Down on Bended Knee

I have recently become an engaged woman. My dear love Scott proposed to me on May 29th! I asked the parents how they became engaged:

Describe your marriage proposal! Was your significant other surprised? 

Dad:My proposal to Roseanne took some time to for me to figure out.  I had know for a while that I wanted to marry her.  I had gone to the temple and prayed about it there.  I had also prayed every night to receive a confirmation to ask her for her hand in marriage.  The Lord revealed to me that she was the right one, but the question was when and where to ask her.

We would spend time together; go to movies and dances; but no time felt right until we were watching General Conference at her house.  It was after the afternoon session that I asked if she would be the mother of our children and she said yes.  Yes, I was really surprised and have loved her ever since.

Mom: The day Brian proposed, we were at his apartment. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints October conference was coming up that weekend.  I remember watching Brian that evening noticing that he was a little more distracted or nervous about something.  We talked about different subjects that evening.  Then it happened!  He asked me if I wanted to be the mother of his children.  I said, "Yes!" (I knew that meant he wanted me to marry him.)  He gave me his sterling silver ring to put on my finger.  He hadn't picked out a ring yet and he wanted us to pick the rings out together. I knew at that time I wanted to spend eternity with him!  He is such a creative, smart, jovial, romantic guy.( I also knew that he would make a great dad for our future children.)  We were married later that same year in the Salt Lake Temple, December 18, 1976.

Working 9 to 5

Sometimes I think back on all the jobs I have had in my life and realize those experiences have really helped shape my abilities. I'm grateful for all the interesting people I worked with and random tasks I did. I was asking my parents about their work experiences and was completely surprised about many of their old jobs.

Mom: Jobs I have held throughout my life.

1. Age 10:  began my babysitting career
1. (saved one child from death at the age of 12)
2. (almost attacked on the way home from one babysitting job in Provo, Utah)
3. I continue to babysit to this day.

2. Age of 16: Worked half day during my senior year of High School for my dad.  My dad worked, on the side, publishing his reading material.  I ran the printing press and also assembled pamphlets for my dad.  I didn’t enjoy the printing press…ink very much, but I loved getting out of school for half of the school day. My dad finally sold his reading material to a company out of El Paso called Psycho Techniques.  They sent royalties to my dad for years because of his reading project.

3. College years:  I started a small job of selling drinks at BYU football games. (That was short-lived. I didn’t enjoy working with food nor did I like the guys flirting with me.  That job lasted about two games.)  My next job was working for the BYU administrative building.  I microfilmed all of the past graduate documents.  The next job I had at BYU was working for the BYU Men’s Intramural Department.  I was their key punch operator.  I enjoyed this job.  I worked with only guys and experienced a few fun dates from that job.

4. During my senior year of college, I taught second grade and sixth grade.  I was pregnant with Christi. (I remember always having nausea during the spelling test hour.) I enjoyed teaching the children.  I continued to be a substitute teacher for many years throughout my marriage when the extra money was needed.  I actually substitute taught for my dad on several occasions.  Dad’s class was so organized and easy to teach and manage.

5. I tried to get a job at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City.  During the interview, the guy told me I would be better off staying home, being a mother and having children.  So, I started teaching piano lessons.  I totally enjoyed this job!  I continued to teach piano for many years.

6. When Christi was born, I started working at a day-care center.  That job was short-lived because I missed Christi.  My mom was watching Christi, but I couldn’t stand being away from her, so I quit my job.

7. When we moved to Texas, I worked for the City of San Antonio as a secretary. (We needed the funds because we were starting over in a new city.)  I was only to work for a short time. I typed so fast and did the Dictaphone so accurately that my boss wanted to keep me on full time.  I had Christi and James at the time.  James was six months old.  I didn’t want to have my mother-in-law raise my children so I quit and stayed home to take care of them.

8. I also worked as a bookkeeper for an accountant, Rob Roberts.

9. From 1981-2016 Brian and I worked with Foreclosures for LFC, a company out of New York.  We boarded and cleaned out the houses.  We did property inspections.  We managed probably 12 inspectors. My children loved this job because whenever we received our $1,500-2,000 per month (which was great money in the 1980’s), we would all go to Toys-R- Us and allow them to pick out a toy.  They loved this!  The hours were long (sometimes staying up past midnight) and hard but, Brian and I successfully completed this job.  We were very proud of our work. I went on to become a Property Manager for Advanced Living Technologies, filling in once in awhile for Brian’s co- workers.  Again, I missed my children so I stayed home and became a Property Manager over several properties in our home business.  We had many Realtors working under us.  We continued this business and eventually our daughter Christi also became a realtor.  Not only did I work as an Office Manager but I also babysat my grand children when Christi had real estate showings. (I totally enjoy seeing my grand children.)  We no longer do Property Management.  Our office is in sales only. I am still an Office Manager.  Our company has realtors who work under us.  We are down to five realtors.

