Why is it that life never really seems to go as planned? We invest so much energy in drawing up a life plan, only to find that Heavenly Father has something else in store.

While we were preparing for marriage, we talked a lot about what our family would be like. We dreamed of having a big family. We started trying to have children just a few months after we were married. Yet, here we are, nearly six years later, with one beautiful boy and hoping to adopt a second.

In the spring of 2009, Kelly learned that she has a balanced trans-location of the 4th and 5th chromosomes, which put simply, means she has a lot of “bad eggs.” These eggs are too genetically scrambled to be conducive with life, resulting in frequent miscarriages. After the sixth miscarriage, we’ve realized it’s time to consider alternative options. Through fasting and prayer, we've come to understand that adoption is the right choice for us. So here we are, anxiously awaiting the day when another spirit will join our family.

Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog and learn more about us. We’d love to hear from you.

Contact Us

If you'd like to contact us, you can reach us by email at lorenandkelly@gmail.com.

Also, check out our profile with LDS Family Services at www.itsaboutlove.org (profile ID: 25283796).

We look forward to hearing from you.

In the Beginning

We met in college through a mutual friend. During Loren's freshman year at Oregon State, he lived in the honors college dorms across the hall from a fellow member of the Church, Suzi. The two of them became good friends over the year. Loren did not return to school the next fall, as he left on his mission that year. Though I didn't start classes until January, I started attending the student ward in Corvallis and became friends with Suzi. I heard her mention her friend, Loren, once or twice, but thought nothing of it.

Two years later, Loren returned to OSU. Suzi hosted a dinner at her house, and we were both invited. I have always dreamed of going to Spain, and I eagerly asked Loren question after question to learn more about the country and people. I tried and tried to get information out of him, but he didn't seem to want to talk to me. So, after a while, I gave up on him.

That was 2002.

Over the next two years I casually knew Loren as "the guy with the hair helmet." Loren was very studious and had virtually no social life. He went to Church, but we were in different wards, so I rarely saw him. In the spring of 2004, Suzi offered to set us up. I politely declined, saying he wasn't my type. Just one month later, my opinion of him dramatically changed.

In June of that year, Suzi got married and moved to Portland. Loren and I both helped her move. Suzi did things a little backwards, having her wedding reception a few days before the actual wedding. We both went to her reception, then back to her new apartment to play games. Someone suggested we play Nertz. Loren had never played before and proposed that he be paired with the best player, who would balance out his handicap. I jokingly announced that I was the best player, and no one contradicted it (for many years I thought that was confirmation that I truly was the best player. It wasn't until much later that I realized that no one contradicted me simply because they didn't want to be partnered with Loren).

Despite having never played before, Loren and I made a great team and won that night. I was impressed by how fun he was. But the thing that really got me was this: We'd been eating leftover wedding cake and everyone was piling their frosting onto one plate. Eventually, we had a mountain of frosting several inches high. At one point during the game, Loren called out, "Whoever looses this game has to eat ALL this frosting." At that moment I knew I was in love.

Another month or so passed before either of us confessed our feelings for each other. Our relationship was complicated by the fact that I had just received a call to serve in the New York, New York North Mission (Spanish Speaking). I remember one night in July in particular. We were at the beach with a bunch of friends, and Loren and I went for a walk on our own. We weren't dating at the time, and it was very romantic. We reached the end of the beach, and as we stood there in the moonlight, I actually started to think he was going to kiss me. That's when he said, "You know what? I totally think of you as a missionary."

WHAT!?!

We started dating about a week later, on July 23rd. I didn't go on my mission. Loren proposed to me five months later, on December 23rd. We were married March 18, 2005 in the Portland, Oregon temple. We celebrated our first wedding anniversary the same month I would have returned from my mission. And the rest is history.

All About Ashton

Loren and I always knew we wanted to have children. We started trying to get pregnant about six months after we were married. As it turned out, it wasn't as easy as we were expecting. Two miscarriages and two years later, the dream to become parents finally came true.

We welcomed Ashton into the world in December of 2007. He came by c-section after 23 hours of labor and 2 hours of pushing. The birth completely wiped me out, but it was worth it. We had a healthy baby boy, weighing 8 lbs 11 oz and measuring 21 1/4 inches long. And boy oh boy, was he beautiful.

