May Relief Society Meeting: Smoothies and Volleyball

Smoothies, smoothies, smoothies! Thanks Nicole for teaching us all how to make healthy smoothies. We had so much fun being creative making a variety of smoothies, playing volleyball, and visiting with each other. Thank you to everyone who planned and prepared this meeting, we had a blast!

Meet Dana Erikson

Thank you for sharing Dana! We are excited to get to know you.

I was born in Othello, Washington a farm girl and the youngest of 8 kids, yes I was teased, so any of you sisters out there that are the youngest and grew up with teasing brothers, I can relate.  (I love my 5 bothers and 2 sisters, and now am convinced they loved me so much but they only knew how to show it by teasing... they loved me LOTS). As a YW I had my top 10 list of a dream husband.  Number one was to not be a farmer's son. Well, I broke that rule and married an Idaho Potato farmer's son named Glade. We met on a blind date at Ricks College (yes, I know that dates me). When I go grocery shopping for potatoes I enjoy looking at the bag to see where they are from, if I have a choice between Washington spuds and Idaho spuds, I go with Washington spuds, they're the best (shhh don't tell Glade). After we married Glade and I attended USU in Logan, Ut. I earned my BS in Community Health Education. Glade earned his BS in plant Science then on to MBA, and Econ MS. Then we moved on to WSU for Glade to earn his PhD in Econ. While at WSU I ran a licensed daycare in our apartment while caring for our three small boys. Sometimes I had up to 10 kids in our small two bedroom apt. It was fun. Glade's career brought us to Phoenix with a job offer from American Express in Fraud. I was able to stay home and raise only our kids. We ended up with 5 beautiful, talented, smart, loving kids:  Alex (22), Seth (19), Caleb (16), Celeste (13), and Kaisa (10).

If I had an hour of free time I would probably take a nap.

Currently my favorite hobby is watching my kids sporting events. I am one of those crazy wrestling mom's that watch Caleb wrestle while yelling "pin 'em", "yes! take down", "watch the cross face" or my favorite is just a loud scream! I love watching my daughters volleyball, I get upset when the wrestling and volleyball schedules collide... not a happy mama to have to choose between sports of my kids to watch! If I am not watching a sport, or carpooling to a practice I really don't know what I would be doing.  

My favorite season sometimes depends on my mood. Usually Phoenix winters, but I do miss the beautiful spring time on the farm with all the fields poking up little green crops. I even miss the snowy seasons of the North, but then I remember the shoveling and scrapping ice from windows and that quickly fades.

I don't really have a favorite scripture or hymn, there are too many to choose from. But our families motto is "Return with Honor", whether it be from school, work, mission, or just anything.

My testimony is strengthened every time I see the Holy Ghost at work. Sometimes it's to remind me of how to be a mother, wife, sister, neighbor or friend. I love being with new members of the Gospel that are on fire with the Holy Ghost because they have just learned about it and recognize it. I feel like I take it for granted since I was born in the gospel, but when someone gets truly "converted" it is great to see it in their eyes. I know my Heavenly Father loves me and has a glorious plan for me, if I live worthy to receive His blessings.