Diana

Today is Diana's birthday and so I've been thinking of her all day long.

Diana is my middle child, number four of seven kids and number three of the five girls.

She was born on a snowy winter evening in the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, UT. I had been to choir practice and came home well into labor. We left the other three children with a sitter and drove through the snow in our old car with bald tires. But we, and she, arrived safely.

Even as a baby, Diana was beautiful. Her skin was flawless and she had long slender fingers and toes. Her little feet were crooked and she had to have them in casts that were changed regularly to move the bones back into their proper alignment. She still carries a small scar from a burn received in removing one of the casts. (But they finished the process free of charge because of that!) She also had clogged tear ducts that a doctor cleared with a very long needle while I held her little head. THAT WAS SCARY.

Diana has always been adventurous. Once, when she was about five years old, Diana got left at home alone....long story.... Anyway, she knocked on the neighbor's door to get help, but no one answered. She proceeded to walk around a mile to the only other place she was sure she could get help--Anna Raun's house. She told Anna that she thought she was supposed to be at Grandma's and so Anna made a call and got her where she belonged. I was completely unaware of what had happened until we were back to pick the kids up several hours later. Well, ever since she's been an independent, resourceful, adaptable person.

Diana likes to try new things. She is creative. She sings well and is a good organizer. Diana is comfortable in almost any situation. She makes friends easily and is loyal afterward. Diana loves cats and has two, Zena and Xavier. Somehow, she became a city girl even after being raised in small towns. Diana is all the kids' favorite aunt.

In March Diana married Travis Thornton in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He makes her happy. They live and work in the Seattle area.

I am thankful for Diana and so happy she is my daughter and friend. I am looking forward to having her and Travis here at New Year's with the rest of the family. In the meantime, happy birthday Sweetie. I love you.