Ashton had the sweetest temperament as a baby. He rarely fussed, he was a great sleeper and he was so happy. He developed a few minor health issues: eczema, cradle cap, reflux, asthma and a peanut allergy. Breast feeding was an absolute nightmare for the first six months. Ashton was a lazy eater and he had slow weight gain as a result of it. At 4 1/2 months he actually weighed a few ounces less than he did at 6 weeks. But, with some help from the lactation consultant, we got his weight up and nursing became a joy after that.

Ashton has always been very sharp and had excellent communication skills. We started introducing baby sign language to him around 6 months. In the beginning, it seemed like he would never get it. But, a few weeks shy of his first birthday, he suddenly started producing the signs all by himself. Words followed soon after.

As a toddler, Ashton was very fond of cars, trains, planes, musical instruments (of which he can name several) and he absolutely loved Toy Story. From January to March of 2010, Ashton was Woody, Loren was Buzz and Kelly was Jessie. And he never lost character. When we were out and people asked him his name, he said, "I'm Woody." He would even pray, "bless Buzz and Jessie." One day, while reading a Sesame Street book, he pointed to a picture of Grover and his mom and said, "That's Grover. That's Grover's Jessie."

Ashton loves to play "big brother." He often pretends that his stuffed animals are siblings. We usually get one of the carts with the attached cars while we do our grocery shopping. On a recent shopping adventure he said to me, "Mommy, I wish I had a baby sister to sit in the back of my car."

Ashton is a healthy and energetic 4 year old. He's recently discovered the wonders of super heroes and Star Wars. He loves to dress in costumes and has an amazing imagination. He attends preschool twice a week and he is thriving. He's getting so smart, learning to write, spell and he's even doing 1st grade level math.

Ashton loves his daddy! They love spending time together. Ashton intends to be just like his daddy when he grows up. Together they fix things around the house, take things apart to learn how they work, build forts and rockets and have all sorts of adventures. They also love to play with Legos and do science experiments. Ashton especially loves when it's "Boys Night" (when Mom goes to Relief Society activities or to the temple).

Ashton is also a great helper. When I ask him to help me with something, he often sighs, "oh goodness," but when it's done he'll run back and eagerly say, "What else can I do for you, Mom?" He is Mommy's shopping buddy and loves to go to the mall (most likely because we play in the children's play area and almost always get a sucker from See's Candies). He's also very affectionate and he always wants hugs and kisses, especially when he's sad.

Where are we now

We are currently living in San Diego, California. Loren recently started a new job working as a Process Engineer for a medical device company. He's been there for several months now and he loves it. He keeps very busy with work and playing with Ashton. In his free time, he likes to "restore and maintain order" around the house.

Kelly is a stay at home mom and spends most of her time taking care of a very busy four year old. She keeps busy with play groups, story time, and frequent trips to the library, park and zoo. She works once a month in the San Diego Temple as a receptionist. She manages to find time for crafts including knitting, sewing, crocheting, card-making and has recently taken up scrap booking.

Ashton is a busy boy. Of late, he's obsessed with Star Wars, Legos, and has quite the car collection. He enjoys looking at his dad's anatomy book and is learning about all the different systems of the body. He recently said, "Mom, there's pipes in our arms. They're called veins." He seems destined to be an engineer. He loves taking things apart to see what's inside and how it works.

Back to the Future

Family Goals, plans for the future

From the Mouth of Kelly

Loren is an amazing man and unlike anyone I've ever met. As soon as I got to know him, I was immediately impressed by how fun he was. I had a blast every time I was with him. I love the way he makes me laugh.

Loren is very family oriented. He's very close to his family and will drop just about everything to spend time with them. He's always been that way. Despite the age gap, Loren is great friends with his brother and sister. Each member of his family genuinely each other. Whenever they're together, they stay up late into the night talking and laughing.

Loren loves kids. He is an amazing father and the favorite uncle. He loves spending time with Ashton. He's a great teacher. Loren is always willing to let Ashton help out, even if it's actually not helpful at all. They often fix and build things together. They go on bike rides, play at the park, swim, play cars, do science experiments, go to the father-son camp out, and build forts and rockets.

Loren is also extremely intelligent. He graduated at the top, literally the top, of his class in bioengineering and was awarding the Academic Achievement Award. Many people who know him might be surprised to read that, because he's very modest and not one of those people who tries to impress people with his intelligence. Loren likes to learn about new things and often prefers to have conversations about things about which he knows very little so he can learn more about it.

Loren is also very selfless. He seldom does anything for himself. He likes to make other people happy. He's also very easy going. He loves to serve others. He frequently volunteers to help clean the church and always takes Ashton along. He always helps people move. He's never turned down a calling at church.