Dad:My first High School job was at Woolco Department Store.  Woolco was owned by the Woolworth Department store chain.  I was a stock clerk in the soft good department.  So I became proficient in stocking and selling diapers, cutting fabric and clothing patterns, cutting window shades, and similar items.  It was an interesting job and kind of fun.  I worked there my Junior and Senior years in high school. 

After high school, I worked for Alamo Clay Company making bricks in Elmendorf, Texas. This was hot hard work.  I worked around a lot of a lot Hispanic workers, some of whom where here illegally.  Occasionally, INS would show up and those guys would run, but get caught.  We had this one brick stacker with one arm and the other with amputated at the elbow.  He lost the arm in a bar fight when it was shot off by another guy with a 30-30 rifle.

After my mission I worked at O.G. Wilson selling guns and cameras.  To get hired I had to pass a lie detector test.  That was kind of interesting.  At BYU I washed dishes at Helaman Halls.  When I moved to Salt Lake after BYU I worked for Holiday Day Inn Reservations.  That was fun because you could earn commission money booking rent car for customers.  One month I was the number one seller of rental car reservations.  That money helped buy Mom's engagement ring, so it came in handy.  After Roseanne and I married I worked for Maple Hills Real Estate Development Company, who were developing condos, homes, and the golf course in Bountiful.  I worked the 11 pm to 8 am shift.  I learned a lot about computer accounting programs, but the hours were terrible while going to school.  I left them and went to work for First Federal Savings in the accounting department.  It was fun to work for the bank.  They paid well enough, provided discount ski tickets and other benefits.  Neal Maxwell, an apostle, was on the board of directors and that was neat.  After a couple of years I moved to Soil Conservation Service, a federal agency.  The work was boring, but they provided insurance that paid for James when he was born. (When Christi was born, we did not have insurance I had to take out a student loan to pay the medical bills.) During the summer I worked for UPS loading 18 wheel trailers while still working at SCS.  I also did some contract advertising work for a company that sold restaurant equipment.

After graduation, we moved to Provo to work for an advertising company, but that company was not that great.  I left them to go into the Air Force as a Navigator candidate.  The navigator program sounded great, but I would have been away from home all the time on deployments, so I left the Air Force and went back into banking.

I worked for Gill Savings first doing foreclosures and worked up to be an Assistant VP/Asset Manager.  One of my borrowers was John Connolly, the former Governor of Texas, who was shot at the same time as President Kennedy.  

From Gill Savings, I was offered a position with USAA Realco as an Asset Manager.  The company was excellent, but the boss I had was kind of a jerk.  So after a couple of years I left and went back to banking at Alamo Savings, San Antonio Savings and First Gibraltar Savings.  I worked on trouble assets during the dark days of the RTC take over of the Savings and Loan Industry.  While there, I work on an asset that was eventually transferred to Advanced Living Technologies, Inc. a non-profit that owned nursing homes and senior housing developments in Texas and Florida.  I was asked to serve as a board member, which I did from 1988 to 1992.  The ALT President, Steve Muse was a member of the Church and a good friend of mine, suffered a stroke and passed away.  Following his death, I was asked to be the VP at ALT.  I stayed there from 1992 to 2007.  The company started to dwindle even though I had brought on new assets and opportunities, so I left and went to work for Wedge Management as a Compliance Director and was promoted to VP of Operations.  I left Wedge in 2012 and was hired by the MacDonald Companies, Inc. a family owned development company in Kerrville, TX.  While here I helped form the company's property management company and still function as the Asset Manager.  I obtained by CPM designation last year.

In the background of my jobs, I obtained my Texas Real Estate Brokers License.  During the Gill Savings - USAA years your Mom and I ran P&S Remodeling.  We would do property inspections and board ups around San Antonio and South Texas.  We also listed/sold real estate and managed properties for out of state owners.  We also did some property tax appeal work for these clients.  Last year we sold off the property management accounts, but still sell and list properties.

