drives the school bus.   My dad also farms in his spare time so I grew up baling hay (okay, I only did that a few times but I do know how to herd cattle with a four wheeler).  

2. Before my parents did what they do, they owned a convenience store called DJ's Mirage (D, for Doug, and J, for Jodi).  I started working there in 1994 when I was 14 years old for $3 an hour (not even minimum wage) but I could have whatever food/drink I wanted as long as I wrote it down.

3. I played softball, soccer, basketball, track and cross country in high school.  The first three were before I broke my neck, the last two were after.

4. I broke my neck diving into a river when I was 15.  It was 4 feet deep and I knew it.  I dove with my hands behind my back and landed on my head (yeah, not the brightest thing to do but I was trying to prove I could do it -- obviously failed that one).  My friend saw my feet come up and grabbed my arms to pull me out.  I was paralyzed for a while and had to learn to walk again. 

 

5. I graduated 10th in my class of 305 in high school -- and I'm still pretty proud of that.  ;)  

6. I went to Brigham Young University, Utah Valley State College, and BYU Hawaii.  I had the most fun and did the best academically in Hawaii.  I ended up graduating from BYU in exercise science (a pre med major) and minoring in Spanish.

7. I served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Washington DC (the DC North Mission with a special assignment to the temple visitors' center) when I was 21.  I served for 18 months.  A typical day was spent half in the visitors' center and half proselyting in my area (each missionary is assigned a specific area within the mission).

8.  I married my husband when I was 26.  We met while we were both working at a real estate seminar company.  He was my boss.  Haha!  Now I'm his. ;)

9.  We had our first (and only -- but hopefully not for long) baby in April of 2009, five days before my 29th birthday.  Side note: I thought it would take 6 weeks to lose the baby weight (40 lbs).  It took 8 months!

10.  I choose this one because of the whole "neck" thing.  This is a huge accomplishment for me physically.  In June of 2010 I completed my first (and only) Ironman 70.3.  That means a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and 13.1 mile run.  I came in at the exact time, to the second, as my friend who talked me into doing it with her and our times for each individual thing were all different.  I lost 6 pounds that day!

Now for things I want to do.

1.  Have two more babies.  I want one now and I'm very impatient.  Usually I get what I want because I make it happen and this is just something I can't make happen.  So, hopefully soon.

2.  To be a decamillionaire.  That is like 10 times a millionaire.  And this I (and I mean my hubs and I) can make happen with good money management and wise investments.  We were once $1.5 mil in the red and have been working very hard to pay off and sell stuff so we can be debt free.   We are SO close and I will have an entire post telling you the whole story when that happens.

3.  Serve a mission for my church with my husband.  In another country.

4.  Travel the world.

5.  Most importantly I want to be happy and I want my family to be happy.  That's really the purpose of everything, right?

Now you know a little about what makes me tick.  Thanks for reading.  I love my readers.

Linking up at the great Linky parties found at the bottom of the blog.  They are where I find most of my inspiration!  Check them out!

plus

Coastal Charm - Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesday

Bunny Jeans Decor and More - The Bunny Hop

My Repurposed Life - Catch as Catch Can Party

2805 - Potpourri Friday

Debbiedoos - Newbie Party

Serenity Now