Loren is very neat and organized. Whenever he has a free moment he cleans up the house or sorts through this or that. He loves post-it notes. I think his dream date would be for us to sit down together and sort through our "to do" files.

Loren served a mission in Spain. He has always been a worthy priesthood holder and is willing and able to give priesthood blessings at a moments notice. He always does his home teaching. He has a strong testimony. He's a great example to our son.

I often tease him because he likes sassy chick music. He also loves Beaver football, and mountain biking. He loves tacos and fish. He hates dancing, though he will dance with me from time to time.

I couldn't imagine my life without Loren. I'm so grateful to have him and love him dearly.

From the Mouth of Loren

Kelly is an amazing wife and mother. She loves her job as a full-time mom and enjoys spending her time with our son, Ashton. She likes getting him out of the house and taking him to story time, play groups, shopping, and the zoo. She is consistently teaching him, getting him involved in activities and setting up opportunities for him to interact with other kids, which has helped him become a very smart, social and well rounded boy.

Kelly has the fastest hands of anyone I know. It is one of the first things I noticed about her. We actually first met while playing a fast paced card game called Nertz. The story goes that I had never played before and since the game was played in pairs, I had requested that I be paired up with the best player in order to level the playing field. No surprise, the best player was Kelly. The part of the story that has never been revealed before is that I had my eye on her all night and I already knew that Kelly was the best in the group and figured what better way to get a first date. The game of course went well, we won.

Kelly’s fast hands are good for much more than just winning games. Kelly is able to accomplish many things in half the time that I am able. It is just one of her superhuman powers. For example, Kelly can iron all my work shirts in less than an hour while it often takes me the whole evening. It is extremely rare for her to complain about all the hard work those fast hands do to keep us fed and keep our house in order.

However, Kelly does not like loading the dishwasher. I am not sure why that is but I don’t mind it at all so recently we made a deal where I do the dishes while she makes me a lunch. The lunches Kelly prepares for me makes all the guys at work jealous. Sorry guys, what can I say? I am just the luckiest guy in the world. Kelly is a tremendous cook. She is able to make food that the whole family enjoys. She also makes wonderful deserts. Pies are her specialty.

One thing that I have grown to admire in Kelly over the years is her determination and ability to stay focused to achieve a goal. Kelly is proactive and is good at getting things done quickly when she puts her mind to it. I am quite the opposite and like to compare all the options and understand all the details. The two of us together create the perfect balance.

Kelly is good at planning social gatherings and dates. She knows how to make any occasion a special one. It is one of her many talents that I wish I had. She is also very thrifty and good at keeping our family expenses within our budget. She is amazing at finding sales and creative solutions to meet our family’s needs. Her money smarts is a large contributor to our happy marriage.

Kelly has a lot of faith in the priesthood. She is quick to ask for priesthood blessings or help when it is appropriate. Her faith in priesthood blessings is a special trait that I am sure will be instilled in our children.

Kelly is kind and loving towards our extended family. She frequently updates our family blog for the benefit of our distant friends and family. Every time I look at the blog and reflect on all the fun times we have shared I can’t help but smile. She is also a very consistent journal writer. Before we were married, I don’t think she has missed a day since her 12^th birthday. Unfortunately, my good looks have sometimes been a distraction which has resulted in a few missed days here and there. She has 30 journals and counting.

Kelly is the most beautiful woman in the world. She brings me so much happiness and joy. I don’t know what I did to deserve her but whatever it was, I would do it again and again. She really does complete me in every way. I love her more than words can tell.

Childhood

I was born in Corvallis, Oregon in 1981. My parents tried and tried to have a child for several years with no success. The doctors told them that they were not able to have kids. One evening, my dad said a sincere prayer and offered the Lord all he had in exchange for a child. Well, he got exactly what he asked for. I was born a short while later and then my dad lost his job and my parents lost their home.

I was the first an only child for the first eight years of my life. My only-child years came to an end when my brother, Roland, was born. He was yet another miracle, though this time my dad did not offer all he had in return. Then three years later my sister, Ariel, also joined our family. The three of us kids shared many good times growing up together despite our age difference. I remember after my brother and sister were born it was challenging at first having to share my parents attention. They made a real effort to make sure that the transition was as smooth as possible. I distinctly remember my mom taking me on weekly mother-son dates to Dairy Queen to get an ice cream and plug money into the juke box. We would sit together and talk about whatever was on my mind. The one-on-one time is exactly what I needed to help me adjust as our family dynamics were changing.