With all of the adventures I've been through your Mom has been there every step of the way encouraging and helping me to succeed, during economic down turns; working for crummy companies; and fulfilling Church callings.  There were a lot of uncertain times with many of these companies, but that is the nature of work in this life.  Through it all I feel I've been led and protected by the Lord.

In My Next 30 Years

There is a silly Tim McGraw song about my next 30 years that I think is pretty cheesy. I am quite curious what my parents intend to do before they are 90 though!

Dad: I plan to live another 30 years, I'll be busy having fun.  I plan to travel and take your Mom to new places and familiar locations. I plan to do temple work, family history, go to tons of grand kids games, races, and events.    I'd love to go on a mission with your Mom to anywhere the Lord needs us.

I plan to continue to read and learn. You can never learn it all in this life, but the more you learn here it all goes with you to the next one.  

I'd love to write a book or two on subjects that interest me and that can do some good in the world.

I plan to continue to exercise to keep healthy, make new friends, have lots fun and do it all with my best friend by my side -- Your awesome Mom, my sweetheart Roseanne.  I wouldn't think of life any other way.

Mom: If I lived another thirty years, I think I would try to be as healthy physically and mentally as possible.  I want to be alert and ready to try new things.  I would like to spend time with my children and grand children.  My grand children keep me young and oh so happy!  I look forward to seeing my grand children all of the time.  I would also like to travel and explore new places.  I would like to serve a mission with Brian even if the mission call is from our Stake. I would like to finish my book.  I think as long as my testimony is growing, I am serving others, setting a good example for everyone and enjoying my family, I will be happy for the next thirty years!

The Power of Parents

I feel like I am constantly seeking the advice of my parents. Sometimes I listen to their ideas and sometimes I don't but I love that I have the option to always hear their ideas. I was thinking after spending time with my Grandma Partridge, what kind of advice did she offer to my Dad while he was a kid. 

Mom: I think the best advice my Dad gave me was to get a college education.  He was a firm believer of women getting their education just as much as their male counterparts. An education for women was really not pushed back in the early seventies.  My Dad firmly believed that I needed something to fall back on if anything happened to my husband... death, sickness or loss of a job. He wanted me to also be educated so that I could properly teach my children in an intelligent manner. I was always thankful for his advice. My degree from the University of Utah has given me a lot of help throughout my life and a lot of confidence. I have also raised four "brilliant"  children. Great advice!

Dad: The best advice my parents ever gave me was that I could be come anything I wanted to be. They taught me not be afraid of things, but be cautious. Make good friends and stay away from people who may bring you down. Keep the commandments; be honest; love the Lord and all will work out. Obviously, they did not tell me one single idea, but continued, and still encourage me and our family to this day.

You Could Do This or You Could Do That

Life seems to have a never-ending spree of choices. As a kid you don't seem to realize all the choices your parents are making. I have been thinking about what their hardest life choices have been. 

What were the most difficult choices I had to make in my life?

Dad: Hmmm. What were my life's hardest choices?  That's an interesting question. I would say that asking Roseanne to marry me was the hardest and easiest choice to make at the same time.  I had no doubt that I wanted to marry her and no one else, but the hard part was having the courage to ask her due to my fear that she would reject me for another.  Your Mom had a lot of guys asking her to get married, but she said yes to me which was and still is incredible.  Before I asked her, I went to the Salt Lake Temple and prayed in the celestial room for confirmation that I should ask for her hand in marriage, and that if I should not ask her to marry me that I would receive that impression to that as well.  The impression not to ask for Rosanne's hand in marriage never came and never will come.  We are eternal companions for ever and ever... Amen. (as it is sung in the Messiah!)  

Work choices and decisions for me have been more challenging.  I've worked in a lot of industries and for a variety of bosses - Gill Savings, USAA, Alamo Savings, ALT, Wedge, and others.  Changing jobs has and is always a 'leap of faith'.  When I left USAA I did so to spend more time with our family and to get away from a toxic work environment.  I have found that various employers have become stepping stones to something better.  Something better has not always and does not always equate to more money.  Often the change has resulted in working with better people or more flexibility; or to learn something new; or to have more personal freedom.  All of those alternatives trump a few more dollars on payday.  With all that understood, moving from ALT to Wedge was a big leap of faith.  I had been at ALT for almost 15 years and had a lot of flexibility, but the future of the company was in doubt.  I traded a familiar but failing company for new but very diverse work space.  It was a good change (leaving ALT), but Wedge was not so fun the last year I was there. 

