Amy here, Hello all. I have been waiting for quite some time, obviously, for something interesting to write about. I have been living the same crazy busy life for 23 years and don't often have things happen to me that I think others would find interesting. But on this Father's Day, I think I do have a few things to tell you... So sit back, and listen to a little more of my story, a story that is dear to my heart. As you all know I have very loving parents. I was adopted as a newborn and brought into a home full of love, inspiration, and a deep dedication to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have a beautiful mother, green-eyed and freckled. Anyone who has the chance to meet her leaves a better person simply because of who she is and inspires them to be. She was married long ago to a man, who I still call Dad. (With the number of dad's I have this may get a little confusing, so try and keep up! As my mom always says, "Aim, they're just another person to love you...") He is a man with a good heart, a kind smile and always willing to tell me stories. Something I have always looked upon with fondness. He has loved me since the moment he met me, and is always willing to be there when I need him. My mom and him for one reason and another, didn't work out. They were divorced when I was about 2 and continued down separate paths. A happy ending to that story is that they both found people who made them as happy as they could be. All things, I have learned, happen for real purposes, sometimes unbeknownst to us.

My mom remarried when I was three. The two of them put 10 children together almost all of us under one roof, trying to make life work and learning what real life is all about. This dad of mine, taught me things that only he and I would understand. He insisted that I learn to work hard, love others and never, ever run from my mistakes. He is one of the strongest, most heroic men I know. I love him more than words can say.

I have been blessed with many father figures, and for this I am eternally grateful to a Heavenly Father that has blessed me so richly with good, solid men. Men that I can look to and rely on for strength and guidance whenever needed. As it is Father's Day I find this blog post very fitting. As an adopted child, you have a heightened curiosity, I would say. There are questions in your life that will cannot be answered unless you hunt for them. Sometimes you will be lucky enough to have the answers stumble upon you, but more often than not that is not the case. And in mine, I was left guessing. My mom knew the Wetstein family who knew of a young lady who was about to give birth to a baby that she could not care for. It wasn't because she didn't love this child (as I have come to know now) but the circumstances would not allow her to keep this baby. She had decided to give her up, hence me. My mother came and picked me up from the hospital, and one could think that my life story would end there, but if it did I probably wouldn't be writing this now would I. The summer before I turned 18 I decided now was the time. I needed to know who my birth mother was. After long conversations with my mom about why I wanted to know who she was, she through various avenues was able to call her. My mom telephoned her and this is how the conversation went... (it is still in my head to this day) Mom "Hi, do you have time for an important phone call" Birth mom (names protected for the privacy of the people I love:)) "Yes..." Mom "I am the woman who adopted the child you gave away almost 18 years ago....." Can you imagine receiving a phone call like that? I lost it, started to cry and prayed for real strength, and I had real hope that she would love me for who I am, and who I hope to be one day. We talked for quite some time about life and experiences we had had. I remember her voice sounding much like mine although I was jealous of her Canadian accent because I had lost my own. We have remained friends over the years, and although we come from very different walks of life, she will always hold a special place in my heart for who she is and what she has given me. Talking with her answered so many questions, filled so many holes. However there were a few more I didn't realize I needed patched up until recently. That curiosity that I mentioned earlier is a strange thing. It can consume you and take over your every thought if you let it. Something an adopted child always wonders is who they look like. Most children can look at their parents and they can pinpoint where their nose comes from, which grandparent their eyes are from... Adopted children cannot. Although I learned so much from my birth mom, not every answer was there... She did me the greatest service and found my birth dad for me, after 23 long years of wondering and not knowing. I have had the greatest blessing come into my life! I have prayed for years to know and understand who he is so that I could in turn understand parts of myself. When I first saw his facebook page, before we had talked and before I really knew who he was... I looked and saw his pictures and realized, wow... those are my eyes, thats my smile, I knew who he was instantly. In order to contain myself, I kept telling myself all the ways that I didn't look like him not to get my hopes up. Later that day while I was at a bridal shower I received a message from him telling me exactly who he was. I will never truly be able to explain in words what that feels like. But knowing, finally knowing, ties up so many loose ends. I feel whole, complete. Almost as good, you could say, as the day you say I do. Adding a period to the end of a long long long run on sentence. A period that isn't a way to end something, rather to close one novel and start on another.

I know that I am watched over by a God much more powerful than we realize. I know that I am cared for, I am loved and I am grateful for the dads that love me, each and every one. Each of you has changed my life and made me the woman I am today. I love all three of you for the different positions and places you hold in my heart. I hope you know that I feel privileged to be your little girl. (Each of you...)

