Family Friday: Featuring My Daughter (by marriage) Melissa

As a mom to three sons I knew that the day would come when additional "daughters" would join our family, I feel very grateful for the choices that my sons made in their wives. Melissa was the second daughter-in-law to join our family when she and Jeff were married in the Bountiful Temple on October 20, 2004. Knowing Melissa, and having her in my family has truly blessed my life.

I was the first one in our family to meet Melissa. While I was serving as Relief Society president Melissa's sister Kathryn moved into our ward. One evening my presidency went to visit Kathryn and welcome her into the neighborhood, Melissa was there also, she sat quietly off to the side and was playing with Kathryn's new baby. During the visit I turned my attention to Melissa and started to talk with her, at some point I asked her if she was dating anyone; I told her that I had a good looking son (can you believe I did that?). It was several weeks later that Kathryn and I exchanged Jeff's and Melissa's phone numbers in the hallway at church and as they say... the rest is history.

Melissa has a great sense of humor and there have been times when she has made me laugh really hard. Case in point: while Jeff and Melissa dated they spent a lot of time at our house, oftentimes in the family room downstairs. Once in awhile, probably more often than not, if I was coming down the stairs I would knock on the wall (teasingly) letting them know that I was approaching. One day Mike and I were standing in the family room embracing when Melissa entered the room, without skipping a beat she turned around and went back to the hallway where she knocked on the wall as she entered the room again. We laughed so hard.

Melissa is very motivated and hard working. She graduated from WSU with a Bachelors degree in Dental Hygiene in May of 2007. Hygiene school is a difficult program to be accepted into and Melissa did it. Before and during her schooling she worked for a Dentist, following graduation she worked as a Hygienist until Avery was born.

Melissa is very creative and enjoys crafting. She and her sister share a craft blog called Nannygoat and they have almost 800 followers. You can always find a variety of creative ideas when you visit Nannygoat; sewing, paper crafts, mod-podge, painting, room decorating ideas, holiday decorating and crafts, household tips, food... recently an idea from the blog was featured on Good Things Utah. Melissa designed and painted Avery's nursery; she made the curtains, the bedding, re-finished the crib, and made pictures for the walls. You can see it all on Nannygoat.

A few months ago Jeff invited Mike, Caitlin, and I over for dinner and to watch a sporting event on TV. I am not very interested in watching sports on TV and so I spent the entire evening sitting at Melissa's kitchen counter visiting with her. I enjoyed our conversation so much and left that night feeling uplifted. Amazingly, Melissa was flying to Kentucky the next day, if I had been leaving on a trip like that the next day, I would have been running around like crazy preparing to leave. But not Melissa, she fixed us a nice dinner and spent the entire evening talking to her mother-in-law.

Things to know about Melissa: She is a wonderful wife and mother. She has naturally curly hair. She was living in Germany when the Berlin Wall came down. She keeps her home spotlessly clean. She decorates beautifully. We always feel welcome and comfortable in her home. She's funny. She's organized. She enjoys to play board games and card games. She can swing dance. She taught me how to crochet the edges on baby blankets. She is patient. She thinks of others. She teaches "Sunbeams". She magnifies her callings. She is a good cook. She is very wise with her resources. She made her own baby food for Avery. She teaches Avery baby sign language. She loves purses. She is good at photography. She always looks good. She loves being a mommy. She serves others. She's always willing to share her talents and abilities with the rest of us. She loves the Lord. She's kind. We are all grateful and blessed that Melissa is in our family and we love her.

Melissa's family: Jeffrey, Melissa, and Miss Avery