Mom:The most important choice I made in my life was marrying your dad.  I could have married my High School sweetheart, or any of the other guys who asked me to marry them or the missionary I was writing, but I married your Dad.  Your Dad made me laugh.  I also knew he would be a successful person in life because of his knowledge, his creative mind and his way of accepting challenges.  Your father also has such a strong testimony of the gospel.  I knew he would set a good example as a husband and father to our future children. I remember, he was so determined to be with me.  He tried so many times to ask me out.  He didn't give up, which is another one of his great traits. He also always makes me feel so special....treating me with respect, love and honoring me as his girlfriend and wife.  No matter what, I was his queen. I continue to be his queen and partner for eternity.

Another difficult choice I made in my life was my career.  I actually wanted to be a Dietitian, but then I received a teaching scholarship.  With my college paid for, I accepted the scholarship and became a teacher.  I will never regret making that choice because I love to teach!  I love teaching school age children and teenagers.  Most of all, I enjoyed teaching my own children and now my grand children.  

Dollar Dollar Bills Y'all

A few weeks ago I asked my parents this simple question:

If you are given $25,000,000 what will you do with it?

It took them forever to respond since they have been quite busy lately but their responses just make me want to give them $25,000,000. :)

Mom: Well, first of all, that is a large sum of money and I don't know how I would receive $25,000,000. from but here it goes.  I think the first thing I would do is pay off all of our debts, including my children's debts which would include their homes and cars.  I would then buy a large piece of beautiful, hill country land and build houses for those children and their spouses who would like to live on the land with us.  Once that is done, Brian and I would serve a mission for the church.  Maybe, we would serve a couple of missions.  I would definitely contribute funds to the church and to the cancer fund.  I would set up college trust funds for my grandchildren. Brian and I would travel to the lands of are ancestors, England, Ireland,Germany and etc.  I would provide funds for my Mother and Brian's Mom and Dad and to Brothers and Sisters in need.  I think what is most important is that we continue to work, whether it is through gardening, serving a mission or just serving others.  It is also important that my children and grandchildren continue to work and learn (through higher education) too. 

Dad:  Simple: Pay tithing and then invest the balance.  I would take  a cool trip too, say to Europe or the South Pacific or South America.  Car?  Did I hear you say car?  I would get a cool truck to take to the beach or the mountains.  I'm thinking Ford Raptor pick-up in black.  If the money was really large, I'd quit working and go on a mission or volunteer to work for the Church in some capacity. 

Day of Love

Valentine's is one of those divisive holidays. Some people love it and I feel like many hate it. I was curious to see if my Parents had any fond memories of the holiday. 

Dad:  Hmm. I really enjoyed our last one in 2016.  Roseanne and I went to South Padre Island and explored.  It was fun and pretty; beautiful water; good food; and someplace new.  I think Valentines Day can be a fun holiday when you do something out of the ordinary and fun.  Make Valentines Day special for you and your sweetheart... it helps keep you both happy and close to each other.

Mom: As I look back on my life, I remember some of the sweetest and best Valentine Day moments.  Brian was always so good to buy me a gift every Valentine's Day.  He always brought home a dozen beautiful red roses (no matter how much money we had in the bank) and usually some "real" jewelry.  The roses and jewelry were so nice!  I feel like it bonds your marriage when someone actually takes the time to buy you or make you something for Valentine's Day.  

When we were first married, Brian would write some beautiful poems for me.  I still treasure his poetry.  As the years went on I received some pretty special Valentine cards from my children. I too treasure those sweet and heart felt cards.  The cards were usually homemade and represented each child's personality .  

This last Valentine's Day was wonderful!  Brian and I went away to spend some time together at South Padre, Texas.  The ocean was clear and gorgeous!  We had such a great time.  I think the best part of the entire trip was spending time with Brian...no deadlines, no appointments, no time limits....just Brian and I.  This was definitely one of my favorite Valentine Day memories.  When we arrived home from our trip, there sitting in my kitchen nook area was a beautiful kitchen table and benches made by Aaron.  He had delivered my Christmas present while I was away.  Aaron's carpentry skills are amazing!  Then there was a note on the kitchen counter with a box of my favorite junior mint chocolates.  The note said "Happy Valentines (see back porch) Love, James"  Dad and I walked out there only to discover the most beautiful raised grow box for plants.  Actually, just like Aaron's table, I almost hate to use them.....they are both so beautiful!  Brian and I opened our mail and discovered a Valentine Card from my mom and two sweet Valentine Cards from Emily!  I really think this last Valentine's Day was the best one yet!