I have one final shoutout to give... And that is to a father to be (LET ME CLARIFY! THIS IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT!!!) my dearest Skyler. He has supported me through every decision I have made. He is my rock, my everything, my sweetest laughter and my favorite person, hands down. One day we will have our own children and there is no one else I would rather celebrate then him. He truly deserves it. Thank you, my sweetheart for everything you are with me, on your own, and everything I know you will be. Love you always...

That moment when you look down at your freshly bitten nails and realize… Yes Amy, you will be ok. It truly is funny how life throws you curves, blessings and trials all in a few short days. You look at yourself some mornings and think why? Why me? Why was I dealt these cards? Why was I forced to be here, or there or anywhere for that matter? That is the exact time when you stop. (STOP IT!) And count your many, many, many, many many (small or large!) blessings. You will realize that you have been given a beautiful life to live, even if the only thing beautiful that day is that sweet smile your hunny gives you when they wake up… Cling to that! Cling to any sort of hope you can. Day after day, when you decide to reflect on the bad, your life slowly but surely, will become a treacherous place. You are who you make of yourself. No one else, no matter the abuse, hatred, or unkindness they give you, need to realize that you are worth more than that. You. Are. Worth. Everything. We need to understand that we did indeed accept this mission before we came to this earth, so suck it up. You made the choice so find some joy, dangit! I know that I have been blessed with SO much. I have a husband who loves me dearly, a wonderful HUGE family, a mostly healthy body, a strong mind and the capacity to grow. No matter the rut, we were all born to succeed so let’s get out there and conquer the world? Ok? You go first…. I’ll be right behind, I promise. Life for Skyler and I has been a crazy ride. Since 2012 we seemed to have stumbled upon many joys and trials. I am so blessed to have him to enjoy it with me. He is my rock, my best friend and even my shoulder to cry on. We are both working hard on our dreams and watching them grow. I spend most of my days curling hair and chopping crazy layers. Sky gets free pedicures and scalp treatments! Sound like a life of luxury? I think not! He is a man with an active brain producing business idea after business idea. I have so much faith in him and his dreams and passions. I have never seen a man more driven… Ever. He will conquer the world, one step at a time. I am just doing my best to keep up. We are still living in Highland in our little basement apartment and driving our old cars. Are we sad about it? No! This portion of married life, where you are carving the paths you decide to lead- is a beautiful one! I never thought I could grow so much and change so much. I didn’t think anything could change that stubborn blue-eyed girl, but life! And the Spirit has a way of doing that to you. This winter has been a cold one… About 1 degree all day every day. (More often than not!) Bring on the sunshine! We’ve got the pass of all passes again this year! WAHOO! (Sure love my hair school babes!) Along with the craziness of hair school I had a blessed opportunity to go to a hair show in Long Beach CA! It was a blast. (Mainly Disney LAND!@ and hanging out with my main gurrrrl KC!) Although, that blast had nothing to do with the hair show itself. The Hair show was a place sickeningly terrifying. Full of extreme hairstylists and half naked people, I can’t tell you how out of my element I was. (I prefer to be clothed thank you- and never. Never. Wear suspenders.) We saw things I thought didn’t happen in public, but I have come to see how the world has become outside this Utah bubble I am semi trapped in. I have grown to appreciate more my testimony and the way I was raised, to live in and not be. It has saved me and pushes me to go forth and preach what I know to be true. A testimony of the Gospel is something I have, something I will never lose. I have been devastated lately seeing people close to me deny what they know to be true. My heart breaks to watch people turn away. BUT that gives me more drive to tell people what I do know. I DO know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is alive and here on the earth today. I do know that Christ lives and loves me. I know I have a Father in Heaven who is watching over me insuring my safe return one day. I know that Joseph Smith IS and WAS a prophet of God, a mouthpiece for the Restoration of the Gospel. I know that people aren’t perfect and they will make mistakes. I believe in the power of repentance and I know that this is a blessing we must all tap into. I believe that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet on the earth today. I know he is an inspired and true man. I know the Book of Mormon is true, I believe it and do my best to live it. I believe in the power of prayer and thrive because of the blessing of tithing. I know that because of the light I have found in my life I am a changed woman. I hope others can come to find the truth that I have. I want to make a positive difference in this world, and believe me… When I set my mind to something, I do it. Watch out world, a girl with a true testimony is here to stay. Love always, Amy (Photos to follow)