My parents were very active in our lives as kids. They always attended our activities and tried to get us involved in anything that we took interest in. I remember my mom volunteering in my school and my dad coming for lunch while I was in elementary school to eat with me and my friends and then push us all on the swings during recess. Growing up, my parents were always great examples of selfless service. My dad and mom would take me with them to assist the neighbors in their backyard, help someone move, or deliver meals to the elderly. They tried to make service a family affair and that is something that I hope to pass on to my children.

I grew up and spent my entire childhood in Oregon. My favorite family vacations included a trip to Edmonton, Canada to visit what at the time was the world’s largest mall. It had an indoor water park, amusement park, submarine rides, dolphin shows…needless to say it was my dream come true. I also have fond memories of a road trip we took as a family in our cream colored minivan to beautiful Yellowstone National Park.

In eighth grade, I was able to participate in a student exchange and spent a couple of weeks in Japan. The family I stayed with while I was there did not speak very much English and I did not speak very much Japanese. During that time, I learned communication is so much more than just words. It was a fun learning experience for me and helped me to respect and appreciate cultures different from my own.

I graduated high school in 1999. As a graduation present my grandmother sent my mom and I to Hawaii. I had a blast and ended up going back and chaperoning my brother several years later. Before starting college, I also went skydiving. My dad suggested that if you are going to do it you should do it before you have kids and a family in case your shoot does not open. This sounded like good advice, even to a teenager, and I am glad I did.

After graduating, my dad and I went on a father-son trip to tour several ghost towns in our old Toyota 4-Runner. I remember having such a fun time when he let me drive off road. Sometimes there was not much to see at theses abandoned ghost towns but that wasn’t what was really important to me. What was important was the quality one-on-one time with my dad.

The next fall I attended college at Oregon State University. I lived in the dorms and happened to live across the hall from another member of the church, Suzi, who was largely responsible for my wife and I meeting several years later. I decided to major in Bioengineering. When I started college I had planned to go to medical school and become a doctor. I didn’t want to major in biology because that is what everyone did and engineering sounded interesting and provided a secure future. When I discovered bioengineering it sounded like the perfect combination. After shadowing a few physicians during my junior and senior year, I realized that the lifestyle of a medical professional was not for me. The stress of the job, long hours, and being on-call on the weekends was just not what I wanted for me and my family. Sure the money was attractive, but I realized that there was so much more that I wanted. I wanted to start a family, be home for dinner, and be involved in the lives of my wife and kids.

I left for my mission after my freshman year. I served in Madrid, Spain. I loved the country and the people. My mission taught me how to be more independent, outgoing, provided me with ample opportunities to increase my faith and self-confidence. After my mission, I returned to OSU to finish my degree and began dating Kelly the summer before my senior year.

I had a wonderful childhood and was blessed with two loving parents who would do anything for their kids. I am also grateful that I have two loving siblings that that gave me a new perspective, taught me patience, and made my childhood years so enjoyable.

Childhood

I was born in the San Francisco Bay area in 1982. My dad, Mike, was finishing up his last year at Stanford University. I was the third daughter (my little brother, Adam, was born four years later). My oldest sister, Sarah, is four years older than I am, and Amy two.

Shortly after my 5th birthday, my family moved to Boise, Idaho. My parents bought a house in a great neighborhood with lots of kids. My childhood was spent playing with friends, riding bikes, climbing trees and building forts.

My parents divorced when I was ten years old. My mom, Sussie, moved to Colorado and my brother, sisters and I stayed with our dad in Boise. The following years were very difficult for me. It wasn't easy going through puberty without my mom around. Imagine my horror when I had to tell my dad that I'd started my period.

My dad remarried a couple months before my 12th birthday. My step mom, Bonnie, had two daughters from a previous marriage. Mandy is a year older than me, and Melissa and I are just 30 days apart. I am very fortunate because I have always had a great relationship with Bonnie and I love my step sisters as much as my biological siblings.

Growing up in house with five girls, all within four years of age, was a bit crazy, except for that one week out of the month when it was purely insane. But we had a lot of fun and I wouldn't change a thing about it.

I have a big extended family. We used to get together fairly often and our typical reunions were spent at various campgrounds. We also frequently got together for Thanksgiving, which has always been one of my favorite times of the year. There's nothing like my family's Thanksgiving: roughly 50 people and 70 pies. My grandmother passed away of few years ago, and perhaps her greatest legacy is her pies.

