The Story of Me

I received a few comments on my friendship post concerning the fact that I am part of a blended family. Those comments made me realize that I haven't really shared the complete story of my childhood. So I thought I would enlighten you.

Before we begin I wanted to clarify a couple of things. When I refer to my "dad", I am speaking of the man who adopted me, and raised me since I was 8 years old. "Bio father" refers to the man who is my biological father, and was married to my mom at the time of my birth. Hopefully it won't be too confusing.

I was born in Twin Falls, Idaho in July, 1976, and lived the earliest part of my life in California. When I was almost 2 years old, and my mom was pregnant with her second child (my brother "D"), my bio father left and he and my mom divorced.

After D was born (also in Idaho), we came to Salt Lake City where my mom found work, and was completely away from the rest of her family (all in Idaho). She was a single mom taking care of two little kiddos. I don't remember a lot from these years. Mostly just bits and pieces of an apartment complex we lived in when I was 5, and some memories of a few friends there.

We moved to Magna (a suburb of SLC) when I was in 1st grade, and I finished 1st and 2nd grade in my school there. I remember this time quite vividly. I am even still in touch with my then best friend and neighbor that I played with every day during our time living there. I only remember one time my bio dad came to visit us and spend the day with D and I while we were living there. He lived in California, and I'm not saying he didn't visit more, but I just remember the one time.

It was while we were living here that my mom was set up on a blind date. She was set up by her good friend "V" (whom she worked with), and V's husband "K". They set her up with K's good friend (whom HE worked with). Are you still with me? This is the night my mom met my dad.

My dad was also previously married. He and his wife had tried unsuccessfully for many years to have a baby, and were finally able to adopt a little girl ("J"). My dad's wife left him and they divorced when their daughter was 8 years old. She was about to turn 9 at the time her dad and my mom were set up on their blind date. I was about to turn 8.

My mom and dad were married in April, 1984, and we moved to his home in Riverton (also a suburb of SLC). Our family now consisted of mom, dad, sister J (who lived with her mom, but we got to see her on weekends and during the summer), myself, and brother D. D and I were sealed to our parents for time and all eternity in the Jordan River Temple shortly thereafter (J was already sealed to my dad). My bio father visited a couple more times that I can remember, and then granted permission for my dad to legally adopt us. In April, 1985 my little brother (also "J") was born. My parents still live in that house in Riverton, and tomorrow they will celebrate their 27th anniversary.

Happy Anniversary mom and dad!

Of course there is much more to the story of me, but I thought this little bit of history would clear up a few questions that I have been asked recently. Or maybe it just creates more questions? I am an open book so ask away.