Tell us something about you- a hobby, talent, interest, or something you love to do.
I enjoy designing and building things---houses, furniture, built-ins. I'm not sure I am super talented with it yet, but I enjoy the process. I have designed and built the home we currently live in. I did all of the finish carpentry in the home---including designing and building mudroom lockers, fireplace mantle, built-in great room media center, built-in office adjustable desk and cabinetry, designed and built our dining room table from trees that we harvested before building our house. My garage doubles as a wood shop complete with a mobile workbench and air filtration.
Interests--I am still a huge St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan and the family has been fully indoctrinated. We watch the games nearly every day. I'm almost always wearing something Cardinals branded and my truck is decked out with 5 Cardinals decals and one decorative license plate.
I've recently discovered that I love Korean music and entertainment. I have watched more k-dramas than I can count now and enjoy getting into a good series. I find myself jamming to Korean music almost every day.
I love to listen to audiobooks. I have listened to over 250 books in the last 2 and a half years. I love to listen to mysteries, sci-fi, fantasy, history, self-development.
Tell a funny story about someone in the family.
Ethel - When I made my first trip back to the Philippines to date Ritchell for the first time and meet her family, we all stayed at a beach resort. The first night I was there, I cranked up the air conditioner in the beach house we stayed in since it gets quite hot in the Philippines and I don't sleep well in the heat.
When I woke up the first morning and went to get dressed, I couldn't find my socks anywhere. I looked around and thought maybe I misplaced them somewhere but then saw that Ethel was wearing my socks and had took them sometime in the night because her feet got cold.
Ritchell - One morning I awoke to the sound of Ritchell very forcefully saying "No....no!....Go away.....GO AWAY!.....in the name of Jesus Christ...go away!" I was confused and realized she was dreaming. When I asked her what happened she said there was a demon in our window and she was casting it out.
Grant - Just last week I was tucking Grant into bed and he was saying his nightly prayers. This particular night, he prayed for something that I've never heard before. He specifically prayed that the Cardinals would get a grand slam. We had been watching the game just before bed and the Cardinals were losing. After putting Grant to bed, Ritchell and I didn't watch much more of the game and went to bed while the score was tied 3-3 in the Cardinals game. When I woke up the next morning and checked the score, I found out that the Cardinals DID hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning to win the game!
AnaBelle & Vanessa - Once when these 2 were pretty small but both walking--Ritchell and I were at work/school and Ethel was watching them. Ethel had to get ready for her day and when she finished the girls were missing. It turns out they had gone on their own adventure and walked to Grandma and Grandpa's house by themselves.
More AnaBelle & Vanessa - When we had Jordan and brought him home from the hospital the girls were very excited to have a baby in the house. The first time they witnessed a diaper change they were confused and said "eww! he has a tail!"
What is your favorite family tradition?
Oyster stew on Christmas morning has long been a favorite tradition for me.
If you have a significant other, how did you meet?
Is there a character limit on this? Long story.
- After almost a year in the Philippines, I got assigned to our mission office
- My first assignment in the office was to help move/transfer missionaries to new areas throughout the mission. I was given a list of several missionaries to pick-up at the mission home and drop off in their new locations. The list included 5 elders and 1 sister--Sister Gabriel.
- Before picking up these missionaries, I spent some time in our mission office where we had a wall with every missionary's name/location and mug shot. I wanted to familiarize myself with who I would be picking up and where I would be going. When I got to Sister Gabriel's name I had the distinct impression that she would be my wife someday. I was shocked by this impression as I had never met her before.
- The next day when I went to pick her and the other missionaries up, I had the same impression even stronger when I saw her for the first time. It is safe to say that I was a deer in headlights at that point.
- Ritchell came up to me and introduced herself after seeing me staring at her.
- During our 4+ hour journey from the mission home to her new area, I had a chat with Ritchell for a bit as she was moving into an area that I had just moved out of after spending 3+ months there.
- Ritchell caught me staring at her via the rearview mirror during this ride. I thought she was asleep but she said she was just pretending to sleep.
- Over the next 6 months, I got to know Ritchell better through infrequent contact as I would deliver mail to all of the missionaries once a week, temple visits once or twice a month.
- There were several times we were together in groups of missionaries at these temple visits and lunches afterwards.
- As missionaries we were not allowed to court or date, but it was obvious to everyone that we got along very well. It was impossible not to notice that whenever we were together, for me it was like there was nobody else around as my focus would gravitate to her.
- In fact, the other sisters would tease Ritchell and gave me the nickname "tingin-tingin" which translates to something like "the looker" because I was always focused on Ritchell.
- For the last 6 months of our missions, we didn't see or interact with each other until right before I went home. This was intentional and I hated it but we really couldn't be around each other without sparking rumors, so we had to stay away from each other.
- Right before going home I was able to get her contact information---from her directly as well as from a 3rd party--interesting story but too long to share here.
- I had the opportunity to see Ritchell one last time before going home when Mom and Dad were there. The opportunity presented itself when a typhoon ruined some travel plans we had.
- I began writing Ritchell as soon as I left the Philippines
- Called her shortly after she got home from mission
- Dated a girl at BYU but broke up with her and was engaged to Rtichell the next day via email
- We had our first date 6 months after we got engaged
- Married 11 months after engagement
When you were a kid, what got you into trouble?
Girls and cars---sometimes both at the same time! I used to tell Mom that I wanted to be a racecar driver and drive her around when I grow up. When I was in seminary, I once got in trouble for racing friends home/to school. Luckily, I've not gotten too many speeding tickets but have had my share of them.
Since I was small, my sisters loved to tease me about girls and even pressured me into my first ever "kiss" with our neighbor--Megan Paule. I always had a crush on some girl growing up and usually didn't mind risking it all by making it known in some way or another. I would write love letters, send secret admirer gifts and even recruited Mom to help me once. When I got a little older, the trouble began when I ended up coming between two best friends by dating one of them while the other wanted to date me.
Who is the best friend you have ever had?
Ritchell is by far the best friend I've ever had. If we're not counting spouses, then I would say the best friend I have had is Sean Paule---we were like brothers growing up and did everything together.
What was your first job?
Hardwood flooring--measuring, cutting and installing.
What is the craziest thing you have ever done?
I am not a crazy person---or at least I tell myself that I'm not. The craziest thing I've ever done was ask a girl to marry me without ever having a single date with her. The craziest part of the story is that she said yes and now we've been married for almost 19 years and have 5 kids together.
What was the worst job you ever had?
Jack-in-the-Box
Who has had the biggest influence on your life?
Mom. Mom has taught me that I can learn, do or make ANYTHING through her example. She is simply amazing. On top of that, she is the most caring, loving and hard working person I know.
Tell us something about you- a hobby, talent, interest, or something you love to do.
softball
Tell a funny story about someone in the family.
i remember when I was a baby my mom was mad at me because I was spanking anabelle again or had a accident, and put me in the corner and wouldn't let me leave so i peed in the vent and the house smell like pee but i didn't say anything.
What is your favorite family tradition?
thanksgiving
When you were a kid, what got you into trouble?
spank anabelle
Who is the best friend you have ever had?
baylee and Brooklyn and a lot of others
What is the craziest thing you have ever done?
start an unsupervised fire
Who has had the biggest influence on your life?
birth giver