In the fall 1996 we moved to Albany, OR, just in time to start my freshman year of high school. I don't think any of us were very thrilled at the idea of moving to a new state during adolescence. It took us a long time to make friends. This is especially true for me. For the first year of high school, my sisters were my only friends. We ate lunch together, hung out together, and even had slumber parties together (odd, since three of us already shared a room). We were a little wild sometimes. Many people thought we were crazy when we hung our bras from our bedroom ceiling fan.

In 1998, my mom married my step dad, Terry. They've been living in Anchorage, Alaska ever since. Terry has a daughter from a previous marriage named April, who is married with four kids and living in Idaho. Unfortunately we don't see a lot of each other. She's very funny and I'm always glad to see her when we do get together.

I got my first job a few weeks after my 16th birthday. I was a cook at Angie's, a 1950s inspired diner. I worked there for a few months, and then became a hostess at Wyatt's Eatery and Brewhouse. I worked there through my junior year of high school and the following summer, when I left to study abroad for my senior year. I was selected by the Rotary Club to go to Keuruu, Finland through their student exchange program. I lived with two great families while I was there. It was an amazing experience and I learned and grew a lot over the ten months I was there.

I came home from Finland in June of 2000, just in time for graduation. I came home full of new ideas and experience and absolutely no idea what to do with myself. I held a couple odd jobs, including selling Cutco knives, and I basically spent the next six months getting myself together. I remember one November afternoon, I was looking through a pile of mail that my parents collected for me while I was in Finland. In that pile, I found a letter from Oregon State University. I opened it up and it said, "Congratulations, you've been accepted to OSU as an English major." I didn't even know I applied to Oregon State (I found out later that while I was away, my parents applied to the school on my behalf). I didn't have a better plan for myself, so I decided to start school at Oregon State as an English major.

As it turned out, incoming freshmen could not register without a PIN, and that PIN could only be obtained from an academic adviser. I scheduled an appointment shortly before the fall term ended, and the adviser didn't show. A few days before winter term started I was totally freaking out because I still was not registered, so I decided to change my major, meet with another adviser, and get registered for classes. My first thought was to start with the A's and work my way down, alphabetically, until I found an academic adviser who would give me a PIN. Luckily, I realized there was a more obvious way of choosing an major, and that was to actually consider studying something that interested me: politics.

I was very social in college. My motto was "moderation in all things" which meant that I played as much as I studied (though I still maintained good grades). I was very involved in the student ward and participated in all the activities (indeed, I planned many of them). I've always loved to dance and took a few classes while in college (my favorite dance is Salsa). I had a lot of fun during those years.

In June of 2005, I graduated from Oregon State with a BA in Political Science and a Certificate in Women Studies.

Mike and Bonnie

Mike was born in 1955 in Yuma, Arizona while his father was still in college. They moved around some, but he basically grew up in Sebastopol, California. They lived on a small farm raising all kinds of animals, vegetables and fruits. Mike’s father was a high school teacher, and his mother mostly took care of the children and the home, but she also worked seasonally in the apple canneries in the area. They raised 7 children.

Mike served an LDS mission in Chile from 1974 to 1976, and married Susan Beach shortly after returning. He attended Stanford University, and received a BS in Mechanical Engineering. They had 2 children when he started Stanford, one more was added while at Stanford, and the fourth came just after leaving college. Mike has worked in engineering for all of these years since. In 1987 the family moved to Boise, Idaho. Mike and Susan divorced in 1992.

Bonnie was born in Inglewood California, but grew up in Huntington Beach, California. She spent a lot of time at the beach, but never got a tan. She married Charles Funch and had 2 children, but was soon divorced too. She went to Long Beach State University and got her degree in accounting.

Mike and Bonnie met at a conference for single adults at Brigham Young University while they were both single parents, raising their children alone (with help from parents). It was some kind of miracle that she from California and he from Idaho, could meet in Utah.

Together they raised all six children, which are all grown up now. The children got along very well, for the most part. They are all close to each other now. They all have children of their own.

Mike and Bonnie are very happy being grandma and grandpa to all of those little ones.

