Happily Ever After Begins. . . Showered with gifts and love.

 These several pictures are from my family wedding shower on 3/20/10.

Family Wedding Shower

I am in the middle and my sister-in-law, is to my left in the blue. You can also see my step-daughter on my right. My family asked what we needed and I stated we were in desperate need of a bed (we both were sleeping on twin beds!) My family gave us money toward a new KING size bed. Oh happy day!


These are only some of my cute nieces, yes I have more.

Clockwise starting with Emma (Rick's daughter) on my lap, Me, Kylie (Brian's daughter), Sadie (Brian's daughter), Brooke (Kathie's son Stephen's daughter), Megan (Kathie's daughter), Lyndsy (Kathie's son Stephen's wife), Amy (Kathie's daughter), Lizzy (Jon's daughter), Bailey (Jon's daughter), Laurie (Kim's daughter), Nikki (Kim's daughter).


Two of my best friends

Rebecca Cengiz-Robs on my right and Susie Hart Templeton on my left. Have you ever heard the song Wind Beneath My Wings? That would be them but with a little sarcasm and attitude mixed in. I love these girls.

Me and my step-daughter Melanie

This is Joey's oldest daughter. Isn't she beautiful? His youngest daughter, Mariah (also beautiful), was unable to make it. There will be pictures of her later.

Some of the women in my family

Clockwise starting with Me, Kathie (sister), Anne (Kim's wife), Kelli (Scott's wife), Robin (sister), Liz (Rick's wife), Momma, Stephanie (Brian's wife), Melanie (step-daughter). Missing: Robert's wife Jill, Jon's wife Dennise, and my younger, step-daughter Mariah.

Me and my momma!

I love my mom so much. She not only gave me life but has filled it with fun, love, and adventure.




Ben and Me

The male entertainment! There was a lot of drooling. This is my niece Megan's son.




The next several pictures are from the shower in my home town of Delta on 3/27/10. This shower was organized by my mom and sisters and was attended by many friends and neighbors.

High School Friends

From left to right: Eve Tanner Peterson, Kelly Beard Monroe, Michelle Bringard Harris and Robin (sister) It was so much fun to see my old friends. They are all married with at least 3 children each! Time flies!

ME!

I had fun wearing the "Bachelorette" tiara that my sister Kathie brought. Looking back now I am so happy that I relaxed and enjoyed all of the pomp and circumstance of my wedding.



Freinds, Family, and neighbors.

From left to right: Jaime Cox Bassett (at least half of her face), Robin Pedersen, Dennise (Jon's wife), Bailey (Jon's daughter), Jane Beckwith (High School English teacher)***, Nancy Morrill, Michelle Morrill (not sure of her last name now). Present but not pictured: JaneAnne Losee, Jessica Cox, Roland and Caroline Comeau.




These next pictures are from a wedding shower that my work organized (date unknown - before 4/6/10). I work with an amazing group of people who are extremely supportive and giving. We had a lot of fun!



Part of the Northern Utah Pediatric Group

 From right to left: Catherine Stokes, Susan, Dayna, Kelsey, Donna, Marisella, Me, Shauna, Liz Catherine Strasser, Alexandra Barrera, Chris, Leanne. Not only do they throw a great party but they make a fun work place as well.



Mmmmmm Lemonaid

Everyone should be showered with gifts and love. I loved every minute!





***Miss Beckwith was an incredibly tough teacher. She expected more of her students and demanded that we work hard to meet our potential. She recently retired and several of her past students wrote a tribute her. Mine is below. She had a profound influence on my life and I am thankful for hers.

Join me in a Jane Beckwith class . . .


Arriving for 3rd period

Sitting in the 2nd row, 3rd seat

Reading a tale told by an idiot

Researching “Where the grapes of wrath are stored . . .”

Soaring in “Outdoor School”

Living with Shakespeare

Preferring not to with Bartleby

Floating down the Mississippi with Huck and Jim

Writing a rough draft

Using spell check

Rewriting

Rewriting

Rewriting

Hearing a whispered, “wow”



My first English Professor at USU asked an extra credit question, “Name this Poem,

‘I grow old. . . I grow old. . .

I shall wear the bottom of my trousers rolled.



Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare eat a peach?

I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.

I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each



I do not think they will sing to me.’”



“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” I answered with incredible confidence for a College Freshmen. The Professor looked impressed and I silently thanked Miss Beckwith for my increase in grade and status.

There was a transformation in the classroom when Miss Beckwith read aloud. One time it was a literal transformation from our classroom to the mighty Mississippi River. It included a large wooden raft, a hand drawn village landscape, and soothing water sounds. There we would sit on the raft with Huck and Jim reading and discussing the Twain classic, completely submerged in it's subtext. The transition didn’t have to be literal. Many times we found ourselves transported into the bright colors or dark plots of many texts held by our teacher. My favorite was Shakespeare. She could unravel Shakespeare making each character and their desires sharpen into an exciting focus.

She did many things to inspire us. One of her more brilliant ideas, in my opinion, was “Outdoor School”. It was held during the first part of the summer and we traveled to several different locations to write and discuss ideas. One moment I will never forget occurred on the Sand Dunes. I was feeling especially inspired that morning and the words flowed from my pen. I volunteered to read mine aloud, when I had finished there was silence and then I heard a whispered, “wow.”

Miss Beckwith, I appreciate you and every experience I had in your class and on the Mississippi River and in Old England and on the Sand Dunes. I took these experiences and graduated from USU in Logan, taught English in China, graduated from Medical School in Arizona, finished a Pediatric Residency in Pennsylvania and am confidently practicing Pediatric Medicine in Ogden, Utah. You were a big part of what helped me gain the confidence I needed to meet my potential. Congratulations on a career well done!

Thank you,

Jana Murdock