Her father always had confidence in her and trusted her. He would always want Jill to drive instead of Jill's mother. She was always a leader and people would follow her, in good and in bad. If she wanted to skip school, people would follow. If she wanted to serve someone, people would follow.
She was born when her Aunt Linda was 14. She thought she was the cutest baby ever seen. Linda and Jill became very close over the years. When Jill was 8, she stayed with Linda all the time. She was so grown up. She would help clean and always wanted to go where Linda was going, even to a boy-girl mutual activity. When Jill would grow to be 16, Linda let her drive her little green car downtown and back. She got off the freeway by Linda's house and Linda thought they were going to "crash and burn." However, they are still both alive today. Some thoughts from Linda on Jill: "She always thought she was a free spirit. Jill always has her own agenda. She is creative, talented, pretty, and has always worked hard. She is fun to be around and when I am with her I don't know which one of us is the oldest. She never gives up and she lights up a room with her presence."
Eventually along would come her sister, Cindee. Cindee and her would be come great friends. They would go on several "ghostly" adventures together and make friends with the ghosts. They also liked late night talks. One night, they stayed up till two in the morning and and she was playing with the wick of Cindee's candle. She went to go to the bathroom only to realize she had covered her face, the bedsheets and everything she had touched in black from the wick. When they were older, Cindee had a child named Liz. Jill would be Liz's only aunt. One particular evening, Liz and Jill decided they were going to re-do Liz's room. So they went Lowe's and bought the stuff and when Cindee woke up in the morning, the room had been completely redone. They had stayed up till 4 in the morning to get it done. Those were some of Cindee's most treasured memories of her.
After Cindee, came her brother Daren, who he would grow up to play with Words with Friends with her. This became a very competitive game on a daily basis.
John then came along as another brother. John loved it when Jill would come get him on the weekends when he was a teenager and they would go bowling at the 49th street Galleria and hang out at her house. She would always try to set him up with girls from Church. Jill was a big part of him growing up. He misses the relationship that they had growing up and before she moved away. He is thankful for what she did for him and he misses her a lot.
After John, the baby of the family was born. His name was Tim. When he was born, Jill's mother could not take the crying any more and often left him to cry so she could get some sleep. Jill would always say "You can't let this child cry!" And her mother would wake up to find baby Tim wrapped in Jill's arms, both asleep.
Later, Jill would grow up and have six children of her own.
Her oldest daughter, Tina was her "favorite" child. Tina always loved the many road trips she had with her mother and absoluely loves every time they are together. Today, Tina's siblings often say to her, "You are just like Mom." She takes that as a compliment as her mother is a youthful person who loves to serve her fellow man. That is a great lesson that Jill taught her children.
Christopher was her eldest son. He loves her unconditional love and patience. She always supported him even when the decisions he made where not the best. He is grateful for the sacrifices she has made for him. He really enjoyed the days he spent with her on the way to Utah to drop him off at the MTC.
Jacob was the third child. He loves a certain mannerism about her. When she is showing how to do something, she always gets really excited and explains exactly what to do and why...for example, when giving directions on how to make cookies, she tells you the exact brand to use and of course we all know it is "Ghirardelli chocolate."
The fourth child she named Kaylee. Kaylee loves her room and so the best memories of her mother Jill, were spent in her room. One day, Jill came into Kaylee's room and laid on her bed. She looked at Kaylee and said "I'm sad, I can't do anything perfect." So Kaylee did what she does best and played music therapist. Kaylee responded with "OH I HAVE A SONG THAT WILL HELP YOU." She then proceeded to turn on "Nobody's Perfect" by Hannah Montana. When the song ended, she got up and nodded and goes "Thanks that really helped." Another time, Kaylee took her turn being sad and Jill came into Kaylee's room and sat in her chair and asked what was wrong...10 seconds later, Jill spotted tweezers on Kaylee's floor and she gets up, lays on the floor and plucks out her chin hair...They never discussed why Kaylee was sad. Kaylee recalls another account of Jill. Jill was mad because Jill's husband, Larry wouldn't let her do anything with the house, so she came into Kaylee's room again and laid on her bed. Kaylee turned to face her and asked her what was wrong, She then whispered "wanna help me burn down the house?"
Salena was her fifth child. (I know, a lot of children, right? but she loves them all even if Tina is her favorite.) Salena loved spending time with her mom. She loved all the the fun times they have had together, especially shopping. Salena loves that her mom has such a young spirit and she is able to relate to her all the time. She is able to talk to her all the time about anything and she won't get...too mad.
Jill's baby was Levi. And what an adorable child he was. One day, Levi wrote a letter to his mom and this is what it said, "You are the best mom i'm happy your my mom.I'm grateful for all the things you get me.You are also pretty funny,and i like that.I'm happy your my mother! I love you very much thank you for giving me life. You mean the world to me mom there is not a better mother in the world you are number 1." It was very cute. By the end of it, she was crying. (Cue the tears, Mom.)
Jill married the love of her life on February 19th, 1993. One year, on her birthday, he wrote this message to her. "What can I say about this wonderful lady? She is one of the most caring people I know. Jill is the love of my life. She has been a great friend and a wonderful wife. It has been the best 20 years of my life and it will continue on for 20 more. Jill has the most wonderful spirit and I absolutely love that about her. She is the most beautiful lady that I know, in side and out. Jill always thinks of others before herself. She has a heart of gold I am so glad that she is a part of my life but most of all my best friend and wife. Jill, I love you more everyday and always will. I just can’t wait to grow old and gray with you. I am so glad that you are the mother of my children and a great mother. Jill, I just want to say again that I love you with all my heart and this will never change XOXOXOXOX THANK YOU! FROM YOUR HUSBAND AND FRIEND." Ahhhh, how cute is that!
This story came about in celebration of the day Jill was born. Her family loves her so very much. We are so blessed to have her in our lives!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!