Sussie and Terry

"Nana and Tutu"

Terry was born in Honolulu, HI and moved to the Mainland in 1960. He began studying Judo at the age of six years old. Martial Arts are his number one hobby. He was inducted to the Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2005 with the World Martial Arts Organization. He holds a 8th Degree Black Belt in Judo and 5th degree with American Jujitsu Institute. The World Organization of Martial Arts gave him his 10th degree in jujitsu and his Grand Master Status in August of 2010. Terry has a daughter from his first marriage, April Jaynes.

I was born in Greenbrae, CA. She is the middle child in a family of 5. I have an older sister, Sharon and a younger brother Mike. My mother is still alive and lives in California. My father passed away in 1987 at the age of 55. I married Mike King in January 1977. Together they had four wonderful children; Sarah, Amy, Kelly and Adam. Mike was a very hard worker and allowed me to be a stay at home mother for the first 9 years of our marriage. I was able to do nursery school with each of the girls and was a parent volunteer in their classes at school. In 1987 we moved to Boise, Idaho. It was at that time I went to work as a Chiropractic Assistant. From there I went to massage school and learned my love for helping others. I have been practicing massage for over 20 years.

Terry and I have been best friends since 1969. We met when I was out riding my horse at the neighborhood school. I fell off my horse and he came to my rescue! We went to high school together and saw each other every day. We lost touch when I attended Brigham Young University.

Terry and I were married on Sept. 6, 1998. We were married in Kelseyville, California.

Together Terry and I enjoy golfing, camping, fishing and walking together at the end of a busy day. We have been best friends since we were kids, and that has given us a strong foundation for our marriage.

Sarah

John and I met at Ricks College (now BYU-I). I was the choir director for our ward and one day John was the only tenor to show up for practice. When I realized I could still hear his voice amongst all of the other sections, he got my attention. Over the next few months we became friends but he would never ask me out on a date! Finally one of my FHE brothers (family home evening) said he would set me up on a date with John if I would set him up with one of my high school friends. We spend our first date doing a scavenger hunt at the mall, playing miniature golf, playing Pictionary in chocolate pudding and dancing at a school dance. It was great! We instantly realized we had more there than friendship and we were soon spending every spare minute we had together. I even scheduled my class exams during the times he worked at the testing center.

A few months after we were married we started to feel like we should try to start expanding our family. Things didn’t go quite like we had hoped. We went through all sorts of unpleasant testing to try and find out why we weren’t getting pregnant. We finally had tried all possible methods available at the time and the next thing we could do was either try to do In-Vitro Fertilization or adoption. We decided on adoption. We went to all of the group classes that were offered through LDS Family Services. We met with several wonderful birthmothers who were kind enough to share with us their experiences so we would know what to expect. As we were getting our paperwork all filled out, I found out that I was pregnant.

So, after five years (that felt like fifty) of disappointment, Ali joined us. I think sometimes you appreciate things more when you really have to work for them. Ali is no exception. She has been a joy since day one. She is now almost 8 and really smart. She learned to read at age 3 and hasn’t stopped. Sometimes we have to beg her to put the book down so she can eat. The last three Halloweens she’s dressed up as characters from a book. She is a funny girl too. She loves telling and hearing jokes. Each day we write a different joke or riddle on her napkin for her school lunch. Ali is extremely caring. She is always making sure that everyone feels included and is having a good time. Sometimes this is hard for her because she is also very shy but she makes herself do it because she is more concerned about others than herself. Ali loves all sorts of sports: gymnastics, golf, tennis, swimming and she just started soccer.

About a year after Ali was born I started thinking we should try to get pregnant again. After all, I wanted my kids to be close in age and if it was going to take 5 years to get pregnant every time, we’d better get a move on. Again, we were disappointed. Again we tried all sorts of scientific ways to get pregnant. This time, we decided to try In-Vitro because our insurance would pay for it. We had the first meeting with the doctor and were just waiting to start the medications when I found out I was pregnant.

When I was around 20 weeks pregnant, we found out that the little boy we were expecting had some serious birth defects, some of which were life threatening. We had a lot of tough decisions to make and, against the recommendation of all the doctors, we decided to take measures to help our little Angel survive. Andy was born right on schedule and four days later went in for his first of three open heart surgeries. He has had two so far and will have the last one around four years old. Andy is doing so well! He is proving all of the doctors wrong and surprises us with all that he can do every day. Andy loves to laugh, give kisses, give hugs, get tickled, and hear funny sounds (like the crows outside).

As for me, I also love reading, making cards, doing service, watching movies, playing games and being a Mom. I am currently going to school to get my nursing degree.
John likes BYU football, reading, movies, music, fishing, playing games, and camping. If you say a quote from a movie, there’s a 99% chance he can name that movie. John currently works for an internet search engine company as a Training Designer.

Amy

Stephen and I met during my second year of college. I had just returned from teaching English in Russia and had no interest in finding a husband. He thought I was bossy. I thought he was nerdy and old. But after a few weeks of dislike/indifference we realized how much fun we had together. We dated for a little over a year and then got married in the Portland Oregon Temple. We are very blessed to have three healthy boys. We have experienced a high number of miscarriages and know that each child is a blessing.

A year and 9 months after we were married, we had our first baby boy. Grant is now in 3rd grade and he is the smartest kid I know. We were driving by a McDonalds and they had a sign that said, "Monopoly is Back." He read it and said, "I guess they are having a Monopoly Renaissance." He is a great big brother and helps his parents all the time. He is wiser and more responsible than I ever imagined a boy could be. Three years later his brother Theron was born.

Theron is our loving boy. He loves everyone in his family, but mom the most. He started kindergarten this year and likes to chase the girls with his best friend. Two years and 2 days after Theron came Lincon.

Lincon is the boss in our house! He isn't particularly bossy, but he is so cute and happy that you just find yourself doing what he wants.

Stephen works at the post office and is back in school studying for a degree in Ultrasonography. I am a trainer and personal mentor. I teach classes for Women and Teens to help them increase their self worth and connection to their Father in Heaven.

As a family, we love to play tennis, have movie parties with pop corn, go on picnics, and play at the park. With a house full of boys, someone is always wearing a super hero costume. We laugh a lot and find joy in being together.

Mandy

Rob and Mandy met at the tender age of nine, and Mandy fell headlong and irrevocably in love before she could have possibly known any better. A dozen years later Rob caught up with Mandy emotionally and the two were married in a park in May.

Years went by and their plans for spending a year living in Spain never materialized, so Rob convinced Mandy to go back to school. One short year of community college later and Mandy gained acceptance to UC Berkeley, and the two packed up and moved north. Living in Berkeley was both incredible and maddening, and when Mandy graduated with a BA Summa Cum Laude in Comparative Literature, Rob decided that he wanted to move back to southern California and attend CSU Long Beach. Mandy helped with the move down, then flew off to Germany with a dear friend to study German for two months. Living in downtown Long Beach while Rob attended school had it's ups and downs for the mostly happy couple, and in the end, Rob earned his BA in Journalism.

The day after Rob's graduation, the two of them took off on a largely unscripted road trip across the United States (from CA to NY and back again). It was an amazing journey for the couple on many levels, and when they returned, they settled down with the intention, eight years into their marriage, of expanding their family by one. Imagine their shock and surprise when, huddled about the tiny portable sonagram machine in a doctor's office, the nurse/midwife told us there were two tiny fetuses nestled in Mandy's belly.

The twins arrived in April of 2010, 6 weeks early. They spent some time in the NICU gathering up their strength and basking in the care of all those wonderful nurses. Oneta Simone and Robert Graham eventually came home, and Mandy and Rob have never been so sleep deprived or so happy. For now, unable to bear the thought of separation after so long a hospital tenure, Mandy is staying home to care for the twins while Rob works as a manager of a Starbucks in Huntington Beach. Mandy has recently applied to a handful of graduate schools in the hope that at least one will accept, and she can continue working on making her aspirations a reality. In addition to his work, Rob coaches freshman high school soccer and broadcasts as a sports reporter on public television for a local community college where he has been asked to teach next fall if budgets improve. Rob, Mandy and the twins are looking forward to all the exciting things ahead.

Melissa

I’m Kelly's younger sister by only 30 days. Yes, it seems weird. We are step sisters, but as kids we used to tell people that our mom was in labor for 30 days. People actually believed us too. I grew up in a single parent LDS family. We lived with my grandparents and though it was hard not seeing my mom very often (she worked full-time to support us and went to night school in order to earn her degree), I am grateful for the close relationship I have with my extended family that developed during those early years. In 1993, my mom met Kelly’s dad, and in 1994 we became a family.

I went straight off to college after high school graduation. I started at Ricks College the summer of 2000. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot about myself. I started as an accounting major and loved all of my business classes. Then the school changed to BYU-Idaho. In the fall of 2002 I decided to change my major to Elementary Education. I fit into the Elementary Education program perfectly and loved it. That was also the semester that I met my husband.

Eric and I met at BYU-Idaho. We were in the same student ward there. I was friends with one of his roommates. Eric was really quiet and hard to notice at first, but it didn't take long until we got to know each other. We became good friends shortly after. We knew that we wanted to get married because we fit so well together. We both wanted the same things out of life and we had a lot of fun together. We dated for 6 months before his mission. He left to Charlotte, North Carolina, and 6 months later, I left for my mission in Toronto, Canada. After our missions, we fell in love again and got married in April 2006. I graduated from college in December of that year.

Shortly after graduation we had our first child, Porter. He is a rambunctious boy that is definitely all boy. A rough and tumble, super heroes, cowboys and Indians boy. He keeps us on our toes but we love him dearly. He prides himself on all the funny things that he can do. He definitely has his father's sense of humor. Even with all of the boyness, he sure does have a sweet side. He loves to snuggle with me, and will randomly come tell me words of endearment. When Porter was 18 months old, Eric graduated from college with a business degree. We picked up and moved across the country, away from our families, so that Eric could attend dental school in Buffalo, New York.

In 2008 we added a second child to our family, little Adelaide. She is absolutely beautiful, and I am not biased. She is just as stubborn as her mom and loves girl things (i.e. necklaces, babies, princesses). She is a daddy's girl, but adores her big brother and will do anything he asks, except share her food. She learns really fast and she is almost potty trained at 23 months. She can't wait for her dada to come home from school and she loves to snuggle with him on the couch while he studies. She is wonderful and we love her tons.

We are still in Buffalo where Eric has a year and a half left before he is officially a dentist. From there we will decide where we are going. We hope to end up closer to family because we love and miss them so much.

Adam

Adam was born in June of 1986. He was the only boy in a household full of girls. Adam was baptized at the age of 8 and graduated from high school just a few days before his 18th birthday. That fall he married his high school sweetheart, Beth. In September of 2006 Georgia Marie was born.

Adam and Beth divorced a couple years ago. He is currently living in Utah and working at Costco. He starting riding dirt bikes as a boy, and he's still very into motocross. He also practices martial arts and enjoys playing video games.

Keith and Susan

Keith and Susan met at Oregon State University and we were married in the Manti Temple 32 years ago. They are the mother and father of three children, of which Loren is the oldest.

Keith was born in Corvallis, Oregon and soon moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he spent his youth until returning to Corvallis to attend college. He attended Oregon State University where he graduated with a degree in Forestry.

Keith’s hobbies include remodeling the house, scouting, and service. He loves to lead white water canoe trips and volunteers at scout camp each year.

Susan enjoys reading and belongs to a local book group. She has been sewing since she was 7 years old and also loves knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, doing Family History, watercolor and other arts. She enjoys working with children, having been a public school teacher for four and a half years. She continues to find ways to teach children in afterschool enrichment programs, mostly involving science, art and literature. She is actively involved in leading student groups in caring for and cultivating a school garden. She also leads science field trips to study geology, salmon, and the coastal environments of Oregon. She has worked in Cub Scouts for over ten accumulative years.

Keith and Susan love to be involved in their grandchildren’s lives and look forward to having more grandchildren to shower with their love and attention.

Roland

Through my early childhood I participated in many different activities and sports. Once I entered middle school I shifted my focus to doing well in school. While academics became my priority, I still snowboarded the majority of the winter. In high school I discovered a passion for weight lifting. My junior year I participated in my first bodybuilding competition and took 2nd place. I continued to body build for the next 5 years until I won the overall trophy at the Oregon Iron Man in 2009. I graduated from high school in the top of my class with and went to Oregon State the next fall. I graduated from Oregon State in 2010 summa cum laude with a degree in exercise sports science. My plans are to attend Pacific University in effort to receive my doctorate in physical therapy. I just recently proposed to the love of my life and plan on getting married in the summer of 2011.

Ariel

I was born in Portland, Oregon and I have lived in the same house my whole life. Since I was very young I had a passion for animals. I started horse back ridding when I was eight, then went on to jumping at sixteen. I am currently pursuing a zoology degree with an option in pre-veterinary medicine at Oregon State University.

Besides horse back riding some of my hobbies are, getting together with friends, going to school sporting events, shopping, and volunteering at the local wildlife rehabilitation center. My family is also very important to me and I really enjoy traveling to visit them.

After graduating from OSU I would like to get involved with animal conservation efforts. I hope to work at a zoo or wildlife park with endangered species. It is important to me that my family is close so I would like to stick around Oregon in the future.